In Westminster
Parliament debated three major bills this week relating to pensions, local government, and the new High Speed rail link.
Firstly, the Pensions Bill introduces measures to replace the current basic State Pension and additional State Pension with a flat-rate pension that is set above the basic level of means-tested support. The Bill also introduces a change which will see the State Pension age rise from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028. This will need to be handled with care and sensitivity, to ensure that the people who are affected by the transition to the new retirement age are not unfairly affected.
Secondly, the Local Audit and Accountability Bill will abolish the Audit Commission and will allow for greater local scrutiny of public bodies. This is a good thing if local communities will feel more empowered about influencing the decisions that are taking place around them. For example, the Bill gives local taxpayers the right in some cases to veto excessive council tax rises in areas such as local transport, and waste disposal.
Thirdly, Parliament also considered the next stage of the High Speed 2 Rail Bill. It is clearly right to invest in improving transport links to cities in the North of England, as long as costs are carefully managed. Of paramount importance to me however is the quality of our train service in Teignbridge and the South West! The recent investment secured for track flood defences and station improvements in Dawlish is a good start, but I want to see even more done. We need investment in modern rolling stock, and more frequent and reliable services locally. These are issues that I will be pursuing with Government ministers in the coming months.
As a Work and Pensions Select Committee member, I have been looking at the future of Jobcentre Plus and the service they provide to jobseekers and employers. Some people are concerned whether JCP can meet this challenge by using its current IT systems, and the Committee is looking closely at this. I am keen to see JCP show more flexibility and think further about new ways of using private sector expertise, so that it can help the full range of people who want to return to work.
I was pleased to meet Stokeinteignhead resident Anna Leatherdale during her visit to Parliament this week to receive her prize as a ‘TalkTalk Digital Champion’. Anna has undertaken a brilliant project to develop dance lessons online for Parkinson’s sufferers. Key to this was her access to the internet. Broadband coverage in Teignbridge remains a real frustration for many of my constituents, and is an issue that I am constantly raising with ministers, the Council and BT.
This week I met with senior executives from Devon County Council and highlighted the issues that constituents are raising with me about the poor broadband coverage in some areas. As a result they are taking this forward over the coming weeks, and we have a meeting lined up in Teignbridge with BT. Fast and reliable broadband is now taken for granted in many parts of the country, but it is equally vital to the quality of life and to the livelihoods of people in Teignbridge. This is an issue that I will not give up on, as it is vital to the businesses and families of people in this area.
Devon County Council have also updated me on the current status of the Plymouth and Peninsula City Deal, which is an exciting partnership bringing together national and local government, education and private business in an effort to boost economic growth in our area. A successful City Deal has the potential to create 10,000 new jobs in Devon and Cornwall, as well as attracting much needed new private sector investment into the South West. I will continue to do all I can to support this bid before a decision is made in December.
Back Home
After a busy surgery on Friday morning I met with Tony Hogg, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, to discuss policing issues across the area. Good news is that crime in Devon fell 5.3 per cent over the last year and our local bobbies continue to do a fantastic job. However crime in Teignbridge itself has actually risen, so I want to get to the bottom of this and work with the police to bring it down.
Surgeries
I will be holding a surgery at Dawlish Manor House from 9:30am on Friday 15th November. Please contact my office on 01626 368 277 if you would like an appointment. I will also be holding a supermarket surgery in Teignmouth Morrison’s from 11:30am that day if you’d like to drop by.