Katy contests Trident – and more
Katy Clark, Arran’s MP, has secured a Westminster debate on the costs and future scrutiny of Trident. This will take place on Tuesday 1st March. The ‘Main Gate’ phase of renewal will not be discussed until after the next General Election, yet significant costs are still being incurred. The Government has refused to provide information about the costs of replacing the Trident, so Ms Clark’s insistence on a debate now is timely. She said, ‘I am very disappointed that recent Freedom of Information requests have exposed that the Government are already purchasing items required for the long-term renewal of Trident such as nuclear reactors to propel the new submarines, hydraulics, air purifiers, turbo-generators and bits of the hull without Parliamentary approval.’
Her statement goes on, ‘I continue to believe the renewal of Trident to be wrong and financially unaffordable in these difficult times. More and more individuals including many with military backgrounds are now speaking out against Trident renewal. The Government should not therefore be making significant financial commitments on this project when renewal is far from guaranteed.’
Katy Clark is also battling on behalf of armed forces pensioners, whose benefits will fall sharply when pensions are linked to the Consumer Price Index rather than the present Retail Price Index. She points out that this could lead to a war widow of a Sergeant potentially losing £750,000 over the course of her lifetime. A double amputee Corporal aged 28 would lose £587,000 by the time he or she was 70. As Ms Clark said, ‘Members of the Armed Forces regularly put their lives on the line for the United Kingdom. It is therefore only right that we support them and their families.’ She is backing the Pensions fit for Heroes campaign and urges the Government to look again at ‘this shameful proposal.’
Ms Clark is also incensed at the Government proposal to charge for use of the Child Support Agency (CSA), calling it ‘in essence, a tax on children.’ Under these new proposals the parent with custody would pay a fee of between 12-15% of their child maintenance whilst the non resident parent will pay an extra 20% on top of their maintenance costs.
Ms Clark said, ‘This proposal shows a distinct lack of thought and consideration for single parents many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet and will be hit hard if they have to pay between 12-15% of their child maintenance to the Government.’ A public consultation on their proposals will run until 7th April 2011 and can be found at www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations, somewhat ironically titled ‘Strengthening Families.’
