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It's time for a fairer deal for pensioners, says David Heath
David Heath has backed Liberal Democrat plans to introduce a ‘Citizens’ Pension’ and immediately restore the link between pensions and earnings.
The proposals are contained in the policy document Freedom from Poverty, Opportunity for All: Policies for a fairer Britain, which was co-authored by Mr Heath’s Somerset colleague David Laws MP.
Included in the paper, are plans to establish the Citizens’ Pension, based on citizenship rather than contributions records, which would remove millions of pensioners from means-tested benefits while giving them a more generous pension.
David Heath said: “These plans would immediately deliver a fairer deal for every pensioner. The Government cannot decide whether to restore the link by 2012 or 2015, by which time 3 million pensioners will have died. Pensioners should not have to wait 8 years for a higher basic state pension.
“The reform of the state pension proposed by the Liberal Democrats would benefit all pensioners, particularly those on low incomes and those without incentives to save under the current system. People who have saved for their retirement will no longer be penalised with a lower pension.
“The current system based on contribution records unnecessarily penalises women and carers in particular. Plans for a ‘Citizens’ Pension’, based on citizenship, would give more people access to a full state pension.”
Heath backs Lib Dem plans to combat poverty and inequality
David Heath has voiced his support for radical new proposals revealed by the Liberal Democrats today to reduce poverty and tackle inequality in Britain.
The plans aim to reverse Gordon Brown’s dependency culture by giving people educational and employment opportunities as well as incentives to work and save.
Five million people will be lifted out of relative poverty, with 10 million fewer means-tested benefits in payment, by 2020.
The proposals contained in the policy document, Freedom from Poverty, Opportunity for All - Policies for a fairer Britain, include:
- Introducing a ‘pupil premium’, with £1.5bn extra targeted at the children with the greatest need.The Pupil Premium will give more money to pupils from the poorest backgrounds and help bring funding in the most needy state schools up to private school levels.
- Reforming tax credits by ending the overpayments crisis and taking higher earners out of the system all together.
- Increasing Child Benefit by around £5 per family per week, taking 150,000 children out of poverty.
- Replacing Job Centre Plus with a new ‘First Steps’ agency to be a single one-stop-shop for all benefit and tax credit claims, while outsourcing properly funded employment support to the private and voluntary sector. A single working age benefit would also be introduced.
- Immediately restoring the earnings link to the basic state pension and in the long run introducing a citizens’ pension and establishing an Independent Commission on Public Sector Pensions to ensure that they are fair and affordable – with any savings re-invested in a higher state pension.
David Heath said: “Ten years of Labour Government has seen Britain remain as a society of massive inequalities of income and opportunity. Gordon Brown has created a welfare system where millions are trapped in dependency and low income work.
“This radical new agenda, outlined by my Somerset colleague David Laws MP, rejects this state of dependency in favour of a society of opportunity where instead of treating the symptoms of inequality, we treat its causes – poor educational opportunities, unemployment, bad housing and unstable families.
“In contrast, the Conservative Party’s plans seem to be for a great leap backwards to the failed policies of Victorian Britain.”
Commenting further on the Government’s handling of the tax credit system, Mr Heath said: “The Government’s unnecessarily complex and chaotically administered means-tested benefit system has left millions of people at the mercy of staggering levels of bureaucratic incompetence.
“In Somerton and Frome alone last year, 3,000 awards were overpaid at a cost to the taxpayer of over £2.5 million.
“These bold proposals from the Liberal Democrats will assure people that what is given to them is rightfully theirs, and by removing people from means-testing we will strengthen incentives to progress in work.
“It is scandalous that after ten years under Labour, there are still 2.7 million people on Incapacity Benefit. The Liberal Democrats would use the innovation and local expertise of the private and voluntary sectors to improve people’s prospects of finding employment.”
Government right to reject single county authority plan
David Heath has welcomed the Government’s decision, announced today, not to press ahead with plans for a single unitary authority in Somerset.
David Heath said: “The Government have made a difficult but correct decision in deciding not to press ahead with plans for a single unitary authority in Somerset.
“It is right that they have taken into account the opinions of the people of Somerset, who overwhelmingly rejected plans for a single county-wide authority in a recent referendum.
“I have no doubt that Somerset County Council was seeking to act in the best interests of the people of Somerset but I do not think the same can be said of the Government. The whole issue of a unitary authority for Somerset has been mismanaged from the start and I was staggered by the Government’s inability to properly consult the people of Somerset about this important matter.
“I hope that today marks the start of a new era of local government for the people of Somerset. The failed unitary bid must not be the basis for infighting and disquiet but instead should kick-start a lasting period of cooperation between all of the local authorities in Somerset. Every tier of local government in the County must work together to provide the best front line services and the maximum value for money for the people of Somerset.”
Heath backs plans for two new aircraft carriers
David Heath, whose constituency includes RNAS Yeovilton, today welcomed the announcement by the Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne, that the project to build two new aircraft carriers will now go ahead.
Mr Heath has long campaigned for the decision to be taken as soon as possible to ensure that the Royal Navy has the capacity it needs in the future.
The decision means that two new carriers, each of 65,000 tonnes and to be called HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, will now be constructed with projected in-service dates of 2014 and 2016 respectively.
David Heath said: “I am delighted that the Government have finally given the go-ahead for the two new carriers which are an essential part of any future expeditionary strategy for the Royal Navy. I know the decision will be warmly welcomed by the Royal Navy at all levels.
“I have today asked the Secretary of State if he has yet to come to a decision on the future use of the existing carriers and what assessment he has made of the need for a second helicopter carrier to supplement the role of HMS Ocean.
“I very much hope that in due course he will announce the conversion of one of the existing carriers to helicopter use. I think anyone who has studied the use of the Royal Navy over recent years would recognise the value of HMS Ocean and the need for further capacity of this kind.
“The fact that the carriers are to be based at Portsmouth suggests a clear future role for RNAS Yeovilton, which is good news for the area.”
One in five people living in poverty, says David Heath
David Heath has voiced support for the Liberal Democrat’s paper A Fair Future for Rural England, which seeks to address the social problems of rural areas.
The party’s new policies were decided after their research revealed that 20% of rural citizens are living in poverty.
Mr. Heath is enthusiastic about a paper that emphasises the need for the creation of sustainable rural communities supported by good schools, medical and bus services, and thriving local businesses.
Key proposals include:
- Increasing the amount of affordable rural housing by increasing councils’ fiscal and planning powers over second homes and promoting schemes such as ‘Equity Mortgage’ affordable homes.
- Better rural public services. Schools need the ‘pupil premium’ to reflect rural needs, while rural outreach clinics and home visits can extend health care.
- Better rural jobs. Broadband coverage is crucial to the revival of remote areas that have been left behind as better located rural areas grow rapidly.
- Boost bioenergy by introducing long-term targets for biofuels, a new assurance scheme to ensure sustainability, and reforms of woodland tax breaks to boost biomass cropping.
- Create clearer food labelling by ensuring that all food – imported and home grown – is labelled with the appropriate health, animal welfare and environmental standards.
David Heath MP said: “A lot of people in this country do not realise what life is really like for many people in rural Britain.
“Many communities in Somerset are suffering from inadequate public transport systems, local schools and services like post offices closing down and housing that is no longer affordable.
“This Labour Government has completely neglected the countryside and the previous Conservative administration severely damaged the rural economy.
“The proposals outlined in A Fair Future for Rural England demonstrate how the Liberal Democrats are the only party with detailed plans for a thriving future for our rural communities.
“We have developed long term policies for the future of agriculture because farming remains at the heart of the rural economy and rural life.
“Our vision for rural England and for Somerset are communities that are not divided by the need for affordable housing or adequate transport links; where farmers are guaranteed a fair price for food from supermarkets; and where everyone is served by good local schools, health care and visible policing.”
David Heath appointed Shadow Justice Minister
David Heath has been appointed the new Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor.
As part of the reshuffle of the Liberal Democrat front-bench team announced by Sir Menzies Campbell today, Mr Heath has been asked to shadow Jack Straw in the new department which covers justice and legal matters, prisons and constitutional reform.
As such, he will be involved in the substantial programme of constitutional change announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown today.
David Heath MP said: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to shadow the new Ministry of Justice; with its focus not only on the legal system but also on the whole spectrum of constitutional reform, it is clearly going to figure largely in the Government's legislative programme.
“Nothing could be more important than ensuring, protecting and enhancing the best of British Justice and creating a constitution and a parliament fit for the 21st century.
“From what we have heard from the Prime Minister today, much of which is a very welcome realisation that change in the style of government is necessary and urgent, and with the pressures on our legal system that can only grow, Jack Straw has a huge task to perform.
“I stand ready to co-operate when we can, oppose when we must, and lead when the Government is slow to recognise what must be done. With some of the finest legal and constitutional minds in the country to help me, I am confident that the Liberal Democrats will play a leading role in the debate that must now start and which is critical for the future of our country.
“In personal terms, the responsibilities of the new post are considerably more than I have had before. I'm excited at the prospect of leading the Liberal Democrats on such a crucial battleground, and I'm pleased that Ming and my colleagues have confidence in me to do the job well.”
Teach our kids local history, says David Heath
David Heath urged the Government to include the teaching of local history in the curriculum during Education Questions in the House of Commons last week.
Parmjit Dhanda MP, from the Department for Education and Skills, replied that there was already flexibility for that in the curriculum.
David Heath MP said: “The Government should make room in national curriculum for the teaching of local history and not just leave it to the discretion of individual schools and teachers.
“It is important that our young people have a sense of place and identity. Our children would certainly get some of that by learning about the varied history of our county.
“When I take tours of schoolchildren around the House and show them things that relate to the history of Somerset, their teachers tell me that they are never taught about that in history, which seems a great shame.”