Monday, 18 March 2013
Banking reform
This week parliament discussed ways to prevent a future crisis in banking with the introduction of the Banking Reform Bill which will bring in new regulations to prevent the sort of risky behaviour which led to the banking crisis and contributed to the global recession which we have been grappling with for five years.
At the very heart of the new legislation is a requirement for banks to clearly separate into different legal entities their retail banking operations (that is to say the day to day banking on the high street) from their so called investment banking arms, which is often appropriately dubbed “casino banking” and has involved traders placing large bets on the financial markets using other people’s money as if it were their own.
There are a number of things we need to achieve to clean up the banking industry. Firstly, we need to end the situation where individual banks have become too big to fail. At the height of the credit crunch, most banking institutions were so huge, that the cost to the wider economy of letting them go bust was too high for governments to contemplate. We need to break the banking industry up so that, in future, there are many smaller banks fighting each other for customers, but where any one of them could go bust and it wouldn’t matter. That way, they would no longer be able to hold the taxpayer to ransom for their own mistakes.
Secondly, it is absolutely right to require the legal separation of retail banking from casino banking in law. The world of investment banking had grown completely out of control by the time of the financial crisis with toxic debt being bundled up and sold on to the next institution and then treated as if it were an asset against which to borrow and speculate even more. It became like a giant game of pass-the-parcel and the tax payer was left holding the debt when the music stopped. By forcing the legal separation of investment banking from retail banking, those of us working in the real economy could be insulated from the risks being taken by city traders because they would not be allowed to use the public’s savings to gamble as they were in the past.
Finally, we need to tackle the high pay culture in the banking industry. Some claim that you have to pay seven figure salaries to the top jobs in the city in order to get the best talent. The truth is that these grotesque pay packages are not actually driven by market forces at all but instead they represent a high pay culture that grew up in an era of false affluence. That era has now ended and so must the high pay culture that went with it.
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 March 2013
Freezing council tax was the right thing to do
Last week democracy prevailed at Cornwall Council with a decision to protect Cornish families by freezing council tax for a third consecutive year. When most people's incomes are frozen and bills for things like fuel are still rising, we must do everything we can to pin down those costs that are within our control. The move follows the success of an earlier Conservative motion to quash the planned rise in councillors’ allowances because it cannot be right to freeze wages for council employees but increase their own allowances.
Since the last election, the government has being pursuing policies to encourage prudence in county halls across the country. Firstly, there is now a requirement for councils to hold a referendum to get public consent for any rise over two percent. That's fair because it gives people a direct say in the council's budget.
The government has also offered additional cash to meet councils half way and help them deliver a freeze in council Tax. In the case of Cornwall, the government was offering an additional grant of £5 million if the council did its bit to identify savings of around £5 million which would deliver a freeze next year.
Accountants in the council argued that accepting the extra grant now might put them in a difficult position in a few years time because they might not win a referendum to put taxes back up. Rather than accept a £5 million bonus from government, they said they would rather just take an extra £10 million from Cornish families instead. That's not on. They even wanted to increase the size of the Council’s reserves which already stand at around £50 million. We all know that savings are something you put aside for a rainy day, but it is raining now. Many households in Cornwall will have found themselves needing to dip into their own savings to meet the pressures of hard times. It would have been wrong for the council to raid the piggy banks of Cornish families only to transfer the cash to their own piggy bank.
Now that a freeze in council tax has been delivered, councillors must plan to ensure that savings are delivered in the right way. One of the proposals from the Conservative group was to make major savings to the £5 million a year budget from the Chief Executives Department. It is also time to look afresh at the possibility of making savings by working together with other public services like the NHS and the police. Last year when such proposals were put forward they were unfairly attacked as "privatisation" which was nonsense. The council should be encouraged to work with other public services so that, together, we can share costs and find efficiencies without having to cut services.
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, 28 February 2013
The invisible danger of Carbon Monoxide
The tragic deaths of Mr and Mrs Cook and their daughter, Maureen, at Tremarle Park last weekend is a terrible reminder of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning coming from faulty gas appliances.
Carbon Monoxide is invisible and odourless so impossible to detect without an alarm which can be bought for around £15 from DIY stores. The early symptoms are dizziness, nausea, headaches and breathlessness which can often be mistaken as the symptoms of flu or a heavy cold during winter. However, those who suffer such symptoms while at home but not when out should urgently check their gas appliances and visit their doctor.
The poisonous gas is most commonly generated by the incomplete burning of gas but can also be generated by problems with chimneys or by other types of fuel. Telling signs of the incomplete burning of gas include when the flame burns orange or yellow rather than a crisp blue and when pilot lights go out repeatedly.
There seems to be a huge emphasis placed on awareness campaigns to encourage people to fit fire alarms in their properties but nowhere near the same focus on the hazards of carbon monoxide. Given that it is an invisible and potentially fatal threat which, in some instances, can make someone unconscious within minutes, I think more should be done to highlight the dangers.
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.
Link Road given full approval
Last week saw the final confirmation that the government has given full approval to fund the plans to build the new east-west link road at Tuckingmill meaning that work can now begin and is likely to be well underway by early summer. I have received numerous letters from people who point out that there is always congestion at the junction since it was “improved” with additional lanes a couple of years ago. That is because the junction was designed to accommodate the new road which will become the main route from Camborne to Pool and take most of the traffic off East Hill. The completion of the job means that the junction at the top of East Hill might finally work as intended.
Clearing all the various hurdles to get this project underway has been a long running saga that has occupied much of my time since being elected almost three years ago. I have always backed the plan because it will unlock the potential of derelict mining land in the area, allow new industrial units to be built to attract new industries and also clear the way for the proposed Tuckingmill Urban Village. It has been estimated that the road could stimulate the creation of 6000 jobs over the next twenty years with half of them in the next decade and these are much needed jobs in our area.
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.
Clearing all the various hurdles to get this project underway has been a long running saga that has occupied much of my time since being elected almost three years ago. I have always backed the plan because it will unlock the potential of derelict mining land in the area, allow new industrial units to be built to attract new industries and also clear the way for the proposed Tuckingmill Urban Village. It has been estimated that the road could stimulate the creation of 6000 jobs over the next twenty years with half of them in the next decade and these are much needed jobs in our area.
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, 21 February 2013
Leisure centre redevelopment is an opportunity we must get right.
Like many people who grew up in this part of Cornwall, I have lots of fond memories of Carn Brea Leisure Centre which has been an essential asset to the community for the best part of forty years. I remember attending many a children’s party where we went swimming and finished with bangers and mash in the cafe. As a former member of Cornwall Athletic Club I used to use the athletics track or sports hall every week.
The Leisure Centre was threatened with closure about ten years ago and there was a passionate local campaign to save it for the community which resulted in the existing Carn Brea Leisure Trust taking over the facility from the local council. It has been a great success and is often held up as a model that other leisure centres elsewhere in the county should follow. For all these reasons, I am taking a great deal of interest in proposals from two potential companies to redevelop the site.
I think there are a number of principles we should apply. First, we should recognise the proposals as an opportunity rather than a threat. It is an opportunity to secure millions of pounds of new investment to complete the transformation of the Pool area with plans for a new retail centre that could attract destination names such as Next and M&S. It is also an opportunity to completely rebuild a new leisure centre and a brand new athletics track. It would add momentum to regeneration of Camborne, Pool and Redruth which is now taking shape.
However, to make the most of this opportunity we need to use the proceeds of any deal on the right priorities. Firstly, we need to make sure that a new athletics track is built to replace the existing one. The track at Carn Brea is the only eight lane track in Cornwall and is the most used. Cornwall Athletics Club is going from strength to strength and new clubs like Carn Runners and Hayle Runners are also growing and make regular use of the track. I favour the idea of doing something jointly with Camborne Academy and Camborne Rugby Club which might benefit all parties.
Secondly, we must seize the chance to build a brand new leisure centre rather than simply refurbish the existing one. The current building has seen better days and needs a new roof and the swimming pool is once again in need of investment. Opportunities to deliver a full rebuild of a new leisure centre don’t come around very often so we must rigourously test the current assumption that a refurbishment is all that can be afforded. The proceeds of any land sale in Camborne and Redruth ought to be reinvested in the area.
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 Leisure Centre was threatened with closure about ten years ago and there was a passionate local campaign to save it for the community which resulted in the existing Carn Brea Leisure Trust taking over the facility from the local council. It has been a great success and is often held up as a model that other leisure centres elsewhere in the county should follow. For all these reasons, I am taking a great deal of interest in proposals from two potential companies to redevelop the site.
I think there are a number of principles we should apply. First, we should recognise the proposals as an opportunity rather than a threat. It is an opportunity to secure millions of pounds of new investment to complete the transformation of the Pool area with plans for a new retail centre that could attract destination names such as Next and M&S. It is also an opportunity to completely rebuild a new leisure centre and a brand new athletics track. It would add momentum to regeneration of Camborne, Pool and Redruth which is now taking shape.
However, to make the most of this opportunity we need to use the proceeds of any deal on the right priorities. Firstly, we need to make sure that a new athletics track is built to replace the existing one. The track at Carn Brea is the only eight lane track in Cornwall and is the most used. Cornwall Athletics Club is going from strength to strength and new clubs like Carn Runners and Hayle Runners are also growing and make regular use of the track. I favour the idea of doing something jointly with Camborne Academy and Camborne Rugby Club which might benefit all parties.
Secondly, we must seize the chance to build a brand new leisure centre rather than simply refurbish the existing one. The current building has seen better days and needs a new roof and the swimming pool is once again in need of investment. Opportunities to deliver a full rebuild of a new leisure centre don’t come around very often so we must rigourously test the current assumption that a refurbishment is all that can be afforded. The proceeds of any land sale in Camborne and Redruth ought to be reinvested in the area.
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 February 2013
Care in old age...
There are sometimes contentious and difficult long term challenges that governments must face up to even though delay and postponement feels a lot easier. Working out how we fund care in old age is one of those issues. It has been talked about for many years but previous governments have always been reluctant to act.
By 2030, the number of people aged over 85 will double, and the number of people with dementia will exceed one million. As the number of older people with such long term conditions increases, we need to become a society where people prepare and plan for their social care costs as much as they prepare and plan for their pension.
Earlier this week, the government announced a new package of support for the elderly to help them pay for their long-term care costs. At the moment, many older people and people with disabilities face paying the limitless, often ruinous costs of their care with little or no assistance from the state. While those with assets of less than £23,250 do receive support, those with assets above this level receive nothing at all.
This is desperately unfair, particularly for those who have worked hard all their lives to pay off their mortgage, to save for their future or to have something to pass on to their loved ones – only to see their property sold and their savings wiped out and it happens to more than 30,000 people a year. The current system doesn’t exactly encourage people to provide for themselves or save for their retirement.
The crucial part of the new package is a huge increase in the threshold of savings below which the government will help to fund the cost of care. The Government will step in earlier to pay a proportion of residential care costs, with the threshold more than quadrupled – from £23,250 to £123,000. This will still help those of modest means the most but will also ensure that those who have saved for their old age get some support. There will also be a new maximum cap of £75,000 that any individual would have to pay in old age. This will encourage the development of affordable insurance schemes which some people might opt in to in order to protect their savings.
The new approach is expected to directly benefit an extra 100,000 people who would not receive support under the current system but the vast majority of state support will be provided to the 40% of older people with the lowest income and wealth. The plans are a welcome step towards giving people some peace of mind about the cost of care in old age.
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.
By 2030, the number of people aged over 85 will double, and the number of people with dementia will exceed one million. As the number of older people with such long term conditions increases, we need to become a society where people prepare and plan for their social care costs as much as they prepare and plan for their pension.
Earlier this week, the government announced a new package of support for the elderly to help them pay for their long-term care costs. At the moment, many older people and people with disabilities face paying the limitless, often ruinous costs of their care with little or no assistance from the state. While those with assets of less than £23,250 do receive support, those with assets above this level receive nothing at all.
This is desperately unfair, particularly for those who have worked hard all their lives to pay off their mortgage, to save for their future or to have something to pass on to their loved ones – only to see their property sold and their savings wiped out and it happens to more than 30,000 people a year. The current system doesn’t exactly encourage people to provide for themselves or save for their retirement.
The crucial part of the new package is a huge increase in the threshold of savings below which the government will help to fund the cost of care. The Government will step in earlier to pay a proportion of residential care costs, with the threshold more than quadrupled – from £23,250 to £123,000. This will still help those of modest means the most but will also ensure that those who have saved for their old age get some support. There will also be a new maximum cap of £75,000 that any individual would have to pay in old age. This will encourage the development of affordable insurance schemes which some people might opt in to in order to protect their savings.
The new approach is expected to directly benefit an extra 100,000 people who would not receive support under the current system but the vast majority of state support will be provided to the 40% of older people with the lowest income and wealth. The plans are a welcome step towards giving people some peace of mind about the cost of care in old age.
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.
Friday, 8 February 2013
Water Bill relief on its way
For as long as I can remember, the high level of water charges here in Cornwall has been an issue. The combination of a large coastline to maintain, the need for higher than expected investment after privatisation and a low population among whom to share the burden of that investment all combined to create the highest water bills in the country.
This week, South Water confirmed that, from this April, every household will get a £50 rebate on their bill which, for the average household means a cut of around 7.3%. Bills will still be high but, at a time when everything else seems to be going up, it is good that at least one bill will definitely be going down. 700,000 households in Devon and Cornwall will benefit from the discount and a further 13,000 customers are expected to see their bills fall dramatically by over £300 as a result of switching to a water meter. The evidence is clear that most households, particularly those living alone or with smaller families, can save a lot of money each year if they switch to a water meter.
Making a significant dent in water charges was one of the things I wanted to see delivered by the coalition government when we got elected. For years, people had talked about the problem but I thought it was time to come up with a solution. As a candidate, I had worked closely with the Conservative Party to try to devise a new form of social tariff which would disproportionately help Cornwall and some of these ideas filtered into government thinking.
The fact that every MP in Cornwall is a member of one of the two governing parties was an opportunity to really deliver the change that some said could never be achieved. While I have had plenty of differences with my Liberal Democrat colleagues over the last couple of years, we all worked together to persuade the government to act on this issue. In all the years when the last government was spending money like there was no tomorrow, they still didn’t do anything to help us with our water bills and I think George Osborne deserves credit for finding the funds to deliver a £50 discount when we all know money is tight.
I recognise that many people will still struggle with their water bills despite this cut but there are other ways they might be able to get even more savings. As well as considering a switch to a water meter South West Water also offer something called a “WaterSure” tariff which is a special discount for those with 3 or more children who are on low incomes and receiving some benefits. To find out more look at their website or give them a call on 0800 1691133.
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.
This week, South Water confirmed that, from this April, every household will get a £50 rebate on their bill which, for the average household means a cut of around 7.3%. Bills will still be high but, at a time when everything else seems to be going up, it is good that at least one bill will definitely be going down. 700,000 households in Devon and Cornwall will benefit from the discount and a further 13,000 customers are expected to see their bills fall dramatically by over £300 as a result of switching to a water meter. The evidence is clear that most households, particularly those living alone or with smaller families, can save a lot of money each year if they switch to a water meter.
Making a significant dent in water charges was one of the things I wanted to see delivered by the coalition government when we got elected. For years, people had talked about the problem but I thought it was time to come up with a solution. As a candidate, I had worked closely with the Conservative Party to try to devise a new form of social tariff which would disproportionately help Cornwall and some of these ideas filtered into government thinking.
The fact that every MP in Cornwall is a member of one of the two governing parties was an opportunity to really deliver the change that some said could never be achieved. While I have had plenty of differences with my Liberal Democrat colleagues over the last couple of years, we all worked together to persuade the government to act on this issue. In all the years when the last government was spending money like there was no tomorrow, they still didn’t do anything to help us with our water bills and I think George Osborne deserves credit for finding the funds to deliver a £50 discount when we all know money is tight.
I recognise that many people will still struggle with their water bills despite this cut but there are other ways they might be able to get even more savings. As well as considering a switch to a water meter South West Water also offer something called a “WaterSure” tariff which is a special discount for those with 3 or more children who are on low incomes and receiving some benefits. To find out more look at their website or give them a call on 0800 1691133.
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, 31 January 2013
Constituency investment.
This week’s figures showing that growth in the economy has faltered again is a reminder that the road to economic recovery is not going to be an easy one and other countries such as the United States and across Europe are facing the same challenges.
The lesson from past recessions is that the best approach lies in a combination of living within your means and spending money carefully so that mortgage rates can be kept very low, but also trying to protect or increase spending on capital investment and infrastructure projects to create jobs in the short term and increase competitiveness in the longer term. That is why last year, the government announced further spending for infrastructure projects and increased the tax incentives for businesses to invest in new equipment that would make them more competitive.
Locally, my main focus over the last two and a half years has been on trying to secure investment for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle to get the local economy moving. With the help of a government grant, work is now well underway on North Quay in Hayle with a new marine business park about to be built and, following a successful outcome to the long, drawn out discussion about where we should locate any new supermarket in Hayle, this spring we should see work commence on repairing South Quay too with a mixture of new retail space and homes and a new foot bridge to link the quay to Penpol Terrace.
Pool has already been transformed by the completion of Heartlands last year and early this summer, again after years of wrangling and a lot of hard work to secure government funding, we should see construction begin on the new £25 million link road at Tuckingmill which will open up the potential of all the derelict mining land in that part of Camborne and allow the building of the proposed Tuckingmill Urban Village and new industrial space to create jobs.
Last week I had a meeting with representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund to hear about some of the projects they have supported in this area but, most important of all, to discuss the possibility of getting some large scale funding to help take forward plans to build the new Cornwall Archive in Redruth on the site of the old brewery which has been derelict for over twenty years. Competition for funds is high with around £140 million worth of projects chasing a fund of just £50 million but I think our town has a powerful bid. The facility will celebrate Cornwall’s heritage and bring together many historic manuscripts and research resources in one place. It will restore many of the old buildings around the brewery and regenerate the whole town. April will be decision time so fingers crossed!
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 lesson from past recessions is that the best approach lies in a combination of living within your means and spending money carefully so that mortgage rates can be kept very low, but also trying to protect or increase spending on capital investment and infrastructure projects to create jobs in the short term and increase competitiveness in the longer term. That is why last year, the government announced further spending for infrastructure projects and increased the tax incentives for businesses to invest in new equipment that would make them more competitive.
Locally, my main focus over the last two and a half years has been on trying to secure investment for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle to get the local economy moving. With the help of a government grant, work is now well underway on North Quay in Hayle with a new marine business park about to be built and, following a successful outcome to the long, drawn out discussion about where we should locate any new supermarket in Hayle, this spring we should see work commence on repairing South Quay too with a mixture of new retail space and homes and a new foot bridge to link the quay to Penpol Terrace.
Pool has already been transformed by the completion of Heartlands last year and early this summer, again after years of wrangling and a lot of hard work to secure government funding, we should see construction begin on the new £25 million link road at Tuckingmill which will open up the potential of all the derelict mining land in that part of Camborne and allow the building of the proposed Tuckingmill Urban Village and new industrial space to create jobs.
Last week I had a meeting with representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund to hear about some of the projects they have supported in this area but, most important of all, to discuss the possibility of getting some large scale funding to help take forward plans to build the new Cornwall Archive in Redruth on the site of the old brewery which has been derelict for over twenty years. Competition for funds is high with around £140 million worth of projects chasing a fund of just £50 million but I think our town has a powerful bid. The facility will celebrate Cornwall’s heritage and bring together many historic manuscripts and research resources in one place. It will restore many of the old buildings around the brewery and regenerate the whole town. April will be decision time so fingers crossed!
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, 24 January 2013
Holding down the cost of living...
The biggest challenge facing families in Cornwall is the cost of living. We all know that there is no money around, public spending is under huge pressure and people are not seeing their wages go up. That is why we have to do everything we can to try to drive down the cost of living.
I was one of the MPs who argued that fuel duty should be frozen and then cut as soon as possible. In a rural peninsula like Cornwall, people are dependent on their cars to get to work and we need to recognise that fact. I was pleased the government abolished the so called “fuel duty escalator” so that prices at the pumps are now 10p lower than they would otherwise have been, but we need to keep up the pressure.
Another longstanding challenge in Cornwall is the high cost of water bills. Again, I lobbied the government to get change and progress has been made towards addressing this unfairness with the introduction of a new rebate of £50 per household due to take effect later this year. There will also be additional forms of discounted tariff for those on very low incomes. It’s not perfect, but things are moving in the right direction.
Electricity and gas bills also put pressure on household budgets and I want to see far greater transparency from energy companies about what they are charging their customers. All too often, gas prices are fast to rise but slow to fall when there are changes in the wholesale price. That is not good enough and the Office of Fair Trading should investigate. Likewise, David Cameron was right to say that we should legislate to ensure that electricity companies are required to offer their customers their cheapest tariff because sometimes the different options on offer are so complicated and change so often that people who are busy can’t keep up with it all and end up ripped off.
This week there was a debate in parliament about reinstating the 10p tax band for those on low incomes. This was something abolished by Gordon Brown in 2008 which was a mistake. The government has made a start by raising the threshold before people start paying any tax but I want the 10p tax rate back too.
Finally, we need to keep the freeze on Council Tax. Over the last three years, the government has helped those councils who freeze council tax by meeting them half way on the cost. Cornwall Council has taken it up in the last two years and should do so again. I know that it puts their own budget under a strain, but what about the budgets of those who have pay their council tax?
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, 17 January 2013
A lot done, a lot more to do...
Last week the government published its mid-term review which was a sort of progress report. Areas where progress had been made included cutting the deficit, giving more independence to schools and reforming the welfare system so that work is rewarded. However, it also highlighted some major challenges still to be addressed such as increasing the state pension and finding a fair way of funding care for the elderly.
There is one other major issue that is important to this part of Cornwall and that is how we tackle the causes of poverty and improve the life chances of the next generation. At the last election I said that I had two major priorities locally. One was to deliver economic regeneration so that we have more and better paid jobs and there will be some very major regeneration projects from Hayle to Redruth starting this year. But we also need to take steps to ensure that those families currently trapped on benefits are given the confidence to take those new jobs and to benefit from that regeneration.
If we are serious about breaking the cycle of disadvantage and serious about giving children from poorer backgrounds the best possible start in life then we need to tackle the causes of disadvantage, not just treat the symptoms through the benefits system.
By the age of three, a toddler’s brain is already 80 percent formed and his or her experiences in those first few years will have influenced how their brain has grown and developed. The things that make a difference are a healthy pregnancy, a secure bonding between mother and child with plenty of love at home, clear boundaries and real attention to developing a child’s communication abilities through reading books and speaking to them.
The evidence is also clear that working parental role models also have an important part to play. Last November I spent a couple of hours at ‘Young Mums Will Achieve’ based at Cornwall College, which targets support at teenage mothers, to hear first hand some of the challenges they face. The project aims to help them back into training and to develop their skills and employment prospects and also provides a crèche at the college. A key part of the project is the peer support that the young mothers give one another.
They had prepared for our meeting in detail and we covered a wide range of problems they encountered including the lack of flexibility from some agencies and the often negative and sometimes abusive attitudes towards them from society which affected their self confidence. That’s a great shame because the young women I met wanted what was best for their children and if we want to break the cycle of poverty in this area, we should want them to succeed 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, 3 January 2013
After 40 years it is time for action on the EU
This week marked the 40th anniversary of Britain’s membership of the EU but there it is no cause for celebration, rather a debate about how we can knock the EU into shape in future. David Cameron will shortly deliver his long awaited speech on the future of the EU and, in the last week, there has been some movement from other EU leaders with recognition that there is no way Britain can agree to deeper political integration and that a new arrangement is, therefore, needed.
The first thing David Cameron needs to do in his speech is to untangle what negotiations can take place right now and in this parliament from those which must be postponed for another day and until after the next election. There are two major areas where the current coalition government (Lib Dems and all) will necessarily end up in a renegotiation with the EU. Firstly, the brinkmanship over delivering a real terms freeze to the EU budget which has been led by Britain is likely to continue well into the New Year. David Cameron must stand firm on this. We should not be making cuts in Britain only to give inflation busting budget increases to inept officials in the EU.
Secondly, the British government has already made clear that it will exercise a right it has under the Lisbon Treaty to axe 130 EU directives that Gordon Brown signed up to relating to justice and home affairs but will then seek to pick and choose those it wants to cooperate with and those which will be vetoed for good.
Many Conservatives, myself included, want to see a more fundamental renegotiation of Britain’s relationship with the EU with powers returned in many areas while we remain a committed member of the single market. But, because of the views of the Lib Dems, this more fundamental renegotiation has not been possible in this parliament. Ironically, the intervention of UKIP at the last General Election might have denied the country a Conservative majority and undermined the cause they claim to believe in.
David Cameron must now flesh out in more detail what a future renegotiation would look like and seek a mandate for that position at the next election. This could include taking powers back in areas such as social and employment policy, a looser relationship with the Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy and the return of regional policy which could mean we have more to spend on regeneration in Cornwall.
There is likely to be growing pressure for a new treaty to re-order the EU over the next eighteen months which could, finally, give Britain the new deal it has waited a long time for which could then be put to the country in a referendum.
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 first thing David Cameron needs to do in his speech is to untangle what negotiations can take place right now and in this parliament from those which must be postponed for another day and until after the next election. There are two major areas where the current coalition government (Lib Dems and all) will necessarily end up in a renegotiation with the EU. Firstly, the brinkmanship over delivering a real terms freeze to the EU budget which has been led by Britain is likely to continue well into the New Year. David Cameron must stand firm on this. We should not be making cuts in Britain only to give inflation busting budget increases to inept officials in the EU.
Secondly, the British government has already made clear that it will exercise a right it has under the Lisbon Treaty to axe 130 EU directives that Gordon Brown signed up to relating to justice and home affairs but will then seek to pick and choose those it wants to cooperate with and those which will be vetoed for good.
Many Conservatives, myself included, want to see a more fundamental renegotiation of Britain’s relationship with the EU with powers returned in many areas while we remain a committed member of the single market. But, because of the views of the Lib Dems, this more fundamental renegotiation has not been possible in this parliament. Ironically, the intervention of UKIP at the last General Election might have denied the country a Conservative majority and undermined the cause they claim to believe in.
David Cameron must now flesh out in more detail what a future renegotiation would look like and seek a mandate for that position at the next election. This could include taking powers back in areas such as social and employment policy, a looser relationship with the Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy and the return of regional policy which could mean we have more to spend on regeneration in Cornwall.
There is likely to be growing pressure for a new treaty to re-order the EU over the next eighteen months which could, finally, give Britain the new deal it has waited a long time for which could then be put to the country in a referendum.
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.
Christmas
As I write this column I have just finished signing the final batch of Christmas cards ready to catch the last post in order to (hopefully) make it before Christmas. The tradition of Christmas cards plays a vital role in keeping in touch with old friends and family. As we go through life, there are always old friends who we are in danger of losing touch with. Sometimes because they have moved away, changed their job or are preoccupied with family priorities. The annual Christmas card is often the final thread that prevents you from losing touch altogether, so time writing cards is time well spent.
This year, as in previous years, I enlisted the help of local primary schools in the area to design my Christmas card. Eleven schools entered and their work was outstanding. A few weeks ago, I met the three town mayors who together made up a judging panel. It was a really tough decision with so many strong entries. We certainly have many talented artists in this part of Cornwall!
The overall winner was 10 year old Willoe Miners from Gwinear Primary School for her colourful drawing of two robins hopping towards one another along a branch underneath some mistletoe. However, because the standard was so high we also had awards for some highly commended runner-ups: Fletcher Allen from Treleigh; Gemma Stevens from Rosemellin; Mae Jordan from Bodriggy; Keira Green from Penponds; Sophie Gollop from Trewirgie; Tallulah Halford from Constantine; Abigail Williams from Kennal Vale; Amber Gunn from Pennoweth and Megan Roberts from St John’s.
At this time of year we should also acknowledge the extra work we create for the Royal Mail with many millions of extra items of post to process in just a few short weeks in December and our postmen go out in the worst weather that a Cornish winter can throw at them in order to make sure that families and friends keep in touch and receive their Christmas cards on time.
2012 has been a bumpy year for the government and, as parliament prepares to close for Christmas, it is a chance to take stock. One of the challenges that every government faces is that bad news tends to float to the top while good news often sinks without trace. There have been successes: the deficit has been cut by a quarter with spending on wasteful consultants slashed; there have been important reforms to give schools more independence; the lowest paid have been taken out of tax altogether and unemployment has started to fall. But there is also no doubt that some mistakes were made and there is more to do. Next year, the government must build on its successes and prioritise the economy.
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.
This year, as in previous years, I enlisted the help of local primary schools in the area to design my Christmas card. Eleven schools entered and their work was outstanding. A few weeks ago, I met the three town mayors who together made up a judging panel. It was a really tough decision with so many strong entries. We certainly have many talented artists in this part of Cornwall!
The overall winner was 10 year old Willoe Miners from Gwinear Primary School for her colourful drawing of two robins hopping towards one another along a branch underneath some mistletoe. However, because the standard was so high we also had awards for some highly commended runner-ups: Fletcher Allen from Treleigh; Gemma Stevens from Rosemellin; Mae Jordan from Bodriggy; Keira Green from Penponds; Sophie Gollop from Trewirgie; Tallulah Halford from Constantine; Abigail Williams from Kennal Vale; Amber Gunn from Pennoweth and Megan Roberts from St John’s.
At this time of year we should also acknowledge the extra work we create for the Royal Mail with many millions of extra items of post to process in just a few short weeks in December and our postmen go out in the worst weather that a Cornish winter can throw at them in order to make sure that families and friends keep in touch and receive their Christmas cards on time.
2012 has been a bumpy year for the government and, as parliament prepares to close for Christmas, it is a chance to take stock. One of the challenges that every government faces is that bad news tends to float to the top while good news often sinks without trace. There have been successes: the deficit has been cut by a quarter with spending on wasteful consultants slashed; there have been important reforms to give schools more independence; the lowest paid have been taken out of tax altogether and unemployment has started to fall. But there is also no doubt that some mistakes were made and there is more to do. Next year, the government must build on its successes and prioritise the economy.
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 December 2012
Autumn Statement
Nine months ago Cornwall’s MPs were thrown into combat with the government after the Budget bowled a few unexpected problems our way, such as VAT on pasties. It took a couple of months to sort things out but we got there. So I was a little bit apprehensive last week as George Osborne got to his feet to deliver his Autumn Statement which is a sort of mini-budget. However, despite having very limited room for manoeuvre, this year’s statement contained some very good news for Cornwall.
Firstly, the planned 3p rise in fuel duty will not just be postponed as before but scrapped altogether. This is vitally important for a county like Cornwall because we are at the end of the line and our businesses have to transport their goods hundreds of miles to market which is a major cost and because many people who work cannot rely on public transport and have no option but to use their car. Filling up the car with petrol is a major cost for many families and I have always argued that fuel tax is a regressive tax that hits remote areas unfairly and we should be aiming to get these costs down.
Secondly, it was decided to accelerate the increase in the new tax threshold meaning that those struggling to get by on low incomes will be taken out of tax altogether. Again, this is really important to places like Cornwall where thousands of families work hard but have to rely on low incomes. It can’t be right to tax people on one hand only to have to give them some money back in benefits on the other. It would be better by far if you didn’t take their money in the first place so that there was more of an incentive to take a job.
There was also some good news when it comes to investment in roads and infrastructure to try to get the economy moving. The lesson from past recessions is that governments should try, as far as is possible, to maintain investment in infrastructure because, it improves future competitiveness and provides immediate short term work in construction. Here in Cornwall, the government has finally come up with the money to start work on dualling the A30 at Temple which will remove a longstanding bottle neck which causes havoc in the summer months. This has been talked about for years and it is a real vote of confidence in Cornwall that this work will now begin.
Finally, there was some good news for businesses as the government increased “capital allowances” substantially to encourage businesses to invest any profits they make into new machinery which will increase their productivity as well as giving a much needed boost to manufacturing.
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.
Firstly, the planned 3p rise in fuel duty will not just be postponed as before but scrapped altogether. This is vitally important for a county like Cornwall because we are at the end of the line and our businesses have to transport their goods hundreds of miles to market which is a major cost and because many people who work cannot rely on public transport and have no option but to use their car. Filling up the car with petrol is a major cost for many families and I have always argued that fuel tax is a regressive tax that hits remote areas unfairly and we should be aiming to get these costs down.
Secondly, it was decided to accelerate the increase in the new tax threshold meaning that those struggling to get by on low incomes will be taken out of tax altogether. Again, this is really important to places like Cornwall where thousands of families work hard but have to rely on low incomes. It can’t be right to tax people on one hand only to have to give them some money back in benefits on the other. It would be better by far if you didn’t take their money in the first place so that there was more of an incentive to take a job.
There was also some good news when it comes to investment in roads and infrastructure to try to get the economy moving. The lesson from past recessions is that governments should try, as far as is possible, to maintain investment in infrastructure because, it improves future competitiveness and provides immediate short term work in construction. Here in Cornwall, the government has finally come up with the money to start work on dualling the A30 at Temple which will remove a longstanding bottle neck which causes havoc in the summer months. This has been talked about for years and it is a real vote of confidence in Cornwall that this work will now begin.
Finally, there was some good news for businesses as the government increased “capital allowances” substantially to encourage businesses to invest any profits they make into new machinery which will increase their productivity as well as giving a much needed boost to manufacturing.
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.
Tuesday, 11 December 2012
Europe
There is now a lot riding on David Cameron’s much trailed “big speech” on the future of Britain’s relationship with the EU. It has been talked about since last summer. Number 10 would certainly not have wanted to have so much advance speculation about what it might say and, as expectation in the speech grows, they have been minded to delay the day, presumably fearful that they might disappoint. So, instead, speculation has become like a growing monster.
The first thing David Cameron needs to do is to untangle what negotiations can take place right now and in this parliament from those which must be postponed for another day and until after the next election. There are two major areas where the current coalition government (Lib Dems and all) will necessarily end up in a renegotiation with the EU. Firstly, the brinkmanship over delivering a real terms freeze to the EU budget which has been led by Britain is likely to continue well into the New Year. David Cameron must stand firm on this. We should not be making cuts in Britain only to give inflation busting budget increases to inept officials in the EU.
Secondly, the British government has already made clear that it will exercise a right it has under the Lisbon Treaty to opt back out of 130 EU directives that Gordon Brown signed up to relating to justice and home affairs but will then seek to pick and choose those it wants to cooperate with and those which will be vetoed for good. There is nervousness among some Liberal Democrats about some of these renegotiations but the Prime Minister must stand his ground and exercise the treaty right that Britain has to sort out the mess in some of these laws.
Then there is the longer term picture. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are, emotionally, poles apart when it comes to views about the EU and it is no good ignoring that central coalition dynamic. Many Conservatives, myself included, want to see a more fundamental renegotiation of Britain’s relationship with the EU with powers returned in many areas while we remain an enthusiastic and committed member of the single market. But, because of the dynamics of the coalition, this more fundamental renegotiation must be postponed. Ironically, the intervention of UKIP at the last General Election might have denied the country a Conservative majority thus undermining the cause they claim to believe in.
So David Cameron must start to set out what would be in the next Conservative manifesto. It is no longer enough to use slogans like “in Europe, not run by Europe.” We need to flesh out in more detail what a future renegotiation would look like and seek a mandate for that position at the next election. This could include taking powers back in areas such as social and employment policy, a looser relationship with the Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy and the return of responsibility for regional policy which could mean we have more to spend on regeneration in Cornwall. Such a new deal could also involve clipping the wings of wayward EU institutions like the European Court of Justice which currently has too much power and needs taking down a peg or two.
Some say such a fundamental renegotiation is impossible but they are wrong. There are growing calls within Germany and the EU Commission for a new Treaty in Europe which would totally re-order the European Union and accelerate political union among some members. No longer would this be something done by stealth, but political integration would become an overt aim in order to try to save the euro. But countries like Germany fully understand that it is impossible for Britain and possibly many others to follow, so there would be a fork in the road and Britain would need to be given new powers back in return for agreeing to such a new order. If Angela Merkel is re-elected at the end of next year, this agenda will rise rapidly during 2014 and Britain must get into in the driver’s seat now.
Any discussion about the EU always ends up slipping into the rut of whether or not we need a referendum. My own view is that this is a distraction which undermines the central aim of renegotiation but, at the end of the process, there is a case for having such a referendum on the outcome to draw a line under things and move on.
The first thing David Cameron needs to do is to untangle what negotiations can take place right now and in this parliament from those which must be postponed for another day and until after the next election. There are two major areas where the current coalition government (Lib Dems and all) will necessarily end up in a renegotiation with the EU. Firstly, the brinkmanship over delivering a real terms freeze to the EU budget which has been led by Britain is likely to continue well into the New Year. David Cameron must stand firm on this. We should not be making cuts in Britain only to give inflation busting budget increases to inept officials in the EU.
Secondly, the British government has already made clear that it will exercise a right it has under the Lisbon Treaty to opt back out of 130 EU directives that Gordon Brown signed up to relating to justice and home affairs but will then seek to pick and choose those it wants to cooperate with and those which will be vetoed for good. There is nervousness among some Liberal Democrats about some of these renegotiations but the Prime Minister must stand his ground and exercise the treaty right that Britain has to sort out the mess in some of these laws.
Then there is the longer term picture. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are, emotionally, poles apart when it comes to views about the EU and it is no good ignoring that central coalition dynamic. Many Conservatives, myself included, want to see a more fundamental renegotiation of Britain’s relationship with the EU with powers returned in many areas while we remain an enthusiastic and committed member of the single market. But, because of the dynamics of the coalition, this more fundamental renegotiation must be postponed. Ironically, the intervention of UKIP at the last General Election might have denied the country a Conservative majority thus undermining the cause they claim to believe in.
So David Cameron must start to set out what would be in the next Conservative manifesto. It is no longer enough to use slogans like “in Europe, not run by Europe.” We need to flesh out in more detail what a future renegotiation would look like and seek a mandate for that position at the next election. This could include taking powers back in areas such as social and employment policy, a looser relationship with the Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy and the return of responsibility for regional policy which could mean we have more to spend on regeneration in Cornwall. Such a new deal could also involve clipping the wings of wayward EU institutions like the European Court of Justice which currently has too much power and needs taking down a peg or two.
Some say such a fundamental renegotiation is impossible but they are wrong. There are growing calls within Germany and the EU Commission for a new Treaty in Europe which would totally re-order the European Union and accelerate political union among some members. No longer would this be something done by stealth, but political integration would become an overt aim in order to try to save the euro. But countries like Germany fully understand that it is impossible for Britain and possibly many others to follow, so there would be a fork in the road and Britain would need to be given new powers back in return for agreeing to such a new order. If Angela Merkel is re-elected at the end of next year, this agenda will rise rapidly during 2014 and Britain must get into in the driver’s seat now.
Any discussion about the EU always ends up slipping into the rut of whether or not we need a referendum. My own view is that this is a distraction which undermines the central aim of renegotiation but, at the end of the process, there is a case for having such a referendum on the outcome to draw a line under things and move on.
Thursday, 6 December 2012
The Food Bank
As we begin the run up to Christmas, there are a number of vital charities in the Camborne, Redruth and Hayle area which are getting to work to help those less fortunate. Last weekend I visited a number of Christmas Fayres which aimed to raise much needed funds to support their good work, including Searchlight, the excellent youth group based in Redruth, and Camborne Church.
Visits to such groups always boosts my faith in human nature. The central dynamic is nearly always the same. It usually starts with the energy, determination and leadership of just one person. The energy and commitment they show becomes infectious and spreads so suddenly there is a small team of people who can make things happen. When others in the community see the good work being delivered, many others become inspired to get involved and the whole enterprise can snowball.
On Saturday I also visited the Food Bank project based at the Centenary Chapel on Wesley Street which has now been running for a number of years and is starting its preparations for Christmas. The driving force behind the project is Don Gardner but he has incredible support from volunteers both connected with churches in Camborne and outside. I was really heartened to hear of the excellent contribution being made by the Sixth Form at Camborne Science and International Academy. Students there have made it their charity this year and have already run projects to raise some £100 which they then used to buy fresh supplies for the Food Bank.
The concept is simple: members of the public and sometimes local businesses donate food to the charity and local agencies can issue vouchers for food to those families facing genuine financial crisis. As well as helping those facing problems all year round, they make a special effort at Christmas. Last year they put together 190 Christmas lunch hampers for families in the area and this year they are set to deliver 200. They have also branched out to take over the running of the Toy Library from the Council where families can choose from a selection of hundreds of toys which can be hired at a cost of just 20 pence per week. When thieves recently stole a cash box from the charity, Don Gardner was overwhelmed by the generosity of local people with many coming forward to contribute financially or to give toys that their own children had outgrown so that another child could benefit from them. This year they also plan to run another project to buy Christmas presents for children so that there are no “no-go areas” for Father Christmas this year.
If you would like to volunteer time or money to help the Food Bank this Christmas or have unwanted toys, bikes etc you could donate, please email donovan.gardner@sky.com or telephone 01209 714592.
Visits to such groups always boosts my faith in human nature. The central dynamic is nearly always the same. It usually starts with the energy, determination and leadership of just one person. The energy and commitment they show becomes infectious and spreads so suddenly there is a small team of people who can make things happen. When others in the community see the good work being delivered, many others become inspired to get involved and the whole enterprise can snowball.
On Saturday I also visited the Food Bank project based at the Centenary Chapel on Wesley Street which has now been running for a number of years and is starting its preparations for Christmas. The driving force behind the project is Don Gardner but he has incredible support from volunteers both connected with churches in Camborne and outside. I was really heartened to hear of the excellent contribution being made by the Sixth Form at Camborne Science and International Academy. Students there have made it their charity this year and have already run projects to raise some £100 which they then used to buy fresh supplies for the Food Bank.
The concept is simple: members of the public and sometimes local businesses donate food to the charity and local agencies can issue vouchers for food to those families facing genuine financial crisis. As well as helping those facing problems all year round, they make a special effort at Christmas. Last year they put together 190 Christmas lunch hampers for families in the area and this year they are set to deliver 200. They have also branched out to take over the running of the Toy Library from the Council where families can choose from a selection of hundreds of toys which can be hired at a cost of just 20 pence per week. When thieves recently stole a cash box from the charity, Don Gardner was overwhelmed by the generosity of local people with many coming forward to contribute financially or to give toys that their own children had outgrown so that another child could benefit from them. This year they also plan to run another project to buy Christmas presents for children so that there are no “no-go areas” for Father Christmas this year.
If you would like to volunteer time or money to help the Food Bank this Christmas or have unwanted toys, bikes etc you could donate, please email donovan.gardner@sky.com or telephone 01209 714592.
Thursday, 29 November 2012
Leveson
This week sees the long awaited publication of the report by Lord Leveson into the ethics and conduct of the press. The inquiry was set up after it was revealed that the News of the World had hacked the phone of the murdered schoolgirl, Milly Dowler, as well as the phones of servicemen killed in action which prompted public outrage. The inquiry was uncomfortable for both politicians and the press but it also represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put things right and to place the newspaper industry on a firmer footing.
I believe passionately in a free press and think it has a vital role to play in a free society. But you can never have true liberty unless you also have accountability and the major weakness of the national press is that it harbours unaccountable power which has been abused and the end result is that the police have now had to get involved and make arrests of journalists. None of us should feel comfortable about that. It would be better by far to have a credible and independent regulator recognised in law so that we don’t have to have the police crawling through newsrooms in future.
The idea of replacing the current “self regulation” of the press with a new regulator backed by statute is anathema to some of the wealthy proprietors of the big national newspapers, but I have come to the view that the system would be far more independent and more stable if it had the benefit of recognition in the law. It would allow you to create real incentives for newspapers to take part in the system by creating exemptions from exemplary fines or by creating a more affordable system of arbitration so that newspaper editors didn’t live in fear of having to fight billionaires with deep pockets through the courts.
I spent several years as Press Secretary to David Cameron so saw the workings of our media up close. My experience led me to make my own submission to the Leveson Inquiry. In my evidence I said I thought that concerns about the impact of an independent regulator on free speech were hugely exaggerated. We already have a Broadcasting Act but some of the best investigative journalism in Britain is done by broadcasters on programmes like Watchdog and Panorama.
I also said that Lord Leveson’s inquiry could learn lessons from regional and local papers like the Western Morning News and the West Briton and Cornishman because, in all my experience, the editors of local newspapers have always approached the Editor’s Code far more conscientiously and diligently than the major national newspapers. This is partly because they are part of the community and feel a greater sense of responsibility. If national newspapers had behaved in the same way, the system might not be broken.
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 passionately in a free press and think it has a vital role to play in a free society. But you can never have true liberty unless you also have accountability and the major weakness of the national press is that it harbours unaccountable power which has been abused and the end result is that the police have now had to get involved and make arrests of journalists. None of us should feel comfortable about that. It would be better by far to have a credible and independent regulator recognised in law so that we don’t have to have the police crawling through newsrooms in future.
The idea of replacing the current “self regulation” of the press with a new regulator backed by statute is anathema to some of the wealthy proprietors of the big national newspapers, but I have come to the view that the system would be far more independent and more stable if it had the benefit of recognition in the law. It would allow you to create real incentives for newspapers to take part in the system by creating exemptions from exemplary fines or by creating a more affordable system of arbitration so that newspaper editors didn’t live in fear of having to fight billionaires with deep pockets through the courts.
I spent several years as Press Secretary to David Cameron so saw the workings of our media up close. My experience led me to make my own submission to the Leveson Inquiry. In my evidence I said I thought that concerns about the impact of an independent regulator on free speech were hugely exaggerated. We already have a Broadcasting Act but some of the best investigative journalism in Britain is done by broadcasters on programmes like Watchdog and Panorama.
I also said that Lord Leveson’s inquiry could learn lessons from regional and local papers like the Western Morning News and the West Briton and Cornishman because, in all my experience, the editors of local newspapers have always approached the Editor’s Code far more conscientiously and diligently than the major national newspapers. This is partly because they are part of the community and feel a greater sense of responsibility. If national newspapers had behaved in the same way, the system might not be broken.
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, 22 November 2012
Reining in the power of the supermarkets
On Monday, parliament debated the Bill being introduced which will establish the new Groceries Code Adjudicator to protect farmers and growers from sharp practices deployed by the big supermarkets. It is an important step forward supported by all parties and, as a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, I spoke in the debate.
It is an area where I have some direct experience because, long before entering politics, I spent ten years in the farming industry supplying strawberries and cauliflowers to the major supermarkets. In that time I saw first-hand some of the sharp practices used and the way that supermarkets would often abuse their dominant market position to treat suppliers unfairly. They would often insist on farmers buying other goods and services such as haulage from “approved” contractors who would invariably charge more than the market rate. Growers would be required to take part in cut price promotions in store. Often the cost of perished stock on the shelves would be clawed back from the supplier, in some cases with their own retail margin taken too. And if a buyer had made a mistake and placed an order for more than they actually needed, they would find any excuse to reject a consignment, throwing the cost back on the farmer. Things haven’t got much better. Last year I met a supplier to supermarkets who said that he was now required to show them his annual accounts so that they could work out how much harder they could drive him into the ground and I still come across examples of supermarkets making unfair demands on their suppliers.
The Groceries Supply Code of Practice was introduced a couple of years ago and set out some standards on how supermarkets should behave such as paying their suppliers on time, not making retrospective changes to pricing and no longer forcing suppliers to use certain third party contractors which restricts the functioning of a fair market. The new adjudicator will help to enforce that code properly. It will allow farmers to make anonymous complaints about supermarkets and it will be able to “name and shame” those who breach the code and order changes in the way buyers manage their relationship with suppliers.
There has been much debate about whether the adjudicator should have other sanctions at its disposal, such as the ability to levy fines against persistent offenders. The government is currently saying that the adjudicator will not initially have the power to fine but that this could be added at a later date if necessary. In my view, they might as well make this sanction available from day one because if a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly.
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 is an area where I have some direct experience because, long before entering politics, I spent ten years in the farming industry supplying strawberries and cauliflowers to the major supermarkets. In that time I saw first-hand some of the sharp practices used and the way that supermarkets would often abuse their dominant market position to treat suppliers unfairly. They would often insist on farmers buying other goods and services such as haulage from “approved” contractors who would invariably charge more than the market rate. Growers would be required to take part in cut price promotions in store. Often the cost of perished stock on the shelves would be clawed back from the supplier, in some cases with their own retail margin taken too. And if a buyer had made a mistake and placed an order for more than they actually needed, they would find any excuse to reject a consignment, throwing the cost back on the farmer. Things haven’t got much better. Last year I met a supplier to supermarkets who said that he was now required to show them his annual accounts so that they could work out how much harder they could drive him into the ground and I still come across examples of supermarkets making unfair demands on their suppliers.
The Groceries Supply Code of Practice was introduced a couple of years ago and set out some standards on how supermarkets should behave such as paying their suppliers on time, not making retrospective changes to pricing and no longer forcing suppliers to use certain third party contractors which restricts the functioning of a fair market. The new adjudicator will help to enforce that code properly. It will allow farmers to make anonymous complaints about supermarkets and it will be able to “name and shame” those who breach the code and order changes in the way buyers manage their relationship with suppliers.
There has been much debate about whether the adjudicator should have other sanctions at its disposal, such as the ability to levy fines against persistent offenders. The government is currently saying that the adjudicator will not initially have the power to fine but that this could be added at a later date if necessary. In my view, they might as well make this sanction available from day one because if a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly.
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, 19 November 2012
Remembrance Day
Last weekend I attended remembrance services in both Illogan and Camborne where there was a record turnout and standing room only in the church. All of the various cadet and scout groups were out in force. I have noticed the attendance from all of these fantastic youth groups grow significantly year after year and it really bodes well for the future.
Next year will see the phased reduction British troops on active combat in Afghanistan the handover to a British trained Afghan Army is acclerated and due be completed by 2014. If the experience in Iraq is anything to go by, peace and normality can follow such a withdrawal of troops provided the groundwork has been done. After more than a decade of conflict, ending the mission in Afghanistan will be a relief for all. As well as the rising number of those killed in action, there have been thousands wounded and tens of thousands who suffer from some form of post traumatic stress and find it difficult to return to normal life.
I went to Afghanistan in 2006 when I worked for David Cameron and saw first-hand the extraordinary professionalism of our armed forces. While there, David Cameron was introduced to a specialist sniper in the army who had just completed his first tour of duty. He can’t have been much more than twenty years old but was earnest beyond his years. His job was to protect patrols from ambush using a long range rifle, particularly in built up areas where Apache attack helicopters could not be used. Later that day we were told in a matter-of-fact, army way that this young man had something they described as “twenty six confirmed kills.” I always remember the phrase because it drove home to me the extraordinary burden we put on our young soldiers. It is not just the risk they take but the things we expect them to do in our name. The then Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan showed me a photo of a platoon of 19 year old soldiers who were on a Chinook helicopter back from their first night time combat mission. They had a haunted look in their eyes and he explained that some soldiers can put things away in their heads better than others but it is never easy.
A couple of weeks ago I visited Surf Action which is a charity that tries to help combat veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Some of their work involves bringing people with similar experiences together socially along with their partners. They organise wildlife walks and surfing lessons, using nature to reconnect people with life. Like some other charities, they also use a range of other psychotherapies and forms of sensory or hypnotherapy to help former soldiers recover from the events that this decade of war has exposed them to. The work of groups like this is vital.
Surf Action is based at Unit 5, Heartlands, Pool. www.surfaction.co.uk. Telephone 01209 613300.
Next year will see the phased reduction British troops on active combat in Afghanistan the handover to a British trained Afghan Army is acclerated and due be completed by 2014. If the experience in Iraq is anything to go by, peace and normality can follow such a withdrawal of troops provided the groundwork has been done. After more than a decade of conflict, ending the mission in Afghanistan will be a relief for all. As well as the rising number of those killed in action, there have been thousands wounded and tens of thousands who suffer from some form of post traumatic stress and find it difficult to return to normal life.
I went to Afghanistan in 2006 when I worked for David Cameron and saw first-hand the extraordinary professionalism of our armed forces. While there, David Cameron was introduced to a specialist sniper in the army who had just completed his first tour of duty. He can’t have been much more than twenty years old but was earnest beyond his years. His job was to protect patrols from ambush using a long range rifle, particularly in built up areas where Apache attack helicopters could not be used. Later that day we were told in a matter-of-fact, army way that this young man had something they described as “twenty six confirmed kills.” I always remember the phrase because it drove home to me the extraordinary burden we put on our young soldiers. It is not just the risk they take but the things we expect them to do in our name. The then Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan showed me a photo of a platoon of 19 year old soldiers who were on a Chinook helicopter back from their first night time combat mission. They had a haunted look in their eyes and he explained that some soldiers can put things away in their heads better than others but it is never easy.
A couple of weeks ago I visited Surf Action which is a charity that tries to help combat veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Some of their work involves bringing people with similar experiences together socially along with their partners. They organise wildlife walks and surfing lessons, using nature to reconnect people with life. Like some other charities, they also use a range of other psychotherapies and forms of sensory or hypnotherapy to help former soldiers recover from the events that this decade of war has exposed them to. The work of groups like this is vital.
Surf Action is based at Unit 5, Heartlands, Pool. www.surfaction.co.uk. Telephone 01209 613300.
Thursday, 8 November 2012
Nurturing enterprise in the next generation
I have always believed that the key to getting the country moving again and creating new jobs is in doing all we can to encourage new business start-ups and to create an environment that allows the next generation of entrepreneurs to flourish. I remember a Cornish farmer once telling me, “you don’t have to be clever to be smart” and he was right. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in Britain did not have a university education and did not enter a profession but they had an idea and a natural talent for making things happen coupled with the fortitude to keep going in the face of the inevitable setbacks.
It is why earlier this year I encouraged a number of schools from our area to enter a national competition to come up with a new business idea and design a new product and I was delighted that Hayle Community School took up the challenge. Last time I visited Hayle School I was struck by the emphasis that they placed on developing young enterprise which is something they have made a priority. Last year I tried some of the excellent “Currantly Cornish” ice cream recipe which was developed by students and was on sale in the town.
We had some excellent product ideas developed by Year 10 pupils ranging from sunglasses that change colour in the heat to novel camera bags, swimming goggle carriers, unusual bed and chair designs, a kangaroo style shoe rack, docking stations for remote controls, solar powered dog trackers, a medical history chip and a children’s drawing table.
The entry that we chose to go through to the national competition was the idea of having wireless headphones for ipad devices designed by Charlie Martin and Millie Jenkins with the runner up being a special training football which uses smart sensors to connect to computers and monitor performance which was designed by Jacob Nicholas, Connor Smith and Tom Pascoe.
The next couple of years will see the transformation of Hayle with the regeneration work already well underway on North Quay and work expected to begin on South Quay in the New Year. There is also an advanced plan to develop the potential of the harbour for the fishing industry on East Quay. I have consistently argued in favour of the scheme to regenerate Hayle because the town has been waiting for change all my lifetime.
There will be many new business opportunities created by these changes and some new businesses are already starting to open. I hope that by the time the current Year 10 students at Hayle leave school in a few years time, some of them will choose to develop their enterprising talents further and become their own boss.
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 is why earlier this year I encouraged a number of schools from our area to enter a national competition to come up with a new business idea and design a new product and I was delighted that Hayle Community School took up the challenge. Last time I visited Hayle School I was struck by the emphasis that they placed on developing young enterprise which is something they have made a priority. Last year I tried some of the excellent “Currantly Cornish” ice cream recipe which was developed by students and was on sale in the town.
We had some excellent product ideas developed by Year 10 pupils ranging from sunglasses that change colour in the heat to novel camera bags, swimming goggle carriers, unusual bed and chair designs, a kangaroo style shoe rack, docking stations for remote controls, solar powered dog trackers, a medical history chip and a children’s drawing table.
The entry that we chose to go through to the national competition was the idea of having wireless headphones for ipad devices designed by Charlie Martin and Millie Jenkins with the runner up being a special training football which uses smart sensors to connect to computers and monitor performance which was designed by Jacob Nicholas, Connor Smith and Tom Pascoe.
The next couple of years will see the transformation of Hayle with the regeneration work already well underway on North Quay and work expected to begin on South Quay in the New Year. There is also an advanced plan to develop the potential of the harbour for the fishing industry on East Quay. I have consistently argued in favour of the scheme to regenerate Hayle because the town has been waiting for change all my lifetime.
There will be many new business opportunities created by these changes and some new businesses are already starting to open. I hope that by the time the current Year 10 students at Hayle leave school in a few years time, some of them will choose to develop their enterprising talents further and become their own boss.
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, 1 November 2012
Cutting the EU budget
This week saw the thorny issue of EU spending stumble back on the agenda with the moment for negotiations over the future EU budget fast approaching but with EU member states getting further away from any kind of consensus.
It really shouldn’t be that difficult. Every EU country is having to make swingeing cuts to public spending in order to deal with the mountain of debt accumulated over the last decade and to tackle the economic crisis caused by the crackpot idea that is known as the euro. You might think that, since its own policies have contributed to the mess that Europe is in, the EU might have a bit of humility, that they might empathise with the pain being experienced by Europe’s people and might therefore recognise that they, too, must pull in their belt and show some restraint.
Not a bit if it. Instead, the European Commission opened discussions by suggesting a staggering seven percent increase in their budget. Two years ago, David Cameron put his foot down and led a group of EU leaders calling for a real terms cut or, at the very least, a freeze in the EU budget. He managed to get the support of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, the President of France and the Prime Ministers of Finland and Holland. Later, other countries joined in this principled position including Sweden.
However, then the horse trading started and some of the countries who initially supported Britain in controlling the EU budget started to go wobbly. The worst offender was Angela Merkel who has now abandoned her stance and has decided that caving in on the EU budget might gain her leverage over some of the poorer member states in other areas of policy. Such counterproductive horse trading is a major weakness in the EU which means it frequently makes serious mistakes because shady, backroom deals eclipse any intelligent or reasoned debate. That is why eventually, if it is to survive, the EU must be streamlined and modernised with many of its powers stripped away and returned to national governments.
The good news is that, in the short term, Britain has a veto over the EU budget and can put its foot down and block any new inflation busting increases. If this happens there is then automatically a real terms freeze in the budget followed by a painstaking process of agreeing individual items in the budget one line at a time. Once again, it looks like it will fall to Britain to show leadership and risk unpopularity with other leaders by knocking heads together in order to sort things out and deliver what is right for the people of both Britain and Europe. David Cameron has done it before and he should do it again.
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 really shouldn’t be that difficult. Every EU country is having to make swingeing cuts to public spending in order to deal with the mountain of debt accumulated over the last decade and to tackle the economic crisis caused by the crackpot idea that is known as the euro. You might think that, since its own policies have contributed to the mess that Europe is in, the EU might have a bit of humility, that they might empathise with the pain being experienced by Europe’s people and might therefore recognise that they, too, must pull in their belt and show some restraint.
Not a bit if it. Instead, the European Commission opened discussions by suggesting a staggering seven percent increase in their budget. Two years ago, David Cameron put his foot down and led a group of EU leaders calling for a real terms cut or, at the very least, a freeze in the EU budget. He managed to get the support of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, the President of France and the Prime Ministers of Finland and Holland. Later, other countries joined in this principled position including Sweden.
However, then the horse trading started and some of the countries who initially supported Britain in controlling the EU budget started to go wobbly. The worst offender was Angela Merkel who has now abandoned her stance and has decided that caving in on the EU budget might gain her leverage over some of the poorer member states in other areas of policy. Such counterproductive horse trading is a major weakness in the EU which means it frequently makes serious mistakes because shady, backroom deals eclipse any intelligent or reasoned debate. That is why eventually, if it is to survive, the EU must be streamlined and modernised with many of its powers stripped away and returned to national governments.
The good news is that, in the short term, Britain has a veto over the EU budget and can put its foot down and block any new inflation busting increases. If this happens there is then automatically a real terms freeze in the budget followed by a painstaking process of agreeing individual items in the budget one line at a time. Once again, it looks like it will fall to Britain to show leadership and risk unpopularity with other leaders by knocking heads together in order to sort things out and deliver what is right for the people of both Britain and Europe. David Cameron has done it before and he should do it again.
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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