Covid 19 & Vaccinations
An additional 318 cases of Covid 19 have been registered in Sutton Coldfield for the week of 28th August -3rd September compared to an updated figure of 295 for the week of 21st -27th August based on data from Birmingham City Council’s public health division.
The 7-day case rate between 28th August -3rd September in Birmingham was 264.8 cases/100K population, compared to 298.4/100K for the period 21st -27th August.
Over the 7 days leading up to 4th September, of 19,319 PCR pillar 2 tests, 2,635 (13.6%) were positive in Birmingham, lower than the West Midlands region but a higher positivity rate than for England as a whole.
Birmingham ranks 14th in the region for pillar 2 PCR tests, with 1,692 tests per 100k population. 51,911 LFD pillar 2 tests were also carried out.
Hospital admissions range between 28 and 59 new cases a day at Birmingham Hospital Trusts over the 7 days from 28th August -3rd September. There were 273 hospital admissions across the week, a decrease of 9 admissions compared to the previous 7 days.
The attached image shows the number of vaccines per age group for Sutton Coldfield from data published yesterday. Across the UK over 43,600,000 people have received 2 doses and over 48,300,800 people have received one dose of a Covid 19 vaccine.
Walk-in appointments are taking place at a mass vaccination centres across the Birmingham City Council area for those aged 16 and over. Please check the latest availability via: www.birminghamandsolihullcovidvaccine.nhs.uk/walk-in over 18s can also continue to book in advance online as normal including bringing forward your second dose if your appointment is more than 8 weeks from your first vaccine: www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.
Royal Sutton Coldfield updates
I am very much looking forward to the Royal Town civic service this weekend which in spite of the date, celebrates the new civic year under our Royal Town Mayor Terry Wood. The service will take place inevitably under some restriction on Sunday morning at Holy Trinity.
I have written to the Chancellor ahead of the autumn spending review to press the case for the Midland’s Rail hub project. The Government has committed to funding regional infrastructure projects as part of the levelling up agenda and I am backing the Midland’s rail hub bid for funding. The Midlands Rail Hub will support regional economic investment, improve transport links and crucially take 4,320 lorries' worth of goods from our roads and onto rail. The plans will create space for up to 20 extra passenger trains an hour into Birmingham and will reduce journey times for Suttonians. There are clear economic and environmental benefits and I hope that the Government will commit to investing in the project as part of our work to level up the economy and support infrastructure across the Midlands.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Main Ticket Ballot is now open and will end on 30th September. The Games will have tickets starting from £8 for under 16s and from £15 for adults. In total there will be more than one million tickets priced at £22 or under. The competition schedule for all the 19 sports and eight para sports is on their website, plus there is lots of information about the 14 venues too. https://www.birmingham2022.com/the-games/tickets/
The first plan for our region’s natural environment has been officially launched by our West Midlands Mayor Andy Street. The Natural Environment Plan sets out the actions the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and its partners will take over the next five years to enhance the region’s biodiversity, protect endangered species, and improve access to green spaces and waterways for residents. https://www.wmca.org.uk/media/5102/natural-environment-plan.pdf
This week Andy Street also officially launched the ‘Reimagining the Region network’, one of the leading initiatives of Midlands think tank, Centre for the New Midlands. https://www.thenewmidlands.org.uk/mayor-of-the-west-midlands-launches-reimagining-the-region-network/
Good to see that the Sutton Coldfield Trad Jazz Club is back and now based at Boldmere Sports and Social Club every Wednesday evening. https://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/events/search/2021/09/05/jazz-fans-are-in-for-a-treat-at-sutton-coldfield-club/
The University of Birmingham is partnering with Siemens to transform the University’s Edgbaston and Dubai campuses, creating a ‘Living Lab’ where research, teaching and learning all benefit from access to new data and connectivity. Siemens will sponsor a team of PhD studentships at the University to address important challenges in data, technology and urban systems. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/09/the-university-of-birmingham-partners-with-siemens-to-create-smart-university-campus.aspx#:~:text=The%20University%20of%20Birmingham%2C%20in,and%20Dubai%20campuses%20into%20the
Shana tovah u’metukah – wishing all my Jewish constituents a happy and healthy new year.
Westminster news and Parliamentary business
On Monday I spoke in the House of Commons on Afghanistan, questioning the Prime Minister: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B8fvODmtfk and on Wednesday I spoke on the humanitarian situation in Tigray: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olzTD9XGxv8. On Thursday I spoke in a debate about the legacy of the late Jo Cox MP which whom I worked closely cross party in the House of Commons on the humanitarian crisis in Syria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2Yj9mFJOAU
This week the Government made two significant announcements; on social care and NHS funding, and on the pensions triple lock.
The Prime Minister announced tax changes to fund £12 billion a year to be spent on the NHS and social care across the UK. National Insurance contributions (NICs) will increase by 1.25% for one year for employees, employers and the self-employed from April 2022. This will cover both Class 1 (employee and employer), Class 1A and 1B and Class 4 (self-employed) NICs. Those above State Pension Age are not impacted by the April 2022 changes. From April 2023, a new ringfenced Health and Social Care Levy of 1.25% will be introduced which will apply to those who pay Class 1 (employee and employer), Class 1A and 1B and Class 4 (self-employed) NICs. When the new levy comes into effect, National Insurance rates will revert back to current levels.
The new levy will also apply to individuals above State Pension age with employment income or profits from self-employment above £9,568. The levy will be administered by HMRC and collected through the current reporting and collection procedures for NICs – Pay As You Earn and Income Tax Self Assessment. As with National Insurance, levy contributions will apply across all four nations of the UK. From 2023-24, levy contributions will appear as a separate item on payslips. The Government will also increase by 1.25% from April 2022 the rate of income tax which is paid by people who receive dividend income from shares.
Our new £36 billion funding package will help to tackle NHS backlogs - providing an extra 9 million checks, scans, and operations, and increasing NHS capacity to 110 per cent of its pre-pandemic levels by 2023-24 – whilst reforming adult social care by introducing a lifetime cost cap of £86,000, covering all care costs for anyone with assets under £20,000, and increasing the threshold above which state support stops to £100,000.
The Government put in place the pensions triple lock guarantee in 2011 and as a result, the basic state pension is now worth £137.60 per week which relative to earnings is the highest it has been in 34 years. Over the last two years, the pandemic has caused a statistical anomaly in average earnings. Last year, we changed the legislation to protect pensioners and make sure the state pension increased by the higher of inflation or 2.5%. If we had not done so, pensions would have been frozen. This year, the anomaly remains. Because of furlough distorting earnings, the unique speed of the recession and recovery, and the significant change in the composition of the labour market, reported average wage growth is due to be over 8% this year. An 8% increase to pensions would cost £4-5 billion and would have to be funded by increasing taxes further. The decision to replace the triple lock with a double lock for one year will mean that the state pension will rise next year by the higher of inflation or 2.5%. The move to a double lock is temporary for one year and means we can and will return to the triple lock, in line with our manifesto commitment.
Following PMQs on Wednesday I spoke on LBC News about this issue. I have uploaded some clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh1dcjrq62DwcP5ztQMoLWg
On a different note, on Sunday the Government launched a public consultation to allow outdoor measures for high streets to be made permanent as part of our vision to transform our high streets into thriving places to work, visit and live. Temporary measures around the use of outdoor spaces have given a huge boost to high streets and hospitality as we recover from the pandemic. A public consultation on making these measures permanent – from marquees being put up in pub grounds, to street markets operating all year round –is now open to allow people to have their say about the future of outdoor hospitality. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-public-consultation-to-make-outdoor-measures-for-high-streets-permanent
Opportunities and Events
The Kids Count Inspiration Awards will be held in the House of Commons on Monday 6th December. The aim of the awards is to recognise those individuals and organisations that have inspired young people in their communities. These awards give MPs the opportunity to highlight outstanding work in their constituency. Ahead of the awards I am asking local people to nominate inspirational community figures before the nomination deadline of Monday 4th October. The 2021 "Inspire the House" Award categories are as follows:
• Inspirational Young Person
• Inspirational Community Organisation
• Inspirational Police Officer/s
Please email nominations to: andrew.mitchell.mp@parliament.uk. I am particularly keen to highlight those individuals and groups that have gone above and beyond to support local young people during the pandemic.
On Sunday thanks to a community grant from our Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, our Town Hall is holding a traditional, family-friendly fete. The event will be held both indoors and on the public ground at the back of the Town Hall. To find out more including how to book a free entrance ticket, please see the Town Hall’s website: https://www.suttoncoldfieldtownhall.com/whats-on/other/11142/
Birmingham City Council and the Parent Carer Forum are hosting an event for SEND parents and carers which will be held on 15th September between 10am and 2.30pm at the Carrs Lane conference venue and streamed online. It will look at how the Council can shape the SEND service for families. There will be two identical sessions running from 10am until 12 noon and 12.30pm until 2.30pm. https://www.localofferbirmingham.co.uk/events-for-parents/
Birmingham Heritage Week is a 11-day festival that celebrates Birmingham’s rich and diverse heritage. The programme is packed with events organised and delivered by local organisations and volunteers with a passion for Birmingham’s heritage and history. https://birminghamheritageweek.co.uk/
Park that Bike is a Transport for West Midlands scheme that sends businesses and organisations bike racks free of charge, improving security and encouraging staff to cycle to work. https://www.tfwm.org.uk/resources-and-support/resources-and-support-for-businesses/help-your-staff-cycle-to-work/get-free-bike-racks-for-your-business-or-organisation/
Around 7,000 women are diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in the UK every year. Early diagnosis saves lives and as September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, I am keen to highlight Ovarian Cancer Action’s quiz which helps raise awareness of the facts (and myths) around Ovarian Cancer: https://ovarian.org.uk/gynae-cancer-quiz/
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