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Cornish MPs urge Government to cancel failed housing strategy
Following the announcement that Government plans to build over 70,000 new houses in Cornwall in the next 20 years have been put on hold, Cornwall's MPs are urging the Government to scrap their targets and instead focus on the delivery of affordable homes.
The Government's proposals are contained in the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the South West which is the development plan for the region for the next 20 years. It sets out how many homes the Government believes should be built in Cornwall by 2026.
The RSS, which requires a signature from the Secretary of State, was already delayed after more than 35,000 representations were made, the largest ever for such a consultation. However, the most recent delay was announced after a High Court ruling was made regarding the RSS for the East of England, which judges said failed to meet EU rules.
The five Liberal Democrat Cornish MPs have been campaigning against the RSS urging the Government to abandon their top down plans to force high numbers of unaffordable new properties on Cornwall and adopt instead a locally led strategy to concentrate on providing homes for those local people in the greatest need.
They argue that for the last 40 years, Cornwall has been one of the fastest growing places in the UK (exceeded only by Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire). In that time, Cornwall's housing stock has more than doubled. In spite of this, Cornwall’s housing problems have got worse. The Cornish MPs have urged the Government to give Cornwall greater freedom to set its own housing strategy rather than to have house building targets dictated from Whitehall.
"It’s a straight choice," says Andrew George MP. "Either Cornwall remains powerless to resist our countryside being swamped as it is turned into a developer's paradise. Or we are given the power to meet local housing need first.
“The excessive building of unaffordable homes over the last forty years is part of the problem, not the solution. While the Government's master plan lies in a persistent vegetative state, Ministers should give Cornish communities the right to give the priority to meet local housing need, whilst resisting developments which fail to help meet that need.”
North Cornwall MP Dan Rogerson agrees: "The many unfinished housing developments in Cornwall demonstrate well that designing projects without the local market in mind is bad for everyone. Developers' persistent pursuit of the second and holiday home market has resulted in there being blocks of unsaleable luxury properties in areas like Newquay but a serious shortage of affordable housing for local people who need it.
"The Government’s housing targets have done nothing to help. It's their reliance on the downward pressure of ministerial tick boxes and distrust of communities to pressure councils for more affordable housing, which has put us into this dire situation. What makes them think a Council with 17,000 people on the waiting list would refuse to build affordable housing, if only they were given the funds and the freedom to do so?
"Despite Government targets, the construction industry is in crisis and people are still searching high and low for adequate places to live. Ministers should admit that the principle and the process of deciding a vast 'regional' spatial strategy has failed miserably, and give Cornwall the cash and choice to solve our own local housing problems."
George seeks reassurance over European Funding
In the House of Commons yesterday Andrew George MP sought reassurance from Government Ministers that Cornwall will not lose out on much-needed European investment due to a lack of matching funds from UK public bodies which face budget restraints during the recession.
During today's Foreign and Commonwealth questions Mr George asked about the Government's recent discussions with EU counterparts over proposals to bring forward investment under the EU's structural funds programmes. “Given the uncertainty and indeed the cuts to the learning and skills council, the higher education funding council and the RDA budgets in the UK, he said. "What reassurance can the Minister give both the EU Council and also those deprived UK regions like Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly that convergence programmes will not suffer from the lack of UK matched funding?”
The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth, Chris Bryant MP, replied: “I can make you an absolute guarantee that there would not be a single extra penny that would be needed for matched funding in the UK that would be brought forward by this proposal - which has not been outlined in full detail by the European Commission.
“There would not be a single penny missing in relation to the European Social Fund which as he knows in Cornwall has already delivered significant additional benefits in terms of the EMBARK programme and welfare to workforce for Cornwall. Every single penny in matched funding has already been provided.” 01.07.2009
Fishermen and scientists can work together on Marine Bill - George
Speaking in a Commons debate yesterday evening, local MP, Andrew George, highlighted the recent drama in which four marine biologists were saved by local fishermen when their boat overturned off Land’s End - saying that it symbolised the shared interest in mutual support which could improve marine conservation and secure a more sustainable fishing industry.
Mr George, who was speaking from his Party's Front Bench and who will lead for the remaining stages of the Bill through the House of Commons, referred to the capsizing of an 18 ft vessel at the Runnel Stone near Land's End where local marine biologist, Dr Nick Tregenza, and three colleagues were thrown into the sea but were saved by local fishermen, Andrew Pascoe and Jesse Walter, before being taken by the Penlee Lifeboat into Newlyn.
The Marine Bill proposes the creation of new Marine Conservation Zones which would control aggregate extraction, dredging, some types of fishing activity and other exploitation of the sea's resources.
Mr George welcomed the Bill but emphasised to the Commons that "it would be wrong to characterise fishermen as interested only in plundering the stocks of the sea". Mr George highlighted some local examples to demonstrate that fishermen have been becoming increasingly keen to work with scientists to aid stock recovery and to promote sensible marine conservation.
Speaker's Conference: MP outs himself!
Local MP, Andrew George, admitted that he has been overcoming a significant disability throughout his political career.
Mr George is a member of "The Speaker's Conference" Committee which is currently undertaking an inquiry to investigate the ways in which the House of Commons and the political parties can make themselves more accessible and relevant to the general public.
In yesterday's session in the Commons, the Committee heard evidence from a range of disability charities and campaign organisations including Leonard Cheshire, Scope, and charities on behalf of the deaf, blind and the British Stammering Association.
Mr George admitted that he had to overcome and still has to overcome a significant problem with his own stammer. Mr George was speaking to Mr Leys Geddes, Vice Chair of the British Stammering Association during the evidence session. Mr George admitted that, during his upbringing, his stammer had been so pronounced that many people he grew up with were surprised that he eventually chose to go into a career which involved so much public speaking. He admitted that it had, occasionally, been a significant impediment but one he was determined to overcome.
Coastal communities deserve support following coastal projections
Speaking in the House of Commons today the MP for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Constituency of St. Ives, Andrew George, urged the Environment Secretary, the Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP, to give lower lying coastal communities clearer advice on whether their homes and businesses would be protected from rising sea levels over the coming century.
Mr George represents a number of lower lying settlements on the Isles of Scilly and at parts of Long Rock, Penzance, Hayle and other areas in his constituency. The Secretary of State's statement today on UK Climate Projections predicted that there would be significant sea level changes of about 36 centimetres in many areas over the next 70 years. Mr George asked Mr Benn if the Environment Agency’s soon to be published "Shoreline Management Plans" would offer clear guidance on coastal protection and to help communities resist further development near the present water line.
The statement was made to Parliament at 12.23 today, and Mr George spoke at approximately 1.10pm.
Minister promises that "future looks better" for Cornish NHS
A Government Minister said in the Commons yesterday evening that the Government wanted "more funding to go to Cornwall" and that the future of the local NHS "looks better for the changes in the funding formula".
The Minister, Rt. Hon Mike O’Brien MP, was responding to a debate called by the West Cornwall MP, Andrew George. Mr George secured the debate on "NHS Funding and Services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly" to highlight concerns about the projected £56.5 million funding shortfall which he argued placed "chronic" pressure on many local health services in Cornwall. Not just its hospitals, but mental health, dental, maternity and primary care services.
His Parliamentary colleagues, Julia Goldsworthy MP and Dan Rogerson MP, also took part in the 1½ hour debate in the Commons Chamber.
Cornish MPs have been campaigning to encourage the Government to review the NHS allocation formula. After a long and protracted study, consultation and the deliberation of the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation the Government agreed in December last year that the formula had been working to the detriment of Cornwall and a revised formula would be put in place from April this year. Cornwall had therefore suffered many years of underfunding since the then Conservative Government had last set the allocation formula.
The result of this is that the Department of Health then published a table setting out the "target" for funding - i.e. what the local PCT should be getting. It then informed PCTs the actual amount they will receive. For Cornwall this process leaves the local NHS a long way - £56 million or 6.2% - below its "target". The Government intends to move "below target" PCTs gradually towards their "target". This is not achieved in one year because the Government does not want it to "result in painful cuts to services" in those areas (mostly London and the South East) which receives funding above target.
Mr George asked the Minister if he knew - at the present rate of progress - how many years it would take for Cornwall to reach its "target". Mr O’Brien admitted that he could not answer that question.
Mr George said: "The new funding formula is a major victory for Cornwall and the future funding of the local NHS. However, we have many years of relative chronic underfunding to recover from. To leave Cornwall £56 million below what the Government believes we should be getting is merely adding insult to injury.
"Instead of insisting that Cornwall builds independent treatment centres or a single super surgery, it would be better for the Government to give the money to Cornwall now and let the local community have a bigger say in the management of its own services."
Government stance on Parthenon marbles is "embarrassing"
Responding to the Government's statement that it does not intend to alter its stance on British ownership of the Parthenon Sculptures, despite the opening of a state-of-the-art new exhibition centre in Athens, Chairman of the campaign group Marbles Reunited Andrew George MP said:
"Britain should congratulate Greece on the opening of their magnificent New Acropolis Museum; and share wholeheartedly in the celebration that Athens now has the best home to exhibit the artefacts from this outstanding world heritage centre.
"Instead our Government and Museum representatives have retreated into their customary defensive mantra about 'ownership' of the Elgin Marbles; which were taken in the days of the Ottoman Empire 207 years ago.
"While the rest of the world celebrates with the Greeks, our Government - which has about half the artefacts – chooses to play the red faced party pooper. This is very embarrassing."
Cornish patients deserve a fair deal
Local MP, Andrew George, will urge the Government to give the Cornish health service the funding it deserves. He will lead a debate in the Chamber of the House of Commons tomorrow evening - 17th June 2009 - (commencing at approximately 7 pm).
Mr George and his Cornish Parliamentary colleagues had achieved a significant victory in December 2008 which would put right years of underfunding since the Conservatives last reviewed the distribution formula for NHS funds in the 1990s. But the Government fears the consequences of taking away money too quickly from wealthier areas of the south east. It therefore intends to move Cornwall slowly towards its so-called "target".
Mr George will emphasise that this leaves Cornish patients £56 million short this year. If this underfunding were projected over the last decade alone, it would represent more than half a billion pounds which Cornish patients have lost. It would dwarf the apparent deficit of the local Hospitals' Trust.
Mr George will tell the Minister that, in spite of recent welcome recognition that Cornwall has been underfunded, the correction of past underfunding and the achievement of the new funding "target" would take decades.
Mr George said: "The recent review of the funding formula has resulted in the resolution to increase funding to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly which is very welcome. However, because of the way in which funding is delivered over time and the pace of change at which the target is ultimately reached we have been left at a distance of 6.2% below the target - equivalent to £56 million pounds."
Mr George and his colleagues had been campaigning against the unfair funding formula and urging the Government to insist that its Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) - which recommends to the Government how monies should be disbursed throughout the NHS - review this unfairness which was a legacy from the Conservative Government more than twelve years ago. After a long battle this was achieved last December when Cornwall's "target" allocation for funding was eventually addressed.
"However, all this showed was the extent to which Cornwall had been underfunded over the years," said Mr George."The Government doesn't want to take large chunks of money away from those places which have been overfunded to help chronically underfunded areas like Cornwall.
Mr George will also raise concerns about the level of NHS dentistry in Cornwall, primary care, midwifery, the future of West Cornwall Hospital and other local health concerns.
George congratulates pupils and staff at Ludgvan School
Andrew George, MP for the St Ives Constituency of West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, was the guest of honour at Ludgvan School's weekly celebration assembly last Friday (12th June 2009). He wrote to the school following their success in Year 6 SATs results.
The year on year improvement in the school's results over the last three years puts Ludgvan high on the list of successful schools nationally. Earlier this year Ofsted endorsed this by awarding Ludgvan School Grade 1: Outstanding.
Headteacher, Mrs Helen Macfarlane said, "We are very pleased that everyone's hard work is meeting with success and being recognised. Our main emphasis remains on developing good citizens."
Andrew George MP emphasised that the whole team makes a successful school. Whilst at the school he took the time to visit the on site nursery, Oasis, which is currently having a new building constructed.
“The whole school should be proud of itself," said Mr George. "This outstanding achievement reflects on the efforts of governors, teaching staff and pupils. Well done."
George congratulates Route Partnership on planning withdrawal decision
Andrew George MP, who brokered and chaired negotiations between the Route Partnership and Friends of Penzance Harbour, has congratulated the Route Partnership and welcomed its decision to withdraw its planning application for the southern extension of Penzance Harbour.
Mr George described the Route Partnership's decision as 'considered and honourable'.
Mr George had called in September 2008 upon the Route Partnership - which was established in 2003 comprising of the Council of the Isles of Scilly, the then Penwith District Council, Cornwall County Council and the Duchy of Cornwall - to look at alternatives and to engage in a debate with interested local parties and which he offered to chair. Mr George brought together representatives of the Route Partnership and the Friends of Penzance Harbour in April. This was followed by an agreement by the Route Partnership to explore alternatives to the controversial proposals to extend Penzance Harbour to the south.
"The decision is welcome," said Mr George. "The proposal generated considerable controversy. Of course, it is not possible to promote a development of this scale without creating some controversy. But it appears that the alternatives would be more acceptable to the local community.
"Although it has taken a while for us to get to this point, it is important that the momentum behind the plans to improve the Isles of Scilly link is not lost.
"It just goes to show what can be achieved when you swap placards and petitions for constructive discussion and roundtable meetings. I congratulate both sides in what was previously a very heated dispute. This will auger well for the future and will be reassuring to the Department for Transport and the Shipping Minister," said Mr George.
