Peter Aldous calls on the Government to establish a comprehensive and urgent national strategy to address the serious and specific challenges of coastal erosion with centralised ministerial oversight for floods, coastal erosion, climate change, and green finance.
Peter Aldous raises the issue of coastal erosion in Norfolk and Suffolk and in particular the homes that have tragically been lost to the sea in Pakefield. He calls on the Government to review the support provided to such households so that they receive parity of support with homes flooded by burst rivers or heavy rainfall.
Peter Aldous highlights the success of the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft enterprise zone and secures a meeting with the Minister to discuss how to enhance the enterprise zone so that it can continue to create jobs in the low-carbon energy sector.
Peter Aldous welcomes the 110 measures to boost growth introduced by the Chancellor in his Autumn Statement and highlights three areas that he believes need further work: investment in skills, protecting the most vulnerable, and levelling up the east of England - particularly in relation to renewable energy and coastal erosion.
Peter Aldous urges the Government to speed up the draft proposals for the new police funding formula which were promised to Suffolk police back in January and also for the Home Office to work with the police to improve the use of out-of-court disposals which will relieve pressure on the local force.
Peter Aldous makes the case for the introduction of an energy social tariff to protect vulnerable households in an era of high energy bills and backs calls for a consultation on the form that the tariff should take to be undertaken straightaway.
Peter Aldous highlights the success, after a challenging start, of the apprenticeship levy in creating higher-level apprenticeships in larger firms, but, he says, there is a need to provide more opportunities for younger people and new entrants to the labour market. He proposes a number of changes to the levy, including extending the expiration period for levy funds, making the minimum duration requirements for apprenticeships more flexible, and increasing the apprenticeship minimum wage to improve retention rates.
Peter Aldous highlights concerns raised by the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce that anti-fraud measures implemented by HMRC have created an overly bureaucratic and time-consuming process for SMEs seeking to claim research and development tax credits which is causing delays and deterring businesses from investing in R&D.