Last week I was very
pleased to see the Queen’s Speech set out the Government’s long-term goals and
plans to help families and businesses in St Austell and Newquay.
The Queen’s Speech is an annual address given
at the State Opening of Parliament outlining a list of legislation to be
proposed in the coming parliamentary session. This revealed the Government’s top
priorities, which include growing the economy to address the cost of living,
safer streets and supporting the NHS, and builds on what we have already
achieved since 2019, during what has been a difficult and turbulent time.
Nevertheless,
some critics have complained that the Government didn’t use this opportunity to
bring forward further measures to tackle the rising cost of living. I just want
to clarify that the Queen’s Speech is not a Spending Review or Budget, and I do
not believe it was the right time to discuss this. Announcements of spending and further household
support will properly be made by the Chancellor at occasions such as the
Budget.
However, make no mistake that this Government stands ready to step in and help if needed as it has proven time and
time again. As Boris Johnson said, this country has risen
to challenges with no precedent in recent history. We have led the way in
responding to Putin’s war in Ukraine, and with our world-leading Covid-19
vaccination programme. But as
we emerge from the world economy shutting down due to the pandemic and the biggest war in
Europe since 1945, there is a huge global demand for
energy and commodities. It is a worldwide issue, not exclusive to the UK.
I am proud that the Government continues to
do everything it can to support those hit hardest and is spending £22 billion
of help to address the cost of living and cutting hundreds of pounds off
household bills. We must remember that the Government has done more than any other in our
country's history to provide for the most vulnerable and households at risk of
fuel poverty.
Those of us who pay council
tax by direct debit should have now had a £150 rebate on council tax as part of
the Government’s Energy Bills Rebate. This government scheme to rebate funds
from council tax is far more generous and better targeted to help those in
need.
We can also look at what this Government has
done to increase the minimum wage by 6.6% for
those aged 23 and over, bringing the pay of millions of workers up from £8.91
per hour to £9.50 an hour. This equates
to a before-tax increase of £1,074 for full-time workers. And
21-22-year-olds have also seen their pay rise by 9.8 per cent to £9.18 per
hour. All other rates of the National Minimum Wage have also increased.
Another example of this
Government supporting those who need it the most is the Universal Credit Taper Tate
cut. Reducing the Taper Rate allows the millions of working
families on Universal Credit to save around £9 a week. A single mother of
two earning the national minimum wage will see their take home pay increase by
around £1,200 a year as a result of the reduction in the Universal Credit
taper.
I am also pleased to see a new government campaign launched to increase the
take-up of Pension Credit as part of wider support with the cost of living.
This is worth an average of £3,300
and not only a cash top-up to the State Pension, but also helps with other
benefits such as help with housing costs, council tax reduction schemes,
heating bills and a free over-75s TV licence. Pension Credit can be claimed
online, by telephone or by post. Information is available on Gov.UK
website www.gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling the Freephone Pension Credit
claim line on 0800 99 1234.
There is also the
Warm Homes Discount scheme providing a £140 rebate on energy bills each for
over 2.2 million low-income households, and on top of the measures above,
further support was also announced in the Chancellor's Spring Statement, which
included doubling the Household Support Fund to £1 billion to be delivered
through local authorities to provide help to those who need it most. I am
pleased to see that Cornwall Council has been awarded nearly £5m from this fund to help with rising living costs.
The Household
Support Fund will provide direct help with the cost of
food, water bills and other essentials. It is my understanding that this fund
will support those households in the constituency who are most in need,
particularly those including children and pensioners who would otherwise
struggle with energy bills, food and water bills.
This week it has also been
announced that, for the first time in more than a decade, prescription charges
will be frozen to help with the cost of living. Charges usually increase in
line with average inflation, but the cost of a prescription will remain the same
this year. A move I am sure will help many people in the constituency.
While this Government has
acted to help combat the rise of the cost of living, caused by issues around
the pandemic and its after-effect, and also Putin’s war in Ukraine, I want to
reassure you that the Government will continue to review the situation and
stands ready to step in and help if needed.
As ever, if I can be of any further assistance, my
office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance –
tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk
