At a press conference in the House of Commons today, Richard Burden, Labour MP for Birmingham Northfield, launched his Private Members Bill aimed at stamping out the bogus homeworking schemes that have blighted the lives of thousands of people across the country.

These schemes, which prey on vulnerable, low income individuals such as carers, pensioners, lone parents and the disabled, have for years been ripping off trusting individuals who are doing their best to supplement their incomes.

The Bill will:

• Make it a criminal offence to seek payment in advance for the provision of homework or directories containing so called homeworking opportunities

• Outlaw the advertisement of such schemes and directories

• Give Trading Standards Officers the powers to crack down on these schemes quickly and effectively

• Introduce criminal penalties and fines of up to £5000 for each separate offence

The Bill has already attracted cross party support from a number of individual MPs including Fabian Hamilton, Linda Gilroy, Nigel Griffiths, Angela Smith, Oona King, Judy Mallaber, Peter Bottomley, David Amess, Paul Tyler and Dafydd Wigley.

It was launched today with the support of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, the National Consumers Council, the National Group on Homeworking and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Mr Burden said:

'I am very pleased with the amount of support this Bill has already received from MPs on both sides of the House. I know that if a spring election is called, we are running to a tight timetable but with the support of the Government and Opposition parties there is no reason at all why this Bill should not go through and this injustice be stamped out permanently. I hope that all my colleagues in the House will join me in protecting those vulnerable members of our society that these scams target.'

For further information please contact on 0207 219 2318 or page 07666 889780
NACAB: 0207 833 7107; NCC: 0207881 3018; NGH: 0113 245 4273