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

Welcome to my October 2021 newsletter.

Last week, I completed my 15,000 feet skydive for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. The support that I and the charity have received has been fantastic – exceeding the £20,000 fundraising target, with over £25,000 raised so far. If you are able, I would hugely appreciate any further donations for this excellent cause. My JustGiving page is still open and linked below.

In other local news this month, I had a successful drop-in surgery at Sainsbury’s in Cobham, visited Esher College, and supported a fundraiser for the new Claygate Community Pool. In positive news for residents, there will be a final collection of garden waste in Elmbridge thanks to the efforts of the Conservative Group on Elmbridge Borough Council.

On the national side, earlier this month the government and the NHS set out a plan to improve patients’ access to GP appointments. I’ll be working with local practices to ensure that residents see the benefits of this. This week’s Budget, meanwhile, included a number of welcome measures for residents and businesses in Elmbridge. There’s more on this, plus what I’ve been up to as Justice Secretary, below.

Of course in the past few weeks we have also had very sad news, losing both Sir David Amess MP and James Brokenshire MP. I will miss them both greatly and pay tribute to them below.

Best wishes,
Local Matters
Skydiving for Shooting Star Children's Hospices

Last week, I had the amazing experience of skydiving from 15,000 feet for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. You can see some photos of the jump here ([link removed]) , and a video on my Facebook page here ([link removed]) .

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices does vital work, supporting hundreds of families in Surrey (including in Elmbridge) and London in unimaginably difficult circumstances.

I’m very grateful for all the support I’ve received over the last few months – exceeding the £20,000 fundraising target, with over £25,000 raised so far for this inspirational charity. Every contribution will make a real difference.

My JustGiving page is still open, here ([link removed]) . If you’re able, Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and I would hugely appreciate any further support.

In other local news this month:
* I held ([link removed]) a successful drop-in surgery at Sainsbury’s in Cobham, meeting and chatting to residents about local and national issues.

* The Conservative Group on Elmbridge Borough Council wassuccessful ([link removed]) in urging the Lib Dem and Residents’ Association-controlled administration to offer a final collection of garden waste for residents, after the council suspended the service without warning.

* I was out and about across Elmbridge – supporting ([link removed]) a great fundraiser for the new Claygate Community Pool, joining ([link removed]) the opening of the new kitchen at the Claygate Youth and Community Hub, discussing ([link removed]) politics with pupils at Esher College, and visiting ([link removed]) Air Products in Hersham – hearing about how a major international project is benefitting our local economy.

Elmbridge vaccination update:

105,519 residents have received 1 dose

97,704 residents have received 2 doses

(As of 27 October)
Westminster Watch

Launching the new Legal Year at Westminster Abbey.

During my first full month in my new role at the Ministry of Justice, I’ve been focussing on measures to cut crime, reduce reoffending and protect the public.

First up, I launched the new Legal Year at Westminster Abbey (pictured above), thanking our judges for keeping the justice system running during the pandemic.

Later in the month:
* At Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, I announced ([link removed]) £180m of funding to expand the use of tags to cut burglary and theft and keep people safe from domestic abusers. I also announced ([link removed]) up to £93m to increase the community work undertaken by offenders to eight million hours per year.

* On 21 October, I hosted ([link removed]) a prison leavers’ employment summit, looking at how offenders can plug skills gaps in our economy. This followed a series of meetings ([link removed]) with employers ([link removed]) and visits ([link removed]) to prisons ([link removed]) to see what is already being done in this area. Hiring ex-offenders is a smart way to help businesses deal with staff shortages, offers offenders a second chance to turn their lives around, and is critical to our plan to cut crime and protect the public. This is a key priority of mine as Justice Secretary.

* I visited ([link removed]) HMP High Down, seeing how X-ray body scanners stop illegal items entering prisons. In just over a year, this game-changing technology has stopped ([link removed]) 10,000 attempts to smuggle contraband including drugs, weapons and phones into prisons.

State of the Nation

Sir David Amess MP and James Brokenshire MP

This month, we tragically lost two stalwarts of the Conservative Party. Sir David Amess and James Brokenshire were both brilliant politicians and kind men, taken far too soon.

David was a tenacious, hugely respected and much-loved figure in Parliament – incredibly encouraging when I was first elected in 2010, and a tower of support since. He was also a formidable campaigner, a truly kind man, and utterly devoted to Southend and his constituents. It’s a fitting tribute that Southend will now become a city, which David had long campaigned for.

I got to know James from 2006 onwards and have fond memories of working with him in government. As many of the tributes paid to James have made clear, he was a smart and brilliant politician – and just a terrific guy.

My thoughts and prayers are with both James and David’s families. They will be sorely missed.

In other national news this month:
* Earlier this week, the Chancellor outlined a Budget and Spending Review to deliver a stronger economy for the British people and for Elmbridge. There were measures to raise incomes and cut the cost of living, including increasing the National Living Wage and freezing fuel and alcohol duties. Businesses will continue to receive support with a business rates cut of over £7bn, and there’s more funding for schools, policing, the NHS and local road maintenance. I’ve explained more about the measures here ([link removed]) .

* The NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care set out ([link removed]) an important blueprint for improving patients’ access to GP appointments, including a £250m winter access fund for GP practices. I’ll be working with local practices to ensure that residents see the benefits of this.

* The UK agreed ([link removed]) a historic trade deal with New Zealand. This will cut red tape for businesses, end tariffs on UK exports and create new opportunities for tech and services companies, while making it easier for UK professionals to live and work in New Zealand.

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