[[link removed]]
Gareth Johnson
MP for Dartford

Reporting back from Dartford and Westminster - now reaching over 5,000 people in the local area

April 2021

[[link removed]]<[link removed]>
Road User Charging (Outer London) Bill

Following on from my debate in the House of Commons last month on the London Mayor's proposal for an outer London congestion charge, I introduced my Ten Minute Rule Bill which aims to change the law to prevent the London Mayor from being able to introduce this levy on motorists.

The full title of the Bill is the Road User Charging (Outer London) Bill: A Bill to provide that the Mayor of London may not impose charges for driving in Outer London; and for connected purposes and it seeks to curb the powers of the London Mayor who is proposing this catastrophic car tax charge for everyone driving into the capital.

The proposed daily charge of £3.50 would amount to more than a thousand pounds a year for those crossing the border on a daily basis and would impose a tax on people who have no say on who the London Mayor is.

I recognise this Bill is unlikely to progress into a law change immediately. However, I hope it highlights a key issue and sends a clear message to the London Mayor that residents in Dartford will not sit and wait for an unfair, undemocratic tax to be imposed on them.

If you would like to watch me presenting my Bill, please click on the video link above.


Roadmap out of lockdown

We are now on Step 2 of the Government's roadmap with all non-essential retail now able to open, along with outdoor hospitality.

I was delighted to visit Bluewater on opening day, where I met with its management and had a tour of the centre. If you want to check whether Bluewater has capacity, before you visit, you can do so at the link below. Some stores are also operating extended hours.
[[link removed]]

Bluewater<[link removed]>

[[link removed]]
Sleep.8

It was great to see a new store in Bluewater on Lower Thames Walk, when it reopened on 12th April. Sleep.8 is a part of the Hilding Anders Group, global leaders in mattresses and bedding, with over 160 years of industry experience. Sleep.8 believes that good sleep is the foundation of happy, healthy living, and its dream is that everybody can get their best eight hours of sleep, every night.

Vaccine report

The UK's vaccine rollout continues to be a remarkable success and provides us with a clear way out of the current restrictions.

Click on the graphic below to show the progress of the vaccine rollout in England.
[[link removed]]<[link removed]>

[[link removed]]
HMS Queen Elizabeth's maiden deployment

HMS Queen Elizabeth and the UK Carrier Strike Group are due to set sail in late May. It is the maiden operational deployment for the £3bn warship which has eight stealth fighter jets on board. It will lead the group which includes six navy ships, 14 helicopters, a company of Royal Marines and a submarine armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The deployment has many objectives which include enhancing partnerships and conducting multi-lateral naval exercises and visits to many nations. Although only a transient presence in the Indo-Pacific, it will act as a reminder that the Royal Navy is back in the carrier game and post-Brexit Britain is interested in renewed trade partnerships in what is now the most dynamic region of the world. It is a signal to China and other potential adversaries that, in coalition with allies, the UK is willing to uphold international law. For the MoD, it is a chance to prove the carrier, its escorts, aircraft and supporting logistic chain can deploy over long ranges and operate in diverse environments. It will also further deepen interoperability and integration with US allies.

Of course, these plans are subject to change at short notice in response to political requirements or other events. Other issues such as weather conditions, logistical or mechanical problems may also require the plan to be revised. Only a limited number of people will know the exact course for the deployment and for security reasons the Royal Navy never gives precise details about the timing of port visits more than about 48 hours in advance.

Victims' Code

A new Victims' Code was recently published which will mean victims of crime will have clearer rights regarding the support they should receive from the police, courts and other criminal justice agencies. Should you ever become a victim of crime, the Code sets out what support you can expect.

A six-week consultation in March and April sought views on the revised Code, which sets out the minimum level of information and service victims can expect from criminal justice agencies. It brings together 12 overarching rights that are clear, concise and easy to understand. These rights can be found below.

[[link removed]]

[[link removed]]


[[link removed]]
Visit to Knockhall Primary School

You may have seen in last month's bulletin that I presented a petition in the House of Commons on behalf of Knockhall Primary School. The petition was compiled by Year 2 pupils and was on the subject of bees and other pollinators and the impact of pesticides on them.

I was delighted to follow this up with a visit to the school where I met Year 2 who asked me lots of questions, before we went outside to the school allotment and planted some bee-friendly plants.

[[link removed]]
The Hill Hub

It was a pleasure to visit The Hill Hub which is located in the old Police Station in Dartford, where I was shown around by Sanmi Adegoke, who is the Chief Executive.

The old Police Station has been transformed into workspaces, private offices, meeting rooms and a cafe.

In addition, The Hill Hub has partnered with the Business Development Programme to provide business training and coaching programmes to support small and medium size businesses in the key areas of growth.

Some of the facilities on offer are superfast Wifi, networking opportunities, unlimited printing, access to the Business Development Programme, access to meeting rooms and showers.

A link to The Hill Hub's website can be found below.

The Hill Hub<[link removed]>

[[link removed]]
One of the former cells at Dartford Police Station, which has been transformed into an office at The Hill Hub. The recess in the wall was for a candle to be lit outside the cell before electricity was used for lighting.
[Gareth Johnson MP website]<[link removed]>


Gareth Johnson MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
Tel: 0207 219 7047
email: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>


Copyright © 2021, Gareth Johnson MP, All rights reserved.



To unsubscribe, please reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

UK Parliament Disclaimer: this e-mail is confidential to the intended recipient. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender and delete it from your system. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, or copying is not permitted. This e-mail has been checked for viruses, but no liability is accepted for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail. This e-mail address is not secure, is not encrypted and should not be used for sensitive data.