Week 15 - Maiden Speech, Lib Dem opposition day

This week saw Liberal Democrat Parliamentary debates on ‘Carers allowance’ and ‘Access to Primary Healthcare’, and I gave my first speech in the house.  This is known as an MP’s Maiden speech.

The Maiden Speech is an old tradition in the chamber, and with so many new MPs there are a lot to get through. Given the importance of the issue, I was pleased that the ‘Access to Primary Healthcare’ debate gave me my first opportunity to speak.

Part of the tradition is a formula for the contents of the speech.  During your allocated five or six minutes it is usual to describe the constituency, say a little about yourself and your journey to become an MP, praise your predecessor, describe your main goals and aims as an MP and say something about the main topic of debate. 

I spoke about some of the amazing people in our district, the history, the natural beauty of our countryside between the sea and the moor, and the threat from Climate Change.

I raised the issues of NHS provision in Teignmouth, with the cancellation of the Health Hub previously proposed there, and the still present threat to close Teignmouth Hospital.

These issues, along with the perilous state of Torbay Hospital, have largely been caused by lack of investment in maintenance over the years, requiring a huge capital investment today to bring the buildings up to scratch, or replace them altogether.  This problem of lack of investment applies to so many things around us today.

This is just one of the many aspects of a broken system that needs fixing, and I spoke of my background as an Engineer and Liberal, wanting to fix broken systems and enable and empower people to succeed.

In the Carers Allowance debate, my colleagues and many on the Labour benches, made good points on how the current system causes huge unfairness. In particular - that Carers allowance has a cliff-edge jeopardy for carers who also work part time.  

Carers allowance is paid to a main carer, and if you earn under the limit of £151 per week (after deductions), you may be able to claim the sum of £81.90.

If your pay deductions change and you end up earning more, say, £152 per week, you are likely to be asked to pay back the full £81.90.

Today someone receiving Carers allowance can be asked to repay everything that they have received over years, for an often-unknowing mistake of working and earning pennies above the allowed amount.  DWP may go back years – often longer than your bank keeps records – and demand full repayment of potentially thousands of pounds.

It was, perhaps, no coincidence that the Government declared a review of the situation the day before our debate in Parliament.  This is welcome, and I hope that we will see a change in the way the allowance works to remove this unfairness.  We will be working to make sure that the government does take this seriously.