Nottinghamshire's MPs have called for better communication from Government minister as Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions are expected to come into force in parts of the county on Wednesday.
MPs from the Nottinghamshire region were briefed this morning that a Government announcement is due on Monday.
The areas reported to be in line for Tier 3 restrictions are Nottingham city, Rushcliffe, Broxtowe and Gedling.
MPs from the north of the county were not invited to the meeting with health minister Nadine Dorries on Friday morning as rates in their constituencies are lower than the rest of the region, but it is understood Tier 3 restrictions in those areas will not be far behind.
It is understood that the Nottinghamshire MPs present pressed the Government ministers to “improve communication” with them and local leaders.
MPs also attempted to tackle the issue of financial support – with a source close to the meeting saying a question about a sufficient economic settlement would be “passed on to the Treasury”.
It is claimed Ms Dorries did not accept that the council had not had enough financial support.
Local leaders from both Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council are expected to have a further meeting with the Government on Friday afternoon.
Lilian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South, said: "Whilst the number of cases in Nottingham City is falling, more of the new cases are amongst older people who are at greater risk. That’s putting our local hospitals under pressure, so action is needed to get the virus under control as quickly as possible.
"Outside the city, rates of infection are continuing to rise rapidly and not just in Gedling, Rushcliffe and Broxtowe. If we want extra measures to be effective there has to be a discussion about which areas are included. It seems to me that other boroughs need to be involved in these discussions.
"There are also vital questions about the support for my constituents, their wages, jobs and businesses. You cannot separate measures to save lives from measures to protect livelihoods - they are inextricably linked.
"I’m afraid the Minister didn’t seem to understand that the complete absence of communication this week and the Government’s unwillingness to sit down with MPs and Council leaders in Nottinghamshire to discuss these issues is a source of real frustration."
