Adrian Sanders

Sanders Calls for Business Tax Simplification

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has called for small business rate relief to be applied automatically, which could save businesses up to £1,200 a year.

Adrian is supporting the Small Business Rate Relief Bill from the Federation of Small Businesses, the UK’s leading business organisation.

Rates are the third biggest expenditure for most small businesses after rents and wages. They must be paid regardless of how profitable businesses have been.

Currently one third of small businesses do not know they can claim rate relief as many local authorities lack the resources to publicise the small business rate relief scheme. Rate relief is already automatic in Wales and from April will be automatic in Northern Ireland.

Adrian said, “During a tough economic climate, this cash injection could save many small businesses from laying off their staff or closing completely. It is absurd that whilst other areas of the UK benefit from automatic rate relief, Torbay businesses do not. It is high time for the government to correct this injustice and make rate relief for small businesses automatic across the UK.”

Bay MP Adrian Sanders Pledges Support for Nature

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has joined a campaign to protect our natural world, both in the Torbay area and across the country by signing the Letter to the Future, a major new campaign run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

The letter calls for better investment in nature by politicians, urging them to consider our natural as well as our financial future when making decisions about how to tackle the country's pressing economic problems.

The RSPB aims to gain tens of thousands of signatures to the letter before the next general election, showing the government that people care about nature as well as the economy and want to see it protected for the benefit of future generations.

Lib Dem MP Adrian Sanders, who has a long-standing record as an environmental campaigner, has now pledged his support for the campaign, joining fellow MPs and famous faces such as Germaine Greer and Zoe Wanamaker.

Adrian Sanders commented:

"We've just gone through a grave financial crisis but in tackling it we mustn't ignore the equally serious crisis facing our natural world in Torbay. Across the country, precious habitats are being lost; many species face extinction and the threat of climate change is looming large.

"The government had to spend billions of pounds in order to rescue our economy - something future generations will still be paying for in years to come. We owe it to them to ensure that this massive investment addresses not just our needs today but also of those tomorrow by creating a healthy economy and a healthy environment.

“I am supporting the RSPB’s campaign because I want our children and grandchildren to be able to grow up in a world where they can appreciate tigers and sparrows, tropical rainforests and bluebell woods – a world worth living in.”

The RSPB's Head of Sustainable Development, Martin Harper, also commented:

"The government faces tough economic decisions but these mustn't be taken at the expense of the environment. We are calling on the government to recognise this and ensure future generations will be able to appreciate the natural world as we do. It's vital that politicians support us in this campaign and we are very grateful to Adrian Sanders for lending his support."

Gordon Brown Must Act on Water Bills

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has called for the Prime Minister to get his act together after progress on lowering the South West’s astronomic water bills has stalled.

In January water Minister Huw Irranca-Davies promised in a Commons debate with Mr Sanders that the Government was taking the recommendations of the recently published Walker Review seriously and that the Prime Minister would lend his support to finding a solution.

The review laid down proposals for levelling water bills between the South West and the rest of the UK. 

Since the debate, no further progress has been made as the Labour Government seemingly aims to avoid all decision making in the run up to the general election.

Adrian said, “The Prime Minister really needs to get going on this.  For 13 years Labour has ignored the plight of water customers in Devon and Cornwall and to ignore the solution now would be disastrous for the region.”

Adrian Sanders MP Commits To Beat Cancer

Adrian Sanders, Member of Parliament for Torbay, has joined hundreds of people across the country in signing up to Cancer Research UK's Cancer Commitment, aiming to make UK cancer outcomes among the best in Europe in the next ten years.

Adrian said: "I am delighted to pledge my support for Cancer Research UK’s vital campaign. Cancer remains the public’s number one fear. With a concerted effort from the next Parliament, we can give hope to the millions of people affected by cancer and their friends and family.”

More than one in three people in Torbay will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. In the last thirty years, the UK’s 10-year survival rates have doubled but cancer survival rates still lag behind the best performing countries in Europe such as Sweden, Norway and Finland. Cancer Research UK is calling on Parliamentarians to help make cancer outcomes for patients in the UK among the best in Europe in a decade.

The Cancer Commitment calls on MPs in the next Parliament to take action in five key areas:

Detecting cancer earlier

Providing world class treatment

Preventing more cancers

Tackling cancer inequalities

Protecting the UK’s research base

Jon Spiers, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigning at Cancer Research UK, said “To consign today’s cancer challenges to tomorrow’s history books, we must act now. Our thousands of scientists and our millions of supporters are hoping to see MPs in the next Parliament step up to the challenge.”

For information on Cancer Research UK’s Commit To Beat Cancer campaign, visit: www.CommitToBeatCancer.org

Sanders Tackles Minister Over Tourism

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has criticised the Government in the House of Commons today over their support for the tourist industry.

While Adrian is urging the Government to reduce VAT rates for tourist businesses, which research shows will create tens of thousands of jobs and increase revenues, Tourism Minister Margaret Hodge claimed that free access to museums would equate to such a measure. 

The Minister claimed that there were good prospects for the industry in the coming year, with visits from abroad forecasted to be 0.8% above 2009 figures and overall spending rising by 3.8%.

Adrian said, “It’s all very well highlighting the benefits of free museums but Torbay and many other areas currently do not have free museums.  It seems ridiculous to compare this to the massive boost in jobs and investment targeted tax cuts would bring. 

The research is compelling that this can be achieved and the success already seen in France and Germany shows that lower taxes would boost trade and employment in Torbay almost immediately.”

Pension Service Cuts ‘Disgraceful’

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has criticised the Government after the decision was made to cut face to face pensions advice in Torbay.

Weekly surgeries in Paignton and Torquay Connections currently allow pensioners who want advice on any state pension issue to see an advisor.  This service will now close in March, with pensioners being referred to a call centre in Swansea.

Adrian has written to Pensions Minister Yvette Cooper demanding the decision be looked at again following concerns raised by the local Age Concern branch.

Adrian said, “With problems always arising with complex national computer systems such as the pension system, it is essential to provide help to deal with these problems.  It is clearly best to provide a face to face service, especially for frail or vulnerable residents and if these cuts go through there will be an added burden for charities such as Age Concern.  It is disgraceful of the Government to have such little regard for Torbay’s pensioners.”

Adrian Sanders MP calls for media reform

The Culture Media and Sport Committee, of which Adrian is a member, today published their report on Press Standards, Privacy and Libel.

Adrian spoke at the launch of the report defending the media’s right to free speech. He spoke of the necessity to have a robust press with good investigative powers.

The Committee’s enquiries follows several high profile media cases such as that brought by Max Mosley against the News of the World, the reporting of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance and the phone hacking conducted by News of the World reporters.

Following concerns that current regulation of the media doesn’t work and that the law needs to be reformed, the report suggests:

• that the Press Complaints Committee (PCC) should amend its Code to include a requirement that journalists notify the subject of their articles prior to publication, subject to a “public interest” test.

• that the PCC take a far more active role in ensuring that standards are upheld 

• that it should have the power to impose financial penalties on newspapers that breach the PCC Code.

Adrian said:

Newspapers need to be able to investigate and scrutinise people in positions of power. When they take this too far, by phone hacking or providing inaccurate material, it makes everyone lose faith in the media.

The press must have the freedom to report without fear of going to court, but we don’t want to see ordinary individuals being treated with contempt by newspapers. Journalists must be made to uphold certain standards, to be mindful of the rights of those who are written about and be accurate in what they report.

Torbay MP Criticises Unitary Decision

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has responded to the review of the decision to make Exeter Council a unitary authority.

A Committee of Lords is looking at the decision in Devon and a similar outcome in Norfolk, reviewing whether the local government changes listened to local people and if the changes will actually be effective.

The Committee will discuss the matter on March 2^nd.

Adrian said, “The Government has gone against all common sense and the wishes of a vast number of people in pushing through its plan for a unitary Exeter.  On top of that it has missed a great opportunity to improve local government across Devon.  Hopefully the Lords will see the folly in the Government’s decision and advise against its implementation.”

Torbay Economy Still Suffering From Recession

There was concern today as new figures revealed that Torbay unemployment jumped by almost 300 in January.

Jobseekers in the Torbay Council area rose from 3,426 in December to 3,710 a month later.  While Torbay traditionally sees higher unemployment in the winter, this figure is 500 more than the same time in 2009.

Bay MP Adrian Sanders claims the Government has been complacent and alongside the local council has failed to support local businesses that is now having a devastating effect upon local spending and employment levels.

Adrian commented, “Small businesses across the country are crying out for support through the recession but while the Government has ensured fat cat bankers remain comfortable, local businesses have suffered from rising costs and restrictions on credit.”

“Locally owned businesses are the backbone of Torbay’s economy.  Without them local spending would fall, putting even more jobs at risk.  I shall be using these figures to put more pressure on the Government and the Council to focus on supporting locally owned businesses and boosting the local economy.”

Threat to Torbay Dentist Care

Government funding changes will see hundreds of Torbay patients facing changes and reductions in dentistry services over the next few months.

From June 2010 funding to NHS dentists in Torbay will fall drastically as the government cut their funding to Quay Health Dental Practice in Paignton.

The cuts also affect 6 other practices in Torbay that were identified in 2008 to provide more services to reduce waiting lists.

Torbay Care Trust has agreed to extend the services at Quay Health until June even though Government funding will cease at the end of March this year.  To replace the loss of these services, new practices are being opened in Paignton and Brixham but are not expected to start receiving patients until the end of 2010, leaving many with a substandard service and further to travel for many months.

Local residents have also raised concerns over the lack of information being given by dentists and local health bodies about the changes.  Many have been left with the impression that they have no choice but to resort to private care whereas all patients will still be able to receive NHS treatment at alternative

Adrian commented, “While the extra investment two years ago was very welcome, NHS bureaucracy is now causing unnecessary disruption to patients.  It is unacceptable to have this gap in care of several months while patients wait for new practices to open.

“Better planning would have ensured care at Quay Health would continue up until the new practice could open.  It is also worth noting that all of this disorganisation goes completely against the Government’s stated aim of ensuring freedom of choice in the NHS.”