Therese Welcomes Increase in Listed Places of Worship Grant

Therese has today welcomed the Chancellor of the Exchequer's decision to increase the amount available in the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS) by £30 million a year.

There has been some considerable concern at the proposal to abolish zero rated VAT for alterations to listed buildings and the impact this would have on churches including here in Suffolk. This Church of England calculated that this would cost churches some £20 million a year in increased VAT payments.

The Chancellor has therefore decided to stick to his policy, but to add an extra £30 million into the LPWGS.

Therese said "I am pleased that the Chancellor has listened to our representations which will allow listed churches of all denominations to meet the costs of alterations and repairs. We will also continue to press the message about static caravans".

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Therese Joins Charity in call for Action Against Irresponsible Dog Ownership

Therese has joined the Dogs Trust, to call for action on tackling irresponsible dog ownership at the charity's annual House of Commons reception.

Therese said: "Tackling anti-social dog behaviour in Suffolk Coastal has become a key issue for constituents where incidences of anti-social behaviour involving dogs have been increasing in many areas.

"I am delighted that Dogs Trust is proactively looking to tackle the issue by getting down to grass roots. While legislation has its part to play, outreach work in local communities is vital in order to engage dog owners and to help prevent dog attacks from occurring."

Dogs Trust works with local authorities to tackle the root causes of irresponsible dog ownership. They know from working in affected communities that it is a complex social issue; one that requires a multi-agency approach to target harder to reach groups.

Summary of Dogs Trust work in local communities:

For years Dogs Trust has been working with vets to provide subsidised or free neutering for dog owners living on means-tested benefits in disadvantaged areas. The charity currently works with over 1,000 vets across the country.

Dogs Trust offers free microchips to every local authority and housing association in the UK.

The charity trains local authority staff to microchip and can even provide them with free scanners.

Responsible Dog Ownership Events - These highly popular events are organised in partnership with councils and local Housing Associations.

They provide a range of advice and leaflets about all aspects of dog ownership plus neutering vouchers and on-site access to free microchipping and low-cost preventative vet care.

"Estate Days" - Working with local authorities, Dogs Trust identifies areas where irresponsible dog ownership is most acute. By visiting these areas and offering leaflets, dog ownership advice, free microchipping and £10 HealthCheck Vouchers, the charity has reduced the numbers of dogs being abandoned on the streets.

For those areas where dog abandonment is highest, Dogs Trust offers local authorities free neutering vouchers which can be given to those dog owners who need them most.Since 2003, Dogs Trust has been providing free workshops to primary schools across most of the UK. The charity now has 13 full-time education officers who conduct around 3,000 classroom presentations a year. Education officers are briefed to target schools in communities with particularly bad social problems.

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Energy Bill Included in the Queen’s Speech

Therese has today welcomed the inclusion of the Energy Bill in the Queen's Speech.

She said "In a week where there has been talk about EDF's ongoing investment in Sizewell it is great that the Energy Bill formed an integral part of the Queen's speech. The development of Sizewell C is essential for the future of our energy supply and will bring jobs and investment to this part of Suffolk."

"I would be very surprised if there was any change in EDF's commitment to Sizewell but the Energy Bill can only help cement that. It will reform the market introducing long-term contracts that pay a steady rate of return for low-carbon energy– meaning EDF will be able to determine their return on investment."

Therese added: "Only this morning I had a breakfast meeting with the Governor of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Many parts of the world are looking for energy investment & skills. On the back of Sizewell C, we should aim to export our skills to countries like Brazil."

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