One of the challenges of economic growth is to make sure everyone benefits. It is why the reforms to the benefits system so that work pays are so important and also why we need intensive support to help those who have been out of work for a long time get their confidence back. It's also why we need to maintain momentum when it comes to local regeneration.
We also need to recognise the demoralising affect that personal debt can have on those on the bottom rung and it isn’t just those on benefits. Many people who work hard also have debt problems and shouldn't be overlooked. It can start with a one off bill like a repair to the car or an unexpected tax bill but end up with court costs and thuggish bailiffs at the door adding huge cost and stress. Some people turn to loan sharks or payday loan companies who seem to offer a quick fix but actually end up compounding the problem. There are few things more demoralising to people than having bills and debts that stalk them.
There is good work being done to help. The Citizens Advice Bureau regularly offers debt advice to those at their wits end. In extreme cases they can help people apply to the court for a Debt Relief Order to remove some of the burden. Last week I met the local organiser for Christians Against Poverty to discuss their work locally. CAP was founded by someone who had worked in finance but then suffered his own debt problems. Volunteers with experience visit families at home and help them put together a budget. If there are difficult debts overhanging them, CAP will manage the relations with those companies, sometimes securing a write off of some of the debt and a consistent payment plan which they manage on behalf of the family. Their service is free to those in need.
In 2012 the Government set up the Money Advice Service with the key objective to encourage people to better manage their money and prevent them from getting into unmanageable levels of debt. The MAS offers free and impartial information on money matters and they can be contacted online, by telephone or even face-to-face. There has been a crackdown on loan sharks. The Financial Conduct Authority is strengthening the rules, by making sure payday loan companies research whether their clients can actually pay back the money and is also considering a cap for the loans.
There are better ways for people to manage their money. Two years ago I became a member of the Kernow Credit Union. Unlike other lenders they don't judge people through credit agencies. Those who are in greatest need know that "subject to status" means "not you." With a credit union people earn their credibility. Those who save regularly each month can, after three months, borrow around three times the amount they have saved.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Monday, 7 April 2014
Thursday, 27 March 2014
REFORMS IN THE BUDGET
Last week’s budget brought positive news and a strong sense that the country has well and truly turned the corner. There was good news for Cornwall and some radical ideas to reward those who save for their own retirement. George Osborne announced at the beginning of his speech that the economy was going to grow even more than at first thought, with growth this year set at 2.7%, the biggest revision in the budget forecast for over thirty years. Not only that, it is now predicted our deficit will be down by a halve next year and by 2018 the country will even be running on a surplus.
There is still plenty more to do and no one is saying these forecasts mean we can rest on our laurels. That said, economic growth means the government can now feel more confident in offering further economic incentives and help to those who have been hit hardest by the downturn. Some of the measures the Chancellor announced do just that.
Firstly the personal tax allowance will be raised even further to £10,500, starting next year. This should lift almost thirty thousand people in the South West out of tax altogether and importantly it will make sure low and middle earners are hit by as little tax as possible.
Secondly savers will see some crucial changes to how their savings are taxed and how they can invest their hard-earned money. The 10p starting rate on savings income will now be abolished and replaced with a zero pence rate, helping expand savings of up to £5,000. As well as this, a new pensioner bond, which people can invest in more than before, will also offer better returns than any on the market today and people will be able to invest more in ISA’s. I am often approached by savers who have felt that the economic recovery is passing them by despite their efforts and these new measures are a step in the right direction.
Finally there will be more flexibility in the pension system, which is news that will be welcomed by many. If you pay a certain defined amount into your pension, no longer will you be forced to buy an annuity, unless you have decided you want to. On top of this, if you have pensions savings of £30,000 or less you can now take these pots as a cash lump sum which is double the threshold it is now. There will also be a cut in the amount of income you need to access your pension’s savings flexibly, down from £20,000 to £12,000. All these changes will make it easier and cheaper for people to withdraw money from their pension pots and they represent some pretty fundamental reform.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032
There is still plenty more to do and no one is saying these forecasts mean we can rest on our laurels. That said, economic growth means the government can now feel more confident in offering further economic incentives and help to those who have been hit hardest by the downturn. Some of the measures the Chancellor announced do just that.
Firstly the personal tax allowance will be raised even further to £10,500, starting next year. This should lift almost thirty thousand people in the South West out of tax altogether and importantly it will make sure low and middle earners are hit by as little tax as possible.
Secondly savers will see some crucial changes to how their savings are taxed and how they can invest their hard-earned money. The 10p starting rate on savings income will now be abolished and replaced with a zero pence rate, helping expand savings of up to £5,000. As well as this, a new pensioner bond, which people can invest in more than before, will also offer better returns than any on the market today and people will be able to invest more in ISA’s. I am often approached by savers who have felt that the economic recovery is passing them by despite their efforts and these new measures are a step in the right direction.
Finally there will be more flexibility in the pension system, which is news that will be welcomed by many. If you pay a certain defined amount into your pension, no longer will you be forced to buy an annuity, unless you have decided you want to. On top of this, if you have pensions savings of £30,000 or less you can now take these pots as a cash lump sum which is double the threshold it is now. There will also be a cut in the amount of income you need to access your pension’s savings flexibly, down from £20,000 to £12,000. All these changes will make it easier and cheaper for people to withdraw money from their pension pots and they represent some pretty fundamental reform.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032
Monday, 24 March 2014
NEW HOUSING
Last weekend I officially opened a new housing development at Carharrack that has been built by Ocean Homes. The housing was exactly the sort that we need more of in our area, with shared ownership and equity on offer as well as social housing and others available on the open market. It is these affordable and mixed developments that are helping first time buyers get on the first rung of the property ladder and it was clear during my visit just how popular the housing is with younger families and couples who want a place of their own.
We need to make sure this aspiration becomes a reality and over the past couple of years the government has been doing a lot to help people get their foot in the door. The ‘Help to Buy’ scheme, which comes in two parts, has already helped thousands. The mortgage guarantee part underwrites some of the lenders exposure to enable mortgage companies to offer 95 percent mortgages and a deposit of just 5 percent. Until the credit crunch, 95 percent mortgages were very common and I actually remember using them to buy my first flat. Even with the economy in recovery first time buyers are being given the impossible task of raising around a 30 percent deposit so this part of the scheme can really help.
The second element of ‘Help to Buy’ provides an equity loan for the deposit of households looking to buy a new build home. As well as helping about 25,000 people already, it also makes sure new houses are being built because it provides the security for housing developers to get building and not sit on land reserves. This week the Chancellor announced that the scheme will be extended until 2020 and I believe this is another step to make sure home ownership in Britain is the norm and not the preserve of the privileged few.
It is clear that we need to be building new and affordable housing in Cornwall to help those who dream of their own home and want to get on in life. The development at Carharrack was also an example of one sensitive to the area, adding just a small extension to the village and not disruptive to the original community. I have always said that there needs to be a balance when it comes to new housing that makes sure the community is involved, and certainly that we should build on brownfield instead of greenfield whenever possible.
I want to make sure that we get these developments right but also that we encourage affordable housing to be built. Young families moving in to an area can really add to the economy and dynamic of a community and I look forward to opening my next development.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032
We need to make sure this aspiration becomes a reality and over the past couple of years the government has been doing a lot to help people get their foot in the door. The ‘Help to Buy’ scheme, which comes in two parts, has already helped thousands. The mortgage guarantee part underwrites some of the lenders exposure to enable mortgage companies to offer 95 percent mortgages and a deposit of just 5 percent. Until the credit crunch, 95 percent mortgages were very common and I actually remember using them to buy my first flat. Even with the economy in recovery first time buyers are being given the impossible task of raising around a 30 percent deposit so this part of the scheme can really help.
The second element of ‘Help to Buy’ provides an equity loan for the deposit of households looking to buy a new build home. As well as helping about 25,000 people already, it also makes sure new houses are being built because it provides the security for housing developers to get building and not sit on land reserves. This week the Chancellor announced that the scheme will be extended until 2020 and I believe this is another step to make sure home ownership in Britain is the norm and not the preserve of the privileged few.
It is clear that we need to be building new and affordable housing in Cornwall to help those who dream of their own home and want to get on in life. The development at Carharrack was also an example of one sensitive to the area, adding just a small extension to the village and not disruptive to the original community. I have always said that there needs to be a balance when it comes to new housing that makes sure the community is involved, and certainly that we should build on brownfield instead of greenfield whenever possible.
I want to make sure that we get these developments right but also that we encourage affordable housing to be built. Young families moving in to an area can really add to the economy and dynamic of a community and I look forward to opening my next development.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032
Monday, 17 March 2014
St Michael’s Free School
Last weekend I was privileged to open the new school building at St Michael’s Catholic Secondary School in Camborne. The building will be providing some brilliant new teaching facilities, with new science laboratories, design and art classrooms as well as drama, music and ICT suites. It was great to officially open such an important resource for the school and take a look round the new facilities.
I first visited St Michael’s about eighteen months ago when it opened with just 45 pupils. Today it has 122 on the roll and it is growing, with aims to reach over 300 pupils in the next few years. It is not easy starting anything new, least of all a school, but this new Free School has made a very strong start.
Parents have been attracted to the school because of its high standards, small classroom size and encouraging environment to students of all backgrounds and interests. I was really interested to learn that at St Michael’s pupils from many different backgrounds were progressing at the same rate, with early data indicating the school has little or no attainment gap for those pupils on free school meals when compared with others.
The government has been keen to support the opening of new schools like St Michaels because the simple truth is that all children are individuals and will respond to different approaches in education. We want young people to find something they are passionate about and then have the support to really excel. For some that might mean a school that has a major focus on science or languages or indeed a focus on numeracy or sport. Some pupils flourish in larger schools but others will best develop their confidence if they have the support and nurturing environment provided by a smaller school.
We should not deny parents the choice if they feel that for their children a smaller school would be better at nurturing their individual talents. In the old days, only wealthy parents could choose where their children were placed but the opening of schools like St Michael’s prove that is now changing. Whilst it is likely that most will attend and be given the opportunity to thrive at our larger secondary schools, giving parents different options can only be a good thing.
I think it is so important to create a culture of excellence in the education system where schools are constantly striving to achieve more for all children, whether by stretching the most academic children so that they can go to university or giving additional support to help inspire those falling behind. The government’s reforms are a really positive step because a good education is the single most important thing to increase social mobility and help the next generation to get on in life.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032
I first visited St Michael’s about eighteen months ago when it opened with just 45 pupils. Today it has 122 on the roll and it is growing, with aims to reach over 300 pupils in the next few years. It is not easy starting anything new, least of all a school, but this new Free School has made a very strong start.
Parents have been attracted to the school because of its high standards, small classroom size and encouraging environment to students of all backgrounds and interests. I was really interested to learn that at St Michael’s pupils from many different backgrounds were progressing at the same rate, with early data indicating the school has little or no attainment gap for those pupils on free school meals when compared with others.
The government has been keen to support the opening of new schools like St Michaels because the simple truth is that all children are individuals and will respond to different approaches in education. We want young people to find something they are passionate about and then have the support to really excel. For some that might mean a school that has a major focus on science or languages or indeed a focus on numeracy or sport. Some pupils flourish in larger schools but others will best develop their confidence if they have the support and nurturing environment provided by a smaller school.
We should not deny parents the choice if they feel that for their children a smaller school would be better at nurturing their individual talents. In the old days, only wealthy parents could choose where their children were placed but the opening of schools like St Michael’s prove that is now changing. Whilst it is likely that most will attend and be given the opportunity to thrive at our larger secondary schools, giving parents different options can only be a good thing.
I think it is so important to create a culture of excellence in the education system where schools are constantly striving to achieve more for all children, whether by stretching the most academic children so that they can go to university or giving additional support to help inspire those falling behind. The government’s reforms are a really positive step because a good education is the single most important thing to increase social mobility and help the next generation to get on in life.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032
Thursday, 6 March 2014
ST PIRAN’S DAY
Last Saturday I attended the St Piran’s day celebrations in Redruth. Although, due to my weekly surgery, I missed the start of the parade, the event was a fantastic success with the police estimating that around 5000 attended and with over 200 children and young people from our local schools taking part.
Redruth has really led the way in using civic events and celebrations of this sort to bring people into the town and to bring the community together. Together with the pasty festival, the Christmas lights procession and, of course, Murdoch Day, there is something every few months. It is really heartening to see so much support from the local schools and it's a vote of confidence in the future of the town. Children from Trewirgie Junior School were even going around completing questionnaires about the event to see how it could be improved in future years.
It is great to see such a steady and consistent revival of interest in Cornwall's unique culture and events like this are a really important way of celebrating what is distinct and special about Cornwall. Redruth is at the heart of Cornish history with the vast majority of the six million strong international Cornish diaspora tracing their roots back to our town. That is why Redruth was the natural home for the new Cornwall Archive Centre of Kresen Kernow which is currently going through the various stages of planning. It was a major breakthrough for the town to be designated as the chosen location and the project will regenerate the old brewery site and kick start the revival of the town.
Plans for the Kresen Kernow project were on display last Saturday and there are other events planned to get community feedback on the project. Like many others, I took a trip down memory lane watching some fascinating TV news archives about the final years of the old Devenish Brewery between 1986 and 1991. Growing up in the eighties in Cornwall, the familiar Devenish branding and those green Lorries were all around and, when I was older, I remember the famous Newquay Steam Bitter. Devenish was finally finished off by some sharp practice in the City by Whitbread and Boddingtons who were aiming to launch a hostile takeover bid. A management buyout followed by a further extended period under the current owner of the site, Horace Yao, gave the brewery a few more years, but in the end they couldn't continue. The Trevithick Society were there too having rescued some final cans of the beer (now very out of date!) along with beer mats and other branding which they are preserving.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Redruth has really led the way in using civic events and celebrations of this sort to bring people into the town and to bring the community together. Together with the pasty festival, the Christmas lights procession and, of course, Murdoch Day, there is something every few months. It is really heartening to see so much support from the local schools and it's a vote of confidence in the future of the town. Children from Trewirgie Junior School were even going around completing questionnaires about the event to see how it could be improved in future years.
It is great to see such a steady and consistent revival of interest in Cornwall's unique culture and events like this are a really important way of celebrating what is distinct and special about Cornwall. Redruth is at the heart of Cornish history with the vast majority of the six million strong international Cornish diaspora tracing their roots back to our town. That is why Redruth was the natural home for the new Cornwall Archive Centre of Kresen Kernow which is currently going through the various stages of planning. It was a major breakthrough for the town to be designated as the chosen location and the project will regenerate the old brewery site and kick start the revival of the town.
Plans for the Kresen Kernow project were on display last Saturday and there are other events planned to get community feedback on the project. Like many others, I took a trip down memory lane watching some fascinating TV news archives about the final years of the old Devenish Brewery between 1986 and 1991. Growing up in the eighties in Cornwall, the familiar Devenish branding and those green Lorries were all around and, when I was older, I remember the famous Newquay Steam Bitter. Devenish was finally finished off by some sharp practice in the City by Whitbread and Boddingtons who were aiming to launch a hostile takeover bid. A management buyout followed by a further extended period under the current owner of the site, Horace Yao, gave the brewery a few more years, but in the end they couldn't continue. The Trevithick Society were there too having rescued some final cans of the beer (now very out of date!) along with beer mats and other branding which they are preserving.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Thursday, 27 February 2014
Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy
This weekend I will be visiting fishermen in Newlyn to discuss the problems they have had over the last six weeks as a result of the stormy weather which has severely restricted the number of days they have been able to spend at sea as well as causing considerable damage to boats and fishing equipment.
While it has undoubtedly been a very difficult start to the year for Cornish fishermen, I think the longer term outlook gives some grounds for optimism because, at the beginning of January, the EU finally put into law a new reform of the Common Fisheries Policy which has the potential to deliver radical change as well as become a potential model for further reform in other areas of European policy.
There are a number of really important aspects to the new CFP deal. Firstly, there is a commitment to ban the discard of good fish. It has always been a disgraceful practice that perfectly healthy fish are thrown dead back into the sea simply because the fisherman who landed them did not happen to have the right quota. That will now end.
Secondly, to help make the discard ban work in practice, fishermen will receive a quota uplift so they can land more. They will also be granted much greater flexibility so that if they unexpectedly land more of one species for which they have no quota, then they will be allowed to count it against quota for another species instead rather than be forced to throw it dead back into the sea. If they happen to do better than expected at the end of the year, then they will also be allowed to borrow some quota from the following year.
The third key aspect of the new policy is that there is now a legally binding commitment to fish sustainably or at what scientists call Maximum Sustainable Yield. This means that we have a policy that focuses on the outcome rather than getting too bogged down in process and all member states in the EU have accepted this approach.
Finally, the new CFP has moved away from a centralised model where the entire EU sets out prescriptive policies. In future small groups of member states who have a shared interest in a particular fishery will decide on the management measures that will deliver sustainable fishing. Because they all have an interest in the future of the fishery, they are more likely to put thought into getting things right.
Taken together, these reforms have the potential to be a radical reform. I really hope both the industry and all EU governments will roll their sleeves up to make this a success.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
While it has undoubtedly been a very difficult start to the year for Cornish fishermen, I think the longer term outlook gives some grounds for optimism because, at the beginning of January, the EU finally put into law a new reform of the Common Fisheries Policy which has the potential to deliver radical change as well as become a potential model for further reform in other areas of European policy.
There are a number of really important aspects to the new CFP deal. Firstly, there is a commitment to ban the discard of good fish. It has always been a disgraceful practice that perfectly healthy fish are thrown dead back into the sea simply because the fisherman who landed them did not happen to have the right quota. That will now end.
Secondly, to help make the discard ban work in practice, fishermen will receive a quota uplift so they can land more. They will also be granted much greater flexibility so that if they unexpectedly land more of one species for which they have no quota, then they will be allowed to count it against quota for another species instead rather than be forced to throw it dead back into the sea. If they happen to do better than expected at the end of the year, then they will also be allowed to borrow some quota from the following year.
The third key aspect of the new policy is that there is now a legally binding commitment to fish sustainably or at what scientists call Maximum Sustainable Yield. This means that we have a policy that focuses on the outcome rather than getting too bogged down in process and all member states in the EU have accepted this approach.
Finally, the new CFP has moved away from a centralised model where the entire EU sets out prescriptive policies. In future small groups of member states who have a shared interest in a particular fishery will decide on the management measures that will deliver sustainable fishing. Because they all have an interest in the future of the fishery, they are more likely to put thought into getting things right.
Taken together, these reforms have the potential to be a radical reform. I really hope both the industry and all EU governments will roll their sleeves up to make this a success.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Monday, 24 February 2014
Children’s Literacy
A couple of weeks ago it was National Libraries Day, which has been set up to promote and celebrate the role of libraries up and down the country. As the Camborne Library is just moments away from my constituency office I was able to pop in after I had finished my weekly surgeries. Despite the terrible weather some people had managed to make it over there and during my visit it wasn’t difficult to see just how important the library is to the community and how dedicated the small team of staff are to running a really useful service. I even signed up myself.
Jim Walters, the senior Librarian, took me through the users of the service and what books people are reading at the moment. Those above sixty probably form the most regular customers and especially utilise the internet facilities, whilst I was also interested to learn that crime and detective authors remain the most sought after.
However I was also really heartened to hear that primary school children are amongst the highest users. This is because various schools are involved in a government led reading competition which encourages students between the ages of seven and twelve to read a book a week. The schools work with county libraries on this and in Cornwall the scheme is flourishing. It is a great idea because alongside getting children reading it introduces them to the library. We have some fantastic libraries in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle and we need to make sure they are supported with the right funding but also that they are used regularly.
Reading is a vital part of a child’s education and in our area it is clear that schools and academies know this. Trevithick Primary School, which educates most of the children who live in Pengegon, places a strong emphasis on reading and literacy with one to one tuition outside the classroom where teachers develop the reading skills of individual pupils. I think this is so important because unless children learn to read and write at primary school and develop basic numeracy skills, then they will struggle to keep up at secondary school and before you know it, their morale suffers and they start to conclude that school is not for them. I have also seen some good work in our secondary schools including a project at Pool Academy where year 7 and 8 children new to the school help mentor children from local primary schools who are about to start secondary school.
Although I don’t have much time anymore to sit down and read a good book I want to make sure our libraries and our education system allow children to do just that. Developing an ability to read well is a crucial stepping stone in a child's education and libraries have a vital role to play.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Jim Walters, the senior Librarian, took me through the users of the service and what books people are reading at the moment. Those above sixty probably form the most regular customers and especially utilise the internet facilities, whilst I was also interested to learn that crime and detective authors remain the most sought after.
However I was also really heartened to hear that primary school children are amongst the highest users. This is because various schools are involved in a government led reading competition which encourages students between the ages of seven and twelve to read a book a week. The schools work with county libraries on this and in Cornwall the scheme is flourishing. It is a great idea because alongside getting children reading it introduces them to the library. We have some fantastic libraries in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle and we need to make sure they are supported with the right funding but also that they are used regularly.
Reading is a vital part of a child’s education and in our area it is clear that schools and academies know this. Trevithick Primary School, which educates most of the children who live in Pengegon, places a strong emphasis on reading and literacy with one to one tuition outside the classroom where teachers develop the reading skills of individual pupils. I think this is so important because unless children learn to read and write at primary school and develop basic numeracy skills, then they will struggle to keep up at secondary school and before you know it, their morale suffers and they start to conclude that school is not for them. I have also seen some good work in our secondary schools including a project at Pool Academy where year 7 and 8 children new to the school help mentor children from local primary schools who are about to start secondary school.
Although I don’t have much time anymore to sit down and read a good book I want to make sure our libraries and our education system allow children to do just that. Developing an ability to read well is a crucial stepping stone in a child's education and libraries have a vital role to play.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Thursday, 13 February 2014
DAWLISH
The huge storms that have battered the South West over the past couple of weeks have dominated our area and it is clear that the damage being left behind is going to take quite an operation to sort out. The exceptional weather has been relentless and first and foremost my sympathy goes out to all those affected. People have lost their homes and livelihoods and we need to make sure they can get their lives back on track as quickly as possible. Nowhere is the evidence of the scale of the destruction more obvious than the images of the hanging railway at Dawlish which has cut off Cornwall and much of Devon from any train route to London.
The facts at Dawlish make stark reading. To repair the damage along the 80 metre stretch of sea wall will cost an estimated £30 million. Not only is it a huge expense but Council Workers and the Environment Agency are giving estimates of at least six weeks for the line to be up and running again. This is so frustrating for all rail passengers and especially commuters who are now having to change the way they are getting in and out of work. It is an absolutely vital link for our overall economy and every day the line is down loses money for Cornwall.
The main question is what now needs to be done to make sure this doesn’t happen again and what should we expect in the future. In the short term we need to repair the line as it now stands and the immediate wall. This is difficult because of the ongoing weather but repairs have already started and it will at the very least mean services can start running again.
We then need to look into what else we can do. I think a defensive wall further out could help break the waves and act as an important initial check in future bad weather. We should also look at the possibility of a diversionary route in case of further bad weather. Network Rail is already looking into this option via Okehampton and I will be interested to read their conclusions.
These are good ideas but we also need to make sure that whatever is done is not a knee-jerk reaction despite the current situation. I want to make journey times to Cornwall shorter and any changes further up the line need to make sure that happens. As a regular on the sleeper myself I also know how important that service is and current plans for its upgrade, including two new carriages, should still go-ahead. I will be doing my best to make sure that our railway also gets the investment it needs.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
The facts at Dawlish make stark reading. To repair the damage along the 80 metre stretch of sea wall will cost an estimated £30 million. Not only is it a huge expense but Council Workers and the Environment Agency are giving estimates of at least six weeks for the line to be up and running again. This is so frustrating for all rail passengers and especially commuters who are now having to change the way they are getting in and out of work. It is an absolutely vital link for our overall economy and every day the line is down loses money for Cornwall.
The main question is what now needs to be done to make sure this doesn’t happen again and what should we expect in the future. In the short term we need to repair the line as it now stands and the immediate wall. This is difficult because of the ongoing weather but repairs have already started and it will at the very least mean services can start running again.
We then need to look into what else we can do. I think a defensive wall further out could help break the waves and act as an important initial check in future bad weather. We should also look at the possibility of a diversionary route in case of further bad weather. Network Rail is already looking into this option via Okehampton and I will be interested to read their conclusions.
These are good ideas but we also need to make sure that whatever is done is not a knee-jerk reaction despite the current situation. I want to make journey times to Cornwall shorter and any changes further up the line need to make sure that happens. As a regular on the sleeper myself I also know how important that service is and current plans for its upgrade, including two new carriages, should still go-ahead. I will be doing my best to make sure that our railway also gets the investment it needs.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Monday, 10 February 2014
Shuttle Service
Last week brought the welcome news that a new shuttle boat service will be opening up for people wishing to travel between Hayle and St Ives. It will be running from April this year and throughout the summer it will be operating on a trial basis to gauge the feasibility of the project for the long term. I have been really pushing for such a scheme for the last couple of years and the organisers have kindly offered me a place on the first ride. I am really looking forward to it.
A new shuttle boat is a great idea because it will boost tourism and trade in both towns and provide a really unique and exciting way to travel between them. St Ives Rib Rides, who will be providing the service have worked together with the harbour authorities to get the project off the ground and whilst there are still the finer details to work out they have really shown some fantastic initiative. When I first looked into this I mentioned the potential of a Hovercraft, inspired by the Portsmouth hover-link to the Isle of Wight. Although the ribs that will be used may not be quite of the same scale they are far more manageable and already proven to be hugely popular. The holiday camps in Hayle have also been very supportive of the scheme and the availability of a shuttle service will add another attraction to their business.
Overall the shuttle boat is another step in the right direction of regenerating the area. The idea has already been floated that once construction on South Quay is complete the shuttle boat can operate from there. Plans for South Quay are already coming to life and construction is well underway. The shuttle boat could one day moor near the new supermarket that will create hundreds of local jobs but crucially not drag customers away from the town centre. It could also drop diners off near the new restaurant or indeed homeowners who have taken advantage of the affordable housing being planned. If visitors from St Ives then want to visit the many independent and older shops Hayle has to offer, they could use the planned footbridge between the Quay and the town and be there in less than five minutes.
The next couple of years will see many changes in Hayle.
It is not just in Hayle where major projects are underway. The new Camborne link road that will regenerate derelict land at Tuckingmill and boost business is making good progress. The Cornish Archive Centre at the site of the old brewery in Redruth will also deliver important local jobs and transform the area. These are the big projects that will kick start the revival of our towns but the many smaller initiatives like the shuttle boat service have a role to play too
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
A new shuttle boat is a great idea because it will boost tourism and trade in both towns and provide a really unique and exciting way to travel between them. St Ives Rib Rides, who will be providing the service have worked together with the harbour authorities to get the project off the ground and whilst there are still the finer details to work out they have really shown some fantastic initiative. When I first looked into this I mentioned the potential of a Hovercraft, inspired by the Portsmouth hover-link to the Isle of Wight. Although the ribs that will be used may not be quite of the same scale they are far more manageable and already proven to be hugely popular. The holiday camps in Hayle have also been very supportive of the scheme and the availability of a shuttle service will add another attraction to their business.
Overall the shuttle boat is another step in the right direction of regenerating the area. The idea has already been floated that once construction on South Quay is complete the shuttle boat can operate from there. Plans for South Quay are already coming to life and construction is well underway. The shuttle boat could one day moor near the new supermarket that will create hundreds of local jobs but crucially not drag customers away from the town centre. It could also drop diners off near the new restaurant or indeed homeowners who have taken advantage of the affordable housing being planned. If visitors from St Ives then want to visit the many independent and older shops Hayle has to offer, they could use the planned footbridge between the Quay and the town and be there in less than five minutes.
The next couple of years will see many changes in Hayle.
It is not just in Hayle where major projects are underway. The new Camborne link road that will regenerate derelict land at Tuckingmill and boost business is making good progress. The Cornish Archive Centre at the site of the old brewery in Redruth will also deliver important local jobs and transform the area. These are the big projects that will kick start the revival of our towns but the many smaller initiatives like the shuttle boat service have a role to play too
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Thursday, 30 January 2014
Superfast Broadband
I have always been enthusiastic about the potential for modern fibre optic infrastructure like Superfast Broadband to put Cornwall ahead of the pack and to help overcome some of the geographical challenges we face as a peninsula. Infrastructure today is not just about roads and rail (important though those are), it is also about digital connection. The way that many modern industries like computer software operate means that, if we get the fastest broadband speeds, we are ahead.
Cornwall has so much beauty that many entrepreneurs actually want to set up their business here provided they have the right infrastructure. A couple of months ago I visited Head-Forwards Software which is one of a number of new computer software companies that are bringing new jobs to this part of Cornwall. Evidence suggests that almost 90 percent of the economic benefits of investment in broadband flow to areas outside the South East and the Home Counties. That makes a change and it is why investment in digital infrastructure is one of the best regional policies you can have.
The project to install Superfast Broadband across Cornwall is moving to its final stages. By end of this year they hope to reach their target of 95% of businesses and homes connected. Much progress has been made with over 80% of Cornwall now having access to fibre broadband. This equates to 210,000 premises, 21,000 of which are businesses. By the end of the year, with enough fibre optic cable to circle the globe three times 95% of Cornwall will have access to superfast.
What makes the project even more innovative is that alongside the normal superfast broadband being installed there is a further roll out of an even more advanced system that gives people even greater speeds, known as fibre to the premises or FTTP. Cornwall is now home to half of all the households in the country that have this cutting edge technology which increases internet speeds by up to forty times what we now experience. That's worth repeating: half of all the homes in the UK that have fibre to the premises can be found in Cornwall.
This is really positive news, and whilst I know some people are concerned that their house or business is not yet covered it is reassuring that the vast majority will finally have access by the end of the year. For the last remaining 5% where it is too difficult, the provider is going to make sure they will still see a boost in speeds using alternative methods such as advanced copper wiring or satellite. It is important this is done properly because I want to see every home; even those in the most remote areas see a difference from this investment.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Cornwall has so much beauty that many entrepreneurs actually want to set up their business here provided they have the right infrastructure. A couple of months ago I visited Head-Forwards Software which is one of a number of new computer software companies that are bringing new jobs to this part of Cornwall. Evidence suggests that almost 90 percent of the economic benefits of investment in broadband flow to areas outside the South East and the Home Counties. That makes a change and it is why investment in digital infrastructure is one of the best regional policies you can have.
The project to install Superfast Broadband across Cornwall is moving to its final stages. By end of this year they hope to reach their target of 95% of businesses and homes connected. Much progress has been made with over 80% of Cornwall now having access to fibre broadband. This equates to 210,000 premises, 21,000 of which are businesses. By the end of the year, with enough fibre optic cable to circle the globe three times 95% of Cornwall will have access to superfast.
What makes the project even more innovative is that alongside the normal superfast broadband being installed there is a further roll out of an even more advanced system that gives people even greater speeds, known as fibre to the premises or FTTP. Cornwall is now home to half of all the households in the country that have this cutting edge technology which increases internet speeds by up to forty times what we now experience. That's worth repeating: half of all the homes in the UK that have fibre to the premises can be found in Cornwall.
This is really positive news, and whilst I know some people are concerned that their house or business is not yet covered it is reassuring that the vast majority will finally have access by the end of the year. For the last remaining 5% where it is too difficult, the provider is going to make sure they will still see a boost in speeds using alternative methods such as advanced copper wiring or satellite. It is important this is done properly because I want to see every home; even those in the most remote areas see a difference from this investment.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Thursday, 23 January 2014
THE MINIMUM WAGE
As each month goes by, there is growing evidence that the economy has turned a corner. Growth is predicted at 2.4 percent. There have been 400,000 new businesses created since 2010 and over 1 million new jobs. Unemployment is falling and now stands at its lowest rate since 2009. In Camborne and Redruth, unemployment is at 3.3%, lower than the national average.
One of the main priorities for the government has been to make work pay again. I have met too many people who say that if they work more than, say 16 hours a week, they lose more in benefits than they would gain in wages. We have to reform the benefits system so that it always pays to work longer hours. The new Universal Credit will have a tapered system so that you avoid sudden drops in benefit entitlements and by placing a cap on the maximum amount any one household can claim in benefits and reducing benefits like Housing Benefit, you increase the incentive to work.
However, the other side of the equation is trying to raise the income on those who are low paid and on the minimum wage. At the moment almost one and a half million people receive the minimum wage which is set at £6.31 per hour. Those who are at the lowest end of the pay spectrum have also had to grapple with the spiralling inflation left behind by the last Labour government. Inflation is now decreasing but the previously high rate has meant that even though there has been a strengthening of our national economy in real terms this hasn’t been allowed to really hit home and find its way into people’s pockets.
At the end of last week George Osborne said that it was time to consider increasing the national minimum wage because the returning strength to our economy means an increase can now be afforded. It's a difficult to get the balance right in a place like Cornwall. On the one hand, we know if we want to make work pay and help those on the minimum wage, we should be trying to increase the pay of those at the bottom. On the other hand we have a larger number of small businesses who are themselves struggling and we don't want to make it harder for them to take people on and create new jobs.
Both George Osborne and the Low Pay Commission, who advise the government on the minimum wage, have signalled that the rate should stand at £7 an hour which would be slightly above the rate of inflation and would see the wage return to its proper value before the recession hit. This will be a welcome boost in income for those on the minimum wage and should also increase the incentive to get off benefits and get into work.
One of the main priorities for the government has been to make work pay again. I have met too many people who say that if they work more than, say 16 hours a week, they lose more in benefits than they would gain in wages. We have to reform the benefits system so that it always pays to work longer hours. The new Universal Credit will have a tapered system so that you avoid sudden drops in benefit entitlements and by placing a cap on the maximum amount any one household can claim in benefits and reducing benefits like Housing Benefit, you increase the incentive to work.
However, the other side of the equation is trying to raise the income on those who are low paid and on the minimum wage. At the moment almost one and a half million people receive the minimum wage which is set at £6.31 per hour. Those who are at the lowest end of the pay spectrum have also had to grapple with the spiralling inflation left behind by the last Labour government. Inflation is now decreasing but the previously high rate has meant that even though there has been a strengthening of our national economy in real terms this hasn’t been allowed to really hit home and find its way into people’s pockets.
At the end of last week George Osborne said that it was time to consider increasing the national minimum wage because the returning strength to our economy means an increase can now be afforded. It's a difficult to get the balance right in a place like Cornwall. On the one hand, we know if we want to make work pay and help those on the minimum wage, we should be trying to increase the pay of those at the bottom. On the other hand we have a larger number of small businesses who are themselves struggling and we don't want to make it harder for them to take people on and create new jobs.
Both George Osborne and the Low Pay Commission, who advise the government on the minimum wage, have signalled that the rate should stand at £7 an hour which would be slightly above the rate of inflation and would see the wage return to its proper value before the recession hit. This will be a welcome boost in income for those on the minimum wage and should also increase the incentive to get off benefits and get into work.
Monday, 20 January 2014
Compassion and Charity in CPR
I have always hated the way some people talk down my home towns. Camborne, Redruth and Hayle have undoubtedly had their share of knocks in recent decades but this is also the part of Cornwall where the work gets done and where stuff gets made. There is real talent here, we can hold our own against any other urban centre in the country and we have an amazing industrial heritage to be proud of.
So I was very annoyed to read a recent article written for the Guardian newspaper by an academic who basically set out to trash our area and claim, extraordinarily, that there was a lack of small local charities. What makes it especially irritating is that I met the author, James Mumford, a year ago because he contacted me about his project. I gave him a whole list of excellent charitable organisations all doing their bit and encouraged him to see their work.
The community at Pengegon he cited is rightly proud of what has been achieved in recent years with antisocial behaviour down dramatically and a strong community spirit. I attended the community fun day last August organised by Claire Arymar and the atmosphere was great. Andy Richards, the local PCSO not only polices the area but runs football and basketball teams for younger residents in his spare time and he and the other members of the neighbourhood policing team have become highly respected.
If he had taken my advice, the author could have visited groups like Home Start, where volunteers offer practical support in the home for struggling parents. He could have visited WILD which supports girls trying to cope with the responsibilities of motherhood. He could have visited Young Mums Will Achieve which raises aspiration among single mothers. He could have visited charities like CN4C, the Redruth North Partnership or the All Saints Community Centre at Tuckingmill which each in turn host many vibrant social enterprises and charities on the front line. He could have visited some of the food banks run by volunteers from our churches. He could have visited great charities like Penhaligon's Friends where volunteers support children who have suffered bereavement. Or he could have visited small youth groups like Searchlight where he would find local children, who haven't got much for themselves, regularly donating some of their modest pocket money to help less fortunate children in developing countries. This part of Cornwall doesn't need lectures on charity.
As for his comments about our schools, I have visited over thirty schools in the Camborne and Redruth area in the last couple of years. Many have opted to become academies and standards are rising with interventions to ensure primary school children learn to read and write and with new school uniforms and a renewed focus on maths, science and languages in all our secondary schools. We can be proud of our schools and the next generation coming through.
The main argument of the article was that small charities have an important role to play in helping to get communities back on their feet. I don't disagree with that. However, there is another factor that holds some parts of the country back: low self esteem. I want to see our towns get their confidence back because we can beat the best of the rest and what we don’t need are people only expressing defeatist and negative sentiments about our area.
So I was very annoyed to read a recent article written for the Guardian newspaper by an academic who basically set out to trash our area and claim, extraordinarily, that there was a lack of small local charities. What makes it especially irritating is that I met the author, James Mumford, a year ago because he contacted me about his project. I gave him a whole list of excellent charitable organisations all doing their bit and encouraged him to see their work.
The community at Pengegon he cited is rightly proud of what has been achieved in recent years with antisocial behaviour down dramatically and a strong community spirit. I attended the community fun day last August organised by Claire Arymar and the atmosphere was great. Andy Richards, the local PCSO not only polices the area but runs football and basketball teams for younger residents in his spare time and he and the other members of the neighbourhood policing team have become highly respected.
If he had taken my advice, the author could have visited groups like Home Start, where volunteers offer practical support in the home for struggling parents. He could have visited WILD which supports girls trying to cope with the responsibilities of motherhood. He could have visited Young Mums Will Achieve which raises aspiration among single mothers. He could have visited charities like CN4C, the Redruth North Partnership or the All Saints Community Centre at Tuckingmill which each in turn host many vibrant social enterprises and charities on the front line. He could have visited some of the food banks run by volunteers from our churches. He could have visited great charities like Penhaligon's Friends where volunteers support children who have suffered bereavement. Or he could have visited small youth groups like Searchlight where he would find local children, who haven't got much for themselves, regularly donating some of their modest pocket money to help less fortunate children in developing countries. This part of Cornwall doesn't need lectures on charity.
As for his comments about our schools, I have visited over thirty schools in the Camborne and Redruth area in the last couple of years. Many have opted to become academies and standards are rising with interventions to ensure primary school children learn to read and write and with new school uniforms and a renewed focus on maths, science and languages in all our secondary schools. We can be proud of our schools and the next generation coming through.
The main argument of the article was that small charities have an important role to play in helping to get communities back on their feet. I don't disagree with that. However, there is another factor that holds some parts of the country back: low self esteem. I want to see our towns get their confidence back because we can beat the best of the rest and what we don’t need are people only expressing defeatist and negative sentiments about our area.
Monday, 13 January 2014
The Triple Lock
Over the weekend David Cameron made a really important pledge to continue the ‘triple lock’ protection for pensions if the Conservatives win the next election. This promise was one of the key Conservative manifesto commitments during the election almost three years ago and an election victory would mean it would continue to at least 2020. I think this pledge is really important because the idea is straightforward and because it offers huge peace of mind to people drawing pensions up and down the country and especially in Cornwall.
The ‘triple lock’ is simple. It ensures that state pension pay rises by whichever is higher out of inflation, wages or 2.5%. It also protects the state pension from variation in the economy, because it doesn’t attach payments in any way to average earnings which can fluctuate all the time. By April this year, the basic state pension will be £440 a year more than if it had been pegged to average earnings from 2011 onwards. That is a substantial amount and a huge help in what has been difficult economic times.
I think the ‘triple lock’ has been a success for the Government and this pledge offers some reassurance for those in retirement. Our pensioners are people who have contributed a huge amount to society and have been sensible in saving money for the future. After a life of hard work and supporting their families, they deserve a dignified old age without financial worry and a pension that provides some security for them. When I meet either groups of older people or individuals I am often reminded of how their pension offers a real lifeline and the capacity for independence which could otherwise be lost.
Some people are critical of the policy and say that pensioners should face cuts too but I think that ignores the fact that people have contributed all their lives. It is strange to criticise a protection for those who have already done their bit.
However, helping provide a little more security for pensioners doesn't negate the need for us to help the next generation too. In many ways it is a difficult time for school leavers who have to contribute more to their university education and young families who find it hard to raise the deposit to buy their first home. It is why schemes like the Help to Buy initiative to help people with their deposit are so important and why we must do more to encourage apprenticeships to give school leavers a good start. This weekend I will be attending the launch of a great initiative from Truro College that wants to encourage business to employ more apprentices throughout Cornwall and is just one example of the important steps being taken to support those just starting their working lives.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Monday, 16 December 2013
AUTUMN STATEMENT
A lot has been achieved but there is still a lot more to be getting on with. That is the message the Chancellor delivered last week in his Autumn Statement to the House of Commons. I think George Osborne is right to be positive, with original growth figures upgraded to 2.4% for next year it is clear the economy is turning a corner and it is also clear his plan is the right one. We need to continue on the path of cutting our deficit and stimulating growth so that we can balance the books and after five years we could even be running a surplus. I also think that no one is saying this news allows us to rest on our laurels. There is still a long way to go and we still need to provide the right incentives to keep growth going.
There was some good news for Cornwall with the announcement firstly of the fuel price freeze next year. I believe this will be welcomed by many, because people in our part of the world cannot necessarily always use public transport for getting to work and rely on their car which can become really expensive. Cornish Business can also struggle because of their distance from markets and associated transport costs. I have often argued that this needs to be taken into account. The fuel price freeze is important in keeping the costs of living down and I know many families will be pleased with this commitment.
We also need to help our young people find that first job and there was a range of measures announced that will encourage that. When I visit schools in our area and Cornwall College I am always struck by a real culture of striving to achieve excellence and over the past few years I have been really impressed by the young people I meet. They deserve all the help they can get when it comes to moving on and the Government’s move to scrap employers’ National Insurance contributions for under 21’s is a step in the right direction. The Jobcentre will also do more to help sixteen to eighteen year olds find a suitable apprenticeship or traineeship if they are not in work..
There is also some good news for our shops and the High Street with help for those struggling with burdensome business rates. As of next year a business will have up to a one thousand allowance if they have a rateable value of fifty thousand or less and the planned rate rise will be capped and less than originally planned. I often hear of these rates causing concern and this relief is crucial. Overall, we need to make sure that with everyone talking about a recovery this is felt in people’s pockets.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
There was some good news for Cornwall with the announcement firstly of the fuel price freeze next year. I believe this will be welcomed by many, because people in our part of the world cannot necessarily always use public transport for getting to work and rely on their car which can become really expensive. Cornish Business can also struggle because of their distance from markets and associated transport costs. I have often argued that this needs to be taken into account. The fuel price freeze is important in keeping the costs of living down and I know many families will be pleased with this commitment.
We also need to help our young people find that first job and there was a range of measures announced that will encourage that. When I visit schools in our area and Cornwall College I am always struck by a real culture of striving to achieve excellence and over the past few years I have been really impressed by the young people I meet. They deserve all the help they can get when it comes to moving on and the Government’s move to scrap employers’ National Insurance contributions for under 21’s is a step in the right direction. The Jobcentre will also do more to help sixteen to eighteen year olds find a suitable apprenticeship or traineeship if they are not in work..
There is also some good news for our shops and the High Street with help for those struggling with burdensome business rates. As of next year a business will have up to a one thousand allowance if they have a rateable value of fifty thousand or less and the planned rate rise will be capped and less than originally planned. I often hear of these rates causing concern and this relief is crucial. Overall, we need to make sure that with everyone talking about a recovery this is felt in people’s pockets.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Cost of Living
There was some great news for hard pressed bill-payers last week when South-West Water announced a price freeze for all households and businesses until April 2015. It will no doubt mean a sigh of relief for all those households in our area concerned about rising utility bills who now have at least some certainty in what to budget for water costs. As winter draws in and energy bills increase, I think this news should be welcomed and especially because it comes with a commitment from the water company to look at keeping prices below inflation all the way through to 2020.
Of course bills are still disproportionately high for households in Cornwall and this historic injustice comes from that fact South West Water looks after water quality over a vast coastline but deals with a relatively small population. That said the £50 rebate that was introduced in April this year has been a very welcome start and for the average Cornish household their bill actually fell this year by 7.3%. The price freeze announced last week is another step in the right direction.
Whilst water is important, we also need to look at other ways to cut the cost of living which everyone agrees is a top priority and when I am out knocking on doors in the constituency the subject is never far away. The scrapping of the fuel duty escalator by the government was vitally important for a county like Cornwall because many people who work cannot rely on public transport and have no option but to use their car and our businesses have to transport their goods hundreds of miles to market which is a major cost. Just filling up can be a worrying cost for families and I have always argued for fuel costs to be as low as possible.
When it comes to the cost of energy the government have also very recently announced a range of measures that will lead to a £50 cut in the average household bill which are coming into effect soon. The recent hikes in energy bills have caused a real shock and this cut is absolutely critical to help people deal with this extra burden. It is difficult because energy prices here are largely controlled by wholesale energy prices around the world but suppliers need to be transparent at how they can keep costs down and the government can work with them on this. Progress has been made but it is clear that for now and in the future new approaches need to be looked at.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032
Of course bills are still disproportionately high for households in Cornwall and this historic injustice comes from that fact South West Water looks after water quality over a vast coastline but deals with a relatively small population. That said the £50 rebate that was introduced in April this year has been a very welcome start and for the average Cornish household their bill actually fell this year by 7.3%. The price freeze announced last week is another step in the right direction.
Whilst water is important, we also need to look at other ways to cut the cost of living which everyone agrees is a top priority and when I am out knocking on doors in the constituency the subject is never far away. The scrapping of the fuel duty escalator by the government was vitally important for a county like Cornwall because many people who work cannot rely on public transport and have no option but to use their car and our businesses have to transport their goods hundreds of miles to market which is a major cost. Just filling up can be a worrying cost for families and I have always argued for fuel costs to be as low as possible.
When it comes to the cost of energy the government have also very recently announced a range of measures that will lead to a £50 cut in the average household bill which are coming into effect soon. The recent hikes in energy bills have caused a real shock and this cut is absolutely critical to help people deal with this extra burden. It is difficult because energy prices here are largely controlled by wholesale energy prices around the world but suppliers need to be transparent at how they can keep costs down and the government can work with them on this. Progress has been made but it is clear that for now and in the future new approaches need to be looked at.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032
Monday, 2 December 2013
The future is bright for Hayle
It is great to see that at long last developments on Hayle’s South Quay have finally begun. Residents won’t have failed to notice the site of construction workers and vehicles and their arrival marks a new phase in the revival of the town which promises to transform both the landscape and also the local economy. The project is going to totally redevelop a site which was left derelict for far too long and I know I am not alone in looking forward to watching the progress made and ultimately a new and vibrant harbour.
It has not always been plain sailing for those involved and what has at long last come about began with some considerable objections from English Heritage over the historical nature of the site. They wanted the owners, ING bank, to work more closely with architects specialising in historic renovation and although ING were happy to do this they still objected and referred the decision back up to the government inviting them to block the plans. With both Hayle Town Council and Cornwall Council endorsing the new scheme and a lot of local support, the Secretary of State rightly set aside the objections of English Heritage and did the right thing by giving these plans the green light.
We are now seeing the plans come to life and what makes them so unique is the proposal for a supermarket in the centre at the Foundry end of South Quay with restaurants and other mixed development on the rest of the quay. I think that out of town supermarkets can drain life away from the town centre and the plans for Hayle’s new Asda will bring new life into the town rather than bleed more life away as well as creating over two hundred local jobs. The South Quay proposal will be connected in the most literal sense possible to the rest of the town with a footbridge over the harbour to Biggleston’s, one of Hayle’s oldest shops. When Cornwall Council granted permission to ING, they also included an obligation for the bank to repair the harbour walls and deliver the necessary flood defences which will provide a great foundation for the development.
Looking ahead there are some other brilliant ideas in the pipeline that mean a bright future for the town. There are plans for a redeveloped East Quay to become a new facility that will expand the towns fishing industry. I have argued for a shuttle boat link between St Ives and Hayle and these are starting to move closer to fruition. I think it is clear Hayle is growing from strength to strength and there is every reason to be optimistic for its future.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Monday, 25 November 2013
Europe
Discussion about the EU is never far away in British politics, but over the past few weeks with the EU Referendum Bill currently being debated in Parliament it has found itself right in the political spotlight again. MPs will soon vote on whether we allow the public a say on our membership and it will be the first time the public are permitted a vote on the EU in almost forty years. It is actually a pretty historic moment and one which the Conservatives rightly deserve credit for.
I believe we need a fundamental renegotiation of Britain’s relationship with the EU because in certain areas it has become far too powerful and we need to see those powers returned to us. That said, after these negotiations we can also remain an enthusiastic and committed member of the single market which is best outcome for our economy.
There are plenty of naysayers out there who don’t believe the EU can change, and that its tentacles will continue to spread unless we leave outright. I don’t think that is inevitable at all and it is clear that although others countries, such as Germany, want further political and fiscal union they accept that Britain is in a different position and they want to work with us because ultimately they still need our signature on new treaties. To get negotiations right we need to do the right research and William Hague’s competency review into how exactly the EU works and how its laws affect our everyday life in Britain will do just that. It is a huge project that won’t end until next year but it will offer so much useful information at the negotiating table that we must wait for it to be completed.
In the meantime there is also much that can be done now that keeps national powers. Under the Lisbon Treaty, we have a right to opt in or out of EU directives and recently the government decided to opt out of 130 EU directives that Gordon Brown signed up to relating to justice and home affairs and then opted back in to just 35 of them. We have picked and chosen the ones that enhance these areas but left behind needless bureaucracy in others.
My new role in DEFRA also meant I recently announced a vital consultation on how EU agricultural subsidies will be paid from next year onwards which seeks to cut down even further on the red tape from Brussels and which gives our farmers a say in how they work. It is also proof that negotiation works in the EU because the greater flexibility on how we distribute the funds was a key part of the British strategy and we won that right. I believe we should be optimistic when approaching the EU and this bill is a key part of that.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
I believe we need a fundamental renegotiation of Britain’s relationship with the EU because in certain areas it has become far too powerful and we need to see those powers returned to us. That said, after these negotiations we can also remain an enthusiastic and committed member of the single market which is best outcome for our economy.
There are plenty of naysayers out there who don’t believe the EU can change, and that its tentacles will continue to spread unless we leave outright. I don’t think that is inevitable at all and it is clear that although others countries, such as Germany, want further political and fiscal union they accept that Britain is in a different position and they want to work with us because ultimately they still need our signature on new treaties. To get negotiations right we need to do the right research and William Hague’s competency review into how exactly the EU works and how its laws affect our everyday life in Britain will do just that. It is a huge project that won’t end until next year but it will offer so much useful information at the negotiating table that we must wait for it to be completed.
In the meantime there is also much that can be done now that keeps national powers. Under the Lisbon Treaty, we have a right to opt in or out of EU directives and recently the government decided to opt out of 130 EU directives that Gordon Brown signed up to relating to justice and home affairs and then opted back in to just 35 of them. We have picked and chosen the ones that enhance these areas but left behind needless bureaucracy in others.
My new role in DEFRA also meant I recently announced a vital consultation on how EU agricultural subsidies will be paid from next year onwards which seeks to cut down even further on the red tape from Brussels and which gives our farmers a say in how they work. It is also proof that negotiation works in the EU because the greater flexibility on how we distribute the funds was a key part of the British strategy and we won that right. I believe we should be optimistic when approaching the EU and this bill is a key part of that.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Thursday, 14 November 2013
Remembrance Sunday
Last weekend I attended Remembrance services at St Andrews Church in Redruth and also at Illogan in the afternoon. I have noticed in recent years how attendance at Remembrance Sunday services has grown and how there is often standing room only in the church. I am always struck by just how moving the services are and how much respect people rightly show at this time of year.
There was also a great turnout from the various different scout and cadet groups. It is great to see so many of the next generation showing such a commitment and doing their own bit to remember the sacrifices made by our armed forces personnel. The cadet and scout movements have gone from strength to strength in recent years. What they do need are more adult volunteers as they often have a backlog of young applicants but not enough leaders and more needs to be done to encourage adults to join.
We have been through a decade of conflict and there is no doubt in my mind that the difficult operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan have made the public far more conscious of sacrifices made by our armed forces. The wind down of operations in Afghanistan and the handover to the Afghan army is now well underway with a deadline set for the end of next year that will see all but a few of our troops withdrawn. Last year was a terrible one with a very high number of British casualties but the gradual handover of operations to the Afghan army has led to a substantial reduction in the number of servicemen killed in action over the past nine months. However each and every casualty is still a tragedy for the families left behind. After more than a decade, ending the conflict in Afghanistan will be a relief for all.
I think that the legacy of these conflicts will continue for years because of the extremely young and wounded soldiers they have left behind. We owe these people, who have given up so much at such a young age, all the support they need to help them build new, happy and long lives for themselves. Charities such as Help for Heroes, the Army Benevolent Fund and the Royal British Legion do just that and they have been integral to helping people recover not just from the physical but also mental difficulties that come from being exposed to war. I think their work is absolutely vital.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
There was also a great turnout from the various different scout and cadet groups. It is great to see so many of the next generation showing such a commitment and doing their own bit to remember the sacrifices made by our armed forces personnel. The cadet and scout movements have gone from strength to strength in recent years. What they do need are more adult volunteers as they often have a backlog of young applicants but not enough leaders and more needs to be done to encourage adults to join.
We have been through a decade of conflict and there is no doubt in my mind that the difficult operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan have made the public far more conscious of sacrifices made by our armed forces. The wind down of operations in Afghanistan and the handover to the Afghan army is now well underway with a deadline set for the end of next year that will see all but a few of our troops withdrawn. Last year was a terrible one with a very high number of British casualties but the gradual handover of operations to the Afghan army has led to a substantial reduction in the number of servicemen killed in action over the past nine months. However each and every casualty is still a tragedy for the families left behind. After more than a decade, ending the conflict in Afghanistan will be a relief for all.
I think that the legacy of these conflicts will continue for years because of the extremely young and wounded soldiers they have left behind. We owe these people, who have given up so much at such a young age, all the support they need to help them build new, happy and long lives for themselves. Charities such as Help for Heroes, the Army Benevolent Fund and the Royal British Legion do just that and they have been integral to helping people recover not just from the physical but also mental difficulties that come from being exposed to war. I think their work is absolutely vital.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Monday, 11 November 2013
Community Spirit
One of the advantages of being MP for Camborne and Redruth is that I am able to visit a huge amount of brilliant and vibrant charities and community groups throughout the constituency whose work is invaluable to so many. There is a diverse and skilled group of charitable organisations in this part of Cornwall who either specialise in certain issues or bring together different community services under one roof and their amazing work often goes unsung.
A few weeks ago I visited All Saints Community Centre is Camborne who do a fantastic job in providing a base for a range of voluntary organisations to operate from. There are groups for the elderly, who provide meals and a social setting which I think is vital and following recent news it is clear more needs to be done to stop the elder generation becoming lonely. There are also youth groups and a host of different activities such as Yoga and Zumba on offer for people of any age which have really taken off in recent years. The Centre provides office space for some important groups such as AA and there are various services on offer to help those who have been unemployed and need some basic literacy and numeracy training. I was lucky enough to attend the tenth anniversary of the Centre a couple of years ago and it was great to catch up with such an asset to the community. The work of its community development co-ordinator, Treve James, should be commended.
There are other community groups that make up a vibrant network throughout the area. This summer I popped in to the Pengegon Community fun day which growths from strength to strength. It is a great example of a local community getting together to change their neighbourhood for the better and the ongoing work at Pengegon has really paid off with local residents now taking great pride in their area. Whilst All Saint’s provides some great utilities in Camborne, the Elms in Redruth offer a similar service and are the base for Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change, or CN4C who do some fantastic work fostering social enterprise. There are also more specialist charities that offer a unique service such as Penhaligon’s Friends who offer crucial support to young people dealing with bereavement.
Tackling social breakdown and reviving our sense of community spirit is a difficult task but it is these groups who are at the fore. I believe strongly in the idea of the Big Society, but that also this idea of voluntary help in the community is nothing new and I have seen it all my life in Cornwall. What it does need is a committed group of volunteers and whilst the groups I meet are always on the lookout for more, we are fortunate to have some brilliant ones already.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
A few weeks ago I visited All Saints Community Centre is Camborne who do a fantastic job in providing a base for a range of voluntary organisations to operate from. There are groups for the elderly, who provide meals and a social setting which I think is vital and following recent news it is clear more needs to be done to stop the elder generation becoming lonely. There are also youth groups and a host of different activities such as Yoga and Zumba on offer for people of any age which have really taken off in recent years. The Centre provides office space for some important groups such as AA and there are various services on offer to help those who have been unemployed and need some basic literacy and numeracy training. I was lucky enough to attend the tenth anniversary of the Centre a couple of years ago and it was great to catch up with such an asset to the community. The work of its community development co-ordinator, Treve James, should be commended.
There are other community groups that make up a vibrant network throughout the area. This summer I popped in to the Pengegon Community fun day which growths from strength to strength. It is a great example of a local community getting together to change their neighbourhood for the better and the ongoing work at Pengegon has really paid off with local residents now taking great pride in their area. Whilst All Saint’s provides some great utilities in Camborne, the Elms in Redruth offer a similar service and are the base for Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change, or CN4C who do some fantastic work fostering social enterprise. There are also more specialist charities that offer a unique service such as Penhaligon’s Friends who offer crucial support to young people dealing with bereavement.
Tackling social breakdown and reviving our sense of community spirit is a difficult task but it is these groups who are at the fore. I believe strongly in the idea of the Big Society, but that also this idea of voluntary help in the community is nothing new and I have seen it all my life in Cornwall. What it does need is a committed group of volunteers and whilst the groups I meet are always on the lookout for more, we are fortunate to have some brilliant ones already.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
Monday, 4 November 2013
Revitalising our town centres.
I have always said that economic regeneration was my number one priority as an MP, and it is clear there are some exciting projects on the way that will bring much needed jobs and investments into our towns. Both Hayle Harbour and the Redruth Archive Centre are major schemes that will deliver local employment and transform the area. They will also bring new life into our towns rather than drain activity away to the outskirts.
It cannot be denied that the economic landscape of towns and cities has dramatically changed over the past twenty to thirty years and whilst out of town retail parks often provide an easy retail space for business, I still think our town centres have a vitally important role to play. We firstly need to get more innovative retail projects underway by redeveloping brownfield sites in the centre that can easily be turned into useful spaces for the larger and popular retail chains that will automatically increase footfall. I think that plans for South Quay in Hayle could provide a good example to follow.
We also need to look at the issue of business rates. I visit many small and medium sized businesses who take great pride in what they do and their shops mean so much to their customers but who still struggle to pay when it comes to rates. I think this can be a really difficult burden especially to those starting their own business. It is a brave decision and those who have taken a chance need all the help they can get. There are rate relief schemes offered by the Government which can be a great start and I think that longer term we should see if more can be done.
We also need our shops to work together to deliver a vibrant town centre and promote fresh ideas to get people back into town. In Camborne traders have got together to create a ‘Business Improvement District’, or BID, which does just that and when I have attended their meetings I am always struck by just how much they get done and their innovative ideas for the future. They have only been around for a year but during that time they have organised two months free parking in Trevithick Road car park, produced some really useful promotional guides on Camborne and developed the www.cambornecando.co.uk website alongside a load of other projects. Plans for the future include a music festival in November and some great produce markets on certain Fridays. I think where BID have got it right is looking at a range of options to revitalise the high street and with initiative our town centres will continue to have a bright future ahead.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
It cannot be denied that the economic landscape of towns and cities has dramatically changed over the past twenty to thirty years and whilst out of town retail parks often provide an easy retail space for business, I still think our town centres have a vitally important role to play. We firstly need to get more innovative retail projects underway by redeveloping brownfield sites in the centre that can easily be turned into useful spaces for the larger and popular retail chains that will automatically increase footfall. I think that plans for South Quay in Hayle could provide a good example to follow.
We also need to look at the issue of business rates. I visit many small and medium sized businesses who take great pride in what they do and their shops mean so much to their customers but who still struggle to pay when it comes to rates. I think this can be a really difficult burden especially to those starting their own business. It is a brave decision and those who have taken a chance need all the help they can get. There are rate relief schemes offered by the Government which can be a great start and I think that longer term we should see if more can be done.
We also need our shops to work together to deliver a vibrant town centre and promote fresh ideas to get people back into town. In Camborne traders have got together to create a ‘Business Improvement District’, or BID, which does just that and when I have attended their meetings I am always struck by just how much they get done and their innovative ideas for the future. They have only been around for a year but during that time they have organised two months free parking in Trevithick Road car park, produced some really useful promotional guides on Camborne and developed the www.cambornecando.co.uk website alongside a load of other projects. Plans for the future include a music festival in November and some great produce markets on certain Fridays. I think where BID have got it right is looking at a range of options to revitalise the high street and with initiative our town centres will continue to have a bright future ahead.
George Eustice can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk or 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8JD or by telephone on 020 72197032.
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