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.

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.

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

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

 

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

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.

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