Column: Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami on vaccinations, pensions credits and steel industry

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami writes a regular column on Deeside.com with updates on his work in Westminster and closer to home.

As the first country in the UK to vaccinate the top four priority groups, it is clear that the Welsh Government’s vaccination strategy is working. I was pleased to join a Zoom meeting, with Jack Sargeant MS, on the successes of the rollout and the next steps for North Wales. With the vaccination programme onto the next stage, and a cautious return to schools next Monday, a return to normality is starting to feel closer for many. 

Despite this, the pandemic has been tough on people, and we still face challenging conditions in the coming months. As the next phase of the vaccination programme is carried out, looking after ourselves, mentally and physically, remains important. A recent issue addressed to me by constituents was concerns for those suffering from dementia during the pandemic. For anyone suffering from dementia, or who may know someone facing memory loss, www.dementiauk.org offers tips and advice, as well as a helpline for specialist nursing support.

In Alyn and Deeside, an estimated 770 older people are missing out on Pension Credit. If you are over pension age and not in receipt of Pension Credit. You can check whether you are eligible online at www.entitledto.co.uk.

This week, locally, I was pleased to hear about the solar farm being completed on behalf of Flintshire County Council. This will help power Flintshire with sustainable energy – as well as reducing carbon emissions. This will save over 800 tonnes of CO2 each year and pushes us towards a greener Wales. 

I was pleased to join a Community Union steel briefing. Now is a vital time to strengthen our manufacturing base and promote our high-quality steel. Nationally, the Welsh Government have announced a £200 million rail upgrade to connect North Wales and North West of England. This is a great start to Welsh railways being owned by the Welsh again. I welcome the planned upgrades to our services and look forward to seeing the project in motion.

In Parliament, I am continuing my push to ban glue traps in the UK. These cruel animal traps put pets and wildlife in danger. The RSPCA reported 243 glue trap incidents between 2015 and 2019 – 73% of these cases involved pets and wildlife, not rodents. I am pleased that the RSPCA have backed me on this campaign and hope more MPs will join me in the coming weeks.