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 calls on the Treasury to work with other Government Departments to ensure that the Lifelong Learning Bill gets rid of barriers preventing people on lower incomes from acquiring the new skills necessary for them to get better-paid jobs.

Peter Aldous asks the President of COP26 about the Climate Change Committee’s recommendation on the need for further support aligned to net zero to help people with their energy bills.

At the start of the new Parliamentary session, Peter Aldous speaks in the debate on the Queen’s Speech and outlines the areas where he believes the Government needs to focus; more targeted assistance to help people with the cost of living crisis, helping everyone realise their full potential, address the challenges in energy supply and the transition to net zero, and reduce NHS waiting lists and the lack of NHS dentists.

Peter Aldous takes the opportunity of a debate on the annual up-rating of social security benefits and state pension increases to call for more support for the most vulnerable as we face the challenges of the cost of living crisis, specifically we need targeted assistance to protect those for whom the most immediate outlook is bleak.

Peter Aldous calls on the Government to retain the £20 universal credit uplift as we have a duty and a responsibility to protect those on the lowest incomes and the most vulnerable, and the evidence shows that a sudden reduction in income of this magnitude will hit a lot of people very hard.

Peter Aldous raises concerns that funding arrangements for early years education are skewed against providers operating in deprived areas and calls on the Government to ensure all children, whatever their background, have ready access to high-quality and properly funded early years education.

Peter Aldous seeks reassurance that applications to the Levelling Up Fund from the Waveney area will still be considered even though, as part of the wider East Suffolk Council area, they are designated as category 2.

Peter Aldous highlights challenges for social mobility in coastal communities such as Lowestoft and calls for co-ordinated action, across all Government Departments, to ensure that children in seaside towns have every opportunity to realise their full potential.