Weekly Update - 1 November

Dear John

This week, my friend Rachel Reeves delivered the first Labour budget in 14 years – the first ever budget to be delivered by a female Chancellor. What a historic moment. This is a Budget that fixes the foundations to deliver change. We are fixing the NHS and rebuilding Britain, while ensuring working people don't face higher taxes in their payslips. Labour's first Budget means hospital waiting lists will be cut and we will invest in Britain's future to rebuild our schools, hospitals and broken roads. And we will do all this by making fairer choices, ensuring that working people don't face higher taxes in their payslips. Our budget will deliver change for people in the West Midlands. In our Budget, we have committed to: Bringing down waiting lists by delivering 40,000 extra appointments a week Expanding government-funded childcare with £1.8bn for local authorities Tripling our investment in breakfast clubs to break down the barriers to opportunity Investing £500m towards fixing our roads Increasing the national minimum wage, which will mean a £1,400 boost to the full-time equivalent pay of over 45,000 people in Birmingham alone Extending the Household Support Fund to help families with the cost of living Keeping the pension Triple Lock, meaning pensioners will be up to £470 better off next year Delivering on HS2, connecting Birmingham and London Euston Bringing investment into our region to generate growth and create jobs for local people You can find more detail about the budget here.

Budget Debate

On Wednesday, I spoke in the debate following the Chancellor’s announcement of the budget. I welcome the Chancellor’s plans to fix the foundations of the country and her commitments to investing in the West Midlands. I have the largest hospital trust in the country in my constituency (University Hospitals Birmingham), so I want to thank the Chancellor for announcing funding to support the delivery of two million extra NHS operations, scans and appointments to cut waiting lists across England. I can’t describe how much this means for people in my constituency – not just the many NHS staff whose morale has been ground into a fine dust over the last 14 years. I have constituents who have died waiting for treatment and I know a case of one child who lost her sight waiting for an appointment. You can read my full speech here.

Presentation of Bills

This week, I presented two bills to Parliament. I presented the Registration of Death (Religion) Bill, which would mean religious data would be collected as part of the death registration process. I also presented the Firearms (3D Printing) Bill, which would make it an offence to possess a blueprint for the production of a firearm for 3D printing. This would help to reduce firearm offences and deaths across the country.

Moroccan Ambassador

It was lovely to meet with the Moroccan Ambassador to the UK, Hakim Hajoui, in Parliament this week. It was good to talk about how the two nations can work together to support mutual growth.

Barford Tigers

Over the weekend, it was brilliant to attend the charity fundraiser for Barford Tigers Hockey Club, a new community hub in Handsworth. The club will provide much-needed hockey and football pitches, as well as space for indoor activities for people across Birmingham to enjoy.

Assisted Dying

This week, I held a meeting with constituents who have written in to me about assisted dying, ahead of the Assisted Dying Bill’s second reading. It was important to hear more about the different views held by people.

Local News

Harborne Day Centre

This week, I met with Max Caller, Birmingham City Council commissioner, and asked him to consider co-operative models so we can retain Harborne Day Centre and the libraries in my constituency. I also appeared on ITV Central questioning his decision to block a call-in request over the planned closure of Harborne Day Centre, which is preventing democratic scrutiny. The centre is a lifeline for carers as well as the people who use the centre, many of whom have complex needs that cannot be met elsewhere. We must consider a partnership approach in order to save our assets. You can read more here. Diwali

I want to wish a very happy Diwali to my many wonderful constituents, and everyone who is celebrating across the UK and around the world. Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil, and light over darkness. This celebration is particularly poignant at a time when we are seeing so much conflict in the world. It was great to join the House of Commons speaker for a lovely Diwali celebration in Parliament. Bandi Chhor Divas

I want to wish everyone celebrating a wonderful Bandi Chhor Divas. Today, Sikhs commemorate the day Guru Hargobind Singh was released from prison, where he also had 52 Hindu kings released, honouring the Sikh commitment to freedom, justice and human rights. Our Gurus were revered given the many wars they fought against the Mughals as defenders of faith, human rights and the right to self-determination. This was a pivotal chapter in Indian history.

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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