While much of the news and public discourse has been dominated by goings on down in Westminster, I wanted to assure you that I've been busy delivering on priorities for people in Bosworth. Here's a snapshot of my work over the past month...
The really big headline story for our area - which you may have seen in an update from me last week - is that we’ve secured funding for a new testing unit at Hinckley and District Hospital!
The proposals include facilities for MRI and CT scans, blood testing, ultrasounds and X-rays.
This is fantastic news for people in Bosworth and I know the funding will go a long way towards improving the accessibility of healthcare provisions in our rural community.
I’ve already heard from the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB) and am pleased that they are moving quickly on this and will be providing an opportunity for all constituents to be involved in developing the plans.
More information is available here on my website: Bosworth's MP celebrates funding for new testing unit at Hinckley Hospital | Dr Luke Evans MP
Assisting with the Energy Prices Act
In my role within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy I was pleased to see the Energy Prices Act gain Royal Assent this week.
The Act legislates for the cap on unit prices of gas and electricity for both households and non-domestic users (businesses, hospitals, schools etc).
If you know anyone who is struggling, please ask them to contact me or share with them this link on the support already available: https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk
Calling for much-needed improvements to the A5
When I was elected as Bosworth's MP back in December 2019, I never imagined I'd become so passionate about a road (although, come to think of it, much of what's happened over the past 34 months has been rather unexpected)!
I've been lobbying the Government for much-needed improvements to the A5, such as lowering the road under the Watling Street bridge and dualling local stretches of the A5. I believe these will help ease congestion and alleviate some of the bottlenecks caused by accidents or lorries hitting the bridge.
Earlier this month I delivered the keynote speech at the Midlands Connect A5 Conference, in which I spoke about the strategic and economic importance of the A5 to our region. There's a huge amount of untapped potential in our area and I'll be working alongside local stakeholders to drive forward the need for these changes.
You can read more about the conference here: Dr Luke Evans MP and local stakeholders call for improvements to the A5 | Dr Luke Evans MP
A few days after the conference I secured a meeting with Roads Minister Katherine Fletcher to reiterate the need for improvements.
I raised these issues so frequently with the preceding Roads Minister, Baroness Vere, that whenever she saw me she’d say ‘you’re here to talk about the A5, aren’t you?!’.
I intend to gain a similar reputation with the new Roads Minister!
I’ll continue to reiterate to the Government the strategic and economic potential of our area and the benefits that these improvements would bring to people and businesses in Bosworth and across the Midlands.
Here's the full story on my meeting with the Minister: Dr Luke Evans MP makes the case for infrastructure improvements to Roads Minister | Dr Luke Evans MP
Campaigning for parole reform
Campaigning for parole reforms ahead of review into Colin Pitchfork case
I recently asked the Justice Department for an update on their comprehensive review of the parole system.
The parole board's decision to release Colin Pitchfork last year led to concern among us all. Such failure, particularly when it relates to the safety and wellbeing of children, cannot be allowed to happen again.
The Government cannot get involved in individual cases - nor should it - but they can and should change the system, especially when it's for the better.
You can read more here: Bosworth’s MP continues campaign for parole reforms ahead of Colin Pitchfork review | Dr Luke Evans MP
Some of my other work for Hinckley and Bosworth in October:
- Raised tackling illegal immigration while having legal migration routes and the need for a long-term plan with the Immigration Minister
- Continued my campaign for dealing with algorithms and accountability in the online world by debating with a DCMS Minister in Westminster Hall
- Spoke to local producers at the Middlefields Moojuice Farmers Market about how our community can support their work
- Visited Digital Concepts Engineering, one of the many excellent SME’s in our area, to see the tanks and defence equipment they are building which can be manned externally
- Sent a big thank you from our community to PCSOs and officers in Leicestershire ahead of upcoming celebrations they’re having to mark 20 years of PCSOs.
- Hosted Canadian MPs in Westminster as part of their visit to the UK and efforts to build on trans-Atlantic relationships.
- Discussed national housing policy and raised constituents’ concerns regarding the delayed Local Plan with the Planning Minister
- Intervened in a debate on rural healthcare about extending training opportunities available to GPs to encourage them to locate to rural areas
- Called on the Leader of the House to write to Government requesting an independent review into Rugby Union governance following the collapse of Wasps and Worcester Warriors
- Met the Chief Fire Officer for Leicestershire to discuss operations in our area and thank the team for their hard work.
- Joined a fellow Leicestershire MP in her campaign to have the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs relocate to our County.
- Visited Twycross Zoo to meet the new interim Chief Executive and was pleased to hear that plans are moving along for the £19.9 million Conservation Centre
In the Media
In LeicestershireLive: Meeting with the Roads Minister to discuss the need for improvements to the A5.
In The Independent: Calling for a review into Rugby Union governance following the collapse of Wasps and Worcester Warriors.
In LeicestershireLive: Who I supported in the recent leadership campaign.
On Fosse 107 Radio: Discussing benefits that the new testing unit at Hinckley Hospital will bring to constituents.
