Dear Ben

I am writing in support of more UK procurement of defence equipment in general, and about naval vessels in particular.

The MOD has promised to reboot the competition to acquire three supply vessels in the Fleet Solid Support Programme. This would be a good opportunity to add them to the list of vessels that are put out to tender for UK shipyards. I appreciate we need to increase the UK capacity and competitiveness of ship yards, but we will only do so by offering them a more sustained workload. The MOD did buy the large tankers from foreign yards recently which missed an important opportunity.

I was pleased to see the UK taking delivery of 5 Offshore patrol vessels, and inviting proposals for renewal of smaller patrol vessels for Gibraltar. As we move to take control of our fishing grounds at the end of this year, and need to reinforce our border policing against various types of crime, we will need more offshore patrol capability.

Building back better should include expanding the UK’s maritime capacity, creating many more opportunities for UK jobs and skills. It will provide a bigger taxable base of good employment in the UK, and is also necessary for our defence. It is important not to rely on imported spares and service for naval vessels or other strategic defence equipment.

Yours ever

John

I’d like to wish everyone who is waiting for confirmation of their A-Level results the very best of luck for tomorrow. Although it hasn’t been possible for exams to be sat as normal this year, it is good to see that the Government has acted to ensure that no one  is let down by [...]

The post Government Announces A-Level Results Triple Lock appeared first on Royston Smith - At the heart of Southampton.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has wished local students ‘good luck’ as they receive their exam results over the next two weeks. read more »

Graham Stuart, the MP for Beverley and Holderness, has voiced his delight at the news that Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will be getting a significant £4,297,000 boost to support its A&E services over the winter.

The emergency funding comes on top of the £34 billion funding increase which has been enshrined in law by the NHS Funding Act. It will mean that the Trust is able to increase its A&E capacity, but it has also been earmarked for installing enhanced infection prevention and control measures.

There is also an additional £3 billion due to the NHS, announced by Boris Johnson on 17^th July, which will allow the NHS to keep the extra hospital capacity that it has temporarily acquired from the private sector throughout the Covid-19 outbreak. The Nightingale hospitals – which were constructed at short notice in response to the pandemic in Harrogate, Birmingham, London, Manchester and Bristol – will remain open until March next year.

Graham commented, “Protecting the NHS and its hardworking, dedicated staff has been at the very forefront of our fight against coronavirus. By staying home to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the community, we have ensured that the NHS has never been overwhelmed – avoiding scenes like the ones we saw in Italy.

“In addition to this, we’ve provided over £30 billion of emergency funding since the start of the outbreak – delivering almost 2.5 billion items of PPE and more than tripling the number of ventilators and critical care beds.

“While we hope for the best this winter, we need to plan for the worst. This funding to upgrade the A&E at HRI will ensure that we are in the best possible position for the challenges that the winter months may bring.”

Boris Johnson added, ““These upgrades will help our fantastic NHS prepare for the winter months, helping them to deliver essential services and reduce the risk of coronavirus infections.

“Thanks to the hard work and tireless efforts of NHS staff throughout the pandemic, our A&Es have remained open for the public.

“It’s vital that those who need emergency treatment this winter access it, and for those who remain concerned about visiting hospitals, let me assure you that the NHS has measures in place to keep people safe.”

Dear constituent

I am writing to you with a further update on the coronavirus crisis and one other matter.

Firstly I am aware that there are many people locally who are still unsure about leaving their homes. This is particularly true of those who have been shielding, but there are also others who are worried about being out and about locally.

I will in the coming days be circulating a leaflet to homes in the Epsom and Ewell area giving people who are unsure about going out contacts of the different organisations who are working together to try to provide help and reassurance. A copy can be viewed here.

I would be grateful if you could also circulate this to anyone you know in this position – either electronically or by printing it out and giving it to them.

Face coverings: when to wear one

The new, extended rules on wearing masks come into force on August 8^th. I know that there has been some confusion about what is required. The official guidance is here.

You do have to wear a mask in the locations listed. It is an offence not to do so and you can be fined. There are exceptions and there is also a list of those circumstances where you do not have to wear a mask if you follow the same link.

Eat Out to Help Out

The special Eat out to Help Out discount scheme to support restaurants, pubs and cafes get their businesses going again has now started. This links to an explanation of the scheme and also gives a link to a list of businesses in our area which are offering the discounts. Click here for further details

Invicta Academy

If your family has young people who have missed out on schooling over the past few months, there is a local project starting which is designed to help fill in some of the gaps. It is called the Invicta Academy, and will provide online educational help. You can find details at here.

Engineering works at Ashtead station

A separate piece of information for those who live in Ashtead. Network Rail have scheduled more engineering works at Ashtead station, to renew track and sleepers. The dates are here:

For the duration of the works, residents will be able to park at Ashtead station car park, free of charge. A mini-bus taxi service will be provided to take residents home if required (running from the north side of the station footbridge) and an onsite information point will be made available.

Coronavirus in our area

Finally a little bit about the state of the virus in our area. The current figures show that the incidence of the virus is very low locally and across Surrey. There was only one case in Epsom and Ewell last week. Epsom Hospital now has virtually no patients with the virus. However it remains extremely important to maintain social distancing as we go into the autumn, given the fact that in other parts of the country the incidence of the virus is rising again.

With best wishes

Chris

The post Coronavirus (COVID-19) appeared first on Chris Grayling.

Latest figures released have shown the huge impact of the government’s unprecedented package of support directly in the local area.

As part of the next step towards economic recovery and the UK’s long term prosperity following the Covid-19 pandemic the Treasury has released statistics on how it is supporting jobs, incomes and businesses across the country and specifically in Welwyn Hatfield.

MP Grant Shapps has spoken out about the Government’s commitment to ‘protect both lives and livelihoods’ during the ongoing fight against Covid-19. The figures show that in Welwyn Hatfield alone:

• 14,700 jobs have been protected via the furlough scheme
• £13,200,000 to support self-employed people
• £55,318,366 of Bounce Back Loans for small companies
• £14,388,100.00 of business grants paid out.

After seeing the latest figures, Grant commented, “This has been a hugely challenging time for so many with uncertainty about jobs and businesses. That’s why I’m pleased that the government has done the right thing by helping as many people and businesses as possible through this pandemic.

“Sadly there are of course challenging times to come but rest assured, I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure the government continues to help people and businesses right here in Welwyn Hatfield as we come out of it.”

Today, I went out to visit businesses on Esher High Street to see how they’ve been doing since re-opening.

Together with local Conservative Councillors Steve Bax and Peter Szanto, and Richard John, I met cafe owners, hairdressers and dry cleaners who have been really resilient during Coronavirus, and who have put in a great deal of work to make their premises COVID secure. I want to say a special thank you to the brilliant team at Boots, whose prescription service has been vital to local residents.

It was also encouraging to hear how businesses had been making use of government schemes like Eat Out to Help Out, which by giving customers money off their meals has been increasing footfall in cafes and restaurants.

Local businesses have been benefiting from the whole range of government support. New data published this morning, for example, shows that 2,029 businesses in Esher and Walton had been offered Bounce Back Loans by 2 August, worth over £66 million. In addition, 82 businesses had been offered Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans, worth almost £26 million.

I’m looking forward to meeting more businesses across Elmbridge in the coming weeks, listening to their experiences and making sure they can continue to thrive post-Coronavirus.

Local MP, Maria Miller is calling on Basingstoke’s small shopkeepers to enter the Best Small Shops Competition, celebrating the successes of small shops and the central role they play in their local community, particularly in response to Covid-19.

The Best Small Shops Competition is open to any small shop* operating in the UK. The competition is free to enter and all shops who enter will also be promoted to consumers through an online Indie Retail Directory.

Hampshire Police have been allocated £550,000 from the Safer Streets Fund.

This fund is dedicated to stopping crimes like burglary, vehicle theft and robbery including the blight of tools and machinery theft that plagues us locally. Simple changes that are proven to work including CCTV, better lighting and security gates will all be provided with this extra money; just one more step on the road to making our streets safer.

As you may know, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas put forward an amendment to the Trade Bill with the support of the Labour Party this week that has caused significant controversy and has resulted in a number of misleading reports. I want to make it absolutely clear that those who are suggesting that MPs who voted against this amendment are against protecting our NHS from foreign involvement are either being dishonest or do not understand the legislative system. The Labour Party have fueled this narrative which is misleading the public and irresponsible of them.

Amendments like these are a standard parliamentary tool used by the opposition to fearmonger, mislead and ultimately to stir up anger in the press and on social media. The aim of this amendment was not to protect the NHS in future trade deals at all, the aim of the amendment was to force the Government to vote against it, thereby creating a misleading story.

I appreciate that if you are not already familiar with this opposition tactic, you will understandably be outraged by the headlines in recent days – I would be too if I were a constituent and did not know the context behind the vote. The basic mechanism of this tactic is for the opposition to put forward an amendment which contains a vague commitment that everyone agrees with, in this case to protect our NHS in future trade deals – something I and the whole of Parliament agrees with. However by attaching it to a bill it is not relevant to and wording it wrongly, the opposition renders the amendment impossible to implement, thereby requiring the Government to vote against it. The result is that the opposition and supporting press can misleadingly suggest the Government is opposed to the stated aim of the amendment, despite this not being true.

Indeed you can see for yourself that the Trade Bill to which this amendment was proposed does not and will not apply to the procurement of UK health services. In fact, the Trade Bill does not even have anything to do with future trade agreements with other countries. The Bill is simply about rolling over existing deals so we can continue to trade with other countries on existing agreements after December. Please do read the Bill so you see that it has nothing to do with healthcare or with future trade deals. Therefore, amendments to this bill regarding healthcare and future trade deals cannot be supported by the Government and the opposition knows this full well.

The reality is that any future trade deals or indeed legislation pertaining to future trade deals will have to be put to Parliament in a vote. Remember, the Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Health, Secretary of State for International Trade and almost all MPs all agree that the NHS will never be put on the table in future trade deals. Indeed, even if by some disaster we ended up with a Prime Minister who was in favour of doing so, MPs like me would still have to vote on it. I can say with absolute certainty that if a deal was negotiated that sold off our NHS or that even put it on the table, I would unquestionably vote against it – as would the vast majority of MPs from all parties. You have my word that I will always stand up for our NHS. However, the Government has already stated that the NHS is not and will not be put on the table in any future trade negotiations.

I hope that this clarifies what occurred regarding this vote and indeed you have my commitment in writing that I will not support any future trade deal that sells off our NHS. It is a great shame that dirty tactics like these are being utilised by the opposition to scare people, rather than genuinely and constructively scrutinising Government policy as is their job. In my view, the public are becoming more aware of these tactics and indeed are appalled at the opposition’s attempts to mislead people as to the meaning, purpose and mechanism of voting on amendments like these. I hope that in the future the opposition will ditch these tactics and opt for a more honest approach, but in the meantime I am always more than happy to clarify the motivations behind my votes in Parliament, I hope I have done so in detail here.

The post My Response to Misleading Stories About the Caroline Lucas Amendment appeared first on Michelle Donelan MP.

Jonathan Djanogly tables an amendment to the Trade Bill which would require the Government seek Parliamentary approval of free trade agreement negotiating objectives before starting negotiations  read more »

I remain pretty confused about this business of wearing face masks.  I first expressed reservations about the efficacy of face coverings in a post on Friday 24 April and came to the tentative conclusion then that they may have little effect. 

I am delighted to write and tell you that local NHS leaders have confirmed plans for a new hospital to be built in Sutton and to upgrade facilities at St Helier. This represents a £500 MILLION plan that will not only build a brand new state of the art hospital near to the Royal Marsden by 2025, but ALSO invest AT LEAST £80 MILLION into upgrades at St Helier.

The new specialist emergency care hospital, just a few minutes from St Helier, would treat the sickest 15% of patients, those normally arriving by ambulance. This larger specialist team would be available 24 hours a day to diagnose what is wrong with patients more rapidly, start the best treatment faster, and help patients recover more quickly. St Helier and Epsom Hospitals will remain open 24/7, with updated and improved facilities, providing all the other services that they currently do.

My children were born at St. Helier so healthcare provision in Sutton has been an issue that is a very personal one to me. Ever since being a councillor in Carshalton, some 14 years ago, I have been campaigning for a solution that protects the future of St. Helier whilst ensuring that Sutton residents have access to the very best treatment in cutting edge modern healthcare facilities. I believe that this decision can finally put to rest the political arguments so that we can get on with doing what’s best for residents across the whole of the borough of Sutton.

With this plan, the refurbished St Helier Hospital is here to stay providing the majority of local health services, and the sickest patients will get state-of-the-art treatment in the brand-new specialist emergency hospital right here in our area.

You can find out more about the plans, including the answers to some frequently asked questions at the NHS’ website: www.improvinghealthcaretogether.org.uk. You can also contact them at hello@improvinghealthcaretogether.org.uk, or get in touch with me with any queries.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROPOSALS

Why is this being done?

To improve the care that we receive. As St Helier’s buildings continue to age over time, it’s necessary to upgrade our healthcare facilities to improve outcomes. Surviving illness and recovering quickly is the number one priority.

Is St Helier closing?

No, quite the opposite. St Helier is here to stay with a multi-million-pound improvement package.

Is a new hospital being built?

Yes. A new specialist emergency care hospital will be built in Sutton, in addition to improving St Helier hospital.

Is St Helier getting an upgrade?

Yes. At least £80 million of the funding promised will go towards improving the facilities at St Helier hospital.

Who developed these proposals?

For the first time, we have a plan that was developed by local clinicians, not national bureaucrats or politicians. Local healthcare professionals made the case for funding to deliver this improvement, which has been rewarded with a £500 million investment. Sutton Council also supported the proposals last year.

Will I have to travel outside my area for services now?

At the moment, if you have a stroke or heart attack you will be taken past St. Helier to be treated at St. George’s. This plan means that we will still be able to treat people within the local area, not moving more services away from Sutton.

Will we still use St Helier?

Yes. From 2025, Epsom hospital, St Helier hospital and the new hospital at Sutton will all have a 24/7 Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) (which already treats the vast majority of people going to St. Helier in an emergency). Under the plans, 85% of services will remain at St Helier. Both Epsom and St Helier hospitals will still have a 24/7 UTC.

Diagnostic tests, such as MRI, x-ray or ultrasound, the heart problem diagnosis unit, the dialysis unit, Croft Ward (which takes care of patients who are stable but not ready to leave hospital), the eye care unit, the gastroenterology unit, and so many more services are staying put at Epsom and St Helier hospitals.

What about bed numbers?

The NHS have calculated that they will need the same number of beds as they do now.

What about A&E?

Unlike previous plans, which saw A&E diverted away into Tooting, A&E is now staying right here in our Borough at the new hospital. Most of the time you will still use St Helier for matters requiring immediate medical attention like broken limbs or cuts. Major trauma cases needing a blue light ambulance transfer will be treated in Sutton at the new state-of-the-art hospital next to The Royal Marsden.

What about maternity services?

Maternity services have also been protected and kept locally. Post-natal and ante-natal care are staying put at Epsom and St Helier hospitals, and births will take place in the brand-new maternity unit at the new hospital in Sutton built to the very latest healthcare standards. Women need the very best care and facilities when giving birth, and the new plans will provide that.

Where will children services be provided?

Most children will continue to receive care and treatment in the same place as they do now. Care for children who need to stay in hospital overnight – as a result of a serious illness or complex problems – will be treated at the new specialist emergency care hospital. This includes children’s surgery.  

What will happen until the new hospital in Sutton is built?

All services will continue to be carried out at Epsom and St Helier hospitals until such time the new hospital in Sutton is ready for patients.

Where will the new hospital be built?

After consulting residents, patient groups and healthcare professionals, the decision was taken to build a brand-new specialist emergency care hospital in Sutton. This will be combined with the necessary infrastructure and transport links to ensure the site of the new hospital is accessible to all that need to use it.

For more facts, and to find out what this multi-million-pound government investment in our local NHS will mean for you and your family, visit the following website: www.improvinghealthcaretogether.org.uk/faq.

Earlier today (8 July), the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, delivered a Summer Economic Update in the House of Commons chamber, where he set out a ‘Plan for Jobs’.

Week in and week out since the lock down started we have rightly saluted the bravery of our NHS staff and Carers.

However all key workers have stepped up throughout Covid-19 and have played a major part in assisting us all – not least of all amongst them our Refuse Collectors at Walsall Council.

Now thanks to the dedication of the workforce keeping our bin service going the Council are able to progressively re-start our green waste collections (Brown Bins) and re-open our Household Recycling Waste Centre in Aldridge from Saturday 16th May.

Whilst there has been a general degree of frustration in some sections of the community, personal safety has rightly been paramount as we approached and came through the Coronavirus peak.

Details of the plans for the green waste service and the re-opening of the Household Recycling Waste Centre are available at www.walsall.gov.uk

My thanks go to all the workers who have kept our Bins emptied throughout the pandemic.

All of our lives have been turned upside down in the past few weeks. Rightly, we are regularly applauding the efforts of medical staff and other front-line workers as they do the absolutely essential work to keep us safe, healthy, and fed.

The spread of coronavirus presents an unprecedented challenge and is leading to people across this country making huge sacrifices to protect one another.

As the Prime Minister has said, while we need to create physical distance between ourselves, we must at the same time have closer social support for each other.

That means looking after the most vulnerable people in our society, and alleviating worry as much as possible, at what is of course an anxious time.

All of us in Government are working hard to do just that, and make sure that practical support is forthcoming during this national emergency. We are mobilising every part of Government to protect both our people and our country.

As Housing Secretary, I know that renters and landlords will have been particularly worried about paying their rent and mortgages. As a result, I have moved swiftly to ensure that nobody needs to worry about losing their home at this difficult time, when the security of a home has never been more important.

I have taken decisive action and will bring forward emergency legislation to ensure that no renter will be forced out of their home through this period, and that landlords will be protected too.

For renters in both the private and social sector, there will be a moratorium on all new evictions and clear guidance has been issued stating that existing eviction processes should be dealt with appropriately, prioritising the safety and health of citizens across the country.

Let there be no doubt: renters do not need to be worried about the threat of eviction.

This Government is also clear that no one should be concerned about not being able to afford their mortgage if they fall into financial difficulty due to this challenging time.

We recognise that landlords may also face additional pressures, with concerns about meeting mortgage payments. We have therefore confirmed that all Buy to Let landlords can benefit from a three-month mortgage payment holiday where they are experiencing difficulties due to corona virus.

This is designed to alleviate the pressure on landlords, who I know will be concerned about meeting mortgage payments themselves while also ensuring that no unnecessary pressure is put on their tenants as a result.

At the end of this period, landlords and tenants will be expected to work together to establish an affordable repayment plan, taking into account tenants’ individual circumstances.

This mirrors the mortgage payment holiday that other mortgage holders will also be able to access. These measures will protect renters and landlords, ensuring everyone gets the support they need.

The way that landlords have engaged with us on this issue has been hugely positive. I congratulate them for stepping up to the plate and working collaboratively with us to ensure that tenants are protected at this difficult time.

Part of my Ministerial portfolio is also to tackle homelessness. This is always a priority for me and requires even more of my attention during this crisis.

To address the specific danger posed to rough sleepers by coronavirus, I have announced an initial £3.2 million of emergency funding to support them if they need to self-isolate. It will ensure that councils are able to put emergency measures in place to avoid urgent assistance.

Local Government is at forefront of our national effort, and I have spoken to over 300 council leaders and sector bodies to ensure they are well placed to respond to coronavirus and protect vital services for communities.

The weeks ahead will not be easy, but ruthless and determined collective action will allow us to succeed, turn the tide and return to normality.

We have an enormous challenge ahead of us and but my message is clear – this Government will do whatever it takes to help people across this country at this difficult time.

Originally published by The Daily Telegraph 20/03/20

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.

Alec is advising all constituents to follow Public Health England advice for their own safety and the safety of others.

UPDATE

HM Government has announced the first stages of a controlled easing of ‘lockdown’ rules, which will be regularly monitored according to scientific advice on the rate of infection.

Find out how to protect yourself or check if you need medical help on the NHS website.

Please read, share and regularly check the Government guidance as the situation and the response to it is changing daily.