Westminster Despatches

Dear Resident,
 
It’s been a busy few weeks in Parliament and across Erewash, so here’s a flavour of my recent activities as your Member of Parliament. 
 
Behind the closed doors of the Town Hall, Labour controlled Erewash Borough Council are plotting to sell off large swaths of green open space, including the former Pewit golf course in Ilkeston, which had previously been designated as a new nature reserve. In Parliament, I asked the Minister for Housing, Lee Rowley MP, whether the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will take steps to prevent Local Authorities from selling public land without first conducting a full public consultation. You can view my question here.
 
Other parliamentary debates that I have participated in include contributing to a Committee of the Whole House debate on the Finance Bill 2024, where I explained the real world benefits of Government policy for Erewash based businesses, Dales Fabrications Ltd and Millitec; raising the profile of Erewash’s excellent Cadet Units during the Prime Minister’s Statement on Yemen; and asking the new Immigration Minister, Tom Pursglove MP, whether he could finally close the temporary migrant accommodation centres on Bostocks Lane. You can view my contribution to the Finance Bill debate by clicking here, my question to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP via this link and my comments on Bostock Lane here. Prior to Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January, I also had the honour of signing the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment in Parliament. You can view further details here.
 
As I am sure many readers are aware, there is a surge in measles cases in England. I am asking Erewash families to make sure their child is up to date with their Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination. Further details can be found on the NHS website via this link.
 
In the constituency, I was delighted to meet with Erewash’s new Police Inspector, Matt Ladd, on his first day in his new role. During our meeting we talked about our joint desire to see crime reduced across Erewash as well as the importance of maintaining and increasing community confidence. Inspector Ladd shares my ambition of tackling anti-social behaviour, so often fuelled by alcohol and drugs. You can find further details about our meeting via this here.
 
There have been numerous other events in Erewash I’ve had the privilege to attend, including the Environment Agency and Derbyshire County Council’s public drop-in flood event at Ilkeston Town Football Club as well as visiting Harrington Junior School in Long Eaton and St Thomas’ Catholic Voluntary Academy in Ilkeston to present certificates and prizes to the winners of my Calendar Card competition. I have also continued to meet and support flood victims who were impacted by Storm Babet. Through my casework, I’ve helped hundreds of Erewash residents and within the last month have successfully resolved 420 cases. 

Other useful information: 

🌧️After the success of the Environment Agency and Derbyshire County Council’s public drop-in flood event in Ilkeston, I am urging residents and businesses who were affected by flooding in communities in Long Eaton, Sandiacre, Sawley, Breaston and surrounding areas to attend a drop-in event on Friday 16 February, 2pm-7pm at Sawley Memorial Hall & Community Centre, Draycott Road, NG10 3FR. More info can be found here.
 
✅The Government’s support for Erewash communities continues as it was recently announced that two local charities have been awarded nearly £100,000.00 in funding as part of the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund. The Canaan Trust and Every One Eats have been awarded £71,169.00 and £26,662.00 in funding to provide further support to the most vulnerable across Erewash. Congratulations to all involved in securing successful grants for these organisations. More information can be found on my website here.
 
💷I am urging local organisations to apply to the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Energy Efficiency Scheme. The scheme, backed by £25.5 million, will provide energy assessments and grants of up to £150,000.00 to improve voluntary organisations energy efficiency and sustainability. More information can be found here.
 
⚽Erewash will benefit from almost £1000.00 in new funding as part of the Government’s long-term investment in grassroots sports. The funding will go towards purchasing new goalposts at Draycott Recreation Ground.
 
💊196 pharmacies in the Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board have signed up to the Government’s new Pharmacy First scheme. This new service will allow patients across Erewash to receive treatment for seven common health conditions from their local pharmacy without the need to see a GP. To find a pharmacy offering this new service please visit the NHS’ website.

With best wishes,

Maggie Throup OBE MP
Member of Parliament for Erewash

P.S. My Community Office is open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday from 9am-5pm and on a Thursday 8am-5pm. Should you have an issue I can help you with, please either phone my office on 0115 930 0521 or email me at [email protected].

P.P.S. Your friends and family can now sign-up to receive my Westminster Despatches, by visiting www.maggiethroup.com. In addition, should you know of anyone who does not have access to a computer and would like to receive paper copies of my e-news on a regular basis, then please do let me know their details (including their full name and address).