This week has sadly seen more unconstructive nonsense about clean water after the Labour party tabled an opposition day motion about it in the House of Commons. They then didn’t even vote for it. The Government is monitoring and tackling the issue more strongly than ever but it will take some time as we are dealing with many decades old infrastructure and consumers rightly expect their bills not to be unmanageable and sewage not to back up into their homes and streets as the Lib Dem and other opposition shenanigans would cause. Strict targets are being set for water companies, with £56billion of investment and unlimited penalties for polluting our waterways or not monitoring. Issues like this are important and shouldn’t become childish political footballs but it has become a campaigning idea for Labour and the Liberal Democrats who have no costed plans, no idea about how to address the issue effectively and have failed to vote for the necessary powers we took under our new Environment Act and the targets, penalties and monitoring that will now flow from them.
It is a huge honour to represent Yeovil and South Somerset in Parliament and I was delighted to be reselected by an overwhelming margin as the Conservative candidate for the next general election. Since the last one in 2019 we have no doubt faced huge challenges as a country – Covid and the war in Ukraine being at the forefront as well as global inflation and energy costs. For me the focus remains getting things done for our Yeovil constituency as well as the basics of good Conservative Government, keeping taxes low and simple, having proper vision for the local area and letting people make their own decisions in life.
I had a really good visit to Yeovil Police Station last week with our Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Shelford. In addition to upgrading the station, Avon and Somerset have been recruiting and training new officers with extra funding from the Government. The extra resources will be focused on tackling areas like child abuse, cyber-crime and local neighbourhood policing. The Force will as a result have over 200 more officers than in 2010.
I have also been busy trying to sort NHS dentistry. I met with the local NHS Integrated Care Board and NHS Somerset and Government Ministers this week and we are working together locally and nationally to try to solve the issue and bring more dentists to Somerset who will offer NHS appointments. Changes to the NHS dentist contract made in 2006 have not stood the test of time meaning NHS patient costs of multiple appointments in particular are not covered. This problem has increased post Covid as more patients need complex work.
Finally, do enjoy the spring bank holidays and if possible support local businesses whilst having fun. It’s a great time of year.