Above: Anne Marie Morris delivers campaign paper plates from Trinity School children to the Prime Minister.
In Westminster
The House is back in session following the recent recess and the focus of our debates this week has been progressing the Finance Bill through its Second Reading and Committee Stage. The Finance Bill usually follows the Budget and it is always debated in considerable detail with sufficient time allocated to allow arguments to flow backwards and forwards across the House. Usually, the committee stages of bills are academic affairs as the technicalities of particular clauses are discussed in depth. The committee stages of the Finance Bill are different as numerous amendments are debated on the floor of the House. The debates are often allowed to proceed beyond our usual sitting hours and this year was no exception.
On Tuesday, Westminster Hall played host to an interesting and lively debate on off gas grid households. Although the Government has recognised the need to help consumers with one of their biggest costs domestic energy bills, that help has been directed to those who are on mains gas and electricity. Here it is trying to keep prices down and ensure customers get a fair deal. However, many don’t have that choice, particularly in rural communities where often the only option is oil or LPG gas; both of which are more expensive and in most cases have to be paid up front as lump sum payments. Along with fellow MPs, I asked the government to review inadequate regulation which does little to protect consumers and to consider a rural policy for energy in the same way as we have a rural policy for broadband.
On Monday, proceedings began with Defence Questions and I was fortunate to draw a question in the ballot. I have visited a number of cadet units in our area and I am pleased that the Ministry of Defence has helped fund the building of a new centre to house Newton Abbot ACF Detachment and Newton Abbot ATC Detachment. I used my question to thank the Minister for the investment that has been made and he indicated in response that he will look at visiting Newton Abbot to see the new centre for himself.
On Wednesday, the usual political hurly burly of Prime Ministers Question Time was suspended as Westminster united to pay our last respects to Baroness Thatcher. Her coffin was carried from The Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in Parliament to St Paul’s Cathedral. Big Ben fell silent as a mark of respect and crowds lined the route to say their last goodbyes.
Making Change & In The Patch
As a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, I have had the chance to scrutinise Government plans and proposals for work related benefits and pensions. We have been looking in detail at the new single tier pension and, more generally, the governance of the pension industry and the efficacy of the Work Programme. This week we looked at our future work programme which contained a number of interesting issues to look into. For me, one of the most important things the Government needs to do now is properly explain the change in pension arrangements to a single tier scheme. It needs to debunk the myth that those on the new pension will automatically be better off than those under the existing scheme.
You will recall from a previous column that I visited Trinity School in Teignmouth during the recent recess to learn about their campaign to get better recognition from the Government of the importance of ensuring everyone in the world has enough food. The children were supporting a wider campaign backed by Oxfam and they presented me with a number of paper plates on which they had written their ideas about what a responsible government should do. I promised to deliver these plates with their messages to No 10 Downing Street and this week on Thursday that is exactly what I did!
On Friday I met up with Teignmouth Harbour Commission, Teignbridge District Council and Devon County Council to talk through issues affecting the port and the estuary more generally including Fish Quay, Polly Steps and the Teign Estuary Partnership. It was a very productive meeting on some key projects and the teamwork between all those involved has been excellent and is delivering results.
Surgeries & Getting Together
My next surgery will take place on Friday 3rd May at 9am in Teignmouth. Please telephone 01626 368277 to make an appointment or to discuss an issue that cannot wait until my next surgery. I will also be holding a surgery on Friday 3rd April at 11.30am in Sainsbury’s (Penn Inn) where no appointment is necessary. My next Face to Face will also be on Friday 3rd May at 6.30pm at the Union Inn in Denbury. I look forward to seeing you there.