Firstly, my first official Christmas Card competition is now open to all primary school aged children across Crewe and Nantwich! If your child or grandchild is a budding artist or are you looking for something fun to do during lockdown, I would encourage you to make a submission. The winning design will be printed on my cards that are sent across Crewe and Nantwich and also to the Prime Minister. More information on how to enter and how the winner will be decided can be found belo
Over the weekend I found out that I had been in contact with someone with COVID-19 so this week I have been self-isolating. I am therefore working from home for this week and the next. Although it is frustrating not to be in the parliament and to have missed out on speaking in debates, such as the Westminster debate on the Future of the Aviation Industry, it is so important that we all follow the COVID guidance to keep others safe. I am lucky that I continue to be paid as an MP as I keep working. I know not everyone is in the same position. In this email there is information on a payment people can get if they suffer financial difficulties from having to self isolate.
This week I had a virtual meeting with the Prime Minister, alongside other northern MPs, to discuss the Government’s agenda and commitment to levelling up the north. The Government want to ensure the north receives effective long-term investment and the Northern Research Group (NRG) has been set up to drive this forward. It was fantastic to join the NRG and speak to the Prime Minster about creating a northern economic recovery plan.
It was announced this week that the Government is increasing the UK defence budget by £16.5 billion over the next four years. This will be the largest military investment since the Cold War, and it will mean the UK investments more in defence than any other European country. I am very pleased that we are investing more money in the men and women that protect our freedoms and keep this country safe.
This week grant applications went live on the Cheshire East website for businesses that have been forced to close. More information on which businesses are eligible and how to claim can be found below.
This newsletter also includes my speech on breast cancer diagnosis and the recently announced £300 million Sport Winter Survival Package.
Dr Kieran Mullan MP
Crewe and Nantwich
MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER
GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR CLOSED BUSINESSES ARE LIVE
CHRISTMAS CARD COMPETITION
PUTTING DEFENCE FIRST!
SUPPORTING OUR NHS: BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS DEBATE
SELF ISOLATION PAYMENT
£300 MILLION SPORT WINTER SURVIVAL PACKAGE
MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER
This week I joined other northern MPs, as part of the Northern Research Group (NRG), for a virtual meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss levelling up the north.
In the meeting the Prime Minister spoke about our current infrastructure projects, such as the A66, Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 and the £3 billion that the Government is spending on buses across the country.
I was very pleased that during the hour-long call, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his support for investing in left behind towns, buses and infrastructure.
Despite the Prime Minister being in self-isolation, he was still very enthusiastic to meet with the NRG and speak about the Government’s agenda and commitment to levelling up the north. It was very assuring to hear the Prime Minister voice his support for a northern economic recovery plan to get long-term economic change and growth in the North.
The members of NRG and I plan to work constructively with the Prime Minister to level up our communities and to build back better out of this COVID crisis. In Crewe, we are currently deciding how to spend £25 million as part of the town deal that I campaigned for us to get. I am still determined to get results for residents in Crewe and Nantwich and I am confident this Conservative government is going to deliver.
The Government is already delivering on more nurses, more doctors, more police officers, more funding for schools. These are things people want to see however I know people in the north also want to see long term investment in our region, which is what the NRG is driven to achieve.
GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR CLOSED BUSINESSES ARE LIVE
The application page for businesses to access money given by the Government if they have been forced to close is now live on the Cheshire East website:
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/business/business_rates/business-rates-relief/coronavirus-covid-19-help-for-business-rates-customers.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0XK5odVfuFfL8CtsL3u3WCgL7s-e7_FB0afw3OcqAjrNScoB7rpmWkqDM
Businesses with premises:
- with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under will receive a payment of £1,334 per 28-day qualifying restriction period.
- with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a payment of £2,000 per 28-day qualifying restriction period.
- with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or above will receive a payment of £3,000 per 28-day qualifying restriction period.
The policy for the grants for backdating payments to businesses that had to close under Tier 2 and the November additional restrictions grants haven't been published yet. The latter grant may cover businesses without premises or supply chain businesses. We have to wait and see what Cheshire East decide. I have asked them to be flexible and prioritise businesses that have lost income, rather than focus on categories and types of business.
CHRISTMAS CARD COMPETITION
Is your child or grandchild a budding artist or are you looking for something fun to do during lockdown - well look no further, my first official Christmas Card competition is open to all primary school aged children across Crewe and Nantwich!
The winning design will be printed on my cards that are sent across Crewe and Nantwich and also to the Prime Minister!
Winners will be decided by putting my favourite entries on my Facebook page and the one with the most ‘Likes’ will win the competition. We will strictly manage comments on the page to ensure this is a safe and positive activity that the children themselves can view and take part in!
To enter please send your designs, to my constituency office at 249 Edleston Road, Crewe, CW2 7EA no later than Friday 27th November. Alternatively, you can email copies of your designs to kieran.mullan.mp@parliament.uk or send them to me on Facebook:
PUTTING DEFENCE FIRST!
The Government is increasing the UK defence budget by £16.5 billion over the next four years, ensuring that UK invests more in defence than any other European country. This will be the largest military investment in the past 30 years.
Speaking about it, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is spot on:
"I have taken this decision in the teeth of the pandemic because the defence of the realm must come first."
"The international situation is more perilous and more intensely competitive than at any time since the Cold War and Britain must be true to our history and stand alongside our allies. To achieve this we need to upgrade our capabilities across the board."
"This is our chance to end the era of retreat, transform our Armed Forces, bolster our global influence, unite and level up our country, pioneer new technology and defend our people and way of life."
Locally this is good news for jobs with BAE an important employer in Crewe. I also know so many of my constituents and across Cheshire serve in our Armed Forces with pride and deserve the best equipment and support.
More information on this announcement can be found on the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-to-announce-largest-military-investment-in-30-years?fbclid=IwAR3DKwCjxD8xYeuMl98zj2ziaPByDnJDWch_XfV1LYc-wfGEz1F_LfJSVNc
SUPPORTING OUR NHS: BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS DEBATE
Last week I spoke in the Westminster Hall debate on Breast Cancer diagnosis.
The NHS is facing probably the most challenging period in its history and in my speech I payed tribute to the hard work, commitment and flexibility shown by so many NHS staff.
Over the past few months there has been a downturn in people seeing doctors and nurses.
Breast Cancer Now estimate that while screening was paused, almost 1 million women missed out on their mammogram, and that around 8,600 women caught up in the screening appointment backlog could be living with undetected breast cancer.
We need to make sure that the NHS has all the resources necessary to manage this backlog.
We also all need to continue following the guidance so we can supress the virus and give the NHS the space to manoeuvre. This will allow the NHS to look after patients with and without COVID, patients with urgent healthcare needs and planned healthcare needs, and patients requiring things such as screening.
TEST AND TRACE SUPPORT PAYMENT
The Government have set-up a new £500 Test and Trace Support Payment, to ensure that those who cannot work because they are self-isolating are getting financial support.
To be eligible for this payment you must fit all 5 criteria:
- You have received an NHS Test and Trace notification on or after Monday 28 September 2020 either because I have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
- You are currently employed or self-employed
- You are unable to work from home
- You will lose income during the period that I am required to self-isolate.
- You are currently in receipt of Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit
Cheshire East also offer a Test and Trace Discretionary Payment Scheme, for those who may not fit all of the above criteria.
More information about the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment and the application form can be found on the Cheshire East Council website: https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/coronavirus/covid-19-and-financial-support.aspx
£300 MILLION SPORT WINTER SURVIVAL PACKAGE
Major spectator sports in England will receive a combined £300 million cash injection to protect their immediate futures over the winter period.
This package will support rugby union, horse racing, women’s football and the lower tiers of the National League football. Additionally, rugby league, motorsport, tennis, netball, basketball, ice hockey, badminton and greyhound racing are also in line to benefit.
These interventions were on top of the multi-billion pound package of business support from the Treasury. This package will provide vital support for the spectator sports that have been the hardest hit by coronavirus!
Traffic Report
The following are road closures for the coming week as reported by Cheshire East Council:
Delamere Street, Crewe (Between Tower Way and Queensway) - Closed until 30th November.
Buxton Avenue Crewe – Closed 23rd November until 6th December.
Tower Way, Crewe – Closed.
A51 London Road, Stapeley to Bridgemere - Closed until 11th December.
B5074 London Road, Nantwich – Closed 28th November until 29th November.
B5341 Waterlode, Nantwich - Closed 24th November until 27th November.
PREVIOUS EMAIL NEWSLETTERS:
Friday 13th November
Friday 6th November
Friday 30th October
Friday 23rd October
Friday 16th October
Friday 9th October
Friday 2nd October
Friday 25th September
Friday 18th September
Friday 11th September
Friday 4th September
Friday 28th August
Friday 14th August
Friday 7th August
Friday 24th July
Friday 17th July
Friday 10th July
Friday 3rd July
Friday 26th June
Sunday 14th June
Sunday 7th June
Sunday 31st May
Friday 22nd May
Friday 15th Ma