Wednesday, 27 March 2013 12:12
There were two big events in Westminster last week; the response to the Leveson report on press freedom and the Budget.
On Leveson, I said in December that I felt we had reached a time when some sort of statutory underpinning may be required for any regulations to be effective. I do feel strongly that we should have a free press but recent events had drawn me to the conclusion that some legislative back stop was required. However I did say I would wait to see what the cross party negotiation recommended. There was talk of who gave what and which party leader won the argument. I wasn't interested in that, I was more concerned with a workable compromise and I was pleased to see one agreed. The Royal Charter carries some small legislative changes with it so whilst I foresaw a disagreement between myself and the Prime Minister's position, the compromise appears to have resolved any differences across political divides
The Budget, delivered on Wednesday, contained some good news for High Peak residents and businesses. The cancellation of yet another of the Labour Government’s proposed fuel duty hikes due in September mean that fuel will be 13p per litre less than they proposed. It is still expensive but I am pleased the Chancellor has again listened to representations from myself and others. The help for home buyers with deposits and mortgages should also help High Peak residents looking to buy homes. Corporation tax reductions will help companies and the cutting of £2000 of companies’ NI contributions will be a great boost, especially for small businesses.
People will have more money in their wage packets next month as the previously announced rise in personal allowance kicks in but a further rise announced for 2014 means that people will be able to earn £10,000 tax free from next April. The abolition of the beer duty escalator and the 1p reduction will also help our local pubs at a time when they have been finding things tough. There was good news for victims of Equitable Life. Under present arrangements pre 1992 victims were not compensated. I disagreed with this and voted against the Government in protest. Consequently I was delighted when the Chancellor told the house that these victims would now be eligible for compensation after all.
We still live in difficult times. The Eurozone is increasing the difficulties facing our own recovery there is no room for complacency but the Chancellor showed on Wednesday that he is listening and doing what he can to help people.
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Thursday, 21 March 2013 09:00
One of the many challenges facing small businesses up and down the country – including in the High Peak – is that of cash flow. At a time when money is tight and access to finance is not as easy as it once was, ensuring that customers pay their bills on time is always a high priority for the small business owner.
Very often the hardest customers to pursue for payment are the largest companies. This can create a David and Goliath situation where the small business owner is trying to get his or her money, yet does not want to disturb the trading relationship between the two companies, as the purchasing power of the large company is crucial to the survival of its smaller supplier.
Consequently I was delighted to learn last week that the number of FTSE 350 firms signing up to the Prompt Payment Code has tripled. There are now 126 firms signed up to the code with 94 new firms signing up since November last year. Ministers are ensuring that Central Government leads by example by paying its suppliers on time but it is encouraging to see these large firms also embracing the principle and, included within the figures, 64% of the FTSE 100 companies have signed up to the code with more in the process of signing.
The Prompt Payment Code is a code of conduct which commits signatories to pay their suppliers on time. Business Minister Michael Fallon wrote to big businesses last year urging them to sign up or be named publicly as non signatories.
The Federation of Small Businesses has produced research that shows around three quarters of their members have experienced late payment. This late payment can be crippling for small and micro businesses. If they can’t get their bill settled promptly it then prevents them paying their suppliers and it leads into a downward spiral. This can severely restrict small businesses growth and in some cases can even send them into insolvency. The Prompt Payment Code is a significant commitment for companies and not just a gesture. I am pleased that these big firms are taking it seriously and putting their names to it. I hope that by paying their bills quickly that will then filter through supply chains right down to the smallest companies whose need for prompt payment is very often the greatest.
Thursday, 14 March 2013 11:23
When I speak to colleagues representing constituencies in the south east they tell me that the vast majority of their case work revolves around immigration issues. My case work contains some immigration but not huge amounts, however when I speak to High Peak residents it is an issue that does cause great concern.
Under the previous Government immigration increased hugely. When countries like Poland joined the EU, Britain allowed free and unfettered immigration from these new accession countries whilst other EU member states favoured a graduated approach. The Government of the day estimated there would be between 5-13,000 Poles coming to Britain each year. These estimates proved to be hopelessly below the actual figures of over 250,000 within two years.
The Coalition pledged to get immigration under control and recently published figures have shown that the figures are now coming down. Net migration to the end of June 2012 has fallen to 163,000 from 247,000 the previous year, a fall of 84,000 or almost a third. These figures are a positive sign that the Government are on course to reduce immigration from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands by the next Election. In addition the Government has introduced proper transitional controls for any new EU accession states.
Immigration is a sensitive subject but it has been a good thing for the country and we cannot just say no more, however there needs to be more controls than in recent years. The Government's tough policies mean that the number of visas issued is now at its lowest level since 2005, but we still need to be able to attract the 'brightest and the best' from all over the world. In that respect there is further encouraging news with a 3% increase in visa applications under Tier 2 which shows that the 'brightest and the best' are looking to come here. Tier 2 visa applications are the means by which skilled people can apply to work in Britain. It has fairly stringent conditions that ensure that talented people can gain access to Britain to live, work and contribute to the economy of the country. The increase in this type of application show that Britain can and is still attracting the best people from across the world to work here.
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Wednesday, 06 March 2013 14:13
Readers will remember some time ago that the High Peak was selected as a pilot area for a Government backed scheme of parenting classes. This scheme provides £100 worth of parenting classes for parents of children aged up to 5 years of age. It was devised after research showed a high level of parents of pre school children wanted to receive additional information and advice. The Dept of Education want people to view these classes in the same way that they look at things like ante natal classes i.e. a normal part of raising young children. At the end of the trial the results will be evaluated to help decide future policy on parenting classes.
The CANparent scheme is now up and running, there are nine providers across the High Peak offering different ranges of classes and I would encourage any parents across the High Peak to take up this opportunity. As well as picking up useful information it can be a chance to meet with other parents with young children. I recently met with Rachel Harman and Nigel Caldwell from the High Peak CVS who have been rolling the exercise out across the High Peak. They have done an enormous amount of work to raise the profile of the classes and they have more events in the pipeline.
If you are a parent don’t hesitate to contact Rachel at the CVS on 01663 736431, or my constituency office 01298 26698 for further details. Also if you know any parents, or if you own or run a business in the High Peak there is a good chance that you will have employees who have small children, please make them aware of what is on offer. As well as the CVS as a point of contact there is a website with more details. At www.canparent.org.uk you can put in your postcode and it will direct you to a list of the offerings in the High Peak as well as being able to download the £100 voucher. Alternatively it gives a list of places in the High Peak where the vouchers can be collected in person.
I was delighted that the High Peak was chosen as a pilot area and hope that we can make the best of this offer to provide help and support to parents and children across the constituency.
Thursday, 21 February 2013 09:24
Despite claims made by Ed Balls and others that it was impossible, and that the Prime Minister had isolated himself and Britain by his Euro-sceptic stance, David Cameron made a statement to the House last week in which he reported his success in negotiating a reduction in the EU budget for the first time in its history.
Readers may recall that I, and others, had called for this in a Commons vote some time ago. The EU was looking for an increase in its budget which I felt was wrong, and completely out of tune with the financial savings we are all having to make at this time.
These negotiations were on something called the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). This sets the spending limit for the EU for the next seven years. Under the last seven year framework, which runs out this year, the limit was €943bn (£816bn at current exchange rates). The European Commission, supported by many other countries, wanted to increase it – to €988bn (£855bn). At the time I was incensed by this as it showed a complete lack of acknowledgement of the difficult times we live in and the unwillingness of the EU to play its part in saving money.
There was a move to look to a real terms freeze – i.e. increase only with inflation – but this was still not good enough for me at the recent vote. I felt very strongly that the budget should be cut.
Consequently I was delighted when the Prime Minister returned from the all-night negotiations having secured a cut of €80bn (£69bn) to €908bn (£785bn). Despite earlier comments, the Prime Minister was not isolated in his position, instead he found like-minded allies who worked together to achieve this historic deal that is better for Britain.
As part of the MFF, the way this money is raised was also discussed. There were calls to undermine the British rebate; these calls were rejected by the Prime Minister. Tony Blair gave up part of our rebate many years ago, something for which we are still paying, yet there seems to have been little gained by that surrender.
David Cameron was immovable on this issue and preserved the rebate. As a result he made two significant achievements – a reduction in the spending limits and preserving the rebate, both things I applaud and agree with.
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