10 December 2021
Andrew Mitchell MP’s 88th weekly message to constituents and local residents across our Royal Town

Covid 19 & Vaccinations

  • Vaccination uptake is currently 67.9% for 1st dose and 62.4% for 2nd dose in Birmingham residents aged 16+. Booster uptake is 69.6%.
  • In the 7 days up to 2nd December, there were 3,588 cases reported in Birmingham (314.6 cases/100k population), a decrease of 3.1% compared to 3,701 cases (324.5/100k population) in the previous week.
  • Birmingham’s case rate is ranked 135th in England (out of 149 upper tier local authorities), with East Sussex the highest (722.4/100k population) and Kirklees the lowest (240.4/100k population).
  • Comparing the week ending 2nd December with the previous 7 days, cases decreased in all age groups, except the 20-39 and 80+ age groups. The largest increase was 34.3%, in the 80+ age group, with most of the sequenced cases in this age group linked to the VOC-21APR-02 Delta variant. This was followed by an increase of 5.1% in the 20-39 age group. The 0-19 age group accounted for 37% of all cases.
  • Spread appears to be primarily occurring through household, social and workplace interactions.

Plan B  As I am sure everyone will already be aware, the Prime Minister has announced a move to plan B and you can find the updates on the following link Prime Minister confirms move to Plan B in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For the latest foreign travel information please visit: www.gov.uk/search/all?keywords=travel&order=relevance

 

Royal Sutton Coldfield Updates

The awful tragedy of the death of Louis Watkiss following an accident at the Snow Dome in Tamworth has moved all of us in the Royal Town; and I send my deepest sympathy to Chris and Natalie and their family at this terrible time.

I salute Chris and Natalie’s bravery and compassion in launching their campaign to ensure nothing like this happens again if humanly possible.  I joined the family on BBC Breakfast on Monday to express my support.

As their MP, I am in discussion with the Staffordshire Chief Constable and the head of the Health and Safety executive about their enquiries and conclusions and it does now appear that a strong case may exist for changing the law.

In particular, Tamworth Snowdome is now making it compulsory for children to wear helmets. In Scotland, that has been the practice since 2013. Elsewhere, for example, in New Jersey USA it has been compulsory for those under 17 years old since 2011.  Children are more vulnerable to brain damage from collision as their skulls are not fully protected and are still developing and strengthening.

I shall be hoping to raise this very sad case in Parliament on 16th December to draw the attention of my parliamentary colleagues to it so that we can reflect on what steps should be taken towards Chris and Natalie’s brave campaign that nothing like this should if humanly possible be allowed to happen again.

Following an incident outside Holland House Infant School on Monday morning, I visited the school to speak with the Head Teacher, Terri Hitchcox and her colleagues, about her road safety concerns; and catch up on all that has happened to this great school since I last visited some years ago. I was also able to thank the first aiders who tended to the child hurt in the accident outside the school who has now thankfully been discharged from the children’s hospital.

Congratulations to Lisieux Trust on becoming an award winning organisation.  Lisieux Trust provides care and accommodation for autistic adults and adults with a learning disability and are based across Erdington and Sutton Coldfield; and has been recognised as Employer of the Year at the national Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards.

My congratulations also go to the Four Oaks Saints Cricket Club for being awarded £10,000 from the The Veolia Environmental Trust.  This is good news and will go towards allowing the club to expand to enable not only more opportunities for playing cricket but also for all the community clubs based there such as the art club, slimming group and many regular community events. The additional capacity in the clubroom will allow the facilities to be offered to a greater range of community groups.

Last night I had the pleasure of visiting West Bromwich to speak with the Masala Monday Club which is a group of conservatives from across the Birmingham conurbation about my brand of conservatism.

Tomorrow I will be paying a visit with a team from our Royal Town to the campaign for the by-election in Shropshire!

 

Westminster news and Parliamentary business

On Tuesday, in a brief intervention in the debate on the Nationality and Borders Bill and the withdrawal of British citizenship, I supported the view that the UK should shoulder its responsibilities in regard to UK citizens currently held in camps in conflict zones in the middle east and, like all the other UN Security Council permanent members, should bring them back the UK for trial if appropriate.  You can view the intervention here:- https://youtu.be/snDpd7ynMG4

I also had an article published in the Financial Times regarding the Pandora Papers which can be read here:-

Dirty money in the UK is harming more than our reputation | Financial Times (ft.com)

On Wednesday, I held an Adjournment Debate on ‘Assisted Dying’ in the House of Commons. In my role as the Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Assisted Dying- which I have the pleasure of Co-Chairing with the labour member for Bristol South, Karen Smith. I have had discussions with many colleagues including the Prime Minister and I know how seriously this issue is taken. I know that many colleagues are yet to come to a firm conclusion on it. I respect that position. Not least because I have completely changed my own mind on this issue since I arrived in the House of Commons. This is after listening to many constituents in my office in Sutton Coldfield, often with tears of solidarity in my eyes as they have, with inordinate sadness, told me of the death in pain and indignity of someone they loved: and I have concluded that I want the law changed to benefit my constituents, to benefit those who I love, and to possibly indeed to benefit myself.  You can watch the debate in here:- https://youtu.be/HZv3rCky6xc

I am actively talking to constituents over the weekend about the new plan B Covid-19 provisions which will come before Parliament on Tuesday.  I am discussing this with business people, particularly in the hospitality industry in the Royal Town, before making up my mind how to vote on these measures.

Opportunities, Events and Travel

Carbon Monoxide With the onset of winter and everyone turning on their central heating, may I please check with everyone that they have detectors and that they are in working order. A carbon monoxide leak can come from many home appliances such as oil and gas boilers, gas fireplaces, gas cookers and other appliance you can find out more here.  Five top tops to keep you safe - British Gas

December Travel

The festive period has arrived! Public transport is likely to start running to amended timetables until the new year so make sure you check these before you travel. Engineering work is also more likely to take place in the Christmas and New Year period as fewer people will be travelling. Read more on National Rail and National Express West Midlands.

If you're travelling to one of the many Christmas city centre attractions such as:

This is best done by walking, cycling or public transport (don't forget the park and ride services). We continue to advise that you plan ahead and use Transport for West Midland's journey planner.

If you do travel to the city centre by private car make sure you check to see if your vehicle will be charged in the Clean Air Zone.

Travel on the roads: National Highways is advising drivers to plan their journeys over the festive period with the M42 in North Warwickshire fully closed for seven days for HS2 works. 

HS2 will be carrying out work between junctions 9 (Dunton Interchange) and Junction 10 (Tamworth Interchange) to prepare the ground for movement of the Marston Box bridge in Winter 2022. 

Marston Box is the bridge that will carry the HS2 line across the M42 motorway near Junction 9, north of Lea Marston and Curdworth in North Warwickshire.  

To ensure the safety of the workforce, the road will be fully closed from 9pm on Friday 24 December (Christmas Eve) to 9pm on Friday 31 December 2021 (New Year’s Eve). 

National Highways is urging drivers to check their vehicles before setting off and to allow additional time for journeys. 

National Express West Midlands is making small changes to many of our bus timetables to improve the punctuality of our services. We are adding in buses and drivers to improve reliability, especially at school times. Customers in Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country should check our website for up-to-date information on the new times for their bus.

In addition, I’d like to draw Birmingham and Walsall members’ attention to a couple of route changes which may affect your residents and constituents.
The number 77 bus between Walsall and Sutton Coldfield: 

  • Most journeys will run between Sutton Coldfield and Streetly (Hardwick Arms) only and will no longer serve Walsall. 
  • The route of the 77 will be the same between Sutton Coldfield & Blackwood Road, then Foley Road West and Chester Road to Hardwick Arms.
  • Bus 935 provides an alternative between Streetly and Walsall. Bus 934 provides an alternative between Barr Beacon and Walsall. Service 6 will still run directly between Sutton Coldfield and Walsall.

All journeys on Sundays and some on weekdays will still run to Walsall (as service 77A).

Key walking routes are being improved ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The scheme covers seven projects that will enable spectators and visitors to move around the city with greater ease and safety – and the work will in turn offer a legacy to residents and future visitors in the years after the Games.

The projects, which connect rail and bus transport hubs and event venues, are designed around three topics: illuminating routes, wider footways and safer pedestrian environments. Read the full story on the Council website.

As your MP I am here to help. If you feel I can assist with any concerns, please do not hesitate to get in contact by emailing me on andrew.mitchell.mp@parliament.uk

My weekly updates are available via:-

Email: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/bhE9MGy/AndrewMitchellNewsletter Facebook: https://ww.facebook.com/andrewmitchellmp 

Website: https://www.andrew-mitchell-mp.co.uk/news

Please feel free to share with anyone who might like to receive a copy.

 

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Tickets - General Sale Now Open

Tickets are now back on sale and this time it will be on a first come first served basis, so people are encouraged to go to birmingham2022.com to plan their visit to the Games.

Buy your tickets for Birmingham 2022 now!

Secure your seat to #B2022 right now by buying tickets here →  https://bit.ly/3pcsxnx

Be quick - tickets are now being sold on a first come, first served basis.

On the 10th of December, over 3 million people across the UK will celebrate Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day!

To sign up visit: www.savethechildren.org.uk/christmas-jumper-day/register