Welcome to this weeks newsletter!
A year ago today I was elected! Here is a short clip of what I have been up to
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine started to be rolled out this week to the those over 80 and frontline health staff who are at the highest risk. The UK is the first country in the world to approve and start administering a COVID vaccine. I am sure that the vaccine, alongside mass testing, will give us a way through this pandemic. We do, of course, still need to follow the guidance and keep the virus under control. I spent 20 minutes answer questions about the safety of the vaccine on local Radio which you can listen to below if you have questions yourself.
Following the announcement that we were rolling out the vaccine, I asked the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government has to expand the sites where the COVID-19 vaccine is available, so that hospitals like Leighton Hospital, can administer the COVID vaccine in the future.
I also met with Marie McCourt this week, who is campaigning for a review of the common laws relating to the desecration of a body. In the past, Marie McCourt has successfully campaigned for the introduction of Helen’s Law on behalf of her late daughter, Helen McCourt. Helen McCourt was murdered in 1988 however her killer has never revealed her body’s location. Under Helen’s Law murderers and paedophiles who hold back information on their victims could now face longer behind bars. Marie is now campaigning for further reform and this week I also called on the Justice Minister to have a meeting about Marie's campaign.
This week the Government announced a £600 million package to support hospital maintenance costs and it was fantastic to hear that Leighton Hospital has been allocated £6.5 million. I am also looking to organise a voluntary Christmas Day Doorstep Visit to those in need. We currently have a dozen volunteers and if anyone would like to be involved please get in touch at kieran.mullan.mp@parliament.uk
This newsletter also includes stories on donations to Nantwich foodbank, the letter I signed to the Prime Minister, the two new grants available for businesses in Crewe and Nantwich, and my question in the Chamber on supporting disability employment during the pandemic.
As I sending this out I have heard the news that Independent Councillors on Nantwich Town Council have voted to increase their share of council tax by 42.5%. That seems totally unreasonable to me and I have said so here (you don't need Facebook to view): https://www.facebook.com/KieranMullanUK/posts/867743767100158
PFIZER/BIONTECH VACCINE ROLLOUT & LEIGHTON HOSPITAL
RADIO STOKE: COVID VACCINE Q&A
SUPPORTING REFORM TO BODY DESECRATION LAWS
DONATIONS TO NANTWICH FOODBANK COLLECTION
£6.5 MILLION FOR LEIGHTON HOSPITAL MAINTAINANCE
GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR DISABLED FACILITIES GRANTS
LEVEL UP LEFT BEHIND NEIGHBOURHOODS
DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - CHRISTMAS DAY DOORSTEP VISIT
TRAFFIC REPORT
PFIZER/BIONTECH VACCINE ROLLOUT & LEIGHTON HOSPITAL
This week, the UK started to roll out the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and sites across the UK are now able to administer the vaccine.
There are sites in the North West that can administer the COVID-19 vaccine however I know that some may ask when we will get a vaccine site in Crewe and Nantwich.
In the Chamber, I asked the Secretary of State what plans the Government has to expand the sites where the COVID-19 vaccine is available, so that hospitals like Leighton Hospital, can administer the COVID vaccine in the future.
I am pleased that the Secretary of State confirmed that the Government want to see COVID vaccine sites in the community, in local hospitals and vaccination centres, and they will do so as soon as it is safely possible.
I will keep pushing for COVID-19 vaccines to be made available at Leighton Hospital in the near future so that people across Cheshire East have better access to the vaccine.
RADIO STOKE: COVID VACCINE Q&A
This week I went on BBC Radio Stoke to answer your question about the COVID-19 vaccine.
It was very really interesting to hear people’s concerns about vaccine and gain a better understanding of what might be stopping people back from getting the vaccine.
I would encourage anyone who has questions or concerns about the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to give the Q&A a listen.
SUPPORTING REFORM TO BODY DESECRATION LAWS
It was very good news that Helen's Law received Royal Assent on the 4th December.
Murderers and paedophiles who hold back information on their victims could now face longer behind bars under the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act – known as ‘Helen’s Law’.
This law is the result of the determined campaigning of Helen McCourt's mother, Marie McCourt, on behalf of her daughter. Helen McCourt was murdered in 1988 but whose killer has never revealed her body’s location.
Following her successful campaign for Helen's Law, Marie McCourt is currently campaigning to reform the laws surrounding the desecration of a body.
I was shocked to learn that criminal law does not currently have a way of recognising the desecration of the body. Those who commit murder and desecrate the body need to receive a sentence that fits their terrible crime.
We need a Criminal Justice System that reflects how we would feel if our loved one’s body was desecrated after death.
I met with Marie this week to discuss and show my support for her current campaign (pictured below).
In the Chamber, I asked the Justice Minster whether he will meet with me and Marie McCourt to discuss her campaign further and the possibility of further reforms.
I am pleased that the Minister has agreed to meet with me about this very important issue.
DONATIONS TO NANTWICH FOODBANK COLLECTION
For everyone that donated clothes and bedding to the Nantwich Food Festival Nantwich foodbank collection, whilst the Foodbank team weren't able to store them the donations have been gratefully received by British Heart Foundation Nantwich!
£6,500,000 FOR LEIGHTON HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE
Fantastic news that £6.5 million is being provided to help maintain Leighton Hospital.
This funding is to be used for critical maintenance work, such as fire alarm replacement, Asbestos removal and pipework replacement. While this is great to hear, it shows the cost of trying to keep older buildings running past their prime.
I am still campaigning hard to get Leighton Hospital named as one of the additional 8 hospitals in England to receive major additional investment. I have met with the Prime Minister about this and we are building a strong case for Leighton Hospital’s inclusion in the hospital upgrade project. You can still help support me in this by signing the petition on my website.
https://www.drkieranmullan.org.uk/news/leighton-hospital-new-build-camp…
GRANT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
On Monday 7th December, additional grants for small businesses went live. Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership have established a capital grant fund aimed at companies most impacted by the current COVID restrictions.
Grants can pay towards things that will help businesses recover or restructure to trade through the Covid-19 outbreak. Examples of the support that can be provided include:
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IT equipment, e.g. Tablets used to support ‘track & trace’ and contactless payment system
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Fixed PPE equipment e.g. plastic screens and sanitiser dispensers
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Building alterations e.g. creation of one-way systems, building of outdoor seating, serving hatches etc.
Grants of up to £5,000 are available and can include expenditure dating back to October. I would encourage Crewe & Nantwich businesses to see if they can access this funding:
I do recognise that not all businesses will be able to apply for this grant. I am continuing to press Cheshire East on the local restriction grants available and I would encourage anyone who needs assistance in securing a grant to contact me at kieran.mullan.mp@parliament.uk
ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR DISABLED FACILITIES GRANTS
It's great to see an extra £136 million has been provided by the Government for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) which will fund adaptations to disabled peoples' homes over the next fifteen months.
This means that in 2020/21, the total DFG fund is £573 million to help enable local authorities like Cheshire East to innovate and improve local delivery of home adaptations, particularly in the context of Covid-19.
Since 2012, the DFG has funded over 280,000 home adaptations, helping tens of thousands of people to live at home independently.
Individual grants can be paid for up to £50,000 of works including:
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Making it easier to get in and out of the home
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Making the home safer
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Providing access to and within rooms
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Improving, providing or adapting heating/lighting
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Improving access and movement around the home for a disabled carer
Further information, including the application and means test process, as well as more on who is eligible can be found on Cheshire East's website here:
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/housing/private_sector_housing/disabled_facilities_grants/disabled_facilities_grants.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0x2AA_mIzp_JSxrVX8AuLvn67gsFMwPp-bLyZ1084oLDvTWQfY59IQUTU
LEVEL UP LEFT BEHIND NEIGHBOURHOODS
Alongside 41 other MPs and Peers, I have signed a letter to the Prime Minister asking for long-term investment to #LevelUpLeftBehind neighbourhoods. I fully support the Government’s levelling up agenda and the £4 billion Levelling Up Fund, announced by Chancellor, is a fantastic start.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to focus on levelling up ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods and areas so they can develop strong and resilient communities that will help them respond to crises and prosper in the future. The importance of investment at a neighbourhood level cannot be overstated and long-term funding, over a sustained period, will be vital for achieving sustainable and lasting change for these communities. ‘
Left behind neighbourhoods need to be able to make community led decisions and the necessary support to build community confidence, capacity and skills. We need to make sure that every community, across the country, comes out of this crisis stronger and more resilient for the future.
DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT
In Crewe and Nantwich employability organisations such as Safe Opportunities and SeeTec Pluss, employers such as AO.com, and charities such as Community Recycle Cycles have been working incredibly hard to secure employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
The coronavirus has had a huge impact on businesses and employment, and I am concerned, alongside many organisations, that the pandemic will have a detrimental impact on disability employment.
In the Chamber, I asked the Leader of the House whether we can have a debate on disability employment so MPs can discuss those important issues on behalf of our constituents.
I was very pleased that the Leader of the House recognised the importance of supporting people with disabilities to find dignified and fulfilling work.
We need to ensure everyone has equal employment opportunity.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - CHRISTMAS DAY DOORSTEP VISIT
This year’s Christmas will be different to previous years, and many families and friends will struggle to meet over the Christmas period. Consequently, some may find themselves alone on Christmas Day.
I want to make sure that no one is left out on Christmas Day, and I'm therefore looking to organise a voluntary Christmas Day Doorstep Visit to those in need.
This would involve volunteers visiting nearby residents who are without loved ones on Christmas Day and providing them with a cooked meal and some valuable human contact which could lift their spirits.
If you would be interested in taking part, please send contact me at kieran.mullan.mp@parliament.uk
TRAFFIC REPORT
The following are road closures for the coming week as published by Cheshire East Council.
Maw Lane - Closed until 17th December
Tower Way, Crewe - Closed
St Clair Street, Crewe - Closed until 18th December
Wybunbury Road (Between Boden Driver and Cheerbrook Road) - Closed 15th December until 17th December
Pyms Lane, Crewe - Closed
Batherton Lane - Closed until 18th December
Shrewsbridge Road and Baddington Lane - Closed 16th December until 21st December
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