Banbury Mental Health Hub | East West Rail Progress Meeting | Banbury Sewage Treatment Works | BOB ICP Strategic Priorities 

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Welcome to my January Newsletter!
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It's been good to get back to Parliament after the Christmas break. January is always a busy time in Westminster as we begin the New Year with a packed legislative agenda.

Having Vika in our family this year made January extra special as we celebrated Orthodox Christmas and New Year. We were very fortunate to be able to attend a reception for Ukrainian families welcomed on the Homes for Ukraine scheme at Downing Street last week.

I hope you enjoy reading more about what I have been getting up to this month.

Victoria

Healthcare
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As our health service faces some enormous challenges this winter, I welcome the action the Government is taking to ease pressures. Despite difficult circumstances, we must keep our foot on the accelerator as the NHS continues to deliver on the most ambitious catch-up programme in its history. Thanks to the incredible efforts of our health workers, NHS England reported this month that waiting lists have fallen for the first time since the start of the pandemic. It is complex mission but we are making steady progress.

This month, I met our Bicester GPs to hear more about their experiences and listen to their concerns. It is clear that they are working extremely hard to provide consistent, high-quality care to all their patients. I hope to be able to speak to the Banbury GPs in the weeks ahead. It was equally useful catching-up with Nick Broughton, Chief Executive of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust to talk about mental health provision in Oxfordshire, including waiting times for Children and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) services.

I'm conscious that the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Partnership (BOB ICP) are currently in the process of developing their future strategy for our local health and care system. As part of this, they want to work with local people and communities to help set the direction of the strategy and agree a common set of priorities for the partnership. The aim is to link this with plans already in place, meeting local needs while taking pressure off services.

We all have a role to play in shaping our local health and care system; constituents have until this Sunday evening to submit their views. You can do so by clicking here ([link removed])

Banbury Sewage Treatment Works
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Following my letter to the Chief Executive of Thames Water ([link removed]) about sewage discharges last November, I visited the Banbury Sewage Treatment works just before Christmas.

At the site – which serves over 80,000 people in Banbury and the surrounding area – I had a frank conversation about the progress which Thames Water have made to date, and what more there is to be done to protect our rivers.

It was encouraging to hear that they are taking responsibility for their performance and investing in Banbury. £10 million is being allocated to fund two main projects which will upgrade the current infrastructure, greatly increase the site's current output and improve the quality of the final effluent leaving it. This should reduce the need for storm overflows significantly.

You can read more on my visit here ([link removed]) .

Progress Meeting with East West Rail CEO and Local Councillors
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A fortnight ago, I was pleased to welcome Beth West, the CEO of East West Rail, back to Bicester for a productive meeting with local councillors on the London Road crossing.

Beth told us that EWR are currently working up the most viable proposals for the crossing into greater detail as part of their formal response to last year’s public consultation. The meeting reassured us that EWR are working hard to find a solution which does not cut our town in half.

We were all in agreement that work towards a viable solution is continuing in the right direction. I will remain in touch with EWR and look forward to seeing East West Rail’s formal consultation response later this year.

Digital Connectivity Survey
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To build the most comprehensive picture of where mobile and broadband coverage is weak in our area before sharing with service providers and colleagues in Government, I have extended the deadline of my Digital Connectivity Survey.

Make sure you have your say by 28 February here ([link removed]) .

Open Doors UK World Watch List 2023
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I went to the Open Doors UK World Watch List 2023 launch this month, highlighting the persecution of Christians worldwide.

Lots of my constituents were keen for me to pop in - I will be reading this year’s report with interest. Good to bump into Rowan from Bicester while there!

Support for Mental Health
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Earlier this week, the Government announced that mental health services will be boosted by £150 million. It is really welcome news that £178,000 will be invested in a brand new community mental health hub in Banbury which will provide essential support to people in North Oxfordshire.

Other schemes receiving funding include step-down services, mental health urgent assessment and care centres, crisis line upgrades and improvements to health-based ‘places of safety’ and emergency department spaces. £7 million will go towards the procurement of 100 specialised mental health ambulances.

I welcome this investment which will ensure that people experiencing – or at risk of experiencing – mental health crises receive greater access to high-quality, tailored support when they need it most. It will also go a long way in easing pressures on the NHS as people receive care and support in more appropriate settings outside A&E.


Energy Bills Discount Scheme
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As the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) comes to an end in March, the Government has announced a new Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) that will provide all eligible UK businesses and other non-domestic energy users with a discount on high energy bills until 31 March 2024.

This support, worth up to £5.5 billion, will give organisations the much-needed certainty they need to plan through next winter. To find out more click here ([link removed]) .

£2 Bus Fare Cap
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I'm pleased that constituents are benefitting from a £2 bus cap on several bus services that serve Oxfordshire. With the rising cost of living, the Government recognises more than ever the importance of ensuring access to affordable public transport.

You can find a list of bus companies and bus routes included in the £2 bus fare cap scheme here ([link removed]) .

Further Ban on Single-Use Plastics in England
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This month, the Environment Secretary announced a ban on a range of polluting single-use plastics. Coming into effect from October, it will include a ban on single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers.

This marks real progress in the fight against plastic waste. Read more on the announcement here ([link removed]) .

Future Farming Schemes
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I was pleased to see the announcement of 6 new Sustainable Farming Incentive standards yesterday, as well as more information on all of our future farming schemes. This is an important step in our agricultural transition - which will put UK food security on a new sustainable footing.

This follows an announcement earlier in the month that revenue payment rates and capital payment rates have been uprated in Countryside Stewardship. I hope this will encourage more farmers to take another look at the schemes available to them.

You can read more on the announcement here ([link removed]) .


Achieving Accountability for Russia's Aggression Against Ukraine
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Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is barbaric. The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, and we are committed to helping them secure justice for a growing catalogue of war crimes. We are joining a core group of partners to shape thinking on how to ensure criminal accountability for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Ukraine’s resolve in bringing prosecutions in the middle of a live conflict is extraordinary. By providing funding and legal expertise to Ukraine’s domestic prosecutors and judicial system, the UK is helping them to investigate atrocities committed on Ukrainian soil and, where appropriate, bring speedy prosecutions in Ukrainian courts.

Read more on this here ([link removed]) .

For more information about anything you have read in this newsletter or to find out more about my work, please visit: www.victoriaprentis.com ([link removed])

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