Adrian Sanders

Adrian Sanders MP asks what the cost of rheumatoid arthritis is in Torbay

Local MP Adrian Sanders met members from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) to ask how rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects not just the health of his constituents but the health of the economy.

A recent report from the charity found that the costs to the UK economy of the condition arising from productivity losses total almost £8 billion, this is about £12 million per UK Parliamentary constituency.  However, spending by Torbay Care Trust on RA was £13.11 per head of population in 2008/09.
 
RA is a chronic and disabling autoimmune disease, affecting about 690,000 people in the UK .  It has no known cause or cure. It remains a major cause of worklessness – almost 30% of people with RA surveyed by NRAS in 2007 gave up work within a year of being diagnosed with the condition.

The Public Accounts Committee report on services for people with rheumatoid arthritis highlighted significant variations in the spending on and quality of services for people with RA and other musculoskeletal conditions across the country.  Yet, it also recommended that earlier diagnosis and treatment could not only limit the progression of the disease but also deliver significant savings for the NHS and wider economy.

Adrian Sanders MP commented, ‘People with rheumatoid arthritis deserve to receive the care and treatment on the NHS and I commend the work of NRAS in highlighting the variations in spend and in the quality of service across the country.  I will be speaking to the local NHS to find out what they are doing to tackle both the health and economic burden of rheumatoid arthritis’.

Ailsa Bosworth, Chief Executive of NRAS said: ‘It is crucial that rheumatoid arthritis patients are diagnosed and treated early. This will not only ensure that patients receive best prognosis and are able to remain active and in work but will also help the NHS realise the savings it needs to make over the next few years by reducing the need for costly interventions and inpatient stays. We urge the Government to address the recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee as a priority’.

West Country MP wins animal welfare award

Adrian Sanders, the Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay in Devon, has won the League Against Cruel Sports’ Parliamentarian of the Year Award.

Mr Sanders, who has been Member of Parliament for the constituency which includes Torquay and parts of Paignton since 1997, voted strongly in favour of the ban on hunting with dogs and has supported a number of other League Against Cruel Sports campaigns.

Handing the Award to Mr Sanders earlier this week, the League’s chief executive Douglas Batchelor paid tribute to his hard work for animal welfare. “Adrian has been a consistent and hard working supporter of our cause in Westminster,” he said. “He has spoken at our events, signed supportive parliamentary motions, asked questions of ministers and the BBC, and overall has been a great help to our work for animal welfare.”

The Award will be formally announced at the League’s Annual Lecture in Westminster t

oday. Mr Sanders, who is not able to attend personally due to constituency commitments, said he was “delighted” to receive the award.

 

“It is clear from the opinion polls that the British population oppose hunting with hounds but it is often all too easy for politicians to give in to the vocal minority who support such cruel activities,” said Mr Sanders. “I strongly believe that we must take a principled stand on this issue and insist that it is always wrong to abuse animals; if species need to have their population controlled, there are kinder methods that can be used and above all this should not be used as an excuse for people to gain pleasure from the suffering of animals.”

“I will continue to support  the League in the fantastic work it does”, he added.

A short film of his acceptance speech has been added to the

YouTube website.

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During the General Election, the League’s ‘Fox Tour’ campaign visited the Torbay constituency to highlight the fact that some politicians want to bring back hunting with dogs. It was one of the few constituencies around the country where no candidates from the main parties wanted to repeal the Hunting Act.

Smoke Alarm Bill to be Presented to Parliament

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders continues his campaign for better fire safety for rented properties this week with the presentation of his proposed new law to Parliament.

His proposals, if passed into law, would require all private and socially rented homes to have a working, hard-wired, smoke alarm at the beginning of any tenancy agreement.  The measure could save around 200 lives every year, with hard wired alarms proving more effective than battery powered alarms.

Currently it is not a legal requirement for most homes to have a working smoke alarm while legal standards exist for gas appliances, furnishings and so on.

The importance of the issue, which Adrian has campaigned on since 2004, was highlighted last year with the tragic death of two children in a social rented property in Ellacombe, Torquay.

Adrian said: “It is very often the most vulnerable in society who live in homes that do not have working smoke alarms and the figures show that this costs dozens of lives a year and causes hundreds, if not thousands, of injuries.”

“There is a small minority of private landlords, many of them absentee landlords, who do not sufficiently look after their tenants but more worryingly it is social providers who have the most to do on this issue; the fact that over a quarter of Riviera Housing properties did not have alarms this time last year is shocking.  Social homes often contain some of the most vulnerable tenants who are more at risk from fire and often less able to take responsibility for their own protection.”

Bay MP Honoured for Animal Welfare Stance

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has been honoured for his commitment to tackling cruelty to animals. The Protecting Animals in Democracy (PAD) project has presented Adrian with a Certificate in recognition of his full support for their VOTE4ANIMALS 2010 manifesto in the run-up to the May General Election.

The manifesto included policies such as support for the hunting ban, the abolition of battery cages and reducing the number of animals that suffer in experiments.

Adrian said:

‘I am very pleased to be awarded the Protecting Animals in Democracy Certificate. Cruelty to animals is a shame on our society and our political system needs to do more to protect animals from abuse. I am dedicated to representing the many constituents who write to me about animal welfare problems. Many animals suffer because of political decisions, so I believe it is vital to speak up for these voiceless victims.’

PAD’s Dr Dan Lyons said:

‘The way we treat animals is a fundamental indication of the state of our society. Adrian Sanders MP’s support for compassionate politics is, therefore, a sign that they have the character and ethics much needed to stand in Parliament and help enhance the integrity of our political system.

We look forward to working with Adrian Sanders MP and other conscientious representatives to build a truly fair society where our fellow animals are treated as individual beings worthy of respect.’

Adrian Sanders MP heeds call to invest in children and families and save future generations

Adrian Sanders MP for Torbay has pledged their commitment to early intervention services at a reception hosted by Action for Children, Family Action and Children England in support of vulnerable children, young people and their families in Torbay. 

Adrian was invited to attend The Smart Money event hosted by the charities so they could see first hand not only how effective early intervention services are in tackling deep rooted problems such as deprivation and neglect before they spiral out of control but also the economic benefits they bring to the public purse. At the event, MPs posted their pledge to help give children and their families a brighter future.

The three charities, who between them represent many hundreds of local schemes supporting vulnerable children and their families, have asked MPs to help make a difference by writing to the chancellor to ask how the Treasury intends to deliver efficiency to the economy, challenging their local authority to find out how vulnerable families are being helped in their constituency and holding a child-centred day at their MPs surgery.

Adrian said “I recognise the crucial role that early intervention can play both in creating brighter futures for disadvantaged children and families, and in delivering savings to the taxpayer in reduced social and welfare costs. I am looking forward to working in partnership with Action for Children, Family Action and Children England while in office to ensure we make tomorrow better for children and families in Torbay.”

A spokesperson for the campaign said “It is great that Adrian Sanders has responded to our call to work together to make sure early intervention becomes the norm and we can break the cycles of deprivation that blight the lives of many in the UK. The three charities have a long-term commitment to making this happen and by working in partnership with the new parliament we think we can make a real difference to vulnerable children and families.”

At the event Adrian heard Children’s Minister Tim Loughton MP give a keynote address. They also had the chance to meet with children and families who use the support services provided by Family Action and Action for Children and a number of celebrities who were supporting the event.

Sanders Welcomes Support for Colleges and Businesses

Bay MP Adrian Sanders has welcomed the announcement by the Coalition Government of new measures to boost further education, which will help South Devon College.

Good colleges such as South Devon will be given new freedoms to develop services tailored to local needs and £150million has been moved from unnecessary projects to providing new apprenticeships in communities like Torbay.

Business Secretary Vince Cable will be working with the Skills Funding Agency to ensure that colleges and employers link up better, providing potential employees with the skills they need for the local economy.

Adrian said: “Torbay desperately needs to diversify its economy and South Devon College will play a key role in achieving this.  That the College is getting more support is excellent news and is part of this Government’s desire to move funding away from bureaucracy and quangos and into front line roles where it can be put to immediate good use.” 

Bay MP Seeks End to Bus Pass Fiasco

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders will tomorrow press the Transport Minister to put an end to the complicated funding structure for the free bus pass, which has seen Torbay Council lose millions of pounds in recent years.

Adrian has been selected to quiz Transport Ministers in the House of Commons on Thursday 17^th June for their monthly question time and will argue that the concessionary bus scheme, which provides free travel to pensioners and the disabled, should be administered nationally.

A report published by TAS consultancy before the scheme was introduced highlighted that national administration would save over £30million per year.  It would also end the problems with the funding formula that gives local councils the funds to pay for free travel, which has seen many councils such as Torbay lose out.

Adrian said: “As the free bus pass is a national initiative, it only makes sense that it is administered nationally.  That this saves money is an added bonus.”

“We have seen so many problems throughout the UK with councils receiving too little money and as in Torbay, not being able to negotiate a good deal for taxpayers.” 

Sanders to Tackle Minister Over Tax Evasion

Adrian Sanders, Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay will highlight the need to tackle the growing problem of tax evasion in Parliament tomorrow.

Adrian will be urging the Chancellor to take measures to claw back some of the £120billion lost every year through poor administration and tax evasion.  The previous Government refused to accurately measure how much tax revenue was lost and cut thousands of jobs involved in collecting tax revenue, including at Torquay tax office.

A recent report sets out a range or recommendations to rectify this problem, which could reduce the budget deficit and prevent public sector cuts in Torbay.

Adrian said: “It is clear that the tax system is stacked against hard working people on middle and low incomes.  From the closure of Torquay’s tax office to the capitulation over non-dom tax exiles the past Government failed the taxpayers.  I sincerely hope that the new Chancellor will not replicate these mistakes and will take action now to ensure every business and individual pays their fair share of tax.”

Torbay MP to Lead Bypass Debate in House of Commons

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has secured a debate in Parliament on Wednesday 9^th June to discuss the proposed Kingskerswell Bypass.

It will be the first time the new Coalition Government will answer questions on the scheme and Adrian will highlight the need for the scheme to bring an end to the gridlock frequently seen driving through Kingskerswell.

He will argue that the Bypass could reinvigorate Torbay’s economy, encouraging larger businesses from a wider range of industries to invest in the area.

Adrian said: “For too many years we have seen the bypass put off by careless decision making in Whitehall and delays from local government reorganisation.  It is vital for the local economy that we get this road built and the main challenge is to insulate the scheme from the national drive to reduce costs.”

Decision on South West Water Charges Due After July

The new Minister responsible for Water, Richard Benyon MP, has promised to review the high water bills in the South West in July.

Bay MP Adrian Sanders has welcomed the news and plans to co-ordinate a cross-party campaign from Devon and Cornwall’s MPs to convince the Minister to implement the recommendations of the Walker Review, which called for Westcountry water bills to be brought down to the national average.

The water regulator Ofwat is currently investigating how to implement these recommendations.

Adrian said: “While making favourable comments, the last Government dragged its feet on changing the unfair water charging system we have in the South West.  There is now a chance in July to undo the damage caused all those years ago by privatisation.”

“I will be working with MPs, hopefully from all parties, to convince the Minister to implement the Walker recommendations in full.”