Hello and welcome to all of you in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.

Thank you for taking a moment to look at this email. I want to keep everyone in touch with what’s going on in the constituency and what it might mean for you.

My door is open to anyone who seeks advice and support, so you can  phone or email me at any time.

There aren't any constituency surgeries at the moment, but you can still contact my office if you need help of any kind. Staff are working from home, but i f you leave a message, someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Covid-19 Test and Protect
A survey has found a high level of support for testing measures to control the spread of coronavirus in Scotland.

 

The survey, carried out days before NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect was rolled out across the country, showed 91% of adults in Scotland recognised the importance of testing while 89% agreed that staying home helped to save lives. In total 88% said they would want a test if at all possible if they developed symptoms, and 88% would be happy to provide details of people with whom they had been in contact.

Under the system, people will need to isolate with their household as soon as they have symptoms and get tested straight away through NHSInform.scot. If they have a positive test result, they will be asked to provide details of all recent close contacts to NHS contact tracers, and those people will be contacted and asked to isolate for 14 days.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Test and Protect is an essential step in our response to Covid-19. We are taking this step now because it's the appropriate thing to do for this stage of the virus.

 

“As with lockdown, we need everyone to take this next step very seriously. They have done this so far, and I am very confident they will step up to show the same spirit of solidarity and care for each other as before.

“It is a collective national endeavour. People will need the help of family, friends, colleagues and employers. But support from us and our local authority partners will be available for anyone who needs extra help to self-isolate.

“If we all agree that some of us will have to stay home at times - when we have symptoms, test positive, or have been in contact with someone who tests positive - we can gradually move away from a situation where everyone has to stay home all of the time.”

The aim of this updated system is to be able to move from containing coronavirus to actively suppressing it which would allow our society and economy to avoid a return to lockdown.

The system operates by identifying cases of COVID-19 and tracing anyone who may have been in close contact with the infected person.

These people will then be supported to self-isolate which means they are less likely to infect anyone else with the virus.

This means that even if you have no symptoms but have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive to the virus you will be asked by the NHS to self-isolate.

Everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will be put in touch with their local contact tracing team, so that other close contacts can be identified. These close contacts, as well as household contacts, will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 – a new cough, fever, or a loss and/or change of taste and/or smell – you must self-isolate at home for 7 days.

If you live with someone who has symptoms or has tested positive, you will be asked to self-isolate at home for 14 days.

If you have symptoms, contact the NHS to arrange to be tested at 0800 028 2816 or on the NHS Inform website at https://www.nhsinform.scot/

When self isolating you should remain at home and DO NOT go to work, school, public areas or go to buy food or other essentials.

When self-isolating you should:

• stay at least 2 metres (6 feet, or 3 steps) away from other people in your home
• stay in a different room from other people in your home, ensuring it is well-ventilated
• sleep alone in a separate bed
• spend as little time as possible in shared areas (sitting room, kitchen, bathroom)
• avoid using your kitchen while others are present
• use a separate towel to dry your hands after you wash them; and
• clean your kitchen, bathroom and other surfaces throughout the house every day

We will only be able to avoid a return to lockdown with your help. If we can suppress the spread of the virus by following the guidelines and self-isolating when we need to then we the restrictions we are facing can continue to be eased.
 
Moving to Phase 1
Changes to Scotland’s lockdown restrictions were confirmed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on 28 May.

While some outdoor activity restrictions will ease as of Friday, the public are still urged to stay at home as much as possible and maintain strict physical distancing when outdoors.

From 29 May, two households will be allowed to meet in outdoor spaces up to a suggested maximum of eight people. However, it is important that physical distancing and hygiene rules are maintained.

 

Announcing the measures, the First Minister said: “The only reason the Scottish Government can make these changes [today] is because of the sacrifices that all of you have made. So thank you, to each and every one of you.

“No change will be risk free - and there are no certainties. While I am confident of that, there is also the chance that even these limited changes will lead to much greater change in reality.

“So please act within the rules. Be respectful of each other’s space, be kind, be prepared for things to be very different and remember that each individual decision you take affects the wellbeing of all of us. How well we follow these practices now determines whether we can go further in the future. We can only take these steps towards a less restricted lifestyle, and then consider taking further steps, if people continue to obey the guidance.

“My advice is to stay home as much as possible – the virus has not gone away. If you have symptoms, get tested; wash your hands and surfaces regularly; and if you do meet family or a friend stay outdoors. Don’t put them or yourself at risk.

“People who are shielding will be well into their third month of isolation, of not being able to leave the house at all. They are uppermost in our thoughts as we think about how to safely come out of lockdown and we’ll provide more information for them in the coming weeks.
“We can only take these steps towards a less restricted lifestyle because people have, overwhelmingly, stuck to the guidance. And we will be able to take more steps more quickly in the future – if we continue to do the right thing, and to stick to the rules.”

Measures introduced in Phase 1 and in place now include:

• One household can now meet up with another outdoors. This can be in one household’s garden, but physical distancing is still required. It is expected households will only meet one other household within the same day and up to a recommended maximum of eight people in the overall group.

• Public outdoor spaces can now be used for recreational purposes, for example to sit in a park, sunbathe or have a picnic. People should not share food and drink between households and should avoid using shared facilities like toilets. If eating, each household should bring their own food separately and avoid sharing utensils, dishes or cups and use a hand sanitiser before eating. Physical distancing between households should be maintained at all times.

• You can now travel short distances for outdoor leisure and exercise but should remain in your local area, suggested to be five miles from your house, although we ask people to use their judgement. People are encouraged to walk, wheel or cycle where possible.

• Staff can return to schools subject to risk assessments and appropriate physical distancing and hygiene measures being in place to support this. This is to plan and prepare for the new blended model of learning to be implemented from 11 August.

• Child minding services and fully outdoor nursery provision will be available, although capacity will be limited. Both measures will be subject to increased hygiene measures, small group working and physical distancing of adults.

• Most outdoor workplaces to resume with physical distancing measures in place once guidance is agreed, including horticulture, landscaping and garden centres, forestry and environmental management. Associated cafes should not reopen at this stage except for take-away and physical distancing measures should be followed.

• The construction sector is expected to be able to implement the first phase in its restart plan. A move to ‘phase 2’ of the construction sector’s plan will follow consultation with government to ensure it is safe to do so in line with public health advice.

• Food outlets, restaurants and cafes are able to provide delivery, take-away and drive-through food options in line with guidance and complying with safe physical distancing measures.

• Unrestricted outdoor exercise and some non-contact outdoor activities within the local area – such as golf, outdoor tennis and angling – can resume provided physical distancing is followed. It does not mean that taking part will always be safe. You should use judgement and take part only if you can do so safely, maintaining physical distancing and not putting yourself or others at risk.

• Household Waste Recycling Centres will begin to reopen. Sites must operate safely, ensuring physical distancing is maintained, and should only be visited when absolutely necessary to minimise journeys.

South Lanarkshire Council - June 1

Carluke Household Waste and Recycling Centre
East Kilbride Waste and Recycling Centre
Eastfield Waste and Recycling Centre
Hamilton and Blantyre Waste and Recycling Centre
Larkhall Waste and Recycling Centre
Strathaven Waste and Recycling Centre
 

A virtual Parliament at Westminster
MPs will descend upon the House of Commons on Tuesday. The uproar there is Boris Johnson’s preferred environment; it suits his bluster and his tendency to toss out unproven information.


 
For the SNP the end to virtual participation is ‘unworkable and unsustainable’ according to a report from the Procedure Committee. MPs will still need to sit two metres apart and they will be unable to vote because, as Speaker Lindsay Hoyle confirmed, “the House simply cannot conduct divisions safely via the lobbies.”
 

Commenting, SNP Shadow Leader of the House Tommy Sheppard MP said:

"Boris Johnson's plans to shut down virtual participation in Parliament are a total shambles - they are unworkable, unsustainable and unravelling further by the day.

"The SNP has been clear from the start that virtual participation must continue - that is the best way to do our jobs and protect public health, in line with the guidance across the four nations.

"The Tories have some serious questions to answer. Instead of accepting the cross-party consensus to retain hybrid proceedings, they are forcing MPs from across the UK to travel hundreds of miles to Westminster - and all because the Prime Minister isn't very good at his job and wants to be surrounded by braying backbench Tory MPs.

"It just goes to show how broken the Westminster system is – many MPs from Scotland and elsewhere, through no choice of their own, will find themselves locked out of Parliament as quarantine and self-isolation requirements continue.

"SNP MPs will continue to press for full virtual participation and we urge the Tories to scrap and reverse their botched plans. If they do not, we will balance protecting public health and Scotland's democratic voice by sending the minimum number of MPs required to hold the UK government to account, while the majority of MPs will work in their constituencies and committees that meet remotely.

"Yet again, Westminster is failing Scotland. It has been proven that MPs can safely and effectively work remotely using virtual technology, and the only way to ensure equality of representation during this crisis is to reintroduce virtual votes and debates. Once this crisis is over it will be all the more important that the people of Scotland have the choice to shake off Westminster for good and build a better future as an independent country."

Commenting, SNP Shadow Leader of the House Tommy Sheppard MP said:

"Boris Johnson's plans to shut down virtual participation in Parliament are a total shambles - they are unworkable, unsustainable and unravelling further by the day.

"The SNP has been clear from the start that virtual participation must continue - that is the best way to do our jobs and protect public health, in line with the guidance across the four nations.

"The Tories have some serious questions to answer. Instead of accepting the cross-party consensus to retain hybrid proceedings, they are forcing MPs from across the UK to travel hundreds of miles to Westminster - and all because the Prime Minister isn't very good at his job and wants to be surrounded by braying backbench Tory MPs.

"It just goes to show how broken the Westminster system is – many MPs from Scotland and elsewhere, through no choice of their own, will find themselves locked out of Parliament as quarantine and self-isolation requirements continue.

"SNP MPs will continue to press for full virtual participation and we urge the Tories to scrap and reverse their botched plans. If they do not, we will balance protecting public health and Scotland's democratic voice by sending the minimum number of MPs required to hold the UK government to account, while the majority of MPs will work in their constituencies and committees that meet remotely.

"Yet again, Westminster is failing Scotland. It has been proven that MPs can safely and effectively work remotely using virtual technology, and the only way to ensure equality of representation during this crisis is to reintroduce virtual votes and debates. Once this crisis is over it will be all the more important that the people of Scotland have the choice to shake off Westminster for good and build a better future as an independent country."

Calls for post-coronavirus blueprint to help Hamilton
I’m delighted to be playing a part in starting up new local discussions about protecting jobs and helping Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse towards post-virus recovery.
 
While of course we’re not yet out of this pandemic, we do have a meaningful opportunity for politicians, business leaders and other stakeholders to work together positively for the good of all the communities we serve.
 
If we can create an agreed blueprint in preparation for improving conditions, then we will be ready to move immediately, unlike the Westminster Government when the pandemic first arrived.
 
Had it headed the warnings and acted more quickly, lives could have been saved and PPE dispatched quickly to every location in need of it.
We already have a solid foundation in our Hamilton Town Centre Action Plan. In fresh joint discussions, we can build a post-Covid plan.
 
Boy Scout motto: ‘Be prepared’ is sound advice.
 
Foodbanks
A reminder that our foodbanks urgently need items including:

Covid-19 has increased pressure on foodbanks hugely. Many people in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse have lost jobs in retail, in hospitality and pretty much every sector, while many more are just about hanging on under the furlough scheme but even that is under threat. If Westminster withdraws 20% from the present 80% payment, then a host more jobs will go overnight. Businesses, except the few multi-nationals, just can’t afford to pay even 20% of the wage bill while they cannot trade.
 
You can donate items for the Hamilton foodbank at any of these locations:
 
Asda, Palace Grounds Road, Hamilton
 
Co-op, Mill Road, Hamilton
 
Co-op, Larkhall
 
Asda, Larkhall
 
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP?
The community spirit shown by people across Lanarkshire has been heart-warming. If you would like to offer your help, there are a whole host of new groups working across Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.

They are working together to help spread cheer and make sure the most vulnerable in our area are getting the necessities they need.

The range of services provided include delivering shopping to elderly or vulnerable neighbours, using online group chats to combat social isolation and loneliness, and handing out care packages to the elderly and vulnerable.

If you are in Hamilton, you can find more information about the Hamilton COVID-19 Warriors here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/213851619986142

If you are in Larkhall, you can find out more information about the COVID-19 Rainbows – Larkhall here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092656721095368/permalink/1092743704420003

If you are in Stonehouse, you can find out more information about Stonehouse Coronavirus Community Support here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3402877913061116

If you do not have Facebook but are keen to do your bit locally, then feel free to email me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I can put you in touch with one of your local groups.

At this time, it has never been more important for us all to look after our neighbours and family.
 
HELP SERVICES AVAILABLE
For Scottish Government information - https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/

For NHS Scotland information - https://www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus

For Resilience planning information - https://www.readyscotland.org/

For young people - https://young.scot/

For parents  https://www.parentclub.scot/ and https://www.children1st.org.uk/help-for-families/parentline-scotland/

For older people - https://www.ageuk.org.uk/scotland/

 For information on charities and third sector - https://scvo.org.uk/support/coronavirus

For non-domestic rates business support - https://www.mygov.scot/non-domestic-rates-coronavirus/