Newspaper column 29 June 2022 - Armed Forces Day and support for our veterans

 

We recently saw Armed Forces Week, the chance to celebrate our Armed Forces, the Military personnel and the role they play protecting the UK both at home and overseas. 

Armed Forces Week always concludes with Armed Forces Day, which is a massive national event, which this year was hosted in Scarborough.

I was delighted to hear, as part of the events, that Cornwall, has been chosen to host the National Armed Forces Day for 2023.

This is great news. Cornwall has a strong military tradition and close and continuing links with our forces, and I am sure this will be a brilliant day for Cornwall.

My congratulations to my colleague Cherilyn Mackrory, who is the Member of Parliament for Truro and Falmouth, and Armed Forces Champion for Cornwall Council, Newquay Councillor Louis Gardner for the strong and successful bid

Armed Forces Day is a time to reflect and thank those who have served and those who continue to serve our country. I am sure this event will be greatly welcomed by our local communities and I look forward to working to ensure this national event for Cornwall is as good as it can be next year.

Looking at veterans specifically, I am proud to be part of this Government, which holds the welfare of veterans at is hearts.

In January, the Government launched the Veterans Strategy Action Plan of more than 60 commitments backed by an extra £70 million. Great progress is being made with over a fifth of commitments already completed after just six months.

As well as this, progress has been made improving healthcare provision for veterans. Op COURAGE, the bespoke mental health pathway for veterans in the NHS in England, has launched backed by over £17 million a year investment, plus an additional £2.7 million over the next three years. The service will bring three bespoke veterans’ mental health services into one long-term integrated service from April 2023.

Meanwhile, more than £1 million in new money is being invested into a new digital service for veterans, which will enable them to quickly and easily verify their veteran status online.

The project, which is due to be available for all veterans in 2023, will make it easier and quicker to demonstrate their military service in order to access a range of government and charity services, and reduce waiting times and the likelihood of fraud.

Alongside the Veteran’s Strategy, over the last year the Government have delivered significant legislation ensuring veterans, serving and families are protected and supported in law:

·         Overseas Operations Act 2021 – tackling vexatious claims and ending the cycle of re-investigations against our Armed Forces.

·         Armed Forces Act 2021 – giving statutory teeth to the Armed Forces Covenant, with a new duty to have due regard to its principles.

·         Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill – now introduced, to give Op BANNER veterans closure, with honour and finality.

 

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill is due to go before the House of Commons at the committee stage today (June 29) and means our veterans, a large number of whom served in Northern Ireland with distinction and honour, will no longer have to live in fear of being chased through the courts for vexatious claims from many decades ago.

The case of Dennis Hutchings, a fellow Cornishman and ex-soldier who died while on trial over a fatal shooting during Northern Ireland's Troubles, shows that this Bill is more important than ever. With this Bill, our veterans are given the certainty they deserve and this Government will fulfil its manifesto pledge by bringing an end to the cycle of investigations that has plagued them for too long.

Rest assured that this Government is committed to protecting our veterans.

Speaking of veterans, this year’s events to mark Armed Forces Week come with particular poignancy, as they fell a week after the 40^th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War.

I was privileged during my time on the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme to visit the Falklands and talk to residents who lived through the war. I also found out that the Falklands have several close connections to Cornwall - 30,000 sailors, marines, soldiers, airmen and merchant mariners took part in the Falklands War along with many civilians who supported the war effort.

We must never forget their heroic efforts and particularly those of the 255 British personnel who sadly lost their lives in this conflict, a timely reminder as we look towards Cornwall playing its role as the host of Armed Forces Day 2023, of both the importance of our military and the tremendous sacrifices they make to ensure British citizens everywhere can live free.

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

ENDS

Newspaper column 22 June 2022 - Good and bad news for our rail services

 

I want to start my column this week by saying how deeply disappointed I am, that at the time of writing, the biggest rail strikes in three decades is set to go ahead this week. If they do, this will have a huge negative impact on people’s lives here in Cornwall. 

 

It is deeply regrettable that the unions have decided to press ahead with this action while negotiations are still ongoing, and to further disrupt the economy at a time when we are already facing so many challenges is quite simply unacceptable.

 

This detrimental industrial action will halt all rail services in Cornwall for this week and impacts on the lives of so many people. It not only severely affects services for people going to work, but for pupils going to school and college and taking exams. It also massively disrupts those who have hospital appointments and hospital staff as well as increasing the number of people on the road, causing major delays. It will also cause damage to the hundreds of local businesses who rely on tourists being able to travel into and around Cornwall by train.

 

It is important to remember that this dispute is between the private companies who run the rail services, and the unions, over pay and terms and conditions. As such it would not be appropriate for the Government to intervene and even if it did, its role would be hugely limited. The only source of funding for any significant pay rises will be increased rail fares. At a time when so many are already facing significant increases in the cost of living this can only be another blow to many household budgets and seems to be totally lost on the union barons.

 

That is why it is so disappointing and frustrating, but not surprising, to see Labour refusing to denounce this strike action. This shows that they do not support the working people in Cornwall and are happy to sit back and watch while huge disruption is inflicted on families and businesses. That is a stark contrast to this Government, which provided £16 billion in financial support to keep the railway industry going throughout the pandemic. It is shameful to see the Government’s efforts to maintain vital transport links for key workers and commuters being undermined by actions like this.

 

Meanwhile you only have to look at last month’s announcement of nearly £80million of Government funding for the vital St Austell to A30 link road - more than double the amount of funding given to any other scheme and the biggest single investment by any government in mid-Cornwall – to see this Conservative Government’s commitment to investing in transport infrastructure for residents in Cornwall.

 

Some more positive news was also announced for Cornwall on Saturday after the Government gave further backing to ambitious plans to connect Newquay, St Austell, Truro and Falmouth with a direct rail line link, something I have championed for many years. The Mid Cornwall Metro is a hugely exciting project as it will see the four biggest towns in Cornwall linked up as well as many of the smaller communities in between with a through train.

 

I am so pleased to see it make it through to the next stage the Government’s Restoring your Railway programme. This means Network Rail and Cornwall Council, who are working together on this project, will now be awarded government funding to work on a business case to deliver the scheme.

 

I believe the Mid Cornwall Metro will bring about a number of positive changes for people in Cornwall and help residents to get around the county more sustainably. While we are a little way off the project coming to fruition yet, I am positive that we will soon see the benefits of the plans as improvements made to the county’s tracks and signalling system will mean more regular trains on those branch lines.

 

I am looking forward to seeing the next phase of this project as we take another step towards making it a reality for the benefit of all residents in Cornwall. Unlike other parties, this Government clearly recognises and understands the huge importance of investing in and maintaining transport infrastructure for those living in the Duchy.

 

As always, 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

Newspaper column 15 June 2022 - The Food Strategy

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the first Royal Cornwall Show for several years and I am sure most people will agree with me when I say it was great to be back.

It was also great to welcome our Prime Minister to the show where he had the opportunity to see all that Cornwall has to offer. It was encouraging to see Boris Johnson backing our Cornish farmers and food and drink producers, and to also see the crowds offering their support for our Prime Minister. 

He received such a positive response and was welcomed by so many people who wanted to talk to him. They clearly recognise the amazing support Boris Johnson and the Government have already provided for Cornwall and will continue to do so, which I will talk about later in my column.

I was also pleased to see Boris encouraging everyone to buy and eat Cornish produce, which I believe is some of the best in the world, and nice to see so many people enjoying themselves as they walked around the show after what has been a challenging few years with Covid.

Boris must have thoroughly enjoyed the Cornish hospitality and his time in the Duchy as he returned to the county on Monday to announce the Government’s first ever food strategy with Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and my fellow Cornish MP, George Eustice.

This strategy outlines the Government’s plans to boost food production in key sectors, drive innovation and harness new technology to support domestic production, create jobs and grow our local economy. It also sets out the importance of maintaining and boosting our food security, including plans to strengthen the resilience of our supply chains and boost domestic production to help protect against future economic shocks and crises.

The pandemic and current disruption caused by the invasion of Ukraine are reminders of why UK food producers are more important than ever to our national resilience and food security in what is now an uncertain world. It is crucial that the Government takes action to ensure we are not faced with less choice and higher prices if we are dependent on imports for our food supplies.

The strategy sets out the Government’s real investment in our food, fishing and farming with £100m in the Seafood fund, £270m across the Farming Innovation Programme, a £6.9m programme of food system trials to encourage and enable healthier and more sustainable diets and an £11m investment supporting new research to drive improvements in understanding the relationship between food and health.

Importantly to us here in mid-Cornwall, the strategy will help farmers in the constituency by committing to spend £270 million across the Farming Innovation Programme until 2029, which will unlock innovation and boost sustainable productivity in agriculture.

A new professional body for the farming and growing industry – The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) – will also be set up to create clear career pathways and promote the sector as a progressive, professional and attractive career choice.

Local farmers have often spoken to me about the labour challenges they face and so I am pleased that the Government has listened to these concerns and will be releasing 10,000 visas for the seasonal worker visa route, including extending 2,000 visas to the poultry sector.

This strategy also safeguards the Government’s manifesto commitment that we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards in our trade negotiations. A consultation will also take place on how to improve on and expand animal welfare labelling to help consumers identify when products meet or exceed our high UK animal welfare standards. It will also help the public to have better information about the food we eat, and to make healthier choices.

This is great news for farmers, food producers and consumers here in mid-Cornwall. From releasing additional visas for seasonal workers to promoting consumption of British food at home and abroad, this will provide a real boost and champion Cornish food and drink.

It shows that this Government is committed to backing our Cornish famers and food producers, and, I am certain, we will see people at home and abroad line up to buy our local produce as we create a sustainable food system, from farm to fork and catch to plate.

I think it is important to remember that this wouldn’t have been possible under the European Union and I am pleased that we can now have control of our own policy, which will allow us to react to the circumstance that we find ourselves in. It also includes making sure our public services such as our schools, hospitals and armed forces buy more UK produced food. Another practical way to support our farmers and something we are now able to do outside the EU. 

I look forward to seeing further details of these plans and am excited to see the county reap the benefits of the opportunities that lie ahead.

 

 

Newspaper column 8 June 2022 - Levelling Up!

I think it goes without saying that the events held over the long weekend to mark our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee were a tremendous success both in Mid-Cornwall, around the country and in London. A tremendous tribute to our monarch who has done more than any other to serve her nation over the past 70 years.

I was particularly pleased to attend the beacon lighting at Castle an Dinas right in the middle of our constituency, along with the Cornwall Heritage Trust. With the great weather we enjoyed over the Bank Holidays, we could see for miles across Cornwall to Bodmin Moor and both coasts and got an extraordinary sight of the various beacons that were being lit at the same time around the Duchy.

This is the only Platinum Jubilee any of us are ever likely to see, and as ever Cornwall’s community spirit shone through – thank you to everyone who took part in making these events ones to remember.

This week in Parliament we are starting the process of bringing the Government’s landmark Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill into law. This Bill contains a variety of measures, to devolve power and give local leaders and communities the tools they need to make better places, by reducing inequality and close the gap – in productivity, health, incomes, and opportunity – between much of the south east and the rest of the country, including Cornwall.

Two areas of particular importance to Cornwall that the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will deliver on are in the ambitious planning reforms that are proposed, and the powers for local authorities like Cornwall Council to levy more council tax on second homes. These are both changes that I have long-campaigned for and ones I am pleased to see the Government addressing in this session of Parliament.

The planning system needs significant reform, and this Bill will improve the planning process, so that it gives local communities control over what is built, where it is built, and what it looks like, giving communities more of a say in developments that are planned and built in their area.

New council tax rules for second and empty homes will also be introduced as part of the UK Government’s commitment to invest in local communities and drive levelling up across the country. The Bill also gives new discretionary powers to Local Authorities in England like Cornwall Council, who will be able to levy a premium of up to 100% on council tax bills for second homes – which are furnished but not occupied as a sole or main residence – empowering them to determine how best to raise additional revenue for their communities to support and improve services.

Of course, alongside all of this, Cornwall Council is currently negotiating a potential devolution deal with the Government to allow it even more devolved powers on top of those already covered under this Bill. I will continue to work with all concerned to ensure that the deal Cornwall gets, from both the emerging Government policy and its own devolution package, is one that works for us all and leaves us best placed to move forward into the future.

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

Newspaper column 25 May 2022 - Space updates

Last week I had the pleasure of being invited to attend the Cornwall Space Cluster conference at Goonhilly Earth Station to learn more about the amazing opportunities on offer for Cornwall from our emerging space industry.

The event showcased why Cornwall is the natural fit for a space cluster and the steps being taken to ensure the county becomes an integral part of the UK’s space sector. It was great to hear of Cornwall’s ambition to be a leader in the UK’s national space programme by 2030, something I am sure we would all love to see.

While I know space is not new in Cornwall, the Ground Station at Goonhilly is celebrating its 60^th year of satellite communications, I do believe that now is the time for us to really push Cornwall’s thriving space sector further than we’ve ever gone before and seize on what could be a huge opportunity for Cornish people and businesses.

Cornwall is already leading some of the biggest innovations currently taking place in space. We have the dedicated horizontal launch site at Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay, the satellite ground station at Goonhilly Earth Station, UAV flight testing sites, and businesses and local government using Earth observation and data to solve global and local challenges, such as climate change.

The global spotlight will also be on us this summer when the UK’s first ever satellite launch – the Prometheus-2 mission - blasts off from Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay. This is an incredible achievement for the Cornish space sector and something I have worked hard to ensure happens since I was first elected in 2015. I have long realised the potential and importance of this sector for us here in Cornwall and am over the moon to see this project finally come to fruition.

As part of this three-year mission, two satellites will operate close to Earth experimenting and test imaging and interoperability. The Cubesats will be carried on Virgin Orbit’s Launcher One rocket which takes off horizontally from a modified Boeing 747 jet, named Cosmic Girl. They will operate in low Earth Orbit, around 550km above the Earth and 50-100km apart at 17,000mph.

While we are now counting down to the summer to see this historic event take place, hundreds of businesses and organisations in Cornwall have been, and are, working hard collaboratively to shine a spotlight on the county and its space assets and capabilities, putting millions of pounds into the Cornish economy.

As the industry grows, it will not only ensure Cornwall is placed at the heart of the UK space industry, but also bring huge benefits to the county through investment and the creation of highly skilled, well-paid new jobs. 

By 2030 more than 600 people will be employed directly in the space sector in Cornwall, which has the potential to bring in £150 million to the Cornish economy. There are also the hundreds of secondary businesses and tertiary suppliers in the Duchy who are also benefitting from the space industry in Cornwall.

The number of people currently employed by Cornish businesses who work in the data and space sectors is estimated at 1,367 – up 24% since 2018. But there is the opportunity for this number to grow to make up around 2.2% of all people employed in Cornwall.

However, it’s important to remember that the space industry in Cornwall is not only revolutionising our local economy, but also bringing intangible benefits for our youngsters here in Cornwall.

I really do believe that the expansion of the space sector in Cornwall will lift the aspirations of Cornish school children by not only inspiring them but equipping them to become the next generation of astronauts, scientists, software developers, environmentalists, engineers and entrepreneurs. This is truly transformational and will leave a lasting legacy for future generations to come in Cornwall.

We face a number of major challenges here in Cornwall, including the affordability of housing for local people. Whilst I continue to work to find ways of immediately improving the housing situation, part of the long term and sustainable answer will be in growing our local economy and providing better paid jobs. The space sector can play a significant role in helping to achieve this and that is precisely why I have been championing its potential in Cornwall and will continue to do so. 

I believe this is only the start of some of the huge opportunities we will get to see here in the Duchy as the space sector continues to grow and expand. I want us to grasp this chance to put Cornwall on the world space map with both hands and I am looking forward to working with the Government and businesses and organisations in the Cornish space industry to ensure we make the most of this exciting and unique opportunity.

As ever, of 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

Newspaper column 18 May 2022 - Help with the cost of living

 

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

Newspaper column 11 May 2022 - More powers to tax second homes

Since being elected as an MP, I have continually raised concerns about the imbalance that we see with second homes and holiday lets dominating many communities in Cornwall to ministers and the Prime Minister and campaigned for action to be taken to resolve this.

That is why I was so pleased to see that the Government has not only listened to my concerns but is actively clamping down on this long-standing issue, once and for all, by giving Cornwall Council the power to charge double council tax on second homes.

The new council tax rules will be introduced for second and empty homes as part of the Government’s Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill announced in this week’s Queen’s Speech.

This will see Cornwall Council given discretionary powers to levy a premium of up to 100 per cent on council tax bills for second homes that are furnished but not occupied as a sole or main residence.

For the first time ever, and thanks to this Government, Cornwall Council will be able to double council tax on unoccupied second homes, which will not only boost funding for local services, but also discourage owners to leave their properties empty for long periods of time.

This also goes much further than the current rules and means that homes left empty could also see the standard council tax rate doubled after 12 months – rather than the two years at present.

We are all too aware of the devastating impact empty second homes and holiday lets have on our communities in Cornwall and that is why this is such great news for the Duchy. This extra funding could not only be used to support, improve, and deliver local services like genuinely affordable housing, social care and children’s services, but also keep council tax low for hard-working Cornish taxpayers. It also demonstrates this Government’s commitment to investing in local communities in Cornwall.

This is something that we have wanted to see happen in Cornwall for a long time and despite many others talking about it, it is this Conservative Government that is bringing in these radical changes to make it happen.

I want to be clear. This is not about holiday lets, which we recognise play an important part in supporting the hundreds of local businesses that rely on tourism. It is about those second homes that sit empty for most of the year. That is not right or fair to our Cornish communities and presents a real threat to the viability of so many villages and towns across Cornwall. As a result of this, and to ensure that genuine holiday let owners are not impacted by these new rules, earlier this year the Government took action to close the tax loophole that some second homeowners had been taking advantage of to avoid having to pay domestic or business rates by claiming their often-empty properties were holiday lets.

 

This was wrong for not only residents, but the genuine holiday let businesses and is something I have been working with the Government to close for some time. Second homeowners will have to pay council tax, and their fair share towards public services, if they are not genuine holiday lets.

This revamped system is a big step forward. Closing the tax loophole and giving Cornwall Council the power double council tax on empty second homes are important strides to ensuring second homeowners fully contribute to the provision of local services. It is only fair that all property owners do their bit to support our communities.

However, I acknowledge there is still much more to do. Housing Minister Stuart Andrew and his team have assured me that they will work with me to look at what other measures need to be taken to address the impact of holiday lets on housing in Cornwall and the Government are committed to looking at what else we can do.

In the meantime, I will continue to work with both Cornwall Council and our Government to bring about the lasting changes that Cornwall needs to address these issues and support residents.

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