Weekly Update - 25 October

Dear John

This week, our Labour government has continued to deliver on the change people voted for on 4th July.

Make Work Pay

This week, I voted for the Employment’s Rights Bill to update the UK’s outdated employment laws and turn the page on an economy blighted by insecurity, poor productivity and low pay. Our plan to Make Work Pay will end exploitative zero hours contracts and fire and rehire practices, establish day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers, and strengthen statutory sick pay. The Bill will also be beneficial for employers, helping to keep people in work, reduce recruitment costs for employers by increasing staff retention and levelling the playing field on enforcement. Find out what the Employment Rights Bill means for you here.

DEFRA News

We have launched an Independent Water Commission to review the water industry and ensure we bring in the regulations necessary to clean up our waterways. This comes after new data reveals the number of hours of sewage spilling into our waterways in Birmingham, Edgbaston skyrocketed by 59%, to 360 hours in 2023, compared to 213 in 2022. The recommendations from the review will form the basis of further legislation to attract long-term investment and clean up our waters for good – injecting billions of pounds into the economy, speeding up delivery on infrastructure to support house building and water scarcity. More information More information here.

Football Governance Bill

We have introduced a Football Governance Bill, taking on rogue owners, helping put clubs on a sound financial footing and putting fans back at the heart of the game. New powers in the Bill will deliver on our manifesto commitments and include consulting fans on ticket pricing, home stadium relocations, and fan representation at clubs. More information here.

Sentencing Review

We've launched a landmark Sentencing Review to end the prison crisis and ensure no government is forced into the emergency release of prisoners again. This forms part of the Government’s pledge to always have the prison places needed to lock up the most dangerous offenders, alongside its commitment to build 14,000 prison spaces. More information here.

Child Poverty Strategy

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson published the framework for developing this Government’s ambitious new child poverty strategy. Tackling child poverty is both a moral imperative and crucial to building a stronger society and economy. Driving down child poverty will transform lives and communities and is at the heart of our Opportunity Mission: breaking the link between young people’s backgrounds and their future success. More information here.

NHS Change Consultation

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting have launched the biggest consultation in NHS history. This is open to everyone. If you’re a member of the public, a patient, or someone who works in health and social care in England, tell us how the NHS needs to change. You can do so here.

British Gas

This week, I met with British Gas and British Gas Energy Trust in Parliament to discuss how my constituents can keep their homes warm this winter. Anyone in the constituency struggling with their energy bills should contact my office on 0121 392 8426.

Co-operative Party Event

It was great to meet with the Co-operative Party Parliamentary Group this week as Chair of the Parliamentary Co-op Party. This week, we heard from Shirine Khoury-Haq, CEO of the Co-op Group, and discussed how to double the co-operative sector.

University of Birmingham

It was great to visit the University of Birmingham to learn about their new initiative for creating school-wide approaches and to meet the young people who they have worked on this project with. The university has been working with primary school children to develop a school-wide approach to emotional wellbeing which reflects the things that matter most to the children. The children, alongside the University of Birmingham research team, led by Senior Fellow, Dr Jo Ellins, have now designed and developed a practical resource and a mapping tool to help them turn the aspiration of co-producing a whole school approach (WSA) into a reality.

National Day of Action

I was really grateful to have been invited by my constituent Alison Thompson to discuss green issues with residents on the National Day of Action with Greenpeace and Climate Coalition at the Red Shed in North Edgbaston. Our Labour Government has already lifted the ban on onshore wind, unblocked solar schemes and introduced the GB Energy Bill to deliver cleaner and more secure energy.

Synthetic Opioids

This week, I spoke to the Big Issue about the deadly threat that synthetic opioids pose to our city, especially our more vulnerable residents. It is a tragedy that last summer 21 deaths in Birmingham were linked to nitazenes, a strong synthetic opioid. It’s vital that first responders and police officers carry naloxone, which can save people experiencing drug overdoses, and are trained how to use it because we know it saves lives. It’s also essential that to reduce the harm caused by these substances, we increase awareness of their dangers. I’m glad that the new government is updating its education resources to include an increased emphasis on the risks of synthetic drugs. You can read the article here.

Harborne Day Centre

I have been fighting to save Harborne Day Centre in my constituency because it is a vital resource for carers and those who use it, many of whom have complex needs that cannot be met elsewhere. By rejecting “call in” requests from councillors to challenge the closure of Harborne Day Centre, city council commissioners have attempted to shut down democratic scrutiny. I asked the Commissioner to meet with me to explore other options for the centre. More in an article by Birmingham Live.

Libraries

I am really disappointed by the new proposals being put forward by Birmingham City Council for libraries in my constituency. These new plans would mean that there would be no full-time library offer in my constituency. I am still waiting for the council to meet with me to discuss a community partnership model for libraries in Harborne and Bartley Green. I am working with residents to set up a Friends of Harborne Library Group and am encouraging people to get in touch if they are interested in joining a Friends of Bartley Green Library group. You can express your interest here. Read my latest statement on library closures in full.

Local News

Mariner Avenue On a weekly doorknock in North Edgbaston, I met residents on Mariner Avenue who raised an issue with the temporary lights at the corner of Mariner Avenue and Monument Road. I wrote to the council on their behalf and am glad that now these temporary lights are scheduled to be replaced with a permanent Belisha Beacon crossing in November. MHWC Next week, the MHWC will be visiting George Road in Edgbaston, B15 1PJ, on Monday 28th October, and Glyn Road in Quinton, B32 2TA, on Wednesday 30th October. The centre will be open between 7:30 am and 1:00 pm, so please do come along if you have bulky household waste to dispose of! Harborne Craft Market

Harborne Christmas Craft Market will be taking place on 23rd and 24th November between 10am and 4pm at Moorpool Hall in Harborne. There will be handmade arts, crafts, gifts, home baked cakes and more.

Best wishes,

Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton Promoted by David Evans on behalf of the Labour Party, 20 Rushworth Street, London SE1 0SS

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