Peter Aldous welcomes the Government’s announcement of an additional £5.6 million for legal aid to support family members seeking guardianship of vulnerable children but calls on the Government to make that part of a wider review of the rights of family members, specifically grandparents who are very often best placed to provide a loving home, care and support.
Peter Aldous calls on the Government to ensure sufficient sites are available for smaller house builders, planning authorities are properly staffed, Homes England has the resources to provide finance and calls for zero rating of VAT for conversion and refurbishment work, to put such projects on a level playing field with new build.
Peter Aldous backs the Energy Bill which will play a key role in delivering reasonably priced electricity, enhancing energy security and meeting the challenge of climate change, but urges the Government to back Lords amendments that would require Ofgem have a duty to consider net zero and help communities deliver community energy schemes.
Speaking in the Third Reading debate, Peter Aldous welcomes the Government’s efforts to enable people to realise their full potential through lifelong learning, but calls for the measures in this Bill to be part of a wider, coherent post-16 education and skills strategy.
Peter Aldous takes the opportunity of the launch of the National Piers Society’s touring exhibition of seaside pier posters to raise concerns that the international promotion of tourism is too London-centric, and asks what is being done to promote the unique offer of coastal Britain to overseas visitors.
Peter Aldous calls on the Government to work with the General Dental Council to reduce the long waiting time that overseas dentists are having to wait to take the overseas registration examination; there are currently more than 3,000 applicants and only 150 exams taking place each month.
Peter Aldous welcomes the Bill as a step in the right direction to reforming business rates, but calls for this to be acknowledged as only the start of the process and raises concerns about any additional administrative burden on businesses.
Peter Aldous calls on the Government to develop a comprehensive fiscal strategy for the autumn statement, including tax incentives, the reform of capital allowances and other measures to maximise private investment in renewables which is vital to bringing new jobs to coastal communities such as Lowestoft.