Lots going on in Westminster over the last week! The PM has set out our updated Covid Winter Plan, protecting the gains we’ve made over the last year which allowed life to return (somewhat) to normal! This includes offering booster jabs to priority groups 1 to 9, which began this week, offering a single Pfizer jab to 12-15 year olds, continuing with the Test and Trace programme and free lateral flow tests, as well as keeping a range of ‘Plan B’ measures under review. For those of you in line to receive either your first or booster dose, please come forward to get the jab – it will provide that crucial, extra line of defence as we move towards Winter. Covid is still out there, but I'm confident in our plan to use our vaccines to keep our economy open and our recovery on track.
Over the last 18 months, I’ve been speaking to understandably deeply worried constituents in the travel and tourism sectors, as well as representatives of Gatwick, who I know will be delighted to see the Government have confirmed that a new, more simplified, relaxed system of travel will be in place from next month. This is the biggest step yet towards a return to normality for international travel, providing a real boost for businesses and employees across Mid Sussex. Additionally, the US has also lifted the ban on people travelling from the UK, opening another key travel route to reunite families and support livelihoods.
Our new security partnership with the US and Australia builds on our shared interests and values as leading democracies, and has been welcomed by MPs across the House, as well as constituents. This partnership strengthens our security collaboration, fosters deeper integration on defence science and technology, and will create hundreds of skilled jobs across the UK. With rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, I believe this is a sensible step to take.
This week is also ‘Great Big Green Week’, which is made up of over 4500 events celebrating action on climate change. I will be taking part in local events this week, including visiting a farm in Lindfield to hear about what steps they are taking to protect our beautiful, local environment and be greener. Farmers are key to our conservation and work tirelessly to support our local wildlife and countryside. I also met with local members CLA at More House Farm, who are championing environmental protection and the rural economy.
Meanwhile, the Heroes of Net Zero competition has been launched to celebrate small businesses in the South East who have found creative ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It’s open to enterprises with under 50 employees and to enter, please visit https://businessclimatehub.org/heroes-of-net-zero-competition/