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Detailed response from Claire Allen
- The NHS.
As someone who works in the NHS I know how vital this bill is and would fully support it. - TTIP.
TTIP is one of the most dangerous things to democracy in this country. Our NHS amongst other things would be at risk and I have been actively campaigning against it since details of it first emerged. - Fair Asylum Decisions.
From my work in the NHS I have worked with some asylum seekers and I have seen first hand the negative impact on their mental health of going through our current procedures. The way they are treated in the UK is shocking and it’s something I’d actively campaign to change. - Trident Replacement.
Trident is not needed and is a complete waste of vital public money. I don’t think it makes us safer and I think a world with nuclear weapons is far more dangerous than one without them. I attended the CND ‘Wrap-Up’ demonstration in London and I would certainly vote against its renewal. - Climate Change.
Climate change is our biggest danger and everything that can be done to combat it should be done. I would fully support a carbon neutral Britain. - Housing And Rents.
I’m a rental tenant myself and so know how difficult this sector can be. The Green Party are committed to building 500,000 new social housing homes as well as putting back into use some of the 700,000 current empty homes. - Robin Hood Tax.
Absolutely! The Robin Hood Tax has so many benefits that I would fully support it. - Benefit Sanctions.
Again through working with some of the most vulnerable people in my NHS role I have seen the impacts of benefit sanctions on families across Leeds. We need a shift in culture away from the negative implications of needing to accept help, benefits are there for people who need them and they should always be. - Fracking.
Myself and the green party are strongly against fracking. We have seen the environmental impact it has had on places in the USA where fracking happens and I will do all I can to make sure we don’t go down the same route in the UK. - Arms Embargo Against Israel.
I was one of the thousands who marched in London last summer in support of Gaza and the Palestinians. I would support an arms embargo against Israel.
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Detailed response from Ryk Downes
- The NHS.
I am fully committed to ensuring that the NHS always remains free at the point of use and access and is based on need and not someone’s ability to pay.
The draft NHS Reinstatement Bill calls for a long list of NHS reforms, including the abolition of the purchase-provider split and the reestablishment of District Health Authorities. I think that in practice, many of these changes would be unworkable and lead to a complex and time-consuming structural reorganisation of the NHS at a time when it needs stability. Such a reorganisation would be both costly and unnecessary. That is why Labour’s pledge to repeal the Health and Social Care Act, which would lead to another complete re-organisation of the NHS, is potentially very damaging. While Liberal Democrats would not have introduced the Health and Social Care Act had we been in government on our own, the Act has not led to widespread privatisation in the NHS, as some predicted, and has led to some helpful reforms.
I want to make sure that the NHS is protected and funded properly so that it can continue to provide a first class service. I’m pleased that Lib Dem Health Minister Norman Lamb has announced that if the Liberal Democrats form part of the next Government we will not only protect the NHS budget, but boost NHS funding by £8bn a year by 2020. This extra cash is in line with the recommendation of a recent report into the future of the health service from NHS Chief Executive, Simon Stevens. The NHS now needs to get on with optimising front-line care, while making such efficiency savings as it can and taking advantage of the £8 billion of new funding to maintain standards in line with Simon Stevens’ recommendations. Only that way can the NHS succeed to maintain standards given the difficult challenges presented by our ageing population and the ever increasing cost of new treatments.
We will also commission an independent fundamental review of NHS and social care finances in 2015, before the next spending review, to assess the pressures on the NHS and social care budgets.
Liberal Democrats in Government have introduced measures to ensure that patients are at the heart of NHS decision-making. We are improving support for mental health services and we are making sure that health and social care is better co-ordinated to meet the needs of patients and their carers. Cutting NHS bureaucracy has saved over £1bn a year, allowing significant increases in the recruitment of frontline staff. There are now 13,000 more doctors, nurses and other frontline staff than in 2010.
As well as being financially well-supported, the NHS must be run fairly too. That’s why Liberal Democrats in Government put a stop to Labour’s policies that gave private health companies special treatment. Labour paid £250m to these companies for operations that were never performed. They also paid private sector providers on average 11% more than the NHS for the same service. This kind of favouritism has now been made illegal.
Proper accountability and transparency in the way the NHS is run is also vital, and I’m pleased that Liberal Democrats have ensured that local authority Overview and Scrutiny Committees will now be able to get evidence from any healthcare provider – including private ones – and summon them to a public scrutiny committee sessions.
The proposed NHS Reinstatement Bill also raises concerns about the potential impact of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on the NHS. I hope I can reassure you that TTIP does not put the future of the NHS at risk. It will have no effect on the ability of local NHS commissioners to decide who delivers services to patients and the European Commission has clarified that public services will be explicitly ruled out from the scope of any market liberalisation in TTIP.
Liberal Democrats will always oppose any attempts to privatise the NHS. Like previous Governments, we accept that there is a role for the private and charitable sectors in the NHS. Organisations like MacMillan and the Terrence Higgins Trust have provided important services for patients. But we strongly believe that the NHS should always remain free and access should be based on need and not the ability to pay. These principles form the core of our health policy and will remain a key part of our plan to create the fairer society we all want to see in the UK. - TTIP.
NO, but I would need concrete reassurances that concerns about this partnership are addressed and removed.
We will support negotiations towards an ambitious Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and the USA, which could bring benefits of up to £10 billion per year to the British economy. We are however determined to ensure that any new agreement meets European standards of consumer protection, as well as ensuring that employee’s rights are not damaged and that safeguarding the environment is accorded a proper priority. Liberal Democrat ministers have listened to people’s concerns on the issue of TTIP and the NHS, and have insisted that TTIP will have no effect on the powers of the NHS at a local level and will not diminish the power we have to determine how NHS services are provided..
After determined negotiations, we now have a clear guarantee from the EU that member states’ rights to provide public services directly, are enshrined in TTIP explicitly, including the case where outsourcing had previously taken place.
A letter from EU Trade Commissioner Malmstrom received this week by Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable specifically mentions the case of the NHS in Britain as an example of the rights of member states that are over and above TTIP. - Fair Asylum Decisions.
“Right First Time” is a principle that we need to pursue in all our decision making procedures – and decisions of immigration officers on asylum cases are particularly sensitive. It is not just morally right – and more efficient – to ensure that initial decisions are thoroughly considered, properly made and fair. It saves money too. Relying on appeals to put right the mistakes of an over-rushed and ineffective decision-making system leads to great anxiety, dissatisfaction and often unfairness as many mistakes go uncorrected as the question suggests. I agree with the premise of the question that the asylum system does not have a strong record of good early decision making.
On civil legal aid we will carry out a full review of legal aid, in consultation with the judiciary, to ensure that Legal Aid is available to all who need it.
While there is of course a place for sensible time limits, they must not be so tight as to restrict the opportunity for appellants to prepare and put their cases effectively. - Trident Replacement.
Trident is a costly outdated mode of defence, the greater threat to our country is from cyber crime and terrorists. - Climate Change.
Our commitment to the environment and to combating climate change has been second to none. With Liberal Democrat Secretaries of State for Energy and Climate Change and for Business, it has been Liberal Democrats in Government that have pressed the climate change agenda and have given us the green deal and the Green Investment Bank, as well as a commitment to renewable energy that has often been opposed tooth and nail by our Conservative colleagues in government. In Government, Liberal Democrats have made huge progress on renewable energy, doubling the amount of energy generated from renewable sources since 2010 and switching even more electricity production to renewable sources remains our priority.
We have also planted one million trees, introduced a plastic carrier bag charge, ensured new homes will be built to a zero carbon standard from 2016 and stopped the Tories from selling off our forests.
Our manifesto is the greenest ever from a major political party.
We propose to pass “Five Green laws”: a Nature Act, a Resource Efficiency and Zero Waste Britain Act, a Green Transport Act, a Zero Carbon Britain Act and a Green Buildings Act.
Our Zero Carbon Britain Act will set a new legally binding target to bring net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, to be monitored and audited by the Climate Change Committee (CCC). There will be a 2030 power sector decarbonisation target of 50-100g per kWh, as recommended by the CCC. Emission Performance Standards for existing coal power stations will be designed to ensure electricity generation from unabated coal will stop by 2025. In addition the Green Investment Bank will get full borrowing powers, to boost further investment in low carbon technologies. - Housing And Rents.
We have set an ambitious target of building 300,000 new homes to help address the chronic housing shortage that is stifling so many people’s chances of finding decent accommodation for money they can afford. Within a year we will set out our detailed plan of how this can be achieved.
We will allow local authorities to borrow to build affordable housing. We will scrap plans to exempt smaller developments from the requirement to provide affordable housing.
We will introduce an Intermediate Housing Fund to fund affordable rented homes, shared ownership homes, rent to own, where tenants build up a stake in their homes as they pay rent over time, and more new build shared accommodation at the LHA shared accommodation rate.
We will also substantially improve the protection of tenants in the private rented sector.
However, moving back to the old system of rent controls would be a retrograde step, which would, on past experience, be likely to lead to less rather than more homes being available to rent. - Robin Hood Tax.
While I can see the attraction of a transaction tax, the reality is that unless it were introduced in cooperation with our international partners it would merely drive financial services out of the UK. While there is every reason to ensure that the financial sector is effectively run, regulated and monitored, there is no reason to drive one of our most successful international industries out of business.
I would however vote to close the Mayfair loophole and also ensure that Tax Avoidance was clamped down even further. Tax from income generated in the UK should be paid to the British Government. - Benefit Sanctions.
I appreciate that it is helpful to attach some conditions to benefits, as a way of incentivising people to engage with the job seeking process. However, all too often, the way sanctions are implemented is unhelpful and disproportionate. For instance, using a four week initial sanction because a claimant has missed one appointment at the job centre, is unfair.
Further problems also arise because of the difficulties sanctioned claimants have with accessing hardship payments. The options available are often not properly publicised, the process of claiming them can be complicated and payments take up to two weeks to arrive for non-vulnerable claimants.
In Government the Liberal Democrats have taken steps to improve the way sanctions decisions are taken and to make sure people know how to claim hardship payments; we have also made it quicker to access hardship payments.
When payments are stopped or delayed, we have changed rules to allow jobcentre advisors to direct claimants who need additional help to food banks. The Trussell Trust, who provide a network of food banks across the UK, has welcomed this move. Of course, this should only ever need to happen in exceptional circumstances and I want to see changes which mean far fewer people are put in the position of having to rely on food banks.
The Lib Dems will review the way sanctions operate and have proposed the introduction of a ‘yellow card’ scheme. Under this system, people would be given a second chance and an explanation of what they need to do differently, before they lose any of their benefits.
As part of this process, claimants would be thoroughly briefed on the sanctions process and how to avoid having their payments removed, in order to reduce the number of people who are sanctioned excessively or inappropriately.
I also want to see improvements in work capability assessments so people who are unable to work, because of a disability or illness, are assessed quickly and fairly.
Equally, it is important we do everything we can to give people financial stability in the longer term through work and training opportunities. I very much welcome figures showing there are now nearly 1.9 million more people in work and two million more young people in apprenticeships than when the Liberal Democrats entered Government five years ago. - Fracking.
I believe there are much better options that should be explored to generate the UK’s energy requirements from renewable energy sources. - Arms Embargo Against Israel.
I think it was right that the UK reviewed the issue of our arms exports to Israel last year, and I was pleased that the Coalition Government said it would suspend the relevant licences to Israel if hostilities restart and would revoke any licences that undermine the peace process. Israel has also been listed as a country of concern in the UK Government’s Human Rights and Democracy Report and Liberal Democrats believe that there should be a presumption of denial when considering whether to grant arms export licenses for equipment bound for countries that are listed in that report.
In my view the priority now must be to restart peace talks as quickly as possible to bring an end to the violence, improve the lives of ordinary Palestinians and Israelis as well as ensuring Israel’s security and Palestine’s territorial integrity and state ambitions. I am pleased that Liberal Democrats in Government have ensured the UK continues to play its part in the pursuit of peace, and I am keen that the UK continues to play this role going forward.
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A bit more detail from Jamie Hanley
Question 4: Trident replacement.
I would vote against Trident replacement, subject to the outcome of our Strategic Defence Review.
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Detailed response from Stuart Andrew
- The NHS.
I believe that repealing the Health and Social Care Act would create unnecessary disruption to an NHS that is continuing to function well in difficult circumstances. As a Party, we have increased the NHS budget by £12.9bn over the last five years and have hired thousands more doctors, nurses and midwives, while reducing unnecessary management. The NHS is treating more patients than ever before, and will continue to be funded with a Conservative Government. To be clear, the Conservative’s aim is not to privatise the NHS. - TTIP.
TTIP is a free trade deal will lower trade barriers, boost growth and create more jobs, as well as lowering prices. It aims to make it easier for the EU and US to trade in goods and services, giving a much needed boost to British businesses that sell those goods and services overseas. It could also boost the UK economy by up to £100bn. TTIP will not affect how public services are paid for. In relation to food standards, both respective countries will have to comply with each other’s rules, so it will not change anything. It also will not be a direct threat to rights or accountability, as the rules on investment protection and Investor State Dispute Settlement will preserve the right of the government to regulate in the public interest. - Fair Asylum Decisions.
YES - Trident Replacement.
We are living in an incredibly unstable world where many countries are trying to develop nuclear weapons. Britain cannot become defenceless against this threat. I remain committed to nuclear disarmament when it is done on an international basis and in a credible way – but as long as nuclear weapons exist Britain is committed to maintaining a continuous at sea nuclear deterrent. - Climate Change.
We are already taking action in this area by cutting green taxes and with the Green Deal, which is making homes more efficient. Our Energy Act is making the private sector invest in new nuclear and other low carbon energy. We continue to work for a global agreement to reduce emissions and tackle climate change. - Housing And Rents.
Houses are being built at their fastest rate since 2007, and more Council properties have been built in the last five years than under the previous Labour Government. Through Neighbourhood Plans and Local Plans, local communities and elected councillors can set the planning policies for their area giving them more control over what happens. We are helping people through our Help to Buy scheme and increased Right to Buy discounts. The OECD have made clear that rent controls reduce the supply of rented housing. They resulted in the size of the private rented sector shrinking from 55 per cent of households in 1939 to just 8 per cent in the late 1980s. - Robin Hood Tax.
I support a global financial transaction tax, but I don’t support a regional version of the tax because it would disadvantage Britain. Financial services support jobs across our country and if we were to introduce this tax in just one region of the world, employers and finance-based businesses would move to an area that did not charge this tax. Under this Government the wealthiest 20 per cent will have contributed more to reducing the deficit than the other 80 per cent put together. We’ve also introduced a permanent tax on banks, which will raise nearly £4 billion a year. - Benefit Sanctions.
The vast majority of people on benefits want to work – and take up all the support on offer to move into a job. But where people do not play by the rules, do not accept the support on offer, or refuse to take work, it is only right that there should be consequences. However, sanctions are only used as a last resort. Once claimants start to get a benefit payment, this will continue as long as they are available for work and agree to do the things in their Claimant Commitment and go to meetings on time with their work coach and take part in interviews. They should apply for suitable jobs their work coach tells them about and do everything their work coach tells them to do to find work. - Fracking.
I believe that shale gas can provide the UK with greater energy security, help keep prices down and support efforts to tackle climate change. That is why we are encouraging companies to seize the opportunities that shale gas presents and step-up the search for it. Shale is expected to create around 64,000 new jobs and generate billions of pounds for the UK economy. We are making sure it is safe by ensuring companies must get planning permission and environmental permits. - Arms Embargo Against Israel.
I remain fully committed to a negotiated two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. I do recognise the strength of feeling on this issue, so will spare no effort to turn my ambition into reality. I will remain firmly committed to the two-state solution and will continue to support Palestinian institutions and promote economic growth. I do not agree with Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem – these are illegal under international law and present an obstacle to peace.
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Detailed response from Roger Tattersall
- The NHS.
UKIP has a well defined NHS policy which shares much common ground with this bill, and we would invite Allyson and Peter to review and criticise our own proposed legislation. - TTIP.
UKIP will not sign blank cheques, and will wait until a full draft proposal is on the table to consider. We will not allow the NHS to be part of TTIP. Upon leaving the EU, we will negotiate our own free trade deals. - Fair Asylum Decisions.
UKIP will introduce a British bill of rights once we have left the EU and are no longer bound by the ECHR. This will enable better alignment between British judgement of cases and appeal outcomes, saving money and time in dealing with applications. - Trident Replacement.
As a pivotal member of NATO, the organisation which has underwritten the security of Europe for the last 60 years, we have a responsibility to maintain our deterrent. - Climate Change.
Labour’s ‘Green plan’ is an economic suicide note. Wealthier countries are better able to afford to care for the environment. Making ourselves poor by forcing industry abroad and using expensive intermittent power generation is a recipe for longterm degradation of the environment. Global warming has stalled for 18 years. Sensitivity estimates are down. Warming trend estimates from accurate satellites are down to 0.1C/decade. NASA now tells us the ‘missing heat’ is not hiding in the deep oceans after all. Over 70 peer reviewed papers give over 60 different reasons for ‘the pause’. The science is not settled and we must not shackle ourselves to unrealistic targets. - Housing And Rents.
‘Controls’ and over-regulation do not work. We need to address the underlying issues of chronic under-supply by previous governments and massive over-demand from a rapidly increasing population. - Robin Hood Tax.
UKIP does not believe in stealth taxes. We will institute a Sovereign Wealth Fund swelled by receipts from oil and gas. This can be used for socially useful projects as the government of the day addresses priorities. - Benefit Sanctions.
UKIP has identified £32 billion in savings from leaving the EU, reducing badly utilised foreign aid, unsupportable expenditure by DECC and through making sure big corporates pay their way. We will provide proper levels of support to people out of work through no fault of their own, which providing better routes into employment in an expanding economy outside the EU. - Fracking.
Russia supplies 30% of Europe’s gas. For our security, we must develop our own shale gas industry which can bring about a renaissance of our engineering industries in the north, providing apprenticeships and jobs. Fracking has enabled the USA to reduce co2 emissions while Germany builds new coal fired stations. Chief scientist Sir Mark Walport says energy policy must balance energy security, environmental issues and affordability. By producing our own gas, we can use clean burning generation, reduce prices to make homes warmer and exports more competitive. Airborne CO2 has risen 9% in the last 20 years while the temperature has remained steady. - Arms Embargo Against Israel.
This is symbolic posturing which is ethnically divisive home and abroad. The USA supplies most of Israel’s defence capability anyway.
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