As usual, please get in touch with me directly via my email or my contact form (click here) if you would like to discuss any of these issues.
It has been another busy month for me in Scunthorpe and Westminster, with significant progress made in many of my core campaigns.
Whilst our town is currently facing lower infection rates compared to the rest of the country, showing the hard work and sacrifice that our residents have put in, it is important that we do not give up on the rules as we enter the winter months, and I will be playing my part to support residents.
In order to best serve residents in the coming months, I want to gather your views on how the pandemic is affecting you, and what further support could be in place. If you have time, please fill in the survey here to add your views.
Click here to take part in my local survey
Progress Report:
Upgrading Scunthorpe Hospital
What is being done?
Asking the Health Secretary to ensure that residents can access face-to-face GP surgeries
As part of my ongoing campaign for health services to resume, I asked the Health Secretary about the timescale for the return of face-to-face GP Appointments. I am pleased to see that NHS England has now written to all GPs to ensure that patients who need face-to-face appointments will be able to access one. I have also been following the situation regarding the availability of tests in our area closely and have made representations to the government.
What's next?
Work continues on our bid for a Scunthorpe General Hospital upgrade. Meanwhile, I have requested for further talks with the Ministerial team at the Department of Health and Social Care.
Progress Report:
Protecting and promoting our world-class British Steel
What is being done?
Raising our steel priorities during a debate in September
What is being done?
In a recent debate on steel, I intervened to ask the government to look at key issues that continue to affect our industry, and paid tribute to the steelworkers who guided me during my shift in the summer.
A lot of work is currently being done to ensure that British steelmakers will be able to benefit from HS2's procurement policy. There has been correspondence throughout this month and I will be meeting HS2 to discuss this further.
What's next?
I will be visiting our local Liberty Steel site in the near future, and will continue to work with the Steel Parliamentary group to lobby the government to provide more support for our steel industry.
Progress Report:
Improving general road safety
What is being done?
I have again raised the need to widen the A15 with the Transport Minister in the Commons.
After making representations previously, I met (virtually) with local councillors and Humberside Police to discuss the actions needed to tackle antisocial cycling in our area. I made clear that our local police need to start fining repeat anti-social cyclists in our town centre, and there needs to be an increase in awareness of the laws surrounding cycling in these areas for young people.
What's next?
I am pushing for a meeting with one of the Government's transport advisors to have further discussions regarding the A15. And I await the Transport Minister’s response to my letter supporting sustainable transport infrastructure.
Progress Report:
Supporting our local businesses, community groups, and building up our High Street
What is being done?
Residents in Kirton in Lindsey have been working hard to repurpose St Vincent Hall as a community gym. As the Ministry of Defence currently owns the hall, I called on the Defence Ministers to deliver this proposal for the community by accepting the Council’s bid.
Elsewhere, having consulted local businesses I asked the Chancellor the "uncomfortable question" about extending VAT cuts for pubs and restaurants, it is good to see that he has now extended the 15% cut to the end of March 2021.
As well as visiting local mental health provider Creative Therapy over summer, I was able to visit Scunthorpe Rugby Club to open their new mental health suite. They have done fantastic work tackling mental health concerns in the sport and I will continue to work with them on this issue. I continue to post mental health support on my website.
I was also pleased to be able to speak to North Lincolnshire Rotary Club members to thank them for the fantastic work they have put in to raise £10,000 for local charities in their "virtual awards ceremony".
I continue to provide local "Business Updates" which you can sign up to here. All records of my Business Updates can be read on my website, with the latest edition here. You may have seen that I prepared a list of funding opportunities for charities and not-for-profits in Scunthorpe too.
Progress Report:
Working with our Schools
What is being done?
Asking the minister to personally help a local student to get into her first-choice university
I have been working directly with local students who have struggled to get into their first-choice university by making representations. Among them is local athlete Hannah.
After weeks of working to get Hannah into her first-choice university, I managed to get the Education Minister to personally intervene in her case.
And I am pleased to report that Loughborough has now accepted her to study from this year. Hannah is one of the country’s best young athletes and I look forward to seeing her represent Scunthorpe in a future Olympics!
I know that our local schools have been trying their level best to facilitate the safe return of students. I have raised this with the local Public Health Director, and I am pleased to say that a dedicated local helpline has been set up to provide our schools with the best public health advice.
What's next?
In Westminster, I am working with colleagues to call for the government to provide Free School Meals over the holidays. Having lobbied hard to create the ‘Covid Summer Food Fund’ earlier this year, this is an issue that remains close to my heart.
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Take care and stay safe,
Holly