East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight has received a petition organised by the Pensioner’s Action Group East Riding.

The group are concerned that rural areas are losing out to towns and cities when it comes to the spending of cash designated to allow concessionary travel for senior citizens.

Mr Knight met PAGER campaigners led by Mrs Jean Wormwell MBE when he received their petition in Bridlington.

The MP said that he ‘appreciated the concerns expressed and did not wish to see rural areas losing out on funding’.

Mr Knight said he will be raising the issue with Ministers in the new session of Parliament.

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight has officially opened the newly refurbished operating theatre at Bridlington Hospital today (Friday 11th May).

The local Health Trust has spent over £500,000 on refurbishing the main hospital theatre to bring it up to the latest medical standards. This will allow surgical overnight stays at the hospital and will mean that the theatre becomes fully operational.

Greg, who is MP for the town said: “I am delighted to be performing the opening ceremony. This is a significant development for the hospital. It means a greater range of operating procedures can be carried out and I wish to thank the local Health Trust for their investment in this much needed facility.

“It also confirms that Bridlington Hospital has a future as part of a range of NHS services available in the East Riding.”

Mr Knight thanked NHS managers for authorising the investment but he also made a point of thanking the public for their ‘overwhelming show of support for the Hospital’ which he said ‘had helped to secure this new investment’.

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight is one of a number of MPs who are sponsoring a new Parliamentary motion opposing plans to levy VAT on static holiday caravans.

Mr Knight is one of six MPs sponsoring the motion which highlights the significant contribution static caravans make to the UK economy, particularly in rural and coastal areas. The motion points out that a new tax would have a devastating effect on jobs, tourism, investment and growth.

Mr Knight said, “More than 7,000 people work directly for caravan manufacturers and suppliers and a further 26,000 are employed directly by parks. The imposition of VAT on static holiday caravans would have a devastating impact on the industry and I therefore call on the Government to reject plans for a static holiday caravan VAT”.

Mr Knight added, “I am pleased that following my request the Government has extended the consultation period on this matter to 18 May. I urge anyone in East Yorkshire who may be affected by these proposed changes to make representations”.

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight has warned home policy holders to make sure that they are not short-changed on household contents insurance payouts.

Some insurance companies now insist in setting claims with vouchers, rather than cash because they receive a discount via their own preferred suppliers. If the policy holder insists on a cash payment, some companies have started to drastically reduce the payout.

However, Mr Knight points out, “If you have an immediate need to replace a stolen product, and have purchased the replacement with your own cash or credit card then store vouchers would not be an appropriate settlement of the matter. Likewise, if the insurer offers vouchers for a store nowhere near where the policy holder lives then this is not good enough”.

Mr Knight’s comments are backed by the Financial Ombudsmen Service who say, “We frequently see complaints where an insurer has agreed to settle a claim, but wishes to do so in a way that the policyholder considers inappropriate”.

Mr Knight has urged householders to check their policy documents, he said, “Unless it is specifically set out in the policy document, insurance companies cannot oblige you to use either vouchers or their own supplier”.

The battle to persuade the government to drop or amend its proposal to add VAT to static holiday caravans returned to the House of Commons this week.

The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke MP) confirmed that the Government have proposed a new definition of a zero-rated caravan, based on whether it has been designed and constructed for residential purposes.

He added:

‘We are consulting on whether additional criteria should be added to ensure that the zero rate applies only to caravans intended for residential use. We will listen carefully and sympathetically to the arguments that are put to us and we have course extended the consultation period to 18 May.’

The Minister was then questioned by Greg Knight, the Member of Parliament for East Yorkshire:

‘I thank the Minister for agreeing to extend the period of consultation. During the consultation, however, will he not only reflect on the scope of VAT, but give some thought to the many thousands of people throughout the country who could lose their jobs if the proposals are implemented as originally announced? Will he give some thought to them before he decides whether to phase, delay, amend or withdraw these plans?’

Mr Gauke replied:

‘Of course, we will listen to the representations that are made, and my right hon. Friend has made representations to me on behalf of his constituents. We are seeking to have a fairer VAT system, but of course we want to listen to those concerns that are raised about the implementation of these matters.’

Greg said later that Ministers will continue to receive representations during the period of consultation and no final decision will be made until after this ends. The issue will then return to the Commons for a definitive vote in late May or June.

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight has welcomed the Government announcement that it intends to strengthen controls on dangerous dogs by extending the existing dangerous dogs law to private property and introduce compulsory micro-chipping for newly born dogs to be able to quickly identify the dogs owners.

The announcement follows figures showing that the number of dog-related admissions to hospital has risen from 2,915 in 1997 to 6,118 in 2010.

The new measures mean that dangerous dog owners will now face prosecution if their pet attacks someone who is lawfully on the owners property.

Mr Knight said: “In Britain we are well known for our affection for dogs and the vast majority of animal owners are responsible and will welcome these controls”.

Mr Knight added: “Dogs must not be allowed to menace innocent members of the public. These changes are a step in the right direction”.

The Dogs Trust is backing the changes. They say compulsory microchipping will effectively link dogs to owners, making them responsible for their pet’s behaviour.

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight said today that he welcomed the Government’s decision to extend the consultation period for representations to be made on the subject of VAT on static caravans.

Mr Knight was one of a number of MPs who saw Treasury Ministers recently to express concerns and to ask for further time to be made available to enable affected businesses to make representations.

During the debate Treasury Minister David Gauke announced a concession by extending the consultation on the matter, following Mr Knight’s representations.

Mr Knight said today “I would urge anyone who has strong views on the matter to take part in the consultation. The issue is still under consideration by the Government and the House of Commons has not yet concluded its consideration of the Budget so there is still both the time, and the opportunity, for changes to be made.

For more information look at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/vat-con-4801.pdf

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight has welcomed the Live Music Bill receiving Royal Assent.

Mr Knight was one of the Parliamentary backers of the new law, which removes the need for pubs and other small venues to obtain licences to have music performances up until 11pm.

Mr Knight said, “This removal of red tape is welcome news for many pubs up and down the country. They will receive a boost from this reduction in heavy-handed regulation. It is also great news for Britain’s young up and coming musicians, because it increases their opportunities to perform locally”.

To celebrate this change the world’s only parliamentary rock group MP4, with Greg on drums, performed today in the House of Commons in front of MPs and peers.

Low-cost airlines are charging families four times the advertised price of a flight once all the hidden charges have been added, a report has found. The research on how hidden extras are increasing was carried out by travelsupermarket.com

Jet2′s maximum price for hold luggage on its longest routes has gone from £15.99 to £24.99 and Thomson has doubled the charge for pre-booked extra leg room from £10 to £20.

Ryanair’s fee for one piece of overweight hand luggage on a peak season flight to the Canary Islands has risen from £45 to £120 in the last year. Booking charges with EasyJet have risen from £5.50 to £9 each, which it calls an ‘admin fee’

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight said that the hike in prices has revealed that hidden charges have increased by a whopping 166 per cent in just a year with credit and debit charges, luggage costs and inflight extra payments like charging for more leg room soaring.

Mr Knight accused the budget airlines of ‘re-renaming their charges to get round the ban on excessive surcharges on passengers paying with debit and credit cards’, which will come into force later this year.
‘Passengers should bear in mind these hidden add-on fees when booking,’ he advised.

Mr Knight intends to raise the issue with Ministers later this month.