Tuesday 21 December 2021

Extra government support for businesses most affected by Omicron

The government has announced £1 billion of new grant support for the hospitality, leisure and cultural sectors to protect jobs and businesses throughout this period:

• The Government are are providing one-off grants of up to £6,000 for eligible businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors, depending on rateable value:

o Businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or above: £6,000

o Businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000: £4,000

o Businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or below: £2,666

• The government are also providing over £100 million new discretionary funding to local authorities to support other impacted businesses. This is on top of the approximate £250 million of Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) yet to be disbursed to businesses.

• Additionally, they are reintroducing the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme to help businesses cover employees who fall ill. As called for by the Federation of Small Businesses, this will help small and medium-sized businesses cover the cost of coronavirus-related sickness absences. The scheme means employers can apply for a cash rebate from the government which covers the cost of SSP for up to two weeks per employee.

Thursday 16 December 2021

My support for Plan B

 As part of its COVID-19 Autumn and Winter Plan 2021, the government outlined a set of measures that would be brought in if the data suggests the NHS is likely to come under further pressure. With early analysis suggesting COVID cases relating to the new Omicron variant could be doubling as rapidly as every 2.5 to 3 days, I fully support the government’s decision to move to Plan B. This means:

 

      Legally mandating face masks in most public indoor venues, with exceptions where it’s not practical, including while eating, drinking, exercising or singing.

 

      Reintroducing guidance to work from home if you can.

 

      Implementing daily rapid testing for fully vaccinated contacts of COVID cases, with isolation required only for people who test positive.

 

      Requiring a negative lateral flow test or proof of vaccination through the NHS COVID pass - mandatory for nightclubs, unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people, and any venue with more than 10,000 people

 

 

I support these measures as they will help slow the spread of the variant, reduce the chances of the NHS facing unsustainable pressure, and buy time to deliver more vaccine boosters. As we have learnt from past practice and from scientific evidence, face coverings, working from home and frequent testing are all effective ways of reducing virus transmission. In my view, the Plan B measures are justified and proportionate.

 

Whilst the government will continue to look closely at all the emerging data, vaccines remain our best line of defence against COVID. This government has successfully delivered over 100 million vaccine doses in England, and is determined to protect the nation by offering everyone in England aged 18 and over a booster jab by the end of the month. I encourage everyone to book their booster jab at the earliest opportunity, or to book their first vaccination if they have not yet done so.

 

Specifically, the NHS COVID pass is not a vaccine passport. The proposed rules, which I voted for, specifically allow for a negative Lateral Flow Test as an alternative to proof of jabs. If you go to a higher risk destination such as a large event or a nightclub, I think it is sensible and proportionate in the face of Omicron spreading rapidly, to take precautions to stop the spread of the virus.

 

The goal of these measures is to stop lockdowns. Sensible measures taken now - as other countries around the world, of differing political persuasions, are taking – will help control the spread and impact of Omicron on our NHS and the population. Against a highly infectious disease, vaccinations are a collective defence.

 

To enable us all to enjoy this Christmas with our family and loved ones, the single most important thing we all can do is get boosted. The evidence is overwhelming that a third dose is required to get the best protection from Omicron, and not being vaccinated seriously raises the chances of serious illness from COVID.

 

Please persuade your friends and family to get vaccinated and get the booster.

Friday 10 December 2021

Emergency Waste Collections for communities badly hit by Storm Arwen

Emergency waste drop-off points remain in place for those rural communities in Northumberland badly affected by Storm Arwen.

The emergency waste drop-off points will be in place until Friday 10 December.  

Following last week’s storm many parts of the county have been without power for several days. 

To support those areas worst affected, Northumberland County Council is arranging for skips and other waste containers to be deployed for the urgent collection of excess food waste caused by freezers and other electric appliances being without power.  

The emergency drop off points are for communities where there is not a Household Waste Recovery Centre (HWRC) nearby.  

The council has advised residents who are able, to dispose of as much of this spoiled food waste as possible into their general household waste bin, or take it to their nearest HWRC. The HWRCs are also all now open as normal for recycling and disposal of other household waste items. 

However, residents who are unable to use the normal disposal arrangements can take their bagged food waste and dispose of it in one of the temporary collection points. Details of the confirmed locations and times will be listed below and will be added to as arrangements are confirmed and become available on a site-by-site basis. 

Temporary community hubs have also been set up across the county for residents who need general welfare support - https://nland.uk/hubs 

The council’s Northumberland Communities Together team are also on hand to help, contact them on 01670 620015, or call the council direct on 0345 6006400, or out of hours voicemail 01670 536400. 

Drop-off points remain at the following locations until Friday 10 December:

Belford, Glass bring site
Ford, Glass bring site
Flodden, Branxton car park
Ellingham, Glass bring site Layby
Craster,  Council Car Park
Powburn, Council layby opposite the service station
Sharperton, Village Green in front of Sharperton House
Netherton,  Netherton northside school
Thropton, Council Lay by just outside the village heading towards Alwinton.
Rothbury,  Beggars Rig Car Park
Amble, Braid council car park
Hadston, Precinct
Felton, Village Hall Parking
Thirston, Glass banks short distance outside of village
Elsdon, Parking Nr Village Hall
Knowesgate, Kirkwhelpington Village Hall
Wallridge, Verge to West of Row of Houses
Ridsdale Woodburn layby with Current Glass Bank
Kielder Village, Parking opp Village Shop adjacent to glass bank
Falstone, Cemetery parking
Stonehaugh,  Village Hall Parking
Haydon Bridge, Layby East of Village
Blanchland, Village Car Park
Whitley Chapel, Hard standing Verge nr Church
Riding Mill, Centre of Village nr Church

Thursday 9 December 2021

VACCINATION SITES IN WEST NORTHUMBERLAND

All sites below, except the sites at Ponteland Medical Group and Haydon Bridge Health Centre who operate a local booking system, are available via the National Booking Service.

Community pharmacies:

Bellingham Masonic Hall (Parkside Pharmacy)

Brewerylane Pharmacy, Ponteland

Haydon Bridge Pharmacy

Wylam Pharmacy

GP-led vaccination services:

Hexham Mart (West Northumberland Primary Care Network)

Ponteland Medical Group (Northumbria Primary Care)

Haydon Bridge Health Centre (Northumbria Primary Care)

Vaccination centres:

Centre for Life, Newcastle

National Booking Service

 


Wednesday 8 December 2021

COVID UPDATE - PLAN B

The government has decided to move to Plan B of their Autumn and Winter COVID Plan.

These measures are to combat the new Omicron Variant. The Variant has a number of mutations that have caused concerns amongst scientists.

Sadly, it is clear that Omicron has a very high growth rate and is spreading rapidly. There are currently 568 cases, but with a doubling time that could be as little as 2.5 to 3 days. The government has to act on the medical advice it receives.

Clearly, we all hope that the fears about Omicron will not be realised, but the strong medical advice is that, along with travel bans and other measures, the Plan B approach will slow the spread and protect both the public and our NHS.

 


The following additional measures have been announced:

 

  • An extension of self-isolation rules for all contacts of confirmed Covid cases, not just Omicron as is currently the case. An offer of daily testing to replace contact self -isolation will be offered.
  • Mask mandates will be extended to more indoor settings, such as cinemas and theatres.
  • A return of work-from-home guidance will come back. The guidance comes into place on Monday 13th December.
  • An introduction of Covid certification for large venues. From Wednesday 15 December people will need to show their NHS Covid Pass - or a negative lateral flow test - to gain entry to nightclubs, indoor seated venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people.

In addition, the government's scientific advisors have recommended the booster jab is extended to ALL adults over 18, three months after their second jab. The government has committed to offering all adults a booster jab by the end of January.

Those aged 12 to 15 in England are to be offered a second dose of a Covid vaccine 12 weeks after their first jab.

The single biggest thing you can do to keep yourself, your family and friends safe is to get boosted.

 


LINKS:

NHS National Vaccination Booking System

Latest Government COVID guidance

STORM ARWEN UPDATE – POWER RESTORED

It is very positive news that Northern Powergrid say they believe all power has now been restored.

Much of the damaged network is now supported by large generators, pending full scale repair, so the replacement will be complicated and will take time.  

However, I am aware there may be a few isolated homesteads which are stuff affected, or whose systems trip.

If you are not reconnected, please call 105 or email the assistance email stormarwen@northernpowergrid.com. Northern Power Grid’s communications are getting better (it could not have been worse than before!).

If you are still having issues getting through to Northern Powergrid, please contact my office – 01434 239 205, or guy.opperman@parliament.uk.

I have made clear to Northern Powergrid that an urgent approach to compensation is needed. People cannot be expected to wait months for compensation, and I will be holding further discussions with the company in coming days to discuss this.

I want to say a huge thank you to so many: the engineers reconnecting power in very tough weather. The local businesses, generator providers, and also local community who have helped out their neighbours.

There will be lessons learnt about the resilience of our network to cope with more extreme weather, and a proper inquiry by Ofgem and others on how power companies can improve communications, support when the network goes down, and much more.

WHAT ARE YOU ENTITLED TO?

Statutory Compensation

You will receive £70 for the first 48 hours of the power outage, plus an additional £140 for each additional day. This compensation was previously limited to £700, but the government have announced that Ofgem have removed this cap.

You should contact Northern Powergrid to claim this compensation within 3 months of the supply being fixed. This means that claims should be made by early March at the latest.

Additional Compensation

Northern Powergrid have confirmed to me that they will provide additional financial assistance to any domestic customer still off supply from 29th November

This includes the reasonable cost of alternative accommodation, and food for up to £15 per person, per meal, and other reasonably incurred costs, for example, where a customer has arranged their own back-up generator.

You should keep receipts for this. However, I have urged Northern Powergrid to be flexible when it comes to this, particularly around the start of the outages.

HOW CAN YOU CLAIM COMPENSATION?

Northern Powergrid have asked their customers to submit receipts and expenses via: StormArwen@northernpowergrid.com.

I have received a commitment from Northern Powergrid that they will write to all customers explaining the compensation they are entitled to. These letters will go out soon, but I will continue to fight for families in financial hardship at this very difficult time.

Best wishes,

Guy

Tuesday 7 December 2021

STORM ARWEN UPDATE – COMPENSATION FROM NORTHERN POWERGRID

As power is slowly returned to communities, it is only right that questions around compensation start to be asked.

I have spent today meeting the Northumberland Local Resilience Forum, visiting homes, and in multiple meetings to progress reconnections. I want to say a massive thank you to all the engineers reconnecting power – it has been cold, wet, very windy and we have light snow.

One constituent was in tears when his interim generator turned up. At the start of today, there were over 300 houses still without power, though this number is being reduced as I write.

I’m getting updated information constantly about the progress of reconnections. Where interim generators are needed, we are helping to sort these.

BEIS and Ofgem have already confirmed they will be conducting a full review to see why the power has been off for such a long period of time.

I continue to meet with Northern Powergrid regularly to push them on this matter. I welcomed their commitment to reimbursing expenses for food and accommodation if they didn’t have power. However, many families have spent a large amount of their monthly budget in a matter of days to cover the huge costs faced. Statutory compensation and additional expenses must be paid as soon as possible, and I certainly want to see at least some compensation paid to affected customers before Christmas.

WHAT ARE YOU ENTITLED TO?

Statutory Compensation
You will receive £70 for the first 48 hours of the power outage, plus an additional £140 for each additional day. This compensation was previously limited to £700, but the government have announced that Ofgem have removed this cap.
 
You should contact Northern Powergrid to claim this compensation within 3 months of the supply being fixed. This means that claims should be made by early March at the latest.

Additional Compensation
Northern Powergrid have confirmed to me that they will provide additional financial assistance to any domestic customer still off supply from 29th November

This includes the reasonable cost of alternative accommodation, and food for up to £15 per person, per meal, and other reasonably incurred costs, for example, where a customer has arranged their own back-up generator.
 
You should keep receipts for this. However, I have urged Northern Powergrid to be flexible when it comes to this, particularly around the start of the outages.

HOW CAN YOU CLAIM COMPENSATION?

Northern Powergrid have asked their customers to submit receipts and expenses via: StormArwen@northernpowergrid.com.
 
I have received a commitment from Northern Powergrid that they will write to all customers explaining the compensation they are entitled to. These letters will go out soon, but I will continue to fight for families in financial hardship at this very difficult time.

This has been a really tough time for everyone affected. It is unacceptable that people have been without power for so long, and questions need to be asked.

If you have an ongoing outage, occur please call 105, or email the assistance email stormarwen@northernpowergrid.com. Although Northern Powergrid’s Communications were previously woeful, it is better now, and they are the specialist electrical engineers. My team and I are also here to help and we will not stop until everyone is fully reconnected and compensated. If you or someone you know is vulnerable or has an urgent issue, please contact me on 01434 239 205, or on guy.opperman@parliament.uk.

Monday 6 December 2021

STORM ARWEN UPDATE - MONDAY 6 DECEMBER


My team and I have worked over the weekend with local providers, community groups, and NPG to get many more homes back on the grid. I met people off grid and some recently restored this morning. We are in the last couple of days and some of the most complex reconnections. There are now hundreds of electrical engineers from across the UK who are now working on our patch. These include engineers drafted in from down south and a big team from Ireland.

I visited Northern PowerGrid in Penshaw at their Headquarters this morning. I met with key personnel and went through a whole host of issues, and then popped into the contact centre. 

Currently there are 1,600 homes off supply across the wider region. Northern Powergrid have assured me that they will get this number down significantly in the next 36 hours and attached below is the projected resolution list by postcode. 

The Army have been out in Northumberland, helping the Local Resilience Forum and Northumberland County Council staff conduct welfare checks with residents who are still without supply of electricity. We are also sourcing and supporting the provision of generators for those who can’t move out or who need urgent power. 

My priority remains getting every single last person in the constituency reconnected to power. However, the work will not stop then. I will continue to meet with Northern Powergrid until they have brought forward the details of compensation and have revised their resilience, so they, and we as a community, are better prepared in the future.

Ofgem has already started an investigation into Northern Powergrid’s response and why such huge parts of the network were not restored quicker. 

I have stressed to Northern Powergrid the importance of paying compensation out to their customers as soon as possible. I have also got a commitment from Northern Powergrid that they will write to all customers explaining the compensation they will be entitled to. These letters will go out soon but the basic details are below. 

As Northumbria Water, the Environment Agency and I did after Storm Desmond, I have urged in strong terms to Northern Powergrid that they do a series of meetings over a period of time in various village halls to explain what has been done and what is being done in resilience planning going ahead. This will allow the company to be transparent and clear with communities.

A massive thanks to the community groups and local companies who have gone above and beyond, whilst the electrical engineers are fixing substations and sorting poles; my team & I are also liaising with the Northumberland Local Resilience Forum of emergency services today. We are making progress reconnecting in Kielder, Byrness, Slaley and Clifton but still plenty to do.

We have been working through cases over the weekend. If you or someone you know is vulnerable or has an urgent issue, please contact me on 01434 239 205, or on guy.opperman@parliament.uk.

My team and I are here to help, and will not stop until everyone is reconnected.

 

 

Allocated - Monday 6 December

Pending allocation: Aiming to be restored 7th December

DH1  3SG

DH1  1JF

DH1  3SH

DH1  1JF

DH1  5RA

DH1  3TQ

DH3  1DR

DH2  2EQ

DH3  2LR

DH2  2PD

DH3  2NA

DH2  3SE

DH3  2NP

DH2 1PN

DH4  6HS

DH3  1DR

DH5  0PN

DH3 3QH

DH6  2AJ

DH4  4EF

DH6  2NB

DH4  6BH

DH6  3LD

DH4  6DE

DH6 2RA

DH4  6HS

DH7  6EN

DH4  6NN

DH8  7AY

DH4  7AJ

DH8  9NE

DH4  7LA

DH8  9NL

DH4  7LA

DH8 9TN

DH4 4EF

DH9  0RF

DH4 4EF

DH9  7QD

DH4 6LJ

DH9  7QD

DH5  0JU

DH9 9PN

DH5  0JX

DL12 0QY

DH5  0QE

DL12 0QY

DH5  9DF

DL12 0RP

DH5  9LW

DL12 9RB

DH5 0JX

DL13 4EB

DH6  1AB

DL13 4HW

DH6  1AX

DL14 6JT

DH6  1DS

DL14 7GG

DH6  1PZ

DL14 7GG

DH6  2JE

DL14 8QW

DH6  3DS

DL14 9DU

DH6  3HP

DL14 9RQ

DH6  3NQ

DL14 9SF

DH6  3RX

DL14 9SF

DH6  3SB

DL15 9AZ

DH6  4DB

DL15 9LB

DH6  5JS

DL15 9QN

DH6  5JX

DL15 9SS

DH6 2RA

NE13 6BZ

DH7  8ST

NE13 8DQ

DH7  9RU

NE16 6AW

DH8  0SE

NE17 7PL

DH8  5LS

NE17 7SJ

DH8  7PJ

NE18 0AD

DH8  9LQ

NE18 0BD

DH8  9UB

NE19 2SX

DH8  9UN

NE20 0JY

DH8 0SZ

NE20 9HL

DH8 7PD

NE22 5QJ

DH8 7PD

NE22 6DA

DH9  0QR

NE23 6XF

DH9  0RG

NE23 7NQ

DH9 6EE

NE26 4DN

DH9 7LJ

NE26 4JY

DH9 9LE

NE35 9HH

DH9 9LE

NE35 9HX

DL12 0DL

NE35 9HX

DL12 0DN

NE36 0BD

DL12 0DW

NE36 0BE

DL12 0EE

NE36 0LF

DL12 0UD

NE39 1LT

DL12 8SL

NE40 3AY

DL12 8SW

NE42 5BG

DL12 9DJ

NE42 5LJ

DL12 9JH

NE42 6HP

DL12 9JR

NE43 7RY

DL12 9LU

NE43 7UL

DL12 9RB

NE44 6BQ

DL12 9RH

NE44 6DL

DL12 9SU

NE45 5PZ

DL12 9UP

NE45 5PZ

DL13 3LX

NE46 2JN

DL13 3QL

NE46 4BD

DL13 3QR

NE47 9BS

DL13 4PN

NE47 9SP

DL13 4QD

NE48 1LE

DL13 5ET

NE48 2TF

DL13 5HG

NE48 3DY

DL14 0AG

NE48 3JG

DL14 0PW

NE48 3JQ

DL14 7SS

NE48 4DQ

DL14 8BB

NE61 2YR

DL14 8BB

NE61 5ED

DL14 9DB

NE61 6DX

DL15 0DS

NE65 0DH

DL15 0DS

NE65 7DP

DL15 0ER

NE65 7JS

DL15 0RP

NE65 7LD

DL15 8HJ

NE65 8RE

DL15 9HB

NE65 8RW

DL15 9QU

NE65 9DG

DL15 9SP

NE66 3LA

NE13 7AJ

NE66 3RN

NE15 0BQ

NE66 4UR

NE15 0HX

NE67 5DZ

NE16 4PU

NE67 5JA

NE16 4QP

NE68 7UT

NE16 5BA

NE69 7AT

NE16 5BB

NE70 7EX

NE16 6AR

NE70 7LB

NE18 0AA

NE70 7LB

NE18 0AD

NE70 7LB

NE18 0BD

SR3  2DR

NE18 0DE

SR3 3NB

NE18 0QG

SR4  9JT

NE19 2BJ

SR7  9NG

NE19 2DG

SR7 9ER

NE19 2DL

SR8  3JU

NE19 2LB

SR8  3TX

NE19 2LB

SR8 3AZ

NE19 2PN

SR8 3RX

NE20 0AL

SR8 3RY

NE20 0AN

SR8 4HG

NE20 0AS

SR8 4JF

NE20 0AT

SR8 4JH

NE20 0BQ

NE20 0BQ

NE20 0HB

NE20 0JH

NE20 0RN

NE20 0SA

NE20 0SA

NE20 0SU

NE20 0SY

NE20 0SY

NE20 0SY

NE20 9BX

NE21 4EX

NE21 5EZ

NE21 5NJ

NE21 6JJ

NE21 6RN

NE22 5UW

NE22 7BX

NE23 3AS

NE23 3AS

NE23 6TD

NE23 6UW

NE24 5TQ

NE25 0DJ

NE26 4DN

NE26 4DS

NE26 4PU

NE26 4QL

NE26 4QW

NE26 4RG

NE26 4RL

NE27 0QR

NE28 0QP

NE29 8AE

NE29 8EX

NE3  2PU

NE30 4EN

NE36 0AW

NE36 0LD

NE36 0NW

NE37 2SU

NE37 3AU

NE38 9AH

NE39 1AN

NE40 3DR

NE40 3PD

NE40 4TN

NE41 8JL

NE41 8JL

NE42 5LB

NE42 6NT

NE43 7RY

NE43 7RY

NE43 7SD

NE43 7SU

NE43 7SX

NE44 6DF

NE45 5BA

NE45 5DZ

NE45 5PT

NE45 5PZ

NE45 5RP

NE45 5RP

NE46 1TT

NE46 2PJ

NE46 2PQ

NE46 3AH

NE46 3AQ

NE46 3BA

NE46 4AY

NE46 4AZ

NE46 4BD

NE46 4DR

NE46 4EH

NE46 4HA

NE46 4HE

NE46 4HE

NE46 4LX

NE46 4PB

NE46 4RS

NE47 0HP

NE47 0HR

NE47 0HT

NE47 6AF

NE47 8AE

NE47 8AW

NE47 8DG

NE47 8DG

NE47 8DH

NE47 8DH

NE47 8HH

NE47 8HH

NE47 8HH

NE47 8HH

NE47 9AE

NE47 9ST

NE48 1EL

NE48 1LE

NE48 1LE

NE48 1RS

NE48 2EB

NE48 2SE

NE48 2SZ

NE48 2TA

NE48 3HX

NE48 3JL

NE48 3JQ

NE48 4AZ

NE49 0PR

NE49 9ND

NE49 9NF

NE49 9NS

NE5  2SE

NE5  3LY

NE6  4NT

NE6  5NT

NE61 2ST

NE61 3DD

NE61 3DJ

NE61 3EN

NE61 3JR

NE61 3JU

NE61 3JW

NE61 3JW

NE61 3LD

NE61 3LY

NE61 3LZ

NE61 3NQ

NE61 3QS

NE61 3SD

NE61 3SE

NE61 3SE

NE61 3SG

NE61 3SJ

NE61 3SJ

NE61 4AS

NE61 4AU

NE61 4BL

NE61 4BN

NE61 4EQ

NE61 4JJ

NE61 4JZ

NE61 4PH

NE61 4PL

NE61 4PQ

NE61 4PR

NE61 5AB

NE61 5DR

NE61 5JF

NE61 5JJ

NE61 5LG

NE61 5QB

NE61 5QW

NE61 6AQ

NE61 6AQ

NE61 6DX

NE61 6EB

NE61 6HJ

NE61 6LQ

NE61 6LT

NE61 6LZ

NE61 6NS

NE61 6NS

NE61 6NS

NE62 5HR

NE62 5HY

NE63 8AB

NE63 9YD

NE65 0DH

NE65 0DH

NE65 0JD

NE65 0JR

NE65 0LL

NE65 0XS

NE65 0XS

NE65 0XS

NE65 7AE

NE65 7AG

NE65 7HR

NE65 7HS

NE65 7JW

NE65 7LH

NE65 7PZ

NE65 8HY

NE65 9AA

NE65 9ED

NE65 9ED

NE65 9EY

NE65 9EY

NE65 9PT

NE65 9PT

NE65 9TS

NE66 2BH

NE66 2BH

NE66 2DX

NE66 2EL

NE66 2XA

NE66 2XP

NE66 3AE

NE66 3AE