In Burghfield this morning many people came to the outdoor ceremony of wreath laying at the War Memorial in the churchyard before attending the service in a crowded church.
I would like to thank the organisers and all the uniformed organisations who sent representatives and laid wreaths. The march to the Church was well attended, as was the Parade review on the way back after the service.
I have received the enclosed letter from Councillor Charlotte Haitham Taylor, the Leader of Wokingham Borough Council.
Councillor Haitham Taylor explains that the council is taking steps to provide relief to businesses in Wokingham affected by the regeneration works.
I welcome these steps and would encourage any local businesses affected by the regeneration works to seek further help from the council.
I have received an update from the Minister on what the Government has done to improve access to superfast broadband.
● Superfast broadband is now available to more than 94 per cent of UK homes and businesses, up from 45 per cent in 2010.
● Since 2013, more than 4.5 million homes and businesses have superfast broadband available for the first time thanks to the Government’s Superfast Broadband Programme.
● We are reaching thousands more properties every single week and on track to reach 95 per cent of the UK by the end of the year.
● We have announced that up to £645 million is to be made available to help take superfast broadband coverage to 98 per cent of the nation over the next few years. Together with other planned delivery, it is estimated that this could see more than 900,000 extra UK homes and businesses gain access to superfast speeds at the end of this year alone
● Up to £56 million of this funding will help take superfast speeds further across Wales. This will build on the 650,000 Welsh homes and businesses that our rollout has already reached.
● And up to £78 million of this funding will help take superfast speeds further across Scotland. This will build on the 800,000 Scottish homes and businesses that our rollout has already reached.
● We have pledged to ensure that 100 per cent of the UK will have access to affordable, fast and reliable broadband by 2020. The success of the Government’s superfast broadband rollout programme will help us reach the final 5 per cent.
● We are investing £1.1bn in digital infrastructure to support the next generation of fast and reliable mobile and broadband communications for consumers and businesses. The National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF) will invest the money by 2020-21, with a focus on priority areas that are critical for improving productivity: economic infrastructure, housing and R&D.
● We are investing £200 million to fund a programme of local projects to test ways to accelerate market delivery of new full-fibre networks. The first stage of a £200 million Local Full Fibre Network scheme to help bring the UK’s fastest and most reliable Gigabit connectivity to businesses, communities and public buildings was launched on 3 September.
● We have announced a £25 million ‘5G Testbeds and Trials’ competition to select projects for funding in 2018-19 to support the next generation of digital infrastructure. Part of the £740 million National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF), it will help to ensure the UK’s position as one of the world’s leading countries in the development of 5G technology by attracting inward investment to the UK, creating new opportunities for businesses and improving productivity.
● We are introducing 100% business rates relief for operators who install new fibre on their networks. The move will incentivise operators to invest in the broadband network, increasing speeds for both businesses and homes.
● And we have provided immediate assistance for those people living in the hardest to reach places with the slowest internet speeds. More than 10,000 rural homes and businesses have already used our Better Broadband Subsidy scheme to get a huge boost to their broadband speed.
I went to visit The Focus School yesterday and spoke to the pupils about my work as an MP.
They showed me their projects on the Anglo Saxons which were impressive, and the School choir sang.
The School’s Inspection report is good. The pupils participated well in the lessons I saw, and their project work reflected the emphasis on individual learning with personal research and enquiry.
Today (Thursday) we met with the RMT and had hoped we could persuade them to suspend next week’s planned strike and allow the positive local talks we had been having to continue. We still believe that by continuing to engage with our local staff representatives we can find a way to work together and deliver the passenger benefits our new modern suburban fleet will bring when the trains enter service in late 2019. However, I am sorry to report that despite re-stating all our previous commitments – that we will have more jobs not less; that we plan to retain a second person on every train; and guaranteeing salaries and terms and conditions for Guards – the union executive is going ahead with these strikes which will damage both passengers and staff.
We will operate a contingency timetable on 8 and 9 November which see us run around two-thirds of our normal train service on those strike dates. Details of our contingency timetable can be found on our website https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/rmt-strike
I met with Andy Mellors, the MD of SW Trains to ask him about the RMT planned strike on 8 and 9 November. Other local MPs were also present.
Mr Mellors said the company had contingency plans should the strike go ahead. They aimed to run most services, with a few being covered by a replacement bus service. Travellers should go on to their website before travel on the strike days to see the latest position.
The RMT strike threat has arisen over the introduction of new trains to the network. These trains have the capability for driver operated doors. The Company wishes the drivers to carry out this function, but has guaranteed they will roster a guard for every train and each guard will continue to have safety training. The Guard’s role will be to work for and with the passengers more than at present. The Company will be recruiting more staff and will not be making guards redundant.
The new trains are crucial to increasing capacity and improving passenger comfort. They are air conditioned and more spacious.
I stressed the need for the Company and the Union to put passenger needs first, and to seek an answer to their dispute.
Wokingham will soon be part of the Universal credit system, as its phased introduction comes to us. The system comes to the Reading office in December and to the Bracknell office probably in February next year. So far the rollout around the country has not produced too many difficult cases. The government I am assured is monitoring responses very carefully and is willing to amend where there are problems in the system.
There has been active debate recently about the time it takes for someone to get their first benefit after applying. It is true that it can take up to six weeks from the first application. The benefit is paid monthly in arrears, and it is the full amount of state support for those who rely on it. This would be unacceptable for people who are out of work and have no other income or savings without a system of advances.
To deal with this the government makes available advances or loans to cover the period before the first benefit payment is received. Anyone who is out of money and applying for Universal credit should apply for such an advance which can be paid promptly. The advance is repayable with no interest charge over the following months when the individual is in receipt of the benefit following assessment. The benefit paid covers the assessment period of four weeks and any waiting period after assessment, which is paid in arrears. There is a possible seven waiting days before assessment.
The government is looking at whether the assessment and waiting period can be reduced. The reason it is relatively long is the complexity of the calculation and the need for evidence of circumstances, as the benefit covers housing, unemployment, family needs and any disability. It replaces a number of benefits with their own forms and application systems. Any reduction in time taken would be welcome, but the calculation needs to be done accurately based on good information to be fair to everyone.
I am of course willing to take up any application that is causing problems when the system is introduced locally, as I do not wish to see anyone without money to buy their food and cover their basic living costs whilst awaiting the outcome of the application.
I attended the debate on a Ten Minute Rule Bill led by Christopher Chope MP to promote more affordable homes for rent and purchase.
The idea behind this bill is a good one. Private capital will be raised to pay for a substantial number of new homes where planning permission allows development. These homes will be rented out at 80% of market rents, enabling people to save for a deposit. They then have the option to buy the property, taking out a mortgage to do so. They will be entitled to a 10% discount on the purchase to cut the size of deposit they need to save.
Mr Chope estimates that the private sector can raise £40bn to put up 200,000 homes at £200,000 average price.
I would be interested to hear thoughts on this proposal. 10 Minute Rule Bills do not usually become law, but this is an idea which the government could adopt and implement if it has good support and if the detail works.
I had a meeting with Matt Hancock to draw his attention to some small business constituents who are finding it difficult or impossible to secure access to superfast br0adband at an affordable price. I also raised service quality issues for a range of constituents who do have superfast services but do not always find they offer the speed and capacity required.
The Minister said he as well aware of these issues which are common across the country. He is working on ways to expand coverage more rapidly and to ensure good quality service. He promised further initiatives to foster more and better service. He also sought my views on how we should undertake the next stage, going from superfast to ultrafast which will require fibre into the home or office.
I will keep people posted with progress, and will continue to work with Superfast Berkshire who are responsible locally.
I lobbied the government to increase the total amount going to schools over the next three years, and to increase the proportion of the total going to Wokingham schools which were poorly funded by national standards. The government has now decided on its new National Funding Formula which does give increases to Wokingham schools, and creates a guaranteed minimum of per pupil funding for every school in England. The government has also increased the amounts placed in the total settlement for schools as the figures below show.
Ministers have recently published figures which show how the provisional allocations under the new National Funding Formula for Schools:
