Newspaper column 22 February 2022

 

Locally, my inbox over the past week was dominated with correspondence around the continued use of the Beresford Hotel in Newquay to house asylum seekers while their applications are being processed.

The housing of asylum seekers while they are awaiting the outcome of their application is an international and national issue and it is right that Cornwall plays its part. However, I would like to make it clear that the Home Office did not impose the current use of the Beresford Hotel on it. This was something that the owners of the Beresford Hotel decided, to use their hotel in this way.

Last week a number of constituents contacted me regarding concerns about the alleged relocation of the asylum seekers staying at the Beresford Hotel to accommodation in St Columb Minor. 

The Head of Asylum Support at the Home Office, with whom I have regular calls to receive updates on the Newquay situation, was immediately made aware of the concerns of local people, and in turn made it very clear that there is absolutely no truth to these rumours.

I have also been assured that the Beresford Hotel remains very much a temporary measure and that every effort is being made to move the asylum seekers on to more suitable accommodation elsewhere – which would almost certainly be out of Cornwall. I trust this reassures people that the rumours regarding the housing of asylum seekers in St Columb Minor are false, and that once again, it is unwise to believe everything you read on social media.

I am also aware that concerns have been raised about the alleged behaviour of some asylum seekers. Obviously if local people are being made to feel vulnerable and unsafe this is unacceptable. I have been in touch with local Police to ensure that these issues are being addressed in the appropriate way.  It is important that any inappropriate behaviour is raised with the right authority. If criminal acts are witnessed, then these should be reported to the police. Other concerns should be raised with the refugee support team at Cornwall Council via refugeehelp@cormwall.gov.uk

Alongside these issues, it also became apparent that some people have been planning a protest, and a counter-protest, around the continuing use of the Beresford Hotel in its current role.

I have been in contact with Newquay Town Council, local councillors, the Head of Asylum at the Home Office about this, as concerns about the safety of the asylum seekers and of disruption to the town centre have been expressed. I have been assured that senior officials at the Home Office as well as Newquay Police have been made aware and are taking action before, during and after the protest itself to maintain order and ensure it remains peaceful.

Whilst I accept some local residents do have legitimate concerns, I do not condone any form of racism or xenophobia. I note that decisive action is being taken by the Government to tackle the issue of illegal immigration while allowing us to show compassion to those in genuine need of asylum and I continue to support these measures being introduced in Parliament.

I appreciate that local people wish to express their views on a matter that is clearly of considerable importance to a number of residents in Newquay, Whilst it is of course right that people are allowed to express their views within the bounds of the law, I would also suggest that this may not always be the most helpful way to address those concerns. We must avoid the escalations of these matters in such a way that it stirs up hatred and divisions.

Of course, as your local Member of Parliament, my door remains open and I will continue to raise all concerns brought to me with the relevant authorities whilst continuing to work with the Home Office to ensure the asylum seekers housed in the hotel are moved on as soon as possible.

If you require my assistance on any matter please get in touch with my office by calling 01726 829379 or email office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column 15 February 2023 - Keeping Cornwall Connected

As people will know, ensuring Mid-Cornwall is better connected in all ways has always been a priority for me, especially following the Covid pandemic which showed us just how vital it is to have decent broadband schemes for both work and leisure.

That is why I am pleased to see the government has awarded local supplier, Wildanet, £36million to roll out new connections across Cornwall. This means thousands of people in those hard-to-reach areas in the Duchy will have access to lightning-fast broadband, something I have supported and been pushing for since being elected as MP.

I understand how important a good fast internet connection is, especially to elderly people who often rely on online connectivity for all manner of things, so it is a priority of mine that all households are able to enjoy full fibre connections.

Project Gigabit is the biggest broadband rollout in British history and shows the government’s commitment to creating a level playing field for our communities and businesses here in Cornwall at a time when it is more important than ever before that people have access to fast and reliable broadband for business and leisure purposes.

No time is being wasted on implementing this roll-out and work is already underway to survey rural homes and businesses from Newquay to Fowey as part of the government’s flagship £5 billion Project Gigabit. This scheme will see up to 19,250 homes and businesses in Cornwall connected.

This is something I have been working on for many years with Cornwall Council, supporting the bid, and now connecting those in need to the fastest broadband on the market is set to begin as early as this summer.

This really is fantastic news for those remote communities in the constituency who have not been able to benefit from broadband connectivity in this digital age when having fast, reliable internet is vital not only in our day-to-day lives, but also for businesses.

Many of us take reliable, fast broadband for granted, however for a number of our communities this vitally important infrastructure has been missing for too long. Now thanks to the government funding and Wildanet people living in rural areas will be able to benefit from the opportunities that gigabit broadband provides, including economic and social benefits, and it will also help Cornwall’s economy by connecting more people and businesses.

I have had many dealings with Wildanet in my role as MP and know that they are an excellent local Cornish employer. Through my work in the constituency, I have seen for myself just how passionate they are about improving rural connectivity in Cornwall.

That is why I am delighted to see their success in accessing this government funding to achieve this, particularly as Mid-Cornwall will be one of the first areas in the county to get the Project Gigabit funding.

The contract will cover rural premises from the north coast, between Newquay and Otterham, to the south coast, between Portloe and Fowey, and so will be of great benefit to people living in these areas.

This announcement is more confirmation from the Government that Cornwall is at the heart of its levelling up agenda and builds on the previous investments since 2011 through the Superfast Cornwall programmes.

As a result of these new contracts, Wildanet expects to create 200 jobs on top of the 150 the company has created in the area already. This will also bring indirect opportunities for local companies, which is great news.  

I will continue to do all I can to ensure people and businesses in Mid-Cornwall have access to reliable, fast broadband and can benefit from this scheme. I now look forward to working with Wildanet, Cornwall Council and my colleagues in Westminster on this project and am confident we will see the economic and social transformation we all want to see in our rural communities in Cornwall.

If you require my assistance on any matter please get in touch with my office by calling 01726 829379 or email office@stevedouble.org.uk

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Newspaper column 8 February 2023 - More funding for our NHS

 Freeing up space in hospitals and speeding up discharge for those who are medically fit to leave are also key parts of the blueprint. The NHS will be piloting a new approach to step down care across the country where patients will receive rehabilitation and physiotherapy including at home.

This will ensure people have a smooth transition out of hospital, reducing the chances of re-admission while also potentially reducing long-term demand on social care.

Measures implemented during the winter to help the NHS cope with demand will also be expanded all year-round.

The issues we face today are in no way a reflection on NHS doctors and nurses who work around the clock to ensure they deliver care to hundreds of thousands of patients every day, and we also cannot ignore the impact the pandemic has had on the NHS.

 

We are extremely grateful to all doctors and nurses and that is why the government will also be supporting them by giving them greater flexibility to move between hospitals and work in services like 111, with more options for call handlers to work from home.

More details about the government’s plan can be found here: www.england.nhs.uk/2023/01/major-plan-to-recover-urgent-and-emergency-care-services/

The government is making up to £14.1 billion available for health and social care over the next two years, on top of record funding to improve urgent and emergency, elective, and primary care performance to pre-pandemic levels.

However, as I have repeatedly said, there are no quick fixes to solving the serious long-term challenges facing the NHS, but we can act now to reduce long waits for urgent and emergency care.

This year the NHS will celebrate its 75 anniversary. I believe we now need to look to the future and focus on reforming the way NHS services are provided. The NHS needs to adapt to the country’s changing needs, so that it can exist for another 75 years. 

For now, I will continue to work with the local NHS, Cornwall Council and Government to ensure we make the most of this opportunity to put the NHS on a sustainable footing so that the people of Cornwall receive the care they need and deserve.

If I can be of assistance on this matter or any other, please get in touch with my office on 01726 829329 or email office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column February 1st 2023 - Devolution Deal update

This month the public consultation on the historic £360 million devolution deal between the Government and Cornwall Council will be coming to an end.

This historic deal, which transfers additional money and power into the hands of local leaders in Cornwall, is the first single county deal of its kind.

It is also one of the biggest decisions Cornwall has had to make in a generation and that is why I urge as many people as possible to understand what is on offer and have their say.

I am aware, however, that there has been much misinformation and misunderstanding about what the Devolution Deal will mean for Cornwall and so would encourage people to base their views and judgement on fact, rather than misguided opinion.

Regardless of what some people may be saying, this is not a done deal. It is only the beginning and what is on offer in the immediate deal is not the final outcome. There is much more negotiation to be done with the government about more additional funding and powers to make the changes we want to see here in Cornwall happen.

There is also a lot of misrepresentation about what having a mayor will mean for Cornwall. The deal would mean everyone in Cornwall gets to decide who leads Cornwall Council rather than 87 councillors choosing. Surely a Leader elected by the people of Cornwall who best understand what the county needs can only be a good thing as it also means the council Leader will have a greater democratic mandate and will be accountable to the people of Cornwall.

However, don’t just take my, or anyone else’s, word for it. I would urge people to see for themselves exactly what this will mean for Cornwall: www.gov.uk/government/publications/cornwall-devolution-deal-kevambos-digresennans-kernow

The deal will include Cornwall’s first ever long-term, fully devolved investment fund of £360m guaranteed for the next 30 years as well as £8.7 million to support the building of new homes on brownfield land and an additional £500,000 for transport planning to support the area to improve key transport infrastructure priorities.

There is also up to £10 million for housing and heritage-led regeneration to support the delivery of locally determined priorities in Cornwall, and £500,000 of funding to protect and promote the Cornish language.

But this ground-breaking deal is about more than just money. It also includes a commitment from government to work with Cornwall to finds ways to better manage the impact of second homes and holiday lets and would give us new powers to improve local skills to ensure these meet the needs of the local economy and also drive the regeneration of Cornwall and to build more affordable homes.

It would also see the start of a new era of political leadership by establishing a different relationship with the Government for Cornwall; giving us the opportunity to have more decision-making powers and millions of pounds of additional investment to deliver on priorities for the people of Cornwall.

I strongly believe that the Devolution Deal can only be very positive for Cornwall. More money, more power and more control over things that truly matter to us like housing, education, and transport as well.

Over half of the country is going down this route and I’m concerned that if Cornwall doesn’t take this opportunity, we are going to be left behind other areas.

There are also those who would like to see a regional or Devon and Cornwall Mayor, and the way to ensure Cornwall keeps its unique identity and voice is to take this opportunity.

 

Cornwall Council have been consulting on the new deal which aims to help deliver on the priorities set out in the Cornwall Plan 2050 and if accepted, the Government would give additional powers and funding to the local authority.

 

What’s important is that people understand the facts and I would encourage everyone to take a look at what the deal means for the county themselves and then have their say.
 

The 10-week consultation comes to an end this month on February 17 and can be accessed via the link here: https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/bigdeal

If supported, the election of a Mayor for Cornwall will take place in May 2024.

 

For now, I will carry on working with my colleagues in Westminster to ensure we continue to deliver the best outcomes for the people of Cornwall.

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

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