Employment News

With the government’s Work Experience scheme in the news recently, I am pleased to see that we have already added three major new firms to the scheme this week – Airbus, Hewlett Packard and Center Parcs. Around 200 smaller firms have also come forward to express interest in supporting the scheme in the past two weeks, and this added support really goes to show that critics of the programme just don’t have their facts right!

I think the article from the Telegraph, linked to below, provides an excellent argument for the positive aspects of the Work Experience scheme:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9118787/Workfare-programme-is-a-hit-with-the-unemployed-Working-for-nothing-and-proud-of-it-too.html

Although I would add that the term ‘Workfare’ is an American idea that is not what this Work Experience scheme is about.

Also great news today from Nissan, who are creating 2,000 new jobs with a new plant in Sunderland.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17266087

South West Water parent company Pennon Group wins Achievement in Sustainability Award

South West Water parent company Pennon Group wins Achievement in Sustainability Award

I am delighted to see that South West Water’s parent company, Pennon Group, has won the Achievement in Sustainability Award at the annual Public Limited Company Awards.

Judges highlighted a number of achievements in managing sustainability issues at South West Water including:-

·         Environmental improvement projects – 90.3 per cent of bathing waters meet the European Union “excellent guidelines” up from 84 per cent in 2009;

·         Increased “upstream thinking” – working with farmers and landowners to promote good catchment management; and

·         Generating power through gas capture from anaerobic digestion plants at wastewater treatment works.

A busy week in the run up to St. Piran's Day!

The Government is determined to maximize the economic potential of rural communities and businesses. The Rural Economy Growth Review was announced last week and sets out a £165 million package of measures, including cutting red tape, to further support rural communities.  

These measures include the creation of Rural and Farming Networks, which will ensure that rural businesses will have a hotline to the heart of Government, allowing them to directly shape future rural policies. Networks will bring together people from rural communities, rural businesses and the food and farming industries.

Each group will be a point of contact providing feedback to Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) on a range of topics including the impact of local emergencies – such as flooding -  so that the right kind of assistance can be provided to keep businesses running.

Last week, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly were among the first fourteen new rural networks set-up by the Government to identify and feedback local issues and concerns straight to the heart of Government. Cllr Bert Biscoe is the first Chairman of this new network in Cornwall and I wish him and the team well in this vitally important work.

It was a great pleasure to take Chris Grayling MP, Minister for Employment to meet with staff at Truro Job Centre Plus, and at Work Programme providers Working Links and Ground Work South West; organizations that provide one-to-one help for people to look for work and get into work. We heard first hand, from people of all ages who have been out of work for some time, about how the Work Programme is helping them to secure full time employment.  

We also met young people who were very positive about the work experience they had experienced with a wide range of local employers. More than 50% of young people who have undertaken the Government’s scheme have found full-time jobs with more than 60% with the firm that gave them the work experience.

Also last week I supported the Water Bill that will enable a £50 rebate on every SW Water domestic water bill starting next April. The unfairness of water bills in Cornwall has been raised for many years but this is the first time a Government has taken real action. The Bill also includes further financial and other assistance for the hardest pressed and vulnerable households in the region.

I will continue to push Ministers to consider extending the rebate to very small businesses such as B& Bs and tackle the problems experienced by people who occupy sheltered accommodation or live in houses of multiple occupancy that share one unmetered water bill. People living in these types of home can apply for an “assessed charge” which can lead to significantly reduced bills, but few do.

Finally, I thoroughly enjoyed popping into some of the St Piran’s Day celebrations on Perranporth and joining the parade in Truro.

Environment Minister Promotes Rural Living

Environment Minister Richard Benyon visited Devon and Cornwall at the end of February to discuss rural issues and how to stop pubs, schools and firms closing.  A summary of this visit, from the Western Morning News, can be read by following the link below.

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Minister-pledges-rural-renaissance-Westcountry/story-15332105-detail/story.html

Supporting the Cornwall Hydration Innovation Project

I was delighted to recently meet with Lord Howe and Naomi Campbell RGN, a front line nurse from Falmouth Hospital, to discuss the important work Naomi has been conducting on the Cornwall Hydration Innovation Project.

 Naomi has spent the last three years of her own time developing practical and cost effective solutions to help tackle the long term problem of dehydration in elderly care settings. Her knowledge and understanding of dehydration is now recognised at a national level and she has been invited to join several national steering groups including the All Parliamentary Hydration Forum, Chaired by Baroness Sally Greengross at the House of Lords.

Naomi has been commissioned to write for national nursing journals and attracted interest from Australia and the USA where dehydration is also a major concern.

 Above all else, Naomi’s work is focused on finding new innovative ways to ensure patients are given enough help to drink, according to their individual needs.  “As a result of my studies I have identified several weaknesses in the systems and processes that support hydration care. I firmly believe my project will help create new ways of thinking - resulting in new resources, equipment and training to help all nursing staff and organisations provide consistent best practice and improve the quality of care.

Naomi says “trying to help elderly people to drink adequate amounts of fluids can be very challenging, it requires significant nursing time, gentle encouragement, patience and physical assistance. I became particularly interested in hydration after nursing my terminally ill mother at home and having an idea for a simple drinking aid. Only by nursing someone do you truly understand ‘just how difficult it can be to help someone to drink.’ However, there can be absolutely no excuse for leaving drinks out of reach or letting people die from lack of water.

Helping our elderly and vulnerable patients to drink more could prevent thousands of avoidable emergency admissions or increased length of stay due to falls, urine infections and confusion etc. Dehydration costs the NHS billions each year; the human suffering is immeasurable.”

The project is supported by NHS Innovations (South West) who helped her secure a grant from the Regional Innovation Fund.  Naomi is also delighted to be working closely with the elderly care organisation ‘Cornwall Care’ who are hugely supportive of her project aims and will be actively involved in trialling new equipment and assessment skills. It is hoped the findings of the trials in Cornwall will help shape a future national policy for hydration.

Naomi works part-time as a senior minor injuries unit nurse and is the founder and an active member of a multi disciplinary ‘Paediatric emergency care network’ which is now in its third year. However, her long term ambition is to also to create a working role focused on hydration care.

I am really pleased to see this project develop and think it is a real ‘one to watch’ going forward in terms of caring for some of our most vulnerable people.

Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill Progress...

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

A reassurance on insurance costs for Truro Cathedral

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.'