I was pleased to read that EACH's chief executive, Graham Butland feels that the EDM has helped raise awareness of the problems facing the hospices.
The three hospices run by EACH at Quidenham, Ipswich and Milton near Cambridge have been badly hit by the fall in donations since the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami and the ending of a £640,000 Lottery grant.
They are facing the withdrawal of respite care and job cuts – eight of them could go at Quidenham.
EACH receives only 10 per cent of its £4.7 million annual running costs from statutory agencies. Government should be doing more to help.
Local Housing Allowance
At present, housing associations such as Saffron Housing Trust receive 60 per cent of their income from housing benefit, most of which is paid direct from local councils and received in a lump sum. The new system would mean that housing associations will have to deal with individual tenants, drastically increasing the associations' administration costs.
Similarly, councils will have to make individual payments to claimants which will seriously jeopardise any moves towards greater efficiency and cost cutting.
So who will ultimately pay these extra costs? Why, you and me through our council tax. I have written to the housing minister to ask for a review of this scheme.
▪ Need to see your MP? You can make an appointment to see Richard by calling 01379 642769.
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