Another academic year has begun, but children across Gosport, Hill Head, Stubbington and Lee-On-The-Solent have had a very different start to the school year as COVID-19 Safeguards were put in place. It is good to see Hampshire school attendance is higher than the national average, with 91% of primary school children and 92% of secondary school children returning to school. To help keep parents and students informed, Hampshire County Council has created a new webpage which lists schools within Hampshire that have reported a positive case of COVID-19.
I had the pleasure of welcoming the Education Secretary of State, Gavin Williamson, and neighbouring MP, Sella Braverman, to open the fantastic new home of CETC (Civil Engineering Training Centre) - which I sometimes nickname Digger School - at Daedalus. This trailblazing partnership between Fareham College and the construction industry has already been providing first class training for civil engineering and groundworks apprentices for a couple of years. This new purpose built training centre will offer a fantastic learning environment.
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It has been a busy month in the constituency. I caught up with our local posties and regional Royal Mail management team at the Gosport Sorting Office. It was fascinating to hear all the obstacles they have had to overcome during the last few months to keep those vital letters and parcels flowing. I was keen to thank them for their great efforts over the pandemic, supporting our community and keeping people connected.
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It was good to meet Zac and the team at The White Horse Inn on Nobes Avenue to check out their impressive new refurbishment to both pub and garden as well as the COVID-19 safeguarding measures they have introduced. I also had the pleasure of cutting the ribbon to launch the new Dinosaur World annexe at Nature's Creations on Brockhurst Road.
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I really enjoyed my visit to the Gosport Gallery this month to see the Microsculpture exhibition, with stunning photographic works from Levon Biss and creepy crawlies in all shapes and sizes from the Hampshire Cultural Trust. They also have rare photos of notoriously camera-shy Roy Keane from the Peter Crouch 'Sixteenth Chapel' exhibition! All on display until early October.
I joined local apprentices at Britten-Norman's new Hangar at Daedalus to award their certificates and congratulate them on finishing their 4-year programme and securing jobs in the aviation sector!
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Although sadly many in-person events were unable to go ahead for the Gosport Heritage Open Days, I managed to join volunteers and veterans from Shore Leave Haslar at the Haslar Memorial Garden and take part in a fascinating and poignant tour of the Royal Naval Cemetery.
Thank you to everyone who nominated local taxi drivers for the Parliamentary Taxi and Private Hire Awards 2020. Buster and Luke Pellat. who run Fairfares, received 95% of nominations and have been put forward by the Gosport Constituency!
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Back in Parliament, I had a useful meeting with Housing Minister Chris Pincher to discuss planning reforms and the new White Paper. We talked through concerns raised by constituents & local Councillors as well as some of the issues in the Gosport Constituency that must be considered when planning any future developments. You can take part in ongoing consultations here.
In my role as a DCMS Minister, thanks to some very late votes this month, I also achieved the unusual, if not unique, feat of answering two adjournment debates in one day! The adjournment debate takes place each evening after votes but before the House rises, however last week, due to Monday night's votes going until past midnight, I found myself at the despatch box in the early hours of Tuesday morning - and then again on Tuesday night! You can see more here.
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There has been welcome news this month as the Gosport Constituency has benefitted from a range of Government funding.
Both Fareham and Gosport Borough Council, who have been doing excellent work throughout the pandemic to house rough sleepers, are set to receive a share of £91.5 million to continue their vital work.
Following a meeting with Environment Minister Rebecca Pow and Natural England last March to discuss how nitrates in the Solent area have been harming our local wildlife and habitats, a new first-of-its-kind £3.9 million project to tackle nitrates pollution and improve environmental protection was announced.
To help rejuvenate and breathe new life into our town centre, £1,776,500 of Government funding will be directed to Gosport High Street through Historic England to deliver and develop new regeneration schemes.
Following a joint bid by Portsmouth and Gosport Borough Councils, our region will see a £56 million investment through the Transforming Cities Fund and will vitally help redevelop the Gosport bus station site.
In addition, from April next year adults in Gosport without an A-level or equivalent qualification will have the chance to take a free, fully-funded college course. Find out more here.
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We have welcomed 91 new Hampshire Constabulary officers who started on September 16th! This followed the announcement that over 100 000 people have applied to be police officers between October and August following the Government’s recruitment drive.
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Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases are rising across Hampshire and the country, which is why new measures have been put into place this month.
- Work from home if you can
- 10pm closing time for pubs, restaurants and bars
- Weddings limited to 15 people
- Staff in hospitality and retail sectors must wear face coverings at work
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I know that there are concerns about local lockdowns, and the implications that this will have on livelihoods and businesses:
We can all do our bit as we face the winter months to help support our community and protect our must vulnerable residents. By sticking to the guidance, ensuring that we wash our hands, cover our face and keep our space we can help prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
The free, NHS flu-vaccine programme has expanded to cover over 30 million people this winter, including primary age children and pregnant women. Find out if you are eligible, help protect yourself and reduce pressure on our NHS, here.
The NHS COVID-19 app has now launched, using contract tracing through low-energy Bluetooth while protecting your data and privacy. I would strongly urge all constituents who can to download the app and help our NHS Test and Trace monitor local cases and outbreaks. I know that some people have had concerns about the availability of local tests and you can find the latest update here.
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To protect jobs and livelihoods, especially as the furlough scheme comes to an end in October, the Chancellor announced a new Winter Economy Plan:
- SEISS for the self employed expanded from November to January
- Job Support Scheme where employees will need to work a minimum of 33% of their usual hours and for every hour not worked the employer and the government will each pay one third of the employee’s usual pay
- Generous repayment plans for those with government loans
- Extending the VAT cut of 15% for the hospitality and tourism business until March 2021
This is just part of an extensive package to help employers and employees as the pandemic continues to hit businesses. You can find out more here.
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