This week Parliament is in recess so it will be good to be
home in Cornwall and spend some time working locally, getting out and about,
visiting businesses and other local organisations and listening to the views
and concerns of local people. Do come and say hello if you see me.
This weekend we had our second severe storm in successive
weekends. Thankfully compared to some parts of the country we didn’t have it
too bad but it was still a pretty rough few days. I want to place on record my
thanks to the staff of the emergency services, the Environment Agency and
Cornwall Council and other public bodies who worked hard to keep us safe, the
roads clear and dealt with any local issues.
Other than the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Reshuffle
(congratulations to my good friend and fellow Cornish MP George Eustice on
being appointed Secretary of State for Environment) the other big news in
Parliament was the announcement that HS2 will be going ahead. HS2 is the plan
to build a new high speed rial route linking London to the Midlands and North
of England. It has certainly become a controversial project. There are huge
challenges to keep cost under control and deliver the scheme on time.
I have always been fairly agnostic about the scheme. I
understand the need to increase capacity on our national railways. More people
than ever are using trains to get around and with the need to reduce our carbon
emissions we need to ensure our railways can carry more passengers. I am
concerned that the costs of the scheme seem to continually rise and I am
pleased that as part of this announcement the government will be putting more
robust management in place to ensure costs are kept under control.
But the reality is that this scheme will have very little
impact on us in Cornwall and the South West. So I do understand the concerns
some have expressed that this could mean we get less government investment in
Cornwall. However, I am confident this is not the case.
We are currently in the midst of the greatest transport
infrastructure programme our county has ever seen. We are seeing record levels
of investment in our roads, railways and other services. All totalled up we
have had more than £1billion announced of government investment in recent
months.
From the £450million for a new hospital, £100million for a
new maternity unit, £40million for new scanners and other equipment and
£11million for the new mental health unit in Bodmin. Our NHS is getting major
new much needed investment.
Last week saw confirmation of the £290million improvement to
the A30 to dual the Chiverton to Carnon Cross section. We are in the final
stages of planning for the £80million A30 link road. This is on top of the new
trains and multi million upgrade of the signalling on our mainline railway
which has significantly increased capacity.
And of course we have had £8million from government for the
Spaceport, tens of millions in flood prevention schemes and millions for new
primary schools.
Whenever I have spoken to the Prime Minister I have reminded
him of the need for investment in Cornwall and that his ‘levelling up’ agenda
must include our Duchy. I have always received a clear and unequivocal response
that Cornwall will get the investment in needs. Boris Johnson has numerous
times said we will continue to get the funding we have previously received
through the EU – and much more.
So, I am confident that whatever our views on HS2, we will
continue to receive the investment we need here in Cornwall and the SW. One
thing you can be sure of is that along with my fellow Cornish colleagues we
will continue to make sure Cornwall’s voice is heard and that we work
tirelessly to secure the funding for the things we need. And now that we have a
Cornish MP in the Cabinet – the first time for almost 40 years, our voice will
be heard even more clearly.
