Last week saw the announcement of the Prime Minister’s Roadmap for gradually and cautiously easing lockdown restrictions.
This is possible thanks to the enormous sacrifices of the British people and the success of our vaccination programme and I was delighted to learn that our constituency has the eighth highest vaccination rate in the country.
I know that there are many different views and opinions about this Roadmap but we do now have a clear plan with provisional dates, to be confirmed 7 days in advance, starting with getting all children and students back into their schools and colleges on 8th March. I know that this will be welcomed by many parents and I particularly welcome the news that our care home residents who have suffered so much from not being able to see families and friends, will be allowed one regular visitor from 8th March provided they are tested and wear PPE.
Further easing of restrictions will hopefully take place on 29 March, 12 April, 17 May and finally 21 June when it is hoped that all legal limits on social contact can be removed.
At the time of writing this column we are still waiting to hear what will be in the Budget. Alongside the All Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism, I signed a letter to the Chancellor urging broader support for the sector including a wide ranging extension to the 5% VAT cut, a further 100% business rates holiday and an extension of the furlough scheme.
Over the course of the pandemic, I have lobbied extensively for further support for these sectors and hosted a number of roundtable conversations with pubs, breweries and other tourism and hospitality businesses in the Moorlands to see what more the Government can do to support the industry.
