What glorious weather we’ve had this week! Just when we had almost forgotten what a sunny day looked like, we were hit with a heatwave. While many of us may have enjoyed the opportunity to sunbathe, we must remember that heatwaves can be very dangerous. We must all remember to keep hydrated – even more so than usual –, slather ourselves and children in sun lotion, and keep pets indoors where we can. We are expecting cooler weather this weekend and next week, but forecasters are predicting more hot temperatures for August. It’s something else to consider this summer as we start to open up and see fewer restrictions relating to Covid. Although this summer will be less restricted than last summer, events will still not be “back to normal”. Keep yourselves safe – continue to wear a mask in indoor public spaces, maintain social distancing where you can, and continue to wash your hands regularly.
This week ‘Breakfast in a Bag’ started in Swansea East. The team will provide 50 breakfasts in a bag to local families within Swansea East communities who are experiencing holiday hunger. The fabulous Morrison’s are providing a discount for the produce and collecting donations from their customers and Warburtons are donating fresh bread every week. I want to thank everyone involved for their generosity – holiday hunger is a terrible thing for children and families to experience in the 21st century, but I am so thankful to be surrounded by such wonderful people who will not allow it to happen in our communities.
On Thursday evening I was pleased to speak to the Totes Merry Peri Menopause support group. We talked about the Menopause Revolution – from the initial starting point of the Private Member’s Bill I brought in to call for free HRT for women in England (prescriptions are already free elsewhere) to the All-Party Parliamentary Group inquiry and how the ladies can engage with their MP on this topic. We want this to provoke a conversation and much of that will come from MPs discussing the situation with their constituents and supporting the Revolution in Parliament.
This week the Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing All-Party Parliamentary Group have released their report on non-surgical cosmetic treatments. We have found that while demand for non-surgical procedures has completely exploded in recent years, the UK Government have failed to ensure that legal protections keep up with reality. Too many procedures are carried out by practitioners that have not undertaken adequate training and who are not regulated within the industry. Patients are left at serious risk of complications if beauty procedures are not carried out properly. We want the Government to establish a national licensing scheme to oversee and regulate non-surgical cosmetic treatments so that patients are protected but also to protect the reputation of those working within this industry. Our beauty industry is worth a staggering £27 billion to the UK economy and we need to protect that – to ensure that people feel safe using services and are able to continue to do so.
As we come to the end of term, for teachers and students as well as Parliamentarians(!), I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful teachers and teaching assistants who have worked so hard to support our children through this difficult year. They have had to quickly get to grips with online teaching systems and new ways of connecting with students without being face-to-face and then have had to ensure that students are comfortable returning to schools with the new restrictions. While a teacher’s summer is never without planning for the new year or summer tutoring, I hope you are able to take some time to relax and recharge ready for September!
You can keep up to date with Welsh Government announcements and information on their dedicated coronavirus page. As always, if you have any issues or concerns to raise with me as your local MP, please get in touch by emailing carolyn.harris.mp@parliament.uk – my team and I are here to help. And remember – stay home, observe social distancing, wash your hands regularly and keep Wales safe!
