David Amess

Archive for July, 2009

David Amess, Member of Parliament for Southend West, attended the All Party Parliamentary Scout Group yesterday, of which he is co-Chairman, to support the Scouts regarding the consequences of changes in water charging for Scout Groups.

Mr Amess commented: ‘Changes implemented by Ofwat have resulted in Scout Groups facing massive increases in their water bills for surface water drainage. Whilst a temporary moratorium have been granted in certain areas, a long-term solution has still to be found, with Ofwat refusing to meaningfully engage in the issue and acknowledge the scale of the problem. Heavy rainfall will have severe financial consequences for local Scout Groups and I strongly support the Scouts in their efforts to find a solution to this problem. I was able to raise this matter in the House on 2^nd April and will continue to campaign on this very important issue.’

A copy of Mr Amess’ remarks on 2^nd April and the minister’s response is given below.

The attached picture is of Mr Amess meeting with local Scouts outside the Palace of Westminster.

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Surface Water Charges

4. Mr. David Amess (Southend, West) (Con): What progress he has made in his consideration of options for mitigating the effects on water customers of increases in surface water charges. [268327]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Huw Irranca-Davies): I am pleased to report that United Utilities, about which most of the complaints on this issue have arisen, has in light of representations received taken steps to resolve the problem of disproportionate increases for faith buildings, community amateur sports clubs, scout
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associations and so on, by reverting to charges based on 2007-08 for those customers—that is, back to rateable value.

Mr. Amess: I am sort of reassured. I have the honour of being joint chairman of the all-party Scout Association group, and the information that the Scouts have given me is a little different from what the Minister has said. They and other charities have clearly made the point that surface water charges in such difficult economic times have damaging effects on voluntary organisations. They have also brought it to my attention that Ofwat has refused to meet the water companies. They are worried that, next year, when the moratorium is lifted, the charges will be crippling because they will be treated the same as multinational companies.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I should declare an interest as the former president of the West Glamorgan Scout Association. We are not out of the woods yet— [Interruption.] I am sorry; that was not a deliberate pun. The principle of surface water charging, whereby a proportionate element is charged to everyone for discharging water is right; otherwise we would have cross-subsidies and would have to get into the question of which organisations should be exempt. Four companies have introduced surface water charging, which, by and large, has been well received because they dealt with it sensitively. Lessons have been learned and the regulator has been fully involved, but we need to keep a close eye on the matter. The regulatory principles and the need to deal sensitively with all community associations are clear. I will personally ensure that that happens and so will the regulator. I encourage any hon. Member of any party who is currently experiencing problems to take the matter first to the water companies, and by all means to bring it to me as well.

Yesterday David Amess MP joined Mencap and the 11 times Paralympic gold medallist Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson to call for an increase in the number of Changing Places toilets available in Southend West and across the UK.

Standard disabled toilets do not meet the needs of all people with a disability. There are over 230,000 people who need to use a Changing Places toilet in the UK and yet only 85 Changing Places toilets are available.

Changing Places toilets are toilets which have enough space for the person with a disability and their carers, and the right equipment which includes an adult sized height-adjustable changing bench and a hoist. Without them people who need support from one or two carers to use the toilet or to have their continence pad changed either have to stay at home or their family carers have to resort to changing them on dirty toilet floors.

A British Standard published earlier this year, recommended that Changing Places toilets should be installed in larger buildings and complexes such as shopping centres, airports and motorway services, large railway stations and key buildings within town centres. However, this standard is not compulsory and that is why Mencap is calling on the Government to make the provision of Changing Places toilets in large newly built public buildings a legal requirement.

David Amess MP commented, “We all take being able to go out to the shops or to our local leisure centre for granted and yet there are nearly a quarter of a million people whose lives are severely restricted by not having the right toilet facilities. It is certainly dangerous, unhygienic and undignified for anyone to have to be changed on toilet floors and this is why I am supporting Mencap’s campaign to change thousands of people’s lives. This is why I have also written to Southend Borough Council to ask whether they will consider installing further Changing Places toilets in and around Southend West.”

· To find the location of your nearest Changing Places toilet go to www.changing-places.org/where

On the afternoon of Tuesday 23^rd June David Amess MP presented the Senior Volunteer Hero of the Year award to Sister Conleth of Nazareth House care home, Southend-on-Sea. The award was presented at the MP’s Heroes Tea Party held in the House of Commons and organised by the Experience Corps.

Local heroes from across Britain were celebrated by their MPs at the annual awards. Sister Conleth and the other attendees were treated to high tea and cake whilst they listened to a speech of thanks for their hard work given by David Blunkett MP, the former Home Secretary. Afterwards David Amess MP presented Sister Conleth with her award and certificate of thanks before giving her and her brother, whom she brought as a guest and had travelled all the way from Ireland for the occasion, a brief tour of the House of Commons.

Sister Conleth was nominated by David Amess MP, a long-time supporter of Nazareth House, to be recognised by the Experience Corps for the countless hours of time and dedication she has contributed to the local community and specifically to the residents of Nazareth House. Sister Conleth has been Superior at Nazareth House in Southend since 2006. She spent the early years of her religious life in catering and finance management and has since worked tirelessly to update residents’ accommodation and improve the quality of food being served.

The Experience Corps is an organisation which recognises the dedication and self-sacrifice of older volunteers.

David Amess MP has pledged to fight for the future of newsagents in Southend West. His commitment came after it was revealed that traditional newsagents are being forced to shut up shop at a rate of more than one every day.

Developments in the news distribution industry – the businesses that deliver newspapers and magazines – have left most newsagents with no choice over who supplies them. Shop owners fear that the lack of competition will leave them with no alternative supplier and vulnerable to increased costs.

Last week almost 800 newsagents delivered a petition to the Office of Fair Trading demanding urgent action to protect competition in the news distribution industry.

David Amess MP today threw his weight behind the campaign to save Britain’s newsagents. He said, “Traditional newsagents are the backbone of our community. They deliver a vital service and are a friendly face that many people rely on every day. It is shocking and unacceptable that so many newsagents are facing an uphill struggle to survive. I am happy to pledge my support to the numerous newsagents which dependably serve the people of Southend West.”

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