GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my South West Surrey update No.200! What a milestone and a good moment to thank my assistant Beth who helps me draft them. With the Commons back Liz Truss has had only her second PMQs (as they say a week is a long time in politics) and there has been a debate on sewage discharges. I also have an update on my plans to better protect our AONB.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER
ECONOMIC PLANS UPDATE The Chancellor has confirmed that he is bringing forward the publication of his medium term fiscal plan and the OBR’s assessment of the public finances from 23rd November to 31st October - just 19 days away. This will hopefully reassure the markets about the government’s fiscal discipline but I for one will be watching carefully to see what the implications are for NHS and social care funding. We are currently one of the highest funders on health in the OECD (5th out of 38 rich countries) but that doesn’t mean there aren’t huge financial pressures caused by 10% inflation that wasn’t planned for. We will also find out if the government has decided to uprate benefits in line with inflation as I hope it does. There is some positive news as the IMF (not the biggest friend of the government) has upgraded its growth forecasts for the UK this year to 3.2% which as a point of comparison is higher than France, Japan, the US and Germany. They state that the UK’s “fiscal package is expected to lift growth somewhat….while complicating the fight against inflation.” Conversely the ONS has announced that the economy in August actually shrank by 0.3%, so a mixed bag.
MPS TALKING SEWAGE (never happened before did it?) In this case we were debating what more can be done to reduce sewage discharges into our rivers in a Westminster Hall debate yesterday afternoon. I highlighted the incredible response my Green Spaces Campaign had received with more than 1,700 of you agreeing to sign my petition to the water companies calling on them to bring forward plans to end sewage discharges completely. You can see my speech here and read what the Minister said in response here. We have two public meetings on the issue coming up, one with Sarah Bentley, CEO of Thames Water and one with Philip Dunne, the most effective parliamentary campaigner on the issue. The new environment secretary Ranil Jayawardena has also agreed to visit so I am doing what I can to get the big guns down (Reminder: sewage overflows in local rivers happened for 1562 hours last year).
NATIONAL PARKS A second plank of my Green Spaces campaign is to extend the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and secure National Park status for it. That would give us more funding and more statutory protection (National Parks are their own planning authority). But as I say in my Herald article (out tomorrow), doing so would also help boost biodiversity which is important both in its own right and to tackle climate change.
COVID UPDATE The number of Covid cases in England in the community continued to rise significantly with the ONS now reporting that 1 in 50 have the virus compared to 1 in 65 in the previous week. The dashboard data confirms this rise with cases up 22% in the last 7 days, hospitalisations up 33% and for the first time in a while, deaths up 10%. This is likely to significantly increase the pressure on an already stretched NHS so one to watch very closely.
The key number remains 0300 200 1008 for anyone with pandemic related difficulties. Also please check out my full list of local groups working to support vulnerable residents.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY
SURGERY CALLS - Yesterday I spoke to a Haslemere resident about an extraordinary business he has built up which uses solar power to desalinate sea water. It is a potentially revolutionary way to boost water supply in a totally carbon-neutral way and he has already won contracts in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. He wants my help in getting through to Whitehall who might be able to help him export to more countries. If you too would like a surgery call with me, please email your request (including your home address) to [email protected]
MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING Marya and the team at Surrey Translation Bureau have been working hard to organise their upcoming Halloween-themed bake sale and coffee morning to raise funds for the brilliant Macmillan Cancer Support. If you’re free next Wednesday (19th October) it would be well worth popping by their offices at Victoria House on South St in Farnham between 11am-3pm. For more information or to make a donation if you are unable to attend, please click here. Macmillan Cancer Support needs every penny possible to continue their vital support services to those living with cancer, especially as they predict 3.5 million people in the UK to be living with the disease by 2025. This increase is partly due to the UK’s growing and ageing population but also due to great strides in both cancer diagnosis and treatments.
SURREY POLICE FOOTBALL MATCH On Friday 4th November Surrey Fire and Rescue Service will host Surrey Police for a football match at Meadowbank Football Grounds in Dorking. The event is planned to highlight the dangers of drink and drug driving and general road safety during the winter period ahead, and is particularly aimed at young adult football fans. Kick off is at 2:30pm and thank you to all our emergency service workers involved for their tremendous contributions and community spirit.
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