Dominic Raab MP's Newsletter - July 2021 View this email in your browser ([link removed])
Dom Raab MP's Newsletter - July 2021
Hello there,

Welcome to my July 2021 newsletter.

Locally this month, I announced that in October I’ll be doing a charity skydive in aid of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. I’m very grateful for the support I’ve received so far. If you’re able, you can sponsor me here ([link removed]) .

Over the past few weeks I’ve also had a useful meeting on planning issues with local Residents’ Associations, caught up with our new Police and Crime Commissioner, and attended the Grand Opening of Cobham Free School’s new permanent site.

On the national side of things, earlier this month we moved to “Step 4” of the Roadmap out of Coronavirus restrictions. I know that this is a relief to many local residents, but it’s still important to use common sense to protect yourself and others. There’s more about this below.

Finally, as residents will know, our talented Team GB athletes have made a fantastic start to the Olympics in Tokyo. Good luck to all of them over the next month - and I'll be looking out for the first ever karate held at this games.

I will be taking some time off in August, so I’ll send out the next edition at the end of September.

Best wishes,
Local Matters
Attending Molesey Regatta on 17 July.

This month, I announced ([link removed]) that in October I’ll be skydiving from 15,000 feet to raise money for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

As some residents will be aware, this inspirational charity cares, free of charge, for babies, children and young people who may have been born with life-limiting progressive conditions, have cancer, or have undiagnosed conditions with complex symptoms. Each year, they support 700 families throughout Surrey (including in Elmbridge) and London.

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices have had a challenging time during the pandemic, so I want to do something to help out. I’m aiming to raise at least £20,000 through the skydive. If you’re able, you can donate through my Just Giving page here ([link removed]) .

In other local news:
* I had a valuable meeting with local Residents’ Associations across Elmbridge – from Long Ditton to Cobham. We discussed ([link removed]) how to go about local planning in Elmbridge, and there was a striking amount of consensus, particularly on the need to protect the Green Belt. Elmbridge Borough Council needs to stop dithering and get a Local Plan in place as soon as possible, to protect the Green Belt and build the right homes, in the right places, to the right quality.

* I caught up ([link removed]) with Surrey’s new Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, to feed local concerns into her developing Police and Crime Plan for the county. We discussed a range of important issues for Elmbridge, including anti-social behaviour, burglaries, knife crime and unauthorised encampments.

* It was an honour to attend the grand opening ([link removed]) of Cobham Free School’s main site at Munro House. This ceremony marked the end of a 10-year journey to bring an all-through school to Cobham. It’s a fantastic boost for children and parents in the area, particularly because the new site means the school will eventually reach a capacity of 1,064 children – significantly easing the pressure on school places across Elmbridge.

Finally, there were some welcome indications this month of things getting back to normal locally, as Coronavirus restrictions eased. It was encouraging to see the businesses on Claygate Parade ([link removed]) bouncing back, while the team at Molesey Boat Club organised a successful return for Molesey Regatta ([link removed]) .
Elmbridge vaccination update:

98,676 residents have received 1 dose

83,300 residents have received 2 doses

(As of 29 July)
Westminster Watch

At the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) this month, it was great to welcome ([link removed]) Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to London, where we announced £132m of new UK investment in Kenya. I met President Kenyatta at the start of his three-day visit to the UK, during which he co-hosted the Global Education Summit with the Prime Minister.

Elsewhere this month:
* I visited Paris for talks with my French opposite number Jean-Yves Le Drian. We discussed ([link removed]) how the UK and France will strengthen our work together – including on climate, girls’ education in the poorest countries, and tackling small boat crossings in the channel. I also signed a new security treaty ([link removed]) with France, which will protect passengers on Channel ferries.

* I announced new UK sanctions ([link removed]) against five individuals involved in serious corruption around the world, from Venezuela to Iraq. These individuals have deprived developing countries of vital resources, and our sanctions mean that they will no longer be able to channel their money through the UK or enter the country.

* I took questions ([link removed]) from MPs about all aspects of the FCDO’s work, including the situation in Hong Kong and the global distribution of Covid vaccines.

I also kept up my regular engagement with other foreign and development ministers around the world – meeting or speaking to my Icelandic ([link removed]) , Czech ([link removed]) and Spanish ([link removed]) counterparts.
State of the Nation

The Prime Minister and Home Secretary launching the government's new Beating Crime Plan in Surrey earlier this week. (Photo credit - Number 10 Flickr account, under a Creative Commons license ([link removed]) )

On 19 July, we moved to “Step 4” of the Roadmap out of Coronavirus restrictions. While the majority of legal restrictions have now been removed, it is important to remember that Coronavirus has not gone away. So, as we move from legally-binding regulations towards individual common sense, people still need to protect themselves. For example, this includes wearing face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces.

A few weeks before restrictions were removed the government published the final data ([link removed]) for some of the emergency Covid loan schemes introduced last year. The Bounce Back and Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans provided almost £80bn of support to businesses across the UK. In Elmbridge, businesses received over £220m.

Finally on Covid, earlier this month we reached the important milestone ([link removed]) , ahead of target, of every adult in the UK being offered a first dose of a vaccine. 2 out of 3 adults were also double vaccinated ahead of schedule. As you can see above, in Elmbridge, we’re close to having 100,000 residents vaccinated.

In other good news this month:
* New economic growth projections ([link removed]) from the IMF forecast 7% growth for the UK in 2021 – the joint highest rate in the G7.

* The Prime Minister and Home Secretary visited the Surrey Police headquarters to launch the government’s Beating Crime Plan ([link removed]) . The measures announced include expanding the use of electronic monitoring, so burglars and thieves have their whereabouts monitored upon release from prison. Everybody who’s been a victim of crime will also have a named police officer to get in touch with.

* After the England team’s brilliant performance in the Euros, Elmbridge residents have an extra reason to feel proud – as defender Luke Shaw grew up in Molesey, and went to Three Rivers Academy ([link removed]) in Hersham.

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