It has been an incredibly busy time in Westminster and in the constituency, here’s what I’ve been up to recently.
Parliament News
Indefinite Leave to Remain
I recently led a Westminster Hall debate on Indefinite Leave to Remain and expressed my views about the Government’s Earned Settlement proposals and changes to the asylum system.
I was proud to be joined by a packed room of my colleagues who were just as passionate as me about creating a fair and just asylum and migration system.
I believe it is critical to properly scrutinise the proposals such as retrospectively applying rule changes; lengthening the qualification period for ILR and thirty-month reviews of refugee status. Read my speech here.
I also led in composing a letter to the Home Secretary expressing my concern about her Earned Settlement Proposals, which attracted the signatures of 100 of my fellow Labour MPs.
SEND reforms
I have also led a debate in Parliament where my colleagues joined me in speaking about the challenges the SEND system is facing, which leaves children, particularly those from deprived backgrounds, without the proper support needed to navigate school life and the world of employment and business.
The Government has since announced £4 billion of investment for the SEND system over the next three years, including:
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All children in Year 3 above will retain their existing EHCP until at least sixteen.
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Individual Support Plans – giving families a clear enforceable right to personalised help which addresses the lack of legal entitlement to support, which one million children currently do not get.
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More tailored support through Targeted, Targeted Plus and Specialist Support.
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Clear national standards, more training available for staff.
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Expansion of Best Start Family Hubs – giving families a single place for a range of support.
Meeting with the Bus Users Group
It was great to attend our local Bus Users’ group meeting which focused on improving services to the William Harvey Hospital, so people from Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh can access the healthcare they desperately need. Please fill out this survey if you are interested in a streamlined service that operates before 9 AM, after 6 PM and on Sundays: https://www.tonyvaughan.co.uk/bus-survey/ Social Media Usage for Under-16s
Great news!
Sandgate is one of thirteen newly proposed bathing sites in the country. Formal designation hinges on official water quality testing and greater environmental protections.
Granville Parade would be an excellent spot to be designated as a bathing area, given its popular usage already!
Breakfast Business roundtable
As always, I am grateful to hear from local businesses about the biggest problems they face today. I appreciated the opportunity to engage with our local businesses through the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, where entrepreneurs spoke about the difficulties with hiring; Business Rates; planning issues, and issues with trading in the EU.
The Government recently announced a further £1.5 billion of funding for the Youth Guarantee. This will:
- Give businesses £3,000 for every young person they hire aged 18-24 who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for six months.
- Expand the Jobs Guarantee to a wider age range from 18-21 to 18-24 to create more than 35,000 extra subsidised jobs.
- Bring in an Apprenticeship Incentive of £2,000 for each new employee aged 16-24 taken on by an SME.
Marsh Academy
I had a fantastic morning with the children at Marsh Academy and Lighthouse Academy. Their Skills 360 Programme, where children with SEND interview employers, is a fantastic way to instil confidence and introduce them to work settings. The event was a huge success!
Hythe Youth Club visit
It was amazing to see all the great work going on at Hythe Youth Club. A big thank you to John who’s working very hard to modernise and expand the facilities within the centre – including an arts room and a potential new music room to house their many instruments and DJ decks.
New Nuclear at Dungeness
Progress continues to be made in bringing nuclear power back to Dungeness. Our newly created, cross-party Dungeness Nuclear Taskforce were in contact with the site owners to arrange a site visit, and myself, Cllr David Wimble and Cllr Jim Martin visited recently, which was incredibly insightful.
Plans are underway for a community event on delivering new nuclear in Dungeness in New Romney next week and we have already had 65 sign-ups from key stakeholders.
I have pushed the Treasury and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in Parliament to implement in full the Nuclear Taskforce Recommendations. We can protect nature effectively, whilst also increasing the speed with which new nuclear is delivered. This will not be a short and simple process, but progress is being made.
Backbencher of the year
I was honoured to win Backbencher of the Year at the People’s Awards for my work on delivering a new GP practice for Folkestone, known as FOLCA II and for efforts to preserve the library service at Grace Hill. There are so many people who are part of these important projects including Councillors, Council Officers, GP Surgery Staff, Kent and Medway ICB Staff and more. I am incredibly grateful for this recognition. There is much more to do – so the fight for more accessible GP and library services continues.
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Rogue Managing Agents – Beware!
I continue my work helping residents being fleeced by rogue managing agents. I recently met with Carolyn of the Eaves residents’ group in Sandgate who are having difficulties with service charges and transparency. I have also had ongoing meetings with the managing agent and residents at the Shorncliffe Heights estate. It is crucial to hold these managing agents accountable for the services that residents are paying for – often over the odds, and often not delivered properly or at all.
Clayfolk Visit
I had the pleasure of visiting Ellie and Jez’s studio on Tontine St, they have brought back pottery to Folkestone since cuts were made to Kent County Council’s adult social care provision. Thanks to Jez for teaching me how to make a pot!
Folkestone nepalese community centre
It was great to catch up again with members of the Nepalese Community Centre. We spoke about issues facing the community. One of which I wrote to the Minister for Armed Forces about regarding pension parity and will continue to advocate for fair pensions for retired Gurkhas. They do excellent outreach work for veterans and the wider community including teaching English and IT skills to residents. The Centre has served our community for 20 years so I was glad to hear their lease was extended at an affordable rate!
Here I am pictured with Gyan who is the Senior Citizen Coordinator for the Centre.
The National Level
- 80 new youth hubs announced – including one in Folkestone & Hythe, including integrated, multi-agency support for employment opportunities for young people.
2. East Kent Hospitals Trust has been announced as one of the first five NHS trusts to be placed in the Government’s new intensive recovery programme.
3. £860 million national investment to deliver more specialist places for children with SEND. As part of this first round of funding, Kent will receive £28 million. This will create new places in Inclusion Bases within mainstream schools.
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VOLUNTEER WITH ME!
If you would like to help me serve the people of Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh, please
get in touch via tonyvaughan.co.uk/contact.
Best wishes,
Tony Vaughan KC MP
Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe
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MEET YOUR MP
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