2015 Newsletters

End of Year Review

As we near the end of 2015, it seems suitable to reflect on the first seven months in office. It was greatly humbling to receive the mandate off the people of North Cornwall, and I'm just as determined now as I was back in May to stand up for us down here.

I've met or corresponded with thousands of you so far, whether it to assist with complex personal matters, to discuss government policy, or justifying how I voted on legislation. One of the main issues that I discussed with people on the doorstep was the EU. The Conservatives promised to give the British people a referendum, and the Act to do just that received royal assent in December.

It didn't take long before the responsibility of my job really came in to focus. I was sickened to hear about the attacks on the beach in Tunisia, and it’s international incidents like this which test your resolve when you have to drop everything else going on and prioritise the welfare of your constituents.

Months later I find myself having to decide whether to support the Government's plan to extend military action to try and defeat an organisation that not only cruelly and callously targeted British people on holiday in North Africa, but also Parisians enjoying a Friday night out in the French capital, Russian holidaymakers flying back from Egypt, peaceful protesters in Turkey, or the thousands of Syrian families who have been persecuted and driven from their homes.

Meanwhile I've been maintaining focus on an array of issues affecting the constituency, such as TB on farms, fairer school funding, campaigning to make roads safer for communities and protecting public toilets, promoting North Cornwall as a place to do business, as well as the various cases which come across my desk.

One of the first things I raised in parliament was the unfairness of the school funding formula. Its seems very wrong to have pupils from urban areas funded to the tune of £2,000 more than some in rural areas. I met with several schools who talked to me about this disparity,what It would mean to have additional school spend and how that might be utilised for the benefit of our children. I am pleased to say that the funding formula is being rebalanced and we should know soon how much more our children will receive per head. Speculating on even a modest £1,000 per pupil could be worth an additional 1 million pounds a year. I am thrilled that we have been able to make this positive change.

Meanwhile the Conservatives didn't waste a moment in working to implement the manifesto. After the crisis in 2008, unemployment soared to over 2.5 million (8%) as the recess bankrupted businesses and drove people out of work to rely on the state to heat their homes and put food on the table. That is what welfare is primarily for, to help those who face unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances and who need help to get back on their feet. Unemployment now stands at a seven year low of 5.3%, we created 2 million jobs in the last Parliament, and we're pledging to create a further 2 million by 2020.

The government is taking tough decisions to eradicate the deficit, but we're still investing money in infrastructure and job creation while protecting the most vital parts of our society like the NHS and the police. It shows that when responsible economic policies are implemented, we can create more jobs, build more homes, increase free childcare and wages, while lowering taxes to help working people, and that's why I'm proud to be bringing these benefits to North Cornwall.

This month I brought my first Bill into Parliament to give parish and town councils the ability to alter speed limits through local referendums. Through a Ten Minute Rule Motion, I gave a speech about why it is important we give communities the power and ability manage their speed limits.

I've met with school, parish councils, and constituents who have expressed their concern about the speed of cars travelling through their communities. This Bill, then, would give them the power to change that on the ballot paper.

The Bill was passed by MPs in its first reading, and its next reading will take place in February. It's fantastic to get my first piece of draft legislation into the Commons to represent the needs of North Cornwall.

Following the terrible events in Paris, the Prime Minister has pledged £178 billion of investment for our national defences. Our Strategic Defence and Security Review is a comprehensive plan to back our Armed Forces, counter-terrorism police, and intelligence agencies with the resources they need.

On top of this, George Osborne has announced that Police budgets will not be cut, allowing forces to maintain officer numbers and ensuring security for the public.

He also announced that after listening to MPs including myself, Tax Credits will not be cut from next April. I previously had expressed concern that people would be left worse off because welfare reductions would outweigh mandatory wage rises.

It was fantastic to hear recently that the Government will introduce a Universal Service Obligation for broadband, with everyone having the right to expect a connect of at least 10Mbps. I made a point of campaigning before the election, in Parliament, and with the Prime Minister about broadband speeds in North Cornwall and how it can promote business for the rural economy. The proposals for this initiative will be revealed in greater detail in the coming weeks.

I have also asked the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, about the need for a new railway line between Exeter and Plymouth via Okehampton. This line would be dual purpose. Not only would it offer relief to the mainline via Dawlish, which is prone to storm damage, but it would also open up North Devon and subsequently North Cornwall to more trade and footfall and would bring huge economic benefits to the area.

 

December 2015

I hope North Cornwall had a very pleasant and relaxing Christmas. It's been nice to spend the holiday back in Cornwall with family and friends, and to re-charge the batteries ahead of the next session in Parliament until Easter. 

Before Christmas I had a few meetings across the constituency. I visited the sorting and delivery offices at Bodmin, Bude and Launceston to wish my former colleagues a Happy Christmas and thank them for the hard work they do to get everyone's post delivered in time. Even in the age of emails and alternative courier services, the Royal Mail is as busy as ever dealing with extra post and parcels. 

I also went along to Greystone Quarry which is operated by Aggregate Industries. There they blast out the materials used to build roads, and it was great to see people in Cornwall working in heavy industries such as this. I've been invited back to watch them using dynamite to blast out the rock which I'm sure will be exciting to watch. While in the area, I also visited the Subway restaurant on the A30 at Altarnun. There I was shown how to make their famous baguettes, and very tasty they were too.  

Shortly before Christmas the Government made some important announcements. Firstly, a package of measures will be unveiled to further improve road safety. Britain has some of the safest roads in the world, but we are committed to reducing the number of people killed and injured. Learner drivers be able to practice on motorways, £50 million will be provided to support safe cycle training in schools, and penalties will be increased for motorists who use mobile phones while driving. 

Road safety in communities is something I am passionate about, and my recent Private Members Bill on speed limits is all about making it easier for towns and villages to slow down their roads. 

The Education Secretary then announced new measures to keep children safe online. We know what an important role the internet can play in children’s education, but it can also bring risks. 

Teachers will have the right measures in place to keep children safe from exploitation or radicalisation, and we will strengthen measures to protect children from harm online - requiring schools to have appropriate filters and monitoring systems while teaching pupils about staying safe online. Guides have also been published for social media to help parents talk about online safety with their children. 

I trust 2016 will bring many good things for North Cornwall. The A30 at Temple will have four lanes in place by summer, the new Truro College campus in Bodmin will hopefully start to take shape, as well as progress towards a new railway line to Wadebridge. On top of this, I'm hoping to see mainline services extended into Bodmin General for a year-round service to make it easier for people to access the mainline at Bodmin Parkway.  

We will also start to see the Cornwall Devolution Deal taking effect while the six Conservative MPs continue to represent the county and make it a better place to live and do business. I wish you all a Happy New Year. 

 

November 2015

This month I brought my first Bill into Parliament to give parish and town councils the ability to alter speed limits through local referendums. Through a Ten Minute Rule Motion, I gave a speech about why it is important we give communities the power and ability manage their speed limits.

I've met with school, parish councils, and constituents who have expressed their concern about the speed of cars travelling through their communities. This Bill, then, would give them the power to change that on the ballot paper.

The Bill was passed by MPs in its first reading, and its next reading will take place in February. It's fantastic to get my first piece of draft legislation into the Commons to represent the needs of North Cornwall.

Following the terrible events in Paris, the Prime Minister has pledged £178 billion of investment for our national defences. Our Strategic Defence and Security Review is a comprehensive plan to back our Armed Forces, counter-terrorism police, and intelligence agencies with the resources they need.

On top of this, George Osborne has announced that Police budgets will not be cut, allowing forces to maintain officer numbers and ensuring security for the public.

He also announced that after listening to MPs including myself, Tax Credits will not be cut from next April. I previously had expressed concern that people would be left worse off because welfare reductions would outweigh mandatory wage rises.

It was fantastic to hear recently that the Government will introduce a Universal Service Obligation for broadband, with everyone having the right to expect a connect of at least 10Mbps. I made a point of campaigning before the election, in Parliament, and with the Prime Minister about broadband speeds in North Cornwall and how it can promote business for the rural economy. The proposals for this initiative will be revealed in greater detail in the coming weeks.

I have also asked the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, about the need for a new railway line between Exeter and Plymouth via Okehampton. This line would be dual purpose. Not only would it offer relief to the mainline via Dawlish, which is prone to storm damage, but it would also open up North Devon and subsequently North Cornwall to more trade and footfall and would bring huge economic benefits to the area.

The Peninsula Rail Task Force has just published its interim report and the Department for Transport are now looking at this and considering its findings.

In Parliament I have also sat on a Agroecology inquiry which has been set up by the All part Parliamentary Group for Agroecology. It is taking evidence from specialists, companies and organisations, with the aim to address a range of questions on how government policy can help to protect and enhance the soil and to conclude with a report which will include policy recommendations.

As North Cornwall is a hugely rural area and has a huge number of farmers, I felt this was an important event to take part in. Any new technology that can provide bigger yields will be beneficial to our farmers and landowners.

 

October 2015

George Osborne has announced radical plans that will see local authorities devolved power over business rates as well as a new programme to build more homes. This means Cornwall will be able to keep all the funds it raises through business rates, while having the power to cut rates to attract business. Planning rules are also to be relaxed on brownfield sites for construction of homes, meaning less greenbelt land will have to be used.

Normally, business rates, which are set by central government but collected by local authorities, are handed over before being redistributed equally. This means that a local authority can see less money returned than what it originally took in.

Now though, Cornwall Council will keep all the money it takes in, which George Osborne says will see £26bn diverted from central to local government. Councils will also be able to cut rates to relieve a burden on business owners and subsequently attract more business due to lower costs. Only councils with elected mayors will be able to raise rates, with the government also introducing a 'safety net' for any area where business rate receipts fall by 7.5%.

Meanwhile, the Chancellor's Four-Point Plan for housing will see planning rules on brownfield sites removed to free up land for development, with the housing budget directed towards new ‘low cost homes for sale’ for first-time buyers.

The government will also bring forward sales of its own land and buildings to raise up to £5 billion, which will be recycled to help fund new infrastructure projects.

I recently travelled to Bude to witness the launch of the town's new Coastal Community Team which has been awarded £10,000 from central government. The team are aiming to attract custom and thus job creation, as well as provision of services for 16-19 year olds. St Endellion and Wadebridge were also successful in North Cornwall and I look forward to hearing their proposals also.

A number of concerns regarding traffic management have been brought to my attention in recent weeks. Both Werrington Primary School in Launceston and St Teath Primary School are looking to introduce traffic calming measures to ensure the safety of their pupils, parents and staff, and I will be contacting Cornwall Council to stress these present dangers and ask that work be done to make the areas safer.

Ideally, I would like villages and communities to have the power to set their own speed limits or devise their own traffic management plan. Should I be fortunate enough to secure a Private Members Bill during this Parliament, I would consider giving this power to local communities.

It was great to hear news that UK unemployment has fallen to a seven-year low of 5.4%, and that the number of people in work has risen by 140,000 to 73.6% - the highest rate in the country's history. More specifically in the South West, 208,000 more people are in work than five years ago. With average weekly earning rising by 3%, this means more people are taking home more money.

 

September 2015

Recently I welcomed Local Government Minister Marcus Jones MP to Bodmin to hold a roundtable discussion with town and Cornwall councillors about the proposed shared space scheme. 

There he was told how the scheme, which is designed to keep traffic moving at a constant slow speed, would benefit Bodmin by making roads pedestrian and cycle friendly. After the discussion, the Minister walked through the town to see where exactly the shared space would be implemented. 

Bodmin has huge potential to grow it's economy through the tourist industry and by improving its infrastructure. By making the roads cycle friendly and embracing the vision put forward by Better Bodmin, the town will be able to further cater for the thousands of walkers and cyclists who come to Cornwall.  

Since returning to Parliament after the summer recess I have written to David Cameron and Greg Clarke, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, asking them to help save public toilets by exempting them of business rates, as well as asking them to consider making public toilets a statutory public service, meaning they must remain open. 

These are essential amenities for local people and visitors who should be able to expect access to a public toilet. The Prime Minister is a frequent visitor to Cornwall and I hope my Cornish colleagues and I have emphasised the problem enough for action to be taken. 

In Parliament I have met with representatives of First Great Western to discuss the new trains destined for Cornwall as well as their rebranding from FGW to GWR (Great Western Railway). The re-branding will see £7.5 billion of investment into the railways including an overhaul of its trains which will be dual-purpose so they can run on the new electrified lines as well as those that aren't. 

New services will see double the number of trains into and out of Cornwall, with various services running fast to London as well as local stopping trains. This will be supported by 100 extra members of staff on the stations. 

I then also met with mobile phone provider '3' to discuss how they are increasing their mobile internet coverage across North Cornwall. The building of more masts and better technology is allowing them to reach rural areas and coastlines, and penetrate buildings with low-frequency waves. This means that rural businesses and homes can consider getting a USB 'dongle' or 'MiFi' unit to provide them with mobile internet if they cannot obtain reliable landline internet. 

In the summer I expressed concern over a "surf tax" being considered by Cornwall Council, and I'm very disappointed to see that it has been passed. This will place an unnecessary burden on surf schools which play a huge part in education as well as sea safety and awareness. 

David Cameron has responded swiftly regarding the refugee crisis by announcing that the UK will take 20,000 refugees from a camp in Turkey, as to deter them from trying to cross the Mediterranean sea. This, on top of those already in Europe, means more people are being given safety from war and persecution. 

The Government will relocate refugees using the International Aid fund to pay for their shelter under local authorities. 

 

August 2015

I welcome the recent steps taken by supermarkets to introduce higher pricing for milk in the wake of protests across the country from dairy farmers. The re-balancing of this has been long overdue and I’m glad that the issue has started to be rectified.

I now hope that talks can continue between farmers, distributers and sellers so that farmers can not only maintain increased prices for milk, but also further close the gap between production costs and sale prices to guarantee a strong dairy industry that we all depend on.

I am pleased to have seen the recent pictures of the Truro College campus proposed for Bodmin. I have supported this project since its proposal as it will further cater for young people in North Cornwall.

In an uncertain time facing leisure facilities across the county, it's always important to focus on positive news, and I believe this new campus will help invigorate Bodmin with youth, diversity and education. It is my belief that there is a better way to handle leisure centres, where the council should retain the building and allow a private or community group to run the facilities.

I was delighted to hear that there has been a surge in GCSE pupils studying Maths, IT, Science and Engineering, with the latter up by 37%. This, coupled with more and more apprenticeships introduced by the Conservative's, means that many more young people will have the opportunity and education to pursue skillful and respectable jobs through a vocational route.

Meanwhile, the introduction of a “surf tax” on surfing schools will be decided soon by Cornwall Council, and I sincerely hope that this is refused. This would be another strike against tourists, on top of closing public toilets, which would probably cost more to police than the estimated £40,000 it would raise.

I echo my Conservative colleague Fiona Ferguson’s view that surf schools are our “second blue light service” which assist the RNLI in keeping beaches safe. Any attempt to place a flat-rate of £500 on these essential educational facilities would only be detrimental to our coastal communities.

Recently I was lucky enough to ride onboard the Padstow lifeboat alongside the RNLI and lifeguards to watch an exercise where I was shown how people are saved from the water and given quick treatment. We owe a great deal to those who risk their lives to protect ours from the perils that the sea can bring, and I support all efforts to aid them in their duty of helping locals and tourists from danger.

The Chancellor, George Osborne, and the Environment Secretary, Liz Truss, have announced the launch of a Rural Productivity Plan that will set out measures to boost the rural economy and to create jobs and growth outside of big towns and cities.

The plan will improve conditions for rural communities and businesses to thrive, invest in education and skills, and improve rural infrastructure, with people having greater choices about where they live and the jobs they do.

I have already voiced my frustration in Parliament about how rural schools receive less funding per head compared to urban schools. This is wrong and I will continue to fight for a fairer deal for North Cornwall.

 

July 2015

The Government has wasted no time since May 8th in setting out its agenda and implementing its election manifesto before the summer recess starts.

At the time of writing this column, only 26 days have gone by of debating Government bills and legislation, and already we have seen significant milestones being passed, including the Summer Budget, the announcement of English Votes on English Laws (EVEL), progression of The Scotland Bill (devolution) and the Assisted Dying Bill, as well as bringing forward the end to on-shore wind subsidy and the introduction of the EU Referendum Bill.

Sadly, this period was overshadowed by the tragic events in Tunisia, which reminded us all how fragile life is, and that even in a place of retreat and relaxation, there is always a threat to our safety.

Terror attacks are nothing but counterproductive for those who commit them, as the resolve of those affected only becomes stronger to repel such evil. Nothing proved this more than when the country stood united and remembered the events of 7/7 the following week.

The Chancellor’s recent budget unlocked a new vision for British politics, where the policies and mistakes of the previous Labour government can finally be laid to rest. It was a budget that rewards hard-work, entrepreneurism, business and growth, while the vicious circle that is the welfare state, which saw us spiral into so much debt, was finally cut down to size.

Among it was a compulsory living wage that will rise to £9/hr by 2020, a new 8% tax on bank profits, a new family home allowance of  £175,000 per person on top of the £325,000 inheritance tax threshold, a commitment of 2% of GDP on defence spending, the abolition of ‘non-dom’ status so wealthy individuals who choose to live here pay more tax, a levy on large employers to take on more apprentices while their corporation tax is slashed to 19% to support the new living wage, and most importantly, an increase in NHS funding of £8bn on top of the £2bn that was pledged before the election.

Welfare cuts will be spread over a longer period, meaning we will end the deficit and reach a surplus a year later in 2019/20. Elements of welfare which concern disabled adults and children will not be reduced, while claimants of tax credits will be on a more even keel with those who do not claim them, but are likewise on lower incomes.

I also welcome the announcement that the Government will look at devolving some powers to Cornwall Council, as well as addressing the threat to small cider producers, where the EU is trying to lift their excise duty exemptions. I have signed an Early Day Motion to reject this, and have had personal reassurance from the Treasury that efforts will be made to address this in Brussels.

I have attended several local events in North Cornwall over the last few weeks, including coffee mornings, fetes, and schools, as well as welcoming visitors in London and showing them around the historic building that is Parliament.

Through August I will be back in Cornwall for the summer recess, during which time I will be  holding surgeries and attending events. If you see me about, then please come over and have a chat - whether it’s to raise a concern or chew over the glorious weather.

 

June 2015

It has been a month since I became the MP for North Cornwall and Parliament is now back into full swing of debating Government bills. I have been sworn in, delivered my maiden speech, and I’m now finalising the employment of staff and refurbishing an office in Bodmin. 

I’d like to thank all those who have contacted me with their concerns while exercising great patience. These first few weeks have been challenging but also rewarding, and I have focused on implementing an infrastructure of communication and staff so that we can address all correspondence from constituents more economically. 

The most significant development has been the passing of the EU Referendum Bill, which will now go to the committee stage before heading to the House of Lords for their approval. The EU referendum is now firmly on the horizon and I’m confident it will be delivered to the British people by the end of 2017. 

On top of that, I have also joined ‘Conservative’s for Britain’, which will consider how to prepare for an ‘out’ campaign if the EU does not permit a new relationship of trade and co-operation with the UK. 

More locally, I have decided to no longer accept my councillor’s allowance of £12,250. In a letter to Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of Cornwall Council, I have asked that the money instead be given – if permitted – to a local community fund in Wadebridge which would far better benefit local people. 

Spending over half my week in London, it would be wrong to continue drawing money from Cornwall’s public purse. Although I will remain the representative of Wadebridge West, I feel my MP’s pay alone is sufficient in covering my Westminster duties as well as my local duties.  

Notable issues that I have been addressing include protection of public toilets and voicing concerns of constituents who are opposed to wind turbines. 

In particular, the Daymer Bay public toilets are under threat for closure. Being particularly isolated, there would be no other suitable amenity for beach users. This is not practical for anyone and it wouldn’t be long before tourists and local people stopped going there.  

There must be practical or financial solutions to problems facing public toilets, and I’m sure small charges to keep them open would be seen favourably. It is basic amenities such as toilets that we must ensure are protected, otherwise our tourism economy could suffer irreparably. 

I then wrote to Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, Under-Secretary for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, who will be overseeing an appeal for a wind farm at Week St Mary. I stressed the views of the local people who want their rural surroundings to remain unspoiled. David Cameron has also reiterated the Government's intention to end on-shore wind subsidy, which is hugely contributing to the industrialisation of our countryside and excessive energy bills.

I have also had meetings with my Cornish colleagues in Parliament to discuss the way forward for the Stadium for Cornwall. It is undoubtedly something we want to see happen and succeed for the benefit of the whole county, but not on the backs of Cornish rate payers. 

In June I attended the Royal Cornwall Show, which as always was a great event. It’s always nice to meet the array of people who attend, from farmers, to small business owners, to families. I also attended the Launceston food festival - which showcased the Cornish food industry, as well as the BAAM festival in Bude, the Big Lunch in Wadebridge and the Bude Music Society.  

All showed what Cornwall truly has to offer and it gave me great reassurance about the Cornish economy (particularly the food sector) and how things are looking good going forward in North Cornwall.