10/02/2013 Sunday Politics East Midlands

In the East Midlands, high-speed to, we will be hearing from the MP who

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2455 seconds

faces and the prospect of the line In the East Midlands. Take your

seat for the HS2 debate - are you for it, or against it? The only

people but on going to use the HS2 of business people. The ordinary

man will not be using it. If it brings jobs and income and

increases the value of properties hit is well worth it. And benefits

changes - a disaster waiting to happen, or could they work? We hear

from Melton Mowbray, where local people have been piloting the

changes. Everything now is looking more positive. Hello, I'm Marie

Ashby. Joining me this week the Conservative MP for North West

Leicestershire, Andrew Bridgen, and the Labour Nottingham South MP,

Lilian Greenwood. First, bigging up the East Midlands

at what we do best. Mark Spencer, the Conservative Sherwood MP, has

called a debate next week to highlight the strengths of our

region's manufacturing economy. He wants to make sure we're the first

people anyone thinks of when it comes to investment. He is not just

talking about that big boys like Bombarider and Rolls Royce, he is

saying we have to shed for the region. And he is right, isn't he?

Yes, we are good be talking about the great success in the East

Midlands of manufacturing. We have no people employed in manufacturing

than any region in the UK. It is our bigger percentage of GDP. We

are growing markets and it is a great story. I have some fantastic

small and medium-sized companies in manufacturing in my constituency.

Norton are looking to double their production. They have a �25 million

order book and 90 % of the product goes abroad. The see it as good

news. Lilian, Will you be supporting Mark Spencer? Certainly

it is good to highlight the good work going on in the East Midlands.

But we are not getting support from government funding that we used to,

since we lost our regional development agency. We have done

quite poorly on that. I'm not going to take lessons from Lillian about

manufacturing. But she's right to say we have had to drop in money

here. Norton, to facilitate their doubling of production, have had a

government guarantee on the low to provide those facilities. Cutting

corporation tax, increasing capital allowances tenfold in the Budget,

that will make the huge difference to manufacturing. If we do not act

now, we could lose these manufacturing skills that have been

going on for decades. I was not seeking to make a party political

point, I was trying to say that as a result of the loss of the

regional development agency be are not getting the growth in money

into the region compared to other regions. I think we should be

working together to try to make sure that East Midlands gets its

fair share. He took a lot about Norton but they do not employ a lot

of people. But 83 % of the components that go to make an 0 a

motorcycle on made in the UK. There are always a lot of jobs behind the

frontline jobs. Lilian, are you going to the debate? Certainly, if

I'm not already committed to other things I will certainly be going

along to listen and make a contribution. One of the things we

most need is to get growth and jobs into the wider economy. One of the

things holding manufacturing back is a lack of demand in the UK which

is why the government should be doing more to stimulate growth.

may be 20 years away, but there's no keeping High Speed 2 out of the

news. It's of particular interest to our two guests today. Lilian is

shadow rail minister and Andrew, well, he's worried the line's going

to go right through his garden! We'll get their views in a minute,

but first, the Transport Secretary and Derbyshire Dales MP, Patrick

McLoughlin, has been speaking to our olitical editor, John Hess,

about how he made the decision about where the trains should run -

and where the stations should be too. I realise that part of the

route will be very unpopular. You cannot build a major infrastructure

in this country without causing some problems, without some people

being against the plan. What we have to look Toop as the government

is what is in the long-term interest of the United Kingdom.

This is the first railway line to be built north of Birmingham in 120

years. Nick Rushton says that for Leicestershire they get all the

pain and none of the game. If you look at when East Midlands Airport

is, for instance, it was built by Derbyshire, Leicestershire and

Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire certainly from utter got some of

the game. I believe that the station that we are talking about

at Toton will be great. One of the most important things about High

Speed Two, it is not mainly about speed, it is about providing

capacity on the rail network. We are desperately short of capacity

and Leicestershire will get extra capacity. How will Leicestershire

get extra capacity? Because it will free up track space on the lines of

the Midland Main Line which we are going to be electrifying and that

is how you build capacity into the whole network. Andrew, you heard

what he had to say, it is for the cut off the whole country. It is

not for the good of North West Leicester. Even if the much

disputed economic benefits of HS2 to the whole country to come at

some point in the future, the fact is that the polite, the fear and

the planning paralysis actually happen the moment the plans were

announced. Already, the housing market is collapsing in this way

across the line of HS2, which went straight through the middle of my

constituency. Through your garden? Doesn't it to go into my land, but

next door. A lot of people say if you do not make a big fuss about he

could lose a lot of fate. There's nothing in it for my constituents.

The economic argument is completely flawed. In 20 years' time, when

this but it may or may not come to fruition, I think video-

conferencing, to roll out of super- fast Broadbent, people will not

trouble for business, it will be done over the internet. People will

still travel for pleasure, and that means spending money. If you think

people in London on going to say let's go to Birmingham more people

are Byrne sake let's go to London, I think it will draw more money to

London. I found myself in agreement with most things that Patrick

McLoughlin said. HS2 was a Labour idea where club that the government

are pushing ahead. This is about increasing the capacity of our rail

network. More and more people want to travel by rail and yet some of

them find the roots are - from the overcrowded. This will help us to

provide the step-change, to seek Nottingham and the East Midlands or

somewhere that they can invest because they can get their easily

from London, Birmingham and Leeds. I have spoken to thousands and

thousands of business people in my career has, and one thing I can

guarantee is that no-one has ever said to me is that my business is

not thriving because it cannot get to London fast enough. Businesses

in Nottingham and Derbyshire are saying they are in favour of HS2,

they won this development to go ahead. There was the view of the

chambers of commerce. Some pews from viewers. These say, there is a

tunnel under East Midlands Airport, why not build the station there?

That would be some consolation to my constituency do not have a

station at all in North West Leicestershire. White is cities

will have the pleasure of driving half an hour north to get to London

half an hour earlier. I think there is a possibility of introducing

extra stations into what the government have produced as the

preferred route. The reason it is in Toton is because it is close to

Nottingham which is the major market for use of HS2. Andrew's

certainly made no secret of his opposition, but what about his

constituents - do they feel the same? And are people in Lilian's

Nottingham South excited by the prospect? We've sent Des Coleman to

find out. The village of Appleby Magna has

enjoyed the peace and quiet a rural village for 11,000 years, but that

could be shattered by high-speed trains. We have come here to find

out your thoughts. The only people that are going to use the HS2 of

business people. The ordinary man in the street will not be using it.

It is a waste of �32 billion. not think will be worse than having

the M40 to running past our houses. It is very noisy and a do-nothing

the railway will be noisier. If it brings jobs and income and

increases the value of properties here it is well worth it. But I

don't know the extent of the disruption. For the benefits of

that, to me it probably would not be worth it. You will be quicker on

your horse, wouldn't you? Definitely! A from the beauty of

the rural countryside to the hustle and bustle of the city. We are in

the constituency of Lillian to find or what they think. The millions

and millions that is being spent it is never put where it is mostly

needed. I think it will be a good thing. You might get a lot of

people coming from London here and living here. I think they should

invest more money elsewhere. Into the youngsters and get the vote in

get them jobs. I have no objections to it. It is a good idea, I think.

Andrew, not everyone in your constituency was against it. In

Appleby Magna some people put quite supportive. I think the more they

find out about the project, the more they will be against it. There

was a healthy scepticism that it can be brought in on budget. I

think it will be hugely over-budget, two or three times. They might

build the bit from London to Birmingham. I think that part will

be so over budget that a debt the rest will take place. Some of your

constituents say it could be money spent better elsewhere.

everyone was talk about the importance of jobs for them and

their children. This is about investing in the children and the

future of the country. I think Andrew is scaremongering. If we do

not invest now, where does that the first? This route of HS2, going

under the airport and north of the, run straight through a potential

development site earmarked for 2015 for the Strategic Rail Freight into

change. 7000 jobs delivered from 2015 onwards. I have a meeting on

Monday try to sort set the nest of this. Patrick McLoughlin Said We

could have both. If you look at the plans, it goes straight through the

development site. That is a 500 million pound private sector

investment. I gained keep fighting this? Absolutely. We have to keep

making the point that the economic case is very fragile. We have to

look at high speed trains around Europe and look at the impact of

that. There will be a change in perception as they realise this is

a failed project. Are you saying then that development with dollars

jobs will not go ahead? I have a meeting on Monday morning to try to

salvage something. As part of massive change in the

way benefits are paid, Universal Credit is being rolled out later

this year. Some benefits will be paid directly to claimants - with

the money coming through monthly, rather than weekly and you'll have

to claim online. So how will it really work out? Well, we can get a

glimpse from two East Midlands councils who have been piloting

different aspects of the scheme. Patcee Francis has been finding out

more. A few weeks ago, Tina Given was out

of work. Now she has a part-time job as a carer and to stay with her

brother, all thanks to her local council, Melton Borough Council,

which is try to link Universal Credit. Horns and a lot of debt, I

was in a really bad place, I did not know where to go or be to ask

for help. As I got deeper into it I thought there was no chance of

getting out of this. With the help of her employment adviser, Tina has

been able to move on. I sat and prioritised my life with the help

of the adviser. She has been there and listen to me and help me move

forward. Her local council here in Melton volunteered to pilot the

scheme and they say what happens in this building is key to the success.

The council moved into brand-new offices two years ago and invited

other agencies to move in with it. It means the open-plan spaces are

shared by social workers, cab advisers and Jobcentre class is

about to move in as well. The pilot is focused on a working age benefit

claimants, of which we have about 1800. As Universal Credit will be a

digital by default service we need to look at how we can support

people to manage their claims. is a similar story in neighbouring

Rushcliffe. It is taking part in the Brent -- the pilot and enduring

people have access to on-line services. They can come to

reception and get self-service access. For those people that can

get access but are perhaps a bit confused we can help them find

their way through. And then there are the people who or perhaps

involved with other agencies, so we are offering an integrated system

where we can actually talk and to introduce them to other agencies as

well. These councils are looking at small parts of what will be a

radical overhaul of benefits. At Melton they have found that around

30 % of people that they deal with need help with online services.

is the biggest change to the welfare system in a generation so

we do not underestimate those challenges. But certainly we are

having some success in terms of how we are working with people at an

individual level. We are cautiously optimistic that the partnership

working will give people the support that they need in a way

that is better than they have had before. Everything now is looking

more positive and coming out of the dark side into the light. Both

councils have found that by working smarter they can target people

effectively, but they also know it is a challenge, especially for

larger councils. Rushcliffe has around 4000 people on housing

benefit. When you cross Trent Bridge to Nottingham that figure

changes to around 40,000 people, and it is a knee when large

authorities like this role that the benefit changes that we will know

the true impact. Andrew, it is one thing trying out

in places like Melton and Rushcliffe, but bring it to the

cities and will be a different story. That is why it is being

tried out in smaller places to start with. It is totemic for us

and Iain Duncan Smith and his department have done a lot of work

on this. I'm really pleased that those administering it are very

optimistic in the pilot. There are going to be glitches but they have

to be ironed out now so that when it moves forward in October it is

as smooth as possible. Lilian does it not make sense to encourage

people to take charge of their own affairs? I do not think anybody

would argue that it is not in our interest to help people move

forward. One worry is do that local authorities are not responsible for

administering a Universal Credit. Colossal people express concern

about the third to to do people who need help with making applications

online and local authorities have not been given any extra

authorities to provide that help. The figures show that some two % of

those on benefits could handle their online themselves, they have

that capacity. The rest can have help through the Jobcentre or the

council. What about those people who cannot? They can go into the

council and be helped. Who in the council is going to do that? We

have had huge cutbacks in Nottingham city? Do not being given

resources to help coach people through using the Universal Credit

online. And there are many people who do not have access to IT at

home. But the Jobcentre to us. It has access. But lots of Jobcentres

have closed. There will be the capacity in the system to do

between the council and the Jobcentre. I think that is wishful

thinking. The idea of Universal Credit is not a bad one and the

principle of bringing all benefits together it is all that Labour that

the support it. Ironically they have taken Council Tax Act and

localised that. But the timetable for introducing Universal Credit

has slipped and there are real concerns about whether it is going

to be ready. What would you do? think they should have slowed it

down and looked at having proper support in place to enable people

who do not have IT skills to perhaps use IT. A lot of my

constituents go into the Jobcentre and feel that they are on a

conveyor belt, they are lucky if they get a couple of minutes with

an adviser. To get some of the people who are long-term unemployed,

they Nick Weal, intensive support over a long period and a lot of

them are not getting it. Are the resources there to help those who

really needed? This is going to be a gradual bowl-out and resources we

made available. I think you have parts of the country but a later on

in the role it will be saying, why have we not got Universal Credit?

The figures from the Government's own impact assessment also showed

that 2.8 million households will end up with less money as a result

of the introduction of Universal Credit, including 1.7 million

families. I think when people start to see the money going down, that

they will be very worried. There is a lot are concerned about this, and

drew. But the poorest a good be on average �168 better off under

Universal Credit. You have a system where work always pays. You'll be

up to take temporary work without losing all your benefits. That is

simply not true. There are good be huge cliff edges. But the moment

there will be people who have to give up work or reduce their hours

in order to make sure they are not hitting a huge cliff edge. There

are lots of questions remaining that need to be answered. The pilot

showed that people are keen on it. Another concern is that there is so

much all at once. It is not just Universal Credit that is changing,

it is all the other ones as well. As long as the system works, and

the parlous a Kodak, people seem perfectly happy with it. People are

not good be happy when for the first time they have paid be

required to pay council tax, people living in the family home who are

suddenly hit by the bedroom tax. People in not in South are

incredibly worried. These are people on the very lowest incomes

and there do not know how they are But the 91st time buyers have been

held on to the property ladder by a Leicester council scheme. But it

will be provided �2 million to banks to encourage them to offer

mortgages to buyers. It has been so successful that the council is

releasing another �2 million. Plans to charge people for prime been

collections in Derby have been criticised by a local government

minister. Eric Pickles says he is disappointed that the council is to

charge �40 a year for the service. People in Rutland are being offered

the chance to claim free solar panels for their homes. Rutland

council has want �200,000 of government funding and is looking

for 50p to take part. Derby is to get an �80 million flood

alleviation scheme along the River Derwent. Around 600 homes and

businesses will be protected although some buildings may be

demolished to make way for the defences.