Sarah Newton MP

Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill Progress...

2012-03-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

I was pleased to be present at a debate with other Southwest MPs regarding the £50 annual rebate from Southwest Water due to be brought into play from 2013 for the duration of the spending review. This is an unprecedented positive measure and a real step in the right direction!

The link below goes direct to the Hansard transcript of the debate:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120229/debtext/120229-0003.htm

Good News for Truro Cathedral!

2012-03-01T10:13:00.000-08:00

I was delighted to be able to get a reassurance from the Church Commissioner about the current situation surrounding the affordability of insurance for Truro Cathedral, which so many of my constituents have worked hard to raise funds for. The extract below is from Hansard:

'Sarah Newton (Truro and Falmouth) (Con):

What steps the Church Commissioners are taking to ensure that cathedrals are able to access insurance.[97364]

Tony Baldry:

The Church Commissioners are aware of the increasing demands that cathedrals are making on their insurance policies, especially as a consequence of metal theft. The majority of cathedrals are insured by Ecclesiastical Insurance and so far no Cathedral has ever been refused any insurance claim by Ecclesiastical, which is working extremely hard with all cathedrals to assist in reducing the problem of metal theft.

Sarah Newton:

I am very grateful to my hon. Friend for that answer, because there has been alarming coverage in the press of cathedrals being unable to insure themselves. People in my constituency work very hard to raise the necessary funds to support Truro cathedral and its vital work in the community, so will my hon. Friend keep ensuring that cathedrals can afford insurance?

Tony Baldry:

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this issue. Cathedrals have not been immune from thefts within and without and only recently a silver cross was stolen from the Lady chapel in Manchester cathedral. Each time this happens, it puts up the costs of insurance in all cathedrals, including the much-loved Truro cathedral in my hon. Friend’s constituency. That is why we have to bear down on metal theft.'

Speaking at the Age UK Partner’s conference

2012-02-29T07:05:00.005-08:00

I was delighted to earlier today speak at the Age UK Partner’s conference, which saw the publication of a number of crucial recommendations for improving care for older people, made by the Commission on Improving Dignity in Care for Older People :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17195679

I look forward to the further consideration and developments of the Commission’s recommendations over the next couple of months, in advance of the Government’s expected white paper on adult care. This is an issue that must be tackled, and one I will continue to work on with ministers as the white paper is drawn up.

Congratulations to the Rural Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Partnership

2012-02-28T06:42:00.000-08:00

I am delighted that the Rural Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Partnership, chaired by Bert Biscoe, has been invited to take part in the Government's Rural and Farming Network:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2012/01/04/rural-and-farming-networks/

It is vitally important that Ministers are made aware of the issues that are of importance to rural communities, issues too often neglected by the last government.

Surviving and Thriving in 2012

2012-02-28T03:16:00.001-08:00

I am delighted to support Community Alive Falmouth (CAF)in their ‘Surviving and Thriving in 2012’ campaign, a six week programme of activities highlighting issues around poverty, wealth and fairness.

CAF is an informal network of local community organisations committed to supporting each other and celebrating the rich diverse community we have here.

Many of the organisations have offered time and inspiration to assist the message that though we are in ‘difficult times’, we can together offer information and support to reduce the need for money and increase social wealth. Falmouth Library foyer has been the host for 5 weeks information displays and Friday afternoon ‘drop-ins’.

I have attached CAF’s programme for recent and upcoming events below for those of you interested in attending:

The Programme:

From Poverty and Homeless Action Week: 28^th Jan to 5^th Feb to Fairtrade Fortnight Feb 27^th to March 11^th

25^th Jan: The programme started with a Fal Energy Partnership at The Poly; an evening of information on how we can we can become energy independent and wealthy here in our part of Cornwall

30^th Jan to 5^th March: 5 weeks exhibition and ‘drop-ins’ in the Falmouth Library foyer. Each week has a specific theme with information about the current situation locally and globally and solutions already available here. The themes being: Fuel, Food, Finances, Friendship and Fairness.

‘Friday Drop-ins’.

Members of the Community Alive team have been attending the display on Friday afternoons from 2:00 to 5:00pm with local ‘specialists’ to explain how their organisations play their part in the community and what they have to offer to help the area thrive and assist cash strapped residents. Debt advice, energy advice, links to positive projects, and ‘Seed Swap’.

Feb 27^th to March 11^th

Fairtrade Falmouth events for Fairtrade Fortnight:

Sat 25th Feb:The Moor. ‘Mad Hatters Fairtrade Teaparty’ 10:00 –3:00pm

Tues 28 Feb: All Saints Church, Coffee Morning 10:00 -12:00noon

Fri 2nd March: Falmouth Council Chambers Fairtrade Tasters 2:00 to 4:00pm

Sat 11th March: Methodist Chapel: Fairtrade Tasting Party 10am -12noon

Sat 11th March: Foyer Phoenix Cinema: Wine&Chocolate Tasting 3pm - 8pm

5^th March

The high point of the 6 weeks is to be a Free Feast for 5^th March as part of the St Piran Day activities. This will be a Free Food Sharing Celebration at the Falmouth Methodist foyer after the St Piran Dance on The Moor. The CAF will provide basic food – hevva and saffron cake with other food from local residents, especially favourite and cultural recipes. Falmouth is a diverse community and we wish to show this through food and sharing the wealth of our extended community. Recipes from the event will be collated, a blog developed and in time a book produced. Clothing suggested: black and white and gold!

Local Work Experience Success

2012-02-27T06:42:00.002-08:00

On the eve of the Employment Minister’s visit to Truro and Falmouth tomorrow, I thought I would share you with some encouraging statistics on Work Experience that I have received from Jobcentre Plus in Devon and Cornwall.

Work Experience has been a huge success in West Cornwall. Since the programme was fully rolled out in May 2011, Jobcentre Plus has achieved 350 Work Experience job starts with 42% of these resulting in employment (62% with the host employer and 38% with an alternative employer). Jobcentre Plus have a number of local and national employers that support the programme, some using it as a tool to run alongside recruitment plans.

Jobcentre Plus itself have achieved 100% job outcomes for those participating in work experience with themselves. They currently have 2 young people who they are working with to develop competencies for our future recruitment plans. For others they have arranged fulltime jobs and apprenticeships with employers that would simply not have happened without this work experience..

I feel that the Work Experience programme opens doors for young people and provides them with an opportunity to develop transferable skills and a real taste of employment. Local employers are continually impressed with those undertaking this activity on a voluntary basis, and I believe that gaining this sort of work experience can only be a good thing in enhancing a jobseeker’s long term and sustainable employment chances.

Progress on restoring bus transport for Penair students

2012-02-27T06:29:00.000-08:00

I am pleased that First and Cornwall Council have responded to the representations made by George Eustice and I, that called for an urgent resolution to the unacceptable situation whereby a large number of Penair students were left without bus transport to their school:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-17170010

I will continue to closely monitor the situation.

Pensions, Apprenticeships, Small Business and more...

2012-02-27T06:12:00.000-08:00

This week in Parliament I welcomed the Government’s increase of the state pension. For a large part of my adult life I have campaigned for a fairer and better deal for older people and their families. Like most people I was disgusted by the last Labour government’s treatment of pensioners, best illustrated by the 75p rise in the state pension. This week I honoured my manifesto pledge to improve the state pension with a 5.2% rise. This is the largest cash increase in the history of the state pension. Other important benefits to support people with disabilities and to assist those looking for a job were also increased by 5.2%.It is very important to me that the most vulnerable people in our society are protected from the very difficult financial situation we inherited.

I also joined Business Questions to support the point made by the Institute of Directors (IoD) that we should stop talking down the economy. Confidence in our economy is vital to our recovery and sustainable growth. A report for the IoD last week warned of the dangers of the constant ‘gloom and doom’ about the economy and stated that it was at odds with how most businesses now feel about the future.

The Federation of Small Businesses also published the results of ‘Voice of Small Business’ Member Survey 2012. The survey was conducted in November 2011 and had more than 11,000 responses and follows on from the previous Member Survey as the most extensive research into the small business sector during the downturn. The Member

Survey looks at the views of small businesses on an array of issues. 54.2% of small businesses in Cornwall are looking to grow over the next 12 months. Nationally businesses in the computer and related areas, engineering and manufacturing sectors expect an increase in full-time staff in the next 12 months.

These survey findings are borne out by the response from local businesses to my campaign to recruit 100 new apprentices in 100 days launched last week. Thank you to the companies who contacted me and those who are meeting with Cathie Kessell, the Cornwall co-ordinator for the National Apprenticeship Scheme. If you would like to know how you and your business can benefit from apprenticeships please contact Cathie 01752 754122

Finally, I am pleased to have been selected to join the Science and Technology Select Committee which is an important Parliamentary body responsibility for scrutinizing government policy in these areas. There are a range of important institutions in my constituency from the Peninsula Medical School and the School of Dentistry to the Environment and Sustainability Institute, located at Tremough along with University College Falmouth and the University of Exeter, whose work is helpful in informing Government policy. I am also a board member of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, which commissions independent academic research to support the work of Parliament.

I look forward to this new parliamentary role, and to continuing to play my full part in ensuring that the best possible evidence is used when making policy.

Rotary Club leads fight to end Polio!

2012-02-27T05:28:00.002-08:00

As a member of the Falmouth Rotary Club, I am a passionate supporter of the End Polio Campaign, which has been led by Rotary all over the world for quite some time now. I was pleased to meet Bill Gates in Parliament last year to promote the campaign, and think the BBC article and video linked to below really sums up what an enormous impact this campaign is having on underprivileged areas of the world:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17072769

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17092872

For more information our local Rotarian district and the important work they do, please see:

http://www.rotary-ribi.org/districts/homepage.php?DistrictNo=1290

Westminster Faith Debates Pt2

2012-02-24T07:21:00.002-08:00

I would encourage you to take a look at the next in the ongoing series of Westminster Faith Debates, titled, ‘What’s the Place of Faith in Schools?’

http://www.religionandsociety.org.uk/faith_debates/faith_in_schools

As always, I think these debates are important ways to talk about topical subjects that bear great relevance on modern-day society.

Success for local pupil...

2012-02-24T03:44:00.000-08:00

Following on from my post yesterday on St Piran's Day, a highlight of my involvement this will be presenting Oliver Beaumont, a Year 2 student at Truro School Prep, with a certificate and a framed print of his winning ‘bold and striking’ design for a poster competition to help promote this year's St Piran's Day Parade in Truro.

Oliver’s design can now be seen in shop windows and on noticeboards around the city.

The competition, run by the organisers of the city St Piran's Day Parade, was open to pupils in the Truro area.

They said they had been so impressed with the response that they had now decided to hold an exhibition featuring all the designs.

Elizabeth Stewart, who is co-ordinating this year's parade, said: "We were overwhelmed by how many students entered the competition, and how much time and effort had gone into the designs.

"It seemed a shame for only one of them to be seen in public, so we're putting on an exhibition so that people can see them all."

The parade takes place on March 5, starting at Waterfall Gardens at 1.15pm before making its way through the streets to High Cross, where I will be presenting Oliver with his prize.

The exhibition will take place in the Truro Town Council Municipal Buildings from Tuesday until March 8.

St Piran's Day 2012!

2012-02-23T08:55:00.002-08:00

I am delighted to be able to attend the St Piran’s Day celebrations in Truro this year. St Piran’s day is always a real highlight on the calendar, including the excellent parade, which involves many of the schools from the Truro area, and deserves to be recognised as an important part of Cornish culture.

For more information see the link below:

http://www.cornwallinfocus.co.uk/leisure/showevent.php?id=1102

Defending the Work Programme...

2012-02-23T08:46:00.000-08:00

The letter below is from the Employment Minister to Polly Toybnee in response to her wholly unjustified attack on the Work Programme. I am delighted to be welcoming Chris into my constituency next week for a packed schedule visiting Jobcentre Plus and their providers, including the excellent Jobcentre Plus facilities in Truro.

‘Dear Polly

I read your article last night supporting the militant campaigners who are trying to destroy the Work Experience scheme and I thought would write to explain to you what you are actually opposing and supporting protest against.

The Work Experience scheme works like this.

After a young person has been unemployed for typically twelve weeks, the Job Centre Plus adviser will sit down and talk through different job options and possible sectors where they might be interested in working and where there might be jobs available.

Say they express an interest in care, for example, Job Centre Plus will then offer them a possible short term work experience placement of between 2 and 8 weeks with an organisation in the care sector. If they are interested, and we have an appropriate placement available, then we will send them to meet the employer. If they get on, and the young person wants to do the placement, they will start with that organisation. If things don’t work out, they have an automatic right to leave the placement within the first week. If they pull out after that, in order to protect the employer and the time they have committed to the placement, then we will investigate what has gone wrong, and if they have no good reason for leaving then they can face the same sanction as someone who does not turn up for their fortnightly signing on interview. We only sanction a tiny proportion of people, since this is a voluntary scheme and the situation almost never arises.

In the case of the retail sector, someone who is placed with one of the big retailers, like Tesco, will be there because they have expressed an interest in working in the retail sector but have little or no experience of it.

So far our experience has been that a significant number of placements turn into jobs, with the employer getting to like the young person and keeping them on. We have had cases of jobs being offered within days.

Where there is no job available, we have often seen people get a job with a similar employer very quickly. So for example, I was in the north-west recently and talked to a Job Centre Plus adviser who had managed to place a number of young people who had done work experience with one retailer, with another who had vacancies.

As you will have seen, so far around half those doing placements have come off benefits very quickly afterwards.

This is the scheme the protestors, who you are supporting, are trying to destroy.

It’s proving to be one of the best and quickest ways to help young unemployed people into jobs in the face of a frequent reluctance by employers to hire someone with little or no experience.

I appreciate that you are strongly opposed to many of the reforms that we are pushing through, and that we will generally disagree. But writing an article backing the destruction of one of the most effective schemes we have for helping young people get into work at a time when we have a real problem with youth unemployment defies my comprehension. Particularly when you have so often called for action to tackle youth unemployment.

Best wishes

Chris Grayling’

Cornwall Celebrates! (pt2)

2012-02-23T07:55:00.000-08:00

I have received a further weekly update from the Cornwall Development Company highlighting Cornish successes in the last week, which I thought I I should share with you – Truro and Falmouth businesses again feature heavily!

Accolades

· Cornish company Frugi has been named the best selling British childrenswear brand by leading trade title Childrenswear Buyer Magazine.

· Trispen-based cake topper company, Cake Top Characters, has beaten thousands of UK businesses to win Mr Site’s Website of Year 2011.

· The One Eyed Cat in Truro has been ranked seventh out of the country’s 30 Best Places for Brunch, by The Times newspaper.

Announcements

· Export Cornwall announce Cornwall’s first Export FairCornwall’s first ever export fair will take place at Kingsley Village on March 22nd. The Export Cafe will host country specialists and representatives from embassies in China, Russia, USA and Europe, who are hot footing it to Cornwall to take part in the event.

· The (offshore) winds of changeThe Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is investigating whether it could use Wave Hub, the world’s largest wave energy test site, to accommodate floating offshore wind turbines as part of a demonstration project valued at over £25 million.

Developments

· Superyachts shortlisted
Pendennis Shipyard has had three of its projects shortlisted as finalists in the World Superyacht Awards. Hemisphere, Christopher and Akalam are all in the running and the winners will be announced in Istanbul on 5^th May.

· Cornish Vineyard goes mobile
Bob Lindo from Camel Valley Vineyard appeared on the Alan Titchmarsh Show on ITV at 3pm today– and he took a vineyard with him!

· Destination, Destination, Destination….Cornwall has been nominated as the UK’s Best Destination in the 50+ Awards. The winners will be announced and the prizes presented at the 50+ Awards Gala Reception on 13 June at London’s Olympia.

· Dragon tweets about Cornish buntingBBC Dragon Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday (#sbs) helps businesses promote their products and services to a wider audience. Out of thousands, Theo chose Delabole-base Just Bunting as one of six favourite tweets to share with over 225,000 of his followers on twitter.

Despite Adverse Economic Climate, Cornwall Council invests in Social Care

2012-02-23T04:09:00.000-08:00

Cornwall Council has recently published its budget for the coming year. While difficult decisions have been made, I am pleased to see that they have invested an extra £7 million in Adult Care and Support, which comes at a time when so many other councils are making cuts in this vital area.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-17120370

Letter from the Prime Minister regarding Wind Turbines

2012-02-22T08:52:00.000-08:00

Below is the reply that the Conservative MPs who wrote to the Prime Minister recently received. I think this is a step in the right direction!

Cornish Food goes National!

2012-02-22T08:45:00.000-08:00

On Friday 17 February, I was pleased to be represented at the Tesco Cornish Food Sourcing event held at Skinners Brewery. The Truro and Falmouth constituency as well as Cornwall as a whole produces many fantastic local brands of food and drink, and I think Tesco are doing a great job in marketing locally sourced goods, both at branches in the Southwest, and in some cases nationwide.

I was particularly impressed to see that some of the Skinners Cornish Ale varieties, such as Betty Stoggs, Healey’s Cyder Farm and Rowes Pasties, have been able to expand their distribution to a national level through Tesco, whereas smaller companies such as Fal Fish, Trevarrian Creamery and St Ewe Eggs, all of which employ constituents from Truro and Falmouth, have been able to distribute their products throughout the County and the Southwest region as a whole.

This is a impressive advertisement for Cornwall, growing its reputation as a specialist food provider, both for visitors, locals, and for those outside the county who can now taste what the rest of us have already experienced!

Excellent Article on NHS Reforms

2012-02-22T07:08:00.000-08:00

I think this article from Stephen Bubb Chief Executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), published in the Times today, is an excellent summary as to why the coming NHS reforms are so important:

‘When facing great political turmoil, Catherine the Great once said, "a great wind is blowing and that gives you either a headache or imagination". The current debate on the Health Bill has certainly given the Government a headache. But is our political class responding to the challenges facing our health and social care system with sufficient imagination?

When I was writing the report for the Government on choice and competition as part of the Health Bill's listening exercise, I was struck by the fact that there is a great deal more consensus on the challenges facing health and social care provision in this country than the furore over the Health Bill would suggest.

Crucially, there remains common acceptance by all major political parties of the basic principle of a universal national health service, provided free at the point of use. Furthermore, there is also growing agreement that the current system cannot cope with the growing health needs of a changing population.

There are now 18 million people suffering from long-term health conditions in the UK. That number is growing. 21% of the population are now aged over 60. That proportion is growing. Medical advances, lifestyle changes and demographic shifts are growing demand for NHS services, but financial resources are limited.

Almost everyone agrees we have a problem when over 70 % of NHS funding is spent on treating long term conditions, usually in the most inefficient way there is: in hospital. And almost everyone agrees that if the NHS is to cope with these pressures it must shift resources towards preventative, patient led community based services which treat chronic conditions far more effectively and which act to pre-empt acute crises of ill health.

Might I also suggest that the majority of observers agree that to carry out this change effectively, the NHS must allow new providers with new ideas to break the bureaucratic stranglehold on service delivery. When in government, Labour's Andy Burnham- now shadow health secretary- spoke of his vision for a preventative and people-centred NHS which would allow the maximum freedom for local innovation. Much the same thing can be heard from Health Secretary Andrew Lansley today. And yet, to judge by the reaction that his bill has provoked, one would think that a centralised, bureaucratic and too often inefficient model of healthcare delivery is politically sacred and permanently untouchable.

Similar challenges face our increasingly broken system of social care provision; a problem which, as I suggested at the Health Summit at No. 10 on Monday, we have yet to tackle effectively. Successive governments have failed to address the issue of the growing numbers of frail elderly who are increasingly being treated (often badly) in hospital beds, when they should be receiving care at home or in high-quality residential homes. Due to the growing proportion of elderly members of the population, the system is creaking at the seams. We desperately need a political consensus to reform our social care system, and the current acrimonious debate on health is distracting attention from that necessity, as well as from the way forward proposed by the independent Dilnot Commission on social care provision.

What frustrates many of my members, the leaders of the country's charities and social enterprises, is that despite the consensus on both problems and solutions, the debate over reform focuses on the phantom of "privatisation".

We know that the majority of people who die in hospital want to be cared for at home or in a hospice, yet we fail to commission the charities that provide that care. This is a shocking waste. Many of the country's charities have a deep understanding of the problems that people and communities face, and do a superb job of providing vital community-based health care and much-needed assistance for patients in their homes. They know how to help patients to manage their own conditions. In such cases, supporting patients to manage their conditions through lifestyle, diet and exercise, is just as valuable as the work that clinicians do. Yet we continually fail to commission those charities that have the ability and drive to support patients in this way.

I fervently hope that our politicians can build on the common ground that exists on the need for health and social care reform, and find a way to take it forward. The positions of the Coalition and the Opposition differ more in emphasis than in substance. The Government is right to stress the importance of an open public service environment in which new providers can compete, innovate and offer users a real choice. However, it should place more emphasis on the end to which competition is the means: meaningful patient choice and user-led, community-based services that focus on effective intervention and prevention. The opposition, for its part, is right to emphasise the need for integrated, preventative services, but has forgotten that competition is a necessary first step to making that possible.

When we face the toxic combination of dramatic increases in demand for health care and dwindling resources, we must ask that the political parties focus on how the existing model can change to deliver effective health and social care that is based in the community rather than the hospital, is focused on prevention rather than cure, and places power and choice in the hands of citizens rather than providers. The change we need will never be achieved by leaving the current bureaucratic centralised systems in place. So how do we encourage the innovators with the imagination to do things differently?'

Somalia Conflict and Conference

2012-02-22T06:37:00.000-08:00

I think the BBC article linked to below is a great summary of the Somalia conflict, and why a conference which the government is holding tomorrow is the right way to go in helping to start resolve this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16970982

Sarah Newton Backs Employment Plans for Young Unemployed People

2012-02-21T04:22:00.000-08:00

This article by The Minister for Work and Pensions is a fantastic rebuttal of the recent criticisms aimed at the Government's employment programmes:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2104022/The-delusions-X-Factor-sneering-job-snobs-betray-young.html

Westminster Faith Debates

2012-02-21T02:56:00.000-08:00

Further to my previous post, I thought it may be of interest to you to see the video and podcasts for the Westminster Faith Debates, which I try to attend as much as possible while in Parliament.

Between 2007-2012 £12m was invested by two research councils, the AHRC and ESRC, in the largest-ever funded research programme on ‘Religion and Society’. In this series leading academics will present findings arising from that research, for response by public figures. Together they will open up debate about the place of religion in public life today.

Below is the link to the most recent Westminster Faith Debate, titled 'Religious Identities in Superdiverse Societies', below:

http://www.religionandsociety.org.uk/faith_debates/identity

I believe this is an invaluable opportunity to discuss important faith related issues in the public eye, and am really pleased to be able to share this with my constituents.

Cornwall Celebrates!

2012-02-21T00:00:00.016-08:00

I think the information below, given to me by the Cornwall Development Company, showcases some of the many positive things that are going on in the County at the moment, not least the fantastic successes highlighted below achieved by local businesses in the Truro and Falmouth constituency

Accolades

Brush with success for Driftwood AleA Cornish ale has won the Campaign for Real Ale’s “Supreme Winter Beer of Britain” title. Alfie’s Revenge was last week named the UK’s best “old ale” and best overall winter beer for 2012 at the National Winter Ales Festival in Manchester.

Courtyard Deli is congratulated by Prime Minister

A Falmouth delicatessen is celebrating after winning the Local Business Accelerators competition. The Courtyard Deli won a nationwide campaign for a share of £15m of free advertising to help boost their business in 2012

Olympic status for ambitious play on tin mining
A large-scale production that aims to combine the talents of professional actors, opera singers and local choirs for a celebration of Cornwall’s mining heritage has been given a prestigious award as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad programme.

Camel Valley celebrates at Bollecine Del Mondo For the second successive year Camel Valley Vineyard's sparkling rosé has won the 'Best Sparkling Rosé in the World’ trophy at Bollecine del Mondo awards ceremony in Verona, as well as finishing second in the overall competition of the world's top 200 sparkling wines

Cornwall triumphs at Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2012

· Top 25 Spa Hotels in the UK

1^st St Moritz Hotel

2^nd The Scarlet

14^th Bedruthan Steps Hotel

· Top 25 B&Bs and Inns in the UK

10^th No1, St Ives

· Top 25 Trendiest Hotels in the UK

24^th The Scarlet

Announcements

· Cornwall Business Awards 2012 launched

· Work completed on a state of the art business innovation centre at Tremough and is set
to welcome its first tenants

· £800k Regeneration Boost for Newquay Harbour in Cornwall

· Superfast Cornwall connects St Michael’s Mount. Residents on the historic tidal island have just been connected to the latest technology capable of superfast speeds up to 40Mbps.

· University aims for carbon neutrality with pioneering project - Plymouth University has been awarded almost £1 million to create a world first in environmentally friendly computer technology.

· Research Instruments in Falmouth, which specialises in equipment for IVF treatment, is celebrating almost 50 years of growth.

· Renewables firm lands contract to build ‘unique’ development in US - Cornish renewables specialist Mimer Energy has signed a joint venture deal to develop a £10 million geothermal scheme in Rhode Island, America

· BBC Stargazing Live visits Cornwall’s Eden Project

Developments

Cornwall takes inventory of green house gases - The significant progress which is being made to reduce carbon emissions in Cornwall can now be accurately measured for the first time thanks to the publication of an inventory which details the levels of greenhouses gases being produced.

Superfast Cornwall roll out of the a flying start in 2012 - 59,000 homes and businesses across Cornwall now have access to superfast broadband and the programme is well on its way to reaching 90,000 premises by the end of March.

Emphasis on value-added sees firm win back work from China - Manufacturer Arcol operates at the cutting edge of a global marketplace. The business manufactures power resistors for a range of sectors including automotive, renewables and medical and even sells to China in a reverse of the usual manufacturing trend.

Firm that’s the perfect package for growth - A company that began life 14 years ago as a traditional joinery firm is now leading the way in international transit packaging for unusual and high value products. South West Packaging Cases Ltd, on Cardrew Industrial Estate at Redruth, has just achieved quality accreditation from the International Standards Organisation (ISO) to ensure it remains at the forefront of growing international market.

Goonhilly Earth Station (GES) secures commercial deal - The company which won a £6.7 million Regional Development Fund grant to transform the Goonhilly earth station into a satellite communications business and deep-space research science park has signed a contract with one of the World’s largest communications providers. GES, which took over the running of the site last year, has signed an undisclosed deal with SES to provide the Luxembourg-based satellite company with a variety of services from the Cornwall facility.

CUC expertise highlighted in Europe - The Combined Universities in Cornwall showcased its expertise in nurturing an innovative business culture at a conference in the Czech Republic.

BT broadband chief in Cornwall - Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is leading Europe with its “pioneering” roll-out of superfast broadband said Bill Murphy, BT’s managing director for next generation broadband, during a fact-finding visit to Cornwall.

West could be global marine energy leader - The South West is poised to lead the World on wave and tidal power as the Government reveals the region as the UK’s first marine energy park.

School set for international mine games - Mining students from Cornwall are to compete against 40 teams from around the World at the international competition, to be held for the first time in Cornwall.

Sally Shalam’s Britain: Re-branding should be first resort for Skegness (Blog) - …Cornwall is a master brand…sometimes it will also be about what you don’t have, rather than what you do. A lack of a motorway running through, for example, can be an advantage (look at Cornwall, look at Wales).

UK Energy Policy

2012-02-20T08:49:00.001-08:00

I think this announcement from Friday is a step in the right direction...

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_012/pn12_012.aspx

This relates to the Long Term Energy Security Plan from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, due to be updated in May 2012

http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/about%20us/decc-business-plan-2011-2015.pdf

Setting the Record Straight...

2012-02-20T07:53:00.000-08:00

I thought this deserved some attention due to my alleged involvement. Thank you to all of my constituents who emailed me regarding this, and I hope this clears things up!

House of Lords recognises work of The Mission to Seafarers

2012-02-20T07:43:00.000-08:00

As well as my previous comments on Shelterbox in the recent House of Commons Somalia debate, I thought you might also like to know that the great work of The Mission to Seafarers with victims of piracy was recognised by the Government in the House of Lords in a debate last week on Somalia.

During the debate, the Government's Foreign Office representative in the Lords, Lord Howell of Guildford, was asked by the Bishop of Gloucester whether he was aware of the work of MtS and if he would "consider engaging with MtS to develop a model of support for families of hostage victims?"

Lord Howell said that his suggestion seemed 'an excellent initiative and idea, and something that [the Government] will consider most carefully'. He went on to say that a Royal Navy ship will be deployed to the Combined Maritime Taskforce throughout 2012 as well as 'provide the operational commander and headquarters for the EU's counter-piracy operation'.

Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been high on Parliament's agenda in recent weeks following the publication by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee which looked into the problem. It reported that the Government was right to permit armed guards on British-flagged vessels, but noted that further work needs to be providing clear legal direction as to the use of weapons.

CORNWALL HAS ‘CAN DO’ COUNCIL

2012-02-20T04:24:00.002-08:00

I really think this is an excellent way of highlighting just some of the great things that Cornwall Council have achieved in the nearly three years since the election of the current administration

Combined successfully 1 County and 6 District Councils into single body with turnover of £1.4 billion, assets of £2 billion, prudent reserves, fewer offices & better staff working conditions.

Achieved efficiency savings of £150 million over 4 years despite severe cuts in Government grant by ‘going early and going deep’.

Nationally recognised for:

· ‘Newquay Safe’, a community partnership resolving anti social problems.

· Innovative Bursary Scheme for hard pressed Cornwall based students.

· Enterprise Partnership with business for investment and growth in well paid jobs.

· Superfast Broadband project providing competitive advantage to small business and community enhancement.

Delivered substantially improved services after failures by previous Lib Dem run Council:

· ‘Safeguarding Children’ improvements confirmed by OFSTED Report.

· Better ‘Adult Care’ evidenced by Independent Inspectors.

· Established new Housing Company providing & managing homes for Council tenants.

· Protected bus services following Government cuts by investing a further £1million.

· Protected public conveniences by investing a further £1.2 million.

· Transferred leisure services to a new trust and prevented any library closures.

· Highway services recognised as excellent by Audit Commission.

· Robust governance & control now confirmed by Audit Commission.

· Received much vaunted Triple A rating for finance status by international Agency.

Outstanding Opportunities for:

· Maritime activities with major developments in Hayle and Falmouth.

· Economic growth through new European Funding.

· Green Agenda with support for renewable energy and reduced fuel poverty.

· Continued efficient Council management, despite ongoing Government grant cuts, and bigger capital programme for improved services, cost savings and new jobs.

· Working closer with Town and Parish Councils through devolution & localism.

Pushing for more apprenticeships

2012-02-20T01:21:00.000-08:00

I keep a very careful eye on employment in my constituency. The latest local unemployment figures reveal a mixed picture. The number of job vacancies available are increasing - in Truro and Falmouth there are now seven vacancies for every three people claiming Jobseekers Allowance.

However this encouraging trend cannot obscure the large numbers of people now out of work. While below the national average, I am particularly concerned by the numbers of young people in my constituency not in work or training. Youth unemployment is now a Europe-wide issue, an issue that threatens to blight the chances of a generation.

A vigorous and multi-faceted response is needed, in which all politicians must play their part. It is for this reason that I am working with the National Apprenticeship Service to try and generate one hundred new apprenticeships in local businesses over the next hundred days.

Apprenticeships give young people the chance to acquire recognised qualifications and valued skills, acting as a route into sustained and rewarding employment. Apprenticeships have benefits for businesses also; offering an opportunity to nurture talent with financial help from the Government.

I believe that in Cornwall we are well placed to reap the rewards of apprenticeships. We have a historic tradition of technological innovation and commercial enterprise, combined with excellent further education colleges with established working relationships with pioneering businesses. These are great foundations for a renaissance of apprenticeships in Cornwall, nurtured by a Government support package of £1 billion to encourage businesses to employ young people.

The fruits of this investment in apprenticeships are beginning to become apparent; there was a seventeen percent increase in new apprenticeships starting in Truro and Falmouth during the 2010-11.

However more can be done, and I have therefore written to over five hundred businesses in my constituency, highlighting the benefits of apprenticeships and encouraging them to contact the National Apprenticeships Service to find out more.

Any business interested in further exploring apprenticeships can contact my office on 01872 274 760, I will arrange for the Cornwall co-ordinator for the National Apprenticeship Service to get in touch.

In the past month I have also visited a number of local businesses, including Rowes baked goods and Penryn based Kernow Coatings, to discuss apprenticeships and look forward visiting more businesses over the coming months. As well as making the case for apprenticeships, such visits have allowed me to learn more about some of the innovative and brand-leading products manufactured in my constituency.

Another eye-opening scheme I have recently been involved with is the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. The scheme is open to all parliamentarians and aims to improve the quality of debate on national defence and security issues by providing first hand experience of the work of our armed services.

Last year I spent time with The Terratorial Army in Truro, visited RNAS Culdrose and visited a number of RFA ships in Falmouth. This year I will be spending a lot more time with the Navy and going to sea on board HMS Ocean.

A chance to reflect on my responsibilities

2012-02-16T01:16:00.000-08:00

There has been much comment in the media about Christians and public life. The most recent debate is about whether council meetings and the business of the House of Commons should start with prayers.

I try and go to Prayers in the House of Commons each day, not only to reserve my seat for the day but to take a few minutes of calm reflection upon the great privilege and responsibility of my position as MP.

As prayers are not televised and the public aren’t allowed into the gallery while we pray I wonder how many people who sent me to Westminster know what I say. So here it is in a nutshell: we ask God for guidance, “to never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals but laying aside all private interests and prejudices, keep in their mind our responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all mankind;”

I find it hard to believe that many of my constituents would object to the values or aims expressed in the prayer.

Parliamentary colleagues of different faiths tell me that it was the Christian values of this country, values of freedom and tolerance hard won by our ancestors, that have enabled them and their families to live their faith in this country. They do not object to the Prayers as it is optional and a part of our national heritage since the reign of Charles II.

As a Conservative I belief that change is inevitable and often desirable but has to be thought through very carefully so that in the process we dont loose more than we are seeking to gain.

It is very much with the later thoughts in mind that I am approaching the NHS and Social Care Bill. The legislation is with the House of Lords now and should be back to the Commons fairly soon. There has been a great deal of confusion around what the proposed changes are all about so I hope that if any constituents have any questions that they will not hesitate in contacting me.

Finally, during last week’s debate on Somalia I was pleased to be able to promote the work of Shelterbox in providing not only shelter for thousands of families but their classrooms in a box. Their impressive hospital and medical facilities are providing a safe place for women to give birth.

I also urged the Government to take more action to win public support for taxpayers money being sent overseas in aid. This is probably the most controversial issue with my constituents. For some human compassion is enough of a good reason but others they need to understand that it is in our national interest. During these hard times, all will want to know that tax payers money is being spent properly. The Government has promised to publish information on how our money is spent and to justify where and I will continue to press them to do this.

Cornish Charity Highlighted in Somalia Debate

2012-02-13T03:48:00.000-08:00

I was delighted to be able to recognise the vital work that the locally based charity Shelterbox in the debate on Somalia on Thursday 9 February.

Shelterbox provide emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters, at the time when they need it the most.

Their goal is to help 50,000 families every year and in the 11 years since ShelterBox was founded, they have responded to almost 200 natural or manmade disasters in over 75 different countries, providing lifesaving aid for well over one million people.

To read the full Somalia debate, please see the link to Hansard below; my contribution is on the second page:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120209/debtext/120209-0002.htm#12020952000002

For more on Shelterbox, please see the link to their website below:

http://www.shelterbox.org/index.php

Falmouth Civic Service

2012-02-13T03:01:00.000-08:00

2012 marks the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, and I was pleased to be on hand on 5 February to take part in the Falmouth Town Civic Service to celebrate her accession to the throne on February 6,1952. The Mayor of Falmouth, councillor Geoffrey Evans, was attended by his chaplain Colin Brown who also welcomed the the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Col Edward Bolitho.

Improvements to the Feed-in Tariffs scheme

2012-02-10T07:51:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to see that the Government yesterday announced plans to ensure the future of the Feed-in Tariffs scheme to make it more predictable. Transparency, longevity and certainty are at the heart of the new improved scheme.

The reforms will provide greater confidence to consumers and industry investing in exciting renewable technologies such as solar power, anaerobic digestion, micro-CHP, wind and hydro power.

The Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme provides a subsidy, paid for by all consumers through their energy bills, enabling small scale renewable and low carbon technologies to compete against higher carbon forms of electricity generation.

The surge of solar PV installations in the latter part of last year, due to a 45% reduction in estimated installation costs since 2009, has placed a huge strain on the FITs budget.

Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “Today we are announcing plans to improve the Feed-in Tariffs scheme. Instead of a scheme for the few the new improved scheme will deliver for the many. Our new plans will see almost two and a half times more installations than originally projected by 2015 which is good news for the sustainable growth of the industry. We are proposing a more predictable and transparent scheme as the costs of technologies fall, ensuring a long term, predictable rate of return that will closely track changes in prices and deployment.

“I want to see a bright and vibrant future for small scale renewables in the UK and allow each of the technologies to reach their potential where they can get to a point where they can stand on their own two feet without the need for subsidy sooner rather than later.”

Below are some relevant facts from the Department for Energy and Climate Change relating to this:

A better FIT scheme for consumers and communities

A tariff of 21p/kWh will take effect from 1st April this year for domestic-size solar panels with an eligibility date on or after 3rd March 2012. Other tariff reductions apply for larger installations.
The Department has listened carefully to feedback on the energy efficiency proposals that we put forward in the consultation of 31st October. Properties installing solar panels on or after 1st April this year will be required to produce an Energy Performance Certificate rating of ‘D’ or above to qualify for a full FIT. The previous proposals for a ‘C’ rating or a commitment for all Green Deal measures to be installed was seen as impractical at this stage. We estimate that about half of all properties are already eligible for a ‘D’ rating.
From 1st April 2012, new ‘multi-installation’ tariff rates set at 80% of the standard tariffs will be introduced for solar PV installations where a single individual or organisation is already receiving FITs for other solar PV installations. This reflects the lower costs of such installations, as they benefit from the economies of scale. Based on the feedback received, the threshold is set at more than 25 installations. Individuals or organisations with 25 or fewer installations will still be eligible for the individual rate. DECC is now consulting on a proposal that social housing, community projects and distributed energy schemes be exempt from these multi-installation tariff rates.
The tariff for micro-CHP installations will be increased to recognise the benefits this technology could bring and to encourage its development.

A better FIT scheme for industry

In line with the evidence of falling costs for solar PV, DECC is proposing to peg the subsidy levels to cost reductions and industry growth to provide more certainty for future investments. This will ensure that subsidy levels keep in step with the market. It builds on the best of the existing German system and will remove the need for emergency reviews.
Using budget flexibility to cover the overspend resulting from high PV uptake this year, while still allowing £460 million for new installations over the Spending Review period. This won’t have any impact on consumer bills beyond the agreed overall cap on renewable subsidies as it will primarily be funded from an under spend on the budget allocated for large-scale renewables.

National Charity awards local Heat Hero in Cornwall

2012-02-10T07:28:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday 8 February I was privileged to be present at the ‘Heat Heroes’ award ceremony in the House of Commons to support a constituent, Alec Rice in becoming a nationally recognised Heat Hero.

I have worked with Alec for a number of years and have seen first hand his dedication to the people of Cornwall and getting as many people out of fuel poverty as possible. I am delighted that his first class contribution is being recognised nationally with this prestigious award.

The work of Community Energy Plus’s Alec Rice to alleviate fuel poverty in Cornwall has been recognised by NEA, the national fuel poverty charity, which have named Alec as one of their ‘Heat Heroes’.

The award scheme was launched by NEA and ScottishPower to celebrate the national charity’s 30^th Anniversary and to coincide with the launch of NEA’s Fuel Poverty Awareness day which is taking place today. The awards have recognised 12 individuals who have gone ‘above and beyond’ what would be expected in the course of their work to help those people who are suffering from the effects of fuel poverty and struggling to heat their homes.

Alec Rice has worked at Community Energy Plus for almost 10 years and has been instrumental in shaping and delivering the fuel poverty services delivered by the Cornish charity.

Following a recent grant of £430,000 by the Big Lottery Fund, Alec is currently leading a four year project to improve the quality of life for vulnerable people living in fuel poverty in Cornwall. Community Energy Plus’s ‘Warm Me Up!’ Project will deliver impartial advice and support to up to 1200 targeted households to help them to reduce and manage their energy bills.

Alec said “I am delighted to be chosen as a Heat Hero by NEA and ScottishPower, it is worth all of the hard work when you know that you have helped people in the local community to stay warm in their homes. Community Energy Plus’s fuel poverty projects have demonstrated the health and wellbeing benefits of providing advice and support to help vulnerable individuals keep warm and well and our recent funding from the Big Lottery Fund will provide an important boost to the services we provide.”

Neil Clitheroe, CEO, ScottishPower Retail & Generation, said “ScottishPower was delighted to support the Heat Heroes campaign to recognise the work that goes on day to day within communities across the UK. The significant contribution made by individuals like Alec is vital to ensure help gets to those people most in need.”

For more information on Community Energy Plus please see:

http://www.cep.org.uk/

Westminster Health Forum

2012-02-10T05:34:00.000-08:00

I was delighted to Chair the Westminster Health Forum on Thursday 9 February. This seminar examined the future of social care, following on from the Commission on Funding of Care and Support reporting last summer, which recommended social care costs in England should be capped so people do not face losing a large percentage of their assets. The seminar examined the recommendations of the Commission, how social care fits in with a reformed NHS, what more can be done to integrate health and social care, the role of local government in service provision, and more widely, the future for social care provision and finance in England. It was a fascinating event, and I really hope that what was discussed here will be of great use with forthcoming NHS reforms.

Calling for powers to be returned from Brussels

2012-02-07T04:42:00.001-08:00

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Opt-Euro-crime-laws/story-15156414-detail/story.html

Better financial regulation is a necessity

2012-02-06T04:36:00.000-08:00

Week after week in my advice surgeries I see the hardship and emotional suffering caused by poor financial decisions. In my work locally with our excellent Citizens’ Advice Bureau and in Parliament as I carry out my role as the Vice-Chairman of the All Parliamentary Group for Citizen’s Advice; I have seen overwhelming evidence for the urgent need to reform the regulation of consumer financial services and to massively improve the quality of financial education and free advice offered to people.

On Monday the Government presented the Financial Services Bill to Parliament which aims to learn from the mistakes of the last Government’s attempts to change how banks and financial services were regulated. Since modern banking was developed centuries ago there have been individual bank failures and mis-selling of financial products, but the system wide failure of our own and so many other western countries banking systems during the past few years represents something new; this is an issue that has to be tackled and now is the time to do so.

Other countries such as Canada have fared much better during the current recession as they regulated their financial services in a different way.

Consumer Focus, Age UK and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau have congratulated the government on the consultative approach to the proposed legislation saying it is a ‘once in a generation opportunity to create a regulatory framework that fosters a robust and vibrant financial services market providing a range of valuable goods and services for consumers.’

Continuing this consultative process will be essential as the legislation is scrutinized and debated in Parliament. I am particularly concerned that the legislation will ensure that information about the products we all depend upon such as current accounts, pensions, savings, insurance as well as loans and mortgages is presented in a clear and straight forward way. Too often charges are hidden or presented in a way many people don’t understand.

I have spoken in debates about the need for better education regarding personal finances and budgeting. Alarmingly, 6.8 million UK adults lack basic numeracy skills to manage their daily financial matters. More than 20% of adults, asked to choose between receiving £30 or 10% of £350, opt for the lower figure. One in five gave the wrong answer to a question in a recent FSA survey which asked: ‘if the inflation rate is 5% and the interest rate you get on your saving is 3%, will your savings be worth as much in a year’s time?

I welcome all comments from constituents on this bold and far reaching bill. Just call my office on 01872 274 760 for a copy of the Bill.

Finally, on Sunday, I had great pleasure in joining the first of what I believe will be many celebrations of the Queens’s Diamond Jubilee as I joined the Mayor of Falmouth in a parade through the town and a service at the Parish Church. It was an honour to read the words written especially for the occasion by two much loved members of the congregation, Mr and Mrs Foye.

A new approach to on-shore wind turbines

2012-02-05T04:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.trurofalmouthconservatives.co.uk/news/sarah-newton-calls-new-approach-shore-wind-turbines

Housing Minister pledges help for those 'languishing on council waiting lists'

2012-02-04T04:47:00.000-08:00

I know from my surgery every week, and my postbag everyday, how important it is to secure more affordable housing and welcome the Government's commitment to this issue:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/speeches/newsroom/2079141

Extra funds for affordable housing in Cornwall

2012-02-03T04:53:00.000-08:00

I am delighted by the announcement of further Government funding to build more affordable homes in Cornwall. Through the New Homes Bonus, Cornwall Council has been granted £5million over the next two years to build much-needed housing in the Duchy.

The New Homes Bonus is a multi-billion pound programme that rewards communities when they accept more housebuilding in their area. The Bonus includes an extra reward for building new affordable homes, and for getting long-term empty homes back into use.

Welcoming progress on Falmouth dredging

2012-02-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Trial-dredge-way-forward-amp-P-Falmouth/story-15109242-detail/story.html

Great news for Truro College

2012-02-02T04:40:00.000-08:00

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/College-gets-pound-2m-grant-buildings/story-15108819-detail/story.html

The IMF and the Euro Zone

2012-02-01T09:06:00.000-08:00

I encourage people to read the below excellent article written by my colleague Andrew Tyrie, I share his views on the role that IMF can pay in resolving the Eurozone crisis:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204652904577194882641855846.html

Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy

2012-01-31T03:07:00.001-08:00

Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. I grew up in a small family business in my constituency and understand the ups and downs of such enterprises. Last week I joined a debate in Parliament about the importance of self-employment to our national economy; the value of such businesses are estimated at many billions of pounds.

The debate was held not only to highlight the support for small businesses from this Government but to push Ministers to do more to exempt small businesses from regulation that has a disproportionate effect and cost on their business.

It has been estimated that if every small and medium sized business took on one more person this year all unemployed people would have the opportunity of a job.

I work closely with small businesses in my constituency and know that many would like to grow and take on new staff but think twice when they look at the red-tape and costs involved. Regulation emanating from the EU is often identified as a major problem. I have been pleased to hear David Cameron challenging the other member states of the EU to urgently reform regulation and push for exemptions for micro and small businesses.

There is one particular area of self-employment I was able to highlight during the debate, namely the growing opportunity for people to become call centre operators from home.

People with disabilities and people with caring responsibilities often need to be home based, so this new model of delivering high quality customer service direct from people’s homes could be a flexible employment opportunity.

One company, Arise has around 1500 employees working across the UK, including in Cornwall, fielding customer service calls for a range of companies including Littlewoods. Arise are looking to recruit another 1500 new people this year in the UK alone.

This is encouraging, and represents the reversal of a trend of service jobs lost to overseas call centres. I have asked the government to follow the lead of Barack Obama who is creating the right tax regime so that customer service jobs can be repatriated to the UK.

As readers of these pages will know there is a raging debate about the harmful effects of drinking too much alcohol and what to do about it. Over the past few years I have listened to doctors, nurses, paramedics, police officers, pub and club owners, brewers, concerned young people and adults. Their experiences have convinced me that this is a vital issue that needs to be urgently addressed.

If in anyone is still in any doubt that that we don’t have a huge problem to tackle I suggest they go into the centre of Truro and Falmouth from 11pm until 3.30am and see for themselves. On Saturday night I joined the saints who are the Street Pastors, based in the Methodist Church on the Moor in Falmouth. They do an invaluable job of looking after intoxicated people, and I am grateful for their insights and time spent with me.

Quilts needed for Olympic Games

2012-01-30T05:55:00.000-08:00

The Quilts4London project plans to give each Olympic and Paralympic athlete a hand-made pennant to take home with them. The project has already received – or been promised - 11,000 pennants, but they need another 3,000 to meet the target of 14,700.

I would encourage all interested parties to get involved in this great project and to get quilting, more information can be found through:

www.quilts4london.org.uk

Joining the congregation at Penpoll Chapel for its 150th Anniversary

2012-01-28T09:02:00.000-08:00

I was delighted to join the service and lunch, featuring a magnificent cake, at Penpoll Chapel, celebrating 150 years of its history. Huge amount of work went into compiling the presentations on the Chapel’s history and arranging the displays of such interesting church records and photographs.

New Initiative Launched for Cornish Pubs

2012-01-27T06:48:00.000-08:00

I was pleased to hear about a new scheme to help rural Cornish pubs to branch out into new services that has launched last week.

Pub is The Hub launched its Local Community Services Champions initiative, showcasing advice, support and, if appropriate, funding for pub operators and owners who are considering a diversification scheme. Examples include providing post offices, shops, libraries, internet cafes, allotment schemes, school dinners, lunch clubs for the elderly, cash point machines, IT training and meeting rooms.

Pub is The Hub, a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2001 by HRH the Prince of Wales, encourages local authorities, communities, licensees, pub owners and breweries to work together to support, retain and locate services within rural pubs. Pub is The Hub assists with guidance on availability of project funding, and having a thorough understanding of the pub business, is able to advise on the best way to progress with each individual project.

The scheme in Cornwall is being backed by Cornwall Rural Community Council, Volunteer Cornwall, Age UK and the Big Lottery Fund, with help from St Austell Brewery. Other guests at the meeting represented DEFRA, Cornwall Community Foundation and the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Nigel Clark, who spoke for Age UK in Cornwall, explained that pubs can play a vital role for vulnerable people over 50 who can often become isolated in rural communities when their partner dies. Peter Jefferson, Chief Executive of Cornwall Rural Community Council presented a series of ‘quick win’ examples that pubs could employ to support their communities such as ‘lunch in a bag’ schemes for disabled or elderly residents and their carers, a prescriptions collection service, internet shopping point and providing a space for local suppliers of crafts to sell their wares. He said that his organisation would guide anyone interested through the maze of applications forms to complete for funding.

I believe that is great news for both our publicans, and the public that they service, and will allow our local pubs to strengthen their roles as hubs of the local community.

Anyone who would like to know more about in Cornwall can go to http://www.communitychampions.org.uk/ or telephone 01423 546165 for more information.

Supporting local businesses and jobs

2012-01-25T02:35:00.000-08:00

Re-balancing our economy onto a more sustainable footing is a vitally important aim for the Coalition Government. This means encouraging and supporting more jobs in enterprises that produce food, energy and make products for ourselves as well as exporting to the parts of the world that have growing economies. As your MP my role is to help create the best possible environment for local businesses to grow – removing obstacles in their way.

For some time I have been working with colleagues in Parliament from across the peninsula on a bid for the SW to become the UK’s first Marine Energy Park. The UK is currently leading the world in developing energy form waves and tides and I want to make sure that the good ideas and viable prototypes designed and engineered in Cornwall are scaled up into commercially viable energy production. I am delighted with the support and investment that the Government announced last week.

The port of Falmouth will be making a significant contribution to the development of marine energy – including the manufacture, installation and maintenance of off-shore wind turbines.

With a week firmly focussed on supporting local businesses and jobs, I joined debates on the reform of Business Rates and innovation in ways local authorities such as Cornwall Council could support local businesses. Since being elected I have worked with town centre managers and retailers to help the Government understand the impact of the current Business Rate regime on our town centres future prosperity. The reforms, should they become law this year, will enable more local decision-making and opportunities for Cornwall Council to support local businesses of all types.

On Friday I joined the debate and voted to support a private members bill that called upon the Government to do a thorough review of the benefits or otherwise of changing British Summer Time, so that we have lighter evenings throughout the year. I have been contacted by many constituents who want to see this change and some who don’t. Benefits include reduced road traffic accidents, a boost for tourism and people enjoying sports and outdoor pursuits. Despite the fact there was support from a wide range of organisations and professions, all political parties and from across the UK, the bill was talked out by a persistent group of ten MPs.

Road safety is another issue of considerable concern to constituents.

Depending on the issue, I have taken up their concerns with Cornwall Council or Ministers. Concerns ranged from the need for more 20 mph speed limits in villages to worries about changes to the MOT regime and the desire to see bicycles and motor bikes into bus lanes going into Truro. I have also made representations to members of the Transport Select Committee and am pleased to report they are undertaking a comprehensive review into road safety.

All voices must be heard as Cornwall’s new planning strategy is decided

2012-01-16T01:10:00.000-08:00

I had a great start to the first week of Parliament this year with a lovely dinner in the Truro Cathedral restaurant and a talk to the two Truro Rotary Clubs of Truro about as my role as an MP as well as answering their questions. I always value the opportunity of meeting with groups of constituents and listening to them so please invite me to a group you are involved with.

Cornwall Council launched a consultation on ‘Planning Future Cornwall’ – planning the next twenty years of Cornwall (the core strategy). This is really important. The Government has recently given people and communities the power to develop their own neighbourhood plans. These plans need to work with the overall plan for Cornwall – the core strategy. This is not just another consultation where nothing happens at the end of it. Once Cornwall Council has decided on ‘Planning Future Cornwall’ that will be the plan for years to come.

It is vital that you have your say now, either by going to an event or by writing in. I met with the Leader of Cornwall Council last week and he assured me that my constituents would be listened to and that housing targets and development would not be forced upon communities. Too often in life it is he who shouts the loudest gets heard the longest – while Cornwall Council is responsible for planning decisions, I will do my best to ensure that all voices are listened to. This must be a genuine consultation and not just a tick box exercise.

This is Big Fuel Week – and for me the culmination of months of work with local organisations such as the CAB in Truro and Community Energy Plus as well as local poverty forums and housing associations to ensure that everyone has the information they need to save money on heating their homes, especially people on low incomes. Every winter millions of pounds put aside for people who need help go unspent and unclaimed and I am determined that this should change. Please get in touch if you would like a leaflet or visit my website for this free and straight forward information.

I was delighted that a bid led by Cornwall Council, was successful in winning £140,000 from the Government that will enable people who simply do not have enough money to both eat and heat their homes to have the help that they need this winter. I believe it is an exciting and innovative project that brings together the NHS, Public Health, Cornwall Council housing and social care teams with a range of highly effective local voluntary organisations to target people in need and make sure they receive the advise and help to stay warm and healthy this winter. For more information on what help is available and how to get it just call my office.

Finally on Sunday, before heading back to another week in Westminster, I very much enjoyed spending the morning with the congregation of the Baptist Church in Truro.

Calling for greater protection for home-schooled computer users

2012-01-13T04:04:00.000-08:00

http://www.atlantic.fm/news/cornwall-news/mp-calls-for-tighter-computer-controls-following-teenagers-suicide-2427/

Pushing for enhanced health and social care support

2012-01-09T05:40:00.000-08:00

The first week of the year was spent meeting constituents to listen to a wide-range of their concerns and ideas as well as answering questions and tackling individual problems.

On Tuesday I was delighted to meet with representatives of Cornwall Council, Age UK Cornwall, the Cornwall Volunteer Centre and a GP in Newquay to listen to an update on their progress of implementing ‘Changing Lives’ pilots. The aim of this valuable work is to improve the support that elderly people, their carers and family receive from Cornwall Council and the NHS, support that aims to enable them to lead healthy and fulfilled lives at home. The pilots will be based in GP surgeries and trained volunteers will work alongside NHS and care professionals to make sure the elderly people they are supporting are getting the information and support available to them.

Putting the patient and their carers at the heart of Cornwall’s NHS and Adult Social Services is the priority with the aim of preventing people, as they get older, from unplanned admission to hospital. This ‘integration’ of these services is vitally important to the care of elderly people and in other parts of the country, where this is already being delivered, is beneficial. These are significant changes for GPs and NHS professionals and will take time to fully implement but I was inspired by the team that I met and will do all that I can to support them. The Government recognises that more money needs to be spent on supporting elderly people and their carers at home and extra funding has been given to Cornwall Council. In 2011-2012 £7.766 million has been given to Cornwall Council from NHS budgets.

I am also pleased to report that the NHS in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has been given £941.8 million for the year 2012-2013. This is £25.7 million more than 2011-2012. Just before Christmas an additional £1.8 million, found through national efficiency savings in the NHS, was also announced for the NHS in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Deciding on how the money is spent in Cornwall is led by the Primary Care Trust and the Strategic Health Authority. The management and staff of Treliske Hospital are making improvements in the quality of care of patients and also in the management of resources. However, I am concerned to hear about nursing levels on some wards. I have written to the Chief Executive of the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust asking him to ensure that Treliske Hospital is given the funds it needs to deliver high quality nursing.

I welcomed the Prime Minister’s support for nursing this week. Removing unnecessary administrative tasks from nurses is a good idea. Tackling poor performing ward management must also be a priority. He is right to challenge the management and boards of the NHS to make sure nursing meets the high standards in our hospitals and in the community that nurses want to deliver and we all rely upon. So we must make sure that there are enough nurses in Treliske, our community hospitals and out in the community to provide the care that they and we all want them to deliver.

Cornwall Maritime Strategy consultation

2012-01-03T04:13:00.000-08:00

I would encourage all interested parties to take part in Cornwall Council’s Cornwall Maritime Strategy consultation, which runs until the 18^th January. Maritime activities are crucial to Cornwall, and it is important that residents have their say on the future direction of our coast and seas.

The consultation can be accessed through:

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=29431

Celebrations and Challenges in 2012

2012-01-01T04:22:00.000-08:00

In looking ahead to the next year we know that 2012 brings the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games and with it a global audience of billions of people from every continent – all watching Britain.

Cornwall will play its part from the arrival of the torch at Lands End to the sailing competitions in Falmouth. It is an opportunity for us to promote our great inventiveness and creativity. It should not only be good for tourism this year, but, in projecting an image of so much that is positive about our country, for many years to come.

We know that we don’t know how the financial situation around the world, and in particular the Eurozone, is going to affect the UK economy. However there is international confidence in the difficult course the Government has set to ensure we are well placed to weather the storm and navigate the unchartered waters ahead. At the same time there are indications that the vitally important long term aim of re-balancing our economy onto a more sustainable footing is working. For example we have record levels of cars manufactured and exported from Britain around the world. 2012 should see the first shaft for the first deep geothermal energy plant in the UK completed at United Downs.

But there are things that we don’t know that we don’t know. While this has always been the case, for many this is the first time we have had to face this level of uncertainty. I am in no doubt that 2012 will be a difficult year, especially for those people looking for work.

Having woken-up with the hang-over of the debt binge of thirteen years of Labour, it is critical we collectively stay on the road to recovery and avoid the addict’s temptation to lapse into more of the same.

Although the future is uncertain there is much to be positive about. I believe that this Coalition Government by combining skills and values to serve in the national interest will continue to prove effective in tackling the economic mess we inherited.

As your MP helping sort out the economy for me mostly means championing local businesses and growth of skilled jobs by overcoming the obstacles to achieve this.

It also means ensuring that we are laying the foundations for the future with radical reforms to our vitally important public services and investment in our education system.

Listening to my constituents and making their voices heard at the heart of Government will remain my firm focus in 2012.

Thank you to all those working for the community over Christmas

2011-12-22T08:12:00.000-08:00

By the time you read this, Parliament will be in Recess and I will be joining those of you making last minute preparations for Christmas. I consider my self very fortunate to be sharing Christmas with not only my own family but also my sisters. Like all other families we will also be remembering and giving thanks for the family members that have passed on.

During the last few days before the Recess shopping was on the Parliamentary agenda too. Christmas is an important time for our high street retailers and last week saw the publication of the Portas Review of the future of the high street. With more people using the internet for shopping, there is real concern for the future of our local shops.

I was delighted that the experience and ideas of our BIDs teams in Truro and Falmouth was recognized by the review. Both are important shopping centres, along with villages such as St Agnes and Porthscatho where retailers have worked really hard to ensure vibrant and enjoyable shopping.

I have been a firm supporter of Business Improvement Districts(BIDS) since their introduction. BIDs enable local businesses to raise money and spend it as they choose, as they work in partnership with others to support shopping centres.

Falmouth and Truro are distinct shopping experiences, yet are equally successful in creating festivals and events that also help develop a sense of community. The respective BID teams at the same time, along with the town and city council, work hard to keep the built environment clean, tidy and attractive.

The Government has committed to carefully considering the recommendations of the Portas Review and I hope Cornwall Council will too. Much of the support for our town centres need is in the hands of our locally elected Cornwall Councillors.

On the last day of Parliament I led a debate on the new rail franchise for Cornwall. Early in the New Year the process for deciding which companies run our local rail services starts. I am determined to ensure that the service meets the needs of my constituents and am pushing for improvements. I am very pleased by the support I received from colleagues of all political parties from across the south-west.

Of course Christmas is so much more than shopping and festivities and the initiative of Truro Cathedral to remind us at this special time to remember all those less fortunate than ourselves and donate what we can to help them is much appreciated.

I want to personally thank all those constituents who will be working over Christmas and the New Year to help those in need, and to protect our community. From our armed services and emergency services, to those at St Petrocs providing shelter to the homeless and the many people who will be volunteering to cook a meal for homeless people or inviting a neighbour to share a meal or just spend some time together.

While this is a difficult time for everyone, with so much uncertainty about the future, in the company of friends and family there is still much to be thankful for.

Superfast broadband rolled out across Truro and Falmouth

2011-12-22T04:59:00.000-08:00

I am delighted that a growing number of my constituents can now access superfast broadband, I look forward to the roll-out spreading to other communities across Truro and Falmouth

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Superfast-broadband-rollout-continues-gather/story-14199198-detail/story.html

Consultation on new rail franchise for South West launched

2011-12-20T08:28:00.000-08:00

http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/great-western-franchise-2013/

Push to reduce winter deaths in Cornwall

2011-12-20T01:00:00.001-08:00

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=30121

My helpsheet on how to save money off your heating bills this winter can be downloaded through:

http://www.trurofalmouthconservatives.co.uk/how-you-can-save-money-your-energy-bills

Councils given greater control over business rates

2011-12-19T08:28:00.000-08:00

I have been campaigning on this issue since my election and I am pleased that the Government has recognised the benefits that more localised control of business rates will bring:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16251495

Congratulations to Tremorvah Industries

2011-12-16T01:02:00.000-08:00

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=30119

5500 new jobs and 7500 new homes secured by Camborne-Pool-Redruth link road

2011-12-15T08:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-16177929

Mary Portas Review into the future of UK High Streets published

2011-12-13T05:06:00.000-08:00

http://www.maryportas.com/wp-content/uploads/The_Portas_Review.pdf

Speaking up for Cornwall's Farmers

2011-12-13T04:43:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Chairman of the Truro Primestock Show Jonathan McCulloch and the great team of volunteers who organize this annual treat. I was so sad to miss this very special occasion as I had to be in Parliament.

The Fat Stock Show is a great opportunity to bring people of all ages closer to the farming community that surrounds us in west Cornwall. Supporting the growing and producing of more food in our country are important aims for me. In this part of Cornwall we have high quality food and drinks producers who quite rightly pride themselves on buying as many of their ingredients as possible from local farmers.

I am very proud to represent the home of Rowes pasties and baked goods, a company that not only uses local ingredients but exports that quality taste of Cornwall all over the country with its hard won contracts with leading supermarkets.

I am equally proud to represent the home of Healey’s and Skinners as well as a host of farmers and food producers from asparagus and strawberry growers to sausage makers, chocolatiers and bakers. No one is immune for the current difficult economic situation and I think it is more important than ever to support local businesses – including our farmers and food producers.

I regularly meet with the local National Farmers Union and their members and a consistent complaint is the cost of regulations imposed upon them by the EU in Brussels. Even more annoying is when the UK goes ahead and implements EU directives that have large costs for the producers and other EU countries don’t. British farmers are then at a competitive disadvantage. Also as British farming tends to have much higher standards of animal welfare, I get very annoyed that cheaper EU imports make their way into the food we eat from producers that are using methods that do not have animal welfare at their heart.

Some time ago I met with a local egg producer who told me about just such a situation. He has invested a great deal of money to meet new EU laying hen welfare standards. Thirteen other EU countries, including Spain, Italy and Poland have ignored the new rules. Of course his eggs will be more expensive as a result and I shared his concern that the UK would be flooded with cheap EU eggs. At the moment we are relatively self-sufficient in eggs, over eighty five percent of the eleven billion eggs consumed in the UK every year coming from British farms.

I have taken up this issue with the Minister for Farming Jim Paice and was pleased with the progress he has made in protecting our local egg producers. The Government has secured an agreement with the British Retail Consortium, which covers a huge range of businesses including Tesco, MacDonalds and Starbucks. The agreement guarantees that conventional caged eggs from non-compliant EU countries will not be bought by the major retailers or used as ingredients in their own brand products. Rigorous checks on EU eggs coming into the UK will also be imposed, checks which will detect eggs produced in non-compliant countries.

Free childcare to help more families

2011-12-12T02:08:00.000-08:00

I am delighted that as of last September, the Government has increased the free entitlement of childcare to 15 hours per week for all three to four year olds. This is being extended so that 140,000 two year olds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds will have free childcare by 2013-14.

It is vital that we give children the very best start in life and this provision of extra help will do just that. The new arrangements will mean that parents can balance their work and home life while their children are being looked after.

http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a00200071/consultation-launched-on-free-%20early%20-education

Britons are more self-reliant

2011-12-07T06:56:00.000-08:00

According to the National Centre for Social Research’s Social Attitudes Survey, Britons are becoming more self-reliant.

I believe that this clearly shows that people across the country want to take responsibility for their own lives and their own communities. Reward must be a result of effort and the “something for nothing” culture is being rightly rejected by the nation.

A link to the survey can be found here:

http://ir2.flife.de/data/natcen-social-research/igb_html/index.php

Basic State Pension Up-rated

2011-12-06T06:42:00.000-08:00

I welcome the announcement by the Pension Minister that the basic state pension will be up-rated.

This will mean that a single person will expect to receive an increase of £5.30 per week, giving them a total of £107.45.

The Government has protected the triple lock guarantee whereby the basic state pension rises either in line with earnings, prices or 2.5 percent.

A link to the Minister’s statement can be found here:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm111206/debtext/111206-0001.htm#11120648000590

Progress on building more homes, and improving our existing housing stock

2011-12-06T04:50:00.000-08:00

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/2040762
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/2041418