Pensions Bill – Age UK Second Reading briefing

Download Document(s): Age_UK_Pensions_bill_second_reading_briefing_June _2013.pdf



Dear Mr Jones, Please find attached Age UK's Pensions Bill briefing. We are expecting the second reading debate to be held in mid-June.

Age UK supports the aims of the single-tier pension. Generally those who will benefit from the changes will be people with low lifetime earnings and those who

We Are The Many - Hope Not Hate

Please click here and sign this Hope Not Hate letter for tomorrow's Daily Mirror :-

To: The Editor, Daily Mirror
From:

We Are The Many

Today, the violent English Defence League will hold demonstrations in towns and cities across our country, trying to spread their message of hate. By blaming all Muslims for the terrible murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, the EDL will attempt to whip up a climate of fear and violence towards the Muslim community in Britain.

But the EDL will fail. They will fail because we, the British people, reject their ignorance.

The EDL and Islamic extremists are more similar to each other than to us. They share a violent, hate-fuelled desire for conflict and war, and we will not let either group tear our country apart.

We condemn the shameful rise in anti-Muslim violence since Drummer Rigby's killing. The fair-minded majority of Britons understand that a community cannot be blamed for the actions of just two. We know that the EDL does not speak for all Britain, just as we know that Muslim extremists do not speak for all Muslims.

We, the British people, shun the EDL's message of hate today because they do not speak for us. We are confident that HOPE will prevail. It will prevail because they are the few, and we are -- and always will be -- the many.

Yours,

A&E CRISIS ON TORIES’ WATCH

Patients and hospitals are paying the price for David Cameron’s mismanagement of the NHS. The unfolding crisis in A&E is a clear and visible symptom of a system under pressure with ambulances queuing up outside A&E, patients waiting on trolleys, and waiting longer in A&E.

Almost 4,500 nursing jobs have been lost since David Cameron entered Downing Street in May 2010 and those losses are putting

Olympic legacy fading - Hyndburn bucking the trend

Survey of teachers and sports organisers shows that participation rates in school sport has gone down in over a third of schools across the country.

This survey shows that at the same time David Cameron was basking in the success of Team GB he was undermining school sport partnerships which are essential to delivering the Olympic Legacy among the current generation of school children.

A

Pension Minister Steve Webb MP to address AMNT 26 June 2013

Association of Member Nominated Trustees

Pensions Minister Steve Webb MP will be the keynote speaker at our first AMNT Summer Conference which will take place on June 26th 2013, at Towers Watson, 21, Tothill Street, London SW1H 9LL. Some details are still to be finalised, but currently, the day looks like this:

We will begin with registration from 0930, and the main conference starts at 1000.
Steve Webb has agreed to start us off with a keynote speech.

Then Co-Chair Barry Parr will go through the results of our Member Survey.
Bill Trythall (Committee Member) will then talk on "The Universities Superannuation Scheme".

After coffee, Ewan McGaughey will talk on "MNTs in Corporate Governance", then another Member will talk on "A Smaller DC Scheme".

Lunch and networking will be followed by our hosts Towers Watson talking on Current Pension Issues, then John Gray (Committee Member) will present on "London Borough/Local Government Schemes".

Following this, Michael Johnson will speak on "Charging in Pensions".

After a tea break, our Friends will leave us, and we will go into Round Table Debates on Current Pensions Issues with one of our Sponsors leading each table.

A final feedback session will be followed by a closing summary, which is due to finish at 1700.

After the meeting has closed, there will be the usual networking opportunity with drinks provided by our hosts Towers Watson

There are limited places available for this event, so please let us know as soon as possible if you are able to attend. Click on one of the below links and let us know by email, including whether you have any dietary requirements and if you plan to attend for the drinks reception.

Email mail@amnt.org if you wish to send the whole or part of the day at the meeting.

(if you are a member nominated Trustee or representative then join and apply to attend)

The Tories are failing to help families

The Tory-led Government help squeezed households facing a cost of living crisis. Last week it was revealed that

Thousands of hard-working families in Haslingden and Hyndburn are under enormous pressure from rising prices, a flatlining economy and sky-high utility bills with many of them struggling to make ends meet.

Since the Government came to power in 2010 energy bills have soared by over £

High-Paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarships

Do High-Paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarships? Sure they do. High-Paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarships certainly exist. Given the history of Minnesota, it is natural to expect that High-Paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarships exist. Persons seeking high-paying and high-dollar Minnesota Scholarships should know basic historical facts about Minnesota. For example, Minnesota is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States.

Persons seeking High-Paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarships should also know that Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858. Another important fact for persons seeking High-Paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarships is that Minnesota is known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", the state's name comes from a Dakota word for "sky-tinted water". Nearly 60% of its residents live in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area (known as the "Twin Cities").

Scholarship Quiz Questions for High-Paying
and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarships

Many Minnesota scholarship sponsors actually expect Minnesota Scholarship applicants to know something about the history, demographics, and the founding of Minnesota. That's why we provide resource links on the NAAS.ORG website for Minnesota Scholarship applicants to use when researching facts, history, demographics, and figures about Minnesota. We develop scholarship quiz and scholarship essay questions from certain sources. Minnesota Scholarship applicants need to know that High-Paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarships exist, and what some scholarship sponsors may expect. For example, possible scholarship quiz questions for persons seeking seeking high-paying and high-dollar Minnesota Scholarships relate to the history of Minnesota. Minnesota Scholarship applicants should know the nickname of Minnesota and basic facts about Minnesota.

Why High-Paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarships are needed

High-Paying Minnesota Scholarships are needed because the Minnesota Department of Education is focused on education, and the firm belief that every student in Minnesota that is seeking a high-paying Minnesota Scholarships, will have the resources to pursue such a scholarship, and can actually succeed at a Minnesota college or university. Also, a high-proportion of Minnesota moms, Minnesota , mothers, Minnesota women, and high-school graduates, as well as a large proportion of Minnesota working adults pursue some form of higher education.

We sponsor high-paying Minnesota scholarships for Minnesota moms, women, working adults, and students. Nearly all of these moms, women, working adults, and students rely upon high-paying and high-dollar Minnesota scholarships, grants, and financial-aid. Minnesota colleges and universities have experienced consistent year-over-year growth in enrollment, as well as a notorious habit of raising tuition each year. Unlike some states with lower educational standards, and a high proportion of students who drop out of schools, Minnesota is a state with stringent educational standards, and high expectations. Also, Minnesota has many quality school districts. Students whom plan on attending any of the quality universities in Minnesota like Minnesota University, or Minnesota State University, will need High-Paying Minnesota Scholarships.

Given the quality of education that a student can expect when he/she graduates from a high-school in Minnesota , parents, moms, and mothers may wonder: Do high-paying Minnesota scholarships really exist? Sure, they do. Simply visit the website of National Academy of American Scholars and you will find more than 100 high-paying Minnesota scholarships in numerous categories. There is no fee required to apply for our high-paying Minnesota scholarships, and neither is there any requirement to be a member of any third-party organization.

As you search for high-paying Minnesota Scholarships, most likely you will come across scholarship search databases that claim "We're the best and the biggest." You may also come in contact with other scholarship search databases that claim to have even $1 billion of scholarships and grants. At the same time, it is important that you understand that the best high-paying Minnesota Scholarships will not be found in the database of the Minnesota Department of Education, or in scholarship links listed on the Minnesota Higher Education website. You may also find high paying Minnesota Scholarships on the financial-aid website of Minnesota University, or on the bulletin board of The Office for Student Financial Affairs of the financial aid office at the University of Minnesota .

One of the best possible resources for high-paying Minnesota scholarships for moms, women, single moms, and adults seeking finanancial-aid is the website of National Academy of American Scholarships. We encourage adult students, moms, women, and single mothers to explore these financial-aid options for Minnesota scholarships, as well other Minnesota High-paying scholarships that are not listed but may be accessed by visiting our Minnesota Scholarships page:

List of High-Paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarships for students, moms, and women

1. High-paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarship: Minnesota Platinum Scholarship
2. High-paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarship: Minnesota Gold Scholarship
3. High-paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarship: Minnesota Silver Scholarship
4. High-paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarship: Minnesota Bronze Scholarship
5. High-paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarship: Minnesota Sports Scholarship:
6. High-paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarship: Minnesota Mom Scholarship
7. High-paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarship: Unclaimed Minnesota Scholarships
8. High-paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarship: Talent Minnesota Scholarships
9. High-paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarship: Minnesota Nursing Scholarships
10. High-paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarship: Minnesota Merit Scholarships

Where to Find Free High-Paying and High-Dollar Minnesota Scholarship Searches
That do not require A Logon or Password

Minnesota moms, mothers, and students that are interested in high-paying Minnesota Scholarships simply need to know where to look for such Minnesota Scholarships. Hint: you don't need to provide a username, password, or even divulge your personal details. The NAAS.ORG website has FREE Minnesota Scholarships searches 24 hours per day. Another great tool is Google-Plus. Make sure that you are logged into your Gmail account when you are searching for scholarships.Repeat: Minnesota Scholarship searches conducted on the NAAS.ORG website are entirely free, and do not need a login or password. We do not censor our sponsors or investors. We are not "Sworn" to censorship like scholarship search service companies that appear on government websites. We trust that Minnesota moms, single mothers, women, grown adults, as well as students over the age of 18, can make their own decisions about Minnesota scholarships, grants, and financial-aid and not be spoon-fed by college scholarship search companies that claim "We're the Best & We're FREE" while at the same time they are methodically deleting, blocking, and censoring Minnesota scholarship information on their public facebook pages, and other social media channels when such information should really be shared with other Minnesota residents.

If you are an Minnesota resident, or person interested in attending an Minnesota college, or university, then your search for high-paying Minnesota scholarships should begin with NAAS.ORG. All Minnesota scholarship searches on the NAAS.ORG website, for example, are free, and uncensored. Minnesota scholarship searches on Google-plus are also free. Either way, if you look at the right sources and connect with the right college scholarship sponsor that has a history of delivering high-paying Minnesota scholarships that are renewable then your odds of winning a high-paying Minnesota scholarship should theoretically, and in all practicality increase. The odds are in your favor.

The best Minnesota college scholarships are FREE. If a college scholarship database company claims "We're the Best & We're FREE", but censors their college scholarship database or hides Minnesota scholarship data from college scholarship applicants then they are not the best.

Use Google-Plus to find High-Paying Minnesota Scholarships

Students, moms, mothers, and women may find High-Paying Minnesota Scholarships by simply using our free search tool on the NAAS.ORG website or by simply logging into their Google-Plus account and following our Google-plus page. We cover all 52 states in the U.S.A., including Minnesota scholarships. We cover information about Minnesota scholarships that include travel sites to Minnesota , as well as general demographic data because some Minnesota Scholarship sponsors request that Minnesota scholarship applicants demonstrate general knowledge about the state of Minnesota .

Investors and Sponsors Fund High-Paying Minnesota Scholarships

If Minnesota is the state where you want to attend your college, university, or education at, or if Minnesota is the place where you want to live in, play in, study in, develop a love affair in, go to school at, and learn, then we have high-paying Minnesota Scholarships that may be of interest to you. What do we mean by high-paying Minnesota Scholarships? We consider a Minnesota Scholarship that has a market value of $100,000 over 4 years, equally paid in $25,000 a year installments, a relatively High-Paying Minnesota scholarship. Certainly, you are not going to earn that sum working at your local Walmart, or 7-11, or McDonalds as a teenage or mom weekend helper. National Academy of American Scholars uses a network of scholarship investors, and scholarship sponsors to ensure that over $1 million worth of Minnesota scholarships, grants, and financial-aid are made available to eligible students seeking high-paying Minnesota scholarships.

For a detailed continuation of this article, and numerous sources of renewable High-paying Minnesota scholarships, official State of Minnesota Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), and various other official Minnesota Grant programs, and private sources of Minnesota scholarships, grants, and financial-aid, please visit our Minnesota Scholarships page:

For a summary of Unclaimed Minnesota Scholarships that may be suitable for moms, mothers, students, and working adults, please visit our Scholarship Programs page:

A Life for Freedom in South Africa: Denis Goldberg 80th Celebration

The picture is from the celebration of the 80th Birthday of South African freedom fighter Denis Goldberg. This took place in the South African High Commission in Trafalgar Square, London.

The celebration was in aid of the development Charity Community HEART  that Denis helped set up.  My fellow UNISON NEC member for Community, Izzy McVicar, organised the event.

Denis (centre - seen with London UNISON Convener Gloria  Hanson, Deputy Convener Conroy Lawrence and me lurking at the back) spent 22 years in prison during the struggle against apartheid. He was sentenced in the same trial as Nelson Mandala. However, since he was white, he was of course put into a different prison.

In his speech Dennis joked that he and his fellow ex-prisoners are the only people who celebrate the 50th anniversary of their arrests and for only getting life sentences (the prosecutors wanted the death penalty).

Although he is very proud of all that has been achieved in a free South Africa he recognises that there is much still to be done. He does think it is a little arrogant that some people in the UK criticise the lack of equality in South Africa when they have had since 1870 to do something about inequality in the UK. 

On a positive note Denis thinks that "the hormones in our teenagers" will eventually solve our racial differences.

S&M Show Podcast

New SPACs - Terragali & Australaysia; Goldis-IGB; Excessive directors' compensation.

http://www.bfm.my/sm-salvatore-dali-malaysiafinance-spacs-overpaid-directors.html

http://www.bfm.my/snm-show.html

Thought For The Day

Tweet from Graham Jones MP (@GrahamJones_MP)

Graham Jones MP (@GrahamJones_MP)

29/05/2013 05:09

'Shame on the press' says suicide victim #LucyMeadows coroner. Coroner writing to ask PM to adopt Leveson. m.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/may/28…

Tweet from Graham Jones MP (@GrahamJones_MP)

Graham Jones MP (@GrahamJones_MP)

29/05/2013 05:12

Coroner in #LucyMeadows suicide accuses Daily Mail of using "ridicule & humiliation" & of "character assassination". m.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/may/28…

Tweet from Graham Jones MP (@GrahamJones_MP)

Graham Jones MP (@GrahamJones_MP)28/05/2013 14:28More info on CANsafe & its incredible success protecting young pple. preview.tinyurl.com/pgk253p & preview.tinyurl.com/o7jwnqt pic.twitter.com/KZeYCo44Q6

Tweet from Bob Eastwood (@ChSuptEastwood)

Bob Eastwood (@ChSuptEastwood)

28/05/2013 14:51

@GrahamJones_MP thanks for supporting this Graham. This initiative started @HyndburnCouncil area and has been given awards #alcoholharm

CANsafe @GrahamJones_MP

Graham Jones MP (@GrahamJones_MP)

28/05/2013 14:19

Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner hails Hyndburn's joint operations CANsafe project with full county roll out. pic.twitter.com/BIArvQUBZe





Graham Jones MP (@GrahamJones_MP)

28/05/2013 14:28

More info on CANsafe and its incredible success protecting young pple. preview.tinyurl.com/pgk253p and; preview.tinyurl.com/o7jwnqt

One Nation Housing – 50 Policies for Labour

The Labour Housing Group has published this consultaton paper on its own website and on the housing site "Red Brick" in advance of their annual conference next month:-

Housing is central to Labour’s One Nation approach and our plans for economic recovery and social well-being.

Housing Investment

1.       Housing should be a central feature of a new National Infrastructure Plan looking ahead 10, 20 and 30 years at the country’s requirements for a modern economy and a cohesive society.

2.       Increasing housing investment in all tenures should be a key component of economic policy.

3.       To ensure an adequate supply of affordable homes, capital investment subsidies should be restored to 2008 levels as quickly as possible, with over-riding priority given to building homes for social rent.

4.       Councils should be enabled to invest much more under the new self-financing regime. The existing borrowing cap should be lifted and international conventions for measuring public borrowing (which exclude public corporations) should be adopted.

5.       Smart national accounting should be adopted that recognises how housing investment contributes to savings in health, education and benefits budgets. 

Planning for Housing 

6.       Councils should be under much stronger planning duties to meet housing needs in their areas, to plan for mixed communities, and to co-operate in planning for new housing across sub-regions, especially City regions.

7.       Local plans should prioritise social rented homes separately from other sub-market rented and low cost home ownership homes.

8.       Local communities should benefit more clearly from development through requirements for affordable housing and other facilities.  

9.       The New Homes Bonus should be ringfenced to be spent on housing infrastructure and benefits for communities affected by development only and should be phased out.

10.    A proportion of new homes should be made available to people from the local area.

11.    There should be much stronger duties on public agencies to release land for affordable housing.

12.    As a general principle, brownfield land should be used first and broad Green Belt protections should remain.

13.    Minimum space standards should be applied to all new homes.

14.    More rapid progress should be made towards achieving high environmental and energy efficiency standards in new homes, with higher priority given to cycling, play and recreation facilities.

15.    Planning permissions should expire sooner and should be based on project completion.

16.    Planning powers should enable Councils to take more effective enforcement action against rundown and empty homes that blight neighbourhoods.   

Tenure Reform

17.    Labour should undertake comprehensive tenure reform with standard mandatory tenancy conditions across private and social renting.

18.    Labour should adopt a plan to ensure that the Commonhold form of tenure, introduced by the last Labour Government, is more frequently used.

19.    Labour should renew its commitment to co-operative and new forms of tenure.

Private renting

20.    The private rented sector should be modernised and reformed, with longer tenancies, more predictable rents, better regulation, and proper enforcement of safety and decency standards.

21.    There should be tough regulation of letting agents and encouragement of not-for-profit agencies.

22.    Stronger enforcement action should take place in cases of landlord crime like harassment, illegal eviction and theft of deposits.

23.    All landlords should be registered in a self-financing scheme.

24.    As part of a package of reforms, Labour should review the tax treatment of private landlords to encourage investment, and reintroduce repair grants to achieve a new PRS decency standard.

25.    Shared housing should be regularly inspected to ensure compliance with standards. 

Social housing

26.    All social landlords in receipt of public money should be subject to effective regulation and occasional inspection to achieve higher standards in terms of customer service, efficiency, governance, accountability, and viability.

27.    Statutory requirements for tenants to be involved in scrutiny and in the regulatory system should be strengthened and the right to complain to the Ombudsman should be strengthened.

28.    Labour should ensure that housing associations remain not-for-profit organisations and review the scale and use of their surpluses.

29.    There should be genuine ‘like for like’ replacement of Council homes sold under Right to Buy. Give-away discounts should be restricted. Councils should be enabled to take an equity stake in sold property and strict covenants should be applied in relation to future letting and onward sale. 

30.    A new social sector Decent Homes Standard should be adopted with stronger environmental and communal area requirements.

31.    All social landlords should produce an annual Asset Management Statement, demonstrating how they have made best use of their stock. There should be a presumption against unjustified sales of property.

32.    Security of tenure should be restored so there is a basic requirement that a household cannot lose their home without the landlord’s case being tested in a court. 

33.    It should be a priority to ensure that homes that have been ‘converted’ from social to so-called ‘affordable rent’ revert back to their original status.  

Home ownership

34.    Government help for home ownership should be targeted to provide help with deposits for first-time buyers.

35.    Labour should require the energy industry to provide better grants and loans to ensure minimum standards in energy efficiency.

36.    Repair grants should be reintroduced in housing priority areas to enable owners to bring their homes up to basic standards.

37.    Labour should work with the development industry to introduce a Rent To Buy scheme for first time buyers.

38.    Labour should work with the mortgage industry to deliver more loans at higher loan-to-value ratios but without encouraging sub-prime lending. 

Tax and benefits

39.    The total benefit cap should be regionalised to take proper account of rent differentials between areas of the country.

40.    Local Housing Allowance should be made available up to the level of median rents in an area rather than the 30^th percentile.

41.    HB direct payments to landlords should be restored based on tenants’ choice.

42.    The ‘bedroom tax’ should be ended in favour of a new national plan to tackle under occupation based on incentives and a stronger ground for possession with a right to suitable alternative accommodation.

43.    Labour should develop and adopt a long term plan to switch from personal subsidies to investment subsidies in housing, reducing the benefit bill by reducing the cost of rented housing.

44.    A Mansion Tax on properties valued at £2m or more, or additional Council Tax bands, should be introduced.

45.    Options should be investigated to impose additional taxation on foreign buyers in the prime property market. 

46.    Additional charges should be levied on long-term empty properties and unused development land.

47.    A fundamental review of property taxation and reliefs should be undertaken, including council tax, capital gains, stamp duty, to find a system that meets wider housing objectives. 

General

48.    It should be a key target of a Labour Government to reduce homelessness. The strong homelessness safety net should be restored.

49.    A new National Tenant Voice should be created, for all tenants.

50.    Labour’s commitment is to encourage mixed and sustainable communities across the country - in cities towns and rural areas.

Organ Donation in Hyndburn

Missing Persons Awareness month

Dear Mr Jones, We have chosen to mark May, which is Missing Persons Awareness month, by launching a re-designed leaflet promoting the Service.

Please find attached a copy of The Salvation Army Family Tracing Service information leaflet which we are circulating to every MP for use with her/his constituents.

As you may know, we deal with thousands of requests for help in the search for a

Abbey Gardens Vintage Summer Party - Sat 8 June 2013 2-5pm

A fantastic community garden project in West Ham ward, Newham holds its annual summer Party.

Clark County School Board Cheats Nevada Parents and Students

Clark County School Board Cheats Nevada Parents and Students
ACLU Claims Appointment of Pat Skorkowsky is Illegal

As we know, on March 5th, 2013, Clark County Superintendent Dwight Jones announced that he was "stepping down (i.e., quitting) his position as Clark County Superintendent. Dwight Jones had reneged on his four-year contract to continue beyond April 2013 as the Clark County School District Superintendent. Instead, Dwight Jones quit his contract early. The departure would be effective in as little as two weeks.

On March 29th, 2013, another disturbing or routine (depending upon your perspective) announcement was being circulated just weeks after the abrupt departure of quitter Dwight Jones. This time the Nevada State Superintendent Jim Guthrie announced that he too was quitting his cereomonial, easy, and no-brains required job that did not even require an official job application or job interview.

Unanswered Questions by the Clark County School Board

In less than two weeks, two of Nevada's top educators decided to quit their prominent Nevada jobs. Both men declined to provide legitimate reasons why they would not fulfill the terms of their contractual obligations. Quitter Dwight Jones, for example, claimed that he was leaving his well paid job as the Clark County School District Superintendent to care for his ailing mother in Texas, but his exit flight from Nevada was bound for Colorado. Jim Guthrie had no problem telling the Governor of Nevada and all Nevada residents that "All I can say is I’m resigning, effective immediately.” Neither man offered to return any portion(s) of the extensive salary, perks, and supplemental income that was also provided to them by the state of Nevada and the Clark County School District. Meanwhile, Nevada students, Nevada moms, Nevada mothers, and Nevada working adults continue to ask questions. Why were two prominent quitters hired? Why was taxpayers' monies wasted on two greedy men? Why did these two lousy men quit so early, and at essentially the same time? Why were there no penalties levied against either Quitter Dwight Jones or Quitter Jim Guthrie for quitting their contract too early? Why does the Clark County School District impose stringent rules and requirements on students and parents, and even threaten arrest for the slightest perceived infraction, while at the same time the sleazy Clark County School Board tolerates the inexcusable conduct of high-paid "educators"? Was the abrupt departure of Quitter Dwight Jones and Quitter Jim Guthrie related to the cheating scandal involving overweight Beverly Hall of Atlanta, GA, who allegedly coerced Atlanta educators to cheat? Is Dwight Jones fearful that the graduation rates of Nevada students will be a major source of embarrassment?

None of these questions have been answered, and neither can we expect any local Nevada newspaper to conduct any sort of in-depth reporting to satisfy the concerns of Nevada residents or Nevada moms, Nevada mothers, and Nevada students.

This Scholarship Blog provides uncensored reporting on news, events, and education topics of interest to Nevada students, and Nevada parents because the local Nevada newspapers cannot be trusted to report the facts, or objectively ask controversial questions. For example, why were the salaries of two men who ultimately quit so high in the first place? What is the Clark County School District going to do to penalize people like Dwight Jones who renege on their contractual obligations?

The alleged illicit hiring of Pat Skorkowsky by the Sleazy Clark County School Board

In a closed-door meeting, in which the public was not invited, and without prior advance notice to the public, the Clark County School Board voted to hire Pat Skorkowsky as the next Clark County School District Superintendent. The same sleazy Clark County School Board that hired Dwight Jones, and numerous other failed educators, voted to hire Pat Skorkowsky on a hunch that he is the best suitable candidate. No back-ground check for Pat Skorkowsky. No tough questions for Pat Skorkowsky. No checking of the references for Pat Skorkowsky. No attempts to prevent the quitting of Pat Skorkowsky after he gets the first series of large paychecks. No attempts to verify if Pat Skorkowsky (a caucasion male) has any interest in young boys despite the fact that 67% of incarcerated sex offenders are white males.

To ensure the public was excluded from providing any input, the actual agenda item to hire interim superintendent Pat Skorkowsky as the new superintendent was never publicly posted and therefore Nevada residents and Nevada moms who may have wanted to provide their input on the decision couldn't.

According to the local media, a private citizen filed a complaint with the state attorney general's office accusing the school board of violating open meetings law. "This is going too fast for me," Clark County School Board president Carolyn Edwards said, the day after Skorkowsky was approved for the job.

General counsel for the ACLU says the vote by the Clark County School Board could have opened the board up to legal complications regarding the open meetings law, which requires agenda items to be clear and posted for the public before being discussed in a meeting.

Unlike Georgia, which has strong record of prosecuting educators who engage in fraud, corruption, and violate public meeting laws, no person should expect that either the Nevada attorney general or the local Clark County prosecutor will prosecute a single Clark County School Board employee. In Nevada, criminals and board members that are friends with judicial officials are never prosecuted. Given his suspect integrity, as evidenced by his acceptance of a $250,000 a year contract by a school board that met behind closed doors, it is a relatively safe bet that Pat Skorkowsky will be another failure and/or quitter.

McDonald's Corporation Takes an Average of 3 months to Hire a Manager

To give you an idea of what type of fraud and inferior service the Clark County School District is perpetuating on the public, McDonald's Corporation and the typical fast-food restaurant spends more time hiring a burger manager than the Clark County School District spends on hiring a Clark County School District Superintendent. In fact, many McDonald's franchises spend more time, effort, and energy interviewing and selecting suitable candidates as cooks, and managers, than the Clark County School District spent on recruiting and hiring and Pat Skorkowsky. The fact that Pat Skorkowsky was hired in such an easy way, does not mean that parents and students have to approve the primitive procedures used by the sleazy Clark County School Board. It is quite clear that the sleazy Clark County School Board does not and has never had the best interests of Nevada students in mind, and that a huge amount of money wasted on incompetent educators, and incompetent teachers that are barely interviewed. Consequently, the Clark County School District has a high-proportion of child-molestors and perverted teachers who either seek out other students, children, or who seek out the married partner of other teachers.

To safeguard the welfare of students, Nevada teachers should be required to undergo a detailed Perversity Test, and must substantiate being involved in a normal, healthy, and verified relationship over the past 10 years. Single persons and divorced persons should be disqualified immediately. If a single person or divorced is not qualified for the White House then they should not be qualified to be in the classroom around minors. Given the fact that the appointed superintendent, Pat Skorkowsky, has certain physical and/or genetic traits or DNA strands that appear to be similar to certain other male molestors, we need to increase our awareness level and stop ignoring well documented trends and historical data.

For a detailed review of our Nevada Scholarships, grants, and financial-aid for Nevada students, moms, mothers, and women, please visit our official state-by-state Nevada scholarship directory page at:
Credits: This article and all images are copyrighted for exclusive use by National Academy of American Scholars. Linking to this article is accepted and welcome. No part of this article may be re-produced in whole or in part without full express permission by National Academy of American Scholars, or its authorized author representative.

How to allocate a £1 billion of pension assets?

Picture is from an unusual meeting held recently with other members of Newham Pension Committee on fund "asset allocation".

What types of investments you should allocate pension fund money into is arguably the most important decision that a board or trustees can make. Far more important than deciding who you employ to manage the funds day to day or even how much they charge.

Depending on your fund requirements, if you say decide to invest too much money in high risk equities rather than lower risk bonds it could have a devastating impact. Conversely if your fund really needs to take more risk and you think the economic outlook is right, then it can have a very negative effect if you opt for the safe options.

Newham decided that instead of having the usual type of review meeting meeting, where our fund advisers will  present  issues and options to the Committee who will then be expected to make a decision - to try something different. So the fund officers organised a special "round table" meeting and invited different City professionals and the Committee members (including the trade union reps) to debate and argue what should be our asset allocation fundamentals.

There was  a robust but productive wide exchange of views and I think all committee members went away with a much better understanding of the problems and possible solutions than a dry presentation. Good stuff. I recommend other pension schemes should consider doing the same. (picture of me with Cllr Ayesha Chowdhury and UNISON pension rep Gloria Hanson)

High-Paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarships

Do High-Paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarships? Sure they do. High-Paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarships certainly exist. Given the history of Massachusetts, it is natural to expect that High-Paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarships exist. Persons seeking high-paying and high-dollar Massachusetts Scholarships should know basic historical facts about Massachusetts. For example, the legal name for the state of Massachusetts is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Massachusetts is a U.S. state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. Massachusetts is the 7th least extensive, but the 14th most populous and the 3rd most densely populated of the 50 United States

Scholarship Quiz Questions for High-Paying
and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarships

Many Massachusetts scholarship sponsors actually expect Massachusetts Scholarship applicants to know something about the history, demographics, and the founding of Massachusetts. That's why we provide resource links on the NAAS.ORG website for Massachusetts Scholarship applicants to use when researching facts, history, demographics, and figures about Massachusetts. We develop scholarship quiz and scholarship essay questions from certain sources. Massachusetts Scholarship applicants need to know that High-Paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarships exist, and what some scholarship sponsors may expect. For example, possible scholarship quiz questions for persons seeking seeking high-paying and high-dollar Massachusetts Scholarships relate to the history of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Scholarship applicants should know the nickname of Massachusetts and basic facts about Massachusetts.

Why High-Paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarships are needed

High-Paying Massachusetts Scholarships are needed because the Massachusetts Department of Education is focused on education, and the firm belief that every student in Massachusetts that is seeking a high-paying Massachusetts Scholarships, will have the resources to pursue such a scholarship, and can actually succeed at a Massachusetts college or university. Also, a high-proportion of Massachusetts moms, Massachusetts , mothers, Massachusetts women, and high-school graduates, as well as a large proportion of Massachusetts working adults pursue some form of higher education.

We sponsor high-paying Massachusetts scholarships for Massachusetts moms, women, working adults, and students. Nearly all of these moms, women, working adults, and students rely upon high-paying and high-dollar Massachusetts scholarships, grants, and financial-aid. Massachusetts colleges and universities have experienced consistent year-over-year growth in enrollment, as well as a notorious habit of raising tuition each year. Unlike some states with lower educational standards, and a high proportion of students who drop out of schools, Massachusetts is a state with stringent educational standards, and high expectations. Also, Massachusetts has many quality school districts. Students whom plan on attending any of the quality universities in Massachusetts like Massachusetts University, or Massachusetts State University, will need High-Paying Massachusetts Scholarships.

Given the quality of education that a student can expect when he/she graduates from a high-school in Massachusetts , parents, moms, and mothers may wonder: Do high-paying Massachusetts scholarships really exist? Sure, they do. Simply visit the website of National Academy of American Scholars and you will find more than 100 high-paying Massachusetts scholarships in numerous categories. There is no fee required to apply for our high-paying Massachusetts scholarships, and neither is there any requirement to be a member of any third-party organization.

As you search for high-paying Massachusetts Scholarships, most likely you will come across scholarship search databases that claim "We're the best and the biggest." You may also come in contact with other scholarship search databases that claim to have even $1 billion of scholarships and grants. At the same time, it is important that you understand that the best high-paying Massachusetts Scholarships will not be found in the database of the Massachusetts Department of Education, or in scholarship links listed on the Massachusetts Higher Education website. You may also find high paying Massachusetts Scholarships on the financial-aid website of Massachusetts University, or on the bulletin board of The Office for Student Financial Affairs of the financial aid office at the University of Massachusetts .

One of the best possible resources for high-paying Massachusetts scholarships for moms, women, single moms, and adults seeking finanancial-aid is the website of National Academy of American Scholarships. We encourage adult students, moms, women, and single mothers to explore these financial-aid options for Massachusetts scholarships, as well other Massachusetts High-paying scholarships that are not listed but may be accessed by visiting our Massachusetts Scholarships page:

List of High-Paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarships for students, moms, and women

1. High-paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarship: Massachusetts Platinum Scholarship
2. High-paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarship: Massachusetts Gold Scholarship
3. High-paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarship: Massachusetts Silver Scholarship
4. High-paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarship: Massachusetts Bronze Scholarship
5. High-paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarship: Massachusetts Sports Scholarship:
6. High-paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarship: Massachusetts Mom Scholarship
7. High-paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarship: Unclaimed Massachusetts Scholarships
8. High-paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarship: Talent Massachusetts Scholarships
9. High-paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarship: Massachusetts Nursing Scholarships
10. High-paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarship: Massachusetts Merit Scholarships

Where to Find Free High-Paying and High-Dollar Massachusetts Scholarship Searches
That do not require A Logon or Password

Massachusetts moms, mothers, and students that are interested in high-paying Massachusetts Scholarships simply need to know where to look for such Massachusetts Scholarships. Hint: you don't need to provide a username, password, or even divulge your personal details. The NAAS.ORG website has FREE Massachusetts Scholarships searches 24 hours per day. Another great tool is Google-Plus. Make sure that you are logged into your Gmail account when you are searching for scholarships.Repeat: Massachusetts Scholarship searches conducted on the NAAS.ORG website are entirely free, and do not need a login or password. We do not censor our sponsors or investors. We are not "Sworn" to censorship like scholarship search service companies that appear on government websites. We trust that Massachusetts moms, single mothers, women, grown adults, as well as students over the age of 18, can make their own decisions about Massachusetts scholarships, grants, and financial-aid and not be spoon-fed by college scholarship search companies that claim "We're the Best & We're FREE" while at the same time they are methodically deleting, blocking, and censoring Massachusetts scholarship information on their public facebook pages, and other social media channels when such information should really be shared with other Massachusetts residents.

If you are an Massachusetts resident, or person interested in attending an Massachusetts college, or university, then your search for high-paying Massachusetts scholarships should begin with NAAS.ORG. All Massachusetts scholarship searches on the NAAS.ORG website, for example, are free, and uncensored. Massachusetts scholarship searches on Google-plus are also free. Either way, if you look at the right sources and connect with the right college scholarship sponsor that has a history of delivering high-paying Massachusetts scholarships that are renewable then your odds of winning a high-paying Massachusetts scholarship should theoretically, and in all practicality increase. The odds are in your favor.

The best Massachusetts college scholarships are FREE. If a college scholarship database company claims "We're the Best & We're FREE", but censors their college scholarship database or hides Massachusetts scholarship data from college scholarship applicants then they are not the best.

Use Google-Plus to find High-Paying Massachusetts Scholarships

Students, moms, mothers, and women may find High-Paying Massachusetts Scholarships by simply using our free search tool on the NAAS.ORG website or by simply logging into their Google-Plus account and following our Google-plus page. We cover all 52 states in the U.S.A., including Massachusetts scholarships. We cover information about Massachusetts scholarships that include travel sites to Massachusetts , as well as general demographic data because some Massachusetts Scholarship sponsors request that Massachusetts scholarship applicants demonstrate general knowledge about the state of Massachusetts .

Investors and Sponsors Fund High-Paying Massachusetts Scholarships

If Massachusetts is the state where you want to attend your college, university, or education at, or if Massachusetts is the place where you want to live in, play in, study in, develop a love affair in, go to school at, and learn, then we have high-paying Massachusetts Scholarships that may be of interest to you. What do we mean by high-paying Massachusetts Scholarships? We consider a Massachusetts Scholarship that has a market value of $100,000 over 4 years, equally paid in $25,000 a year installments, a relatively High-Paying Massachusetts scholarship. Certainly, you are not going to earn that sum working at your local Walmart, or 7-11, or McDonalds as a teenage or mom weekend helper. National Academy of American Scholars uses a network of scholarship investors, and scholarship sponsors to ensure that over $1 million worth of Massachusetts scholarships, grants, and financial-aid are made available to eligible students seeking high-paying Massachusetts scholarships.

For a detailed continuation of this article, and numerous sources of renewable High-paying Massachusetts scholarships, official State of Massachusetts Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), and various other official Massachusetts Grant programs, and private sources of Massachusetts scholarships, grants, and financial-aid, please visit our Massachusetts Scholarships page:

For a summary of Unclaimed Massachusetts Scholarships that may be suitable for moms, mothers, students, and working adults, please visit our Scholarship Programs page:

Another missed chance to get the economy back on track.

This week the Tory-led Government missed its chance to give Britain the Queen’s Speech it deserves as it voted down Labour’s amendment to prioritise jobs and growth.

With the economy flat-lining, falling living standards, almost a million young people unemployed and a stalled deficit reduction plan, Britain needed to see a programme to get the economy back on track.

Instead, we got a no

High-Paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarships

High-Paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarships certainly exist. Given the history of Maryland, it is natural to expect that High-Paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarships exist. Persons seeking high-paying and high-dollar Maryland Scholarships should know basic historical facts about Maryland. For example, Maryland is one of the smallest states in terms of area, but it remains one of the most populous and the most densely populated states of the United States. The state's largest city is Baltimore, and its capital is Annapolis. Although the state is officially claimed to be named after Queen Henrietta Maria, many national historians believe Maryland was named after Mary, the biblical mother of Jesus Christ. The naming of Maryland was allegedly done by George Calvert, prior to his death in 1632.

Scholarship Quiz Questions for High-Paying
and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarships

Many Maryland scholarship sponsors actually expect Maryland Scholarship applicants to know something about the history of Maryland. Maryland Scholarship applicants need to know that High-Paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarships exist, and what some scholarship sponsors may expect. For example, possible scholarship quiz questions for persons seeking seeking high-paying and high-dollar Maryland Scholarships relate to the history of Maryland. For example, Maryland Scholarship applicants should know the nickname of Maryland and basic facts about Maryland. Maryland has been called "America in Miniature" because so much is packed into its 10,460 square miles of land and water. The state has many natural resources, and Maryland residents do not have to travel far for basic necessities.

Persons seeking high-paying and high-dollar Maryland Scholarships should know that Maryland also has a well-known history that includes many prominent politicians, lawyers, painters, craftspeople, writers, health professionals and religious leaders.

Why High-Paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarships are needed

High-Paying Maryland Scholarships are needed because the Maryland Department of Education is focused on education, and the firm belief that every student in Maryland that is seeking a high-paying Maryland Scholarships, will have the resources to pursue such a scholarship, and can actually succeed at a Maryland college or university. Also, a high-proportion of Maryland moms, Maryland , mothers, Maryland women, and high-school graduates, as well as a large proportion of Maryland working adults pursue some form of higher education.

We sponsor high-paying Maryland scholarships for Maryland moms, women, working adults, and students. Nearly all of these moms, women, working adults, and students rely upon high-paying and high-dollar Maryland scholarships, grants, and financial-aid. Maryland colleges and universities have experienced consistent year-over-year growth in enrollment, as well as a notorious habit of raising tuition each year. Unlike some states with lower educational standards, and a high proportion of students who drop out of schools, Maryland is a state with stringent educational standards, and high expectations. Also, Maryland has many quality school districts. Students whom plan on attending any of the quality universities in Maryland like Maryland University, or Maryland State University, will need High-Paying Maryland Scholarships.

Given the quality of education that a student can expect when he/she graduates from a high-school in Maryland , parents, moms, and mothers may wonder: Do high-paying Maryland scholarships really exist? Sure, they do. Simply visit the website of National Academy of American Scholars and you will find more than 100 high-paying Maryland scholarships in numerous categories. There is no fee required to apply for our high-paying Maryland scholarships, and neither is there any requirement to be a member of any third-party organization.

As you search for high-paying Maryland Scholarships, most likely you will come across scholarship search databases that claim "We're the best and the biggest." You may also come in contact with other scholarship search databases that claim to have even $1 billion of scholarships and grants. At the same time, it is important that you understand that the best high-paying Maryland Scholarships will not be found in the database of the Maryland Department of Education, or in scholarship links listed on the Maryland Higher Education website. You may also find high paying Maryland Scholarships on the financial-aid website of Maryland University, or on the bulletin board of The Office for Student Financial Affairs of the financial aid office at the University of Maryland .

One of the best possible resources for high-paying Maryland scholarships for moms, women, single moms, and adults seeking finanancial-aid is the website of National Academy of American Scholarships. We encourage adult students, moms, women, and single mothers to explore these financial-aid options for Maryland scholarships, as well other Maryland High-paying scholarships that are not listed but may be accessed by visiting our Maryland Scholarships page:

List of High-Paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarships for students, moms, and women

1. High-paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarship: Maryland Platinum Scholarship
2. High-paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarship: Maryland Gold Scholarship
3. High-paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarship: Maryland Silver Scholarship
4. High-paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarship: Maryland Bronze Scholarship
5. High-paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarship: Maryland Sports Scholarship:
6. High-paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarship: Maryland Mom Scholarship
7. High-paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarship: Unclaimed Maryland Scholarships
8. High-paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarship: Talent Maryland Scholarships
9. High-paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarship: Maryland Nursing Scholarships
10. High-paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarship: Maryland Merit Scholarships

Where to Find Free High-Paying and High-Dollar Maryland Scholarship Searches
That do not require A Logon or Password

Maryland moms, mothers, and students that are interested in high-paying Maryland Scholarships simply need to know where to look for such Maryland Scholarships. Hint: you don't need to provide a username, password, or even divulge your personal details. The NAAS.ORG website has FREE Maryland Scholarships searches 24 hours per day. Another great tool is Google-Plus. Make sure that you are logged into your Gmail account when you are searching for scholarships.Repeat: Maryland Scholarship searches conducted on the NAAS.ORG website are entirely free, and do not need a login or password. We do not censor our sponsors or investors. We are not "Sworn" to censorship like scholarship search service companies that appear on government websites. We trust that Maryland moms, single mothers, women, grown adults, as well as students over the age of 18, can make their own decisions about Maryland scholarships, grants, and financial-aid and not be spoon-fed by college scholarship search companies that claim "We're the Best & We're FREE" while at the same time they are methodically deleting, blocking, and censoring Maryland scholarship information on their public facebook pages, and other social media channels when such information should really be shared with other Maryland residents.

If you are an Maryland resident, or person interested in attending an Maryland college, or university, then your search for high-paying Maryland scholarships should begin with NAAS.ORG. All Maryland scholarship searches on the NAAS.ORG website, for example, are free, and uncensored. Maryland scholarship searches on Google-plus are also free. Either way, if you look at the right sources and connect with the right college scholarship sponsor that has a history of delivering high-paying Maryland scholarships that are renewable then your odds of winning a high-paying Maryland scholarship should theoretically, and in all practicality increase. The odds are in your favor.

The best Maryland college scholarships are FREE. If a college scholarship database company claims "We're the Best & We're FREE", but censors their college scholarship database or hides Maryland scholarship data from college scholarship applicants then they are not the best.

Use Google-Plus to find High-Paying Maryland Scholarships

Students, moms, mothers, and women may find High-Paying Maryland Scholarships by simply using our free search tool on the NAAS.ORG website or by simply logging into their Google-Plus account and following our Google-plus page. We cover all 52 states in the U.S.A., including Maryland scholarships. We cover information about Maryland scholarships that include travel sites to Maryland , as well as general demographic data because some Maryland Scholarship sponsors request that Maryland scholarship applicants demonstrate general knowledge about the state of Maryland .

Investors and Sponsors Fund High-Paying Maryland Scholarships

If Maryland is the state where you want to attend your college, university, or education at, or if Maryland is the place where you want to live in, play in, study in, develop a love affair in, go to school at, and learn, then we have high-paying Maryland Scholarships that may be of interest to you. What do we mean by high-paying Maryland Scholarships? We consider a Maryland Scholarship that has a market value of $100,000 over 4 years, equally paid in $25,000 a year installments, a relatively High-Paying Maryland scholarship. Certainly, you are not going to earn that sum working at your local Walmart, or 7-11, or McDonalds as a teenage or mom weekend helper. National Academy of American Scholars uses a network of scholarship investors, and scholarship sponsors to ensure that over $1 million worth of Maryland scholarships, grants, and financial-aid are made available to eligible students seeking high-paying Maryland scholarships.

For a detailed continuation of this article, and numerous sources of renewable High-paying Maryland scholarships, official State of Maryland Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), and various other official Maryland Grant programs, and private sources of Maryland scholarships, grants, and financial-aid, please visit our Maryland Scholarships page:

For a summary of Unclaimed Maryland Scholarships that may be suitable for moms, mothers, students, and working adults, please visit our Scholarship Programs page: