I WAS disturbed to learn over recess that the ongoing funding for our railway line is at risk. While the first three phases have been largely completed making the Dawlish seafront and station secure, the work either side of Parsons tunnel is not. 

Given the importance and urgency of this, I raised this in the House of Commons at Prime Minister’s Question Time. While acknowledging the importance of the line, the funding question was not fully answered. So, I shall be raising this again and again at every opportunity until I do get not just an answer but a solution! 

The last two phases address the weakness of the rock faces along the line which regularly discards stones and rocks. This has been the most usual reason for line closures. The line is only as resilient as its weakest link. These two cliffs need fixing. While the rockface between Holcombe and Parsons Tunnel has nearly been fixed, there is one remaining piece of work for which the line must be temporarily closed. 

The only window that has been found next March falls at a time of so many other re-routings there are not enough buses to cope. If the work isn’t done then the funding for that part is lost. It must be allowed to be rolled over if those buses can’t be found.

More worrying is the last and most complex piece of work on the Teignmouth cliffs themselves. They are not very stable and many parts have a red risk rating. 

While the project to move the railway line at some £950m was abandoned the new plan to nail, net and drain will cost £70m for the first stage. It’s not the perfect answer because that bid doesn’t include the draining part of the equation. 

We need that in time. But right now, we need, even in cost constrained times, to keep the team in place and the work continuing. The barrier is a 10-year moratorium on new build rail projects – for 10 years! That is wholly unacceptable! We only have one line! HS2 where all the rail money is going, is serving a region where there are already many lines! 

Sitting on the Treasury Select Committee, I had the chance to query the approach taken by the VOA (the body that sets the value of properties for business rates) to the valuation of pubs. Pubs in Dawlish & Teignmouth have told me they are not happy with the current business rates valuation approach. In theory, business rates are set by determining what a property might turnover if efficiently run. 

In practice too often the actual turnover figures are used which hugely disadvantages successful pubs. With revaluation coming shortly I wanted to make it very clear that despite Covid we must get this process right – and it must be fair. 

The Public Accounts Committee, on which I sit, this week were looking at how the NHS are progressing with their promise to deliver parity of esteem for mental health provision. This isn’t just about how much we spend as compared to spend on physical health, but what we do with that money to deliver better health outcomes. Absent any definition, it is hard to hold the NHS and ministers to account. This must change. Improvements have been made in crisis care and children’s services but eating disorders and broader adult services are not doing so well. This is something I will continue to monitor very carefully.

South West Water have announced a hosepipe ban this week which is frankly a disgrace. Three of their five largest reservoirs are currently almost full! The other two are 70% full. Given the torrential rain, ongoing leakage, there is much more that South West Water could and should be doing. Why is there not more inter reservoir transfer? Why is there not more work being done to create more catchment sources? Sort the leaks, supercharge desalination and build more reservoirs!

► As always, if you would like to book a surgery appointment (in-person or virtual) or raise a specific issue, please call my office on 01626 368277 or email [email protected] to arrange an appointment.