14 March 2022
Vara urges Government to ensure Ukrainian refugees get urgent healthcare if needed

Following the announcement on the response to help those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, Shailesh Vara urges the Government to ensure that Ukrainian refugees who need urgent healthcare can get it on the NHS, even though they might not have an NHS number.

Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire) (Con)

I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement. We all recognise that, in time, people will be able to register for NHS services. However, some people will need urgent medical treatment. Will he kindly liaise with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to ensure that those who need urgent healthcare get it, even though they might not have an NHS number?

Michael Gove (The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

My hon. Friend makes an important point. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care moved with amazing speed to provide support to some of the most vulnerable, and he spoke to the Ukrainian ambassador earlier today about what more the NHS might be able to do. We will absolutely act in that spirit.

Hansard

14 March 2022
Vara backs bid to buy community pub

Shailesh Vara MP visited The Lion Pub in Ramsey St Mary’s to give his support to the local community in their bid to purchase the local pub.

Mr Vara was joined by Ramsey Mayor and Huntingdonshire District Councillor Steve Corney. They met with local resident Mr Micky O'Donoghue who explained that a Committee had been formed to take the project forwards. 

Residents and local businesses will be offered the opportunity to buy shares in The Lion Pub and the Committee hopes to work with the Council and also secure Government grants.

The emphasis will be on The Lion being a community pub and a focal point for local residents. The Lion’s facilities include rooms which could be used for a variety of other activities, such as coffee mornings, a place for learning groups and mother and baby groups.

Following the visit Mr Vara said:

“I was pleased to hear of this initiative. As well as serving as a pub, The Lion will be able to provide residents with a venue for various other local activities. Moreover, the share scheme will offer everyone the chance to get involved in this enterprising local venture."

Cllr Corney added:

“I’m very pleased to be supporting a new group that are looking to set up a community pub in Ramsey St Marys by purchasing the Lion, which has been empty for several years now. They plan to use the Plunket Foundation as a model and sell shares to members of the public to fund the purchase as well as the refurbishment creating a community owned business and focal point for the village.” 

Shailesh Vara visits Centre in Brightfield Business Hub in Orton Southgate, Peterborough where donations are being sent to Ukraine

Shailesh Vara visits sorting and packing supplied for Ukraine at East of England Showground

Shailesh Vara visits St Olga's Church in Woodston, Peterborough

13 March 2022
Vara Visits Ukraine Support Centres in North West Cambs

Shailesh Vara MP visited three Centres in his North West Cambridgeshire constituency which are helping to provide supplies for those fleeing from Ukraine.

Shailesh Vara visits St Olga's Church in Woodston, Peterborough
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St Olga's Church in Woodston, Peterborough

Mr Vara met Ms Alla Irodenko and Mr Yuriy Zhuravel, leading members of the local Ukrainian community, who have been working full time on a voluntary basis since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. 

He also met Mr Matt Oliver, Head of Think Communities from Peterborough City Council and his colleague Mr John McHattie, Community Connector, along with a number of volunteers at the Centres.

St Olga's Church in Woodston, also known as the Ukraine Church, is taking in all the supplies being donated by the public. Items being given include medicines, tinned food, clothes, sanitary products as well as towels and blankets. 

Some of the goods are being sorted and packed at the church. The rest, especially clothes, are being transferred to the East of England Showground for sorting out into different categories. They are then taken to premises in the Brightfield Business Hub in Orton Southgate ready for transporting to the people of Ukraine. Shipments are being sent out at least twice a week.

Mr Vara thanked the organisers and volunteers at the three Centres and pledged to do all he could to support their efforts, including working with Peterborough City Council and Government Ministers and Departments.

As well as being informed about the logistics of all that is being done, Mr Vara was informed of the generosity of some of the local businesses who are ensuring that the volunteers are provided with food and drink while they are working.

Following the visits, Mr Vara said:

“It was wonderful to see the local community come together in this way to help those in desperate need following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

I give huge thanks to the public who have been extraordinarily generous with their donations and continue to do so. Massive thanks to Alla and Yuriy and all the volunteers who are ensuring that the supplies get across to Ukraine as quickly as possible.

I was also very pleased to see that Peterborough City Council is working closely with the volunteers. The Council's role will, of course, increase in the coming days and weeks as Ukrainians start to arrive in the UK.”

Mr Oliver added:

“Peterborough City Council is proud to be working alongside our local Ukrainian community to help them with their efforts in sending much needed essential items to Ukraine. At this point the Council are taking a coordinating role for immediate needs such as storage, volunteer coordination and communications support.  The response from the people of Peterborough has been amazing as always at this tragic time and we would like to thank everyone who has contacted us or who is taking their own community action to stand together with Ukraine.”

 Ms Irodenko commented:

“Myself and the Ukrainian community here are very grateful for your support. The support that we received warms our hearts.  In this time of need during this war, the whole world has stood shoulder to shoulder in support for Ukraine. I am very proud to be Ukrainian. Thank you to Mr Vara for his support and guidance.”

Mr Zhuravel said:

“Ukrainian Community in Peterborough thanks MP Shailesh Vara for visiting us. He was welcome at all our donation sites. We were touched by his attention to details of our process, and his readiness to help in all our needs now and in the future. Mr Shailesh Vara’s support of our small group, who are giving absolutely all to help Ukraine, is very important to us.”

Shailesh Vara visits sorting and packing supplied for Ukraine at East of England Showground
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East of England Showground

Shailesh Vara visits Centre in Brightfield Business Hub in Orton Southgate, Peterborough where donations are being sent to Ukraine
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Brightfield Business Hub in Orton Southgate, Peterborough

11 March 2022
How you can help in Ukraine
How you can help in Ukraine

If you want to donate money, there are a number of charities providing humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

Donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Appeal

The UK Government matched, pound-for-pound, £25 million of public donations to this appeal.

In Poland the authorities have issued a statement calling on the UK public not to provide further in-kind donations.

28 February 2022
Vara welcomes measures to tackle illegal hare coursing

Shailesh Vara welcomes measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to tackle illegal hare coursing and calls for maximum penalties to act as a powerful deterrent.

Shailesh Vara 

As a Cambridgeshire neighbour, I am well aware of the difficulties that the Bill seeks to put right. When the matter has been raised with the police, one of the main points that they make is that until now the legislation has had no teeth. When the Bill becomes law, hopefully they will have what they have always wanted. Does my hon. Friend agree that what we really need, once the Bill is on the statute book, is for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that the maximum penalties are inflicted on those who are found guilty, not only as punishment for them but to act as a powerful deterrent to others?

Mr Djanogly 

I agree with my hon. Friend in every regard. He has made the important point that when legislation is on the statute book, it must be enforced. I think he will agree with me, given the experiences we have both had in talking to local police, that they seek this legislation, they are waiting for it and they will act on it, and no doubt we are both keen to see that happen.

Hansard

22 February 2022
Vara welcomes PM statement on Russian sanctions

Shailesh Vara welcomes the Prime Minister’s statement on sanctions and seeks assurance that any UK individuals or institutions who have any dealings with the banks and Russian individuals sanctioned will face the severest of penalties.

Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire) (Con)

I welcome the Prime Minister’s statement. Tough sanctions require tough compliance. He said that UK individuals and entities should not have any dealings with the banks and Russian individuals that he mentioned. Will he therefore give this House an assurance that for any UK individuals or institutions who have dealings with such banks and individuals, there will be the severest of penalties?

The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Yes, indeed. Those who abet sanctioned people, help them to evade anti-money laundering provisions or help them to conceal beneficial interests will of course be breaking the law themselves.

Hansard

Shailesh Vara MP and Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston MP visit Peterborough United