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GOOD AFTERNOON & welcome to my South West Surrey update No.212
A busy week! Nationally, I responded to the Bank of England’s interest rates decision ([link removed]) and visited McLaren F1 ([link removed]) to meet apprentices as part of National Apprenticeship Week. Locally, I had a packed constituency day on Friday including a visit to Milford Hospital ([link removed]) to see their renovations, a surgery session ([link removed]) and an afternoon door knocking in Bramley ([link removed]) .

WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER

TREASURY BUSINESS - On Tuesday we had the regular treasury questions in the House of Commons. Interestingly it has emerged that we have actually grown faster than France or Germany since leaving the single market - something that gives a little perspective to the prevailing negative sentiment about the UK economy. Labour attacked me on windfall taxes ([link removed]) even though our windfall taxes raise more than their proposals in the autumn. I’m afraid it would be very damaging to go further: we need investment in the North Sea to fund a lower carbon transition to net zero (locally produced gas is less carbon intensive than imported gas) and more punitive taxes will mean less investment and lower tax revenues (which matter - taxes from the sector are the equivalent of the entire police budget.) Tuesday’s reshuffle also saw the creation of four new departments
([link removed]) to focus on energy, security and my objective for us to be the world’s next Silicon Valley. ([link removed])

THE WORLD’S BRAVEST LEADER Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to London and I was privileged to meet him. ([link removed]) His extraordinary leadership in holding off a Russian invasion with immense personal courage has moved the arc of history to paraphrase Obama. We must give him all the support he needs.

WOKING WONDERS This week is national apprenticeship week ([link removed]) , so I visited the headquarters of the F1 team McLaren in Woking to speak to some of their apprentices ([link removed]) . There are almost 50,000 apprentices in engineering and manufacturing across the UK. It has been an unheralded revolution which is extremely popular with employers as a way to find motivated new employees. Apprentices themselves like it because they can get a degree without any tuition fee debt. I asked Sir Michael Barber to do a review ([link removed]) of the progress we are making on skills and he briefed Cabinet about it on Tuesday.

EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE Spare a thought for the devastating impact of two earthquakes along the Turkey-Syria border ([link removed]) this week, where thousands have already sadly died or been injured as a result. The Foreign Secretary has announced that the UK will send immediate support to Turkey ([link removed]) , including a team of 76 search and rescue specialists, an emergency medical team, rescue dogs and further equipment (including seismic listening devices). In Syria, the British-funded White Helmets ([link removed]) have also mobilised their resources to respond. If you are worried about relatives or friends affected by these earthquakes, you can telephone the FCDO directly on 02070 085000.

PREPPING TO END HIV - On a totally different note, this week is national HIV testing week. In a major development England is set to be the first country in the world to stop new cases of HIV by 2030 ([link removed]) and on Wednesday, MPs held a Westminster Hall debate ([link removed]) about it. In 2017, whilst I was Health Secretary, we started the first trials for PreP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and in 2020 it was made available to all. The Government is now offering free HIV tests ([link removed]) that can be done at home so click here ([link removed]) to order yours.

COVID UPDATE The total number of Covid cases in England has decreased yet again, with the ONS now reporting that1 in 70 have the virus ([link removed]) compared to 1 in 60 the previous week. Despite this, the government’s Coronavirus dashboard ([link removed]) shows that cases are up 19.2%, hospitalisations up 17.7% although most importantly, deaths are down a little (by 1%.) Please note that after 12th February you will NOT be able to book an additional primary dose (3rd dose) of the COVID-19 vaccine online although you may still be able to get vaccinated at a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site. Worth talking to your GP.

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 surgery call ([link removed]) on Friday, was to a Farnham mother worried about girls safety at her daughters' school because of their policies around gender recognition. Her worry is about biological boys using girls facilities and also social transition (treating people by their preferred gender) which is not recommended by NHS England before puberty. I said I would raise her concerns with both Surrey County Council and the head of the school. I then spoke to a Churt resident who has been having big issues with HMRC -it took him 40-50 minutes to get through and he was cut off several times. The general attitude was 'we can't do anything to help you' even though he was desperate having just been made redundant.

I also spoke to a lady from Haslemere who lost her husband to the contaminated blood issue of the 1970s and 1980s. This is a deeply distressing issue I am very familiar with having been health secretary and secured the public inquiry into what was a terrible scandal (I gave evidence to the same inquiry last July). She brought home to me just how tough it has been in the years since she lost her husband and how unlistened to the haemophiliac community has felt over many years. We will now wait until the public inquiry reports later in the year. Finally I spoke to a lady from Milford about the roll out of voter ID at polling stations and heard her concerns that the fraud is mainly in the proxy and postal voting rather than in-person voting. I said I would raise the issue with Michael Gove.

GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND - Since my last update, DEFRA has announced a roadmap for a cleaner, greener country ([link removed]) , and I am confident that this new plan will help us in protecting our green spaces ([link removed]) in South West Surrey. I know many of you are concerned about the health of our local waterways, and this plan seeks to improve this by restoring 400 miles of river and establishing 3,000 hectares of new woodlands along England’s rivers. The plan also announces how the Government will upgrade 160 wastewater treatment works by 2027. Having written to local supermarkets asking what they will be doing to improve recycling provisions locally ([link removed]) . I am encouraged to see that the Government’s new plan commits to the recently announced
ban on single-use plastics, as well as the deposit return scheme which I have long been campaigning for ([link removed]) . From November, the environmental protection and enhancement will also be embedded into the design and development of new policies across government. ([link removed])

BRAMLEY SPILL I heard from Sarah Bentley, CEO of Thames Water, yesterday morning that she is still trying to investigate the root cause of the spill near Gosden Common, and in particular if it is a pump or a network issue. She says they will get the initial analysis back in the next week so I will report back then.

CALLING ALL DAREDEVILS Are you an adrenaline junkie? Well, now you can indulge for a good cause, namely raising funds for the Royal Surrey and its new Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre. ([link removed]) The hospital charity’s fundraising team is organising a charity abseil and looking for daring folk to talk part. Now is your chance to climb Guildford Cathedral's tower’s spiral staircase of 249 steps to a height of 160 ft (49m), enjoy the wonderful panoramic views of Guildford enjoyed every day by its 15 ft (5m) tall Golden Angel, before you boldly climb over the top. For more details click here. ([link removed])

A POSITIVE NOTE Tickets are selling fast for this Haslemere fundraiser on Saturday 25^th February so don’t miss out - book your seat now ([link removed]) . The evening will be an uplifting event showcasing the musical talents of Rock Choir, The Royal Surrey Choir, Midhurst Community Choir and the Haslemere Players who will excite and entertain you with a range of modern and classic, upbeat and popular songs. All proceeds will go to the Cancer & Surgical Innovation Centre fundraising campaign. Concession available for NHS staff.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARDS 2023 marks the 12th year of BBC Radio Surrey’s Make A Difference awards, and they need local people to nominate heroes in the community. ([link removed]) The awards seek to recognise and celebrate the everyday acts of kindness, and there are eight award categories that cover the unsung heroes of our community; volunteer, community groups, fundraiser, carer, great neighbour, bravery, the green award, and the together award. Nominations close on 5th March at 11pm, and the winners will be announced at the Make A Difference awards ceremony in September.

JOIN ME Want to get more involved locally? Email me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to join my growing team supporting our work in our community.

AND FINALLY…The Economist’s Bagehot column has discovered ([link removed]) that you get Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden if you photo-montage mine and Rachel Reeve’s faces together - I’ll stick with Mr Bean ([link removed]) if you don’t mind!

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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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