Suella Braverman April Newsletter

Welcome!

Welcome to my April newsletter highlighting the issues that I have been working on in Parliament and in Fareham.

I am very disappointed that the government has accepted a delay to Brexit until potentially the end of October. This is only creating more uncertainty for workers and businesses and further threatens to undermine the 2016 referendum result. I'm also very frustrated that the people of Fareham will likely be going to the polls for the European Elections in May. The majority of Fareham residents soundly rejected continued membership of the EU in 2016, and having to re-elect MEPs three years later was certainly not something that was envisaged.

I continue to oppose the Prime Minister's deal because it does not deliver Brexit and threatens the integrity of the United Kingdom, but I am still open to supporting it if the arrangements for Northern Ireland are changed.

I have voted consistently against an extension, against European Elections, against a second referendum, against a customs union and in favour of No Deal. I have been in the minority on all of these occasions.

You can read my latest update on Brexit here and you can also follow my Brexit voting record on the BBC website here.

April saw a number of visits to local businesses and meetings with local residents to discuss an array of issues, including Brexit, health, social care, business and education, as well as the staging of my third annual Fareham Schools Debating Competition which was a great success.

I hope you enjoy my newsletter, and if you want to raise anything with me and my team, then you can contact us here.

Solent Business Forum - Suella meets local businesses

I was pleased to meet with several local businesses at the second staging of my Solent Business Forum.

Several business leaders and representatives from across Fareham gathered for lunch at the Lysses House Hotel where we discussed the current Brexit situation as well as growing trade and exports.

The event was attended by several local businesses from a range of sectors including aerospace, the legal profession, education and financial services.

You can read more here.

Suella raises concerns about Southern Health with the PM before meeting the Trust alongside families

I have continued my campaign for improvements at Southern Health by raising the matter directly with the Prime Minister as well as meeting with the Trust itself alongside some affected families.

During Prime Minister’s Questions in early April, I drew Theresa May’s attention to the systemic problems facing mental health provision at the local NHS Trust by providing examples of two constituents who tragically took their own lives whilst suffering from mental health problems under the care of Southern Health.

You can watch my question here.

I am continuing to work with Southern Health to ensure that the people of Fareham and Hampshire have access to NHS mental health services that they trust, and I recently met with Southern Health alongside families who have been affected by previous failings to discuss improvements being made to the Trust's structure and services. I was encouraged to hear what improvements have been made following years of serious failings and what is planned for the future.

More still needs to be done, though, and earlier this year I wrote to the Health Secretary to outline which areas I believe need to be improved, and I look forward to a meeting with him to discuss this further.

Suella congratulates local firms for winning prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise

I was delighted to see that local businesses Captec and Easyskinz have received Queen’s Awards for Innovation and International Trade respectively.

The firms were among more than 200 businesses that have been honoured with a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise across the country. The local firms were selected for their displays of entrepreneurship.

Captec and EasySkinz are great examples of what our economy in Fareham is capable of and both these firms, along with the dozens of other innovative small and medium sized businesses that I meet, make a huge contribution to the economy.

Read more here.

Social care needs to be improved, urges Suella

I have spoken about the need to improve adult health care provision during a speech in the House of Commons.

During the speech, I spoke about the importance of a well-functioning and accessible system of social care in Fareham, where the average age of local residents is higher than the UK average.

We have seen considerable extra funding. Some £1.8 billion will be allocated for 2019-20 through the improved Better Care Fund, which represents a 23% increase on the previous year. Also, £240 million of funding will be allocated to support adult social care services in order to reduce pressures on the NHS. For Hampshire, the additional amount for winter pressures equates to £4.7 million, and with the 3% social care precept that Hampshire levied in 2018-19 thanks to the greater flexibility provided by central government, Hampshire has sufficient funds to meet the increased demand and pressure. We need to act now so that the Government’s undeniable commitment to the elderly and vulnerable is not squandered and so that patients are rightly put at the heart of how our social care and NHS services are delivered.

However, calls for improvements to be made to adult social care provision across Hampshire have been growing lately after many carers and families have reported complications and difficulties with the application process.

In one instance, Fareham resident John White (pictured) had to wait almost six years and navigate a series of hurdles before funding was finally released to care for a relative suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Several factors including a non-patient friendly application process and lengthy delays meant that no funding was granted while Mr White’s relative was still alive. Funding was finally granted retrospectively following appeals.

Given that heart breaking cases such as Mr White’s will continue to emerge until changes are made, I am reaffirming my calls for greater coordination between West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Hampshire County Council, as well as for the necessary changes to make the funding application system more patient friendly.

Read more here.

Fareham pupils shine in school debating competition

I was delighted to host my third annual Fareham Schools Debating Competition at Fareham College for six local schools.

The pupils debated a range of issues including whether tuition fees should be abolished, the effects of video gaming and whether everyone should become a vegetarian. One team argued in favour of a proposition and another team from a different school opposed it.

Fareham Academy won first prize with student Dylan Kelso also winning the prize for Best Speaker, and I'm looking forward to welcoming them to Parliament in the near future to watch Prime Minister's Questions.

I’m really grateful to Mark Waldron, Editor of the Portsmouth News, Cllr Susan Bayford, Mayor of Fareham, and Principal of Fareham College Andrew Kaye for joining me on the judging panel as well as everyone at Fareham College for helping to host this competition which I’m delighted was another success.

You can read more here.

Suella urges rethink over proposed cuts to specialist services for deaf and disabled children

I am urging Hampshire County Council to rethink proposed cuts to services for disabled children across the county and I have pressed ministers in Westminster to assist the Council in finding additional resources.

Hampshire County Council is proposing changes to the Specialist Teacher Advisory Service (STAS) which teaches young disabled people to develop their skills, enabling them to live a more independent life with opportunities to access education and employment.

Several Hampshire residents, who are set to be directly affected by the proposed changes, argue that young vulnerable people will be put at an immediate disadvantage, and I was very pleased to meet with David Prince (pictured: centre) who is one of my concerned residents.

I will try and ensure that vulnerable children do not have to go without a rich education, which is why I have pressed ministers directly on how to help Hampshire maintain these services .

You can read more here.

Step forward for Renal Hub at Fareham Community Hospital

I’ve been working to get better use of Fareham Community Hospital, with focus on a Renal Hub to support patients who need dialysis.

I’m pleased that Portsmouth Hospitals Trust (PHT) has now confirmed that it is committed to delivering the Renal Hub at FCH which will be a step in the direction of maximising the service locally.

Unfortunately PHT has ruled out a Breast Screening Service, but I will keep working on that aspect.