Adrian Sanders

Sanders Calls on PM to Keep Prescription Charge Promise

Adrian Sanders MP has added his support to a campaign urging Gordon Brown to keep a promise he made over a year ago, to abolish prescription charges for people with long-term conditions in England.   

Adrian has supported the ‘Prescription Promise’ campaign by signing up to a new Parliamentary motion, calling on Ministers to publish their review of prescription charges as soon as possible and set a clear timetable for the implementation of Gordon Brown’s promise.

The ‘Prescription Promise’ campaign is led by a coalition of twenty health charities, who represent the voices of millions of people with long-term conditions.  These include Asthma, Diabetes and Arthritis.  There are almost 6,000 people in the Torbay constituency receiving incapacity benefit, which is given to those with long term conditions.

Adrian, who is chairman of the Cross Party Diabetes Parliamentary Group said: ‘I’m concerned about the number of people with long-term conditions in my constituency who may be choosing to go without vital medicines as a result of the recession and the rising costs of fuel and other bills.

‘Gordon Brown must now follow through and implement his promise, which would benefit thousands of people in Torbay, as soon as possible.  ’

Members of the public who would like to sign the ‘Prescription Promise’ campaign’s petition can do so at prescriptionpromise.org

Minister’s Letter Shows Torbay is Paying Over the Odds for Bus Passes

As local authorities across the country prepare for the Government’s review of funding for concessionary bus passes, correspondence from the Department of Transport to Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has highlighted a serious discrepancy between the amount of money Torbay Council is paying to bus companies compared to what other authorities are paying.

While commercial sensitivity has prevented the Government revealing the names of the councils, figures released to Mr Sanders highlight that the reimbursement rate-the percentage of the average fare paid for each concessionary journey-ranges between 36% and 63%, far below the 72% Torbay Council is currently paying.

This could equate to well over a million pounds being spent unnecessarily by the council.

Adrian said: “Obviously some bus companies have higher costs than others but the extremely high price Torbay is paying for its concessionary scheme cannot be explained solely by the higher level of demand we would see in an area with many older residents.”

Sanders Calls for Torbay to be Free School Meal Pilot Area

Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement that one area in each UK region will benefit from free school meals for all, Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has raised the matter in Parliament and urged school’s Minister Diana Johnson to invite Torbay to participate.

Mr Sanders has argued that as well as providing healthy meals for children, the pilot would relieve the pressure on hard pressed local families.  He has written to the Minister, asking her to invite Torbay Council to participate in the new chain of pilots, one of which will operate in each UK region.

The extra funding was announced in last month’s Pre Budget Report.

Adrian said: “Unfortunately Torbay is a low wage area-anything that puts money back into the pockets of hard working families has got to be welcome.  Universal free school meals would obviously have an immediate financial boost for families and in the long term there could be many health benefits for children.”

3,000 Torbay Pensioners Miss Out on Cold Weather Payments

Up to 3,000 Torbay pensioners could be missing out on vital cold weather payments during the recent cold spell, because they are not claiming pension credit.

The latest Government figures showed that 8,540 Torbay pensioners were eligible for pension credit, but only between 60 and 70% actually claim the benefit.  Only those claiming will receive cold weather payments.

Those receiving means tested benefits are eligible for an additional £25 to help with fuel bills during the cold weather.

Adrian said: “Many pensioners, already struggling on low incomes, will find it difficult to pay to keep warm in this cold spell and it is symptomatic of the Government’s complicated pension system that thousands of local pensioners who should be getting extra help won’t be receiving it.”

MP for a Week (Parliamentary Education Service)

The Parliamentary Education Service has launched a new online game. It is designed as an educational resource for students and teachers but it is accessible for anyone who wants to get an idea about various aspects of an MP’s working life.

Please click the link to play the game: Parliament Education Service

Tory threat to destroy Bay language schools

Bay MP Adrian Sanders has reacted with concern at Conservative plans that would see thousands of hard pressed Torbay families lose a total of more than £3million each year and would devastate the local foreign language school sector.

The Conservative Party wants to put even more restrictions on visitors and make students visiting the UK pay a £2,000 bond.  The foreign language schools are already under threat from a Government consultation on plans to restrict student eligibility for visas.

Mr Sanders has also tabled a Parliamentary Question urging Immigration Minister Phil Woolas to issue his decision on potential new rules for these ‘Tier 4’ visas, which was due before Christmas.

The Conservative plans could endorse one of the Government’s proposals to limit visas to only higher education institutions, threatening the Bay’s £13million language school business.

Mr Sanders is arguing that visa rules, which were heavily strengthened in March last year, do not need revising again, rather that it is current enforcement procedures that are currently lacking.

Figures show that over 13,000 visa applications from Pakistan and Afghanistan alone have not been checked for fraud since October 2008.

Adrian said: “We already have stringent rules against abusing the visa system.  The problem is they are not enforced-the figures clearly show that.  What we urgently need the Government to invest in a real solution-allowing the legitimate foreign language sector to thrive while making sure bogus colleges and students are found quickly. ”

“In the end it will actually require hard work and resources to solve this problem, rather than draconian rhetoric.”

“Most importantly we cannot put at risk the vital contribution this sector makes to the local economy.  Aside from the business revenue, this puts over £3million a year into the pockets of thousands of hard pressed host families in Torbay, which can make all the difference.”

Council Fails to Take Powers from Whitehall

Torbay Council failed to ask central Government for funding or regulation changes to benefit local people under the Sustainable Communities Act.  All councils have the opportunity to ask Government to change rules or give funding to local bodies and the first decision of which proposals will be successful is currently being made by officials at the Communities and Local Government Department.

Both South Hams and Teignbridge district councils managed to submit proposals, ranging from measures to combat climate change to providing affordable housing.

If successful, Teignbridge could become a pilot for a Community Land Bank Trust, which could see funding prioritised to bring vacant and run-down properties brought back into use for low income families.

One of South Hams’ proposals could see councils being able to business rate reductions to businesses that source a majority of their products and services locally.

Unfortunately Torbay Council refused to submit any proposals in this the first opportunity to take powers from central Government and give them to local people. 

Adrian said: “We have some serious problems in Torbay, particularly the shortage of affordable family housing and it is very concerning that the council hasn’t taken this opportunity to gain funds and powers from Whitehall to better help local people.  The councils that get involved early on are often far better able to shape the agenda in the future.”

“It is a shame that while other councils including South Hams and Teignbridge have taken steps to involve local people, in Torbay residents haven’t had a chance to have their say on what powers to take away from Whitehall bureaucrats.”

Surgery cancelled tonight

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders regrets to announce that, due to icy conditions on Pendennis Road, the Windmill Centre has been unable to open today. Adrian Sanders’ scheduled surgery this evening will therefore be unable to go ahead as planned.

Adrian's office remains open at 69 Belgrave Road, Torquay and can be contacted on 01803 200036.

His next surgery is scheduled to be held at Connections, Town Hall, Castle Circus, Torquay on Friday 15th January, from 4 until 5:30 PM.

Chancellor Tackled over Lack of Consultation for Tourist Tax Changes

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders is taking the Chancellor to task over the announcement that changes to tax rules for the self catering industry are going ahead.  The  new rules, which come into force in April this year, will abolish tax reliefs for self-catering businesses, and while the existing rules were never intended to be permanent, the Government did not consult with the industry before making the changes.

The new tax rules were announced in April 2009 but the Treasury only published its impact assessment in December’s Pre-Budget Report.  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which has responsibility for tourism, was also not consulted on the change.

Ministers have claimed that the changes are needed to comply with EU law, but the Tourism Alliance, who Adrian is supporting, have identified other changes that could be made which would allow businesses to remain profitable as well as complying with EU law.  Unfortunately no debate on these proposals was allowed.

It is estimated that if the Government refuses to soften the blow the industry could lose over £40million per year and cost over 100,000 visits to Devon alone.

Adrian said: “There is great concern across the South West that these new tax rules will have an impact on the self catering industry.  Again the problem stems from the Government ignoring the views of the industry, from which it could have gained more insightful solutions.

“As the Tourism Alliance points out, some options not current being considered would save both jobs and businesses and tax revenue.  Moreover this reinforces the view that the Governments just doesn’t listen to ordinary businesses who are trying to make ends meet in very difficult economic circumstances. ”

The new tax rules are open to consultation until the end of February.

Bay MP Takes Up Nortel Redundancy Concerns

Local MP Adrian Sanders has been calling on Ministers and regulators to take action after concerns were raised by former employees of alleged illegal practices in the winding up of former Torbay employer Nortel Networks.

Despite executives at the global communications company receiving multi million pound bonuses, it is alleged that hundreds of UK workers were made redundant in early 2009 without the legally required 90 day consultation period, with auditors Ernst & Young claiming “special circumstances” made consulting the workers impossible.

Business Minister Ian Lucas confirmed to Adrian that he had met with Ernst & Young to highlight these concerns but only hinted that some changes may occur in the future.

Adrian has now written to Ernst & Young directly, urging them to abandon anti-worker practices and he is also calling on the regulators, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to take action against Ernst & Young.

The Tribunals Service revealed that while in 2007-08 there were 4,480 complaints about employers failing to consult, this had risen to 11, 371 for 2008-09, a rise of around 250%.

Adrian said: “This problem comes against a background of the decreasing observance of employment law when companies go into administration. So far Ministers and the regulator have been letting the industry essentially police itself, which is bad news for workers across the UK.”