Influencing future government policy
Influencing what could be future government policy and ensuring
it's in the best interests of Kent was very much my agenda when
Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions Chris Grayling spent the day
in Kent yesterday.
And it was our chance to showcase what KCC is doing to tackle
welfare dependency and prepare young people for work through our
innovative Supporting Independence Programme and 14-24 Unit.
Chris met young people on the Kent Apprenticeship scheme, found
out first hand the experiences of benefit claimants when he visited
Ashford Gateway and toured the catering and health and beauty
suites at the inspiring Towers School in Ashford.
Getting people off benefits and back into employment, and
catching young people before they slip into the sapping benefit
trap, is crucial if we are going to stop the spiral of dependency
and give people back their self-esteem and independence.
Lobbying government for funding to keep Kent moving
I was at the Department of Transport today to press the case for
government funding to find a positive solution to Operation Stack,
a third lower Thames crossing and the much needed Colts Hill
bypass.
Keeping Kent moving is vital for business, for residents going
about their everyday lives and to attract visitors to the
county.
As the UK's gateway to Europe, Kent already suffers major
congestion problems on its strategic road network. Operation Stack
can bring Kent to a grinding halt and the thousands of lorries
coming from the continent will cause gridlock unless something is
done to transport them away from Kent.
A third Lower Thames Crossing, linking Dover to the M11, to
manage the south east growth agenda and the continuing substantial
increase in road freight, bypasses the need for lorries to use the
M25 as the only passageway to northern England and elsewhere.
Britdisc proposal
I have also been proposing the introduction of a Britdisc scheme
that would charge foreign lorries a fee for using UK roads -
raising some £25 million plus towards the cost of the crossing and
essential road infrastructure improvements.
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