Archive for October 2016

UK – Open for business

October 29, 2016 Parks & Green spaces Comments Off on UK – Open for business

ukAs we leave the EU, the message we take to the world is this: Britain has always been open for business. But outside the bureaucratic EU we will, even more so be an outward-looking, globally-minded, flexible and dynamic country we have always been.

This new chapter for Britain presents clear opportunities and challenges. The British uk2economy is fundamentally strong and will continue to be strong as we negotiate our exit from the EU.

In the immediate aftermath of the referendum, there have been some encouraging signs with
the UK being the fastest growing G7 economy this year, business confidence has returned to pre-referendum levels and manufacturing activity in September grew month on month at its fastest 
rate since June 2014.

There has been concern for science and research. Indeed this is an important part of the Cambridgeshire economy where I live. However, Bill Gates has predicted that the UK science and research industry will not be negatively affected by Brexit. The Microsoft founder said he believed there was already a stronger research uk4relationship between the UK and the US, than between the UK and other European Union countries, and that ‘the basic strengths of the institutions that are here and the opportunities that exist will overcome the uncertainties we have’.

Already Countries are lining up to discuss new trade deals with the UK.  For instance the Australian Prime Minister say he would welcome a trade deal with Britain ‘as soon as possible’.

With a period of negotiation with the EU, there may be some adjustment as the economy responds. But we start from a positon of strength and the economy is resilient. The UK is well placed to deal with the challenges, and take advantage of the opportunities, that lie ahead as we make a success of Brexit. The head of the World Trade Organisation says Britain will not face a ‘vacuum or a disruption’ in trade flows when it departs the European Union. Roberto Azevêdo said: ‘We will be working … very intensely to ensure that this transition is fast and is smooth’.

Let us look forward to a post EU future with optimism.

 

 

 

Increasing medical training in the NHS

October 12, 2016 Health Comments Off on Increasing medical training in the NHS
nhsprofessionalThe Government has committed to making the NHS in England self-sufficient in doctors by opening up medical training to many more people in our country.

It is right that the NHS is always, free at the point of delivery, when you need it and so ensuring the NHS will always have the doctors it needs.

nhsThe plan is to increase the number of medical student training places in England by up to 25 per cent – from 6,000 to up to 7,500 – to ensure the NHS is self-sufficient. Alongside this there will be an obligation that those students who benefit from a taxpayer subsidy for  their medical studies are required to work in the NHS for at least four years after leaving university.
nhs
It cannot be correct for their to be a cap on the number of medical training places in England. Half of applicants are turned down and denied the opportunity to undertake a medical degree because the number of medical student places is artificially limited to 6,000 a year.

Currently the NHS is spending growing amounts of money on agency staff – when this money could be going on patient care.  Last year hospitals spent £3.3 billion on agency staff, including £1.2 billion on medical locums.


Only the NHS is safe with the Conservatives:
• Increasing funding for the NHS by £10 billion a year by 2020, of which £6 billion will be delivered by the end of 2016-17. The NHS budget will rise from £101 billion today to £120 billion by 2020-21.
• Delivered almost 8,800 more doctors and almost 5,600 more nurses and midwives in our NHS compared to 2010.
• The NHS performed 4,400 more operations a day and treated on average 21,000 more out-patients a day last year compared to 2010.

Supporting our Armed Forces – Help to Buy Extension

October 7, 2016 Armed Forces Comments Off on Supporting our Armed Forces – Help to Buy Extension

helptobuy-jpegThe Conservatives launched the Forces’ Help to Buy scheme in April 2014. This was aimed at helping members of the Armed Forces afford a deposit to buy their first home. Already this has ensured that 10,000 personnel have already been successful. For many being able to have a home of their own is a dream come So the Government is now extending the scheme until 2018 so that more can benefit.

HTB2It is worth remembering that fewer than half of the Armed Forces own their own home. Overall home ownership rate in he Armed Forces is around 47 per cent.  Amongst non-officer other ranks such as non-commissioned officers, warrant officer ranks and below only 40 per cent own their own home, falling to only 30 per cent for other ranks in the Army.

Our Armed Forces keep us safe and we are committed to giving our service personnel and the unsung heroes – their families – the support they want in return for all they do for our country. So extending this scheme more troops will get this extra help, they will be able to give armed-forces-covenanttheir families the stability that many of us take for granted.

Conservatives enshrined the Armed Forces Covenant in law and are strengthening it by doubling operational allowances and abolishing council tax relief for Forces on operations; spending over £1 billion providing better accommodation for Service personnel, which includes 2,000 new homes and over 8,000 new single rooms, and improving healthcare provision and mental health support for veterans.