Age no Barrier to Recruitment at Supermarket · Fri, 24th Nov · 

Geoff Hoon MP visited Asda in Sutton in Ashfield last week to see first hand their policies on older and younger workers.

ASDA announced in August that it will no longer ask people applying for a job at any of its 308 stores across the UK to give their date of birth on their application form. The move is further evidence of the supermarket's commitment to take on colleagues of all ages, from 16 to 70+, and reinforces the fact that age does not play any part in its recruitment process.

This goes beyond new age discrimination legislation which came into effect on 1st October 2006. Whilst the new regulations seek to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of age, they do not go so far as to prevent employers asking candidates how old they are when applying for a job, neither do they scrap the mandatory retirement age. This still leaves people over 65 without the right to choose whether they carry on working.

ASDA would welcome the regulations going further - to make it illegal for employers to turn people down for a job on the grounds of their age or to force workers to retire at 65, the state pension age. They welcomed Geoff Hoon discussing the issue with the management team and colleagues at the store. Asda employs around 500 colleagues at its Sutton in Ashfield store, both full and part time.

Geoff Hoon MP, Minister for Europe, said: 'I am very pleased for the opportunity to discuss Asda's age discrimination policies. The Government are committed to tackling age discrimination in the workplace. New legislation has made it illegal to discriminate against workers and job seekers because of their age whist policies such as the New Deal for 50+ are targeting support towards people over 50 to help them back into work.

'Asda is rightly attaching great importance to this issue and I welcome the steps they are taking to provide job opportunities for older workers.'

ASDA is one of the UK's biggest private sector employers of the over 50s, with more than 30,000 older workers amongst its colleagues. The supermarket has no official retirement age or process, and gives colleagues the right to carry on working until whatever age they choose - there is no presumption that any colleague will leave their employment or cut back their hours when they hit 65.

David Smith, people director at ASDA, said: 'We simply don't see the point in asking people for their age when it's completely irrelevant to our recruitment process. We take on the best personality for the job, regardless of when they were born. Our oldest recruit was over 80 when they joined us and they're living proof that age isn't a barrier at ASDA.

'We also have thousands of colleagues working for us who are beyond the traditional retirement age of 65, and many of these are people who've had successful careers in other industries but been forced into retirement. We're now reaping the benefits as they enjoy a second career in retail.'

ASDA operates a number of flexible working packages to support older workers, such as Grandparents' Leave (for those wanting to take time off on the birth of a grandchild) and There 2 Care Leave (for those who need time away from work to care for a sick or elderly family member or friend). Flexible working hours are also available for colleagues if they would prefer to work fewer hours or shifts as they get older.

Ashfield MP backs anti-bullying week · Fri, 24th Nov · 

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon has lent his support to National Anti-Bullying Week, the annual anti-bullying campaign which runs from 20-24 November this year.

To coincide with the week Mr Hoon visited Morven Park Primary and Nursery School in Kirkby to see how they are raising awareness of the issue.

Pupils at Morven Park School have been undertaking a special project to learn about friendship and anti-bullying. Mr Hoon was invited to attend a special assembly on these themes at which he spoke about the Government's efforts to tackle the problem of bullying.

During his visit Mr Hoon officially opened a new Foundation Unit at the school; a new single learning area for both the nursery and reception classes. By creating one large play area, the Foundation Unit is part of the school's project to improve pupils' opportunities to learn through play.

Geoff Hoon said: 'Bullying at school can have a terrible impact on young people's lives. Action can be taken to tackle the problem. A very important step is to raise awareness and understanding of the issue and I very much welcome the valuable contribution that Anti-bullying Week and Morven Park School are making towards achieving this aim.'

Support for Synseal's 5 percent campaign · Fri, 24th Nov · 

The Right Honourable Geoff Hoon MP was delighted to meet with Synseal's Nick Dutton to discuss the 5 percent VAT campaign.

Geoff Hoon listened with interest to Synseal's argument to include 'A'-'C' energy rated windows in the lower rate VAT category. He too was surprised energy these efficient windows were not eligible.

'We were impressed with the speed Geoff Hoon reacted to the information we gave him,' says Nick Dutton. 'While we were there he contacted the Chancellor's Department to see what could be done to add energy efficient windows to the lower rate VAT category.

'Synseal is a major employer in Geoff Hoon's constituency and he's always on hand to help in these situations,' adds Nick. 'It's not the first time Geoff Hoon has helped our industry. Today he reminded us of the last time we met with Synseal. He remembered about the challenge to proposed building regulations for conservatories and said he thought his long conversation with John Prescott had the desired effect. Geoff Hoon added that it was a simple argument, and that's what won the day. He could see the lower rate VAT campaign is simple too. It's easy to get bogged down with all the peripheral arguments but it appears to be clear cut. When he saw the categories that had eligibility and that windows were omitted he accepted the equitable argument.

'Geoff Hoon is keen the government finds more ways to reduce carbon emissions and he's backing it by supporting the lower rate VAT campaign for 'A'- 'C' energy rated windows.'

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon has expressed concern about the impact of the collapse of Farepak. He said: 'A number of constituents have contacted me recently about the collapse of Farepak. I am extremely concerned about the impact this will have on people at Christmas. People have been let down and lost significant amounts of money in the scheme.'

The Ashfield MP has suggested that customers of Farepak could register a claim with the company's administrator. He said: 'According to the administrators, people should not expect a refund of payments made, nor should they expect any payments before Christmas. However, it may still be worth making a claim as people may receive a small payment.

This course of action, along with the very welcome establishment of the Farepak Response Fund will unfortunately not provide people with a full refund. However, I hope they may both offer some help.'

Customers can make a claim in a number of ways:

By post: Kings Wharf, 20-30 Kings Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 3EX
By telephone: 0870 830 6010
By fax: 01793 606057
By email: customer.claims@farepak.co.uk

For further information on claims and for regular updates on Farepak people can visit the Farepak website at www.farepak.co.uk

Nurses put views to Ashfield MP · Fri, 10th Nov · 

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon has today held a special meeting for nurses in his constituency.

The event, which was attended by a large number of nurses from across Ashfield, was organised by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), East Midlands.

A variety of issues were discussed including health reforms, NHS budgets and job opportunities for student nurses.

Geoff Hoon said: 'It is extremely important for members of the Government to meet people who work on the front-line of our health service to discuss their experiences.

'I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to listen to the views and concerns of nurses in my constituency. I have taken these views on board and will feed them back to Government where appropriate.'

Helen Willetts, Regional Director of RCN East Midlands said: 'At this time of unprecedented pace of change in the health service it is vital that Nurses are able to influence change to protect patient care. I am pleased that at this joint meeting Nurses were able to join us and discuss Regional issues for feedback to government.'

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon today completed the final stage of his three-day visit to assess the progress of a number of Balkan nations following recent elections.

During the visit, Mr Hoon visited Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro to improve political links with the countries and discuss possible membership of the European Union.

Geoff Hoon MP has backed the General Medical Council's national poster campaign to raise awareness of new guidance for doctors that emphasises the importance of partnership with patients in delivering high quality care. The revised Good Medical Practice, which has been sent to 240,000 doctors nationwide, has been written following wide ranging consultation with doctors and patients. Geoff Hoon MP has called for hospitals, clinics and GP practice in Ashfield to make sure that they display the posters so patients are aware of what they can expect from their doctor.

Said Mr Hoon: 'I welcome this new guidance from the General Medical Council which affirms the duties and responsibilities of doctors for the well-being and dignity of their patients. I urge all general practices, clinic and hospitals in Ashfield to display the poster prominently so that patients are made aware of doctors' commitment to a partnership with them in relation to their care.'