Adrian Sanders

Adrian Sanders Calls For Fairer Water Charges

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders is co-sponsoring a proposed new law that will make water bills across the entire country fairer.

The Water Tariffs Bill calls on the Government to recognise the serious problem of water poverty, particularly in the South West where water bills are a staggering 43% higher than the national average. And it requires the Office of Water Services (OFWAT) to set an equal water tariff across all of the country.  The Bill is being introduced by fellow Devon Lib Dem MP Nick Harvey.

Adrian said: “The problem of massive water bills, imposed on us by the Conservatives and perpetuated by Labour, is one of the largest problems affecting the South West.  This Bill will go very far in solving this problem for good and given the positive comments made by Ministers in recent weeks, I hope the Government will give the Bill its full backing.”

The bill will make water and sewerage companies offer “social tariffs” to a wider range of their customers. South West Water, for example, offers a reduced tariff through its WaterSure programme. But in order to qualify for the discount, customers have to meet a very stringent set of criteria, including already having a water meter installed. Instead, under the bill, companies will have to offer a discount to any customer within the water poverty threshold.

Water poverty is defined as when more than 3% of a household’s income after tax is spent on water bills.

The bill also addresses water and sewerage companies’ need for investment to bring their infrastructure up to standard. It establishes an investment fund that all companies pay into fairly. That money would then be allocated out for specific companies’ needs.

Adrian Sanders MP backs campaign to end preventable child deaths

Adrian Sanders MP today backed the global campaign to end preventable child deaths. Adrian added his name to the list of MPs calling for action to end the international child health emergency that is currently claiming the lives of 24,000 children under the age of five every day.

Adrian joined World Vision, one of the world’s largest development organisations, in calling on governments around the world make child health a political priority to deal with this unacceptable loss of life.

Nearly nine million children die each year before their fifth birthday in the developing world; the overwhelming majority of preventable conditions such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and neonatal complications. At least two-thirds of these children could be saved, if governments make child health a priority and refocus health spending on prevention in the community and not just cures at the clinic.

Adrian Sanders MP said: “It’s unacceptable that every year millions of children in poorer countries are dying from things which are easily prevented here in the UK, like diarrhoea and measles.”

“Government’s need to be smarter about where they are spending money on health to make sure that more lives are saved.”

“People living in Torbay have been in touch with me about this, and I’m pleased to back World Vision’s campaign to urge our Government to do more to stop these unnecessary deaths.”

Justin Byworth, Chief Executive of World Vision UK said:

“Over a quarter of a billion children live in a healthcare desert, miles from the nearest clinic or hospital.”

“These unreachable children need simple life-savers in their homes and villages, such as mosquito nets, nutritional supplements and safe, clean drinking water, if we are going to prevent children dying from conditions such as diarrhoea and malaria.”

“Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world but has halved child deaths since 1990 by investing in simple preventive measures within communities, by distributing mosquito nets and increasing the number of skilled birth attendants. Such is possible, but we need the political will to make it happen.”

World Vision’s report CHILD HEALTH NOW, is a global five-year campaign to hold governments to account on their pledge to cut under-five deaths by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015. World Vision argues there is still time to achieve this target, but drastic action is required.

World Vision calls on the UK government to prioritise spending on preventive measures in the worst-affected countries and publish action plans, setting out how the £6 billion they have allocated to health over the next seven years will be spent to ensure it gets to the children who need it most.

Bay MP Welcomes New Law for Rogue Clampers

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has welcomed new provisions to the Crime and Security Bill that will provide a fair, independent and transparent appeals process for motorists who have had their cars clamped or towed by private enforcement firms.

Adrian has been calling for better regulations since rogue clampers A1 plagued Torbay residents with extortionate charges, while towing several vehicles to Somerset.  Such companies had essentially been above the law as they acted on private property.

As well as the independent appeals process, the Bill will introduce maximum charges for clamp release and regulations to ensure clear signage.  The Bill is currently being discussed in the House of Commons.

Adrian said, “While landowners have a right to control parking on their premises, the clamping firms they use must act proportionately.  These new regulations will go a long way to giving motorists peace of mind that they will not be caught out by cowboy clampers.”

Adrian Sanders MP supports Fuel Poverty Awareness Day

Adrian Sanders MP is supporting Fuel Poverty Awareness Day 2010 a national campaign which aims to highlight the effects of living in a cold home on people’s health.

Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, run by National Energy Action (NEA) and sponsored by EDF Energy, takes place on 12^th February and has received backing from high profile health professional Dr Miriam Stoppard and Government’s Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson.

Having just experienced the most severe winter in over 30 years, the campaign aims to draw attention to the health problems caused by living in a cold, damp home and urges vulnerable people to keep their heating on until winter ends and temperatures start to warm up.

Last winter temperatures remained as low as minus 6 degrees well into March, leading to concerns that people may have been risking their health by turning their heating off too early in order to save money on their fuel bills.

Figures obtained by Adrian showed that in 2008-09, 656 families in Torbay were able to benefit from Warmfront grants to improve insulation and heating systems.

Adrian said, “Living in a cold damp home can lead to extremely poor health, especially in those who are vulnerable such as older people, young children whose immune system has not yet fully developed and those with long terms sickness and disabilities. 

“It is important that people know that there are schemes in place to help them, and to ensure they are keeping warm and healthy throughout the winter period and for as long as the cold weather lasts. I urge everyone who is concerned about their fuel bill to contact their energy supplier or to call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 to access help and advice on staying warm when it is cold without the fear of fuel debt and ill health.”

Adrian Sanders joins battle to tackle the UK’s biggest killer

Adrian Sanders, MP for Torbay, has this week pledged his support to tackle heart and circulatory disease – the UK’s biggest killer.

Mr. Sanders pledged his support as heart patients, carers, and medics descended on the Houses of Parliament demanding a renewed commitment from all political parties to tackle heart and circulatory disease – the UK’s biggest killer – during the next decade.

Almost one hundred British Heart Foundation supporters lobbied their local MPs with calls for a planned and published approach to protect the heart health of the nation. They were backed by a 150,000 signature petition from people calling for a new heart plan.

Mr Sanders said:

“Heart and circulatory disease will affect almost every family at some stage in their lives. That’s why I’m pledging my support to tackle heart and circulatory disease at the next general election and beyond.”

The British Heart Foundation wants to see:

• A clear target to reduce heart and circulatory disease in England to one of the lowest in Western Europe by 2020.
• A single front of pack food labelling scheme to enable shoppers to make healthy food choices easily.
• Cardiac rehabilitation for every patient who is suitable and wishes to take part in this life saving treatment.
• Combat and tackle health inequalities by introducing health equality impact assessments for all new policies and services.

While the number of people dying from cardiovascular disease has fallen, the UK still lags behind other western countries.

Peter Hollins, Chief Executive at the BHF said:

“There has been tremendous progress over the last ten years – but heart disease is responsible for a third of all deaths in the UK. We need to go further and faster to beat this.

“Patients still don’t receive life saving treatments like cardiac rehabilitation – if this were a pill it would have been on the NHS years ago. Heart and circulatory disease remains disproportionately high amongst people living in disadvantaged communities. We need a Government that is willing to tackle the UK’s biggest killer head on with a new heart plan to ensure patients are given the heart health care they deserve.”

The BHF is a member of the Cardio & Vascular Coalition (CVC), a group of 41 voluntary organisations including Diabetes UK, the Stroke Association and Kidney Research UK who are calling on the next Government to address gaps in treatment provision and deal with inequalities in order to reduce premature deaths from cardiovascular disease.

Government Crackdown Threatens Torbay Economy

Adrian Sanders, Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, has voiced his concern over Government proposals to reduce the number of student visas.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson announced over the weekend that further restrictions will be placed on ‘Tier 4’ visas, raising the level of English required for students visiting the country and reducing what they can do in the UK.  This could have a devastating effect upon the English Language teaching sector in Torbay, which currently brings almost £10million a year to the local economy.

Ministers are yet to reveal the exact changes to visa regulations but there is considerable uncertainty over the future for Torbay schools and the many hundreds of parents who host foreign students.  Adrian is now seeking urgent clarification from the Home Secretary, urging him to take a more reasoned stance.

Adrian said, “As is usual with this Government, policy has been announced on TV and not in Parliament.  We desperately need clarity to find out how much these changes will hurt the sector.”

“While measures need to be taken to crack down on illegal schools, these regulations will sweep away legitimate businesses, possibly costing dozens of jobs in the Bay and many hundreds of host families an extra income.  Unfortunately neither the Labour nor Conservative parties have seen sense on this issue but I will continue to fight for a rational solution to this problem.”

Adrian Sanders MP thanked for pledging to “do his bit” for British Armed Forces

Adrian Sanders, MP for Torbay, has been thanked for pledging to do his bit for the British Armed Forces family.

Adrian met with a delegation from The Royal British Legion at Westminster to get behind the charity’s call for general election candidates of all parties to support the whole Armed Forces family. Adrian also discussed the Legion’s manifesto and the changes that it is calling for.

The manifesto sets out priorities for the next Government to improve conditions for the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It encourages MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs) to “do their bit” for Service Personnel and their families, the bereaved, veterans and dependants.

During the meeting, Adrian was photographed with a giant replica of the personalised pledge card, which he has been given by the Legion in recognition of his pledge.

Kevin Shinkwin, the Legion’s Head of Public Affairs, said, “We’re delighted to give Adrian his pledge card in recognition of his pledge to do his bit. Our message to every MP and candidate standing at the general election is very simple: “It’s time to do your bit. How you do that is entirely up to you but pledging publicly at www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk is a great way of showing your support for the whole Armed Forces family, both now and beyond the general election.”

“Both the serving and ex-Service community need the support of politicians,” he added. “Our manifesto outlines practical ways the next government can help, and we hope all the parties will give it serious consideration”.

Adrian Sanders MP said, “I was really pleased to pledge to do my bit and to get my pledge card from the Legion. I know the work they do for the whole Armed Forces family matters not just to me, but to so many of my constituents as well. It’s so important we all get behind them, and I’m looking forward to seeing how my party responds to their manifesto”.

Bay MP stands up for train passengers

Yesterday, Devon MPs stood up for train passengers by recognising their number one concern: high fares.

Adrian has backed calls for a review of rail fares that looks at bringing down the cost to make it easier for people to take the train instead of driving or flying.

Cat Hobbs, public transport campaigner at Campaign for Better Transport said: ‘We’re pleased that Adrian has joined a growing number of MPs who are standing up for passengers and saying that fares cannot keep rising above inflation. Rail is the green option, it shouldn’t be so expensive.’

Adrian commented: ‘Since 1997 train fares have gone up by 7% in real terms. I want to see a review of rail fares regulation to make sure that train travel is affordable.’

‘I know that high train fares are a big issue for many of my constituents. Our fares are the highest in Europe and passengers say fares are their number one concern. That’s why I want to see a review of rail fares regulation that looks at bringing down the cost. It needs to be easier for people to take the train instead of driving or flying. I hope my constituents will join me in supporting this cause by signing up to the campaign to cut train fares campaign being organised by Campaign for Better Transport: http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/train-fares’

Council Must Do More Recycling

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders yesterday raised in Parliament the low level of recycling in the area.  DEFRA Minister Dan Norris MP said that Torbay Council is ‘clearly not doing it as well as the best’ and ‘needs to get on with this.’

Despite recent improvements, only 33% of waste in Torbay is currently recycled, while 57% in neighbouring Teignbridge avoids going to landfill.  Higher recycling rates not only meet Government targets, they also save money for councils by avoiding the need to pay high landfill taxes.

The poor level of recycling in Torbay has been among the top 3 concerns of residents in each of the last 3 year’s residents’ surveys carried out by Adrian.

Adrian commented: “While the Government has given some money to increasing recycling rates, it really needs to give councils stricter targets.  Recycling is a cheap and easy way to protect the environment and should be more of a priority in Torbay.  The Joint Venture Company that should have improved recycling rates has been delayed a number of times and Torbay now has even further to catch up to other areas.”

Regional Cabinet Must Listen to Devon

Devon’s Liberal Democrat MPs are calling on the Government to listen to the real concerns of people in Devon ahead of the Regional Cabinet Meeting in Exeter on Friday.

MPs Nick Harvey, Adrian Sanders and Richard Younger-Ross have accused the Government of ignoring major problems in the South West such as the prevalence of low wage jobs, the lack of opportunities for young people and high water bills.

The MPs are urging Ministers to take a number of straightforward steps to address the historically poor deal Government has given the region, including reducing the rate of tax for low paid workers, giving tax breaks to the tourist industry as in France and Germany as well as targeting investment to local businesses.

Adrian and Richard highlighted the need to proceed with the Kingskerswell Bypass to boost the South Devon economy.

North Devon MP Nick Harvey added: "Our region faces a variety of critical issues, including youth unemployment, a lack of affordable housing and rising water bills, despite having the lowest incomes in England. All of these merit serious attention from the Cabinet, and I sincerely hope they will take this opportunity to address the needs of the region hosting their meeting."

Adrian Sanders added: “We need to see a better deal for pensioners, action to reduce fuel and water bills and progress on urgently needed infrastructure projects like the Kingskerswell Bypass.”

Said Teign MP Richard Younger-Ross, “It is important Ministers look at some of the key issues facing the region.  The Transport Minister must be advised of the necessary improvements that need to be carried out to the rail service between Waterloo and Exeter, and the excellent work that Network Rail are doing to keep the line open along the Dawlish to Teignmouth sea wall.  On roads there are difficulties and improvements are required on the A30/A303 roads to enable better communication and open up a main secondary route into the county.

On education I would invite the Minister for Education to visit Devon schools and see how the lack of fair funding impacts upon the workload of teachers and shortages for pupils, and finally I would invite the Minister of State for Care Services to look at care homes and learn of the County’s concerns over inadequate funding to provide the necessary resources for nursing homes.”