OVER this summer, like the summer before, our lives became more normal than they have been in some time.

The pain of distance from family and from friends over those toughest of months in the winter and the spring now is now well behind us.

Lockdowns, one after another, stole the best things in life but were – given the evidence then and the evidence now apparent – indisputably necessary to protect our families, our communities and our NHS.

I continue to monitor the situation here in Craven closely and I am also in very regular contact with local officials and NHS professionals along with my colleagues in Government.

Across Craven, the seven-day rate stood at 347 per 100,000 people on 27 August. The indicative figure, based on positive test result data, can be compared with the seven-day rates of 309 per 100,000 people across North Yorkshire and 312 per 100,000 people across England.

While this is a marked increase since the spring when tighter restrictions on social contact limited the spread of the virus, the vaccine rollout has created a firewall of protection against the Coronavirus and has significantly decreased the risk of serious illness, hospitalisation and death.

Indeed, the latest estimates from Public Health England indicate that the vaccine programme has prevented 105,900 deaths and 24,088,000 infections. Right now, at the time of writing, over 88.4 per cent of people aged 16 or over have had at least one dose of the vaccine.

I would, of course, encourage everyone eligible to book a vaccine appointment – whether for a first or second dose – as soon as possible if not already done so. The Government and public health professionals are absolutely clear that vaccines are what can bring this pandemic to an end.

While it is clear that this pandemic is far from over, the Government is committed to managing the virus in a way which is proportionate to the pandemic’s public health risks. The changes to self-isolation rules that took place on August 16 is one example of this.

Nevertheless, going into the autumn, the Government will be closely monitoring the situation with the Coronavirus. Early in August, 16 and 17 -year-olds began to be offered appointments to receive the vaccine following the Government receiving advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The Government, moreover, is expecting to begin a vaccine booster programme this autumn – pending the JCVI’s final advice – so to continue protect people, particularly the elderly and vulnerable. Indeed, the interim advice from the JCVI in June stated that those eligible under the first phase of the vaccine programme earlier this year are likely to be offered a booster with equal emphasis on the deployment of flu vaccines where eligible.

More generally, there is of course still some uncertainty as we get closer to colder and wetter months of winter when the weather assists in the transmissions of all respiratory viruses and when the pressure on our NHS intensifies.

That is why my office and I will continue to do everything possible to help constituents and our community through the coming autumn and winter.

From casework regarding vaccines, hospital visits and mental health to issues related to international travel, the support available to business and helping vulnerable neighbours, my office and I have worked flat out to help my constituents and will continue to do so. As ever, if you know someone living locally who you think I can help, please feel free to encourage them to make contact with my office.

As we approach the autumn and once Parliament returns from recess, I am looking forward to a busy diary of parliamentary business with several important bills passing through the House of Commons to fulfil the Government’s agenda. I further have been paying close attention to developments in Afghanistan.

After nearly two decades, the final UK flights carrying military and diplomatic personnel have departed the country.

There have been 165 flights evacuating over 15,000 people since August 14, including more than 2,200 children. The Government has underscored that our country will continue to assist those who have remained in Afghanistan and the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will support the resettlement of thousands of Afghans – with up to 5,000 Afghans who are most at risk in its first year.

Parliament was recalled on August 18 and I fully expect there will be more debates on Afghanistan taking place in the House over the coming weeks and months. Yet, during this time, we remember the 457 British service personnel who died in Afghanistan giving their lives to ensure our safety and national security at home along with the 2,977 people – including 67 British citizens – who died during the attacks in the United States almost 20 years ago on September 11 2001.

As the Prime Minister said last week, the sacrifice in Afghanistan is ‘seared into our national consciousness’.

Indeed, the selflessness and commitment of the 150,000 UK personnel who have served in Afghanistan over the years is poignant at this time and can never be forgotten. Many came from Yorkshire and our area – we will never forget their commitment and their sacrifices.

 

Julian Smith CBE MP