Last week the referendum campaign got going properly with Boris Johnson kicking off a nationwide tour for the Leave campaign starting in Cornwall and with local volunteers delivering thousands of leaflets to get the message across the county. These volunteers play an important role because the pro-EU campaign have benefited from over £9 million of tax payer funded support on a pro-EU leaflet.
I took a decision in February to join the Leave campaign because I didn't like the way our Prime Minister was sent back from Brussels empty handed after he tried to argue for the return of powers. He got nothing. So I think we should show them we are serious and act decisively to end the supremacy of EU law. We should replace our membership with a different sort of partnership where we stop sending £350 million a week to Brussels and stop European Courts undermining our democracy.
None of the arguments put forward by the pro-EU campaign have been very persuasive. In fact, as the volume of scare mongering propaganda has increased, the credibility of those arguing we should remain has gone down even further. We have had all sorts of bankers and bureaucrats wheeled out to tell us how to vote. These are usually the same sorts of people who said we should join the euro and have a track record in being wrong. We have also had an American president ordering us to get to the back of the queue while other EU countries want us to stay because they need our money.
In my view, as a country, we should do what is right for us in this referendum and vote to leave. We should not allow ourselves to be told what to do by other countries. We will always have an international outlook, but this is one occasion when we should think about the UK. Here in Cornwall, I am detecting a growing consensus that we would be better off if we were to leave, but nationally this contest is going to be very very close.
Wednesday, 18 May 2016
Thursday, 12 May 2016
PCC Elections
This time last week voters across the UK went to the polls for the local elections. In Cornwall we had the second election for Police and Crime Commissioner. This is still a relatively new role and many people remain sceptical about it. However, it should be remembered that this is not a new tier of administration within the police as some presume.
It is simply a directly elected role to replace the old, unaccountable Police Authorities that existed before. So whatever people might think about the performance of Tony Hogg over the past three years, it is difficult to argue that having a more visible, elected role is not a step forward from the days of Police Authorities.
The election was much closer this time and the turnout much higher. The Labour Party also put more effort into the election than they did previously. That’s good because important democratically elected roles like this only work when the political parties contest them vigorously. Political parties are not always popular because, in power, they have to take difficult choices. However, without political parties, and the thousands of volunteers who give up their time to deliver leaflets, democracy simply does not work.
I was very pleased to see Alison Hernandez elected our new PCC. She had actually gone for the role three years ago and was only very narrowly beaten by Tony Hogg. What impresses me about her is that, in the intervening years, she has really developed a real understanding of what is required in the role. She has worked out the bits that Tony Hogg got right and what she would like to retain. This is crucial because any new PCC should build on their predecessor, retaining what is right and changing what is wrong. In particular she has some really good ideas on developing the "tri-service" model like what is currently used in Hayle. There are certainly challenges ahead, but I think Alison has what it takes to earn the respect of the police and to champion the great work they do.
It is simply a directly elected role to replace the old, unaccountable Police Authorities that existed before. So whatever people might think about the performance of Tony Hogg over the past three years, it is difficult to argue that having a more visible, elected role is not a step forward from the days of Police Authorities.
The election was much closer this time and the turnout much higher. The Labour Party also put more effort into the election than they did previously. That’s good because important democratically elected roles like this only work when the political parties contest them vigorously. Political parties are not always popular because, in power, they have to take difficult choices. However, without political parties, and the thousands of volunteers who give up their time to deliver leaflets, democracy simply does not work.
I was very pleased to see Alison Hernandez elected our new PCC. She had actually gone for the role three years ago and was only very narrowly beaten by Tony Hogg. What impresses me about her is that, in the intervening years, she has really developed a real understanding of what is required in the role. She has worked out the bits that Tony Hogg got right and what she would like to retain. This is crucial because any new PCC should build on their predecessor, retaining what is right and changing what is wrong. In particular she has some really good ideas on developing the "tri-service" model like what is currently used in Hayle. There are certainly challenges ahead, but I think Alison has what it takes to earn the respect of the police and to champion the great work they do.
Thursday, 5 May 2016
Trevithick Day
We had fine weather and a great turnout at Trevithick Day last weekend, and although the Puffing Devil was absent from its place at the head of the parade it was fantastic to see so many people coming out to celebrate the life of Cornwall's greatest engineer and inventor of the steam locomotive.
Six years ago, when I was first elected to Parliament, I made Richard Trevithick the main focus of my maiden speech. I found a wonderful statement from him saying that, although he had been criticised for trying new principles and was left in severe financial hardship as a result of his pioneering endeavours, he knew in his own heart that he had brought forward new ideas that would be of boundless value to his country. For many years, Trevithick's achievements were not really recognised which makes it all the more important we celebrate them now.
For me the achievements of Richard Trevithick epitomise the contribution made by Cornwall to the industrial revolution, and while Holmans and the mines may be gone, Camborne and Redruth still has many world leaders in specialist engineering. We have LDD, based in Tolvaddon, which works on offshore oil projects in countries as far flung as Argentina and Malaysia, while Severn Subsea in Redruth helps manufacture complex components for the oil and gas industry. DP Engineering, also in Redruth, manufactures specialist components for the aerospace industry while Rigibore in Hayle produce highly specialised, computer guided drill bits for use in precision hydraulics manufacturing.
In some cases, the driving forces behind these companies trace their roots back to Holmans. It is why the greatest legacy left by Holmans wasn't the buildings but the people they trained. I would like to see us build on our heritage and expertise in engineering. We are seeing our local schools bring in a renewed focus on science and technology to prepare the next generation for a rewarding career in technology and, in recent years, the government has delivered a huge expansion in apprenticeships to help young people get a career.
Six years ago, when I was first elected to Parliament, I made Richard Trevithick the main focus of my maiden speech. I found a wonderful statement from him saying that, although he had been criticised for trying new principles and was left in severe financial hardship as a result of his pioneering endeavours, he knew in his own heart that he had brought forward new ideas that would be of boundless value to his country. For many years, Trevithick's achievements were not really recognised which makes it all the more important we celebrate them now.
For me the achievements of Richard Trevithick epitomise the contribution made by Cornwall to the industrial revolution, and while Holmans and the mines may be gone, Camborne and Redruth still has many world leaders in specialist engineering. We have LDD, based in Tolvaddon, which works on offshore oil projects in countries as far flung as Argentina and Malaysia, while Severn Subsea in Redruth helps manufacture complex components for the oil and gas industry. DP Engineering, also in Redruth, manufactures specialist components for the aerospace industry while Rigibore in Hayle produce highly specialised, computer guided drill bits for use in precision hydraulics manufacturing.
In some cases, the driving forces behind these companies trace their roots back to Holmans. It is why the greatest legacy left by Holmans wasn't the buildings but the people they trained. I would like to see us build on our heritage and expertise in engineering. We are seeing our local schools bring in a renewed focus on science and technology to prepare the next generation for a rewarding career in technology and, in recent years, the government has delivered a huge expansion in apprenticeships to help young people get a career.
Thursday, 28 April 2016
George in Japan
Last week I
represented the UK at the G7 summit in Japan where we discussed how to address
the challenge of feeding a growing world population while protecting the
environment.
Around the
world countries are turning their attention to the challenge that demographic
changes pose. The world population is currently projected to grow to about nine
billion by 2050 and demand for food could increase by around fifty percent. The
truth is we are going to need our farming and fishing industries like never
before and we will need leaps forward in technology to deliver more food more sustainably.
In the UK we
are leading the world in developing new technologies which mean we can make
better use of things like satellite data to have more precise use of inputs
like fertilisers. We are also doing work to breed new proteins from peas
that will enable us to reduce our reliance on imported soya beans for animal
feeds and we are funding a range of breeding programmes to develop new
varieties of crop that are drought tolerant so that developing countries will
still be able to produce food even from land where water becomes scarce.
Fish protein
will also be important. We have made big strides over the last two
decades in understanding the science of our oceans and in improving the
sustainability of the fishing industry. There is also scope to do far more by
way of aquaculture and the UK is funding work that would enable essential Omega
3 fish oils crucial to fish farms to be synthesised in crops grown in the
soil.
While in
Tokyo I also did some trade promotion work to promote British food and drinks
products. It was great to see Cornish company Tregothnan out in Japan
selling Cornish grown tea to the Japanese and other Asian markets. They had
even been asked to be the judge in a competition to assess the quality of
tea! We have some amazing and unique food and drink producers in Cornwall
who are increasingly finding an interest for their products overseas.
Thursday, 21 April 2016
Schools Funding
One of my priorities is to try to correct some of the historic unfairness to Cornwall when it comes to various funding formulas. In terms of education, per-pupil funding in Cornwall is £4,782 compared to a national average of £5,225. To put it another way, Cornwall Council is ranked 143rd out of 151 Local Authorities, placing our pupils amongst the most poorly funded in the country. This has been the case for decades and I am pleased that the Government has committed to a complete overhaul of the existing funding system to try to put things right.
Under current arrangements, the Dedicated Schools Grant is based on information that is over ten years old. This means that the existing system does not take into account all that has occurred over the last ten years regarding demographic changes, thereby preventing funding from reaching those pupils that need it most.
This outdated system is further compounded by the fact this funding does not go directly to schools, but rather to councils, who then use their own formula to distribute it locally. Different councils use different formula, and spend different amounts on factors like sparsity and attainment. This means we end up with a confused, inconsistent system where a secondary pupil with low attainment would attract over £2,200 of additional funding in Birmingham, compared with £36 in Darlington.
Under the proposed formula, pupils will now attract the same basic level of funding regardless of where they live in the country. This basic per-pupil funding will then be augmented by additional factors such a deprivation ensuring that those pupils who require the most help will receive the support they deserve.
Most importantly, by 2020, this funding will bypass councils entirely, and go directly from Government to schools, removing the need for councils to set local formula. This will provide head teachers with certainty about their budgets, and do away with the post code lottery which defines our current system. There is further to go, but the commitment to overhaul the funding system offers Cornwall's schools an opportunity for the future.
Wednesday, 13 April 2016
Fishing and the EU
Last week I met with fisherman in Newlyn to discuss the future of the industry in the event of a vote to leave the EU.
There are some things which we would definitely retain. We would still target sustainable fishing limits to ensure our fisheries remain profitable for the future, and we would still have as a quota system as it is the only system that works in a shared fishery with mobile species. In addition, we would still strive to challenge the wasteful practice of discarding dead fish back into the sea.
However, free from the hindrance of the EU, the UK would be able to assert itself in the North Sea to deliver fair and sustainable fishing. There are two key reasons why we would be better off.
Firstly, the North Sea is the most important fishery in the UK. However, fishing opportunities for stocks are decided by the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, not the EU, which only has a seat at the table, alongside Norway, Iceland and even the Faroes. It is extraordinary that the UK, despite being the country with the greatest interest in the North Sea, is denied a seat at the table and we must put our faith in the hands of an EU negotiator, who more often than not, fails to deliver.
The second reason for voting leave is important for fisherman in the West Country. Outside the EU we would re-establish national control for 200 nautical miles as provided for in international law. We would then be in a strong position to argue for a fairer share of quota allocations in many fish stocks.
There has long been an historical injustice in quota allocations to the UK fleet. In 2015 the UK allocation of Cod was just 834 tonnes compared to 5,500 for France. For Plaice in the Channel is was 1,300 tonnes for the UK, but 2,600 for France. The list goes on. If we take control of our fishing grounds we will have the opportunity to revisit these issues and deliver a fairer share of fishing opportunities.
There are some things which we would definitely retain. We would still target sustainable fishing limits to ensure our fisheries remain profitable for the future, and we would still have as a quota system as it is the only system that works in a shared fishery with mobile species. In addition, we would still strive to challenge the wasteful practice of discarding dead fish back into the sea.
However, free from the hindrance of the EU, the UK would be able to assert itself in the North Sea to deliver fair and sustainable fishing. There are two key reasons why we would be better off.
Firstly, the North Sea is the most important fishery in the UK. However, fishing opportunities for stocks are decided by the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, not the EU, which only has a seat at the table, alongside Norway, Iceland and even the Faroes. It is extraordinary that the UK, despite being the country with the greatest interest in the North Sea, is denied a seat at the table and we must put our faith in the hands of an EU negotiator, who more often than not, fails to deliver.
The second reason for voting leave is important for fisherman in the West Country. Outside the EU we would re-establish national control for 200 nautical miles as provided for in international law. We would then be in a strong position to argue for a fairer share of quota allocations in many fish stocks.
There has long been an historical injustice in quota allocations to the UK fleet. In 2015 the UK allocation of Cod was just 834 tonnes compared to 5,500 for France. For Plaice in the Channel is was 1,300 tonnes for the UK, but 2,600 for France. The list goes on. If we take control of our fishing grounds we will have the opportunity to revisit these issues and deliver a fairer share of fishing opportunities.
Friday, 8 April 2016
Recess in the Constituency
The great thing about recess is that it allows MPs to get away from Parliament, and catch up with work in their constituencies.
On Tuesday I started off in Constantine where I met volunteers from the Helford River Association where we discussed the issue of boats being abandoned and left to decay. There is often a problem with boat owners avoiding mooring fees by simply tethering their boats to trees on the banks of private land and it can prove difficult to identify the owners.
Then I met volunteers involved in the conservation of the Helford passage and we discussed some of the issues of illegal netting in the river which could pose a threat to diving birds. The Helford has numerous different marine protection designations and it’s good to have such an enthusiastic volunteer network.
This was then followed by a visit to the Mawnan Smith Crafts Workshops, where I met the talented craftsmen based there, ranging from carpenters to jewellery makers and the local blacksmith.
I also had two meetings last week with local farmers where we discussed a number of issues including TB and the Rural Payments Agency and some of the debate around the EU referendum.
Wednesday brought me back into Camborne, where the main event for that day was a two-hour drop in surgery which I held in my constituency office. Case work is the bread and butter of any MPs job, and it was a good opportunity for anyone to come in off the street and speak with me about any issue that might be troubling them.
On Thursday I had a meeting about the closure of Cardrew Health Centre, which gave me the chance to seek assurances about the new walk in service that will be opening at Barncoose Hospital. I also visited the new memory café at Cornwall College Camborne which is a great project that allows those suffering from memory loss and their carers to come together in a social setting and take part in a number of challenges such as quizzes.
On Tuesday I started off in Constantine where I met volunteers from the Helford River Association where we discussed the issue of boats being abandoned and left to decay. There is often a problem with boat owners avoiding mooring fees by simply tethering their boats to trees on the banks of private land and it can prove difficult to identify the owners.
Then I met volunteers involved in the conservation of the Helford passage and we discussed some of the issues of illegal netting in the river which could pose a threat to diving birds. The Helford has numerous different marine protection designations and it’s good to have such an enthusiastic volunteer network.
This was then followed by a visit to the Mawnan Smith Crafts Workshops, where I met the talented craftsmen based there, ranging from carpenters to jewellery makers and the local blacksmith.
I also had two meetings last week with local farmers where we discussed a number of issues including TB and the Rural Payments Agency and some of the debate around the EU referendum.
Wednesday brought me back into Camborne, where the main event for that day was a two-hour drop in surgery which I held in my constituency office. Case work is the bread and butter of any MPs job, and it was a good opportunity for anyone to come in off the street and speak with me about any issue that might be troubling them.
On Thursday I had a meeting about the closure of Cardrew Health Centre, which gave me the chance to seek assurances about the new walk in service that will be opening at Barncoose Hospital. I also visited the new memory café at Cornwall College Camborne which is a great project that allows those suffering from memory loss and their carers to come together in a social setting and take part in a number of challenges such as quizzes.
Thursday, 31 March 2016
New Visions for Agriculture
The debate regarding the pro and cons of the EU is now well underway and last week I spoke at the Launch of Farmers for Britain where I outlined my vision for a new UK agriculture policy post Brexit.
The CAP accounts for almost 40 percent of the EU budget, and its influence is all pervasive. Some 80 percent of legislation affecting DEFRA comes directly from the EU and it is stifling. EU rules frequently make trying to do the simplest of things complicated and often impossible. After decades of trying to achieve reform, I think it is time to face up to the truth. That the very concept of a pan-European legal system that tries to regulate everything related to agriculture is fundamentally flawed, and it is time to change the way we do things.
I think there should be four key themes to a future UK agriculture policy. Firstly, we must invest more in science and technology if we want our farms to make the next step forward. This includes adopting new genetic breeding techniques along with a new UK regulatory regime based on science, rather than the politics of the EU.
Secondly, farming has always been a risky business because of the weather and price volatility. Farmers want to earn their profit from the market but they need a helping hand when things go wrong. I want us to explore the potential for government backed insurance schemes like they have in Canada to help mitigate risk.
Thirdly, we must replace the existing system of "cross compliance" rules and the chaos caused by an annual application process with something simpler and more rounded.
Finally, to promote improved wildlife habitats and higher animal welfare standards, we would put in place a scheme similar to the environmental stewardship scheme we have now but we would make it simpler and broaden the remit of schemes to include measures that improve animal welfare.
If we vote to leave there would be no such thing as EU law. Ministers and their civil servants would be free to pilot new ways of doing things and we could actually deliver the change British farming craves.
The CAP accounts for almost 40 percent of the EU budget, and its influence is all pervasive. Some 80 percent of legislation affecting DEFRA comes directly from the EU and it is stifling. EU rules frequently make trying to do the simplest of things complicated and often impossible. After decades of trying to achieve reform, I think it is time to face up to the truth. That the very concept of a pan-European legal system that tries to regulate everything related to agriculture is fundamentally flawed, and it is time to change the way we do things.
I think there should be four key themes to a future UK agriculture policy. Firstly, we must invest more in science and technology if we want our farms to make the next step forward. This includes adopting new genetic breeding techniques along with a new UK regulatory regime based on science, rather than the politics of the EU.
Secondly, farming has always been a risky business because of the weather and price volatility. Farmers want to earn their profit from the market but they need a helping hand when things go wrong. I want us to explore the potential for government backed insurance schemes like they have in Canada to help mitigate risk.
Thirdly, we must replace the existing system of "cross compliance" rules and the chaos caused by an annual application process with something simpler and more rounded.
Finally, to promote improved wildlife habitats and higher animal welfare standards, we would put in place a scheme similar to the environmental stewardship scheme we have now but we would make it simpler and broaden the remit of schemes to include measures that improve animal welfare.
If we vote to leave there would be no such thing as EU law. Ministers and their civil servants would be free to pilot new ways of doing things and we could actually deliver the change British farming craves.
Thursday, 24 March 2016
Budget
The row that erupted last weekend regarding the Budget shows how difficult it can be to strike the right balance. I am a former chairman of the Conservative Disability Group which has argued for more support to help people with disabilities find work. Progress has been made. The Access to Work scheme provides grant funding to purchase any equipment or support that might help people take up work. However, there is no doubt that Personal Independence Payments are important to many people, and we need to exercise caution when considering change, so I was pleased that George Osborne announced he would review the decision to make further changes to PIP, and take time to consider alternative approaches.
The Budget contained good news for Cornwall on other fronts. Firstly, it was announced that there will be a new Enterprise Zone at Hayle to support the development of Wave Energy. Now that we have the new Marine Business Park built having these incentives are an important step forward.
George Osborne also announced the next steps to introduce the country’s first National Funding Formula for schools. For too long there have been inconsistencies in the way that schools are funded. The data used to inform the current formula is ten years old, and too often funding does not reach those students who need it most. The proposed National Funding Formula will change this, targeting need, and tackling some of the longstanding inequalities in the current system.
There was also help for small businesses who are the lifeblood of the Cornish economy. The permanent doubling of Small Business Rate Relief, alongside changes to the maximum threshold for relief from £12,000 to £15,000, means that 600,000 small businesses will never pay business rates again. This is important for Cornwall. Too often, I see new businesses set up in our local towns, but the burden of business rates knocks them out before they have the chance to establish themselves. This will now change, and is an incentive for anyone thinking of setting up on their own business.
The Budget contained good news for Cornwall on other fronts. Firstly, it was announced that there will be a new Enterprise Zone at Hayle to support the development of Wave Energy. Now that we have the new Marine Business Park built having these incentives are an important step forward.
George Osborne also announced the next steps to introduce the country’s first National Funding Formula for schools. For too long there have been inconsistencies in the way that schools are funded. The data used to inform the current formula is ten years old, and too often funding does not reach those students who need it most. The proposed National Funding Formula will change this, targeting need, and tackling some of the longstanding inequalities in the current system.
There was also help for small businesses who are the lifeblood of the Cornish economy. The permanent doubling of Small Business Rate Relief, alongside changes to the maximum threshold for relief from £12,000 to £15,000, means that 600,000 small businesses will never pay business rates again. This is important for Cornwall. Too often, I see new businesses set up in our local towns, but the burden of business rates knocks them out before they have the chance to establish themselves. This will now change, and is an incentive for anyone thinking of setting up on their own business.
Thursday, 17 March 2016
Environmental Sustainability Institute
Last week I visited the Environmental Sustainability Institute at the Tremough University campus in Penryn. They have been in operation for a few years now, and have just had an extension which reflects the high level of interest in the work being done there.
The university has been a catalyst for the creation of new businesses and new industries. Falmouth University has spun off many new businesses in the captive industries and digital media, while from the Exeter University part we are seeing world beating environmental science and, of course, the world’s foremost centre of excellence for geology at Camborne School of Mines.
The Environmental Sustainability Institute carries out leading environmental research for government departments like Defra and for private businesses. They have some state of the art science labs, and during my visit I saw some of the work being done to research bee populations, and their movements to try to provide the evidence base that will help our pollinator strategy, and help reverse the decline in bee populations.
I also saw some of the excellent work being done on drone technology which offers many new opportunities to help us understand the environment with drones being able to offer sophisticated survey data, and photography, providing us with a better understanding of the topography of the land, and a better assessment of issues like flood risk, plant health, soil quality and landscape features. This sort of sophisticated data is transforming our ability to manage both our environment, and to promote more efficient farming.
I also saw some of the work being done by a team investigating badger populations and movements which is of particular interest in my role as Defra minister when it comes to fighting TB. The badger cull policy is contentious, but we know it is an essential component of any coherent policy to eradicate this terrible disease, alongside other measures such as improving cattle movements. The more we can understand about badger populations, the better.
The university has been a catalyst for the creation of new businesses and new industries. Falmouth University has spun off many new businesses in the captive industries and digital media, while from the Exeter University part we are seeing world beating environmental science and, of course, the world’s foremost centre of excellence for geology at Camborne School of Mines.
The Environmental Sustainability Institute carries out leading environmental research for government departments like Defra and for private businesses. They have some state of the art science labs, and during my visit I saw some of the work being done to research bee populations, and their movements to try to provide the evidence base that will help our pollinator strategy, and help reverse the decline in bee populations.
I also saw some of the excellent work being done on drone technology which offers many new opportunities to help us understand the environment with drones being able to offer sophisticated survey data, and photography, providing us with a better understanding of the topography of the land, and a better assessment of issues like flood risk, plant health, soil quality and landscape features. This sort of sophisticated data is transforming our ability to manage both our environment, and to promote more efficient farming.
I also saw some of the work being done by a team investigating badger populations and movements which is of particular interest in my role as Defra minister when it comes to fighting TB. The badger cull policy is contentious, but we know it is an essential component of any coherent policy to eradicate this terrible disease, alongside other measures such as improving cattle movements. The more we can understand about badger populations, the better.
Thursday, 10 March 2016
St Piran's Day
Last Saturday I attended the St Piran’s Day celebrations in Redruth. This event goes from strength to strength every year and it was good to see the town centre packed and many local schools and groups taking part in the parade.
Over the last few years we have seen a growing interest in Cornwall’s history and culture, and our part of Cornwall is right at the heart of this revival. In Redruth, the new archive, Kresen Kernow, is now really starting to take shape on the site of the old brewery. The smart, new walkways and public spaces give a good indication of how the centre will look once completed.
I lobbied hard to have Redruth (the home of Cornwall’s world-wide diaspora) chosen for this project, and once complete the archive will bring about new jobs, housing, and kick-start the wider regeneration of the town centre. Elsewhere, Heartlands at Pool, having had a difficult start, is now starting to find its feet with a number of events such as concerts and the fireworks display that make it a community focus.
As well as projects that celebrate our historical achievements, it is also important to celebrate our unique, cultural heritage, and shortly before Christmas I proposed an idea to re-introduce a GCSE in the Cornish Language. Before 1996, students taking their GCSEs used to have the option of studying Cornish, but it was discontinued due to a lack of participation. I now think the time is right to reintroduce the Cornish language as a course. The evidence shows that there are benefits to learning a second language which go beyond the learning of the language itself, and while some students may feel uninspired by French or Spanish, they may feel more enthusiastic about studying their native language.
Over the last few years we have seen a growing interest in Cornwall’s history and culture, and our part of Cornwall is right at the heart of this revival. In Redruth, the new archive, Kresen Kernow, is now really starting to take shape on the site of the old brewery. The smart, new walkways and public spaces give a good indication of how the centre will look once completed.
I lobbied hard to have Redruth (the home of Cornwall’s world-wide diaspora) chosen for this project, and once complete the archive will bring about new jobs, housing, and kick-start the wider regeneration of the town centre. Elsewhere, Heartlands at Pool, having had a difficult start, is now starting to find its feet with a number of events such as concerts and the fireworks display that make it a community focus.
As well as projects that celebrate our historical achievements, it is also important to celebrate our unique, cultural heritage, and shortly before Christmas I proposed an idea to re-introduce a GCSE in the Cornish Language. Before 1996, students taking their GCSEs used to have the option of studying Cornish, but it was discontinued due to a lack of participation. I now think the time is right to reintroduce the Cornish language as a course. The evidence shows that there are benefits to learning a second language which go beyond the learning of the language itself, and while some students may feel uninspired by French or Spanish, they may feel more enthusiastic about studying their native language.
Thursday, 3 March 2016
Apprentices
I was a student at Cornwall College where I learnt how to weld and went on to study for a BTEC in Business and then farm management. So it was great to return there again last Friday for one of my regular updates on some of the good work they are doing on apprenticeships and training.
Cornwall College is currently the largest provider of apprenticeships in the South West, with over a thousand apprentices currently training in fields as diverse as plumbing, carpentry and engineering. There are over three hundred of these apprentices being run at Pool making it the largest site. The college has excellent facilities, dedicated staff and you could sense the commitment and enthusiasm of the students. In January, Ofsted recognised this, and praised the college as a catalyst for raising skills in Cornwall, highlighting the quality of the apprenticeships on offer.
The value of apprenticeships as a route into a rewarding career is increasingly recognised with talented students now often choosing an apprenticeship over a degree. It means they earn while they learn and begin their career progression far faster. The Government has its own ambitions to keep increasing the number of apprentices, and at the Autumn Statement in November, the Chancellor announced he would be introducing an apprenticeship levy on big business, with the goal of raising £3 billion in order to fund 3 million new apprenticeships by 2020. This will build on what has already been accomplished since 2010. According to the Office of National Statistics, there were 100,000 more young people in full time employment than last year-while in 2014/15, there were 500 new apprenticeship starts in Camborne and Redruth alone.
This is important and encouraging news for Cornwall. For too long we have seen our brightest young people leave for other parts of the country in search of new work opportunities, and as we seek to attract new industries and skilled jobs to Cornwall it is important that we continue developing skills so young people can take advantage of the new opportunities being created.
Cornwall College is currently the largest provider of apprenticeships in the South West, with over a thousand apprentices currently training in fields as diverse as plumbing, carpentry and engineering. There are over three hundred of these apprentices being run at Pool making it the largest site. The college has excellent facilities, dedicated staff and you could sense the commitment and enthusiasm of the students. In January, Ofsted recognised this, and praised the college as a catalyst for raising skills in Cornwall, highlighting the quality of the apprenticeships on offer.
The value of apprenticeships as a route into a rewarding career is increasingly recognised with talented students now often choosing an apprenticeship over a degree. It means they earn while they learn and begin their career progression far faster. The Government has its own ambitions to keep increasing the number of apprentices, and at the Autumn Statement in November, the Chancellor announced he would be introducing an apprenticeship levy on big business, with the goal of raising £3 billion in order to fund 3 million new apprenticeships by 2020. This will build on what has already been accomplished since 2010. According to the Office of National Statistics, there were 100,000 more young people in full time employment than last year-while in 2014/15, there were 500 new apprenticeship starts in Camborne and Redruth alone.
This is important and encouraging news for Cornwall. For too long we have seen our brightest young people leave for other parts of the country in search of new work opportunities, and as we seek to attract new industries and skilled jobs to Cornwall it is important that we continue developing skills so young people can take advantage of the new opportunities being created.
Friday, 26 February 2016
EU Referendum
Like many others I have been weighing up the arguments over EU membership. It has not been easy. I like the idea of working in cooperation with other countries and wanted to stay part of the Single Market, while returning to national control fundamental powers over issues such as justice, home affairs, farming and the environment.
However, it was not to be. The sorts of changes I wanted to see were deemed "not negotiable" by diplomats before the process even started. Therefore, with some reluctance, I have come to the conclusion that the only way to deliver the changes I want to see is to vote leave, end the supremacy of EU law and replace our membership of the EU with a new UK-EU partnership instead.
In government, there is a real premium on being able to act decisively to get things done and deliver change. However, huge areas of government policy are now emasculated by EU law. There is a constant torrent of regulation coming from Brussels backed up with endless threats of fines and legal proceedings. Rather than being free to think creatively of new ways of doing things, our Civil Service instead spend their days fretting about whether they are complying with this or that regulation.
There must be a better way of doing things. If we were to end the supremacy of EU law we could act with confidence. We would see more creative policy making. It would be easier to deliver change. We would be stronger and more influential on the world stage. We could work in close partnership with the EU but on our own terms. We would no longer have to put up with the European courts telling us what to do.
David Cameron deserves credit for being the first Prime Minister in forty years to actually deliver a referendum on the EU. Each and every one of us finally gets a say. On polling day your vote will be worth just as much as my vote or David Cameron's vote. Use it wisely.
However, it was not to be. The sorts of changes I wanted to see were deemed "not negotiable" by diplomats before the process even started. Therefore, with some reluctance, I have come to the conclusion that the only way to deliver the changes I want to see is to vote leave, end the supremacy of EU law and replace our membership of the EU with a new UK-EU partnership instead.
In government, there is a real premium on being able to act decisively to get things done and deliver change. However, huge areas of government policy are now emasculated by EU law. There is a constant torrent of regulation coming from Brussels backed up with endless threats of fines and legal proceedings. Rather than being free to think creatively of new ways of doing things, our Civil Service instead spend their days fretting about whether they are complying with this or that regulation.
There must be a better way of doing things. If we were to end the supremacy of EU law we could act with confidence. We would see more creative policy making. It would be easier to deliver change. We would be stronger and more influential on the world stage. We could work in close partnership with the EU but on our own terms. We would no longer have to put up with the European courts telling us what to do.
David Cameron deserves credit for being the first Prime Minister in forty years to actually deliver a referendum on the EU. Each and every one of us finally gets a say. On polling day your vote will be worth just as much as my vote or David Cameron's vote. Use it wisely.
Thursday, 18 February 2016
Local Government Funding
There has always been an historic imbalance in the amount of funding that is given by central Government to local authorities, with urban councils disproportionately benefiting at the expense of more rural ones like Cornwall Council, which face the challenges of providing services to an aging population in remote, geographically difficult areas.
That is why I joined the other local MPs in pressing the Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government to address this longstanding problem-and to give him credit-the Local Government Finance Settlement, which was announced this week, takes an important step in the right direction.
Under these new proposals, the amount of assistance provided to rural authorities, the Rural Services Delivery Grant, will be increased fivefold from £15.5million in 2015/16 to £80.5 million in 2016/17, which is recognition of the extra costs faced in delivering services in rural areas. Cornwall Council in particular will received £2.95 million in additional RSDG funding in 2016/17 and £1.46 million in 2017/18.
In addition, the Government has also announced that they will review the formula which is used when deciding how much funding local councils receive. This formula hasn’t been changed in ten years, but will now be amended so that it takes greater account of our ageing population and the pressure which this places on local services. This is a good deal for Cornwall, and will help close the unfair funding gap which has existed between rural and urban councils.
There has also been some positive news from the Department for Transport, which has announced that, despite earlier concerns, funding will be provided for Network Rail to carry out two important studies that will look at improving the railway infrastructure between London and Cornwall. I wrote to the Department for Transport, pressing them to provide funding for this study on electrification and journey time reduction-which will inform an important report that the Peninsula Rail Task Force is presenting to the Government this summer on the future of further investment and improvements in the South West rail network.
Thursday, 11 February 2016
Water Bills
Cornwall has always suffered from high water bills when compared to the rest of the country. This is partly due to the larger amount of coastline we have to maintain, but also due to our relatively low population, which means there are fewer people to shoulder the burden.
That is why in the last Parliament I made it a priority to press the Treasury to introduce a new £50 rebate for all household water bills in the South West. We managed to secure the £40 million funding for this, and for the last three years I have worked to make sure it was maintained, with George Osborne pledging again at the Autumn Statement to continue the scheme until 2020.
As a result, the average water bill in Cornwall will be £488 in 2016/17-lower than it was last year. Furthermore South West Water has also pledged to keep bills below the rate of inflation, which will also be welcome news for people in Cornwall struggling with the cost of living.
I recognise that despite this rebate, there will always be people who struggle to pay their water bills. However, there are other measures which people can take up in order to keep bills lower. This includes having a free water meter installed, which can typically bring savings of £400 a year, and SWW 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 receive some benefits.
Given that our water bills are still higher than the national average, I would also like to see further progress made on tackling the issue of emergency sewage discharges in Cornwall. The problems are partly caused by heavy rainfall, but exacerbated by our old, Victorian sewage system. I am therefore pleased that SWW have recently pledged to invest in delivering improvements at the Gwithian Sewage Treatment Works, along with other sewage improvements in places like Redruth. These won't solve the problem entirely, but they are another step in the right direction.
Thursday, 4 February 2016
Protecting Green Spaces
I
have always been clear that we should aim to protect green spaces in Cornwall
and have always taken a strong stance against field scale solar farms which I
believe are trashing the countryside and taking away valuable agricultural
land. I have been working to get improvements in the planning system and,
locally, we have received some positive news over the last week.
The Government has introduced tighter rules over the last couple
of years to provide greater protections for good land. These measures includes
a strong presumption against building solar developments on good agricultural
land and the scrapping of farm subsidies on land that has been developed into a
solar farm, to make clear that such land is no longer agricultural.
Locally there have been two ongoing proposals in particular which
have attracted controversy, one at Lanyon in Gwinear and another at Butteriss
Farm in Edgcumbe Both these applications were opposed by local residents, and
rejected by Cornwall Council, yet were still referred to the Planning
Inspectorate causing concern locally.
I
am a realist, and recognise there are no easy answers in regards to our future
energy supply. However, while I support solar panels being used on the roofs of
buildings and the development of offshore marine renewables we are now seeing
too many solar farms being built, with developer’s often riding rough shod over
local views and concerns.
That
is why I wrote to the Department for Communities & Local Government, asking
that the applications for Lanyon and Edgcumbe be "recovered" from the
Planning Inspectorate for final determination by the Secretary of State.
In
each case I think they raised issues about the way that national planning
policy is interpreted and the Secretary of State agreed with both cases being
recovered. It has subsequently been confirmed that the appeal at Edgcumbe
has now been refused, which will be a relief for everyone living in Edgcumbe.
We now await a new appeal hearing for Lanyon so that the community have a
chance to make their case.
Thursday, 28 January 2016
Economic Regeneration
Economic regeneration and job creation has always been one of my first priorities and over the last five years we have seen some positive steps forward.
The Kresen Kernow archive project, being built in Redruth, is well underway and you can now tour the smart, new walkways and public spaces. I campaigned hard to make Redruth the location of this project, which will not only safeguard the historic brewery site, but also create new jobs, kick-starting the wider regeneration of the town.
These are also exciting times for Hayle, where the development of South Quay will transform the landscape and local economy. The new Asda has been up and running since 2014, and once finished South Quay will play host to new restaurants and housing which will revive the harbour area. Meanwhile, the new Marine Business Park has just been completed at the far end of North Quay and plans are finally starting to develop to build new housing and retail space on the remainder to compete the regeneration.
I am now looking at a number of new projects throughout the constituency. The success of superfast broadband and facilities like the Pool Innovation Centre and Barncoose Gateway has attracted new businesses and start-ups to Cornwall and there is a demand for additional work space in the CPR area. One reason I lobbied so hard to secure funding for the creation of the East-West link road, was that it would unlock derelict mining land in Tuckingmill for development, and I want to see this land used so that new industries can move in and create skilled, well paid jobs for the area. That is why the idea of a new Fibre Park linked to Cornwall College has so much potential to build on what's been started in the computer software industry.
Other sites on my list include Avers roundabout. It has been a derelict eye sore for too long and it's time to get that end of Redruth sorted out. Once the archive is complete and the new developments around Tolgus begin, Avers roundabout will become an important gateway site.
The Kresen Kernow archive project, being built in Redruth, is well underway and you can now tour the smart, new walkways and public spaces. I campaigned hard to make Redruth the location of this project, which will not only safeguard the historic brewery site, but also create new jobs, kick-starting the wider regeneration of the town.
These are also exciting times for Hayle, where the development of South Quay will transform the landscape and local economy. The new Asda has been up and running since 2014, and once finished South Quay will play host to new restaurants and housing which will revive the harbour area. Meanwhile, the new Marine Business Park has just been completed at the far end of North Quay and plans are finally starting to develop to build new housing and retail space on the remainder to compete the regeneration.
I am now looking at a number of new projects throughout the constituency. The success of superfast broadband and facilities like the Pool Innovation Centre and Barncoose Gateway has attracted new businesses and start-ups to Cornwall and there is a demand for additional work space in the CPR area. One reason I lobbied so hard to secure funding for the creation of the East-West link road, was that it would unlock derelict mining land in Tuckingmill for development, and I want to see this land used so that new industries can move in and create skilled, well paid jobs for the area. That is why the idea of a new Fibre Park linked to Cornwall College has so much potential to build on what's been started in the computer software industry.
Other sites on my list include Avers roundabout. It has been a derelict eye sore for too long and it's time to get that end of Redruth sorted out. Once the archive is complete and the new developments around Tolgus begin, Avers roundabout will become an important gateway site.
Thursday, 21 January 2016
Helping those in debt
The economy is improving, but one of the challenges is to make sure the recovery reaches everyone. This is why reforming the benefit system is important, so that work pays and also why we need intensive support to help those who have been out of work for a long time get their confidence back.
We also need to recognise the crippling affect that personal debt can have on those who have fallen on hard times. This does not just mean those on benefits. Many people who work 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.
I have previously held a personal debt conference to discuss this issue in further detail. The Citizens Advice Bureau regularly offers debt advice to those at their wits end and the Government set up the Money Advice Service with the key objective of encouraging people to better manage their money. There is also the Kernow Credit Union, which offers an ethical and safe alternative to the traditional bank model.
This weekend I met with Teresa Bailey, the new branch manager of Christians Against Poverty. CAP are a great charity based in Redruth and which helps local people who are struggling with debt and don’t know where to turn. CAP provides free one-on-one meetings and helps negotiate payment plans and settlements with utility companies, banks and other creditors. Founded in 1996, CAP are a great organisation and operate 290 debt centres across the UK. It can only take one knock in life to end up in debt and if you are looking for help CAP can be contacted on 0800 3280 006.
We also need to recognise the crippling affect that personal debt can have on those who have fallen on hard times. This does not just mean those on benefits. Many people who work 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.
I have previously held a personal debt conference to discuss this issue in further detail. The Citizens Advice Bureau regularly offers debt advice to those at their wits end and the Government set up the Money Advice Service with the key objective of encouraging people to better manage their money. There is also the Kernow Credit Union, which offers an ethical and safe alternative to the traditional bank model.
This weekend I met with Teresa Bailey, the new branch manager of Christians Against Poverty. CAP are a great charity based in Redruth and which helps local people who are struggling with debt and don’t know where to turn. CAP provides free one-on-one meetings and helps negotiate payment plans and settlements with utility companies, banks and other creditors. Founded in 1996, CAP are a great organisation and operate 290 debt centres across the UK. It can only take one knock in life to end up in debt and if you are looking for help CAP can be contacted on 0800 3280 006.
Thursday, 14 January 2016
Council Funding
For too long Cornwall has not received its fair share of funding from central government with a disproportionate amount of money being directed to inner cities in the North.
We are starting to see some progress in challenging this. In education, the formula is outdated and has always favoured local authorities in urban areas around cities. In the last Parliament we put an extra £390 million to help top up areas that were under funded and the Prime Minister has made clear that he now wants to see a wholesale reform of the formula so that it targets need rather than being based on historic inaccuracies. We also managed to protect the Devon & Cornwall policing budget this autumn, meaning the force will now be £50 million a year off better than expected.
Just before Christmas, the Department for Communities & Local Government published their provisional Local Governance Finance Settlement for 2016/17, which sets out the amount of funding local authorities will receive from central government. By 2019/20 Cornwall Council will have total resources available of £445m, as opposed to £432.9m in 2016/17.
There were some elements that are less welcome such as a reduction in the short term of some of the rural weightings that had existed before. However, this should be offset by an increase in the help given to rural councils and the prioritising of Adult Social Care through a new 2 percent Adult Social Care precept on council tax. If adopted in full, this would mean a £34.4 million increase in Adult Social Care funding by 2019/20, providing Cornwall Council with more resources to draw upon to care for those who require long term support.
There is still more to be done. On the NHS, although the budget nationally has been increased I think there are still some issues around the way the national formula is applied. Cornwall has a larger elderly population than other parts of the country, and more recognition should be given to this. But on some fronts at least things are moving in the right direction.
We are starting to see some progress in challenging this. In education, the formula is outdated and has always favoured local authorities in urban areas around cities. In the last Parliament we put an extra £390 million to help top up areas that were under funded and the Prime Minister has made clear that he now wants to see a wholesale reform of the formula so that it targets need rather than being based on historic inaccuracies. We also managed to protect the Devon & Cornwall policing budget this autumn, meaning the force will now be £50 million a year off better than expected.
Just before Christmas, the Department for Communities & Local Government published their provisional Local Governance Finance Settlement for 2016/17, which sets out the amount of funding local authorities will receive from central government. By 2019/20 Cornwall Council will have total resources available of £445m, as opposed to £432.9m in 2016/17.
There were some elements that are less welcome such as a reduction in the short term of some of the rural weightings that had existed before. However, this should be offset by an increase in the help given to rural councils and the prioritising of Adult Social Care through a new 2 percent Adult Social Care precept on council tax. If adopted in full, this would mean a £34.4 million increase in Adult Social Care funding by 2019/20, providing Cornwall Council with more resources to draw upon to care for those who require long term support.
There is still more to be done. On the NHS, although the budget nationally has been increased I think there are still some issues around the way the national formula is applied. Cornwall has a larger elderly population than other parts of the country, and more recognition should be given to this. But on some fronts at least things are moving in the right direction.
Friday, 8 January 2016
Winter Floods
It has been another stormy winter and, once again, many communities in Britain have had their Christmas ruined by flooding. In Cornwall we had plenty of gale force winds and lots of rainfall but, unlike two years ago when the tidal surges damaged sea defences at Portreath and Penzance, this time the worst of the damage has been seen in Yorkshire, Scotland and Cumbria, which saw the heaviest rainfall since records began in 1910.
Around the world we seem to be seeing an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. It is not just here in the UK. Over the Christmas period we also saw extreme flooding in the USA and in October there was severe flooding in the French Riviera. Meanwhile, other parts of the world are experiencing other extreme events. Australia started 2015 with severe bush fires around Adelaide and it ended 2015 over the Christmas period with more bush fires started by lightning storms and fuelled by arid weather.
One factor that could be driving the increased frequency of extreme weather events is climate change and that is why we must continue to make progress to reduce carbon emissions. However, many of the current weather events are being put down to the El Niño effect: a naturally occurring cycle that develops every four or five years due to warm ocean currents in the South Pacific which then have knock on effects on weather systems throughout the world.
This means we also need to plan to manage and mitigate flood risk. In the last parliament, the Government spent over £1.5 billion on investment in flood defences and during the current parliament we plan to invest an additional £2.3 billion, supporting around 1500 schemes that will help protect some 300,000 homes.
This projects will include major pieces of infrastructure such as tidal barriers to the development of natural flood plains and shore line defences to minimise impacts. We will never be able to guarantee that extreme weather events will be avoided, but we are doing all we can to plan for them.
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