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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my South West Surrey update No.190. This week we’ve seen a row about defence spending, the sad passing of the wonderful Dame Deborah James, and a significant report from the Climate Change Committee. I also had a productive meeting with the Environment Secretary to discuss sewage overflows and the Surrey Hills AONB.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER

WHEN IS 2% NOT 2%? The Prime Minister this week rightly called on fellow NATO members to increase spending on defence ([link removed]) to deal with increased threats from Russia and today announced a welcome extra £1bn of support for Ukraine ([link removed]) . He also highlighted how UK spending is due to reach 2.3% of GDP this year although some are worried we will breach another commitment to increase spending by 0.5% more than inflation. I have long argued (including as Foreign Secretary in 2019 ([link removed]) ) that we all need to raise our game but don’t think the current NATO ambition of 2% reflects the new realities. I think the UK should set a lead on this (as I argued here in March
([link removed]) ). How will we pay for it? Only by getting the economy growing, so I would make it a 10 year plan to double defence, aid and soft power in order to allow time for the necessary economic growth to fund it - something that the timespans in defence procurement require anyway. It looks like the Defence Secretary agrees ([link removed]) with me.

PROTECT OUR GREEN SPACES! My new Green Spaces campaign has started to drop through letterboxes locally. There is lots we can do to protect our local countryside but I need your help to do it so please respond to the survey that comes with it (or online ([link removed]) ) This week I had a very productive meetingwith Environment Secretary George Eustice ([link removed]) on two key issues: reducing sewage overflows into the River Wey and Walkham Stream and better protection for the Surrey Hills AONB. On sewage he told me that later this year £2.5bn will be allocated to addressing the problem in the most badly affected parts of the country and so I pushed him to see if South West Surrey met that criteria. And on the Surrey Hills he is going to look into expanding the AONB and whether National Parks status is possible. You can read more about our meeting in my article in the Herald this week
([link removed]) .

CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT CARD A mixed review for the government from the Climate Change Committee ([link removed]) who praise their efforts to promote electric cars and highlight how our renewable programme is set to save £125 per year on energy bills. But they are pretty scathing on progress to insulate homes, something I have written to the Chancellor about. There is always another budget...

BRING BACK FAMILY DOCTORS! Many of you will know that my main focus as Health Secretary was patient safety, particularly reducing the number of avoidable deaths, something I write about in my new book Zero ([link removed]) (forgive the plug but all profits to charity). I concluded whilst writing the book that the biggest single thing we could do is bring back family doctors who have individual responsibility for patients, as used to happen pre-2004. We are looking at this in my Select Committee inquiry into the future of general practice ([link removed]) and this week our very own Dr Claire Fuller (Farnham resident and effectively head of the NHS in Surrey) gave evidence on her well-received report into primary care ([link removed]) . I pushed hard on whether
reintroducing the family doctor would resolve the issues we are seeing but Claire’s view at the moment is that a lack of capacity means this just isn’t possible. ([link removed]) I hope to persuade her to change her mind because the evidence I have seen is that seeing the same patients reduces stress and pressure for GPs. The intensity of work is much greater if you have to see 40 patients in one day who you don’t know than seeing those you do.

COVID ALERT The ONS reports a continued increase in cases as 1 in 40 people ([link removed]) in England had the virus in the week ending 17th June compared to 1 in 50 in the previous week. As of 9am the Covid dashboard shows that we have had a total of 22,239,800 positive cases of COVID-19 with 197,288 confirmed deaths in the UK. Please note I’ve switched to reporting the “Deaths with COVID-19 on the death certificate” figure as this has become the most regularly updated and is therefore a better gauge of the impact of the virus. There have been 43,154 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 334 confirmed deaths with an estimated 338 currently active cases in Waverley.

The key number remains 0300 200 1008 for anyone with pandemic related difficulties. Also please check out my full list of local groups ([link removed]) working to support vulnerable residents.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

SURGERY STORIES My first call for this week's surgery was to Tracey Sanders who is the person at Surrey County Council responsible for special education needs for our area. This followed a not very satisfactory meeting in Godalming with Rachael Wardell in May. I have had concerns expressed to me repeatedly that it is incredibly difficult to get the support packages necessary for children with disabilities or special needs, with parents finding they have to take Surrey to court, only for a settlement to be reached the day before the hearing (but after thousands of pounds have been spent on legal fees). I am still trying to get to the bottom of this issue so will arrange for Tracey to sit down with a small group in which both parents and schools are represented.

I then spoke to the Frensham-based owner of Thames Distillers ([link removed]) about an anomaly in excise duties which means that under new plans, someone who buys a pre-mixed gin and tonic pays less duty than someone who mixes one at home. His concern is that such a system would incentivise pre-mixing, with all the additional packaging that would involve which of course is not good for the environment. I will take the issue up with The Chancellor.

Finally, I spoke to Dr Phil Ridsdill Smith about concerns in Haslemere that people can't get face to face surgery appointments. I know there is a lot of concern, but do also recognise that GPs are busier than ever - with 11% more consultations and 5% fewer staff than five years ago according to the head of NHS Confederation. I have long believed that the issue of face to face surgeries vs virtual ones would be solved if we went back to people having their own GPs (see above). Phil talked at length about the pressures in the system. They have had issues with GPs being ill or on compassionate leave and he has given up his other roles in the NHS to focus entirely on providing more consultations for patients. As a result, all patients are now being offered face to face consultations for routine appointments. This does not apply to people who want same day appointments who need to be spoken to urgently but in those situations speed is more of a priority.

RACE FOR LIFE I'm pleased to say that my training is well and truly ‘on track’ ahead of the Cancer Research Race for Life in Guildford on 24^th July, which I will be running with Guildford MP, Angela Richardson and Haslemere resident, Rod Pluthero. Angela and I will be raising funds for the new Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre at the Royal Surrey County Hospital. ([link removed]) A big thanks to those who have sponsored us so far - as I type our total stands at £753.00 which is great but we can do better! Here is the link ([link removed]) for generous souls willing to support a great cause. Also raising funds for the new centre this weekend, are the Farnham Conservatives at The Bourne Show
([link removed]) - huge thanks to Cllr Carole Cockburn and the team.

BINSCOMBE CHURCH CENTRE The application to Your Fund Surrey ([link removed]) for funding for the Binscombe Church Centre ([link removed]) rebuild is now online, and open for your comments on their project. Your Fund Surrey will then summarise all feedback submitted and send on to the panel considering the funding application. Therefore, it would be great if as many people as possible could click here ([link removed]) now and take a couple of minutes to comment on how this project will add to our community - and please do share with friends and family.

AND FINALLY… the news that I'm sure many of you have been hoping for. I'm pleased to confirm that the two Cocker Spaniels stolen from an address in Farnham on 19th June, have now been reunited with their owners and the rest of their pack. If this video doesn't bring a tear to your eye ([link removed]) , I don't know what will!

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Promoted by Sean Donovan-Smith on behalf of Jeremy Hunt MP and South West Surrey Conservatives, all at 2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road, Hindhead, Surrey GU26 6TD.

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