Town MP ‘proud of firm’s legal aid work’
HELEN Grant says she is proud to have helped victims of domestic violence, after it emerged that her law firm received more than £200,000 in legal aid in the six months after she was promoted to the Ministry of Justice.
According to the ministry’s annual report,
total payments in 2012-13 to Grant Solici- tors LLP, which she co-owns with husband Simon, were £384,018, of which £219,751 were made on or after September 4, 2012 – the date she was made Justice Minister. When the MP for Maidstone and The
Weald was promoted to a junior minister, the legal aid portfolio was passed to another minister.However, she has continued to an- swer written questions on taxpayer-funded legal aid in parliament and her portfolio still includes law reform, legal services, civil law and the courts. Last year she launched an equality advi- sory service for people seeking to start a
legal aid claim for discrimination. Mrs Grant claims not to receive an income
from her company, but opponents say that as its co-owner she stands to benefit in the future. Mrs Grant said: “I have been completely
open and transparent about my interests in the legal firm of Grants Solicitors LLP and have complied fully with the ministerial code. I am extremely proud of the vital work Grants Solicitors carries out under the legal aid scheme. “For 17 years my team and I have helped thousands of women and children, and somemen, escape abusive and violent rela- tionships, including some of the most vul- nerable and needy in our society. “One in four women in our country suffer domestic violence at some time in their lives, and two women die here every week at the hand of their partner or former part- ner.
“I am often told that people want their politicians to be in touch with ‘real life’ and I am proud to serve as a minister with ex- perience of justice, women and equality is- sues well beyond the walls ofWestminster. After 23 years as a lawyer, a business owner and an employer, I believe my role in Gov- ernment is informed.” Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Jasper Gerard said: “Mrs Grant’s department con- firms that she is still an equity partner. Even if she is not receiving a wage from the firm, will the value of her shares increase as a re- sult of these windfalls? We also need to be told if Mr Grant is drawing a salary or a div- idend from the firm. “The people of this constituency are enti-
tled to answers.” Shadow Justice Minister Andy Slaughter
has also written to the Ministry of Justice demanding answers to a number of ques- tions regarding the MP’s role.
Homes plan on
industrial site A GROUP of disused industrial buildings in Headcorn may be redeveloped to provide 14 houses. Asprey Homes has applied to
Kent Show a real scorcher
MORE than twice as many people visited the Kent CountyShowthis year compared with last year as blaz- ing sun and scorching temperatures made 2012’s soggy showa distant memory. A total of 75,000 people enjoyed animal shows,
tastedKentish foodanddrink, browsed craft stallsand admired farm machinery at the annual agricultural showin Detling. Adorable alpacas Cupcake,Snowdrop andCrunchie
from Appledene Alpacas, near Marden, left their farm for the first time to visit the show, and North Downs Young Farmers’ Club, based at St Augustine’s Abbey in Oakwood Road, showed Suffolk-cross lambs bor- rowed from GF Day and Son in Staplehurst. Maidstone’s fruit farmers performed well with
RobertPascall, of ClockHouseFarminCoxheath,pick- ing up several prizes. Brian Piper of Loose, Hugh Lowe Farms in Mere-
worth and JL Baxter and Son in Hunton all picked up awards for their soft fruit.Abasketof theprize-winning fruit is sent to the Queen each year.
Cupcake, Snowdrop and Crunchie, from Appledene Alpacas, and top left, fruit farmers Robert Pascall and Alistair Brooks
build 12 detached and two semi-detached homes on the site of Naked Foods Limited in Smarden Road. The commer- cial buildings to the rear,which have not been occupied since 2010, would be demolished should Maidstone Council grant planning permission. To the south and south-west, the existing frontage site will re- main in commercial use. A supporting statement said:
“The site has been vacant for a number of years and there is no realistic prospect of the site being redeveloped or reused for commercial purposes. “The former user of the site
has relocated to new premises in the borough so there will be no net loss of employment. “The retained commercial buildings on the front of the site are owned and used by Naked Foods Limited. The firm pro- duces fruit and confectionery sauces and is low key in opera- tion with only eight staff em- ployed at the site. “Naked Foods only operates
five days per week, which does not include any evening or night work. All deliveries and collections take place to the rear of the building. “There would not appear to
The pony club show in the main arena, and left, Joseph’s Amazing Camels
12 South
be any basis for concluding that the retained commercial opera- tion would result in unaccept- able living conditions for the future occupiers of the new dwellings.” There would be two parking spaces per unit. The statement added: “The layout incorpo- rates landscaped open areas ad- jacent to the River Sherway which would provide, through the retention of trees, a semi- rural and sylvan setting for the new houses.”
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