Adrian Sanders

Government Must Go Green In The Face Of Dwindling Gas Supply

Answers given by the Energy Minister to Torbay MP Adrian Sanders have revealed a dramatic shift in Britain’s energy supplies in recent years, with over a quarter of gas consumed in the country now coming from foreign sources.  Up to only 5 years ago, the UK was self sufficient in its gas supply.

There are now concerns that the reliance on gas from abroad, coupled with a lack of storage facilities in the UK, Britain could be susceptible to energy shortages.  Energy Minister Mike O’Brien stated that there were plans to increase storage facilities but that “if all these projects go ahead GB’s gas storage capacity could increase to some 20 per cent of current annual demand levels by around 2020.”

The Minister also highlighted how future supplies will depend increasingly on countries such as Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iraq, with supply routes coming through Turkey.

As well as boosting storage facilities, Mr Sanders has called for the Government to use this opportunity to make a substantial shift to renewable and sustainable forms of electricity generation.  He is calling for more financial incentives for individual households to invest in solar panels and wind turbines-known as microgeneration.

The development of new technologies also throws open the possibility of new jobs and investment, which would be very welcome for areas such as the South West, which are being hit hard by the recession.

Mr Sanders said: “It is inevitable that fossil fuels will be in shorter supply in the future.  If we do not invest in renewables this will push energy prices sky high and reduce Britain’s energy security drastically. 

The Government does provide some money for renewable schemes at a local level but this is not enough and there is not enough information out there to allow individuals, councils and other groups to get involved.

Developing renewable energy solutions could be the next big industrial development in the UK and we must ensure that communities such as Torbay, which are suffering from a lack of skilled employment opportunities, are not left out by this Government.”

Government Should Stand Up to EU Over Financial Mismanagement

MP for Torbay Adrian Sanders has called on the Government to stand firm over the EU’s financial management.

Treasury Minister Ian Pearson admitted to Mr Sanders this week that the Government has not taken up the concerns in a recent National Audit Office report highlighting concerns over financial transparency in the EU budget.

Serious errors were found in EU accounting, similar to recent years with the National Audit Office blaming the complexity of EU schemes and poor implementation at a national level.

Mr Sanders is calling on the Government to use its influence to get the EU to make its budget more transparent and improve its legitimacy and also to engage with the public over how EU money is spent.

Mr Sanders said: “Britain makes a net contribution of over £4billion to the EU every year and it is essential that there is democratic oversight of how this is spent.  The Government must stop avoiding its responsibilities on this issue and take Brussels to task to make sure the EU is fully democratic, has good financial management and works in the interests of voters.” 

Adrian Sanders MP joins Guide Dogs campaign to ‘Say NO to shared streets’

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has experienced a dangerous new street design that puts blind and partially sighted people, disabled and elderly people, and young children in danger, at an event held by Guide Dogs.

Adrian tried out a mock shared surface street whilst blindfolded as part of Guide Dogs ‘Say NO to shared streets’ campaign, at the House of Commons. These streets – when the road and pavement are built at the same level with the kerb removed – force all road users to make ‘eye contact’ to establish who moves first. This obviously undermines the safety, confidence and independence of vulnerable pedestrians.

Wheelchair users have to share their space with intimidating cyclists and vehicles, and young children no longer have a kerb to safely stop, look, and listen at. Adrian also learnt about the importance of safe and accessible towns and high streets for vulnerable pedestrians. 

Adrian and his wife Alison have adopted a retired guide dog, Todd, who lives with them at their Paignton home.

David Cowdrey, Guide Dogs Campaign Manager, commented: “We know that shared surface streets are dangerous and discriminate against the safety and independence of vulnerable pedestrians. If people can’t tell where the road begins and the pavement ends, how can you feel safe?

“We need everyone to get behind our campaign so that they are free to use their town centres and high streets as they wish – instead of them becoming no-go areas.“

The ‘Say NO to shared streets’ campaign is supported by nearly 20 other national disability organisations including MENCAP, Leonard Cheshire Disability, RNID, RNIB and Arthritis Care.

People can find out more about Guide Dogs ‘Say NO to shared streets’ campaign and Take Action at www.guidedogs.org.uk/sharedstreets Simply fill in a few details and concerns about shared surface streets, and a personal message will be sent to their MP. It only takes a minute but gives vital support to the campaign.

Visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/sharedstreets for more information on the campaign.

Sanders concerned about warden reduction

Adrian Sanders, MP for Torbay, is leading a campaign in Parliament to prevent the removal of sheltered housing wardens. 

Adrian is the primary sponsor of Early Day Motion 432, which warns of the detrimental effect the reduction in budgets for wardens could have on vulnerable people and calls on the Government to ensure that no housing schemes have to suffer the loss of their wardens.

The motion is being supported by 41 other MPs and it is hoped that as more sheltered housing schemes become aware of the issues, they will convince their own MPs to support the motion.

Changes in funding structures and shifting spending priorities at a local level have seen many support worker posts come under threat, to be replaced by ‘floating support’ that does not offer a similar level of care.

Adrian said: “There are many vulnerable people living in sheltered housing and it is our duty as a society to ensure that they are looked after.  Taking away this vital support is a desertion of our basic human principles and the Government, if it has any credibility, cannot let this happen.”

“I have met with sheltered housing residents in my constituency and they are very worried.”

Paignton Flooding Needs Multi-Agency Response

Local agencies need to pull together to ensure a permanent solution is found for the Dartmouth Road area which has again been recently hit by flooding. 

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has been in correspondence with South West Water, Torbay Council, Ofwat and the Environment Agency, urging a robust solution.

And there is good news as work is due to commence later this month to upgrade the Station Lane Sewage Pumping Station, which should prevent future flooding.

The upgrading work is due to finish in September this year and, heavy rain permitting, the flooding earlier in June could be the last to affect the area.

Mr Sanders said: “For too long flooding has plagued this area of Paignton.  It has not been a one off, it has been a consistent problem over the years.  Previous works haven’t found a way forward but hopefully in September flooding on Dartmouth Road will be a thing of the past.”

The news comes as the Environment Agency announced research highlighting the need for an extra £1billion investment in flood defences.

Nortel Pensioners Reassured

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders met on Wednesday with representatives from the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) to discuss the future of the Nortel Networks UK Pension Plan and to discuss concerns pension holders have raised.

Nortel, the Canadian telecoms company, had a major site at Long Road, Paignton from the mid-1980s until it was sold in 2002 and at one time employed approximately 5,000 staff. Nortel Networks UK Limited filed for Administration in January 2009 and this led to the Pension Plan entering assessment in March. The assessment period lasts for a minimum of a year, but the PPF estimate that the Nortel Pension Plan assessment will take 30 months to complete.

There had been concerns that there would not be enough money available in the fund to cover such large schemes as Nortel’s, especially considering the high number of other pension plans going bust in recent months. The fund’s representatives assured Adrian that there were sufficient resources for the Nortel scheme.

The Nortel Pension Plan Caseworker for PPF advised anyone unsure of how membership of PPF will affect their pension to visit www.nortelpensions.com  or to write to Nortel Networks Pension Plan, c/o Watson Wyatt Limited, PO Box 545, Redhill, Surrey RH1YX, Tel: 01707 607563.

Anyone who has moved home since leaving Nortel, or its predecessor companies, has also been advised to update their details with the PPF.

Adrian said: “There are many pension holders who are very anxious about their Nortel pensions following the scheme going into administration and it is reassuring that help and advice is in place for anyone who is worried.

“It is disappointing that early retirees will receive only 90% of their pension and that current Nortel pensioners will not receive the pension increases they hoped for. However, without the existence of the Pension Protection Fund pension payments would have been significantly lower and some people may not have received any payments at all.”

“I would urge anyone who has concerns about their case to contact me or the Pension Plan directly.”

Progress on Mental Health Treatment

Adrian Sanders, Lib Dem MP for Torbay has welcomed recent Government initiatives to tackle mental health problems and has called for further action to implement a robust set of measures that ends the stigma associated with mental health problems and offers the treatment and support so many people need.

In February this year, Mr Sanders criticised the Department of Health over its lack of response to the mental health problems resulting from the economic downturn. 

Following pressure from Mr Sanders and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, the Government has now responded with a £13million fund to tackle the problem.  Minister Phil Hope also outlined a new joint strategy being formed between five Government Departments and new help that can be gained through NHS Direct.

Mr Sanders commented: It is very good news that the Government is taking note of problems on the ground in Torbay and other areas.  The funding and new co-ordinated strategy will hopefully go some way to helping thousands of people in the South West who have been affected by recent events.”

“The Minister also pledged a specific strategy for men’s mental health and it has unfortunately so often been the case that mental health issues for men particularly create such a stigma.  Stress, depression and other conditions are not unusual and they are treatable.  There is a wealth of advice and support on offer and now a more tailored approach will hopefully be emerging.”

High unemployment, home repossessions and increasing financial hardship are among some of the consequences of the recession that are prompting high levels of stress, anxiety, depression and many other mental health conditions.  Leaving conditions un-treated can exacerbate any health problems as well as damaging employment prospects and personal relationships.

Adrian Sanders attends parliamentary reception for diabetes research in South Asian people

Adrian Sanders, MP for Torbay, showed his support at the launch of leading health charity Diabetes UK and the South Asian Health Foundation (SAFH)’s new report¹ highlighting 16 diabetes research topics relating to the South Asian community.

The two charities, supported by Keith Vaz, MP for Leicester East, launched “Diabetes UK and South Asian Health Foundation recommendations on diabetes research priorities for British South Asians” at the House of Commons on Wednesday 17 June. The report lays the groundwork to find out more about diabetes in South Asian people in the UK and discover why Type 2 diabetes is up to six times more common in South Asian people than the general population².

Adrian Sanders, who attended the parliamentary reception, said: “It is vital that diabetes research in South Asian people in the UK is carried out if we are to combat this growing health epidemic. I was delighted to attend the launch of this important report and hope that researchers around the country will take note of these guidelines and find them a useful tool when determining which issues to examine.”

The report underlines important areas of research in people of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin in the UK. Priority topics, which are aimed at researchers and funding bodies, include lack of appropriate participation in diabetes research of South Asian people, genetics, cultural factors concerning diet and exercise, screening, prevention of Type 2 diabetes, psychological consequences of diabetes and treatment and care.

The report is the culmination of an eight-month review by Diabetes UK and SAHF, which was carried out because of the high prevalence of diabetes in those communities. South Asian people make up four per cent of the total UK population³ and an estimated eight per cent of people with diabetes. In England, there are 200,000 South Asian people with diabetes.

Dr Iain Frame, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said: “Diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK today with £1million an hour already being spent by the NHS on the condition. While considerable effort is invested in diabetes research we need to examine diabetes in South Asian people living in the UK in more detail.

“It is astonishing that South Asian people in the UK are up to six times more likely to have Type 2 diabetes compared to the general population and tend to have poorer diabetes management. They are also three times more likely to develop heart disease and four times more likely to have kidney disease.

“We don’t entirely know why this is yet but Diabetes UK and SAHF’s new report is a solid first step in the process of discovery and serves as an important guideline for researchers and funding bodies who are interested in this area.”

Professor Kamlesh Khunti from the University of Leicester, who was Co-Chair of the Review, said: “South Asians develop diabetes at an earlier age and have higher rates of diabetes-related complications and mortality. This comprehensive review has highlighted a number of major and important gaps in research that will act as a reference guide for those involved in delivering care to people of South Asian origin and inform researchers and funding bodies about research priorities to reduce these inequalities.”

The report prioritises 16 key areas of research for diabetes in the South Asian community:

• Lack of participation in diabetes research from South Asian people
• Epidemiology
• Genetics
• Cultural aspects
• Screening of diabetes and non-diabetic hyperglycaemia
• Prevention of Type 2 diabetes
• Self-management and education for people wit Type 2 diabetes
• Childhood and adolescent Type 2 diabetes
• Dyslipidaemia (elevation of lipids in the blood)
• Diabetic nephropathy (nerve damage)
• Diabetic retinopathy (eye disease)
• Gestational diabetes
• Psychological consequences of diabetes
• Treatment and care of people with diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease
• Bariatric surgery

For more information about diabetes visit www.diabetes.org.uk

Government is punishing single workers

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has criticised the Government over its selective anti-poverty policies that are disadvantaging certain single workers, many of whom live and work in Torbay.

Mr Sanders has claimed that single people working between 16-30 hours per week are caught in a Government poverty trap where they cannot claim income support because they work too much and they cannot receive tax credits as they have no children and do not work enough hours.

For an economy such as Torbay, with a reliance on casual and seasonal low-paid work, hundreds, if not thousands, of people could be affected and the system could be putting many other people off seeking employment.

Mr Sanders challenged Treasury Minister Stephen Timms MP to outline what support the Government gives to single people, the Minister stated that: “The national minimum wage will increase in October 2009…and will provide over £92 a week for a single person working 16 hours a week.”

Mr Sanders commented: “The way the Government has set up the benefit system is something of a shambles and it is single people on low incomes who are suffering. All too frustratingly the end message of this policy to people is to become unemployed or to have children, it is wholly irresponsible.”

“Most of these single workers will not be able to gain housing benefit, council tax benefit or any other help. Many would love to work full time and get the financial reward they deserve but in an economy such as Torbay, this is not always possible.”

“The Government should be rewarding those who do make responsible decisions and do make an attempt to work.”

One constituent approached Mr Sanders on this issue, highlighting the injustice of the current system. Despite getting more than the minimum wage in their part time job, the constituent could not afford a decent standard of living, saying: “If you work over 16 or under 30 hours per week, you are hung out to dry by this Government.”

Mr Sanders is now calling on the Government to boost support for single people through a more generous tax free allowance and a fairer benefit system.

Government Gets More Than Half of Tax Benefit Claims Wrong

Figures revealed in Parliament by Torbay MP Adrian Sanders have showed that more than half of the 0.5 million families in the South West receiving tax credits have been given the wrong amount of money since the scheme was set up in 2003.

Treasury Minister Stephen Timms confirmed that 150,100 awards were underpaid and 143,100 were overpaid.  Worryingly 40,000 families received the wrong amount on three or more occasions.

Tax credit overpayments, which may not be easily apparent, can lead to court action and low credit ratings, with people owing the Government thousands of pounds.

Other figures showed that the tax credit system costs almost £90million to administer, despite the majority of families experiencing difficulties.

Adrian has been calling for the Government to sort out the system or think of a simpler and fairer way to structure the tax system.

Adrian said: “Yet again the Government has failed dismally with a sprawling computer system, bringing misery and anxiety to millions of families nationwide.  Thousands of families across the South West will not have received the right amount of money, which sometimes leads to overbearing court and bailiff action by the Treasury.”

“The waste and inefficiency of the system is inexcusable and it would be far better if the Government raised the tax free allowance to a suitable level, saving millions on bureaucracy and saving families from the unnecessary stress and worry the system causes.”

“The Government says that it is doing more for hard pressed working families but for every tax credit claim that goes right, there is one that goes wrong.  Add to this the removal of the 10p tax rate and high rises in bills in recent years and it becomes clear how bad a deal people are getting from this Labour Government.”

“I still see so many cases coming to my surgeries and through my office and for individual cases I can appeal to the Government to sort out problems.  I would urge any Torbay constituents who are having problems with their tax credits to call my office on 01803 200036.”