I have recently sent out a survey to local businesses asking them what measures they would like to see the government take to keep them in business and help the economy here in Eastbourne and Willingdon grow.
I shared some initial findings with my fellow MPs in the House of Commons this week.
In a question to a treasury minister, I informed him local companies had told me via the survey that a lower VAT rate would help because it would increase investment and boost recovery and growth in the important hospitality sector.
I then asked if ministers would be reviewing the case for a lower rate, to bring us back into line with some of our international competitors.
The upshot is I will be meeting with the treasury minister Richard Fuller to discuss this in the near future. He is looking at tax simplification and indicated lower VAT could be part of that process.
It has been a busy week in parliament, and I also spoke in a debate about new development on Greenbelt Land – something that has been in the news here following the successful appeal by developers to build 700 homes at Mornings Mill Farm and 180 at Hindsland Playing Fields.
In my speech, I made the point local councils had withdrawn their support because of the chilling threat of costs against them.
I urged the minister to meet me and the Lewes MP Maria Caulfield to look at this issue and will report back on that engagement.
I also made an intervention during a debate about the delay in the rollout of Evusheld - a preventive covid-19 drug to protect clinically vulnerable patients in cases where the vaccines don’t work.
One estimate states that around half a million immunocompromised patients are still shielding. Lockdown hasn’t ended for them. One such very brave lady in Eastbourne is supporting my work on their behalf and next week I will have an opportunity to speak directly to Professor Chris Whitty on this.
Back at home, I am very much looking forward to catching up with local farmer Henry Brown at Chalk Farm to talk about food security and land management and meeting the new Headteacher at Ocklynge School.
