In July 2001 our local MP, Andrew George, proposed two ‘EDMs’. An EDM is an ‘Early Day Motion?, it is a way of an MP drawing attention to an issue by making a proposal, and getting the supportive MPs to sign if they are in favour of the proposal.

Both of the EDMs, should they pass, will affect live on the Islands.

Tax Treatment of Second Homes

Scilly has a high number of second homes, and time-share houses. Gradually more people are investing in these types of homes, and leave the Islands in the winter.

There is no need for people to own second homes on the Islands for work reasons, apart from Mr R Dorien-Smith. These buildings are being left abandoned in the winter, and are contributing to the housing shortage on the Islands.

Andrew George proposed to remove privilages on second homes - ?200 mn of tax payers money is being wasted every year ?subsidising the wealthy to have second homes,? states the EDM. It continues: ?there are many thousands of people who live in areas of high second home ownership who do not even have a decent first home,? which is directly relevant to Scilly. The Council is always under pressure to house local workers.

55 MPs have signed the EDM.

Regional Government

His second EDM commended the Govenment’s proposal to devolve power to regional governments. He called for the Government to ?complete it’s unfinished business by providing for the setting up of regional assemblies.

Devolving power to regional assemblies may make Scilly’s circumstances more understood. It is hard to convince the London Government that systems that work on the mainland are not always applicable to the Islands, for example education funding - where Scilly has had to get one headmaster for four primary schools and one secondary school, due to funding problems.

One foreseeable problem is that the local first minister is likely to be re-elected to lead the regional government continually, not allowing for other methods.

88 MPs have signed the EDM.

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