Can I first say that I understand how concerned many of you are about the changes around winter fuel payments, and emphasise that this was not an easy decision to make.
None of us want to make decisions like this as MPs in a new Government, and nor did we expect to have to, but the last Government wrecked our economy, leaving a £22bn black hole in the public finances.
Winter Fuel Payments have been paid to all pensioners until now, no matter what their income.
By targeting the payments we can ensure the least well-off pensioners still receive the help they need.
Without taking difficult decisions like this the pensions Triple Lock would be at risk.
Instead, we are protecting the Triple Lock which has seen state pensions increase by £2,700 over the last five years, including £900 this year, and £970 the year before, with a further rise to be announced at the budget next month. Because of our commitment to the triple lock, pensions are projected to increase by more than £1,000 in the next five years.
What we must do now is make sure that every pensioner that is entitled to pension credit is claiming it. Labour will work with local authorities and charities to drive up claims, and ensure low-income pensioners continue to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.
I will be working with the DWP to hold an event in Ebbw Vale next month, and Rhymney in November, where pensioners can get help with applying for Pension Credit. Details to come.
I would encourage pensioners, or their friends and family, to check eligibility, by visiting: www.gov.uk/pensioncredit/eligibility or by calling the Pension Credit claim line: 0800 99 1234.

If we do not take steps to fix the Conservatives’ mess then we are putting the UK’s financial stability at risk, this means higher debt, higher mortgages and higher costs for the future. Our Labour Government will not let this happen.
That means there are going to be more tough decisions to come, but by protecting the public finances now we can begin the process of change.
By providing economic stability, we can begin to attract the investment and growth our country desperately needs in order to fund our public services.
We are committed to cracking down on non-doms, tackling tax avoidance, ending the tax break on private schools, strengthening the powers of the water regulator, and backing tough fines on water companies.
In the coming months we will be focusing on boosting growth, bringing the rail service into public ownership, making big improvements to workers’ rights, switching on Great British Energy to produce clean energy and create jobs and many other tangible, practical changes for the better.
Keir Starmer promised to fix the foundations of Britain, but it’s not going to happen overnight.
When something is in such a state of disrepair you can’t just patch it up. It just makes the problem worse in the long run. Doing nothing is not an option. You can’t ignore it, you must get to the root of it. Even if it’s more difficult to do so.

Pharmaceuticals
I spoke in Parliament this week about the Competition and Markets Authority findings that pharmaceutical producers Auden McKenzie and Actavis UK had charged excessive and unfair prices over a decade for hydrocortisone tablets. This is a generic medicine used by tens of thousands of people in the treatment of Addison’s disease and funded by the NHS.
NHS spending on these products rose from around £500k a year to over £80m, because producers gamed the system.
I was glad to hear Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s statement on the future of the NHS and his answer referring to working in partnership with the pharmaceuticals industry to ensure social responsibility and not ripping off the taxpayer.
It was kind of Wes to mention my time on the Public Accounts Committee and my work “drilling into the waste and the inefficiency and the exploitation of the public purse.”
As I said in the Chamber, our new plan for procurement needs to prevent bad actors ripping off our NHS in the future.

 

A-Level Results
It was great to see strong A-level and GCSE exam results across Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney last month.
Well done to all students and thank you to the staff and parents who supported them.
It was good to be able to pop along to Coleg Gwent in Ebbw Vale on A-level results day and hear about some great results for local students.
I caught up with some Cyber Security course graduates and was very pleased to hear about the apprenticeships that they have lined up for next year.

Ron Skinner and Sons
In Blaenau Gwent we also saw a catastrophic fire devastate one of our most long-standing and notable businesses, Ron Skinner & Sons cars.
I know many were saddened by the destruction we saw, and there has been an outpouring of good will locally.
I visited the site the morning after the fire and spoke with some of the firefighters to thank them for their service and have also been in touch with the management.

 

Woodlands
It was good to be able to pop along to see Susy Arnold at Sirhowy Hill Woodlands to hear about all the fantastic work going on there.
This is a project that started as a local litter pick group and evolved into an active nature reserve, with a team of volunteers helping manage the woodlands, boasting an impressive allotment and woodwork programme amongst other things.
Find out more here: www.facebook.com/sirhowyhillwoodlands/

 

Surgery
Thank you to Cllr Diane Rowberry and Cllr Tommy Smith for joining me for a busy surgery in Sirhowy.
My next surgery takes place at Zion Congregational Church, High Street, Llanhilleth, NP13 2RB on Friday, September 27 4pm-5pm where I will be joined by Cllr Helen Cunningham.
If you want to attend the surgery please book a slot by sending a private message on social media, emailing nick.smith.mp@parliament.uk or calling my office on 01495 313167.

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