This week I met with residents and Lancashire County Council in Wrea Green to discuss the flooding issues which have caused damage to homes.
I was pleased to hear from the county council that a full camera survey and mapping operation for all of the village’s drains is starting today.
I have asked officers to draw up a full plan of the works needed to prevent future flooding no matter the cost – if major works are needed, I will go to ministers to request that funding.
It is clear there are several issues which affect the flow of water from drains in the village, and I have also written to the Environment Agency to ask that they coordinate works with county to ensure we find a solution.
I asked the Prime Minister in Parliament about our flu vaccine programme. It is vitally important that anyone vulnerable to the flu gets a seasonal vaccine – flu killed 11,000 people last year, and anyone who catches it this year will be more susceptible to Coronavirus.
The Prime Minister told me 30 million vaccines for flu were available and the programme has already started. It is vital anyone eligible takes the vaccine up – it will help keep vulnerable people safe and also help keep extra winter pressure off our NHS.
I also spoke this week in Defence Topical Questions. Defence Minister Jeremy Quin told me BAE’s plants at Warton and Samlesbury would remain critical players in our country’s future air combat industry.
I asked him to make sure the Government kept Tempest, BAE’s sixth-generation combat aircraft, at the core of future plans for our outstanding Royal Air Force.
The project is vital to ensure we keep pioneering technology to ensure our skilled engineers remain the best in the world.
The Prime Minister has announced new Covid regulations following advice from our health experts, including a ban on different households meeting in homes and gardens. I know these are difficult and frustrating times for us all; the figures show a clear rise in Coronavirus cases and we must get those figures back down.
We did so well last time – I hope we can all work together once again to defeat this terrible virus.