CAROLINE ANSELL MP: Great pride in our vaccination programme

Thank you to everyone, from those giving the jabs to those volunteering to help people find a parking space. You are saving lives and giving us all hope for the future.

Despite the restrictions on all our movements it has been an incredibly busy virtual time for me with a host of calls and constituency issues to deal with.

I had a very positive call this week with Eastbourne Borough FC chairman Dave Blackmore on Zoom to talk about the impact Covid is having on this most important community asset that does such important work across the generations in our town.

The football club has been hit by the pandemic and needs more support due to the loss of gate income from fans. I promised to talk to the relevant ministers and build a base of support with fellow MPs for clubs in both the National South and National North leagues.

Watch this space for more updates.

In Parliament, I asked the Chancellor via Zoom, to make the VAT reduction of five per cent permanent for hospitality and tourism industries. We need to do all we can to help Eastbourne recover from the pandemic and a five per cent VAT rate would be an excellent foundation for the future for destination towns like ours.

I had success last year in persuading the government to reduce VAT temporarily and it has been a game changer for these sectors.

My campaign to make it permanent started this week in the House of Commons and it will be carried on across Whitehall ahead of the Budget in March.

I also asked the Environment Secretary George Eustice in parliament to visit Sovereign Harbour to check on progress on the new Fisherman’s Quay taking shape there despite Covid. This is a big investment in our town and I hope he will be here soon, restrictions permitting.

I speak regularly to local health officials here in East Sussex about our vaccination programme. Progress remains on track and this is great news. New vaccine hubs are coming on stream and pharmacies too.

The key message remains that everyone needs to wait for the NHS to contact them to come forward for the jab. It will happen as the vaccination programme moves through the top four priority groups by mid-February.

Finally, I turned 50 recently and this meant I was asked to come forward for a breast screening. Despite the pandemic, the NHS is still doing other important work. I was back at the DGH with my son on Monday where we experienced excellent care and a thank you to the team who looked after me at Eastbourne mobile testing unit at the weekend. If you are called for scans or appointments, please make sure you go. It could save your life.

Take care and keep in touch.