Worcester MP Robin Walker writes for the Observer
IN THESE extraordinary and unprecedented times it has been heartening to see so many local voluntary organisations and charities rallying round to do their bit and I am enormously impressed by the efforts that have been made by our hospices, by children’s charities, those supporting the elderly and disabled and organisations such as the Worcester Community Trust to help people who are most vulnerable.
I am glad that the government has now announced a package of support for the voluntary sector and it has been good to hear from both of Worcester’s hospices about their welcome for this. I’ve also recently caught up with the team at St Paul’s Hostel about how they, working with the city council and the Worcester Cares initiative have been helping to house the homeless and how they hope that there may be lasting benefit to our shared ambition to end rough sleeping if we get the next stage of our response right.
I know that many people are impatient for the end of the lockdown and the Prime Minister’s announcement that we are past the peak of the first stage of the virus, is leading some to question whether we need to continue with inconvenient and painful social distancing measures. However we must all remember that this virus is still making hundreds of thousands people sick and tragically has killed tens of thousands. We have succeeded in flattening the curve of infections and taking some of the pressure off the frontline services in the NHS who have coped admirably and we have reduced the so called R, the reproduction rate of the virus, to below 1, but this could all be undone if we relax the measures too swiftly. The Government is right to listen to full scientific advice, to set our clear tests and pursue a careful approach to relaxing any measures. As a local MP, I will keep pressing to make sure that all local people and businesses get the support they need to see this through.
I was pleased to see that Worcester City was one of the most effective councils at getting help out to local businesses through grants linked to the rates system but I am aware of many cases where businesses are still facing major challenges. Wherever possible I will be taking these up and pressing colleagues in Government for the flexibility for more to be done. I am also pleased that small businesses in Worcester will be able to apply for loans of up to £50,000 under the new Bounce Back Loans from today.
Meanwhile it has been good to see real progress on both testing and PPE. Many doubted that the huge logistical challenge of achieving 100,000 tests per day could be achieved but it the target was smashed on the last day of April and the first few days of May have seen tests continue to pour in. I am glad that Worcestershire is playing its part in this with the dedicated centre at Sixways conducting many hundreds of tests each day.
The wonderful public reaction to the 100th birthday of Captain, now Colonel Tom Moore, reflects the huge affection which is rightly held for that greatest of generations as well as his remarkable fundraising achievements.
