Dear John,

Below is my latest update on the response to the Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic locally. 

Firstly, I must say a huge thank you to the council and everyone that has been in touch and has offered their support in regard to the vandalism on my constituency office in West Harrow. We are in contact with the police and our office will further review our security arrangements. I have always taken pride in being an accessible MP and I do not hope for that to change. I am heartened by the many messages of support and remain determined to continue to support the people of Harrow at what is a particularly difficult time for too many.

Over the past three weeks, Harrow has seen a small number of restrictions lifted by the Government – non-essential high street businesses have now reopened, and the council has been reaching out to business owners with guidance to ensure that they are Covid-secure. If you are using trains, buses or trams, it is for your safety and the safety of others that face coverings are now compulsory across public transport and when visiting hospitals. From next Saturday, 4th July, pubs, restaurants, hotels and hairdressers are among the venues that will be allowed to open, provided they can maintain social-distancing rules.

From tomorrow, the Government has announced two households will be able to meet indoors and stay overnight, also while maintaining social distancing. And the controversial restriction that people remain 2 meters apart will be a “1 meter plus” rule — although people should remain at a distance of 2 meters where possible. We all want the government’s plan for easing restrictions to work. We want people to be able to get back to work and to see their families and loved ones. We want children back at school and our economy open. But, fundamentally, this has to be done in a safe and gradual way. It must now be carefully planned and clearly communicated. The country cannot afford for government to get the next stages wrong. Any second spike would put lives and livelihoods further at risk, and so I would like to urge readers to please avoid complacency and further ask that you continue to follow government guidance on social distancing as, in line with Public Health England’s guidance, a second wave of the virus is highly likely. You can read all the new government guidance on reopening venues here.

With the announcements of lockdown measures easing, it is still important to recognise that over 65,000 people have lost their lives. My thoughts continue to be with the loved ones of those who have sadly died, and with those who have contracted the virus. I can only begin to imagine the sense of fear and loss the families must be feeling.  As a community, we are immensely grateful to all of our NHS staff, social care workers and all of our key workers, who have got us to the end of the first wave of this crisis. I hope readers continue to stay safe, socially distance and regularly check in on loved ones. The response to Coronavirus is being directed by Government centrally working with Public Health England, the Government’s advice is available here. Government assistance specifically for businesses  is available here. 

As always, if you ever need to get in touch about the issues covered here – or anything else – please contact my office on 0207 219 4243 or e-mail me at [email protected]. Please bear with us, as we have received over 5 times our usual weekly amount of correspondence. My team and I are working hard to respond as promptly as possible. Although we have had to cancel face to face surgery appointments, we are scheduling regular Zoom surgeries and phone calls with Harrow West constituents. 

Parliament

Over the past week, the Trade Bill has been in Committee Stage, where Ministers and Shadow Ministers dissect each Bill line by line, voting for word changes or clauses before the Bill returns to the House of Commons. As a member of the Shadow International Trade team alongside Emily Thornberry, Bill Esterson, Matt Western, Charlotte Nichols and Fleur Anderson, my role has been providing a detailed line by line examination of the Trade Bill. After 18 votes and 20 hours of scrutiny and debate we now understand a lot more about the Conservative Party’s plan for Britain’s post-Brexit trading future and there are reports not all the Tories are happy. The splits on food safety standards (chlorinated chicken being a famous example) and environmental standards continue to brew.

Here are a number of takeaways from the Committee Stage of this important Bill:

1)    In order to protect our NHS and all public services from being undermined in Free Trade Agreements, we pushed to ensure the protection of our NHS in law so that it will never be on the table in trade talks. Government Ministers refused to put these important safeguards in to law, refusing to protect our NHS from increased medicine costs, further privatisation and attacks from Corporate Giants through ISDS.

2)    There are now real concerns a number of key ‘continuity’ trade agreements notably Japan, Canada and Turkey won’t be in place by 31st December putting at risk vital export orders, jobs and businesses. 

If we can’t complete a Trade Agreement with Canada; one of our oldest & closest allies; with whom we share the same Queen it does make you wonder what is going on - we still haven’t concluded a Trade Agreement with Andorra! (which only has a population of 77,000) 

3)    Other significant trade agreements are incomplete with access to markets in services not resolved (eg: with Norway & Switzerland) & access for some agricultural products to South Korea at risk. It’s worth recognising that the vast majority of UK jobs are dependent on service markets.

4)    Government Ministers have failed to listen to Labour’s arguments for the rights of the devolved administrations to be consulted on future trade deals which will have a potentially huge impact on their economies.

5)    Government Ministers have refused to put into law important standards to protect us from the lowering of our pesticide standards, chlorinated chicken and lower quality food.

6)    Government Ministers have refused to ensure meaningful engagement with civil society to prevent the erosion of environmental and Human rights both here in the UK and in developing nations.

7)     Ministers have ditched commitments to give Select Committees access to negotiators and critical information in order to stay ‘studiously vague’ as one witness put it.

When the Bill is debated again in front of the whole House of Commons, I can assure you that my colleagues and I in the Shadow International Trade Team will press for amendments to protect our NHS, food standards and public services. I will be sure to keep you updated on the progress of this important Bill and next month I will be asking for social media warriors to lobby MPs across the country to push them to vote with the interests of all Britons in mind.

Harrow Council

The council has a webpage covering their own response to the coronavirus pandemic, this is regularly being updated and is available here.  

Harrow Recycling Centre

From next Monday, 29 June, the recycling centre on Forward Drive can only be accessed if you have booked your visit. Harrow residents will have to book their visit online through the website. You can only visit if you have made a booking and this will, again, only be available for Harrow residents. The new system has been introduced to help manage the long waiting times and traffic which has has had a significant impact on local households and businesses

Opening hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm, the council advises:

Trade waste will be accepted from Monday 6 July - you do not need to book a slot, but simply go to the weigh bridge.

If you or any members of your household have been experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms in the last 14 days, you must not visit Household Reuse and Reycling Centres under any circumstances.

Harrow's Heroes

There have certainly been many heroes across Harrow over the past 14 weeks and Harrow’s Heroes are a great opportunity to commemorate the hard work, dedication and achievements of local people and teams who make Harrow a special place to live and work.

The council are dedicating this year’s awards to the key workers and volunteers with a month long celebration but nominations are also open for anyone in the borough that has been making a difference to others and their community.

From our emergency services, carers, food distributers and teachers; to volunteers, street cleaners, befrienders and transport drivers – these are just a handful of things, but Harrow has an army of heroes. It could be something as big as saving someone’s life, or as little as helping with gardening. There are lots of great things being done in the face of adversity and the council would like to celebrate this. You can nominate an individual or team who are going above and beyond

Nominations are open until 30 July. 

Support for children and young people

Harrow Council, Harrow CCG, and Young Harrow Foundation have put together a joint document signposting residents to a collection of some of the most helpful and trusted sources of information and guidance for children and young people’s wellbeing.

For young people (high school and college age), the document ‘looking after ourselves’ can be found here – covering how to stay healthy, stay connected and learn new skills during this time.

Support and online resources for the family

Harrow Council have collected a range of online resources  for all members of the family to keep entertained while libraries are closed. You will be able to find resource to help with homework, eBooks, newspapers and magazines and keeping yourself healthy and motivated.

Counselling services and mental health support

·       Relate Family Mediation  - a service fully geared up to supporting families through the crisis. Tel: 0300 0032324 or email i[email protected].

·       DAWN  - provide a counselling service to the local community of Harrow and its neighbouring boroughs. Tel: 020 8427 6796 or email: [email protected]

·       Need To Talk  - offering 1 to 1 counselling supporting their clients or any client by telephone or webcam. Tel: call/ text on 07427548559 or email [email protected]

·       Ignite Trust   - During these challenging and uncertain times, Ignite Trust is working hard to ensure they continue to provide support to the boroughs most vulnerable and at-risk young people. Email [email protected].

·        Every Mind Matters - Expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.

Coronavirus Hotline

The council continues to operate a hotline telephone number during weekends in order to provide support to those in need of assistance in Harrow - if you are in need of support due to Covid please give the hotline a call - 0208 901 2698

TFL

As of last week, customers using public transport are required to wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth for their entire journey, including in stations. Additionally, face coverings should be worn by everyone in taxi and private hire vehicles for the duration of their journey. There are exemptions for those who have trouble breathing, children and anyone who finds it difficult to manage them correctly.

As more people have returned to week, plans to boost walking and cycling are helping to ensure London can re-open carefully, with changes being rolled out at pace through TfL and the Mayor’s Streetspace for London plan. 

Footways and bus platforms have been extended across the capital, creating an additional 19,000m² of space for people walking and cycling in the past month. The speed limit has also been reduced on Park Lane and on the elevated section of the A40, with further such reductions to be introduced in due course.

TfL piers will re-open and Thames Clippers services will resume from Monday 15 June. There will be a bespoke timetable designed to cover the key commuter periods and customers are advised to check the new temporary timetable before travelling. To suit new work patterns and encourage people to avoid the peak, Thames Clippers will introduce new agile tickets such as two to three day season tickets and carnet schemes to support commuters using the service. 

Finding Support

Do you have a medical condition that makes you vulnerable? Please register.

A reminder, if you think you fall into a category that makes you vulnerable to coronavirus – register with the Government here. For example, you’ll be able to ask for help getting deliveries of essential supplies like food. The council has just started to receive this information and is working with local organisations to provide support to those who apply.

If you’re not sure whether your medical condition makes you extremely vulnerable, register anyway. This service is free. You can register yourself, or on behalf of someone else.

Can you provide support?

Voluntary Action Harrow, Young Harrow foundation and Harrow Community Action continue to work with Harrow Council to help coordinate a Harrow wide response to the Coronavirus outbreak and a database is being compiled of people who are willing to volunteer. Voluntary Action Harrow are using this database to inform people of organisations looking for volunteers. Please sign up here:  https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CoronavirusHarrow

Help from me

Last week, it was great to have special guest and Harrow West constituent, Kate Nash, at my Zoom surgery all the way from Los Angeles. Kate raised two vital causes with me - the need for important DoE black history reform and continued pressure on the Government for removal of flammable cladding.  On behalf of Harrow residents, I addressed the demand for a return to Kate’s roots, not for work experience in my office but a gig at Harrow’s finest Trinity Bar, I’m sure there will be a lot of interest...

I appreciate that whilst this outbreak of Covid-19 is currently dominating a lot of our thoughts, other concerns and problems do not disappear. However, to help reduce the spread of infection, I am asking members of the public who need to contact my office to do so by phone or email rather than in person and further, I will continue to hold surgery appointments exclusively by telephone and Zoom video conferencing. This is a temporary measure and a sensible precaution to protect vulnerable people. Please be assured we continue to offer a full service of advice and support to members of the public who need it.

As always, my office can be contacted on [email protected] or by telephone on 0207 219 4243 (Monday-Friday).

Stay at home and save lives.

Best wishes,

Gareth