Sorry to be boring but it’s the same opening message again that if you get the opportunity for a vaccine please take it. If for whatever reason you have missed your initial invite remember that invitation remains open and I would encourage you to make contact and catch up. If you need help please let us know and we will try to help.
The take up rate of the vaccine continues to be exceptional and I hope to get mine soon too. At the time of writing we had just passed 20,000,000 doses and the latest mass vaccination centre opened in Darlington this week. Many thanks to both the workers and volunteers making this happen. Vaccine availability slowed a little nationally in late February but is now back to higher levels and I am told that as we go through March the rate of acceleration will be significant. This combines with information confirming that there is a positive link between hospitalisation, death rates and the vaccine and we are seeing an acceleration in the fall of death rates and particularly in the over 80’s who of course have been vaccinated longer. These together is fantastic news and give us real hope the end is in sight.
It is really important to remember though that vaccination takes a couple of weeks to become really effective and that even then you still need to continue to follow the rules as you may still be a carrier and transmit the virus to others. We start to see the release of this lockdown with the schools back next week, which will start to relieve some of the pressures on parents. From the messages I get, anyone who has had to do home schooling will appreciate even more the value of our teachers. I must also thank all teachers for the effort they have put in simultaneously teaching those at school and those at home, I am sure they are all really ready for the Easter break when it comes.
The week has had a number of really interesting sessions, unfortunately all virtual. These included time with businesses like Ebac, 3M and Hitachi, as well as discussions with Anne Marie Trevelyan, the Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, we talked about renewable energy sources. I also took part in a forum hosted by the TUC for key workers to listen to their concerns and share my perspectives. I also spoke to some local school leaders and engaged further in the efforts to reopen the Leamside rail line and was able to facilitate a meeting between the Air Minister, Robert Courts, and Teesside Airport. I took the time to join Middridge Parish Council on Monday for part of their meeting, as I have said before local councils are a very important part of local democracy.
The challenge in writing this column this week is that the big news of the week will happen after this goes to print but before you read it. I am referring to the Budget which the Chancellor will have delivered on Wednesday. This will have many important issues to cover, ranging from the immediate to those to support the longer term. In the short term I hope and expect him to extend some of the Covid support ranging from the £20 UC uplift through to Business Rates etc., but I am also very interested in some, potentially, very significant announcements for our area. Particularly significant amongst these are the possibility of a Freeport for Teesside and the creation of a Treasury North being based in Darlington. Either, or both, could be a major benefit to the economy of the North East but the Treasury would also be a step change on different agendas. Moving the Treasury decision makers into a town like Darlington means that on the one hand we have good jobs that can help keep our young people in the North East but also if the decision makers are based outside of metropolitan centres then they should be more aware of life outside city centres. I will not speculate further on these but rather will save that for next week.
For now though, please continue to respect the virus, say thank you to all our key workers and have as good a week as you can. Stay Home, Protect the NHS and Save Lives – Stay Safe.
Paul Howell
Member of Parliament for Sedgefield
