Wednesday 29 December 2021

Newspaper column 29 December 2021 - Looking back

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and was able to take some time to reflect on what makes this special day so important to us all. I am writing this just before Christmas when the government had announced no further restrictions would be put in place as a result of the new Coronavirus wave. Whilst we wait and see how things develop, I do hope this has enabled everyone to enjoy Christmas as normally as possible.

For my final column of 2021, I thought I would look back at some of my work for you as MP for St Austell and Newquay over the past year.

2021, like 2020, has been hugely challenging for us all.

The year opened with another lockdown, and Cornwall was particularly badly hit by Covid-19. I am sure we all know someone who suffered or sadly passed away from the virus. My work, along with my team, was again focussed on assisting people and businesses through these difficult times. Meanwhile in Parliament (conducted virtually at the beginning of the year) I continued to support the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in my role as his Parliamentary Private Secretary in leading the Government’s response to the pandemic.

The most important part of this response was and continues to be our vaccine programme, which continued its rollout throughout the year. I was closely involved in the vaccine programme both locally and strategically, as well as taking part in the trials. I thank everyone again who has been involved, including our NHS and volunteers, who ensured we have vaccinated more people earlier than most countries around the world.

While we are currently facing new uncertainties with the Omicron variant, I am pleased that the Government’s key response continues to be through the vaccine programme, protecting as many people as possible, while avoiding further measures and keeping disruption of our lives to a minimum.

In June, Cornwall hosted the G7 Leaders Summit, the first international event of this scale since the pandemic occurred, and I was proud to take part and see Cornwall look its best with the eyes of the world on us. It was good to welcome some of the  world leaders at Cornwall Airport Newquay, as well as three generations of the Royal Family at St Austell. I am now working with the various G7 Legacy projects to ensure a lasting positive impact from this momentous event for Cornwall.

In September I was delighted to be appointed as a Government Whip in the reshuffle. This is my first Ministerial position within Government and one where I am able to work with the ministerial team in the Department of Health and Social Care to help shape and steer the Government’s legislative programme, which has already delivered the Health and Care Bill since my appointment.

In October, we were all devastated to lose my friend and colleague James Brokenshire, who had local connections to Cornwall, following a long battle with cancer, and shockingly, my colleague Sir David Amess, who was murdered while taking part in a MP Advice Surgery in his constituency. This was an attack at the heart of our democracy, but along with many of my colleagues, I am determined to continue holding surgeries and not let those who would harm us win.

Away from Parliament I have continued to support projects that will have major positive impacts on our constituency. The dedicated A30 to St Austell link road continues to make frustratingly slow progress, largely due to issues as a result of the pandemic. But I continue to work to seek to deliver this important project. The Spaceport at Cornwall Airport Newquay has made further progress towards a potential launch in 2022. I was pleased to work with Cornwall College to secure funding from the Government to redevelop their St Austell campus, as well as working with the Department for Education on new schools at Carclaze and Newquay that are coming forward. I have also been working with the Department for Transport, Cornwall Council and Great Western Railway to come forward with plans to upgrade the Newquay-Par branch line and improvements to Newquay Station.

In sustainable energy and materials news, I have also continued to champion the potential for geothermal energy and lithium in Mid-Cornwall, and we have seen some good progress with the Eden Geothermal plant plans, as well as with the various lithium companies, moving towards lithium extraction and manufacturing in Cornwall - a return to our mining pre-eminence.

I will continue my work to attract funding to Cornwall from the Government, as well as better paid high tech jobs to grow our economy and encourage our young people to stay in Cornwall for their careers.

As ever, I want to say a huge thank you to my team who have been busier than ever supporting me to assist constituents with issues. This year my team and I have dealt with more than 7,000 enquiries from residents, on all manner of things, from Covid-19 support queries, to international travel and visa concerns, as well as housing, benefit, transport and DVLA matters, always trying our best to get a positive outcome for the people who need our support.

I hope this has given just a small flavour of some of the work I have done on your behalf over 2021. May I wish you all a Happy New Year and I look forward to continuing to serve our constituency and our Cornwall through 2022 and beyond.

Wednesday 22 December 2021

Newspaper column 22 December 2021 - Christmas greetings

I hope you are all well as we approach Christmas.

Parliament has now risen for Recess and so I am now working in the constituency, and looking forward to taking some time off with my family later this week.

I hope you will be able to have some time to enjoy the festive season and also reflect on why we celebrate this special day. In the midst of all that is currently going on it is good to focus on the good news of the first Christmas that brought a message of peace and joy to the world.

Of course, over the past week, in response to the spread of the new Omicron variant of the Coronavirus we have continued to massively ramp up the COVID-19 booster vaccination programme. The vaccine booster is now available to all adults over 18.

The response to the vaccine roll out, both from all those involved in running the vaccine programme, and also the public take up of it, has been nothing short of extraordinary.

As of this weekend, the daily figures for people receiving their booster jab were up to over 900,000 people a day. Across the UK over 28million people, 50% of all adults, have now received their booster shot and this figure continues to rise at an incredibly swift rate. Our aim is to enable all adults of have the opportunity to receive their booster jab by the end of the year. This is a huge challenge but it is great to see everyone pulling together in our national effort.

Within Cornwall, at the start of this push we had to deliver 172,000 more booster jabs to reach all the adults in the Duchy. This represents around 9,000 jabs a day.

I am working with our NHS and community pharmacies to identify where more walk-in provision is needed and request that we get this provision in place as soon as possible. I was pleased over the weekend to see pop-up walk-in booster sites open in St Austell and in St Blazey, as well as a number of local Pharmacies in Newquay and St Austell, to go along with the mass vaccination sites that are available elsewhere in Cornwall. I will continue to share more details of local sites on my social media as I am given the most up to date information, and you can also find out more via NHS Kernow’s website by going to the below link:

https://www.kernowccg.nhs.uk/your-health/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/

A big thank you must go, as ever to all involved in the vaccine programme rollout, whether they be NHS staff, community pharmacy staff, the many thousands of volunteers who are helping out, or the armed forces who are assisting with the expansion of the programme.

On that note I would also like to thank all of those who will be working over the festive period, not just in the continued rollout of the vaccine programme, but also all who work in our NHS and care sectors, those who work in retail and hospitality, our local Police and other emergency services and our armed forces who keep us and others safe all over the world, all year round. 

However you spend your Christmas, I hope you have a good one and I would like to take the opportunity to wish all readers a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year for 2022.

My office will be closed from 12 noon on 23rd December and reopen at 10am on 4th January. However, if anyone is in need or urgent help during this time you can still contact me by emailing steve.double.mp@parliament.uk or calling 01726 829379 and leaving a message. I will get back to anyone requiring urgent help.

Wednesday 15 December 2021

Newspaper column 15 December 2021 - new measures

 

Many people have quite rightly been concerned about the new Omicron variant of the Coronavirus, which seems to be spreading far more quickly than any previous variant and in doing so threaten the progress of our Covid recovery.

Of particular concern is the reduced level of protection that two doses of the lifesaving vaccine offer against Omicron when compared to Delta and other earlier variants. However, early research has found that a third dose of the vaccine is able to neutralise the new variant to a similar extent as two doses against earlier strains of the virus.

It is all the more important therefore that we all play our part at this time and answer the call to get the booster jabs over the coming weeks. To enable as many people as possible to enjoy Christmas the Government is accelerating our booster rollout significantly in order to ensure all adults in England are offered a booster jab by the end of the month, with the army being drafted in to help deliver this monumental national enterprise.

The Government is also easing the requirement to self-isolate for close contacts of the new variant. From Tuesday onwards, instead of requiring every Omicron contact to quarantine for 10 days regardless of their vaccination status, fully vaccinated contacts of a COVID-19 case (whether Omicron or not) will be asked to take a daily lateral flow test for 7 days to slow the spread of the virus.

This is a significant step towards minimising disruption over the holiday period and has been welcomed by many. But in order to achieve this, the Government is following scientific advice and introducing a series of light-touch, temporary measures as part of our Plan B response to new and dangerous variants.

These include asking people to work from home where possible, extending the requirement to wear a face-covering to most public indoor venues, like cinemas and theatres, and making the Covid certification mandatory for entry into a limited number of settings with considerable numbers of people, like nightclubs and large outdoor events.

Much has been said of the use of Covid certification over the past week, with some expressing concerns on the social effects and implications on civil liberties of the so-called ‘vaccine passport’.

But it is wrong to label the Covid certification simply as such, as a negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient for people to obtain certification if they have not been able to take both doses of the lifesaving Covid vaccine for medical reasons or as a personal choice.

We already know that our NHS faces its busiest time of the year in the coming six weeks, and anything we can do to help ease the pressure should be done, while buying clinicians and scientists valuable time to establish the scale and severity of the virus. 

Sitting back and watching the virus spread among the community and cause damage to our health and care provisions without taking any action whatsoever could ultimately leave the Government with no other choice but to instigate another lockdown.

Nobody wants that – I certainly do not – and the Government has made clear that it is doing all it can to avoid us facing the worst-case scenario with this new variant and therefore having to resolve to the worst policy option of all.

I appreciate the concerns that some have expressed about our latest response to the pandemic. No one wants to bring in new restrictions ahead of Christmas – the season of great joy and much festivity – but unlike the restrictions of last winter, the vast majority of us will still be able to proceed with our Christmas plans without disruption under these new measures.

All things considered, I believe the package of measures that will be introduced under Plan B represents a sensible, balanced, and proportionate response to the current situation. There will be minimal impact on the day to day lives of people in our constituency, allowing us to enjoy the holidays as much as possible, while helping us contain the spread of the virus and easing pressures on the NHS.

Wednesday 8 December 2021

Newspaper column 8 December 2021 - Social care and health reforms and funding

Last week saw the Government taking steps to reform and improve both the short and long-term futures of our health and social care provision, with publication of the long-awaited White Paper on Social Care Reform, as well as the Health and Social Care Approach to Winter.

Adult social care issues have never been more prominent, with an ageing population, particularly in Cornwall, and particular pressures brought on by the pandemic. That being said, these issues are also long-term ones, and ones that successive governments of all parties have made little progress on, so it is great to see this Government moving and taking action to review and reform this area that impacts so many people across our society.

The government wants people who draw on care and support to lead a fulfilling life, playing a full role in society, as well as wanting to acknowledge the important role of families and friends in caring for one another, while also enabling those who provide unpaid care to a friend or loved one to be supported to achieve their own life goals. On top of this it is critical that the adult social care workforce feels recognised and has opportunities to develop their careers.

There are three key objectives that the Government wants to achieve from this white paper as part of a ten-year vision. That people have choice, control and support to live independent lives, that people can access outstanding quality and tailored care and support, and that people find adult social care fair and accessible.

Initiatives taken to achieve these goals across the next three years include:

·         at least £300 million to integrate housing into local health and care strategies,

·         at least £150 million of additional funding to drive greater adoption of technology and achieve widespread digitisation across social care

·         at least £500 million so the social care workforce have the right training and qualifications, and feel recognised and valued for their skills and commitment.

·         a new practical support service to make minor repairs and changes in people’s homes to help people remain independent and safe in their home

·         up to £25 million to work with the sector to kick-start a change in the services provided to support unpaid carers

·         £30 million to help local areas innovate around the support and care they provide in new and different ways, providing more options that suit people’s needs and individual circumstances

These proposals are backed by the new Health and Social Care Levy which £5.4 billion is being invested into adult social care over the next 3 years, and I hope will finally see some long-term movement and reform of this crucial area that will impact us all at some time or other.

As well as these long-term proposals, the Government also announced its launch of Health and Social Care Approach to Winter last week, recognising that this winter will be more challenging than many faced by the NHS, adult social care providers and local authorities.

Among many others, these measures include,

• working to recruit 18,000 more staff, including nurses, healthcare support workers and medical support workers

• keeping the nation protected against the virus, especially against the new Omicron variant, through vaccination with over 15 million boosters delivered in England, and the biggest flu vaccination programme in UK history;

• bolstering capacity across urgent and emergency care and the wider NHS, including a £250 million investment in general practice, £55 million for the ambulance service, and £75 million for NHS111;

• investing £478 million for support services, rehabilitation and reablement care following discharge from hospital, and ensuring health and social care services are joined up.

The publication also announces the allocation of the £700 million Targeted Investment Fund which includes support to deliver a range of projects including:

• additional day surgery units to boost activity and minimise length of stay;

• additional permanent and modular theatres and surgical hubs to improve productivity;

• investment in outpatient space to increase the numbers of patients that can be seen by specialists; and

• investment in imaging, including upgrades to MRI and mobile breast screening units.

The South West region will receive £69million funding from the government in order to do this and this will be targeted investment focused on the highest priority areas to help return elective care services to pre-pandemic levels.

It is good to see the Government prioritising these areas to support our health and social care services, both during this winter and in the long-term reforms to social care that have been needed for so long. I will continue to do all I can to ensure that Cornwall benefits from these positive and progressive steps.

Wednesday 1 December 2021

Newspaper column 1 December 2021 - Covid-19 update and Immigration

Following the discovery of a new type of Covid-19, the Omicron variant, of which a small number of cases have been found in the UK, our Prime Minister on Saturday announced temporary and precautionary measures to prevent its spread.

As the Prime Minister said on Saturday, the change with this variant of the virus is significantly different to other variants that it might - at least in part - reduce the protection of our vaccines over time.

So we need to take targeted and proportionate measures now as a precaution while we find out more.  These measures are sadly necessary to slow the spread of this new variant, continue to protect our vaccination programme, and support our NHS. They will hopefully ensure we will not need to take more severe measures down the line.

These measures, which include compulsory face coverings in shops and other retail settings, as well as on public transport, and new rules on covid testing for all international travellers arriving into the UK, came into force from Tuesday of this week. They will be reviewed in three weeks. By that point we will have had time to learn more about this variant and will then decide if further measures are required in the light of the information we have.

Away from COVID-19, last week also saw the tragic drowning of 27 people who tried to cross from France to the UK via a small boat.

As the Home Secretary said last week, there is a global illegal migration crisis. The people smugglers that arrange these journeys are criminals – they do it for money, nothing more, and I have heard terrible stories about people who thought they would be getting to the UK another way instead forced by gunpoint onto a boat and then set adrift across the channel.

There is no quick fix for this issue and what needs to happen is co-ordinated international action to address the wider issues, that lead to these criminal gangs becoming so prevalent. To keep things in perspective, the total number of people coming to the UK to seek asylum is not significantly higher than it was before the pandemic. What is different is that while other routes have not been available, more people are seeking to cross the channel via the treacherous business shipping lanes. Those arriving by this route as more visible than by other routes which is partly why it has attracted so much media attention this year.

More than 20,000 boat crossings have been stopped this year, as well as 17 organised criminal groups broken up and over 400 arrests and 65 convictions secured.

But this is a much bigger and more systemic issue. As well as continuing to offer to work with France on joint patrols and stepping up security to actually stop the people smugglers, Brexit has allowed the government to bring forward a New Plan for Immigration, which will be put into law through the Nationality and Borders Bill. This is a longer-term solution that will address many of these underlying factors to deterring illegal migration and addressing underlying pull factors into the UK’s asylum system. This new legislation will continue its passage through Parliament next week when it returns to the House of Commons for its third reading.

It will bring in a range of measures, including: the one-stop appeals process, the ability to process claims outside the country, the ability to declare inadmissibility to our asylum system and have differentiation for those who arrive in the UK having passed through safe countries, and life sentences for people-smugglers.

The United Kingdom has a clear and a generous, humane approach to asylum seekers and refugees. Channel crossings in small boats are incredibly dangerous, and as we have seen, can end in tragedy. So we need to work with our neighbour to stop these crossings while in the longer term reform the broken systems which have previously allowed uncontrolled immigration through the EU to allow people to fairly come to the UK and live here legally, when they have a genuine reason and need to do so.

As always, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance. Please do get in touch if I can help – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

Wednesday 17 November 2021

Newspaper column 17 November - Looking back at COP26

Over the weekend on Remembrance Sunday it was an honour, as always to join the civic events in St Austell and Newquay to pay tribute to and remember those who serve and have served in our armed forces in past and present conflicts.

After last year’s scaled back formal services because of the pandemic, it was good to stand with veterans and people from across our community and take part in these acts of remembrance. Thank you to the Royal British Legion and all involved in their organisation.

This past weekend also saw the close of the United Nations Climate Change Conference Summit COP26, which was held in Glasgow.

As the conference came to its conclusion, members signed the Glasgow Climate Pact, which commits countries to phase down unabated coal, supports a just transition for developing countries and action to tackle loss and damage, and agrees for the first time a common timeframe and method for national commitments on emissions reductions.

The pact signed seeks to phase down unabated coal power and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, cutting emissions as we move towards low emission energy. The Pact calls on countries to accelerate efforts towards the phasedown of unabated coal power and phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, while providing targeted support to the poorest and most vulnerable in line with national circumstances and recognising the need for support towards a just transition.

As well as this, the pact also commits to raise $100 billion annually for climate finance through to 2025, helping developing countries tackle climate change. The Pact urges developed countries to fully deliver on the $100 billion goal urgently and through to 2025, and emphasises the importance of transparency in the implementation of their pledges.

The pact also commits countries to return next year with a more ambitious 2030 emissions reductions target in line with the 1.5C target, ensuring we maintain crucial momentum on climate action this decade. The UK will continue to push for greater action on reducing emissions and supporting developing countries with finance and access to new green technology over the next year of our COP Presidency, before Egypt take on the mantle.

It also signs up more countries to be Net Zero, protecting our planet for future generations. At least 90 per cent of the global economy is now covered by net zero commitments, up from 30 per cent when the UK took on the COP presidency in 2019.

This Pact builds on the progress we have made on coal, cars and trees throughout the summit. 65 countries have now committed to phasing out the use of coal power. Over 30 countries and some of the world’s largest car makers have committed to work together to make all new car sales zero emission globally by 2040, and by 2035 in leading markets, building on the UK’s commitment to end the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. More than 130 leaders, representing over 90 per cent of the world’s forests, pledged at COP26 to end deforestation by 2030, backed by almost £14 billion of public and private funding.

There is still a huge amount more to do in the coming years and the agreements reached are not perfect, but we are now in a much better position to achieve these goals, both short and long term, to tackle climate change, than we were in before the conference.

As always, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance. Please do get in touch if I can help – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

Wednesday 10 November 2021

Newspaper column 10 November - Taking time to remember

It has been a turbulent week in politics, however, this week is a time of contemplation and solemn reflection as we mark Armistice Day on 11 November and have Remembrance Sunday this coming weekend.

The impact of World War 1, the vast conflict that led to these events being marked annually, cannot be under-stated. The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War I, was around 40 million. There were 20 million deaths and 21 million wounded. The total number of deaths includes 9.7 million military personnel and about 10 million civilians.

The impact on a generation was profound and the consequences far-reaching and felt to this day. In Mid-Cornwall communities suffered tremendously, with a generation of young men called away to fight, never to return, leaving small and fragile communities in a perilous state because the manual workers were no longer there to keep business and industry running.

The Duke of Cornwall’s light infantry alone lost 4,510 men during the course of the war, all fathers, brothers and sons whose loss would have been felt keenly in their communities and down through the years.

And we lost our own serving Member of Parliament Thomas ‘Tommy’ Agar-Robartes, who I always think about at this time of year, who along with 23 MP’s died in service during the war.

The Great War, as it was known at the time was also called the ‘War to end all wars’ but sadly this did not come to pass, and in subsequent Remembrance Sundays, we remember those who have given their lives serving our country in other wars since, including the Second World War and more recently right up to the recent Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

It is fitting that we normally mark these occasions with formal services of remembrance. Last year however we were unable to, due to the far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, so this year a return to the organised events, with the excellent support of the Royal British Legion, churches and town and parish councils across the land, is even more poignant.

As we look towards marking and remembering these occasions this week, it is always good to bear in mind that while in the present we are able to argue and debate over matters that are important to us, those important freedoms and our democratic right to do so were hard won by those who people who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we might live free in the future. Sometimes it seems easy to take our democratic freedoms for granted and lose sight of just how valuable they are and the huge price that was paid by previous generations to secure our freedoms.

We must also cherish the surviving veterans of past conflict, and as the numbers of those who served in the Second World War inevitably fall, it is particularly appropriate to treasure those we have left, and I particularly must mention our own Harry Billinge MBE, a D-Day Veteran who has tirelessly fundraised for the British Normandy Memorial, which he was finally able to visit recently. Thank you Harry for everything you have done.

And alongside those who have served and given their lives in the past, we must also be grateful to the men and women who serve today in our armed forces, putting themselves in danger to protect our way of life and keep others around the world safe from harm every day, as well as for their efforts in supporting the national response and recovery from the pandemic.

So this Armistice Day, and on Remembrance Sunday, let us remember the men and women who gave their lives for us in the past and honour those who continue to risk their lives today.

As always, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance. Please do get in touch if I can help – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

Wednesday 20 October 2021

Newspaper column 20 October 2021 - Paying tribute to Sir David Amess

I am sure we have all been shocked by the killing of Sir David Amess, the Member of Parliament for Southend West, on Friday. Sir David was stabbed during one of his regular MP Surgeries.

I had the privilege of knowing David as a colleague in Parliament, in fact I remember my last conversation with him, on the last day Parliament sat before the recent recess, when he congratulated me on my recent appointment and had words of encouragement for me. This was typical of the gracious and generous person he was. This is a memory I will now  treasure fondly.

It has been clear from the outpouring of love and appreciation towards him since his death that Sir David was someone who was held in high esteem by people from all walks of life but especially his constituents.

Sir David was one of the kindest and most polite people I have ever met. He was hopelessly cheerful, optimistic and positive and always sought to see the good in everyone, including his political opponents. He was a determined campaigner and champion for his constituency.

On Monday the planned business of the House of Commons was cancelled and instead the house paid tribute to Sir David. There were many moving tributes from those who had known and worked with him over many years. It was especially fitting that the Prime Minister announced that Her Majesty the Queen had agreed to award Southend city status, a cause that David had campaigned for over many years. I welcome this as a very fitting tribute to David.

David was killed whilst going about his work as an MP doing what many MPs would have been doing on Friday, meeting with constituents in order to listen to and understand their concerns and seek to assist them. In fact, I learnt of the attack on David whilst I was doing the very same thing on Friday.

The fact that he was killed whilst going about an activity that is key to the role of an MP strikes right at the heart of our democracy. We often take for granted in this country just how open and accessible our politicians are. Virtually all MPs hold regular events when constituents are able to come and meet with them face to face in order to raise concerns or ask questions. This is something that does not happen in many other democracies. David is the second MP to be killed in this way in the last 5 years, following the killing of Jo Cox in 2016.

Sadly, the fact that this has happened for the second time does raise a number of questions about the safety of MPs and indeed other public servants. I am pleased that the Home Secretary has announced that there will now be a review into the security for MPs. It is right that we look at how we can ensure MPs and importantly their staff, can be kept safe whilst going about their job. But it will be a very sad day if the outcome of these tragic events is that MPs are less accessible to the people they represent and serve.

My view is that whilst we need to do all we can to keep MPs and their staff safe, this should not result in MPs becoming in any way cut off from our constituents. If we allowed this to happen then those who seek to attack our democracy will have won a victory.

But there are some wider points that do need to be addressed. Sadly, in recent years MPs and politicians in general have become the brunt of a great deal of abuse and hatred. Fuelled particularly by social media and the ability for a degree of anonymity, hiding behind their screens, there are those who abuse the accessibility of MPs through social media platforms to attack and vilify them in a way they would almost never do in person.

This, I believe, has created an atmosphere that dehumanises politicians and we are seen by some as fair game and that we deserve everything we get. But it cannot be acceptable in a democracy that this type of behaviour is seen as OK and even sadly encouraged by some.

David personified an ability to disagree, sometimes passionately, whilst respecting everyone. If there is one thing, that comes about as a result of his death it should be that we recover in our country the ability to disagree, and debate and argue, without resorting to hatred, abuse or personal attacks.

I believe all of us need to take stock and remind ourselves that we are all human and deserve to be treated with respect whatever our political views. This I believe would be a fitting tribute to David.

Wednesday 13 October 2021

Newspaper column 13 October 2021 - Reporting back on my survey

I will never forget that I am your voice in Westminster and so I always want to know what matters most to you. To this end, in September I launched a St Austell and Newquay constituency autumn survey, so you can let me know the issues you feel should be focused on in the coming months, through the rest of 2021 and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who took their time to complete the survey. Nearly 500 people completed it in just over a month, and I thought in my column this week that I would go through some of the results

I asked, generally, which issues were most important to you and your family. The responses received showed that the NHS and Housing were most important to the majority of people who replied.

I asked in terms of local priorities, what you felt I should be prioritising to work with Cornwall Council on, and the majority of those who replied said that they felt affordable housing and health and social care were most important.

In terms of the actions that I highlighted in my survey, the ones that had most support from responders were ‘More funding for Cornwall's NHS including £450million to improve services in our Duchy’ and ‘Working with the Government to better regulate second homes and holiday lets’, both of which had more than 90% of responders in favour. Creating more opportunities and jobs for young people also scored highly throughout the survey

There was clearly significant interest in health and social care and housing issues, as well as the need to create more opportunities for our young people at every level of my survey responses, so I thought I would update you on both what I have already done, and what I will be doing in these areas in the future.

In my time as MP since 2015 I have worked with the Government to increase NHS funding across Cornwall, with a real term increase every year. Since 2019 we have also seen £100million for a new women and children's hospital at RCH Treliske, and £450million to upgrade NHS services across Cornwall. As well as all of, this last year the Government wrote off £42.5million of RCH Treliske’s debt.

There are of course extraordinary current pressures on our NHS, caused by the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic, and the backlog of operations that this has caused, as well increased demand for regular services as we look to return to normal, and delays in discharges that Cornwall Council is now working on reducing.

The recently announced NHS and Social Care NIC Levy will also see more funds to ensure the NHS has the resources it needs throughout this Parliament, including tackling the backlog of operations and funding the 3% pay-rise for nurses. It will also allow the Government to invest the largest amount of any government to upskill the social care workforce, strengthen the adult social care system and finally implement a solution to cap adult social care costs.

Turning to housing issues, there is no doubt that we are in a housing crisis in Cornwall, and I have made it a priority to address this since the current session of Parliament first sat in June.

Along with my Cornish MP colleagues I am currently working with the new administration at Cornwall Council to discuss further action that can be taken to make the housing market fairer for local people including potentially putting an additional council tax charge on second homes, piloting new planning rules to restrict the use of “primary residences” for holiday homes in areas which already have high percentages of second homes, setting up a new brokerage to encourage second home owners to make their properties available to long-term renters, and a crackdown on the illegal use of former council homes as holiday lets.

Several of the proposals will require changes to primary legislation to allow Cornwall to pilot measures which are not currently backed by national law, and as MPs for Cornwall we look forward to working with the new Ministerial team at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities to progressing these for these for the good of the people of Cornwall.

Finally, on creating more opportunities and jobs for our young people, it is so important that we create the well paid, highly skilled jobs that we need in order to help our young people stay in Cornwall, have careers here and bring up their own families. I am pleased to have worked with Cornwall College and the Government to secure funding for the refurbishment of their St Austell campus, and have also worked hard to make the Spaceport Cornwall project a reality, as well as with emerging industries such as lithium extraction and geothermal to create new and exciting opportunities for our children in the future.

I will be responding in more detail to those people who replied to my survey, but in the meantime, it is really helpful to understand your priorities for me as your Member of Parliament. The survey is still open and if you want to respond to it, you can do so via my website

https://www.stevedouble.org.uk/st-austell-and-newquay-autumn-myplan-survey

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 6 October 2021

Newspaper column 6 October 2021 - Winter support

As our country continues on the road to recovery form the COVID-19 pandemic, the past week has seen the ending of a number of the emergency support schemes that were put in place to protect jobs, businesses and livelihoods. It was always the case that the unprecedented support made available to millions of households would need to end. These schemes were always intended to be temporary, and their removal is another step on the road of leaving the pandemic behind.

I know the ending of the job retention scheme (furlough), business support such as the 5% VAT rate being phased out and reduced stamp duty rates ending will be challenging to some, but it is right we now seek to remove these tax-payer funded support schemes.

One issue that has been raised with me over the past few weeks has been the ending of the emergency temporary uplift of £20 per week for people claiming the Universal Credit benefit.

This has been framed as a ‘cut’ by people with a certain political agenda, but this is not the case. The uplift was only ever supposed to be temporary, and was introduced to help people claiming Universal Credit with anticipated additional costs of having to stay at home during the lockdowns.

Now the lockdowns are a thing of the past, the reason this additional support was put in place has now come to an end. The Government has already extended this support well past the end of all COVID-19 restrictions earlier in August.

The uplift cost £6billion a year to fund, and while this was justifiable as a one off, at the same time as the Government was supporting numerous other people and businesses through measures like the furlough and business support grants, and due to very specific circumstances, it is in my mind not justifiable as a permanent increase now the circumstances that necessitated its use have ended. It this uplift was to be made permanent then a source for the £6billion per year additional funding would have to be identified.

But we should also be clear that this is not the end of the support available for households most in need. We do recognise that the months ahead will be challenging for many. I was pleased to see last week the Government confirm that vulnerable households across the UK will be able to access a new £500million support fund to help them with essentials such as fuel and food costs over the winter months.

The new Household Support Fund will support millions of households in England and will be distributed by councils in England, who know their local areas best and can directly help those who need it most, including for example, through small grants to meet daily needs such as food, clothing, and utilities. Cash will be made available to Local Authorities like Cornwall Council from later this month.

With more people in work and the economy bouncing back, the Government is focused on investing in jobs and skills – increasing prospects and wages across the country – whilst ensuring those in greatest need can access vital support to help cover everyday costs. Alongside this, the government’s Plan for Jobs is helping people move back into employment so they can earn a regular wage, progress and increase their financial resilience.

With that being said, families will also continue to benefit from the energy price cap, recent rise in Local Housing Allowance and increases in the National Living Wage. In terms of support for the vulnerable this winter, the Household Support Fund mentioned above is additional funding that goes along with the Warm Home Discount which provides a £140 rebate on energy bills each winter to over 2.2 million low-income households and the Cold Weather Payment which provides £25 extra a week for poorer households when the temperature is consistently below zero.

The Holiday Activities and Food programme will continue over the Christmas Holidays and to further support for families with children, the Government has also doubled free childcare for eligible working parents, worth up to £5,000 per child every year as well as increasing the value of Healthy Start vouchers by over a third, helping disadvantaged women who are pregnant or have children under four.

I am pleased to see support, both broader and tailored, made available for those who need it most, while also acknowledging that we are going to have to continue to make sensible and responsible decisions on our public finances in the years ahead, to balance the books for future generations who will otherwise have to pay for this pandemic.

As always, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance. Please do get in touch if I can help – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

Wednesday 29 September 2021

Newspaper column 29 September 2021 - Fuel

Since the later part of last week our news has been dominated by issues with people panic-buying fuel.

This matter is of great concern to me – the fact remains however, that there were no shortages of fuel and the supply chain remains strong and resilient. However what can and has happened, as we have seen over the weekend, is that the media have reported on what they call ‘potential’ fuel shortages due to a small number of deliveries not being made due to truck driver shortages, Sadly, what was an issue effecting a very small number of deliveries for one petrol supplier has been blown out of proportion by the media and resulted in people over-reacting and buying fuel necessarily.. This in turn means that petrol stations locally sell more fuel than they would otherwise, and run the risk of running out of stocks before their regularly scheduled deliveries arrive, thus creating a self-fulfilling prophecy, with long queues and a fuel shortage at the pumps, but due to increased demand instead of lack of fuel or a problem with the supply chain.

The Government has been straightforward with its message on this throughout, that people should just continue to buy their fuel as they would regularly, and not panic buy. I would reiterate this and urge the residents of Mid-Cornwall to act sensibly and buy your fuel when you would normally do so. By doing this there will be no shortages at the pumps and there will be enough to go around for everyone. The old saying ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ has never been more appropriate!

One of the headlines that has caused this issue is the shortage of HGV drivers, obviously some of whom drive the oil tankers. Despite some politically motivated reports, the HGV driver shortage is not unique to the UK and is not a symptom of Brexit. Instead this is a challenge faced by countries around the world. Across Europe, there is a shortage of 400,000 HGV drivers, while in the United States, there is a shortage of around 60,000 drivers.

HGV driver testing was shut down for large parts of the pandemic, meaning drivers were not coming through the system to replace those retiring or deciding it was time for a career change. The government has taken action to address the immediate situation. Driver testing resumed in April, but there are huge backlogs caused by the pandemic.  The HGV workforce has also been on average an older one. It has also become a less attractive career due to wages and conditions being suppressed due to cheaper eastern European labour.

Over recent months the Government has taken steps to address this – increasing the number of HGV driving tests, improving apprenticeships and reducing bureaucracy. Something we are only actually able to do as we have no left the EU.

In the past week we are going further by helping more people into the sector, using army examiners to increase testing capacity, encouraging drivers who have left the sector to return, and providing short-term relief with 5,000 HGV fuel tanker and food lorry driver visas in the run-up to Christmas.

The industry must also play their part by improving pay and conditions to build a resilient British workforce. The Government will continue to work with the industry to build a resilient British workforce. Visas will not be the long-term solution, and reform within the industry is vital. The Government will continue to support these efforts, which must stop British workers being undercut from abroad, with pay and conditions rising within the industry.

One way to encourage more new entrants to HGV driving is to make apprenticeships in the HGV sector more attractive to encourage people to join. The Government has accordingly revised the Large Goods Vehicle Driver apprenticeship standard, supported by an increased funding band of £7,000, as well as offering incentive payments to employers of £3,000 for every apprentice hired as a new employee from April to September 2021.

Finally, the Government has also already doubled the number of HGV driving tests, and now plan to increase testing by a further 50,000 a year, along with recently announced plans to overhaul HGV driving tests, meaning drivers will only need to take one test to drive both a rigid and articulated lorry, rather than taking two tests spaced weeks apart. We’ve also freed up examiners by removing the requirement – imposed by the EU – for drivers to take a separate test if they want to drive a car with a trailer.

There is always more work to do but I am confident the measures we are taking will help us build and keep the strong and resilient HGV workforce in both the short and long term our country needs.

Wednesday 22 September 2021

Newspaper column 22 September 2021 - Joining the Government

The big news in Westminster last week was the reshuffle. It had long been speculated that one was due, so it was good to see it actually happening.

Among the number of big moves in the Cabinet, I was particularly pleased to see the former Vaccines Minster, Nahdim Zahawi, appointed to Education Secretary. Having worked closely with Nadhim in the Department for Health and Social Care over the past 18 months I am sure he will do a great job in this new role.

I was also pleased that Sajid Javid remained as Health Secretary. This is a crucial time for our health and care system as we recover from the pandemic, deal with the backlog in our health system and reform the social care system.

For me personally there was also good news as the Prime Minister invited me to join the Government as a Whip. An invitation I was honoured to accept. There is always a lot of misunderstanding about the role of whips in Parliament. Whilst it is true that a part of the role is seeking to ensure MP’s vote in support of the government, that really is a small part of the role.

Whips are primarily there to manage the business of the government through the House of Commons. There is a myriad of different things that go on behind the scenes before and after what is seen in the chamber. This includes negotiating with the opposition whips regarding how long is given to different items of business, ensuring MPs are kept informed of what is happening and formally moving motions and other business in the chamber.

There is also a huge amount of work that goes into committees that consider legislation, where the whips have a key role.

Having spent the past two years as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Health and Social Care I welcome the opportunity of a new role and fresh challenge. Being the PPS to the Health Secretary throughout the Covid pandemic has been an incredible experience. It was truly a privilege to serve in that role during one of the most challenging times our country has faced for generations. I learnt a great deal and it was an immensely busy and intense time. I will never forget the experience and will always be grateful to the Prime Minister, Matt Hancock and Sajid Javid for the opportunity.

Each Whip is assigned to a government department to be a part of the ministerial team and I am delighted that I have been appointed the whip for the Health and Social Care Department. This will mean I will continue to work with health ministers to deliver the vital investment and reforms we need to recover from the pandemic.

I now look forward to my new role. There will be a great deal to learn in the coming weeks and months, but I am honoured to be part of this government and working to deliver the programme of legislation as we seek to move on from the pandemic.

But I want to reassure everyone that being the MP for my home patch is still by far the greatest honour I can ever imagine. Representing and serving the people of this constituency will always be the priority for me. I do understand the comments that some make that I will now be bound to support the government. Whilst it is the case that, just like the past two years as a PPS, I am bound by the collective responsibility being part of the government brings, it does not in any way dimmish my commitment to do what is right and best for our part of Cornwall.

As a part of the government, I will continue to do what I believe is right and best for our constituency and work with ministers to deliver the things we need. I will now be able to do this as a part of Boris Johnson’s government.

My office and I are here to help local people in any way we can. I am now holding regular face to face surgeries. If you feel I can help with advice or support in any way please contact my office to book an appointment – email: office@stevedouble.org.uk, tel. 01726 829379.

Wednesday 15 September 2021

Newspaper column 15 September 2021 - Health and Care Levy

 

Last week was the first week Parliament sat following the summer recess. It is always a busy week returning after six weeks of recess, but this year it was busier than usual.

We saw a number of important debates on current issues such as the situation in Afghanistan and the ongoing pandemic. I was pleased to be able to make a number of contributions in the Commons.

The biggest debate in Parliament last week was the announcement and then vote on the government’s plans to raise addition funding for the NHS and Social Care. After careful consideration this was something I decided to support.

We are all aware of the incredible pressure our health and care system is facing. It is predicted that the waiting list for those waiting for treatment, scans and operations could reach as high as 13 million people in the next couple of years, unless action was taken.

Additionally, we know that the social care system is facing greater pressure than ever before and there is a need to not only provide greater funding but reform the way the system works.

I am pleased that alongside the additional money raised through the Health and Care Levy, we will also be putting in place cap of £86,000 on the amount anyone will have to pay towards their own social care costs. Once that limit is reached no one will have to pay for their own care costs. This will mean that people will not be forced to sell their homes to pay for their care costs.  Those with assets below £100,000 will not have to pay the full cost of their care.

The government will also be coming forward with proposals to reform the way social care functions and ensure it works much more closely with the NHS to avoid the backlog in people being discharged from hospital as is currently the case.

With our own hospital under incredible pressure, it is vital we ensure the NHS has the resources it need to deal with the list of those waiting for treatments. Raising taxes is never something a Conservative government does lightly. But this government has shown time and again that it will not shy away from the tough decisions.

We could have sat by and stuck to the line that our manifesto stated we would not raise taxes, but I do not believe it would have been right to not act and allow the NHS waiting list to rise as predicted. We could of course have added the funding to the £400billion we have already borrowed, but that would have simply pushed the challenge down the road for our grandchildren to pay back.

The decisions to add 1.25% to employee and employer National Insurance, from next April, by way of a Health and Care Levy is, in my view, the least worse possible option to address the challenges we face. It means those with the broadest shoulders, on the highest salaries, will pay the most. We have also extended the levy to all those in work above state pension age, as well as putting a levy on dividend earnings so those who get their income from investments will also contribute.

This will raise more than an additional £12billion a year. Most of which in the first two years will go to the NHS to catch up with the backlog of those needing treatment. We will also initially put £1.8billion extra into social care which will increase as the NHS backlog is reduced.

I appreciate some will not agree with this decision but having considered all of the possible options I do not believe there was a better alternative. We could not sit and do nothing, and raising the funds in this way means that all those in work earning over £9600 per year will make a contribution, while the highest 14% of earners will pay more than 50% of the costs.

Whilst we continue to do everything needed to bring an end to this pandemic, we must also look to the coming years and take the decisions needed to ensure we can recover and return to normal as soon as possible. Ensuring the NHS has the funding it needs to deal with the backlog in treatments and social care is reformed are part of ensuring we can do this. So I am pleased to support the government in these very challenging decisions.

Wednesday 8 September 2021

Newspaper column 8 September 2021 - Back to Parliament while seeking feedback from residents

On Monday Parliament returned from summer recess. It is always bit of a shock to the system to get back to the weekly commute after spending the summer in Cornwall. But I am ready to get back to the main job of an MP of representing our constituency in Parliament.

There is plenty to get to work on in the coming weeks ahead. One of the most important issues continues to be the current housing situation in Cornwall. Whilst I have been working on this throughout recess, the return of Parliament will enable me to do this more effectively.

We are expecting new legislation on planning to come to Parliament in the coming week and I am hopeful that this will include new measures that will enable local councils to manage the number of  second homes and holiday lets through the planning system. This is something that I have been asking the government to put in place for several months now and it was encouraging to read in some of the national papers this weekend that these measures are being considered.

I am sure there will be a great deal of work still to do to ensure the right measures are put in place, but this will be one of my priorities over the coming weeks.

Of course, the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic continues and I am sure there will be plenty of debate on things like the vaccine roll out, particularly for children, booster jabs, vaccine passports and what further steps the government needs to ensure we continue to keep on top of the virus through the winter. In my role as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Health Secretary I am sure I will be kept very busy.

I will also be continuing my work on a number of the ongoing projects for our constituency such as the A30 link road, Spaceport Cornwall, securing the London flights for Cornwall Airport Newquay, upgrading the Newquay-Par railway branch line and lithium extraction.

However, I am also very much aware that I am your voice in Westminster and so I always want to know what matters most to you. To this end I have launched a new constituency autumn survey, so you can let me know the issues you feel should be focused on in the coming months.

You can find the survey on my website here

https://www.stevedouble.org.uk/st-austell-and-newquay-autumn-myplan-survey

It takes just a few minutes to complete so please do take a look and let me know your thoughts.

This will come off the back of my recent businesses survey when I asked local businesses to give me their thoughts on the way the government has supported businesses through the pandemic, the challenges they face and their thoughts about the future. Thank you to everyone who completed that survey. If you are interested you can read the report here:

https://www.stevedouble.org.uk/st-austell-and-newquay-business-survey

I am aware that many local businesses continue to face a number of challenges as we seek to recover from the past 18 months. Particularly I know that many are struggling to find the staff they need. I will continue to do all I can to ensure these concerns are heard and addressed.

Finally, once again this weekend we saw Cornwall hosting another international event as the first leg of the cycling Tour of Britain passed through the county. Starting in Penzance and ending in Bodmin the cyclists peddled across the Cornish countryside and our constituency got to host a large part of it as the route passed through Newquay and St Austell as well as several villages along the way.

A huge well done must go again to Cornwall Council, the Police and everyone involved in ensuring everything went smoothly. It was actually quite incredible to beyond the way the race was organised as it sped through the towns and villages along the way with the minimum of disruption. It was another opportunity to showcase Cornwall in all her beauty. But I think more importantly it demonstrated our ability to host these type of events. Following the G7, this will have enhanced our reputation as a place that can manage large prominent events and put on a great show. Hopefully this will put us in a great place for other such events in the future.

 

 

 

Wednesday 18 August 2021

Newspaper column 18 August 2021 - Results Week

 

Before I continue with this week’s column I want to pause to reflect on the tragic events from Plymouth last Thursday. We need to stand in solidarity with our neighbours across the Tamar, whose community has been hurt so badly by this shooting, and it is by standing together, in strength against this horrific act, that we can get through it. My thanks go to the emergency services, who responded in incredibly difficult and harrowing circumstances to help those injured and keep the area safe.

Last week saw pupils receive their GCSE A Level and other Further Education results. This has been another very difficult and different year of study and my congratulations go to everyone who has had their results. I hope you will be able to use them to positively move on to the next stage of your lives, whatever they may be.

Now more than ever, it is important that we do all we can to invest in our future generations, and I am pleased to see positive work being undertaken across the educational offer we have in Mid-Cornwall to ensure our children get the best possible primary, secondary and further education that they can.

At the end of July the Government confirmed that pupil funding for schools in Mid-Cornwall has gone up again with an average 3.3% increase this year, although some have seen an increase of up to 30.7%. This further closes the funding gap between Cornwall and other, more urban areas.

We have also seen additional funding for Fowey and Treviglas schools to address specific maintenance issues in their buildings to improve the educational experience.

I am also delighted to see new schools opening and planned in our constituency, including a new primary school at Tretherras, and a new Sky Academy at the West Carclaze Garden Village.

Turning to further education, it is crucial that St Austell, as the largest town in Cornwall, has an excellent further education offer, and I have successfully made the case to the Government for Cornwall College’s St Austell Campus to receive a share of a £1.5billion fund to allow it to re-develop and renew its St Austell base.

This goes along with my work to ensure St Austell has provision for pupils wishing to take A Levels in the town, as well as supporting Cornwall College’s already excellent offer of vocational courses.

I will continue doing all I can to ensure our young people get the best possible start in life, through education and elsewhere, such as helping grow our economy with high paid, high-skilled jobs that will allow our young people to stay and have their careers in Cornwall should they wish to.

Finally on Sunday, given the rapid escalation of events in Afghanistan, Parliament has been recalled, and will sit on Wednesday. I will be hoping to speak in the debate on this extremely difficult situation, where there is no easy answer.

As always, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance. Please do get in touch if I can help – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

Wednesday 11 August 2021

Newspaper column 11 August 2021 - tourism and more!

Much has been said in recent weeks about the role of tourism in Cornwall. Clearly, we are in the midst of what is an exceptional time with higher demand than ever from those wanting to come here on holiday.

Whilst this current peak is unlikely to continue beyond the next year or so, there is no doubt that tourism will continue to play a major part in our economy. This brings with it both positives and challenges. Tourism not only provides essential work for many local people - one in three households in Cornwall rely on tourism for at least part of their income -  but also supports many more businesses and jobs in the supply chain and supporting services.

A sizeable majority of our local businesses, from retail shops or restaurants and pubs and many other local services simply would not be viable without the additional income tourism brings. Many of the things that make Cornwall such a great place to live, that those of us fortunate enough to call this special place our home, get to enjoy for 52 weeks of the year, would not exist without the influx of visitors.

Clearly there are challenges that having such an influx of people brings. Whether it is the annoyance of traffic jams and queues, or the far more serious issues of the pressure it places on local housing and public services, it is important that we maintain a sustainable balance between the economic benefits and the pressures it creates.

This current spike will pass, but I am also determined that we learn from this time and take appropriate action to ensure measures are put in place, to avoid the challenges we are facing this summer being repeated in the future.

 But I think it is also important we recognise there is a lot more locally than tourism. One of the real joys of the past year or so has been getting a better understanding of some of the other amazing businesses we have here in mid-Cornwall. Particularly it has been incredible to learn of the vital and significant role our constituency has played nationally and internationally in the global fight against the Coronavirus.

It can be all too easy to just see us as a tourism backwater where nothing much else happens. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am not talking about the future potential of things like Spaceports, lithium extraction or geo-thermal energy, which will one day open new opportunities for Cornwall to be recognised as a place for future jobs and industries. I am talking about things happening, in reality, right now.

For example, one of our local businesses played a key role in the establishment of the Nightingale hospitals that we set up and opened in record quick time at the start of the pandemic last year.

Or another local factory that is supplying specialist air filters for ventilators around the world.

Our Cornish China Clay is a vital component of many medical devices that have been even more essential than ever throughout the pandemic. Maintaining production and supply of the raw materials needed for some of the basic, but essential supplies the NHS and health services around the world needed was clearly challenging during the lockdowns, but supplies kept flowing.  

Another company is manufacturing a vital component for the vials that contain the COVID-19 vaccine that is our way out of this pandemic. In fact, 50% of all the of the vials for the vaccine in Europe and Asia rely on a factory right here in mid-Cornwall for their supplies.

Too often we are unaware of some of the incredible things that happen in our local communities, and we can be very proud of the significant role local businesses and local people have played during this pandemic.

I have been pleased to work with these businesses and others to ensure they are able to play their part in the national effort to beat this virus. It is without exaggeration to say many thousands of lives have been saved because of the work they do. The people that work in these businesses are some of the unsung heroes of the pandemic.

Tourism will always be a major and important part of what Cornwall is about. But we should never lose sight of the fact we have a great deal more to offer our country and the world than just being a great place to holiday. Both now, and I believe even more so into the future, Cornwall has much to offer the world and we should feel rightly proud of our contribution.

Wednesday 28 July 2021

Newspaper column 28 July 2021 - Recess and Unauthorised encampments

I hope that everyone has been able to make the most of the great weather we have had recently, particularly as restrictions have been lifted. Parliament is now on summer recess until September, so it is especially enjoyable for me to be able to be at home and not have to travel to London.

I will be spending this time at home in our constituency and already have a pretty full diary of visits and meeting with local businesses and community groups. The summer recess is always a great time for me to be able to get out and about meeting local people. Of course, it is particularly good to be able to do this, this year, after not being able to do so for so long. I still have some time available in the diary so if you would like me to pay your businesses or group a visit do get in touch.

One issue that raised itself again last week was that of the illegal encampments, particularly in Newquay this time, although it is an issue that effects every area from time to time. This is a reoccurring issue every summer and is something that I have been pressing for action on ever since I was first elected. Every year we see travellers come to Cornwall and set up camp on private land or council property, such as car parks. While we should of course respect the right of travellers, as a recognised ethnic group, to live according to their traditional way of life, it is not acceptable that they do so in a way that does not respect the law of the land and course a great deal of disruption and expense for local taxpayers.

Cornwall Council have three travellers’ sites across Cornwall that provide space for travellers who wish to come to Cornwall. However, these sites are very rarely used and too often travellers opt to set up camp on inappropriate sites. Last week I was pleased to support local councillors and the Police in ensuring that these illegal encampments were moved on as soon as possible. However, the current process is a time consuming and costly one that distracts resources away from other issues. We also know that all that will most likely happen is the travellers will move on elsewhere to another illegal site.

One of the reasons it is time consuming and complex to remove those who set up illegal camps is because it is actually a civil rather than criminal matter, which means the hands of the police are tied until the appropriate processes have been completed. I am pleased that the government is addressing this issue, by bringing forward new legislation that will make camping without permission with a vehicle a criminal act. These measures are a part of the Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill that passed through the House of Commons last week and will now go to the House of Lords.

These new measures will not be in place for this summer but should receive Royal Assent in good time for summer next year and will make it much easier for the Police to move people on much more quickly.

Contrary to the concerns some have raised, the new measures will not restrict the general principle of right to roam, but will very specifically address the issue of people setting up camp, with vehicles, on private or public land without permission.

Before I conclude I want to pay tribute to Chrissie Jackson who sadly passed away last week. I met Chrissie when I first got involved in local politics in 2009. As one of the founders of our local Voice newspapers she was always a cheerful face behind the camera covering the local news in Newquay.

Throughout her recent battle with cancer, she was a true inspiration as she demonstrated incredible courage and dignity and raising an incredible £50,000 for charity. The way that she approached her final journey was an example to us off of how to make the very most of life, whatever it throws at us.

I know that I speak for many in saying she will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

  

 

Wednesday 21 July 2021

Newspaper column 21 July 2021 - The last steps out of lockdown

 

On Monday we took the final step, Step 4, on the roadmap out of lockdown. We are now in a position where all legal restrictions have been lifted. I know that many will welcome the return of most of our freedoms, to be able to go about our lives free from the restrictions that have been necessary over the past 18 months. But I am also very much aware there are those who are nervous and have concerns about taking this step.

We are all aware that the virus has not gone away. It is still with us, and we continue to see significant numbers of people testing positive. But as has been said many times, we do need to learn to live with this virus. Just as we live with other infectious viruses such as seasonal influenza.

We cannot live in lockdown forever. There is never going to be a time that is risk free for us to lift restrictions. With the successful roll out of the vaccine, when all adults have now been offered the first dose, and in the summer months when we are all spending more time outdoors and schools are on holiday, now is the moment when the risks are probably as low as they will ever be.

It is clear, although the number of people testing positive has been rising, we are not seeing the same increase in the number of people falling seriously ill and requiring hospital treatment. The link between the virus and serious illness have been significantly weakened by the vaccine. This gives us the confidence that we can lift restrictions without seeing the NHS overwhelmed by COVID cases.

These, as always, are difficult decisions to make. There is always a balance between the risk of the virus and the other harmful impacts of lockdowns. We need to be clear that there is no risk free option. Continuing the lockdown would have serious consequences on the ability of the NHS to address the ongoing health needs including the large backlog of those waiting for treatment, the wider health and wellbeing damage, including mental health and the economic impact further lockdown would cause. My view is that we are at the point where if we do not lift restrictions now, when would we ever do so?

But this does not mean we should now throw off all caution and have a ‘free for all’. The onus remains on all of us to behave responsibly. We should all continue to act with caution and apply common sense to how we live, keeping the virus in mind. Instead of the government applying legal requirements we now move into a phase of advice and guidance which we should all apply wisely.

Just because we are now allowed to do something does not mean it is wise or responsible to do so. We are free to not have to wear a mask, but it would be wise to still do so when in crowded confined spaces.  Or asked to do so by businesses. We are free to meet with anyone we choose in unlimited numbers and socialise in bars, pubs and nightclubs. But we should continue to act cautiously, especially if we have not had both doses of the vaccine or have close family who are vulnerable. We are free to make personal choices, but we should all be aware our choices will have an impact on those around us.

The track and trace system, along with the NHS COVID-19 app, will remain in operation and all those who are contacted need to continue to self isolate as instructed to do so. I know this is putting pressure on many businesses and public services due to the number of people being ‘pinged’. This should be a sign to us all that the virus is still very much around.

Some requirements to self-isolate for frontline NHS staff, who have been vaccinated, are being lifted and a test and release scheme put in place instead. But until these changes apply to us all on 16th August, we should all be aware of the risk of being in close proximity with someone who tests positive and us being instructed to isolate. This is another reason for us all to act responsibly and cautiously in the coming weeks.

I know the coming weeks will be a time of continued uncertainty and challenging for many. But we are making progress towards getting life back to normal. We are now very much in a different phase and we should apply these changes to our own lives as most appropriate for us.

As always, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance. Please do get in touch if I can help – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

 

Friday 4 June 2021

Campaign response: Please sign an EDM calling for an end to 'at-home' abortion

 

 

Thank you to constituents for their emails asking me to sign EDM 2 tabled by Carla Lockhart MP which calls for an end to ‘at-home’ or DIY abortion.

As I am sure they can imagine, I get hundreds of requests to sign EDMs on a regular basis.

However, when I was elected in 2015 I pledged that I would not sign any, since they have no legislative power, rarely achieve anything, and cost the taxpayer a substantial amount.

I find that making representations directly to Ministers on these issues far more effective and I will endeavour to do this when I get an opportunity.

The issue of DIY abortion, in particular, is one that I have taken a great deal of interest in, not least because many constituents have been writing to me to express their opposition to this appalling practice.

Constituents who have previously written to me on this will be aware of my position, which has not changed since we last corresponded: 

Since this measure was introduced at the start of the pandemic in 2020, as has been reported extensively in the media, a number of significant problems have put the lives and health of many women in danger. For instance, police in the Midlands launched a murder investigation last summer following the death of a newborn after a mum took abortion drugs posted to her. Other cases include a pregnancy being terminated at 28 weeks — four weeks after the legal limit. Inspectors at the Care Quality Commission are now investigating 13 significant incidents after identifying an “escalating risk” with medical terminations at home.

Furthermore, a nationwide undercover investigation has found evidence of abortion providers putting women at significant risk by not carrying out basic checks before sending them home abortion pills. The investigation also discovered home abortion pills can easily be obtained and administered to others, potentially in a coercive manner, which is especially concerning for domestic abuse victims: https://christianconcern.com/ccpressreleases/undercover-investigation-exposes-diy-abortion-service-as-unsafe-and-crossing-legal-boundaries/ 

Based on the evidence we have seen so far I am concerned that this form of ‘DIY’ abortion should become the norm after the pandemic. More than anything, I believe the health and safety of women have to be the priority and I am far from convinced that the current arrangement where women are able to easily obtain pills without adequate consultation and clinical assessment and carry out abortions without of any direct access to medical should be allowed to remain beyond the pandemic.
 
In Westminster I have the privilege of serving the Health Secretary Matt Hancock as his Parliamentary Private Secretary, and I have spoken to him at length about the contentious matter of abortion, as it is a conscience issue and MPs are free to vote based on their beliefs and personal views.
 
I know he is very much aware of the latest situation with at telemedical abortions and is consulting with the care minister and medical professionals urgently to look into the issues that have come to light. 


I will continue to do all that I can to oppose DIY abortion and any move to extend its provision beyond the pandemic.

I hope the above adequately sets out my position on this important issue.

Wednesday 19 May 2021

Newspaper column 19 May 2021 - The Queen's Speech and housing

Last week Parliament returned from the prorogation with the State Opening of Parliament when Her Majesty the Queen began a new session of Parliament with the ‘Queen’s Speech’. This is where the government lays out its programme for the new session.

The Queen’s Speech laid out a comprehensive programme of bills and other measures the government will be bringing to Parliament including key areas such as the environment, animal welfare, crime and victim support, protecting free speech, supporting the NHS, providing people with the skills they will need for the future, planning reform and levelling up our economy.

Every new session of Parliament begins with several days of debate on the topics in the Queen’s Speech. I am pleased to be able to contribute to the debate last Thursday. In my speech I raised one of the issues that I know is currently a major concern for local people – housing.

We have seen a dramatic increase in demand for housing, to purchase and rent, in Cornwall. Some reports indicate that there have been over 15 million searches for properties to buy in Cornwall already this year, the highest in the country, and over 1 million people looking to rent a home. I have often said that I can appreciate why so many people are interested in living in what is the most amazing place in the UK, I mean I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. But the current situation is unsustainable and is having a very negative impact for local people and businesses.

My office is regularly being contacted by local people who are finding it impossible to find a place to live, whether to purchase or rent. I also know of many businesses that are struggling to find the staff they need, not because they cannot recruit staff, but because often those staff are coming from elsewhere and although they find a job they then cannot find anywhere to live and so have to decline the job offer.

In my speech in Parliament, I highlighted the concerns many local people have raised with me. Clearly part of the solution is that we do need to build more homes in order to meet the housing need both locally and nationally. The government are proposing new legislation that will seek to simplify the planning process to make it easier to build the new homes we most definitely need. However, I also acknowledge the reasonable concerns some have about the impact any reform of the planning system may have.

The experience in Cornwall of the past decades is that just building more houses does not necessarily mean local people are able to access these new homes. Too many are purchased by people who use them as an investment – whether that is as 2nd homes, holiday lets or buy to rent properties. There is little point in building lots of new houses if they aren’t available for local people to buy or rent as their main residence.

This is a hugely complex matter and anyone who pretends there are quick or easy solutions doesn’t understand the realities of the housing market. We live in a free country where people are free to purchase property and live wherever the wish – I do not think anyone would seriously want to change this. The government has and continues to take steps to assist people onto the housing ladder. Schemes like Help to Buy have helped many first-time buyers. New measures such as 95% mortgages and a new homes discount scheme will further assist. I believe we also need to make more use of community land trusts and self-build opportunities as well as building more ‘affordable homes’ that are only offered to local people.

Following the debate, I have since spoken to the housing minister to ask him to ensure his office is aware of the current situation in Cornwall and what steps the government could take in the short term to help. There is not going to be a single solution to this challenge, but it is something that we need to work for a long-term sustainable solution to. I will continue to work to find the solutions we need so that local people, particularly our young people, have the opportunity to own or rent a home in the place we all love to call home.  

Wednesday 12 May 2021

Newspaper column 12 May 2021 - Local elections update

 

Last week’s local elections proved to be historic for Cornwall. For the very first time the Conservative Party will form a majority administration at County Hall. This was the outcome of the hard fought campaign which saw the Conservatives win 47 of the 87 council seats.

Obviously, I am pleased with this outcome which will mean that with the council leadership being from the same party as all of Cornwall’s MP we will be much better able to work together for the benefit of Cornwall.

Here in St Austell and Newquay it was also a very positive result with the Conservatives taking 11 of the 16 seats. I want to pass on my congratulations to all those who were elected including the three Mebyon Kernow and two Independents.

There were some disappointments with two sitting Conservative councillors losing their seats. I want to say a big thank you to Mark Formosa and Sally-Anne Saunders for all their work for the residents of their divisions. Politics can sometimes be brutal, and it is sad to see hard working and dedicated councillors miss out on re-election. I am sure we would all wish them well for the future.

There were also a number of other councillors from different parties, who were not re-elected, many of them were long serving councillors over many years. I want to say thank you to them for all they have done for the communities they represented.

Having spent the past 6 weeks out and about speaking to local residents there were a number of clear priorities that were raised time and time again. Issues of anti-social behaviour, housing for local people, inappropriate and over development and traffic and speeding were the issues most often raised. The one thing I know is that the newly elected council will ensure that it works to deliver on the priorities of the people of Cornwall and I look forward to working with all those elected in a constructive and positive way to address the priorities of local people.

I know each of the Conservative Councillors well and I know they will be dedicated to representing and serve their communities. We do not have a magic wand to change things overnight, but I do know with Conservatives now representing a very large part of this constituency, including all of the seats in our two main towns of Newquay and St Austell, we have a team that will be determined to get things done and I know they have already made a start.

This election was of course quite different to normal, being held as we emerge from the lockdown. Despite this the election went off without a hitch and thanks should go to the council officers who made it possible. It also demonstrated that despite what some parties were claiming, it was the right decision to go ahead with the elections at this time.

Next week we will continue our journey out of the lockdown with another important step in easing the restrictions. As I write this we await to hear the precise details of what the Prime Minister will announce but all the indications are that indoor meetings will now be allowed.

I am sure we will all welcome this, particular as the weather currently seems to be against us. It will also enable pubs, bars and restaurants to serve customers inside which will be another important step on our economic recovery.

With the lifting of restrictions, I will be recommencing my regular Advice Surgeries. If you would like to book an appointment to see me, please contact me office on: tel. 01726 829379 or email office@stevedouble.org.uk