This week, the over 40s in the UK will be invited to book to receive their crucial booster jab, while 16-17 year olds will also be offered a second dose in the ongoing battle against Covid. These will help further strengthen our defences as the 3rd jab gets you back up to 95% protection against this dangerous virus – so please keep coming forward for your jabs. As we are seeing in Europe, where vaccination rates are far lower, cases are increasing exponentially, resulting in countries having to return to crippling lockdown restrictions.
I also joined BBC South East and Radio Sussex on Monday to discuss concerning rises of Covid-19 levels in Mid Sussex, where I emphasised the continuing importance of vaccinations, mask wearing in crowded places, regular hand washing, ventilation and social distancing. To read the full transcript of my TV interview, and what we need to focus on to keep each other safe, please do head to my website.
Since becoming Mid Sussex’s MP, I have been inundated with deeply worried emails from constituents about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Anoosheh Ashoori and other dual nationals wrongfully detained in and by Iran. Constituents have recently been highlighting this issue to me once again, as Nazanin’s husband, Mr Richard Ratcliffe, has been partaking in a hunger strike, which ended just over a week ago. I have written to the Foreign Secretary to highlight the concerns of my constituents and push hard for further action on steps this Government are taking to seek a solution, to secure the release of Nazanin and all others Iran are holding
Our new Skills and Post-16 Education Bill is progressing through Parliament, supporting our commitment to reboot our training system, support public services, existing businesses and jobs of the future. As the Employment Minister, I believe this Bill, alongside the wider reforms set out in the Skills for Jobs White Paper, will help to create a strengthened and unified post-16 education and skills system which will increase productivity, support industries, give individuals opportunities to progress. Locally, the reopened Haywards Heath College, and the brilliant College group it’s aligned to, will help deliver a better joined up post-16 education system, which is what employers and student want to see.
This week, our ground-breaking Health and Care Bill moved forward. Despite some concerns, this bold and much needed Bill will directly deliver on the NHS’s own proposals for reform in its Long Term Plan. It’s a product of extensive collaboration and engagement with the NHS and the wider health and care system and has been widely welcomed. Ultimately, we are determined to help individuals to plan for future care and avoid catastrophic costs, delivering on our manifesto pledge.