17 December 2021
Andrew Mitchell MP’s 89th weekly message to constituents and local residents across our Royal Town

Key points on the Pandemic

  • Vaccination uptake is currently 68.1% for 1st dose, 62.8% for 2nd dose in Birmingham residents aged 16, and 27% for booster dose. The booster figures reported are significantly different from previous reports because of the change in the eligible population[1] used as the denominator population.
  • Of the 69 wards, 26 have achieved the national target of 75%+ vaccine uptake for 1st doses, and 14 have achieved for 2nd doses. Around 322,810 individuals remain unvaccinated, with the majority (83%) aged under 50 years.
  • In the 7 days up to 9th December, there were 4,189 cases reported in Birmingham (367.3 cases/100k population), an increase of 16.3% compared to 3,603 cases (315.9/100k population) in the previous week.
  • Birmingham’s case rate is ranked 134th in England (out of 149 upper tier local authorities), with Plymouth the highest (871.3/100k population) and Kirklees the lowest (251.8/100k population).
  • Comparing the week ending 9th December with the previous 7 days, cases increased in all age groups except the 80+ age group. The largest increase was 28.3% in the 60-79 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 25.0% in the 20-39 age group. The 0-19 age group accounted for 36.1% of all cases.
  • Comparing the week ending 9th December with the previous 7 days, cases increased in all ethnic groups, with the largest increases of 66.1% in the Black ethnic group and 29.8% in the Mixed/Other ethnic group.
  • Spread appears to be primarily occurring through household, social and workplace interactions.
  • There were 16 deaths reported, where patients died within 28 days of a positive test in the 7 days up to 10th December. 19 deaths were reported in the previous week.

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

 

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has also issued a rallying cry to the region for people to come forward and receive their COVID-19 booster jab.

The Mayor’s plea comes after he visited the Saddlers Vaccination Centre in Walsall to receive his booster jab, more than a month after recovering from the virus.

The Saddlers Vaccination Centre is just one of a number of walk-in centres now open across the West Midlands, as the NHS offers every adult in the region a third ‘booster’ jab to protect against the ongoing threat of COVID-19.

There has been a significant increase in demand for the home delivery of NHS COVID test kits across the UK. Talk of distribution issues may have caused concern to residents. I have received reassurance from Royal Mail that they have been in regular contact with the UK Health Security Agency regarding the increased demand this week. At their request Royal Mail is extending capacity, doubling the number of kits they can deliver daily. They tell me that:

We continue to prioritise test kits for delivery and collection including the 35,000 priority post boxes and Sunday collections from over 15,000 priority post boxes.”

 

Royal Sutton Coldfield Updates

Last night, once I got back to the Royal Town, I held a meeting with the Leader of the Conservatives on Birmingham City Council who is working hard, along with his excellent team, to bring about improvement across our local government area.

This morning I visited Trinity Specialist College to congratulate them on their tenth anniversary accompanied by Town Cllr. Janet Cairns, one of our most knowledgeable and hardworking councillors on health issues. 

The college provides up to a 36 week provision for students with learning difficulties, challenging behaviours and/or disabilities and Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC).

College Director, Sally Evans, spent time to tell us of the exciting expansion plans they have for the future – more of which anon. 

 

[1] The eligible population used for booster uptake is the eligible population used for dose 1 and dose 2 uptake (as reported in the Gov.UK website) Previous reports were based on eligible populations of those who had been fully vaccinated.
Andrew Mitchell visits Trinity Specialist College

Earlier this afternoon I was in Boldmere with Cllr. Alison Jolley talking to local businesses including the Sutton Runner, one of Boldmere’s longest standing retailers

Andrew Mitchell visits Boldmere business Sutton Runner with Cllr Alison Jolley

Tonight, I have just completed one of my regular advice sessions.  Don’t forget if ever I can help, please do contact me.  All contact details are at the foot of the newsletter.

A happy photograph from my visit to Holland House last week.

Andrew Mitchell visits Holland House

Westminster news and Parliamentary business

In the chamber this week, I called for those who led the Post Office to be held to account for the Horizon scandal where innocent people were sent to prison and ensure the postmasters and postmistresses affected receive their due compensation.

I asked the Minister to reflect on the fact that this extraordinary miscarriage of justice has been made worse by the fact that the Post Office could use public money to overwhelm these honest and decent postmasters and postmistresses, so that their legitimate recompense is not gobbled up by massive legal fees.  

I asked the Minister why it has taken so long for them to acknowledge and accept what Members on both sides of the House have been calling for, for years.  I asked the Minister what will be done to hold to account those who so shamefully led the Post Office, and so grievously let down the honest men and women who worked for them?  You can view in full here: https://youtu.be/d5KAdvpnNCY

I also intervened in the House over the rapidly deteriorating political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the need for international community involvement, and I backed calls for the UK Government to play a role as it is an area where Britain has deep roots, real knowledge and the ability to help with many of the disputatious parties. 

 

I have been in the recent past to Srebrenica, and I stood in stunned amazement at the extraordinary example of man’s inhumanity to man. There is a big role for Britain to play at this point. You can view the full exchange here:- https://youtu.be/tVsdnYPQSAE

On Thursday, Chris and Natalie Watkiss, the parents of Louis who tragically died following an accident at the Snow Dome in Tamworth, joined me at the House of Commons.  This was to enable them to be in the public gallery to hear me support their campaign to make the wearing of crash helmets compulsory for indoor snow sports in England. I sincerely hope that this will now enable us to take the steps that need to be made to change the law to try and avoid similar tragedies in the future.

View here:  https://youtu.be/tVsdnYPQSAE

 

Opportunities, Events and Travel

 

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.

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:-

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

 

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