Liz Lynne

SHREWSBURY HOMELESS PROBLEM PART OF WIDER CRISIS OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION - LIZ LYNNE MEP

LibDem Euro MP Liz Lynne says the growing homelessness crisis in Shrewsbury is a typical example of a long term failure by local and national government to grapple with underlying social problems.

The Shropshire MEP, Vice President of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, is the author of a landmark report on social protection and social exclusion across the EU which was voted through by the Parliament in Strasbourg today.

Speaking today from Strasbourg, Liz said: "I was delighted that my report received such strong support. Despite increasing prosperity, the gap between the rich and poor in Shropshire, in Britain and many other European countries is increasing. If we want to reverse this worrying trend we have to act to improve our social safety net and fight inequality, not cut back on vital services local people need. It is simply unacceptable that as we celebrate the Year of Equal Opportunities for all, over 72 million European citizens continue to live in poverty.

"In Shrewsbury, a big problem is the lack of housing. So many people have no proper roof over their heads and homeless people are visible on the streets. Sadly, Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council have for years been unable to provide enough suitable temporary accommodation for those in need, nor have they succeeded in securing enough affordable housing to rent, or to buy, for local people. They are not alone in this, but it is sad this continues when neighbouring South Shropshire District, until recently under LibDem leadership, has shown that even a small council can deliver substantial numbers of affordable housing for local families and individuals if the priorities and policies are in place."

"Action must be taken to give vulnerable people more options to escape social exclusion. As well as housing, it must also include essential facilities such as affordable childcare as well as opportunities for people to better themselves through education and skills training to more suitable jobs. Many of the causes of social exclusion are common to countries across Europe, so we ought to learn more from our neighbours. Failure to act will mean the continuing exclusion and alienation of people here and further afield."

Cllr Heather Kidd, the former leader of South Shropshire Council said: "Liz Lynne is right to highlight the potential gains from following best practice. We made a real difference in South Shropshire, using existing powers, yet Shrewsbury's housing crisis continues to grow. The borough should now be proactive with what money it has left and concentrate on delivering housing for the people of the county town and surrounding villages."

Underdale ward county and borough councillor Miles Kenny said: "There is clear evidence that the numbers of homeless in Shrewsbury are growing. This can be largely attributed to Council's determination to spend the largesse from the sale of the Council houses on frivolous things such as the new, and poorly built sports village and £28 million on a new theatre, instead of tackling real social need."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Liz Lynne MEP is rapporteur of the 2007 joint report for the European Parliament on Social Protection, Social Inclusion and Social Reality Stocktaking. The report is the European Parliament's response to the adoption by the European Council in Spring and the European Commission of reports on 'social reality stocktaking.'

The Parliament's report comes ahead of the revision of the Lisbon Agenda and the mid term review of social policy. It is not calling for a whole raft of legislation at EU level - instead it calls for current legislation to be implemented equally across member states. The main thrust of the report however is emphasising what we can learn from each other through exchange of best practice.

Other points emphasised in the report:

· That 78 million European citizens continue to live in poverty and 8 % of the European Union suffers from in-work poverty and the gap between rich and poor in many Member States is increasing,

· That over 50 million people or around 16 % of the European Union's total working population are disabled and the rate of unemployment of disabled people is twice as high.

· That carers, the largest unpaid workforce in the European Union, deserve recognition for the central role they play in community care.

· Calls on Member States more effectively to implement existing Community legislation in the employment and social policy field.

· That it is vital for Member States to help those who become disabled whilst in employment to retain their jobs

· That imprisonment without adequate rehabilitation and education often only leads to further social exclusion and unemployment;

· The need for equal access to goods and services for all.

· That Member States and the European Union should place greater emphasis on the problem of addiction to gambling

· Calls on the Member States to pay attention to growing personal debt that leads to a higher risk of poverty

· Believes that a lack of decent and affordable accommodation in all Member States is an important contributing factor to driving and trapping people in poverty.

· Calls on the Commission and the Member States, in cooperation with those representing disabled persons' organisations, to develop national, regional and local initiatives to promote feasible employment opportunities for disabled persons

· Welcomes the de-institutionalisation of disabled people but notes that this requires a sufficient level of community-based services favouring independent living

· Urges Member States, if they have not done so, to move towards the provision of high quality and affordable personal care for elderly people and people with disabilities

· Calls on the Member States to exchange best practices relating to encouraging pupils not to drop out of school without gaining the necessary skills to join either the labour market or vocational and higher education institutions and to ease the transition from school to work;

· Calls on Member States to encourage public sector employers to create workplaces that are more representative of the communities they serve

· Calls on Member States to provide more effective child protection systems which include early intervention services to respond to the needs of vulnerable children and therapeutic services to help maltreated children overcome the effects of abuse;

· Calls on Member States to develop a more constructive approach to drugs policy with the emphasis on prevention, education and treatment for addiction rather than criminal sanctions;

· The need to tackle inequalities in health and access to healthcare suffered by many ethnic minority communities.

· Notes that in all Member States, alcohol and drug abuse can lead to crime, unemployment and social exclusion; further notes that poverty and social exclusion can lead to alcohol and drug abuse; considers it to be unacceptable that the only access to treatment and advice for many people is through the prison system and calls on the Member States to exchange best practice

· Calls for more attention to be paid to homeless people by Member States, especially in access to housing, health, education and employment

· The need for all Member States to sign and ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

· The need for a human rights-based asylum policy and to consider more legal immigration routes; Member States to look at the possibility of allowing asylum seekers to work while their claim is assessed.

· National legislation to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable workers; and the need to enforce anti-trafficking legislation.

· Member States to sign and ratify the Convention on the rights of migrants workers and their families.

The text of the draft report to be adopted by parliament can be found here:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+REPORT+A6-2007-0400+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN