News Category - Justin Tomlinson MP

Justin Welcomes Launch Of The Eat Out To Help Out Scheme

Aug 03, 2020

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has welcomed the launch of the Government’s Eat Out To Help Out Scheme, which will give people in Swindon up to 50 per cent off their bills in restaurants, cafes and pubs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August. The scheme – part of the government’s Plan for Jobs that will spur the country’s economic recovery from coronavirus – applies to all food and non-alcoholic drinks, with a maximum discount per person of £10. In the South West, there are 5...

Swindon Advertiser Column - Increase In Cycling Is Great News

Jul 31, 2020

Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, I was pleased to see a huge increase in the number of people taking up cycling – with many bike stores reporting a surge in sales. Cycling is beneficial in many ways, both for the environment and people’s health. Keen to build on this enthusiasm for cycling, the Government announced a £2billion cycling and walking revolution, setting out a comprehensive, long term vision to increase cycling and walking. To help improve safety and encourage more people t...

Government Announces £2billion Package To Transform Cycling And Walking

Jul 29, 2020

The Government has announced a £2billion package to transform cycling and walking, supporting its ambition to double cycling and increase walking by 2025. The move towards walking and cycling is not only to help manage social distancing during the COVID outbreak, but also to help create a lasting legacy that transforms the urban realm for good – reducing congestion, delivering immediate and lasting health benefits, improving air quality and helping the UK to meet its carbon obligations. The doc...

Volunteers Week Community Champions Announced

Jul 29, 2020

Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, we have seen people really step up and support their communities. People across the UK have been volunteering in all sorts of ways - making meals for key-workers, delivering groceries to vulnerable people, and finding ways to cheer people up through the current challenges. In Swindon we have seen people go above and beyond to help their neighbours and people in their communities, and I wanted to make sure their efforts are recognised. Last week I asked people t...

Swindon Advertiser Column - The Government Is Building On Progress To Tackle Rough Sleeping

Jul 24, 2020

A key part of my role as the Minister for Disabled People is travelling to visit disability charities & organisations across the country. With the time restraint involved with travel, the switch to online meetings certainly has its advantages. This week technology allowed me to meet with over 100 different disability groups from across the country, all from the comfort (despite the mice) of my Parliamentary office. With these groups I discussed a range of crucial issues, but most prominent ...

Justin Welcomes New Building Rules To Increase Facilities For Disabled People

Jul 23, 2020

A major change to building rules in England will require thousands of large and well-equipped accessible toilet facilities to be designed and built into new public buildings – news which North Swindon MP and Minister for Disabled People has described as an important step forward for severely disabled people and their families. The new rules announced by the Government this week will make Changing Places toilets compulsory in new buildings, such as shopping centres, supermarkets, cinemas, stadia...

Swindon Advertiser Column - Free Trade Deals Will Play An Important Role In Tackling The Economic Challenges We Face

Jul 17, 2020

As we look to make our recovery following the devastation caused by Covid-19, free trade deals will play an important role in tackling the economic challenges we face. That’s why I am pleased that the Department for International Trade has now opened free trade negotiations with the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Along with the £160 billion the Government has provided to aid our recovery and prevent job losses, and the Chancellor’s Plan for Jobs, free trade agreements will provide exci...

Swindon Advertiser Column - An Ambitious And Decisive Plan To Kickstart The Economy

Jul 10, 2020

The Covid-19 outbreak has taken a huge toll on the economy, causing significant disruption to businesses and workers. Since the outbreak, the Government has provided £160 billion of funding to deal with the immediate short-term challenges. This is one of the largest and most comprehensive plans anywhere in the world – providing significant protection for businesses, jobs, and livelihoods. From the outset, the Government has said that it will do whatever it takes to protect people and businesses ...

Chancellor Announces Package Of Support For COVID Recovery

Jul 09, 2020

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has today announced a package of measures to support jobs in every part of the country, give businesses the confidence to retain and hire, and provide people with the tools they need to get better jobs. The plan for jobs is part of our plan to secure the UK’s economic recovery from Covid-19. Throughout the pandemic, the UK Government has acted with speed to protect lives and safeguard jobs. Measures announced today include: Job Retention Bonus of £1,000 to employers ...

Justin Welcomes New Digital Platform To Help Summer Reading Challenge Overcome COVID Obstacles

Jul 06, 2020

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has welcomed news that the Summer Reading Challenge will be going ahead – despite disruption to public libraries during the COVID outbreak. The Summer Reading Challenge is designed to encourage all primary-age children to use the school holidays to read for fun. It is a unique partnership between The Reading Agency and public libraries across the UK. The Challenge builds confidence and independent reading, while helping to prevent the dip in children’s reading ...