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October 2008
Its been a busy few weeks with Parliament's return at the start of October, and as a backbencher I have secured some important opportunities to raise issues in Parliament, raised by residents from across Ceredigion.
I was able to raise the issue of the electronic tagging of sheep in a debate I initiated and led. Customarily in such half hour debates only the Member and the Minister take part, but in this debate I took interventions on my speech from Labour, Tory and Nationalist colleagues and there was a consistency of view in hostility to the scheme from across the party political spectrum. Why should we proceed with a bureaucratic identification scheme with questionable technology, which will jeopardise the future of many family farms and marts, because it is so costly? The Government have recognised the difficulties but has been unable to persuade the European Commission to abandon the scheme. With this in mind I have contacted all UK MEP's urging them to sign a Statement of Parliament voicing their opposition to the unelected Commission's proposals.
Our first Welsh Question Time since the recess gave me the opportunity to question the new Welsh Minister Wayne David MP on the Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury rail line and in particular the hourly service. It seems that it is not a done deal. Passenger Focus has told me that the work on the line is delayed, and they are still awaiting an announcement from the Assembly on further funding. We must watch this space! I do however welcome the news that many of our services will terminate at Birmingham International and not the dreaded Birmingham New Street or Wolverhampton.
A debate in Parliament last week on the financial difficulties experienced by pensioners, enabled me to make the point that pensioner inflation is higher than the rising retail price increase rate and has been estimated to be as much as 9%. This is because pensioners spend more of their fixed income on food and fuel. I urged the Minister to lobby her colleagues in the Treasury for an increase in the State Pension more in tune with this, though the link with earnings would be more appreciated.
Following representations made to me by the Royal British Legion, I was able to raise their 'Return to Rationing Campaign'. It highlights that over half of all pensioners have undertaken national service or are ex-servicemen and 38% of those have incomes below the minimum required for healthy living - £136 per week for a single pensioner. Alarmingly their survey revealed that some 71% of respondents did not claim Council Tax benefit, despite nearly half having difficulty paying Council Tax.
I have also called during Westminster Hall debates for small businesses to be relieved of the requirement to pay rates on empty business premises beyond the three months holiday period, and in a debate on digital switchover urged action to help those households with no television picture at all once analogue is switched off. Digital switchover should be an opportunity to increase and not decrease television coverage.
Two excellent local events I want to highlight this month include MIND's Health and Wellbeing' launch in Mill St, Aberystwyth. It offers a holistic package of help and advice for those who are seeking support – particularly in these difficult times. I was also pleased to take part in an event last Saturday celebrating the voluntary sectors Youth Work across Ceredigion, meeting with hugely committed youth workers and their groups. Their enthusiasm is something we should all take heart in – giving back to the community in ways which benefit thw ehole community.
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