Dear Constituent
Welcome to this week's newsletter.
A fantastic opportunity for Crewe has arisen this week, with the announcement of a competition to find a home for Great British Railways, the new organisation which will own and manage the UK’s rail infrastructure. Given Crewe’s long and rich railway history, I can think of no better place for this new headquarters and am already campaigning hard for our town to be considered.
Separately, I want everyone to be aware that Cheshire East Council has launched an additional programme of grants for businesses that have been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic after 19th July 2021. There are various eligibility criteria that you must meet to be able to apply, and this new fund will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, so I would encourage you to put your applications in as soon as possible.
There were announcements from the Government this week focused on crime. For example, the extension of the Safe Streets fund news that community payback schemes will be expanded with more offenders cleaning our streets.
Finally, there has been a further update to the rules and country classifications which you might be interested in being up to speed with if you are considering travel abroad. Full details below.
Have a great weekend.
Great British Railways Headquarters
Expanding the Plans for Jobs
International Travel Update
Levelling Up Sport
Safer Street Fund
Community Payback
Business Interruption Grant
Traffic Report
Great British Railways Headquarters
The Department for Transport has announced that they are launching a competition to find the headquarters for Grear British Railways. This new organisation, announced by ministers earlier this year, will own the nation’s rail infrastructure, as well as run the network, and setting fares and timetables.
Given the fact that we have a rich railway heritage, I cannot think of anywhere better for these new headquarters to be than right here in Crewe. I have already written to the Transport Secretary, urging him to select Crewe to be the home of the UK’s railways, a campaign I am sure the whole community will get behind.
There aren't many details yet but here is the information released so far:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-competition-to-find-first-hq-of-great-british-railways
Expanding the Plan For Jobs
The Government are launching a £500 million expansion of its ‘plan for jobs’ to support hundreds of thousands of people gain employment. The expansion is aimed at workers leaving the furlough scheme and those over the age of 50 who are unemployed as a way to help them back into work. Those on the lowest wages will also be helped in regards to progression in their careers.
Commencing in April 2022 the Government is improving its programme that supports workers on Universal Credit. These workers will have access to work coach support – focusing on career progression advice and Job Centre Plus specialists that will work with local employers to arise local opportunities. The enhanced support package will benefit workers over the age of 50 by ensuring they receive better information and advice on later life planning, helping them to make informed decisions and supporting them to plan their careers and remain employed. It will also benefit 50+ workers that have lost their jobs by giving Older Job Seekers on Universal Credit more intensive and tailored support.
Furthermore, there is also emphasis placed on supporting those coming off furlough that are on Universal Credit through Job Finding Support. Online, tailored, one-to-one support will be offered for those that have been unemployed for less than 3 months (through recruitment advice, support with CVs and mock interviews). Job Entry Targeted Support Scheme (JETS) is also being extended to September 2022, for those that have been unemployed for over 3 months.
The Kickstart Scheme has been extended until March 2022, with applications accepted until 17th December 2021. The scheme has created over 76900 jobs for young people, by developing skills, confidence, and experience. Also extended is the Youth Offer until 2025, it is being expanded to include 16-17 years old alongside 18-24 years old. The Apprenticeship Scheme is extending its £3000 incentive payment to businesses for each apprentice hired until 31st January 2022; this scheme is proven effective with 90% of apprentices staying in employment or going into further training.
This is all part of the Government's plan to help people get on in life, providing them with the skills and experience they need to progress their careers, and earn more.
International Travel Update
The rules on international travel has been updated, with 47 countries being removed from the 'red list' of travel destinations. This now leaves only 7 countries to which travel is not advised (Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.)
Travel to any other country should now be a lot more straightforward. Fully vaccinated travellers can return with just a test on day 2. From late October this will only need to be a cheaper lateral flow test.
Those not fully vaccinated will still need to take a pre-departure test, a day 2 and 8 test, and complete 10 days of isolation, with the option to test and release on day 5.
For full information visit the site here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/travel-update-47-countries-and-territories-removed-from-red-list
Levelling Up Sport
We all watched Emma Radacanu make our country proud earlier this year when she won the US Open, aged just 18. As part of its levelling up agenda, the Government wants to ensure that all young people, no matter their background or where they live, have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of sports.
Alongside the Lawn Tennis Association, the Government have announced £30 Million of funding for the refurbishment of 4,500 lawn tennis courts in the most deprived areas of the UK. Another 30 million has also been announced for improving school sports facilities in England.
The importance of physical activity on health cannot be clearer, with the Chief Medical Officer recommending that children should carry out at least 60 minutes every day. This funding, alongside the £320 Million PE and Sport Premium, will make access to sport, for young people, easier than ever.
Safer Street Fund
The Home Secretary has announced a further 23.5 Million for the Safer Street Fund, of which we will see £550,000 right here in Cheshire.
We are sadly all too aware of the issue of violence against women from stories in the news recently. This additional funding will be particularly aimed at making streets and public spaces safer places for women and girls.
With this additional funding, Cheshire Police will receive the joint-largest amount from the Government from this scheme, with a total of £1.1 million. I am looking forward to working with the local police to see how this money can be used locally to make our area safer.
Community Payback
It is important that justice is seen to be done, with offenders visibly paying back for their crimes. The Government have announced this week a £90 Million expansion of community clean-up projects.
Through this, offenders will put in over 8 million hours of work every year, cleaning up our streets, alleyways and open spaces. They will also clean up over 2000 miles of rivers and canals from litter and graffiti.
This is a Government that is on the side of victims, who want to see that perpetrators pay for the crimes that they commit.
Business Interruption Grant
Cheshire East have now launched applications for a further round of business grants to support businesses affected by Covid with its Business Interruption Grant. They will be made available to businesses that continued to be affected by restrictions after 19 July 2021.
To be eligible a business must have either:
Had reduced capacity due to staff shortages because of isolation rules
Closed due to COVID-19 outbreak or isolation rules
Had cashflow has been disrupted as a result of the pandemic.
Grants of £500 per day up to a maximum of £5,000 will be paid to those businesses that meet these criteria and who can prove the number of days that had been disrupted.
Applications close at midnight on Friday 17 December 2021 or before if the fund is fully committed before that date.
For more information and to apply, please see the link below:
Traffic Report
The following are road closures for the week ahead as reported by Cheshire East.
Nantwich Road, Crewe (Between Mill Street and Gresty Road) - 10th October
London Road Level Crossing, Nantwich – Until 9th October
Dr Kieran Mullan MP
Crewe & Nantwich Conservatives
13 Churchyardside, Nantwich CW5 5AG
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