From your local MP – David Johnston

Thank you to everyone who completed my health services survey. In total, 2,838 people did so, 77% of whom said they had had difficulty getting a GP appointment in the last year (44% said they had had difficulty accessing an appointment with a dentist). Unsurprisingly, 97% of people felt we do not have enough GPs for the number of people we have locally and 98% felt we do not have enough dentists. I completely agree and have been banging the drum on our health services since I was elected. Not long after the survey closed, I secured a debate in parliament about our health services and intend to keep banging heads together until we get the services we need.
I was pleased to take the Children’s Minister, Claire Coutinho, to a local nursery recently to meet staff and children. The Government is making the largest single investment in childcare in history, which will give parents 30 free hours of childcare per week from when their child is 9 months old until they start school, which will be very welcome to the parents who raise childcare with me when I knock on their doors. I have launched a childcare survey on my website which is designed to let parents (and grandparents) talk about their experience of accessing childcare and say what they’d like to see. It is open until the 12th July www.david-johnston.org.uk/childcare
Sticking with education and children for a minute, I was drawn to ask a question at Prime Minister’s Questions and used it to highlight the great news that English primary school children have just been ranked the best readers in the Western World – better than all other countries in Europe as well as America and Canada – and the fourth best globally. This is in large part testament to teachers and the Government’s focus on phonics, which was resisted by some at the time but is clearing bearing fruit.
Depending on when you read this, you’ll either just still have time to attend my 3rd Annual Climate Summit for constituents on Zoom on 4 July or it will have happened and you’ll be able to watch a recording of it on my website or Facebook page. I was pleased that Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, agreed to give the keynote speech – and, as ever, local and national experts agreed to take part.
This year, I have been hosting at least one local young person for work experience every month including Anastasiia, who is originally from Ukraine. I first met her with the family she is kindly hosted by in North Moreton. It was good to have her with us in Parliament.
I’ve enjoyed getting into the swing of the summer events happening across the constituency, including the Hagbourne Church Fete and Uffington Fun Day. Do get in touch if you’re involved in organising something you’d like me to come to, or indeed if I can help with anything else via david.johnston.mp@parliament.uk