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June news releases: page one
News headlines
Urban MPs should get out more, says David Heath
David Heath this week told MPs representing urban constituencies that they might like to get out more and see what life is really like in rural Britain.
Intervening in a debate on rebates on fuel for drivers in rural areas David Heath MP said: “Urban based MPs have little idea what life is really like in rural Britain. They should get out into the countryside more and see for themselves.”
Mr. Heath made his remarks after some Labour MPs suggested that making petrol cheaper in rural areas would cause them to shop in far away supermarkets rather than in local shops.
Mr. Heath said: “If they did go out to the countryside that would find that the reality is that many village shops have closed. Under this Government, that is increasingly likely as they intend to shut the village post office as well.
“In rural areas driving is not a lifestyle choice but a necessity. It is a shame that MPs who live in big cities, with a choice of public transport alternatives, can’t see that.”
David Heath goes fishing for rail improvements
David Heath last week joined campaign group Transport 2000’s Sardine Man and actress Jenny Agutter in calling on the Government to tackle rail overcrowding and improve and expand services for passengers through its upcoming 30-year rail strategy.
With over a billion people taking train journeys every year, rail overcrowding has become the number one passenger concern. Government figures forecast a 30% growth in rail passenger miles by 2016.
David Heath MP said: “I am delighted to be able to draw attention to the desperate need for investment in rail services, particularly in the South West.
“The Government's failing transport policy is creating a prohibitively expensive railway. Whilst the cost of motoring has fallen since 1997, rail fares are now the most expensive in Europe. Tackling overcrowding by raising the cost of travelling is a perverse incentive, which will simply force even more people back into their cars.
“Everybody knows that the mainline trains are still overcrowded and unreliable and we fight a constant battle to improve services on the branch lines. The answer has to be more investment in the rail network and that’s the message Transport 2000 is trying to get across.”
Jenny Agutter, Transport 2000’s patron, is encouraging other MPs to follow Mr. Heath’s lead: “Rail use by passengers and for freight is at its highest level since the 1950s but the rail network and number of services has not expanded to keep up with demand. The Government will be issuing a rail strategy this summer which must place growing the railways at its heart.”
Personal debt hits 10-year high, says David Heath
David Heath has expressed his concern that the average household in Somerset is spending more of their income on servicing their debts than at any point in the last decade.
Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats reveal that personal debt as a proportion of income has risen from 105% in 1997 to 164% last year - the highest ever recorded and the highest in the developed world.
The cost of families servicing their interest alone has risen to 9% of a household’s disposable income, and total debt servicing is more than double that. The total amount of interest paid on loans is equivalent to the entire Gross Domestic Product of the Czech Republic.
Mr. Heath has joined his Liberal Democrats in calling on Gordon Brown to make it one of his first priorities as Prime Minister to urgently tackle rising levels of personal debt.
David Heath MP said: “Gordon Brown is moving house this week but many ordinary home-owners in Somerset and across the country are facing increasing financial difficulties as interest rates rise and are expected to rise again later this year.
“It is extremely worrying that families are now spending more money paying the interest on their debt than at any point in the last decade. This coupled with a further rise in interest rates will leave many households unable to cope.
“One of Gordon Brown’s major failings as Chancellor has been to allow this explosion in personal debt. The result has been soaring numbers of home repossessions and personal bankruptcies. Now, as Prime Minister, he must take urgent action to tackle spiralling levels of personal debt before more families find themselves on the street.”
County takes action to combat speeding in Curry Rivel
David Heath has expressed his delight at the confirmation from Somerset Highways that it is to take measures to combat speeding on the A378 around Curry Rivel.
David Heath MP said: “Both the meeting I had with Somerset Highways and the subsequent letter I received were very helpful. I was pleased that everyone acknowledged that speeding was a problem in Curry Rivel but were realistic about the options available to combat it.
“I welcome the proposal to reduce sign clutter at the junction with School Street and I hope that this will make the signs easier to read and make the location of the school more obvious to drivers.
“I also welcome any measures to try and get better enforcement of the 30mph speed limit at each end of the village, which would contribute greatly to the safety of residents. I hope that everyone can work together to help in the creation of a Community Speed Watch Team.
“Congratulations must be given to Chris Greenfield who fought a long district council campaign in Curry Rivel to get the ball rolling on this issue.”
Heath and Lineker support national markets week
David Heath has teamed up with football legend Gary Lineker to highlight the importance of street markets like the one in Wincanton and Langport on Fridays.
Mr. Heath attended the launch of National Markets Week at the House of Commons last week. The week, organised by the All Party Group on the Markets Industry, is designed to highlight the importance of indoor, outdoor and farmers’ markets in strengthening communities and providing cheap and healthy food.
Gary Lineker, the former England football captain who is the son of a Leicester market trader, said: “Market traders are some of the most hard working men and women in the country. Many people depend on markets for their livelihoods. I am very pleased to support the markets industry and would like to see more young people entering the trade.
“Some people are so used to driving to supermarkets that they do not realise what a wonderful asset they have on their doorsteps - in the heart of their community - to get their five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.”
David Heath MP said: “Markets make local town centres more vibrant. They strengthen communities and encourage people to eat healthy, local food, which is often cheaper than the supermarkets.
“Markets also benefit the environment by contributing to a reduction in ‘food miles’ and unnecessary and wasteful packaging of food.
“They are often the heart of a town and are great public spaces for people to meet for a chat and to catch up.”
David Heath to quiz Government over Somerset roads
David Heath has secured an adjournment debate in the House of Commons on Monday evening about roads in Somerset.
Adjournment debates are scheduled at the end of the day’s business and allow MPs to speak about an important constituency for approximately 15 minutes before the relevant Minister is required to reply.
David Heath MP said: “I am delighted that after months of trying, I have been able to secure an adjournment debate on the subject of trunk roads in Somerset. The Government have talked about improvements for ten years without taking any action and I want to know why.
“In particular, I will be highlighting the stretch of the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester, where safety improvements have been planned since 1997, but which, as none have been implemented, remains an accident hotspot.
“I will also be talking about a road that does not exist – a suitable north-south route for heavy goods vehicles between Poole and Bristol. At the moment, far too many lorries find themselves on grossly unsuitable roads, like the A357 through Templecombe and Henstridge.
“I am not sure what difference this debate will make but what I do not want is to stand up in the House of Commons in the future and say that a family is grieving for loved ones killed on the A303 or A357 because investment on these roads was not seen as a priority.”
Extend winter fuel allowance to terminally ill and disabled
David Heath has co-sponsored an Early Day Motion tabled by his colleague, Yeovil MP David Laws, which calls on the Government to extend the Winter Fuel Allowance to include the terminally ill and the severely disabled.
It is currently only available to pensioners.
David Heath MP said: “There are lots of people in this country who remain trapped in fuel poverty. Many people who are below state pension age but who are terminally ill or who have severe disabilities are facing financial hardship because of high fuel bills.
“The Government should act now to help this people and extend the Winter Fuel Allowance to help these vulnerable people meet these unavoidable costs.”
Heath offers help over corruption and terrorism bills
David Heath has offered to help the Government with two bills over the next couple of weeks.
Mr. Heath asked the Leader of the House about the Corruption Bill and the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Bill during Business Questions today.
David Heath MP said: “This Government often say they want to do things and then forgo the opportunity when it is presented to them. There are two such examples currently.
“The Secretary of State for International Development said yesterday that a new corruption Bill was needed ‘as soon as possible.’ I have some good news for him – the Corruption Bill stands in my name in the House of Commons, having already passed through the Lords.
“If the Government were serious about new legislation on corruption, they would cooperate, find time for the Bill, and it could be put into effect within weeks.
“The deputy Chief Whip in the Lords said the Government are committed to tackling the issue of the ‘disparity between…financial support…to victims’ of terrorism abroad and in this country. I have some good news for him as well – the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Bill, originally introduced by Lord Brennan, has gone through all its stages in the Lords.
“This is another opportunity for the Government to take up a Bill on a subject they have professed support for and make good their commitment.
“If the Government’s supports these ideas, I see no good reason why they would spurn the chance to act on them. These Bills may have been introduced by members from another party but they deserve the support of a Government, where Ministers have already voiced support for the issues involved.”
Ridiculous bus regulations will harm local services, says Heath
David Heath raised the issue of rural bus services with the Leader of the House, Jack Straw, during Business Questions in the House of Commons last week.
Mr. Heath was responding to the publication of the draft Community Drivers' Hours and Recording Equipment Regulations 2007, which remove the exemptions for rural bus services with a route of more than 31.6 miles (50km).
Previously, buses were exempt from regulations (such as having to fit tachometers) that apply to other heavy goods vehicles.
David Heath said: “This is an EU directive that the Government have given up trying to fight. These regulations were forced through while several questions raised by the Delegated Legislation Committee were left unanswered.
“The result is going to be an unnecessary expense increase for already overstretched bus companies operating in rural areas. There is no doubt that this cost will be paid for by the passengers. It is absurd that the cost of a short journey will increase just because the overall route is longer than 31.6 miles.
“Furthermore, because some routes are exempt and some are not, special buses for longer routes will have to be fitted with tachometers. This will mean that buses are no longer interchangeable when one breaks down or is in need of repair. The result will be further disruption of bus services for rural communities, where the Government’s public transport system already leaves a lot to be desired.
“Surely it is nonsense that the 632 service from Taunton to Yeovil via Martock would be exempt because the route is 30.3 miles long but the 54 service from Taunton to Yeovil via Long Sutton is not because the route is 31.8 miles long. These ridiculous regulations should be revisited immediately.”
Council referendum result should make ministers think again
Responding to the result of the referendum on Somerset County Council’s bid for unitary status, David Heath said: “I have been very critical of the reluctance of the Government to consult the people of Somerset properly on far-reaching proposals for local government in the County, and I have serious concerns about the complete lack of information accompanying the ballot paper.
“No one should ignore, however, the strength of feeling it demonstrates. An 80% no vote is clear in anyone’s terms and the turnout of almost 50% is higher than expected.
“Ministers should now think again, and should certainly not proceed with plans which have so little public support. Whatever the merits of unitary councils, a single county-wide authority has been categorically rejected by the people of Somerset.”
Heath congratulates school on award
David Heath has congratulated Huish Episcopi School Science and Languages College on achieving an Arts Council England Artsmark award in 2007.
David Heath said: “I am delighted that Huish Episcopi School have been recognised in this national award scheme which rewards schools for their commitment to a high level of provision in the arts.
“It is of great credit to the school that while it specialises in science and languages, it has been acknowledged for its high standard of teaching in the arts. I believe that it demonstrates the high quality, all-round education that the children at Huish Episcopi School are receiving.
“Only 1,441 Artsmarks are awarded nationally and all the staff and pupils at Huish Episcopi should be very proud of their achievement."
Heath congratulates National Trust on centenary
David Heath has added his name to Early Day Motion 1621, tabled by his Liberal Democrat colleague Mark Hunter, to congratulate the National Trust on its centenary.
Today, the National Trust protects over 617,500 acres of British countryside and 700 miles of coastline, with the help of its 43,000 volunteers.
David Heath said: “The National Trust is a national treasure and I congratulate it on reaching this landmark of 100 years devotion to this country’s heritage and culture.
“Across the nation, the National Trust undertakes vital work in protecting the countryside, the coastline and hundreds of historic buildings that the public can enjoy.
“In my constituency, the Trust’s sterling efforts can be seen in the beautifully maintained Lytes Cary Manor, Stembridge Tower Mill and the Treasurer’s House in Martock. They are a credit to the Trust and to the country and are big tourist attractions for Somerset.
“I look forward to another 100 years of the National Trust.”