From: Greg Hands M.P. news@greghands.

com
Subject: News Bulletin from Greg Hands M.P. #419
Date: 24 November 2014 11:24
To: news@greghands.com

Issue 419 - Monday 24th November 2014

In this edition:
Greg Hands M.P.s Diary

Since the last edition, Greg:

Website of the Week:

Fulham Boys School

Attended and addressed the official opening of the new

Fulham Boys School, at its temporary site in north Fulham.
For more information and photos, see below.
Welcomed continued Department for Transport support for the
Crossrail 2 line, including a new station at Kings Road,
Chelsea. For more information, see below.
Chaired a public open meeting on the Super Sewer (or
Thames Tideway Tunnel) to hold Thames Water to account.
For details of the meeting and photos, see below.
Attended the scene of the horrific tragedy in Cadogan Square,
where two removal men lost their lives. Greg was briefed by
local police and met local residents.
Laid a wreath at 11 a.m. on the 11th November at St Johns
Church, North End Road, to mark the Armistice, along with
veterans and children from St Johns School.
Attended, and spoke at, the Annual General Meeting of the
Fulham Society, held at Lady Margaret School, Parsons
Green.
Met representatives of Heathrow Airport in the House of
Commons to press them about a recent increase in residents
complaints about aircraft noise over Fulham.
Attended a celebration to mark 20 years of the Serbian
Society of Great Britain being based at Dawes Road in
Fulham. The Serbian Library is also based in Fulham, at
Fulham Library.
Attended and addressed the Annual Dinner of the Kensington,
Chelsea and Fulham Conservatives, with guest speaker
Culture Secretary, Sajid Javid MP.
Chaired a panel in the House of Commons to mark Parliament
Week. For photo, see below.
Carried out his duties in a busy week as the Conservative Party
and Governments Deputy Chief Whip.
Held a regular, weekly, advice surgery for local Chelsea and
Fulham residents, at Fulham Library, on Fulham Road, close to
Parsons Green tube. Gregs surgeries are generally weekly, on
Monday mornings, at either Fulham Library, or Peter Jones,
Sloane Square, Chelsea. To make an appointment, email
mail@greghands.com or telephone 020 7219 5448.

Greg Hands MP celebrates

formal opening of the new
Fulham Boys School
Hands in the media:
Two dead and six injured
after a balcony collapses in
Knightsbridge
Greg Hands chairs Open
Meeting to hold Thames
Water to account, if Super
Sewer goes ahead
Plans for Chelsea Kings
Road Crossrail 2 Station
still on track
Government's new tax cut
supporting jobs and backing
businesses in Chelsea and
Fulham
Photo news:
Parliament Week 2014
Hands in the papers:
Two dead, six injured in
Chelsea balcony collapse
Week in Westminster and
Constituency Look Ahead21st November
!
How to contact
Greg Hands MP

Website of the Week:

www.fulhamboysschool.org
The website of the Fulham Boys School, the new Church of
England free school for boys of secondary age. Greg is one of its
patrons, and spoke at the opening ceremony this week.

!
!

Greg Hands MP celebrates formal opening

of the new Fulham Boys School

Greg Hands MP speaking at the formal opening of Fulham Boys

School.
On Thursday, the Fulham Boys School (FBS) was formally opened by
Nick Gibb, Schools Minister, and the schools patrons, local Fulham
MP Greg Hands, and the Bishop of Kensington, Rt Revd Paul
Williams in a joyous ceremony at the schools temporary site in north
Fulham.
Londons first secondary Free School for boys opened its doors to
Year 7 pupils in September.
A series of delays, largely caused by uncertainties over the schools
site, saw FBS and Greg fight an extraordinary campaign in July to
ensure the school could open as planned in September. Classrooms
and facilities then had to be made good in just two weeks.
FBS staff, pupils, parents and founders welcomed some of the local
businesses, councillors, members of the local community, and other
organisations who supported the school during its five-year journey to
open.
Back in July, local MP Greg Hands intervened in a dispute caused by
the new Labour Council of Hammersmith and Fulham, in order to help
safeguard the site of the school. Greg met with Michael Gove (then
Education Secretary) and Lord Nash, the Schools Minister,
successfully urging them to reconsider the Department for Educations
decision. After a guarantee from the Mayor of London to help the
school find a permanent home in the Borough, the school was able to
open as planned this September.
Greg Hands said: Im thrilled to be at the official opening of Fulham
Boys School, a day which at times was feared may never arrive. This
is fantastic for parents and pupils who have been through a lot to turn
FBS into what we believe will be a top quality Church of England
secondary school. I was delighted to be able to play a part in making
this happen. I wish the all the staff, teachers and, most of all, the
pupils a very successful school year.
Alun Ebenezer, FBS Headmaster, commented: More than anything,
we want to celebrate the can do spirit that got FBS off the ground and
is now driving our first boys forward. Parents and staff took a huge
leap of faith in sticking by us when we were told we couldnt open in
July, and everyone then worked miracles to get the school ready in
two weeks. It may have been a baptism of fire, but it has helped to
forge a fantastic school ethos.
Our challenge now is to deliver the outstanding education weve
promised parents and pupils. Our founders, governors and staff spent
five years planning a school specifically to motivate boys, and its
energising to see our first pupils starting to flourish picking up books
through choice, throwing themselves into tackles on the rugby pitch,
singing their hearts out.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Education Minister, Nick Gibb MP,
said: Congratulations to the parents, school and all concerned in your
tremendous achievement in getting this school openFree schools
have the freedom to be innovative, and Im convinced that your vision
of high academic standards, competitive sport and good discipline will
be a success. Ill watch with pride what Im sure will be an outstanding
school in Fulham.
The school will be on its site at Gibbs Green for up to three years and
is currently recruiting for its 2015 intake through the London wide
school admissions process. FBS is growing year on year, and will be
at full capacity in 2020 with 800 boys. Announcement on the schools
permanent location in the borough is expected in due course.

Hands in the media:

Two dead and six injured after a balcony

collapses in Knightsbridge
!

Click on the image above to watch Greg Hands MP interviewed

by London Live at the scene of last week's tragic accident in
Cadogan Square in his constituency.

Greg Hands chairs Open Meeting to hold

Thames Water to account, if Super Sewer
goes ahead

Greg Hands MP chairing the public meeting on the Super Sewer

this week at St Matthew's Church, Fulham.
Over one hundred and twenty Fulham residents attended a public
open meeting hosted and chaired by Greg Hands MP at St Matthews
Church on Wednesday night, to pose questions to Thames Water
about their Thames Tideway Tunnel (or TTT) project, known as the
Super Sewer. The meeting was organised by Greg in response to the
disappointing news that consent had been granted to the Tunnel in
September, following recommendations of the Planning Inspectorate.
At present, planning consent has been granted for Thames Water to
dig a main drive shaft for the Sewer from Carnwath Road Riverside.
Construction is assumed to start in 2016 and to be completed by
2022. The scheme would cause major disruption to residents, with
24hr construction for up to 29 months, and has already added
considerable cost to Thames Water customers bills.
Greg has long opposed the project coming to Carnwath Road and has
fought alongside hundreds of residents, together with the previous
Conservative run Council in Hammersmith and Fulham, to prevent the
Tunnel from being dug from Fulham.
Attending the packed meeting were the Chief Executive of Thames
Tideway Tunnel Ltd, Andy Mitchell, and Thames Waters Head of
Thames Tideway Tunnel, Phil Stride. Greg requested Thames Water
and TTT agreed to attend the meeting so residents could have the
opportunity to put their questions directly to Thames Water and TTT
Ltd.
It was noted that there are four pending judicial review challenges
against the project, but these could some time to resolve. Greg made
clear at the meeting that it was important to discuss the impact of the
worst case scenario if the scheme ends up in Fulham.
Greg said at the meeting If it turns out that the scheme isnt coming to
Carnwath Road, then of course I would be overjoyed. But while we
await the outcome of the current legal challenges, I believe I can best
serve my constituents by applying pressure on Thames Tideway
Tunnel to ensure residents are listened to, and the interests of South
Fulham are protected. I am therefore keen that residents receive the
maximum changes, assurances and compensation from Thames
Water, and that the detrimental impacts of the construction of this
sewer are minimised as far as possible, if the scheme goes ahead as
proposed.
During the meeting residents raised points including the current
judicial review challenges to the project, the selection of Carnwath
Road rather than Barn Elms, the impacts of noise, vibrations and light
pollution, the potential effects on health of residents, problems caused
to local traffic, and the effects on local property markets, amongst
other issues.
At the meeting, Andy Mitchell reported that many of the precise details
of the likely environmental impact, and possible transport disruption
are still under consideration, as the tendering for the subcontractors
will not be completed until next year. However TTT Ltd were able to
give a number of assurances to residents, and Greg Hands promised
to follow up to ensure these commitments were kept.
Some of the immediate assurances given included:
Phil Stride of Thames Water would visit the home of a resident
immediately adjacent to the site to assess noise and vibrations
Mr Stride would also talk to Stadium Housing Association about
the situation of their residents
Andy Mitchell committed to looking at providing double glazing
whoever it would help and make a difference to, and said the
first priority [for noise] was quiet plant machinery and
controlling noise at source.
Mr Mitchell said he would seek to reduce the number of daily
HGV movements as low as possible from the planned 45 per
day, by increasing the use of barges at the riverside site. Mr
Mitchell said his first preference was to get all the trucks off
the road we can and could look at building a jetty to maximise
the use of the river.
Mr Mitchell would also examine the possibility of health
assessments of residents throughout the project
Transport procedures, including the transport of workers to and
from the site will be reviewed
HGV traffic would be minimised during peak traffic times and
during football matches
Greg impressed upon Thames Water the need to work with residents
and local organisations, to listen carefully to concerns and to keep
local people thoroughly updated on a regular basis. TTT Ltd agreed to
set up liaison groups of local residents, schools and businesses, and
Andy Mitchell has assured the meeting they will be all ears when it
comes to talking with residents.
Greg intends to seek further concessions, mitigation and
compensation from TTT Ltd over the coming months, as details of the
project become clearer once the sub-contractors have been
appointed.
Greg will hold TTT and Thames Water to account on all of their
promises. Additionally, Greg promised to send the relevant sections of
the Planning Inspectorates report explaining the selection of the site,
to all those who attended the meeting and provided contact details or
who have previously written to Greg about the Sewer.
Greg Hands commented after the meeting: I am pleased the meeting
was so well attended and I thank all those residents who gave up
more than two hours of their evening to come and get answers from
Thames Water. I and residents were able to make clear our strength
of feeling against the project, and I would be delighted if the TTT does
not end up in Carnwath Road. The purpose of the meeting was to see
what we as residents can do if the Tunnel does come to Fulham.
There were some useful assurances undertaken tonight, but this is not
the end of the story. I shall continue to work with residents and to hold
Thames Water to account on the promises made tonight.
Residents are also invited to send further questions or concerns they
have either to Greg at mail@greghands.com or to the Thames
Tideway Tunnel directors via info@thamestidewaytunnel.co.uk.

Greg Hands MP chairing the public meeting on the Super Sewer

this week at St Matthew's Church, Fulham.

Plans for Chelsea Kings Road Crossrail 2

Station still on track
Greg Hands MP, has welcomed news that plans for a Crossrail 2
station in the heart of Chelsea remain on track, following an
announcement by the Department for Transport (DfT) on its latest
safeguarded route.
The DfT has published revised plans which indicate that it agrees with
the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea that Crossrail 2 should
serve Chelsea with a stop on Kings Road. These safeguarding
proposals ensure that other developments will not be approved that
might compromise a future station construction.
The station will bring around 5,500 homes within a ten minute walk of
the London Transport network for the first time, helping to reduce
traffic congestion and improve air quality.
Greg Hands supports the construction of Crossrail 2, and looks
forward to it bringing essential additional public transport capacity to
London, and to Chelsea in particular. The new line will also bring very
welcome relief to the District Line. Greg has previously supported the
principle of a new Chelsea-Hackney underground line, now known as
Crossrail 2, and continues to support the idea of a station in Chelsea.
However some residents are have expressed concern over the
possible location of the new Chelsea station. In July, Greg attended
the AGM of the Cremorne Residents Association to hear residents
views on an alternative site for a Chelsea West station for Crossrail
2.
Greg commented I note there is some opposition to each of the two
sites in question, yet the community in general supports the overall
idea of a station in Chelsea. I very much support having a station in
Chelsea. I trust that TfL and RBKC will work together to continue to
keep Chelsea residents informed about any further developments.
The Royal Borough is a strong supporter of Crossrail 2, and has
expressed a preference for a station on Kings Road in the vicinity of
the fire station. Cllr Tim Coleridge, RBKC Cabinet Member for
Transport said: We very much welcome this announcement as one of
the strongest indicators yet that the DfT agrees that a station on
Kings Road, near the fire station, is the right option not only for the
Royal Borough, but for the capital as a whole.
Coleridge added: For some Chelsea residents this news will be met
with some trepidation about the impact of construction. I want to
reassure them that as TfL develops its plans for the station and the
line, the Council will press very hard to ensure the least disruptive
possible method is chosen.
TfL and Network Rail plan to start construction on the line in 2020,
with it opening in 2030.
DfT will be consulting on the new safeguarded route in 2015 and more
information is available here.
You can also contact the Crossrail 2 safeguarding team at:
safeguardcrossrail2@tfl.gov.uk, call 0343 222 1234 or write to
Crossrail 2 Safeguarding, Transport for London, 9th Floor Windsor
House, 42-50 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0TL.
Greg added: I urge all residents who have views on this proposal to
make a submission to the TfL consultation. I also encourage residents
to copy me in on any submissions they make, or to contact me if they
have further questions, so I can also hear their views."

Governments new tax cut supporting jobs

and backing businesses in Chelsea and
Fulham
Greg Hands MP has welcomed new figures released this month
showing that 2,400 businesses in Chelsea and Fulham are benefitting
from the Governments Employment Allowance since its introduction
in April, making it easier for businesses to hire staff and create jobs.
The Employment Allowance is a reduction in National Insurance
Contributions that an employer pays for its employees. The allowance
is worth up to 2,000 off the National Insurance bill of every employer
and is open to businesses, charities and community amateur sports
clubs.
The allowance means a business could now hire someone on
22,400 a year, or four people working full-time on the minimum
wage, and not have to pay any employer National Insurance
Contributions. This is making it easier for local businesses to grow
and create more jobs in Chelsea and Fulham.
Additionally the figures show that across the whole of London 130,000
have benefitted from the reduction to National Insurance. Within the
first six months of its launch, over 850,000 employers across the
country have benefitted from the Employment Allowance.
Greg Hands MP said: This tax cut is a key part of our long-term
economic plan to back business and secure a better future for Britain.
Already, 2,400 businesses in Chelsea and Fulham are benefitting from
the cut, making it easier for them to hire staff and create jobs.
I want to make sure that every business in Chelsea and Fulham that
can claim this tax cut does. If youre not sure how to please do contact
me to find out more.
The figure show that this scheme is not just benefitting Chelsea and
Fulham, but is being taken up right across London and the whole
country, with over 850,000 businesses benefitting. Our long-term
economic plan is helping to create jobs by making it easier for
businesses to take on new employees. Since the last election,
businesses in the UK have created over 2 million jobs."

Photo news:

Parliament Week 2014

Greg Hands MP chairing a panel in the House of Commons last

week for Parliament Week, also including former H&F Mayor Cllr
Frances Stainton.

Hands in the papers:

Two dead, six injured in Chelsea balcony

collapse
Bill Gardner, Tom Brooks-Pollock, Nicola Harley and agencies,
The Daily Telegraph
Friday 21st November 2014
Two men have died and six
were injured after a balcony
collapsed at an address on one
of London's most exclusive streets.
The victims, believed to have been removal men moving a sofa out of
a first floor window, died when the iron railing gave way, plunging 30
feet onto the street below. Witnesses described seeing one of the men
impaled on railings.
Emergency services were called to the property in Cadogan Square in
Knightsbridge at just before 10am on Friday. One man, whose age is
unknown, died at the scene. Another man was taken to St Marys
Hospital in Paddington in a critical condition where he also died. At
least six other people were treated for minor injuries at the scene. All
eight are believed to be removal men.
The first-floor balcony belongs to property number 37, a five-storey
terraced building worth around 25 million. According to Land Registry
records, it is owned by Taher Helmy, a prominent Egyptian lawyer with
connections to deposed president Hosni Mubarak.
The iron railing appears to have fallen away, though the brick base
does not appear to be damaged. A number of long ropes were seen
hanging from the balcony to the ground where plastic sheets were
gathered, and a police forensics tent was erected on the pavement
below.
Local MP Greg Hands wrote on Twitter that he had been told that the
combined weight may have caused the railing to give way.
He told the Telegraph that he extended "enormous sympathies" to the
relatives of the men who died.
One witness, who saw the aftermath of the accident, said: "There was
a lot of screaming and shouting. One man was impaled on the railings.
"He looked in a very bad way, I think he was one of the men who died.
I think the people who received other injuries were all removal men
too, or at least most of them were."
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, told BBC News: "They
were trying to pull a couch up to the first floor apartment with ropes.
Was apparently too heavy. The fence broke off and fell on the
workmen below."
Another added the balcony "did not collapse" but that the gate fell on
to two workmen who had been on the ground.
One of the men who died is believed to be about 18 and was working
with his father shifting furniture into the multi-million pound apartment,
it was revealed today.
The older man was heard shouting 'He's my son, He's my son, he's
moving' as emergency workers desperately tried to save the
teenager's life.
Other witnesses claimed the men hoisting the sofa on the first floor
balcony of the newly-renovated property were Polish and had been
working in the square for more than a year.
Another man, also working on the same job, is understood to have
fled raising the possibility he was working in breach of health and
safety regulations.
A resident of the Square said they had spoken to one of the first
people on the scene who arrived minutes after the tragedy.
The woman said: "She's a housekeeper who works a couple of doors
away. She said she ran out and saw the men injured.
"There was a man working there with his son. He was young, about
18. The police closed of all the square and they wouldn't let the man
get to his son.
"He was still alive and the dad was shouting 'He's my son, he'my son.
He's moving, he's still alive.'
"The father saw the son fall and he was trying to reach him. He was
on the floor and there was blood everywhere. They were keeping him
back."
Reg Ramanoop, who lives on Cadogan Square, said: "I saw the men
trying to remove a sofa. They were trying to get it through the balcony
entrance when it collapsed."
He took pictures of the air ambulance landing in the nearby square.
He added: "We heard a noise and thought the scaffolding had
collapsed. We had seen them trying to remove a sofa and the next
thing we knew the balcony had collapsed.
"These balconies have been here hundreds of years, you don't know
the weight and loads they can take. There are real safety concerns
about them.
"I saw the air ambulance land. It happened earlier this morning. There
were people rushing around everywhere. It's incredibly sad."
Sudarma Rajapasha, who has worked on the street for six months as
a housemaid, said: "I had seen them trying to get a sofa out. I think
they were removal men. I think the owners were moving house. The
balcony just fell down. I think there were eight people injured. It was
very sudden and very sad.
"We saw ambulances and fire crews everywhere. The scene was
awful. I couldn't look. I saw them struggling with the sofa at the
beginning when I arrived for work and then it was the crash and we
knew something bad had happened."
An elderly local woman, Theresa Roberts, saw two men lying dead or
injured in the road on her way back from the hairdresser, her son said.
Vere Skeete, 40, whose parents live on the street, said: "My mum saw
two men lying on the pavement, dead bodies. The ambulance was
there but they hadn't covered up the bodies.
"She said she screamed because there was blood everywhere. She
was just coming home from the hairdressers, she is still in shock."
Resident Abel Damoussi said: "I saw the rope dangling down from it. I
think they were trying to remove a sofa from the balcony and the
railings gave way.
"We heard an unusual commotion and we didn't know exactly what
had happened. It's usually a very quiet place so we knew something
bad had taken place.
"We discovered there had been a terrible tragedy and people had died.
"They appear to have attached the rope to the railings to help hoist
and remove furniture. It needs an engineer to calculate the weight
bearings, you can't just attach a rope to railings of that age to lift
heavy items.
"It doesn't take rocket science. Many of the railings will have rust and
weathering. There needs to be a full investigation into this.
"Work is always going on on the properties here permanently. There
was work two doors away from it and there could have been vibrations
from that which may have had am impact.
"There is only the rope left dangling from where it happened and two
poles left sticking up when I went to see what had happened."
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: Every effort was
made to resuscitate a patient but sadly a man died at the scene.
"Six patients were treated for minor injuries but did not need to go to
hospital."
A workman working at a neighbouring property who did not wish to be
named, said: "We heard a crash. We have been working here all
week. We know people have died and others injured.
"We thought Romanian and Bulgarian workers were putting up
scaffolding and it has collapsed. The front of the balcony railings have
fallen to the ground. We are all in shock. We are working on
scaffolding too. It's a nice quiet area. I've not seen anything like this
before."
The incident has happened on the first floor of the exclusive row of
terrace houses.
A dozen officers are at the scene and the road at Cadogan Square,
Chelsea, has been closed off. A tent has been erected and placed
around the scene where the victims fell.
A number of long ropes are hanging from the balcony to the ground
where the plastic sheets are gathered.
Cadogan Square has been closed to traffic following the incident.
London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police also attended the
accident at the exclusive address.
Flats in Cadogan Square, formerly home to England football manager
Sven-Goran Eriksson and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, are
worth around 10 million according to estate agents.
The square, which is just off Sloane Street, is part of the Earl of
Cadogan's estate and is one of London's most exclusive addresses,
lined with haute couture boutiques.
A playground of the rich and famous, bankers and executives,
Cadogan Square is also believed to be the home of tycoon Flavio
Briatore and the celebrity jeweller Theo Fennell.
Richard Scrivener, from the London Fire Service, who was at the
scene, said: "When we arrived we made the scene safe, securing
parts of the iron balcony that had broken away in the fall.
"Crews assisted London Ambulance Service to provide first aid to
those injured in the fall as well as to a number of onlookers who were
suffering from shock."
A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said: "We were called just
after 10am today [Friday] to reports of two people injured. Officers
attended Cadogan Square where a balcony had collapsed.
"One man was pronounced dead at the scene. A second man later
died in hospital. A cordon is in place.
"Health and Safety Executive and the Local Authority have been
informed and an investigation is underway to establish the
circumstances."
Caroline Jennings of Cadogan Estates, which owns properties on the
square, said: "It's incredibly sad. It's not our property and we are not
involved."
Mr Hands welcomed the police and HSE investigations, and
suggested that "wider issues", such as the "pressures" that removal
men come under, should be examined.
He said: "People underestimate the risks involved in removals in
central London. These are places where removal people are put
under quite a lot of pressure.
"Quite rightly they must get the health and safety aspects right, but
they are also under pressure of time, with the parking metre running
down, high parking costs and other jobs pending."
Sinclair Johnston, an engineer who has worked on another property in
the square, said the decorative railings such as the one which
collapsed cannot be depended upon to support weight.
Speaking at the scene, he said: "These sort of constructions are
always very fragile and the iron railings can rust and the stone can
become fragile and break up so you never really know how strong
they are.
"It's OK in an ordinary way but if you put any pressure on them, if you
lean on them, there's no way of knowing - you can't depend on them.
"It's something that engineers are very aware of. The ironwork is
incredibly heavy so if it falls off it can be a disaster.
"The buildings were built in around 1890 and I should think the railings
are original or have been there for a very long time."

Week in Westminster and Constituency

Look Ahead 21st November
17 21 November 2014: This week in Westminster
Additional NHS funding
I am pleased 300 million of additional funding has been made
available to help the NHS cope with extra pressures this winter. While
I know doctors and nurses continue to see the vast majority of
patients quickly and treat them compassionately, the cold weather can
bring added pressure to our NHS services. That is why, as in previous
years, I support the Government in giving GP surgeries, hospitals and
ambulance services an extra 300 million to help them deal with the
additional pressures faced during the winter months.
New measures to counter terrorism
I welcome the announcement from the Prime Minister this week for a
new Counter Terrorism Bill that will contain new powers for police at
ports to seize passports, to stop suspects travelling and to stop British
nationals returning to the UK unless they do so on our terms. We
continue to face a real and serious threat from international terrorism
and this Bill will further help us to deal with the terrorist threat that we
face.
New state pension
The 18 November marked 500 days to go until the new State Pension
comes in. This will see pensioners, in time, receive around 150 or
more a week if they have 35 years of full-rate National Insurance
contributions. It will also give people clarity over their retirement
income, significantly reduce the means testing of pensioners and
importantly put right inequalities affecting women, low earners and the
self-employed. It is important that people understand what these
changes mean for them personally which is why I welcome the
campaign launched this week to help give people the confidence that
planning for their future and saving into a pension is worthwhile. You
can find more information on the new State Pension and the
campaign here.
Gender pay gap closes
I welcome new figures from the Office for National Statistics this week
that show the pay gap between men and women is at its lowest ever
level. Tackling the gender pay gap is essential for attracting, recruiting
and retaining talented women and ensuring equal opportunities in the
workplace. While these new figures are a sign of progress in the fight
for equal pay, I know there is still more to do and therefore support the
work the Government is doing in this area such as the Think, Act,
Report scheme and the legislation to give employment tribunals the
power to order any employer that loses an equal pay case to carry out
an equal pay audit. More details on this issue can be found here.
Upcoming Events in the Fulham part of the Constituency (for a
full list of local events, check out new local website Those Who
Noes Fulham - www.thosewhonosefulham.com)
LADY MARGARET SCHOOL CHRISTMAS FAIR
Saturday, November 29, 2014
11:00 - 15:00
Lady Margaret School, 9-15 Parsons Green, London, SW6 4UN
Enter into the Christmas Spirit with mulled wine, mince pies and carol
singing. Stock up on Christmas presents from over 30 fabulous stalls:
crafts, jewellery, plants, cakes, Christmas puddings, vintage clothing,
home produce, books, toys. Other attractions include bottle, chocolate
and children's tombolas, tasty lunch options, silent auction, raffle and
5 Lucky Dip. A school and local community event to raise funds for
the school's PTA.
Everyone welcome.
Admission 1 / 50p
concessions
ERIDGE HOUSE SCHOOL CHRISTMAS MARKET
Saturday, November 29, 2014
12:00 - 16:00
Eridge House School, 1 Fulham Park Rd, London, SW6 4LJ
Eridge House school hosts their yearly Christmas Market from
12 to 4pm.
BISHOPS PARK FARMERS AND FINE FOODS MARKET
Sunday, November 30, 2014
10:00 - 14:00
Bishops Park Fulham, Event Circle, London SW6 6DX
Bishop's Park Farmers and Fine Foods Market brings fresh and
delicious farm and locally sourced produce to the residents of Fulham.
Stallholders offer a huge variety of delicious goods including meat,
fruit and veg, fish, a bakery, homemade cakes along with much, much
more! The market is a family-friendly venture which caters for all taste
buds and pockets. Visit website >>
FATHER CHRISTMAS AT FULHAM PALACE
Sunday, November 30, 2014
10:00 - 17:00
Fulham Palace, Bishop's Avenue, London, SW6 5EA
Father Christmas is returning to Fulham Palace! Bring the whole
family to visit with Santa Claus in our beautifully decorated Tudor
Great Hall, and make sure you are on the Nice list to receive your
special present!
Knock on the door and listen for the bell, then the whole family enters
the Hall for a special one-on-one meeting with Father Christmas. With
our Tudor Great Hall lit by fairy lights, a roaring fire in the grate and
our 10 foot Christmas tree on display, this is a very atmospheric
Christmas experience.
See what the elves have been busy preparing at the gift wrapping
station, take a peek at Father Christmass desk and see who has
been included on the Naughty and Nice list. Make sure you let him
know whats on your Christmas list before receiving a special gift.
Children can also enjoy Christmas crafts while they wait. 10 per child
Family and friends groups may attend together. N.B. Children must be
accompanied by an adult.
Booking essential, click here to book. Visit website >>

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020 7219 5448

mail@greghands.com
Greg Hands M.P.
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
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Greg Hands M.P. a strong voice for Chelsea & Fulham

Published & Promoted by Jonathan Fraser-Howells on behalf of Greg Hands M.P.,
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