Every fortnight Kevin writes a “Kev’s Column” for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition (Published on Wednesday 1st March 2023) below:
Ukraine
I joined a cross-party group of colleagues from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ukraine to deliver a convoy of humanitarian aid to Ukraine & visit some of the areas near Kyiv affected by the fighting over the last year.
Our group delivered a range of supplies, including medical equipment and de-mining tools. We also dropped off a generator at a village close to the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv and the Belarus border. The trip was timed for us to be in Kyiv to mark the first anniversary of Putin’s attack.
Despite a year of war, the cities of Kyiv and Lviv were bustling, with shops and places of entertainment open. Many show their defiance of Vladimir Putin by not letting their daily business be interrupted. The occasional air raid siren not causing panic on the streets but instead reinforcing a determination to carry on.
One year on, a nation Putin predicted could only last weeks is not only still fighting but pushing back the invasion and will do so until victory is secured.
Gun Laws
The UK has some of the strictest gun laws in the world, but the conclusion of the inquests following the Keyham Shooting should prompt further consideration.
Jake Davison should not have had a shot gun, hence a review of police procedures is vital, but so is one of the legislation which covers firearms licensing. The core legislation is now 55 years old, with a HMIC Inspection in 2015, highlighting the way in which the police are required to undertake their firearms licensing responsibilities is set out in 34 separate pieces of legislation. The fee paid for dealing with a licence application should also reflect the cost of doing so.
Clearer and more up to date legislation, combined with improvements in Police procedures can help prevent future tragedies.
Energy Costs
Whilst recent falls in wholesale energy prices have provided some relief after previous rises, the challenge still facing many businesses should not be underestimated.
Whilst references to “energy intensive” industries will often focus on major manufacturing operations such as steel, business such as restaurants, hotels and leisure facilities face a constant need to use energy. Therefore, I asked Ministers what discussions the Government is having about offering further support to the tourism and hospitality sectors, especially given our bay’s interests in this area.
The long-term solution is generating more of our overall energy domestically and significantly reducing the amount of electricity generated by burning gas. Whilst strong progress has been made in this area, there will still be a need to support business and consumers facing a higher costs following sudden price rises for years to come.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Saturday 4th March 10am till 12pm at St Martin’s Church, Barton Hill Road, Torquay, TQ2 8JA and Saturday 18th March 11am till 1pm at Preston Baptist Church, 62 Old Torquay Rd, Paignton TQ3 2RB
For an appointment you can either email me at [email protected] or leave a message on 01803 214989, surgeries are for personal queries from residents they would like me to help them with. There are also drop-in sessions from 10am till 1pm, Monday to Friday at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD where a member of my team is available to assist residents with urgent queries.
