Torbay Weekly: A busy return to parliament

Parliament has just broken up for conference recess after a short but busy period grappling with issues like high street regeneration, the water industry, and our trading relationship with the EU.

My parliamentary term resumed with a debate on the provision of face-to-face banking services – something that I have campaigned on since being elected in South Devon.

Since 2015, 95% of bank branches have closed in South Devon, including Santander and Lloyds in Brixham. Though the town now has a banking hub, it cannot offer all the services provided by a traditional bank.

I find it disgraceful that successive governments have allowed the big banks to shut branches with impunity, turning their backs on customers and leaving small businesses struggling with the impact.

I'm a realist and I don't expect banks to reopen high street branches – times have changed. But given their unimaginably deep pockets, it is only right that they fund a nationwide rollout of banking hubs, equipped with a full range of personal and business banking services.

Another issue I have been trying to progress is our trading relationship with the EU. Dealing with our closest neighbour has become a bureaucratic nightmare since Brexit. It’s little wonder exports of British food to the EU have dropped by nearly £3bn in the last five years.

I regularly hear from farmers and Brixham fishers and shellfish exporters in particular, about the desperate need for a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU, which would help cut costs and red tape.

Frustratingly, Starmer’s resignation delayed the planned UK/EU Summit. I recently pressed the Europe Minister on when it will now take place. Unfortunately, he couldn’t give a date, but I hope an SPS Agreement is at the forefront of any future negotiations. He has assured me privately he is working hard to find a way through.

Away from questioning the government, I met with the new boss of Pennon, who own South West Water. As I’m sure you can imagine, I had a lot of issues to raise with him.

One of which was the cryptosporidium outbreak in Brixham and the company’s response to it. I mentioned the appearance of SWW vans and workers at the Hillhead Reservoir which several residents have raised with me.

He confirmed that as the reservoir is not permanently staffed it is normal procedure for workers to visit regularly to check everything is working smoothly. On the outbreak itself, he confirmed changes have been made nationwide following the Brixham incident, and that all water companies are now obliged to maintain regular checks of assets such as the air valve located in Higher Brixham.

Finally, I want to address the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which MPs voted against last Friday. As a supporter of the Bill, I was of course disappointed by the result.

But I don’t believe this is the end of the debate. Nor do I believe this result should distract from the urgent need to improve palliative care.

Many of the Bill’s opponents cited the dire state of hospice care as a reason for their opposition. I hope that after last week's vote they channel their energy into ensuring everyone receives the end of life care they need.

Andy Burnham has spoken at length about improving social care in our country, with palliative care included as part of this. I truly welcome his intentions.

Our hospices do incredible work with increasingly scarce resources. They need sustainable, fair funding. Now this Bill has fallen, it is more urgent than ever that we end the postcode lottery, so that terminally ill people everywhere have the best chance of a dignified, pain-free death.