Chloe SmithMP for Norwich North
Chloe SmithChloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, joined Connaught workers today at an information fair at Blackfriars Hall in Norwich.
In response to what she heard, Chloe has written today to the Minister for Regulation and Business Support and the Minister for Welfare to ask urgently for all available help for affected workers.
She requests any information in the government's possession which could assist constituents in this devastating position, and also that Jobcentre Plus locally responds and can begin paying benefit as soon as possible and reasonable. She highlights the need urgently to:
• ensure that workers made redundant by the firm's entry into administration receive the financial and other rights due to them by law, as quickly as possible;
• ensure that any failure, if discovered, to honour such rights by administrators or insolvent firms is appropriately punished; and
• ensure that councils such as Norwich City Council carry out appropriate due diligence and have access to all information about potential contractors which could assist them in entering into sensible contracting arrangements on an emergency and a long term basis.
She comments: "Firstly, obviously the most devastating impact of Connaught's collapse is on the workers. I have spoken to workers and union representatives today and over the last week and the immediately important thing is to make sure that they get their dues from the administrators and the council. I was glad to see various organisations at today's fair to help people get information.
"I have been told today that some constituents face a further delay of four weeks in accessing benefits, which is hitting hard considering the shock of redundancy. I am asking the government to act as fast as possible in that area.
"Secondly, everyone in the city now expects the City Council to act quickly but effectively to get services back on their feet. There are a lot of experienced hands who are now supposedly redundant and I hope that the Council ensures they are first in the line for continuing the work that needs to be done around the city.
"Thirdly, I expect the Council to act meticulously in letting any emergency contract and any later contracts in the longer term.
"Finally, people are disappointed and angry that the Council has let them down and they want answers to the big questions: was this contract justified? and who knew what, when about Connaught's finances?"