Campaign Reply - Live Animal Exports

The UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world which the Government continues to strengthen further.

My ministerial colleagues and I recognise that long journey times for slaughter and fattening pose welfare risks including stress, exhaustion and injury. I understand that the shortest direct to slaughter export journey from Great Britain to continental Europe in 2018 was a journey time of 18 hours. Most domestic journeys to slaughter in the UK are significantly shorter. In 2020, the Government carried out a consultation on ending live animal exports, and 87 per cent of respondents agreed that livestock and horses should not be exported for slaughter and fattening.

Now that the UK is no longer in the European Union, the Government can end live animal exports, further strengthening animal welfare protections. The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill delivers the Government’s manifesto commitment by banning the live export of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses for slaughter and fattening. It will prevent unnecessary long export journeys, instead using shorter and less stressful domestic journeys. The Bill will ensure that animals are slaughtered domestically, in high welfare UK slaughterhouses and preventing the export to unknown and likely lower welfare slaughterhouse conditions. These new rules will still allow live animal exports in other circumstances, for example for breeding and competitions, provided they are transported in line with legal requirements aimed at protecting their welfare.

While no animals have been exported for slaughter from Great Britain since the Government announced its intention to bring forward a ban in 2021, I know that this Bill makes this permanent. I am assured that this legislation reinforces the UK’s position as a world leader on animal welfare, boosting the value of British meat and helping to grow the economy.

Campaign Reply - Israel and Palestine

A tragedy is unfolding in the Middle East. Israel has suffered the worst terror attack in its history at the hands of Hamas, and Palestinian civilians in Gaza are experiencing a humanitarian disaster. My thoughts are with all those affected. 

The UK recognises the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and supports a lasting solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike. However, Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people or their aspirations; it offers nothing for them other than more terror and more bloodshed. I therefore support Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas, deter further incursions and strengthen its long-term security.

However, the loss of every innocent life is a tragedy, and the UK Government has repeatedly stressed that Israel must take every precaution to minimise civilian casualties, in line with international humanitarian law. Ministers regularly engage with Israeli counterparts to ensure that the campaign is targeted against Hamas terrorists and military infrastructure, and call for discipline, professionalism and restraint from the Israeli military.

The rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza is deeply troubling, and I welcome the extensive efforts of British Government to ensure that vital aid reaches the Palestinian people. 

During his recent visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Foreign Secretary announced £30 million to support trusted partners, including UN agencies on the ground, to deliver lifesaving aid to people in Gaza. It brings to £60 million the additional aid announced by the UK for Palestinian civilians since the crisis started in October.

Funding alone is not enough, and work is ongoing to increase the flow of aid into Gaza; while the opening of the Rafah border crossing is a major development, the UK has confirmed that it will continue to work with Egypt, Israel and other international partners to increase the flow of support. 

I welcomed the recent pause in hostilities, which allowed for an increased flow of vital aid into Gaza and saw a number of hostages released. Ministers have made clear that the pause that took place between 24 November and 1 December should not be a one-off, and should act as a confidence-building mechanism for future pauses.

The UK Government is working towards a long-term two-state solution to ensure this crisis never recurs, and I am following developments closely. Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Specific to certain concerns:

 

-        Continued commitment to a two-state solution: Looking to the long-term, the UK Government has been clear that we must never lose sight of how essential the two-state solution is. The UK will work with our international partners to bring renewed energy and creativity to that effort. This will rely on establishing more effective governance for Palestinian territories in Gaza and the West Bank, and will also mean challenging actions that undercut legitimate aspirations for Palestinian statehood.

-        Calls for Israel to abide by International Law: The terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas are heinous and unprecedented, and I support Israel’s right to defend itself proportionately as guaranteed by Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. The UK recognises that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people, and has made it absolutely clear to the Israeli Government that its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Civilians must be respected and protected. I know that both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect innocent civilians in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts.

I am proud that the UK has a strong track record of supporting international humanitarian law, and calls on friends and partners overseas to do the same.

-        In response to concerns about the use of language in relation to Palestine: I note your concerns about the language used by members of the Israeli Government. I would again like to emphasise that the UK Prime Minister has stressed to Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Herzog the need to act in line with international law and take every possible step to avoid harming civilians in Gaza.

-        Al Ahli Hospital: The explosion at the Al Ahli hospital caused devastating loss of life. It is a tragedy on a scale that is difficult to comprehend.

On the basis of the deep knowledge and analysis of UK intelligence and weapons experts, the UK Government has now judged that the explosion was likely caused by a missile, or part of one, that was launched from within Gaza towards Israel.

This incident only reinforces the importance of getting humanitarian relief into Gaza, and again, I welcome all UK efforts to that end.

-        Calls for a ceasefire: I note calls for the UK to push for a ceasefire.

The UK is working via all diplomatic channels—bilaterally and collectively in the region—to ensure that this conflict, which has cost so many lives already, can be brought to a halt. 

However, the reality is that Hamas have no interest in a ceasefire. They have no interest in resolution, have never attempted to engage in a two-state solution and have made every attempt to collapse the Oslo process. Furthermore, a unilateral and unconditional ceasefire would simply allow Hamas to entrench their position and continue their attacks. Indeed, Hamas have reiterated their intentions, stating clearly that "we will repeat the October 7 attack time and time again until Israel are annihilated". I must therefore reiterate that Israel has the right to take action to defend itself, and the UK, while respecting that, will continue to stress the necessity of adhering to international law and taking every possible measure to protect civilians. 

-        Concerns about Israel’s settlement expansion leading up to 7 October: As you may be aware, the UK has long held the position that there should be a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, based on 1967 borders. For many years the UK has consistently called- both bilaterally and via the UN- for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of such a solution.

-        British nationals in Gaza: The safety of all British nationals continues to be the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) top priority. Following intensive engagement with Israel and Egypt, a number of British Nationals have been able to leave Gaza via the Rafah border crossing, and have been met with consular officials in el-Arish. I have been assured that the FCDO will continue to do all it can ensure that all remaining British nationals in Gaza can leave safely.

British nationals in need of assistance should contact +972 (0)3 725 1222 or +972 (2) 5414100. If they experience technical difficulties or if they are in the UK, call +44 20 7008 5000. British nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Gaza, are advised to register their presence with the FCDO. https://www.register.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/israel-20231009/tell-the-uk-government-youre-in-israel-or-the-occupied-palestinian-territories https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/israel.

-        Use of white phosphorus: I am aware of recent reports that Israel has been using white phosphorus in Gaza, according to Human Rights Watch. Israel however has categorically denied its usage.

While white phosphorus itself is not a prohibited substance, when used against civilian targets, it is considered an incendiary weapon under Protocol III of the Convention on the Prohibition of Use of Certain Conventional Weapons. The UK firmly believes that it must be used in accordance with international humanitarian law.

-        Jabalia Refugee Camp: I am aware of reports that an Israeli air strike killed dozens of people at Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. As mentioned, the UK Government has repeatedly stressed that Israel must take every precaution to minimise civilian casualties, in line with International Humanitarian Law. The UK Government continues to press Israel to ensure that its campaign is targeted against Hamas leaders, militants and military infrastructure.

-        Al-Shifa Hospital: I understand your concern about the situation at the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. 

Israel is facing an enemy which has enmeshed itself amidst civilian infrastructure, and is using the people of Gaza as human shields. However, as Israel carries out its military operation, the UK is clear that it must adhere to international humanitarian law and take every possible measure to minimise harm to civilians. This includes respecting the sanctity of hospitals. 

The suffering currently being experienced at the al-Shifa hospital is difficult to comprehend; it is tragic that innocent people, including young children and babies, have lost their lives there as a result of the lack of electricity.

The acute situation at al-Shifa further highlights the urgent need to get more aid into Gaza, and I welcome all that the UK is doing to this end. 

-        Children in Gaza: I too am deeply concerned by the suffering faced by children in Gaza. 

All parties to this conflict must ensure that their actions are proportionate and necessary, affording innocent civilians the protection that is their right under international law. Civilians, including children, must be respected and protected and our collective priority must be to alleviate this suffering, including at hospitals and schools.

The UK continues to make representations to the Israeli authorities on the troubling high number of Palestinian children who are not informed of their legal rights when detained, in contravention of Israel's own regulations. The UK welcomes the release of Palestinian detainees as part of the hostage deal brokered on 22 November, a crucial step towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Hospitals in the Occupied Palestinian Territories must be allowed to operate safely and treat the vulnerable, in accordance with international humanitarian law. The UK Government has provided an additional £30 million in humanitarian funding and has sent more than 51 tonnes of emergency relief for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This funding will support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and other trusted partners to respond to critical food, water, health, shelter and security needs in Gaza.

-        Arms Exports: The UK Government takes its export control responsibilities extremely seriously and operates one of the most robust export control regimes in the world. All export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, based on the most up-to-date information and analysis available.

Licence decisions take account of prevailing circumstances at the time of application and include human rights and international humanitarian law considerations. Export licenses are not issued where to do so would be inconsistent with the consolidated criteria, including where there is a clear risk that the items might be used for a serious violation of international law.

Campaign Reply - Patient Safety

Patient safety is central to our NHS, ensuring that people are able to seek the care that they need with the confidence they will be safe doing so.

 

You may be aware that the Government is working to establish the Health Services Safety Investigations Body as an independent statutory body, through the Health and Care Act. This will build on the work of the Healthcare Safety Investigations Branch, with the function of investigating incidents that occur in England during the provision of health care services which have, or may have, implications for the safety of patients. I fully support these steps to empower staff and patients to report incidents, enabling NHS staff to learn and better protect future patients.

 

In December 2021, the Government published its response to the findings of the inquiry into the issues raised by disgraced surgeon, Ian Paterson. The Government accepted the overwhelming majority of the recommendations made by the inquiry and set out an implementation plan of 40 actions to put those recommendations into effect. The Government published a progress report on the implementation plan in December 2022. The report provides full details of this progress against the four themes of the Government’s response as laid out in the implementation plan, and demonstrates that good progress has been made.

 

In 2021, the Government responded to the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices review and set out an ambitious programme of change centred on patient safety. The main features are improving how the system listens to and responds to concerns raised by patients, strengthening the evidence base on which decisions are made, and improving the safety of medicines and devices.

 

I was encouraged to see the outcome of the recent consultation on the role of a Patient Safety Commissioner, acting on the second recommendation of the Review. Views were sought on a range of proposals from terms of office to remuneration and, in light of support for each proposal, the Government will proceed with them. I welcome the appointment of Dr Henrietta Hughes OBE as the first ever Patient Safety Commissioner for England in July last year.

 

Further, the NHS published a Patient Safety Strategy in 2019 and this is updated yearly. This plan sets out how the NHS looks to continuously improve patient safety, building on the foundations of a safer culture and safer systems.

Newspaper column 18th December 2023 - The Christmas Recess

As I write this Parliament has just two more days to sit this week before we rise for Christmas Recess, meaning I will once again be working in our constituency before taking some time off over Christmas for the festive break.

Last week it was great to see Cornwall Council’s Cabinet back the Mid-Cornwall Metro project and accept £50million of Government Levelling Up funding to enable the project to progress.

The Mid Cornwall Metro Project is one I have backed from the outset and will provide a direct rail link for Falmouth and Penryn to Newquay and the mainline, as well as more regular trains for the whole route, thereby improving services for the communities along the way and all who wish to commute or travel for leisure to the destinations.

I was delighted to see Cornwall Council’s Cabinet back the plans at their meeting last week and now look forward to seeing the funding drawn down and put to work to realise this fantastic project from next year.

Meanwhile in Parliament, as I wrote about last week, it was good to see the Government’s Rwanda Bill pass through the first stage of voting in the House of Commons. I know that so many of you are passionate about the absolute priority that we must give to cracking down on illegal immigration by stopping the boats, and I was pleased to support the Prime Minister and our Government in voting to support the passage of this bill. I will continue to support it as it goes on towards becoming law over the coming months.

Truro and Falmouth is such a special place at this time of year and it has been brilliant to be out and about around our constituency seeing the festive events and getting involved in some of the community activities in the run up to Christmas.

While I hope everyone will get some time to appreciate the meaning of Christmas and mark it in the way you choose, I would also like to thank everyone in our emergency services, armed forces and the care and service industries who will continue working throughout.

My office will close from the midday on 22nd December and reopen on 3rd January. I’d like to thank my excellent Constituency and Parliamentary team for their hard work on my behalf over another busy year. You can still email me at cheriyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk and my team and I will get back to you as soon as we are able to.

 

Campaign reply - Caged Farm Animals

I would like to assure you that my ministerial colleagues and I take the welfare of all animals seriously. Since publishing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare, the Government has delivered an ambitious legislative programme, bringing significant improvements for animals both in the UK and abroad. Ministers are firmly committed to maintaining the UK’s strong track record on animal welfare and to delivering continued improvements, both in the course of this Parliament and beyond.

 

I understand that my ministerial colleagues do not believe that the time is right to consult on cage reforms, recognising some of the challenges that numerous sectors have faced in recent years. I am informed that the market is already driving the move away from using cages for laying hen production, and that the proportion of eggs from caged hens has steadily decreased from 47 per cent of total throughput in Q4 of 2017 to 21 per cent in Q1 of 2023. Regarding pigs, the UK is ahead of most other pig producing countries in terms of zero confinement farrowing, in that 40 per net of the national sow breeding herd farrow freely on outdoor pig units with no option of confinement.

I am assured that the Government will continue to work with the sector maintain and enhance high standards of welfare. For example, the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway will prioritise areas for additional improvement in the health and welfare for pigs, cattle, sheep and poultry. I know that one of the Government’s priorities for the pathway includes supporting producers to transition away from confinement systems. 

Of course, if you have specific concerns about the welfare of an animal, I recommend reporting it to the police or the RSPCA.

Campaign reply - Animal Welfare (Four Paws Campaign)

The UK has long led the way on animal welfare and the Government has delivered an ambitious legislative programme since the publication of the Action Plan for Animal Welfare. Ministers are committed to building on our strong track record on animal welfare.  

 

In the King’s Speech, the Government announced the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill, which will ban the export of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain, stopping unnecessary stress, exhaustion and injury caused by exporting live animals. This Bill will ensure that animals are slaughtered domestically in high welfare slaughterhouses in the UK, reinforcing the UK’s position as a world leader on animal welfare.

Regarding puppy smuggling, the UK has one of the most rigorous pet travel border checking regimes in the world and I am aware that every dog travelling into Great Britain on approved routes has its microchip and paperwork checked to make sure they are all properly vaccinated and are old enough to travel. The Government has said that it will ban the imports of young, heavily pregnant or mutilated dogs and it would be supportive of legislating to ban this through a single-issue Bill when parliamentary time allows.

Further, mindful of the challenges the sectors are facing, I am aware that Ministers do not consider the time is right to consult on cage reforms. However, I understand that the market is already driving the move away from using cages for laying hen production. In addition, the Government’s animal welfare priorities for its Animal Health and Welfare Pathway include supporting producers to transition away from confinement systems.

On food labelling for animal welfare, Ministers want to make it easier for consumers to purchase food that aligns with their values, by improving transparency and providing the industry with a level playing field to promote such products. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) intends to work with the industry to explore how to harness the market to improve food information for consumers and raise animal welfare standards.

In 2021, Defra carried out a call for evidence on the fur trade in Great Britain. Defra continues to build an evidence base on the fur sector, which will be used to inform any future action on the fur trade. This includes commissioning the Animal Welfare Committee to explore current responsible sourcing practices in the fur industry.

Finally, in May, the Prime Minister set out the Government’s six principles to ensure that British farming is at the heart of British trade. One of these principles included seeking to advance international co-operation on animal welfare and to promote high welfare standards. I am assured that the UK will safeguard its ability to maintain high animal welfare, environmental and food standards in new trade agreements.

Campaign reply - Earwax Removal

Ear wax removal services are commissioned at a local, rather than national level. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance from June 2018 recommends that adults should be offered earwax removal if the earwax is contributing to hearing loss or other symptoms. 

If they determine that the treatment is clinically necessary, GP practices can offer NHS ear wax syringing services or refer to an appropriate NHS service in a local area.  Eligible patients would not be charged for this service. 

There are a range of services known as core services that all GP practices are expected to provide and enhanced services that GP practices are commissioned to provide over and above this. The provision of ear syringing is an example of an enhanced service. It is for the local Integrated Care System to decide whether or not to commission this enhanced service.

Campaign reply - Puppy Smuggling

I would like to assure you that Ministers are committed to cracking down on puppy smuggling and will ban the imports of young or heavily pregnant dogs, as well as dogs with mutilations, such as cropped ears or docked tails. Applying strengthened penalties will send a clear message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated and will enable our courts to take a firmer approach to cases where pets are illegally imported. I know that the Government would be supportive of legislation to ban this through a single-issue Bill when parliamentary time allows.

 

The UK has one of the most rigorous pet travel border checking regimes in the world and I am aware that every dog travelling into Great Britain on approved routes has its microchip and paperwork checked to make sure they are all properly vaccinated and are old enough to travel. In addition, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) consulted on proposed changes to the commercial and non-commercial movements of pets into Great Britain. Defra has been carefully reviewing feedback from this consultation, and I look forward to reading a summary in due course.

 

Further, Ministers have taken action to tackle the practice of puppy farming. Following the introduction of Lucy’s Law in 2020, everyone must now buy directly from breeders or consider adopting from rescue centres, which is a major step in stopping the illegal pet trade. If an individual sells puppies or kittens without a licence, they could receive an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months.

Campaign reply - Data reform

Now that the UK has left the EU, there is opportunity to simplify the clunky parts of our data protection laws and create a world class data rights framework that will allow us to realise the benefits of data use while maintaining high data protection standards. 

Data is fundamental to fuelling economic growth in all areas of society from unlocking medical breakthroughs to helping people travel, manage their finances and shop online. It is vital to the development and use of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence.

The Government consulted on an ambitious package of reforms to create a new regime that is pro-growth and trusted for UK citizens and businesses. The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill was first introduced in 2022 but paused so Ministers could engage in a co-design process with business leaders and data experts – ensuring that the new regime built on the UK’s high standards for data protection and privacy, and seeks to ensure data adequacy while moving away from the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach of European Union’s GDPR.

The Bill has since been improved (and reintroduced as the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill) to introduce a simple, clear and business-friendly framework that will not be difficult or costly to implement – taking the best elements of GDPR and providing businesses with more flexibility about how they comply with the new data laws. Furthermore, it will ensure the UK's new regime maintains data adequacy with the EU, and wider international confidence in the UK’s comprehensive data protection standards. By reducing the amount of paperwork and supporting international trade without additional costs if they're already compliant, the changes will give organisations greater confidence about when they can process personal data without consent. 

Ministers have improved the Bill to further cut down on the amount of paperwork organisations need to complete to show compliance. Now, only organisations whose processing activities are likely to pose high risks to individual’s rights and freedoms will need to keep processing records. This could include, for example, where organisations are processing large volumes of sensitive data about people’s health.

The new rules will give organisations more clarity about when they can process personal data without needing consent or weighing up their own interests in processing the data against an individual’s rights for certain public interest activities. This could include circumstances where there is a public interest in sharing personal data to prevent crime, safeguard national security or protect vulnerable individuals.

Alongside these new changes, the Bill will increase fines for nuisance calls and texts to be up to four per cent of global turnover or £17.5 million, whichever is greater, and aims to reduce the number of consent pop-ups people see online, which allow websites to collect data about an individual’s visit.

The Government's reforms are expected to unlock £4.7 billion in savings for the UK economy over the next 10 years and maintain the UK’s internationally renowned data protection standards so businesses can continue to trade freely with global partners, including the EU.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Campaign Reply - The Two-Child Policy

Thank you for contacting me about the cap which restricts child tax credit and universal credit to the first two children in a family.

Supporting families and helping parents into work requires a balanced system that provides support for those who need it, but that also ensures a sense of fairness to the taxpayer and many working families who do not see their incomes rise when they have more children.

The previous benefits structure, which adjusted automatically to family size, was unsustainable. Moreover, the latest statistics show that 78 per cent of families on Universal Credit (UC) had fewer than three children. I understand that the Government therefore feels it is proportionate to provide support through Child Tax Credit and UC for a maximum of two children. The same policy does not apply to help with childcare costs, passported benefits (for example, free school meals), additional support for any disabled children or Child Benefit.

I do recognise that some people are not able to make the same choices about the number of children in their family, and I welcome the full support for third and subsequent children born after April 2017 in certain circumstances. This includes children cared for by family or close friends under kinship care arrangements, children adopted from local authority care, and multiple births.

Campaign Reply - Support for the Night-time Economy

I fully recognise the importance of the night-time economy and have been reassured that the Government continues to support this industry as well as the wider hospitality sector.

At Autumn Statement 2023, the Government announced a business rates support package worth £4.3 billion over the next five years to support small businesses and the high street. The small business multiplier will be frozen for a fourth consecutive year, and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief will be extended, ensuring the most vulnerable businesses continue to be supported. A third of properties in England have already been taken out of rates completely through Small Business Rates Relief.

The Government is also making full expensing permanent, representing the largest business tax cut in modern British history. This means the UK will have not just the lowest headline corporation tax rate in the G7 but also its most generous capital allowances.

These measures are in addition to the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which provided £7.4 billion to businesses; the Energy Bills Discount Scheme, which provides a baseline discount on energy bills until the end of March 2024; the increased Employment Allowance of £5,000, which takes the smallest 40 per cent of businesses out of paying any National Insurance at all; and setting the Annual Investment Allowance at £1 million permanently.

I believe this is a comprehensive package of support which is helping protect businesses such as pubs, cafes, and nightclubs.

Campaign Reply - UN Tax Convention

I believe that international cooperation is important in tackling global tax challenges, and the Government actively engages with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s and UN’s work on tax policy.

The Government is committed to ensuring international tax rules and standards are effective as well as inclusive. To this end, the Government has supported consensus-based reform of the international tax rules through the OECD, including through the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework (with over 130 members) and the Global Forum (with over 160 members), in which non-OECD members participate on an equal footing. This reflects the strong expertise that sits within the OECD and the steps taken in recent years to become ever-more inclusive of the needs of developing countries.

In the UK, the estimated tax gap for the 2021/22 tax year is at an all-time low of 4.8 per cent, down from 7.5 per cent in 2005/06. The Government is also investing a further £47.2 million to improve the capability of HM Revenue and Customs to collect tax debts, including supporting those who are temporarily unable to pay.

Campaign Reply - RCGP General Election Manifesto

I would like to pay tribute to all GPs for their work in caring for patients across the country as we have emerged from the pandemic.  Please be assured that I share the RCGP’s desire to strengthen general practice and provide the best conditions for GPs to support patients. 

The Government has prioritised the recovery of primary care services over the last few years, but I know there is more progress to be made. At least £1.5 billion is being invested to create an additional 50 million general practice appointments by 2024 by increasing and diversifying the workforce. As part of the Delivery Plan for Recovering Access to Primary Care, up to £645 million will be provided over two years to expand the services offered by community pharmacies (subject to consultation), helping to take the pressure off GPs and providing patients with more options for care.

Of course, we need to ensure that there are enough GPs to deliver patient care in the future.  The Government remains committed to growing the GP workforce and number of doctors in general practice as soon as possible.  There were over 2,000 more full-time equivalent doctors working in general practice (including trainees) in June 2023 compared to June 2019.  

Looking ahead to the future, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan – backed by the Government – set out an ambition to increase GP training places to 6,000 by 2031. It is also important that we do more to recruit more GPs in areas of greater disadvantage, and the NHSE Targeted Enhanced Recruitment Scheme is providing 800 places available for GP trainees committed to working for three years in areas identified as having the hardest to recruit to training places in England.

I fully appreciate the challenges around workload in general practice, and the NHS is running several schemes to help retain and keep more GPs. This includes the National GP Retention Scheme, which offers financial and educational support to help doctors who might otherwise leave the profession remain in clinical general practice.  The Government is also committed to cutting unnecessary burdens on GPs through the Bureaucracy Busting Concordat (published in August 2022), and streamlining the Investment and Impact Fund indicators from 36 to 5 from 2023/24.

Changes have also been made to free up GPs’ time for appointments, including expanding the range of healthcare professionals who can sign fit notes and provide medical evidence to the DVLA.

General Practice is central to meeting the healthcare needs of local communities, and needs to be given priority when new housing development takes place. I am pleased that the Government will be consulting planning guidance to raise the priority of primary care, and will be supporting the development of a new standardised design for primary care buildings, providing modern facilities that create a positive working environment for staff and patients and use modern construction methods.

Campaign Reply - Schools funding and investment

I am absolutely determined that children in Truro and Falmouth and around the country should receive a high-quality education.

More money than ever before is being invested in schools, ensuring every child gets a world-class education. In 2024-25, the total core schools budget will be at its highest-ever level, in both real terms and in real terms per pupil. This budget will total £59.6 billion in 2024-25, an increase of £1.8 billion from this year and on top of the £3.9 billion rise in 2023-24.

Mainstream schools in England will receive an average of around £6,000 for each pupil from next year through the National Funding Formula, with additional funding for teacher pay on top of that. Overall, funding will be at its highest-ever level in real terms per pupil in 2024-25, as measured by the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies, underlining the Government’s commitment to education.

This money can be spent on staff salaries, school trips and classroom equipment which will raise school standards and educational outcomes. These increases form part of the additional £9.8 billion being invested in the schools core budget by 2024-25, compared to 2021-22.

Furthermore, teachers in England received the highest pay award for 30 years (6.5 per cent), after the Government accepted in full the recommendations set out by the independent pay review body. In doing so, the Government meets its manifesto commitment to raise the minimum starting salary for teachers to £30,000 from September. This deal has ensured teachers and school leaders called off strike action.

The Department for Education also committed to a long-term School Rebuilding Programme, renovating 500 schools in England over the next decade. In December 2022, the Government announced that a further 239 schools and sixth form colleges have been provisionally selected for the School Rebuilding Programme, which means that in total 400 schools have benefitted to date. The Government has allocated over £13 billion since 2015 to maintain and improve school facilities across England, including £1.8 billion for the 2022-23 financial year, and an additional £500 million in capital funding to schools and colleges this financial year for energy efficiency upgrades.

Campaign Reply - The Autumn Statement 2023

Thank you for contacting me about the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

In January 2023, the Prime Minister set out five priorities for government. Three were economic: to halve inflation, grow the economy, and reduce debt. Since then, inflation has halved, the economy has recovered more quickly from the pandemic than first thought, and debt is on track to fall.

Thanks to the stability this has brought, the Government is now able to focus on the long-term decisions required to strengthen our economy: reducing debt; cutting tax and rewarding hard work; building domestic, sustainable energy; backing British businesses; and delivering world-class education.

I welcome that Autumn Statement 2023 sets out the biggest package of tax cuts to be implemented at a fiscal event since the 1980s, while at the same time getting inflation falling and borrowing lower. The Chancellor will reduce taxes for 27 million working people from January by cutting the main rate of National Insurance contributions from 12 to 10 per cent. For the average worker earning £35,000 a year, this means a tax cut of £450. I also welcome that the Government will boost the National Living Wage (NLW) by 9.8  to record levels of £11.44 an hour. A full-time worker on the NLW will see their pay increase by over £1,800.

The Government is also continuing to support the most vulnerable. All working-age benefits will be increased in full by 6.7 per cent, boosting the incomes of 5.5 million households who receive Universal Credit by an average of £470 a year. The Government will also increase Local Housing Allowance rates, making 1.6 million families better off by an average of £800 in 2024-25. In line with the Triple Lock, pensions will be boosted by 8.5 per cent, ensuring dignity in older age for those who have worked their entire lives.

As announced at Autumn Statement 2023, the Government is cutting business taxes by £11 billion – the biggest business tax cut in modern British history – by permanently enabling businesses to offset investments against their tax bills. For every pound a business invests, its taxes are cut by up to 25p. Companies can now permanently claim 100 per cent capital allowances on qualifying main rate plant and machinery investments. This will generate £3 billion of additional investment each year and £14 billion over the next five years. 

The Government is also freezing the business rates multiplier for small businesses for a fourth consecutive year, saving an average shop £1,650. It is also extending the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief, meaning 230,000 properties will benefit from almost £2.4 billion in support, protecting small businesses in our high streets and town centres. 

I welcome the Chancellor’s announcement of a £110 million investment for local planning authorities affected by ‘nutrient neutrality’ rules, unlocking 40,000 new homes over five years. The Chancellor is also reforming our planning system to tackle the delays faced by businesses in building infrastructure, including by cutting consent times for nationally significant infrastructure projects to two and a half years as soon as possible.

The Chancellor has announced new investments in three Investment Zones and the creation of a new Zone in Wrexham, building on the 12 existing Investment Zones across the country. I welcome that the Government will also extend the programme of Investment Zones announced at Spring Budget 2023 from five years to ten years and introduce a new additional fund of £150 million that areas can access to help land investments. 

This Autumn Statement takes another step forward in tackling the long-term economic challenges facing the UK, allowing us to build a more dynamic economy that delivers prosperity across the country and the change it needs. 

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Campaign Reply - The Emergency Energy Tariff

I am aware of the impact that global energy price rises have had on consumers, and I welcome the action taken by the Government to support the most vulnerable. 

To support consumers, the Government is maintaining the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) until April 2024. As you may know, the EPG limits the amount that consumers can be charged per unit of gas or electricity. Although energy prices are currently below the level at which EPG payments would be made, its continuation through winter will protect consumers from price spikes.

 

Alongside this, over 2023-24, the Government is providing targeted support to the most vulnerable through Cost of Living Payments, which will be paid to 8 million households on eligible means-tested-benefits, 6 million people on eligible disability benefits, and 8 million pensioner households. Additionally, to empower local authorities to provide discretionary support to those most in need, the Government has provided £1 billion of extra funding to the Household Support Fund, bringing the total of the Fund to £2.5 billion.

 

Moreover, as you may know, benefits and the state pension were increased by 10.1 per cent, in line with inflation, in April 2023. Indeed, in April 2024, all working-age benefits will be uprated in line with September 2023 Consumer Price Index Inflation – 6.7 per cent.

 

More broadly, to shield consumers from fluctuations in the global energy market, the Government is taking steps to safeguard Britain's energy supply and power up Britain. Alongside the measures I have outlined, the Government will bring forward legislation to reduce dependence on higher-emission imports from overseas, including from countries like Russia.

Campaign Reply - Do you support the Firefighter's Manifesto?

Let me start by saying that I greatly value the work firefighters do, often selflessly putting themselves in danger to keep us and our families safe. I know that the Government is grateful for the work fire and rescue services do in their communities. 

Regarding investment, I understand that fire and rescue authorities are receiving around £2.6 billion in 2023-24. Standalone fire and rescue authorities are seeing an increase in core spending power of 8.1 per cent in cash terms compared to 2022-23. On firefighters’ pay, the National Joint Council is responsible for overseeing decisions on pay and terms and conditions. However, I note that the Government’s Fire Reform White Paper set out proposals to conduct an independent review of the current pay negotiation process and consider its suitability for a modern emergency service. 

 

While I appreciate your concern, I do not believe it is necessary to introduce a statutory duty for firefighters to respond to flooding, given that fire and rescue authorities already have the power to respond to all kinds of emergencies for which they do not have a specific statutory duty, including flooding. The Government supports this by providing fire and rescue services with additional resources to tackle flooding such as high-volume pumps and water rescue assets. 

 

Some of the issues you raise, such as the firefighters’ pension scheme, are matters for individual employing fire and rescue authorities. It is also for individual fire and rescue authorities, as employers with responsibility for health and wellbeing, to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend. I completely agree with you about the importance of the health and safety of firefighters, and I am pleased that the Home Office provides significant grant funding to the National Fire Chiefs Council programmes including work that specifically focuses on the health and wellbeing of firefighters.

 

While I appreciate that this may not be the exact response you were hoping for, I do hope that I have been able to provide you with some assurance.