It was brilliant this month to host my first pensioner drop in, in Swanley, to coincide with the end of Pension Credit Action week. I was joined by representatives from a number of services including Citizens Advice, Age UK, Kent County Council and the Sevenoaks Seniors Action Forum and it was great to see how much support is available locally to pensioners.
I have spoken before about the importance of checking if you, or someone you know, is eligible for Pension Credit - which tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £201.05 a week for single pensioners or £306.85 for couples. It can also be used as a gateway to access other benefits such as a free TV licence, Cold Weather Payments, and the Government’s cost of living payments worth £900 this year. Sadly, around a third of those eligible for Pension Credit are not claiming it and could be missing out on extra money each week. I want to change this, so please do check to see if you or your loved ones could benefit.
In my role as Pensions Minister, I also this month spoke with Martin Lewis, as part of his Martin Lewis Money Show on ITV. We discussed the announcement that the deadline to buy voluntary national insurance credits has been extended. This means thousands more people will have time to check their entitlement, and in many cases increase the amount they receive when they retire. To see if you could benefit, do visit the DWP website.
Finally, this month I had the honour of opening the Sevenoaks Business Show - my third since becoming an MP. We are so lucky to have so many fantastic local businesses, who play such a pivotal role in our community. As I walked around the hall, I was struck by the sheer amount of talent on display. And, it was great to meet the teams behind the new business hubs at Salters Heath Business Centre, Lime Tree Walk Workshop, Help Suites and the Town Council Business Hub, as well as speak to representatives from fourfrys creative, the Stag Theatre and TN Card – to name just a few.
Local business is the lifeblood of our country. And when local businesses succeed, we all benefit. That is why I will always champion business both here in Sevenoaks, but also in Westminster.
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Below is a snapshot of what I have been working on over the last month:
- Local children must be able to get to school, and following the upset caused last summer by a proposed cancellation of local bus services, I have been working incredibly closely with the Conservative councillors at Kent County Council to ensure this happens. With the summer holidays now fast approaching, I am pleased to confirm that the local school bus services have been secured by Kent County Council for the next academic year and the TW3 bus, which this academic year stopped serving west Otford, will from September return to the area once trees and vegetation are cleared in Willow Park and Rye Lane. I know this will be a huge relief to parents and pupils. There does remain an outstanding issue with school buses serving Weald but I will be providing updates as soon as I have them on my Facebook page.
- Following my hard fought campaign, I am so pleased that the Otford and Swanley fast line to London Bridge (which terminates at Charing Cross) has been so popular, and I regularly speak to many of you who are benefitting from it. As ever, I am pushing on making things even better and I continue to make the case for additional trains to be laid on during the rush hour – particularly in the morning. I will keep you all updated with developments.
- Visiting schools is one of my favourite parts of being an MP, and earlier this month I loved joining the teachers and pupils at St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School in Swanley for an assembly. As well as answering the children’s questions about what it’s like to be an MP, I also had the pleasure of meeting the very talented winner of my Christmas Card Competition 2022, Olivia Green from Year 5. The children at the school were an absolute delight and a great credit to the school.
- It was also wonderful to meet Nicky Mackert, the manager of The Childrens Workshop Preschool in Sevenoaks. The school is an excellent example of a Forest-School with a wonderful outside area, where it was brilliant to see so many happy children playing and learning. I was hugely impressed at what they do to help children prepare for primary school.
- I was so pleased to hear that New Ash Green FC and New Ash Green Junior FC, Sevenoaks Town Juniors FC and Kemsing United Football Club will all be benefiting from the Government’s multi-sport grassroots facilities programme. The funding will make essential facility improvements so local clubs - like ours – can make the necessary upgrades.
- Local hospitality has faced many challenges over the last few years, but it was great to visit the Thai Emperor Restaurant & Takeaway on Swanley High Street, who have just been ranked as the Number 1 dine in Thai restaurant in Kent. The hard work of Alfie Rayman and the team was clear to see and a huge thank you to them all for making me feel so welcome.
- And while on celebrations, I want to congratulate all of our local businesses who made it into the finals of the Muddy Stiletto’s Awards. In particular, a huge well done to all the winners - including The Samuel Palmer in Shoreham, who was voted by the public as the best destination pub in Kent, and to The Old Bank in Westerham who won best Kent restaurant. I have eaten at both, and I can safely say that the public were not wrong in choosing them!
