My Westminster Update
With the new parliamentary session in full swing, I’d like to tell you more about what I have been doing around Westminster to represent your interests and concerns.
Securing a Fair Deal for Staffordshire
Following a flurry of big Government announcements in recent weeks, I took a moment to sit down with the Chancellor to discuss what this means for all of us in Staffordshire.
I was particularly heartened to hear about the additional £200 million that the Government has funnelled into fixing potholes. Of this fund, Staffordshire alone will receive a generous £4,456,400 while the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority will receive £3,617,200. It’s no secret that fixing potholes matters to many across Staffordshire, so I look forward to seeing this money put to good use.
In addition to this, I took the opportunity to highlight concerns that many of you have raised with me in recent weeks about issues such as pensions, energy bills, and education. Going forward, I will continue to voice your priorities to the Government and ensure that national policies work for Staffordshire communities.
Building a Better Future for Pensioners
On another note, it is essential that we voice the priorities of those who are less able to speak up themselves, such as the elderly. That’s why I made sure to attend a reception run by Later Life Ambitions, an organisation which aims to raise the profile of issues affecting our older generations – from pensions and housing to transport and socialising.
In particular, I spoke with campaigners about the importance of decent and affordable public transport for older generations. Two thirds of elderly people cannot reach a hospital within 30 minutes by public transport, while 2,160 bus routes were closed in the last year alone. I am proud to have secured alternative bus provisions in Codsall following the closure of the 5/5A route, however it is clear that the work does not stop here.
Similarly, it is vital that the digital transformation of society does not exclude the elderly. Having campaigned against the closure of physical bank branches from Wombourne to Stone, I join Later Life Ambitions’ call for banks to save in-person services and ensure that all customers have access to the support they need.
Raising Awareness of Suicide Prevention
Finally, I’d like to touch on an issue that we simply do not talk about enough: suicide. 5,583 lives were lost to suicide in the last year, and yet so many still suffer in silence. In fact, two thirds of people who die by suicide are not in touch with mental health services in the year before they die.
This issue will not go away. That’s why I made sure to attend an event on suicide prevention run by the Samaritans, where I had the opportunity to learn more about recognising the warning signs and reaching out to those at risk.
It was especially powerful to hear about the role MPs and other public servants can play in preventing suicide, from raising awareness by speaking in Parliament to training our staff on how to support vulnerable constituents. If you or a loved one is affected by these issues, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or my office – speaking about our problems is often the first step towards a solution.
Of course, my office and I have also been hard at work helping constituents with casework and other important matters. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any queries or issues you would like to raise - I can be reached by email at gavin.williamson.mp@parliament.uk, or you can phone my office on 01902 846616.