Whist it seemed like spring had arrived, at the time of writing we have further flood warnings in parts of Somerset. Localised issues are not always easy to predict (often it’s families who have lived in an area for many years who understand the patterns best) but the Government website has a pretty good check for flooding service and it’s worth checking for delays before travelling. As usual I am kept updated by the water companies and other stakeholders and they generally respond quickly to any problems. Flooding is a terrible thing to happen to any home or business and I hope we get through the week with very little of that.
The Government has just announced a major new package of support for our farmers, as we look to champion the countryside and better protect British farming for the next generation, including enhancing food security. It includes a package of grants and competitions for farmers worth £427million, as well as a nationwide food security index, new rules to make sure farmers always get fair prices for their products and cutting red tape in the planning system to help grow businesses. I like the idea floated that farm shops will not need planning permission and look forward to consulting with our local NFU and others to hear their views.
I had a meeting with Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, just before half term to talk about Leonardo’s bid to supply AW149s to our military as the Home of British Helicopters. I wish the process could move more quickly but I’ll keep supporting it in Westminster as well as looking at potential export opportunities.
I am also still pushing for a proper regeneration plan and meetings with the Council over it. We have seen too much wastage of funds that should be ringfenced for real transformation. Making the most of opportunities to trabsform things is the best way to improve the financial position and opportunities for people in the future. The Octagon Theatre is a potential example after I helped secure a £10million Government grant for its redevelopment and transformative expansion but due to the Council’s ineptitude all that has happened is a lengthy closure and now seemingly just a modest plan to fill in the holes they bashed in it and reopen slightly improved with that huge sum of money.
In the weeks before the Budget I will continue to build on meetings I have had with Treasury Ministers and others to help our small and medium sized local businesses as well, such as pubs and hospitality, with non-inflationary tax cuts. I am also calling for raising the VAT threshold to get more people and resources into employment.
Finally, I think it’s a positive step that the Government is working on guidelines for schools to effectively ban mobile phones in schools. The All Party Group on Education that I chair recently had a very good session on the benefits of physical activity and fresh air on attainment and this seems like the other part of the equation. Social media is designed to feed off anxiety and negativity which is undoubtedly a factor in the increased number of young people with issues in these areas. Schools can’t spread the message alone though and as parents we should look at our own habits too to try to set the right example.
