Newspaper column 4 October 2023 - Keeping the economy rising while supporting those who need it

Much of the causes of the current rise in the cost of living are a result of the war in Ukraine and the impact of the pandemic. However, it is right that we support those households most vulnerable to the sharp rise in prices as we see inflation come down and prices stabilise.

As we head into October as a country we are in a different place to where we were last year. Inflation is down, hopefully interest rates have peaked, and the prices of energy are falling. Last week we also saw the Office of National Statistics revise it growth figures for the economy for earlier in the year. It is now clear that the UK economy performed significantly better than first reported. Our economy is now bigger than it was before the COVID pandemic and is among the strongest in Europe.

With this in mind, it is right that the Government continues to do all it can to ensure the economy continues to recover from the issues that have caused problems previously, and remains buoyant going forward.

The long-term decisions we have taken means we are now growing the economy and are on track to halve inflation this year – allowing the Government to deliver on our manifesto commitment to end low pay by raising the National Living Wage to two thirds of median income.

I was pleased then to see on Monday that the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, announced that the National Living Wage will increase to at least £11 an hour, boosting the incomes of the lowest-paid by more than £1,000 a year.

That means the annual earnings of a full-time worker on the National Living Wage will be over £20,000  – and meaning that those workers are over £9,000 a year better off than in 2010.

To ensure work always pays the Chancellor also confirmed we will work with the Department for Work and Pensions to look again at the benefit sanctions regime to make it harder for people to claim benefits while refusing to take active steps to move into work.

As well as making sure that you will always be better off in work, it is also crucial that we continue to support those who need it most. Last week it was good to see confirmation that the next cost of living payment, worth £300 for 13,500 vulnerable and low-income households in St Austell and Newquay will be made between 31 October and 19 November 2023.

This is the second of three payments totalling up to £900 for those eligible and on means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or tax credits, in 2023-24, and will help families affected by global inflation caused by Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine and the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Details about the third cost of living payment will be announced in due course.

These payments build on the Cost of Living Payments made last year worth up to £1,200, and form part of the Government’s record financial support for the most vulnerable, worth an average of £3,300 per household.

The £300 Cost of Living Payment will be sent out automatically and directly to eligible households, so there is no need to apply. Eligible pensioner households will also receive a further £300 payment later this year as an addition to the Winter Fuel Payment.

I will continue to do all I can to work with the Government to ensure people are always better off in work, as well as making sure those who need additional support get it.

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 27 September 2023 - The new plan to deliver Net Zero

Last week the Prime Minister announced a new approach to the tackling one of the biggest long-term challenges we face: climate change.   

I am aware from the emails I receive from constituents that the debate about climate change is stuck between two extremes. There are those who want to deny climate change or abandoned Net Zero because they worry that the costs are too high.   

On the other hand, we have those who want us to go further and faster with no consideration for the impact this will have on the cost to people’s lives or how much we have already achieved compared to other countries.   

Since the Government published its original targets, we have already achieved much in being greener and more sustainable than ever before. Our track record speaks for itself. Over the last decade we have over-delivered on our climate change targets and done more than other countries.   

We have had the fastest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the G7; down almost 50 per cent compared to 1990, compared to just 22 per cent for France, no change for the US, and an increase for China of 300 per cent, as well as higher than forecast adoption of clean technologies like electric vehicles.  

However, we cannot deny that the world we live in has seen significant changes and upheavals since we became the first major economy in the world to pass Net Zero emissions legislation back in 2019. Since the Government set its targets, the COVID-19 pandemic and Putin’s war on Ukraine in particular have caused a sharp rise in the cost of living.  

I am aware that not every family in Mid-Cornwall can afford to make the changes. I regularly have people contacting me worried about meeting their day-to-day living costs and concerned at the increased costs of some of our green policies will bring.  

It is clear that there are significant concerns that the original measures, if left in place, would have greatly impacted upon many ordinary families who simply would not have been able to afford to make the required changes, particularly around electric vehicles and household energy, within the required timescales.  

There were also proposals to implement the original measures within the original timescales, which I have been contacted about. Measures like rules on carpooling, the creation of new taxes to discourage flying, and potentially harming our farmers by taxing meat or dairy. Measures that could significantly damage our economy by continuing to race to Net Zero without considering the wider implications.  

The Prime Minister’s new plan to deliver Net Zero will not only allow us as a country to continue to be a world leader in tackling climate change, but shows the Government can take into account other issues and circumstances that have arisen since we published our original plans.  

I am pleased to see the Prime Minister confirm that none of these will proceed, giving people the stability and security that they need at this difficult time, and a significant number of constituents have written to me in the light of the Prime Minister’s speech to welcome the measures set out, which will see us take a more pragmatic, proportionate, and realistic approach to meeting Net Zero that eases the burdens on working people.  

However, I am also aware that there are a number of people who are disappointed by the new approach, and I believe it’s important to make it clear that even with these changes, we are still on track to meet Net Zero by 2050. Our approach keeps us on track to meet Net Zero in 2050 and is compatible with our obligations under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

Our targets are also still more ambitious than other countries. Our 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution delivers 68 per cent reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels – more than the US at 40 per cent, Australia and 45 per cent and the EU at 55 per cent, and reduces per capita emissions to 3.8 tonnes, lower than the US, Australia, Canada and the EU.  

We have met all of our carbon budgets to date and are committed to meeting those we have set for the future. But if public support for Net Zero is not maintained, none of these targets can be met. 

The policy changes that have been announced will help families and businesses adapt to Net Zero, giving them more time to adjust, which will only encourage more to make the switch to heat pumps or electric cars.  

Speaking of electric cars, I want to be clear that the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate will continue as planned. By 2030, we expect that the vast majority of cars sold will be electric – because costs are falling, the range is improving, and the charging infrastructure is growing.   

But we must remember that the upfront costs are still high for families struggling with the cost of living and I believe it should be the consumer, not government, making that choice.   

More time will also allow our charging infrastructure to grow and create new jobs and opportunities for us here in Mid-Cornwall. We have some of the largest deposits of lithium in Western Europe, which is a key ingredient for EV batteries. Already we are seeing local companies like British and Cornish Lithium attracting significant international investment as well as UK government support while creating highly skilled, highly paid jobs for local people.

Consumers will still be able to buy new petrol and diesel cars and vans until 2035, which brings us in line with countries like Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Australia, Canada and US states such as California, New York and Massachusetts.

There were many positive measures announced by the Prime Minister, including greater investment in our energy infrastructure, and faster upgrading of the national grid. While the government is investing billions in new energy projects, we don’t yet have the grid infrastructure to bring power to households and businesses. This investment will make a real difference in delivering greener and cheaper energy for us all. We are also increasing grants for boiler upgrades to £7,500 to support households with that transition. 

We remain on track to meet Net Zero in 2050 and Britain remains world-leading in our efforts to combat climate change. I believe the Prime Minister’s announcement on his new plan to deliver Net Zero is sensible and pragmatic, and should be welcomed. 

As always, I am interested to hear what you think about the Prime Minister’s announcement, so I have launched a survey. You can find it here: https://www.stevedouble.org.uk/new-plan-deliver-net-zero-survey 

Please do take 5 minutes to complete and let me know your view on this important subject. 

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 20 September 2023 - The Online Safety Bill

 

This week the government's new world-leading online safety laws will face their final stages in the Houses of Parliament. 

The Online Safety Bill marks a milestone in the fight for a new digital age which is safer for users and holds tech giants and social media companies to account. The Bill will protect children from harmful content such as pornography and limit people’s exposure to illegal content, while also protecting freedom of speech.

In the digital age we now live in, the internet is vital not only in our day-to-day lives, helping us to connect with loved ones, but also for businesses. Almost every part of our lives is at least now partly online. That is why it is so important that we protect vulnerable people, including our children and young people, from potential harm and make the internet a safe place for all users.

This Bill establishes a world-leading legislative framework which will protect children and empower adults online by requiring social media platforms, search engines and other apps and websites allowing people to post their own content to protect children, tackle illegal activity and uphold their stated terms and conditions.

The regulator Ofcom will have the power to fine companies failing to comply with the laws up to ten per cent of their annual global turnover, force them to improve their practices and block non-compliant sites.

In my role in Government, I was responsible for ensuring this historic piece of legislation passed through the Commons and we are now approaching a watershed moment in online safety with the government on track to deliver the most consequential child protection legislation in a generation.

Following careful scrutiny of the Bill during its parliamentary progress, the government has amended the Bill to ensure its regulatory framework remains robust and proportionate. Throughout the Bill’s passage, the government has listened carefully to the views of stakeholders, Parliamentarians, and victims of online crime and abuse and made a number of amendments to strengthen the Bill’s further. 

These include strengthening protections for children from pornography; adding provisions so that Ofcom can hold companies and senior managers - where they are at fault - criminally liable if the provider fails to comply with Ofcom’s enforcement notices in relation to specific child safety duties or to child sexual exploitation and abuse on their service; requiring Ofcom to produce guidance setting out in one place how companies can tackle online violence against women and girls; and adding additional safeguards for Ofcom’s use of the last-resort power to require platforms to use accredited technology to detect child sexual exploitation and abuse material on their services, or to use best endeavours to develop such technologies if they do not exist.

These changes strike a balance between protecting children, protecting privacy, and ensuring predators are not able to exploit technological advances in the future – which is particularly important with regard to AI.

I am aware that some campaigners have raised concerns about what the Bill does or does not say and there have been a number of misleading statements about the implications of the Bill so it is important to be clear.

This Bill seeks to increase user safety online; preserve and enhance freedom of speech online; improve law enforcement’s ability to tackle illegal content online; improve users’ ability to keep themselves safe online, and also improve society’s understanding of the harm landscape. It places responsibility on social media companies to take responsibility for harmful and illegal content to ensure the internet is a safe place for users, particularly children.

The legislation is expected to become law by the end of this year and while I appreciate that there will always be some who are quick to criticise the government whether that be that the Bill does not go far enough to protect users to disagreeing over the extent the government and online platforms should be able to monitor user content, I firmly believe this legislation can only be a positive step in the right direction.

Our criminal law must also be fit for the digital age and provide the protections that victims deserve, and I am looking forward to the working with the government to ensure the internet is a safe place for all users.

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 13th September 2023 - Mining

For hundreds of years Cornwall has been renowned for its iconic mining industries which were an important contributor to the UK’s economy. Here in Mid-Cornwall china clay mining shaped the landscape for more than 250 years and is Cornwall’s largest mining industry.

Mining is a tradition that we have managed to continue in Mid-Cornwall for centuries and we are now leading the way with lithium extraction. With so much activity in the mining industry here in Mid-Cornwall as it reclaims its mining pre-eminence, I am looking froward to attending, and speaking at, the Cornish Mining Conference this week.

This international event attracts delegates from around the world and highlights the opportunities we have in the UK, particularly in Cornwall, to responsibly extract the abundance of metals and minerals we have and the potential investment opportunities that lie ahead.

With increasing demand for lithium, which is used to make batteries for everyday electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops, as well as to power electric cars, which will be fundamental to cutting carbon emissions and heading towards Net Zero, it is exciting that one of the most sought-after natural resources can be found right here on our doorstep.

 

We know that Cornwall has the right conditions for critical mineral businesses to grow and currently have a number of pioneering mineral exploration and development companies operating in Mid-Cornwall to explore the area’s potential.

 

In an uncertain world, it is important that we improve the resilience of critical minerals supply chains and have own domestic supply. It is crucial that the minerals we will need to power the world in the future, such a lithium, can be made available in the quantities needed and extracted in responsible ways.

 

This places Cornwall, and the UK, at the forefront of the green industrial revolution and create opportunities for businesses, which is why I was pleased to see the announcement last month that £24m will be invested into Cornish Lithium to progress the project already underway at Trelavour Downs.

 

They plan to extract lithium from hard rock in a repurposed china clay pit and produce around 8,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium hydroxide, to a construction-ready state, which will create much-needed jobs and training opportunities in Mid-Cornwall.

 

This could see the local workforce taken to over 300, and it is estimated that the company could generate £800m of economic activity for the local economy over the planned 20-year mine life, which would be great for Cornwall.

 

The development of lithium extraction in Mid-Cornwall is something I have worked to support for many years as it will be a huge boost to the local economy and also ensure we continue to lead the world in this sector for years to come.

 

The funding is part of a wider funding package of £53.6m, which will be used to accelerate progress toward the creation of a domestic supply of lithium.

In June we also saw a new joint venture partnership announced between Imerys Minerals and British Lithium, which is developing processing methods to produce high quality lithium carbonate, to enable commercial battery grade lithium to be extracted and processed right here in Mid-Cornwall.

I do believe that this is just the tip of the iceberg for Cornwall, with many other minerals which are used to provide housing and infrastructure as well as for food production, potentially being found here. I am looking forward to seeing what further opportunities can be explored and to seeing this industry grow and develop in Mid-Cornwall.

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

Newspaper column 06 September 2023 - Back to Parliament and the Energy Bill

 We have now come to the end of another summer here in Mid-Cornwall and the schools are getting ready to go back this week. I also returned to Parliament this week after spending Summer Recess at home in the constituency where I had the opportunity to spend some time with my family and meet with constituents and local businesses. 

 

I am looking forward to getting back to Westminster and representing our constituency in Parliament as your MP. Over the coming months a number of important pieces of legislation will be coming forward in Parliament. This week the focus will be on the Energy Bill, which will reform the UK’s energy system by addressing energy production and security, and the regulation of the energy market.

 

Last week I wrote about Ofgem’s announcement of a further reduction in the energy price cap, meaning an annual energy bill for a typical household will fall to £1,923 in October – the first price cap under £2,000 since last year. Bills will be around £151 lower than current rates and £577 lower than last winter.

The government has stepped in with over £40 billion of support to help households with both short-term and long-term measures, including the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) scheme, Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS), a £150 council tax rebate for households and providing £9 million of additional support to the Household Support Fund. The government also continues to make cost of living payments to those who are most vulnerable and on certain benefits.

However, Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine last year has put the need for energy security in stark perspective. While the UK has little direct exposure to Russian gas, we faced significant indirect impacts through our links to European gas networks and global markets. Never again should we allow our energy security to be threatened, therefore it is crucial that we look at the UK’s energy independence and renewable energy sources, and move away from any reliance on Russia.

That is why the Prime Minister has tasked the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero with improving the UK’s energy security, creating greater energy independence consistent with net zero and reducing the risk of higher bills.

 

We now have an opportunity to address the UK’s energy security and independence by reducing our dependence on oil and gas and moving towards low-carbon energy, including wind, solar and nuclear power generation alongside hydrogen production and carbon capture, usage and storage.

 

We want our energy to be cheap, clean and reliable to protect households and businesses and the best way to do this is by not only lowering the costs of the energy we consume, but reducing the amount we use.

 

We all have a part to play in this and the government continues to provide millions of pounds in grant funding for vital energy efficiency upgrades for homes, which will help many households in St Austell and Newquay decarbonise their homes.

The Energy Bill will also set out how homes will transition to greener heating systems in the years to come, including those with oil boilers and without having to install heat pumps, which I know are a cost many people would find difficult to cover.

I understand that many households in Mid-Cornwall would have been hit hard financially by the proposed ban on the installation of new oil boilers from 2026 and so was pleased to see the government publish an amendment that places a new obligation on liquid fuel providers to supply renewable products.

This is thanks to the work of my Cornish colleague and Conservative MP for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, George Eustice, who has pushed for oil heated homes to be given the choice of switching to a renewable liquid fuel, rather than a heat pump.

It is right that the government continues to take decisive action to support households and businesses with rising energy bills, and while targeted support will still be offered to those who most need it, I do believe it is important that the government take steps to fix the broken energy retail markets for the long-term.

I am looking forward to working with Ministers as we move towards a future of clean and abundant energy, which will not only cut costs for households in Mid-Cornwall, but also boost the UK’s economy and attract future investment.

If I can be of assistance on this matter, or another, please get in touch with my office by calling 01726 829379 or email office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column 9 August 2023 - A visit from the Roads Minister

As we move into August, last week it was great to welcome Roads Minister Richard Holden to Mid-Cornwall to update him in some of the excellent work being done to improve our transport infrastructure and improve our connectivity.

First up the Minister went from Cornwall Airport Newquay to Newquay Bus Station, along with local councillors and Connor Donnithorne, the lead councillor at Cornwall Council responsible for Transport. This journey was carried out on the Atlantic Coaster, an open top double decker that travels between Newquay and Padstow. which was always an optimistic plan given the changeable weather we have been having so far this summer! Apart from being able to see some of our lovely Cornish sights and scenery, the purpose of this part of the Minister’s visit was to highlight the continued success we are having in Cornwall with the bus fare cap, as well as to get an update on some of the other amazing initiatives going on in Cornwall, such as the successful partnership with Operators and the Council to provide free bus passes for Care Leavers.

In June, the Government announced a further extension to the national bus fare cap of £2 for a single fare bus journey until the end of October 2023, and then £2.50 until November 2024.

The extension of this national initiative complements the bus fares pilot scheme already in place here in Cornwall since April 2022, with bus passengers already saving hundreds of thousands of pounds. Between April and December 2022 over two million discounted tickets were sold through the bus fares pilot.

It was good to highlight to the Minister this success as well as the need to ensure as many people as possible know about the fare caps and are able to access the buses.

The Minister also had the chance to have a look around Newquay Bus Station and see how, under the Transport for Cornwall brand, bus users can have access to integrated information such as timetables, roadside information, networks guides and maps.

Finally, he also saw how Cornwall invests in active travel initiatives like Cornwall’s e-bike share scheme, Beryl bikes which are available at locations, including in the towns of St Austell and Newquay, all across Cornwall. The bay at Newquay Railway Station ranks in Beryl’s top ten most popular.

Following the visit to Newquay Bus Station, the Minister visited the construction site of the St Austell - A30 link road at Roche.

The new link road is receiving £78.5million of Government funding– the biggest single investment by any government in mid-Cornwall.

The 3.9 mile route will link the A391 at Carluddon with Victoria and provide an alternative route for traffic that currently goes through the villages of Bugle and Roche.

The scheme will generate almost £112million in wider economic benefits, reduce journey times and include a new shared pedestrian and cycle facility running alongside the whole length of the new road.

Local businesses and residents have wished for a better connection to the A30 for many years. Previous schemes had been cancelled and there had been little prospect of this road ever being built. When I began my first election campaign in 2014 I pledged to make delivering this road my top priority. 

It has been great to see the work on this vital road take place over the past year. This scheme will not only benefit St Austell and the surrounding area, relieving pressure on Roche, Bugle and Stenalees, but also provide huge economic benefits and a more direct route to the A30 and Cornwall Airport Newquay.

It is only under this Conservative Government, with me as your MP, that it has been delivered. It was great to update the Minister on the work done and I will continue to work with colleagues in Cornwall and in Westminster to ensure this important part of our infrastructure for Mid-Cornwall is completed as soon as possible.

If I can be of assistance or help on any matter, please get in touch with my office on 01726 829379 or email office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column 2 August 2023 - Second homes roundtable

With the summer holidays and tourism season here in Cornwall now very much underway, I thought it timely that I was invited to attend a roundtable with the UK Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA) along with a number of providers of holiday let accommodation, last week. 

This event was attended by many key figures who play an important part in our tourism industry, including Malcolm Bell from Visit Cornwall, Leader of Cornwall Council, Linda Taylor, as well as the CEO of UK Short Term Accommodation Association, Andy Fenner and a number of my fellow Cornish MPs. 

It was good to have an open and honest discussion about the tourism industry in the county, including the benefits and concerns about short-term holiday lets in Cornwall, and more importantly, how they should be regulated while also supporting tourism and the local economy.

As you will know, I have always been a strong supporter of the tourism industry, serving as Chair of the influential Hospitality and Tourism All Party Parliamentary Group for a number of years, and have seen its importance to the Cornish economy. 

Cornwall attracts millions of visitors every year, who spend billions of pounds and I am sure local hospitality and tourism businesses will be hoping for another great summer season this year. 

However, while Cornwall’s tourism industry has its many positives, I understand there is a flip side to this and know many residents have their concerns about its impact, and I understand why. I see its impact as I am regularly contacted by local people who have been priced out of homes, both to rent or to buy, and are unable to continue to work or live in the place they call home due to the number of short-term lets. 

This is an issue I have been working to address for a number of years, both during my time as MP for St Austell and Newquay and also when I was a Cornwall Councillor. The availability and affordability of housing has been an issue in Cornwall for a long time, but there is no denying that it has grown significantly worse over the last few years due to, in part, the huge increase in demand for people to both holiday in Cornwall and those wanting to move to live here. 

Housing continues to remain one of the biggest problems that people raise with me and that is why I am pleased the government has brought forward a number of proposed changes in its Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which aim to tackle the oversaturation of Airbnbs and other short-term lets on our local communities. 

As an MP who represents a constituency that has one of highest number of these properties, I have been urging the government to do more to regulate the short-term let market. We need to give communities the power to redress the balance between holiday lets and homes for local people to live in where it is an issue.

I have been working with Ministers to ensure important measures to manage the number of short-term lets in Cornwall would be included in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill in order to protect our communities and support the tourism industry and ensure they can both work together, which is key. 

It is reassuring to see the Government listening to the concerns I have raised on behalf of constituents and planning to introduce a requirement for change of use planning permissions for short-term lets.

The planning changes would see a planning use class created for short-term holiday lets not used as a sole or main home. I believe it is reasonable that if a property is built to be someone’s home and the owner wants to then change it to a holiday let, which is effectively a business use, that planning permission should be required because it is a fundamental change in the use of that property.

Creating a separate planning use category for short-term holiday lets will allow local authorities such as Cornwall Council to become decision-makers on how many of these types of business are in local communities, as well as giving town and parish councils, and the wider public a say in these matters through the planning process.

A new registration scheme for short-term lets is also being introduced through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.  This will ensure we know how many holiday let properties there are in a given area as well as enabling local councils to then ensure these properties have the required insurance and safety measures in place.

These new rules will ensure communities have greater control over short-term holiday lets and while we must recognise that there is no quick or easy fix for the housing situation in Cornwall, this is a significant step towards managing the impact of short-term lets on our local housing market. 

However, I do think we need to make it clear that both of these proposed measures are focussed on short-term lets, and therefore the planning changes and the register will not impact on hotels, hostels or B&Bs, which are already covers by current regulations.

The rules are also in addition to the Government measures to give local communities greater ability to manage the impact that second homes can have in some locations, including closing tax loopholes and permitting councils to apply higher council tax on second homes.

Cornwall Council will have the powers to be able to double council tax on unused second homes to boost funding for local services.

These issues are concerns I have raised many times with the Prime Minister and other senior members of government. I am pleased the government has listened to concerns raised by myself and other Cornish MPs and look forward to working with ministers to ensure these planned measures are implemented as soon as possible.

If I can be of assistance on this matter, or any other, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – call: 01726 829379 or email: office@stevedouble.org.uk