Keeping on the pressure
Prior to recess, I wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister in my capacity as chairwoman of the Disability All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) which was co-signed by over 100 MPs and Peers.
We called for a disability-inclusive COVID-19 response to improve the lives of disabled people, including progressive policies, such as extending mandatory pay reporting for gender to cover disability.
It is feared disabled workers will be amongst the hardest hit in any pending recession with the gap between the number of disabled and non-disabled workers in jobs already rising.
The Prime Minister has now written back stating he is committed to implementing a transformative‘national strategy for disabled people’.
This was delayed by COVID-19, but is now expected to be published in early 2021. We will continue pressure to make sure this happens.
The PM confirmed emergency measures adopted in response to COVID-19, including the relaxation of statutory care requirements, will be terminated“as soon as possible”.
We know this is of the utmost importance for families left struggling.
That is why I have been supporting the‘Forgotten Families’campaign by disability charity, SENSE. SENSE surveyed 1000 families and found that whilst 75 per cent had received no information regarding their support and care being reduced, 34 per cent were still waiting for support for their disabled relative to be reinstated.
I am writing to the Prime Minister again to ask that he outline the steps required in reintroducing community services, that carers are provided with clear information about any changes to care provision and that necessary additional funding is provided including to devolved Governments, so that local authorities can deliver care flexibly throughout COVID-19 - meeting the needs of these‘forgotten families’.
Locally across our constituency, I am delighted that the 31B interim bus service is being rolled out from August 31 for residents within Stewartfield and surrounding areas.
It will be important that this service is fully utilised to demonstrate that it requires to be made permanent.
A number of meetings were convened by the
I have written to SLC about grass cutting....
council with First Bus that I attended and I have also had ongoing dialogue with First Bus’ parliamentary liaison officer.
I will continue these meetings with regards the X1 service which affects the Strathaven / Stonehouse part of our constituency and has been unacceptably withdrawn.
In an update on grass cutting, subsequent to requesting programmes for Hairmyres, Stewartfield, Mossneuk, St Leonards and Calderwood, I have now written to South Lanarkshire Council on behalf of residents who have contacted me in areas of Murray and Westwood.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch directly on lisa.cameron.mp@ parliament.uk if you need any support on any matter.
I am continuing my weekly virtual appointments, telephone appointments and also taking matters forward via email until parliament gives the go ahead to re-open my local offices.