Newspaper column 24 April 2024 - Benefit changes

A big announcement from the Prime Minister last week was that the Government will be consulting on proposed reforms to the benefits system to ensure benefits are targeted at those who need it most whilst ensuring those who are able to work are supported to do so.

The Department for Work and Pensions provides a valuable service supporting people to find work and ensuring a safety net for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. In particular, the DWP offices in our constituency, St Austell and Newquay Jobcentres and St Austell Benefit Centre, do excellent work, with Newquay Jobcentre recognised as one of the best performing in the south west for the way in works with local businesses and community groups in innovative ways to help people find work.

The Prime Minister’s announcement from last week outlines a package of wide ranging reforms to put work at the heart of welfare and deliver on his “moral mission” to give everyone who is able to work, the best possible chance of staying in, or returning to work. The welfare package also includes further measures to crack down on fraud and removing benefits entirely from long term unemployed who don’t accept a job when one is available.

It comes as many more working age people are being awarded benefit for mental health conditions than when it was first introduced over a decade ago, as well as concerns that the assessment process is significantly easier to abuse by individuals who seek to exploit the system.

Total spending on benefits for people of working age with a disability or health condition increased by almost two-thirds to £69 billion since the pandemic, and we now spend more on these benefits than our core schools’ budget or on policing. Given the significant change in caseload and unsustainable increase in costs, it’s clear our current disability benefit system for adults of working age is not fit for purpose.

A consultation on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will be published in the coming days which will explore changes to the eligibility criteria, assessment process and types of support that can be offered so the system is better targeted towards individual needs and more closely linked to a person’s condition rather than the current “one size fits all” approach.

Let me be clear, this is not about removing support for those who need it, but the current situation is unsustainable. Not only is it cost taxpayers a huge amount of money. Let’s remember the money has to come from somewhere and it is hard working taxpayers who are footing the bill. The current situation is also making it more difficult for local businesses to find the staff they need. This is holding back our economy locally and nationally.

I am pleased that the Prime Minister has listened to the calls for reform to the system. It is crucial that those with long term health conditions who most need assistance via the benefits system and services provided by the Department for Work and Pensions get appropriately targeted support to enable them to manage their conditions and the way in which it impact their lives. But at the same time, we also need to ensure those who abuse the system are not able to continue to do this..  I hope that the Prime Minister’s announcement will enable both of these things to happen, and I will continue to support our local DWP staff in the delivery of their vital work.

As ever, if I can be of assistance on any matter, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel: 01726 829379 or email: office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column 17 April 2024 - More support for our fishermen

Parliament has now returned from the Easter Recess. In the last week, among other things, I was pleased to meet with Cornwall Council in St Austell town centre about anti-social behaviour, meet with a local company near Newquay about renewable energies, get an update from the team delivering the A30 Link Road to St Austell, and spend time on the doors talking to people about the local and national issues that matter to them in communities across our constituency. Whilst in Roche I visited the Clays Health Centre and met with some of the doctors and staff there. It was good to get an update on their work and I have come away with a few issues to work on, on their behalf. On Thursday I spent time meeting with fishermen in Mevagissey following the Government’s decision to provide compensation to fishermen most affected by the by the zero total allowable catch decision on pollack, which was recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas last year.

I have worked hard, along with my Cornish MP colleagues, to get the Government to provide support for these fishermen, many of whom are based in Mevagissey or Newquay, since I first heard about the upcoming changes and met with the fishermen in November last year. The fishermen were very clear then that the thing they would most welcome would be a compensation scheme. This is because the changes were brought in at short notice, and fishermen did not have the time or resources to be able to adapt their way of working to go after different fish, and as such they were essentially left without a way to make a living  - so seeking compensation to address this was a sensible way forward.

Since I met with the fishermen I have worked with them and the organisations that support them to gather evidence to make the case for compensation. I met with the DEFRA Ministerial team on many occasions, asked questions in Parliament and held a debate on the subject in February.

There was resistance to a compensation scheme from civil servants, essentially because this is a unique situation and has never happened before. However the  Environment Secretary has listened and taken action, recognising the issues faced by the affected fishermen and has used the powers available to him to effectively override the civil servants.

I'd particularly like to thank the fishermen from these communities and everyone who contacted me for working constructively with me to help make the case for this support. This shows the Government is on the side of Cornish fishermen and I am pleased to have played a part in them reaching this decision.

The compensation scheme is very welcome, but it is only the first step, and what we must do next is look at restoring a sustainable pollack fishery, as I highlighted in my debate in February. The Government is working with the fishermen, who know most about their catch, to get the scientific evidence to do this, and I will be working with local fishermen and industry representatives to make this happen as soon as possible.

As ever, if I can be of assistance on any matter, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel: 01726 829379 or email: office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column 27 March 2024 - State Pension updates

The State Pension has been in the news a lot recently for several reasons.

One of the main things I have campaigned on over the years is for the Government to retain the triple lock for the State Pension.

The triple lock is designed to ensure pensioners, especially if they rely solely on the state pension, are able to afford rising prices, or keep pace with the increases in the working population's wages.  It means the state pension rises in line with average earnings growth, inflation or 2.5% - whichever is highest.

It was introduced by the coalition government in 2010, but there has been debate over whether it can continue in the long-term future due to its costs.

I have been clear in conversations with colleagues in Government that retention of the Triple Lock, particularly while we are experiencing cost of living pressures, has never been more important.

The Government has listened over the past couple of years and kept the Triple Lock. Last year saw the largest ever increase of the State Pension, with a 10.1% increase in April 2023, and next month will see another significant increase, with a rise of 8.5% from April 2024. Combined this means the state pension will have risen by around £1800 in this time. It is absolutely right that we provide pensioners with these increases during these difficult times.

But now we are looking to the future, with a General Election due later this year, and I was delighted to see over the weekend that the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has now publicly committed to retaining the State Pension Triple Lock as a Manifesto commitment should the Conservatives win the next election.

The Chancellor said that although continuing the Triple Lock will be an "expensive commitment… You can only make that commitment if you're confident that you're going to deliver the economic growth that is going to pay for it." As we have seen with the continuing fall in inflation and economic growth indicators brought about by the Chancellor’s sensible management of the economy, this is happening and therefore I am pleased that the Government is doing the right thing and committing to the Triple Lock under a future Conservative Government.

I do understand that some people are frustrated that the Personal Allowance, the amount you can earn before paying tax, will not be going up this year. This is a difficult but necessary decision to maintain income tax thresholds until April 2028 to ensure the tax system supports strong public finances. That being said, the Government has increased the Personal Allowance by over 40 per cent in real terms since 2010, ensuring some of the lowest earners do not pay income tax. Thanks to the PA, in 2021-22 around 30 per cent of earners did not pay tax.

Also in the news last week was the outcome of the Ombudsman’s investigation into issues with the Department for Work and Pensions communicating with women born in the 1950’s over State Pension changes.

The Ombudsman’s report had previously concluded that maladministration under the last Labour Government between 2005-07 has caused injustice, and their report into the DWP’s communication of the changes is now complete and will be put before Parliament. The Government will consider the Ombudsman’s report and respond in due course, having cooperated fully throughout the investigation.

As ever, if I can be of assistance on any matter, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel: 01726 829379 or email: office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column March 20 2024 - Pharmacy First

As we go through March, last week was another busy and productive one for me in Parliament, which saw me hold a debate on the need for the Government to do more to support our pollack fishermen on Monday, as well as speaking in the Budget debate and the debate on the Bill currently going through Parliament that will see National Insurance Contributions people pay cut from April this year.

As well as this it was also good to take part in a number of meetings, including with Heathrow Airport, one showcasing our Tri Service Safety Officers, and one on fairness of fuel prices, as well an event to promote the Pharmacy First initiative.

I have always been a passionate champion for our community pharmacies and the excellent health services they provide.

As former Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Pharmacies it was great to work with our brilliant pharmacies in Cornwall in piloting the Pharmacy First initiative.

Pharmacy First enables pharmacists to utilise more of their medical skills and training. Patients using the service can receive treatment for seven common health conditions from their local pharmacy without the need to visit a GP or have a prescription.

Their pharmacist helps with conditions include sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women. Following the assessment, the pharmacist can then supply the prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics and antivirals, to treat the problem

The Pharmacy First approach not only speeds up access to essential care for patients, but also help to reduce pressure on local GP services by directing people to more appropriate places to be treated. Backed by up to £645 million, 95 per cent of pharmacies across England have opted-in so far, meaning that patients will be able to receive care more quickly without the need to wait for a GP appointment.

The Pharmacy First approach builds on the other measures outlined in the Primary Care Recovery Plan last spring, including tackling the 8am rush by giving GPs new digital tools and providing more GP staff and more appointments.

In combination, the Primary Care Recovery Plan aims to free up 10 million GP appointments a year nationally by next winter, and give the public more choice in where and how they access care.

As the Pharmacy First initiative has already been running in Cornwall successfully for some time, it’s great to see that the rest of the country will now be able to experience the exceptional service that we in Cornwall already have, and it was good to again highlight this at the event in Parliament last week. I will continue to work with the Government to support our pharmacies and the excellent teams that work there, in order to ensure they remain a pivotal part of our health care system.

With all my activity in Parliament it was nice to be recognised last week as the MP who has contributed more to Parliamentary debates in the first two months of the year than any other MP in the South West, and in fact, showed that I made the seventh highest number of contributions in January and February in Parliamentary debates among Conservative backbenchers nationally, and was ranked 11th overall among backbench MPs of all parties across the country.

Of course 2024 is only going to get busier, and I will continue to work hard both in Parliament and in Cornwall to ensure the voices of the people I represent are heard loud and clear.

As ever, if I can be of assistance on any matter, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel: 01726 829379 or email: office@stevedouble.org.uk

 

Newspaper column 13 March 2024 - Looking back at the Budget

Last week saw the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt give his Budget Statement, with a number of positive developments that will make things better for people in St Austell and Newquay.

I think that most people will recognise the significant and unprecedented challenges that our country has faced in recent years following the COVID pandemic, and then the energy price spike as a result of the war in Ukraine. The Government has spent hundreds of billions of pounds supporting households and businesses through these tough times. Of course, this money has to be found, and this was the backdrop to this year’s Budget. It is a credit to the Chancellor that he has been able to navigate the challenging times and deliver a Budget that addresses these issues while also continues to provide support and relief where possible.

That the Chancellor has been able to take the positive steps that he took in last week’s Budget is also testimony to his sensible management of our country’s finances over the past year.  to help guide our country and economy through challenging times. Inflation is down from 11.1% to 4.0% and wages are growing.

This has allowed the Chancellor, in his Budget, to cut taxes for 27 million working people from April, by again cutting the main rate of employee National Insurance Contributions from 10% to 8%. Combined with the cut at the Autumn Statement, this gives the average earner the lowest effective personal tax rate since 1975.

As well as this, the Chancellor has cut taxes for 2million self-employed people, by cutting the main rate of Class 4 National Insurance Contributions from 9% to 6%.

The Chancellor has also announced support for half a million families through reforms to the High Income Child Benefit Charge by raising the threshold and halving the rate at which Child Benefit is withdrawn, benefiting some parents by an average of £1,260.

The Chancellor has also frozen alcohol duty, easing pressure on the hospitality sector, as well as maintaining the five pence cut to fuel duty and freeze rates for the fourteenth consecutive year, helping keep motoring costs down – a £3.1 billion tax cut for drivers.

It is also good to see the Chancellor recognise times are still tough, and in doing so, extend the Household Support Fund for another six months, as well as assisting people who need to claim Universal Credit by giving them more time to payback emergency budgeting advance loans.

As well as the headline announcements from the Budget I was also pleased to see my campaign to reform the taxes paid by holiday let owners pay off. This will encourage holiday let owners to instead let their properties to local families, all year round. I look forward to working with the Chancellor’s team on the detail of how this will be implemented to ensure it does not penalise anyone unfairly.

There is plenty more to do, but as we move into Spring, it is good to be doing so with a positive Budget behind as a sound foundation for the future.

As ever, if I can be of assistance on any matter, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel: 01726 829379 or email: office@stevedouble.org.uk

 

Newspaper column 6 March 2024 - St Piran's Day and a busy week leading up to the Budget

On the week of St Piran’s Day, I hope you were all able to spend some time on 5 March reflecting on what makes our Cornwall so special, our unique culture, heritage and history.

On St Piran’s Day I was delighted in Parliament to host a ‘Taste of Cornwall’ event, to showcase some of the best food and drink companies from Cornwall on a national stage. From St Ewe Eggs to St Austell Brewery and Knightor Vineyard, there were a huge variety of Cornish businesses represented and suffice to say, the event was very popular. Thank you to everyone who made the journey and it is good to see ‘Brand Cornwall’ doing so well.

It was also good to see the Prime Minister wish the Cornish people and everyone who lives in Cornwall a Happy St Piran’s Day. This was part of his response to my question to him last Wednesday in Prime Minister’s Questions. My question was about the future of the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. The Shared Prosperity Fund is £132 million allocated to Cornwall to replace EU funding. It has supported dozens of businesses and organisations around Cornwall, as well as funded projects across the duchy, ranging from plans to fix the harbour gates in Charlestown which were successful last year, to an ambitious £2million Youth Employment Programme (Yep!) spearheaded by Cornwall Council and Careers South West which launched last week.  

The Shared Prosperity Fund is confirmed for this spending review period up to the end of March 2025 but, as with all Government funding, decisions regarding the fund’s future are a matter for the next spending review, hence my question. I was pleased in his reply to get assurances from the Prime Minister that the Government remains committed to an ambitious levelling-up agenda in Cornwall.

Last week I was also pleased to go to the launch of Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean campaign for 2024. The Great British Spring Clean is the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign and this is its 9^th year, as well as marking the 70^th anniversary of the formation of Keep Britain Tidy.

Last year more than 400,000 bags of litter were pledged to be collected during the duration of the campaign. That’s a huge amount of rubbish removed from our environment! This year it is taking place from 15 - 31 March, and you can pledge to pick up a bag of litter – or more via their website on the link below:

https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/

After Parliament rose for the weekend on Friday I was delighted to visit Trenance Academy in Newquay, who have recently been recognised as an Oracy Centre of Excellence.

Oracy is the ability to articulate ideas, develop understanding and engage with others through spoken language.

In school, oracy is a powerful tool for learning; by teaching students to become more effective speakers and listeners they are empowered to better understand themselves, each other and the world around them.

It is also a route to social mobility, empowering all students, not just some, to find their voice to succeed in school and life.

Trenance Academy have recently been accredited as an Oracy Centre of Excellence in recognition of their commitment to developing their students’ confidence and competence in spoken language, embedding it across teaching and learning within the school. It was great to visit the school and talk to the staff and pupils about this excellent achievement.

This week, the headlines will be dominated by the Chancellor’s Spring Budget. I will go into this in more detail next week, as it will happen after I have to send my column in, but in the run up to the Budget I have asked the Chancellor to consider taking more measures to incentivise landlords to rent properties to families all year round instead of using them as holiday lets, as well as pushing for more support for our tourism and hospitality businesses. International challenges still mean that we are facing a lot of pressures around the costs of living, but I am sure the Chancellor will be looking at all options available in order to deliver a Budget that works for everyone.

As ever, if I can be of assistance on any matter, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel: 01726 829379 or email: office@stevedouble.org.uk

 

Newspaper column 28 February 2024 - The Speaker and Lee Anderson

The conduct of the Speaker during the SNP’s Opposition Day Motion on Gaza was very much in the spotlight last week, prompting a large number of constituents to contact me expressing concerns about what they saw as a worrying break from longstanding parliamentary convention.

I was in the Commons on Wednesday evening when proceedings descended into chaos – due to the Speaker’s mishandling of Labour’s amendment to the SNP’s Opposition Day Motion, allowing Labour to hijack what should have been another party’s motion. By convention and as confirmed by a letter to him from the Clerk of the House of Commons, the Speaker should have selected the SNP motion for a vote before proceeding to allow a vote on any amendments.

Instead, the Speaker unilaterally decided, against the clear advice of his own officials, that MPs would first vote on Labour’s amendment to the SNP motion – following reports of an imminent rebellion among Labour MPs and alleged threats from Labour on the Speaker to replace him after the general election unless he selected their amendment for a vote.

Crucially, in his statement apologising to the House later that evening, the Speaker said his decision was primarily motivated by violent threats made against MPs.

This for me is the fundamental reason why I no longer have confidence in his role as Speaker: He has given a very clear message that threats of violence and abuse against MPs can change what happens in Parliament.

As legislators, we need to be free and able to speak our minds in Parliament without fear or favour. This is vital to our ability to represent our constituents effectively. Instead, the Speaker told the baying mob that you can threaten an MP and change how Parliament works. I am afraid this simply is not acceptable in our democracy.

I have therefore signed a motion expressing no confidence in the Speaker. Heeither succumbed to pressure to assist the Labour Party or given into threats of violence – indeed I believe it was likely a combination of the two – neither of which represents a valid reason to alter longstanding parliamentary protocol in such a drastic way to undermine our democracy.

I also believe Sir Keir Starmer has much to answer for due to his alleged part in influencing the Speaker, and I hope he will be giving a full account of his actions to the House this week.

The withdrawal of the whip from Lee Anderson MP over the weekend also captured the attention of some constituents. Lee was wrong to accuse Sadiq Khan and the senior Labour leadership of being under the control of Islamists without offering any evidence to support his claim.

In doing so he missed a far more important point, which is the left’s apparent tolerance and in some cases encouragement of extreme elements of all backgrounds taking to the streets to openly call for the abuse and intimidation of our democracy while causing illegal disruption to the public.

These groups include Just Stop Oil, Extinction Rebellion, and a number of pro-Palestinian marches in London of late, some of which were hijacked by militant Islamists expressing support for the actions of Hamas and calling for the destruction of the state of Israel, including projecting the antisemitic and arguably genocidal slogan “from the river to the sea” on to the side of Big Ben. The Speaker cited security threats posed by these violent extremists to MPs as the reason behind his decision to change Commons procedures on Wednesday.

No MP deserves to be intimated or harassed in the course of their work. In recent days many of my colleagues from both sides of the House have spoken bravely and openly about receiving death threats to them and their families as becoming part of the norm of working in Parliament. Last week also saw several so-called protestors affiliated with Greenpeace charged with criminal damage following their attempt to illegally invade the Prime Minister’s home in North Yorkshire in August.

Let me be very clear, I support the right to peaceful protest. This is why I supported legislation introducing by the Government enshrining the right to peaceful protest in statute, while bringing forward measures to protect the public from illegal and violent protests.

Emotions often run high in politics and people rightly want to have their say on important matters facing the country and the world. But there is a growing sense that a small but significant minority are trying to subvert the democratic process through violent means. This cannot be condoned and I will continue to call for our hard-won democracy to be protected in Parliament.

As ever, if I can be of assistance on any matter, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel: 01726 829379 or email: office@stevedouble.org.uk