Prioritising filling of job vacancies

It’s great to be back out in the local area for parliamentary recess, which was combined with a busy day on Tuesday, as it was the job figures announcement and as the Minister for Employment at DWP, that’s a very full-on day. was with the logistics company ILG in East Grinstead, which also has a large base in Burgess Hill, meeting young people on the Kickstart scheme and new apprentices.

Fifteen years on, for National Apprenticeship Week, we celebrated how apprentices are filling skills gaps and people starting apprenticeships at any age.

We’re prioritising filling the record number of job vacancies and we are successfully moving forward with 130,000 young people now on the ground breaking Kickstart scheme alongside our new Way to Work scheme, which I updated the House on at the Despatch Box last Monday.

Tackling the NHS backlog is another one of the big challenges we face in the years to come, and last week we set out our ‘Electives Recovery Plan’ to bust the Covid-19 backlogs.

Throughout the pandemic the NHS was rightly focused on treating Covid patients and delivering the fastest booster rollout in Europe, however this means waiting times for elective care have inevitably risen sharply.

I know how worried constituents also have been about this. This ambitious plan lays out how we will tackle the backlogs and increasing capacity, prioritising diagnosis and treatment, including through dedicated surgical hubs.

It was great to have the Environment Minister Rebecca Pow here in the constituency last weekend and our vital new Environment Act will have a large effect on protecting and enhancing Mid Sussex. It was great to have her here looking at local issues in Burgess Hill linked to the Northern Arc development.

Don’t miss out on help from Invicta National Academy, supported by WSCC, who are offering free additional maths and English lessons.

This also includes free, daily taekwondo classes to get your child’s brain ready for learning. It is recommended you book lessons for the key stage your child is currently in, so your child can consolidate their learning and increase their confidence. Please sign up at www.invictaacademy. com/westsussexhalfterm

If you are an unpaid carer in Mid Sussex, Burgess Hill Girls and the town council are offering Carers Support and a Pamper Day. A day of fun activities and pampering including a light lunch is waiting for you.

It is incredibly hard work being a carer, so do sign up to this event by calling 01444 247726. You are also invited to bring the person you care for to the event. Places are limited, so do book soon!

As always, to keep up with all other matters, visit www.mimsdavies.org.uk