THE speed and efficiency of our vaccine rollout is a source of national pride and the progress that Bridport Medical Centre has made is one of local pride.

The Government, with the support of our local doctors and volunteers has met the 15th February target of vaccinating the four highest priority groups, with over 15.5 million people across the UK having received their first dose as of Monday.

This is a tremendous success and I pay tribute to the NHS staff, GPs, scientists, military personnel, volunteers, and all others who have been involved in the vaccine programme locally.

Everyone aged 65 and over can now book their vaccination, along with any frontline health & social care workers and those who have been told they are clinically extremely vulnerable. If you are over-65 and have not heard from your GP, please book a vaccination by calling 119 or visiting the NHS website.

Last Wednesday was a busy day in the House of Commons. At Transport Select Committee in the morning, I pointed out that London buses enjoy considerably more funding per journey when compared to areas like Dorset – which is not fair. And on Wednesday afternoon, I supported Dorset Police and endorsed the Government’s recently announced £7.7 million more funding for Dorset Police and 39 more police officers. And we will directly benefit from this in Bridport and Lyme Regis.

When I was a District Councillor in 2014, I argued strongly to maintain and increase local focus to rural policing and now I'm continuing to make sure that focus continues at Government level. This is especially important in tackling the hidden scourge of ‘county lines’, which has seen young people being taken advantage of by drugs gangs. And don’t think it doesn’t happen here in rural Dorset – because it does – in Bridport and Lyme and Beaminster and it has to stop.

To receive my latest updates from Westminster and West Dorset, please sign up for my newsletter at www.chrisloder.co.uk

CHRIS LODER

West Dorset MP