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[Caroline Dinenage MP]

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The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations ensured that June kicked off in style - there were a fabulous array of celebrations and get-togethers. I certainly enjoyed the events in Stoke Road and Lee on the Solent and various Big Jubilee Lunches. It was lovely to see our communities come together for such joyous times. The Jubilee bunting designed by local school children decorated my office building and others along Stoke Road and looked fantastic, so a big thank you to all the talented youngsters who designed it!

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Other than that it’s been another eventful month.
I know that many of my constituents have raised concerns about access to local NHS Dentistry, and so I was very pleased when the Government Minister responsible for Dentistry, Maria Caulfield, accepted my invitation to visit Gosport. I was really keen for her to meet local dentists to hear what life is like at the sharp end for both those trying to deliver NHS dentistry and the patients trying to access it.

I was also pleased that she confirmed some of improvements will be announced in the coming months, which will make a big difference for both recruiting and retaining dentists in the NHS, and ensuring that local people can get the dentist care they need when they need it.

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[Dentistry Minister Visits Gosport]([link removed])

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At the beginning of the month, it was great to celebrate the work of all of our fantastic local volunteers at the Gosport Voluntary Action awards evening as part of National Volunteers’ Week.

We have so many valued community groups, charities and voluntary organisations across our area.

If you wish to start volunteering visit Gosport Voluntary Action’s [website]([link removed]) for more information

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This month we have had a number of opportunities to thank and commemorate our armed forces, past and present. We remembered the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands war. A conflict fought 8000 miles away yet with such links to Gosport. Of the brave servicemen who set sail from Portsmouth Harbour, 225 lost their lives & 775 were wounded, some still bear the physical & emotional scars. It was also Armed Forces Day later in June and I was proud to Salute Our Forces and thank them for all their service in keeping the UK and its allies around the world safe.

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I caught up with the team at Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity to hear about their work in our area. Their stated aim is to support each sailor, submariner & marine & their families, during their service and beyond. For more information please visit [www.rnrmc.org.uk]([link removed]).

It was also good to meet up with the StandardAero team again this month and hear the latest on their highly technical repair and overhaul work in both commercial aviation & military helicopters. The Fleetlands site has served our Nation’s military aviation & been a major Gosport employer for many decades.

I also had a productive and timely catch-up with our Police District Commander, Fifi Gulam-Husen, to discuss a number of issues, including anti social behaviour ahead of the school summer holidays and the encampments which have recently been established locally.

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It was also a great honour to be asked to take part in the launch of the fantastic new art studio at Crofton Anne Dale School in memory of Sophie Fairall – it is an exceptional facility, in honour of a remarkable child, made possible by her wonderful family, friends and local businesses community who loved her.

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Following my recent [Parliamentary debate on Childhood Cancer Outcomes]([link removed]), Charlotte Fairhall (Sophie’s Mum) and I met with Department of Health and Social Care Minister Maria Caulfield, to push for our proposed Childhood Cancer Mission to be part of the Government’s forthcoming 10-year Cancer Plan.

We want a revolution in how we detect, treat & care for children’s cancer.

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I had a great day out at the St Vincent College Summer Festival this month. The team at St Vincent’s pulled together a fantastic, action packed and well attended community event. I was lucky to be invited to hand out the prizes in the art competition!

I also visited the [Gosport Galler]([link removed])y pop-up-shop on the High Street who feature the goods from a number of different local makers and artists each month.

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I spent a really interesting morning with the Environment Agency finding out more about their work locally.

We visited the Alver Valley to see how they are maintaining the reed beds as a great environment for wildlife - it was lovely to see the area bursting with life especially the little ducklings on the water. On Stokes Bay I met Christine, who carries out the regular bathing water sampling, to see how she goes about this process.

I recently asked in [Parliamentary Questions]([link removed]) for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to legislate for this kind of bathing water sampling to be carried out all year round rather than just the summer months.

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In other news, I had another productive meeting with Gosport Taskforce this month discussing development and infrastructure issues such as the disposal of Fort Blockhouse, which has now been delayed again until 2025.

In Westminster, I was delighted to be asked to be a Parliamentary Champion for #CarersWeek this year as part of my work in Parliament and Gosport to make sure all carers are Visible, Valued and Supported.

As a former Health Minister this is something I have championed in the past, I was proud to support a Carers Week Event in Parliament to give MPs a chance hear from some unpaid carers and the charities that support them.

Watch my pledge at [link removed]

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As a former small business owner myself, I enjoyed kicking off an event with Mastercard and some brilliant female entrepreneurs and panellists, to discuss this we address the barriers to female enterprise in order to to support the UK’s economic recovery!

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I helped raise money for Macmillan Cancer in a rather bizarre way this month, as part of the House of Commons women’s [tug of war]([link removed]) team!

I did feel as though l left a ham-string out there on the pitch but it was great to be part of a Tory/Labour coalition for the evening, all in a great cause - and we won!

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Ensuring that children keep up their reading over those long summer holidays is so important for their
development.

It was good to hear about this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, you can sign up at our local libraries.Additional resources for schools and libraries can be found on The Reading Agency’s [website]([link removed]).

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Also on the note of helping our younger generation, access to timely and appropriate mental health support for young people is a constant source of worry in our region. I chaired the second in a series of Young Person’s Mental Health Roundtables, with local education and healthcare providers to discuss how they can better collaborate to secure and deliver the right support.

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It was also good to see so many MPs wearing the blue ribbon in Parliament this month to support the [Diana Award Anti-Bullying Campaign]([link removed]). Bullying, whether in school or online is cowardly and vile.

It was a pleasure to meet [Breast Cancer Now]([link removed]) in UK Parliament.

93% of people in Gosport see a specialist within 2 week target at the moment - much better than the national average.

Early diagnosis the best chance of survival so I’m calling on Department of Health and Social Care - DHSC to aim for 95% across the UK.

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I have been active in the Chamber this month asking Oral Parliamentary Questions to represent my constituents.

In Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office OPQs I asked Minister Amanda Milling what preparations are in place to support the British Overseas Territories during hurricane season. A Royal Navy presence could be a vital part of that. You can watch my video at: [link removed]

In Department of Health and Social Care OPQs I reminded Minister Gillian Keegan about the importance of early Dementia diagnosis & asked when more face to face GP appointments would be available. Watch my question at [link removed]

In Ministry of Defence OPQs I asked Veterans Minister Leo Docherty for more support for veterans struggling with mental ill health as a result of their service. Watch my question at [link removed]

I spoke in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, highlighting the need to protect the Strategic Gap between Gosport & Fareham, give local people more say over target housing numbers & support plans to regenerate our beleaguered High Street [link removed]

In Department for Work and Pensions - DWP UK Parliament Questions I asked Secretary of State Therese Coffey about the Government’s plans to increase carers allowance. [link removed]

I asked Ministry of Justice Minister Victoria Atkins to ensure victims of rape have confidence in the system to deliver swift and decisive justice. [link removed]

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I know that some of my constituents have concerns about delays in passport processing. I have raised this with Kevin Foster Migration Minister at the Home Office. Included [here]([link removed]) are a number of useful FAQs, but if you have any further queries or concerns about passport applications then please contact me on [email protected] and I will do my best to help.

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Other announcements included:

- The Department of Health and Social Care has released a [new data strategy]([link removed]) that will help the NHS provide better support to its patients, increasing its efficiency.
- Good news that the Government has brought forward the Cost of Living Payments Bill meaning the initial instalment of £650 will be £356 - paid on 14 July. Check whether you’re eligible [here]([link removed]).
- The Government’s new[Food Strategy]([link removed]) will help back British farmers, promote local produce & create more jobs in the sector.
- Now is the opportunity to have your say in how Southern Water can create a resilient water future for customers in our region. Visit their [consultation hub]([link removed]) to help inform their future policies and decisions for our local area.
- HSBC has launched a new £15bn SME Fund to support local businesses to help them invest in digital tech & to become more environmentally sustainable in their operations. You can find out how to apply [here]([link removed]-).

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Finally, as many of you will have heard there was a vote of confidence in the Prime Minister at the beginning of the month, you can read my thoughts on this on my [website]([link removed]).

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As always, if you need any assistance or have any thoughts on how we could improve our service, please contact my team and I at [email protected].

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Caroline Dinenage MP
167 Stoke Road
Gosport
PO12 1SE
[email protected]

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