I know that this has been a difficult week for many, learning as we all have of the increased restrictions on our social and family lives. I am very disappointed that the Government has needed to do this and feel especially sorry for those people whom this has seriously disrupted – those with wedding plans or whose businesses rely on large gatherings.
I know, too, that the fact these restrictions will likely be in place over Christmas is a really tough pill to swallow, especially when so many were looking forward to ending this difficult year with our families.
I very much hope that, if we follow the rules, keep up social distancing and take other reasonable precautions we will prevent the worst of a second wave and see life return to normal sooner rather than later. With that in mind, I urge everyone to download the new NHS App, which you can do here. This will help the NHS monitor the spread and respond accordingly.
Given the new restrictions, I was very pleased the Chancellor announced a range of new measures in his Winter Economy Plan. These will help companies and the self-employed who are facing reduced business top up wages with Government funding while working fewer hours. In addition, we are extending the Government-backed loan scheme and allowing businesses (including the self-employed) who have deferred their VAT or Self-Assessment taxes to pay them back gradually. The hospitality and tourism industries will continue to see a 75% cut in their VAT until the end of March 2021. This will help hugely, but I am conscious that some sectors may still need more support, and I will continue to relay this message to the Treasury as the impact of this latest package becomes clear.
In Parliament, the Overseas Operations Bill passed its Second Reading. This Bill will help veterans of overseas conflict avoid the threat of vexatious legal claims long after their service has ended. I know that some constituents had concerns – falsely promoted by parts of the Labour Party – that this Bill would legalise torture or make it impossible to convict veterans who had committed war crimes. I had intended to raise this directly with the Minister but unfortunately the debate ended before I was called. That said, the Minister repeatedly made clear that this Bill will not put soldiers above the law.
I also spoke in a debate on Yemen, an issue close to my heart as I was born there. The crisis there has been going on for half a decade, but sadly this year it has not received the attention it deserves or the aid it so desperately needs. I also spoke about the impending environmental disaster if the Safer tanker’s cargo of 1.1 million barrels of crude oil spills into the Red Sea. The sooner we can get a ceasefire the sooner the UN can contain the oil before it causes 30 years’ worth of damage to the marine ecology. You can read and watch my speech here.
Today I am visiting schools and businesses in the constituency, including Bowman Ales, where we will be discussing the Small Breweries’ Relief. In February I called for this to be extended – it will provide a much-needed shot in the arm to small to mid-sized breweries, a growing British industry.
In a small bit of personal news to end, I was pleased to be appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions this week. I look forward to helping ministers with the running of this vital department, which does so much to support people up and down the country, especially during this pandemic. It will be a busy and I hope very interesting role.
Have a good weekend!
