I am sure we have all been enjoying the heatwave we have
been experiencing. There really is nowhere better than Cornwall when the
weather is like this. It is certainly much better than being in London and
having to cope with the oppressive heat in Parliament.
Last week I spoke in Parliament about some owners of holiday
lets who exploit loopholes to get away with not paying the rates they should,
penalising other taxpayers in the process, in a debate called by my fellow
Cornish MP Derek Thomas.
I also welcomed Cornish bee keeper, Andrew Brown, to
Westminster to talk about his plans to increase the numbers of bees in Cornwall.
I also met with Cornwall Air Ambulance to continue to support their vital work.
At the end of the week I was delighted to welcome more
funding for Cornwall with the launch of the £40 million Cornwall & Isles of
Scilly Investment Fund.
The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSF)
will boost the local economy by providing debt and equity finance to help
growing small businesses, of which we have so many of in Mid-Cornwall, across
the region.
The fund has been established in partnership with the
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and UK Government to provide local businesses
with more funding options to help them grow and create jobs.
CIOSIF has been designed following input from local business
groups, funders, business advisers and the LEP and will provide debt and equity
finance from £25k to £2 million. It is expected to unlock a further £40 million
of private investment.
I am pleased to have worked with the LEP and Cornwall
Council to ensure this important fund is now available to support our local
economy.
This is something I have worked long and hard, with all
levels of the Government to bring about, and will unlock millions of pounds of
investment for our hardworking small businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of
Scilly.
The programme had stalled due to EU red tape last year and I
met with Business Minister Andrew Griffiths to discuss the problems and the
importance of the fund to Cornwall, and I am pleased, a short while later, to
see this launch.
I look forward to seeing how this fund will positively
impact on our businesses and continuing to do all I can to ensure Cornwall gets
the funding we need to grow and prosper.
My team and I are here to serve the whole constituency and
work hard to make a real difference to the lives of everyone needing support.
The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm (no
appointment necessary). If there is an issue you would like my assistance on
then please, either visit the office or contact me on either 01726 829379 or
office@stevedouble.org.uk. Additionally, I hold regular, appointment only,
advice surgeries across the constituency. Dates of these can be found at:
www.stevedouble.org.uk/events
