Dear John

I hope you've had a good week. Here's what I've been up to over this past week.

This Week the Government Announced...

Over £3 million to prevent homelessness in Birmingham

This week, on World Homeless Day, the government announced its £84 million cash boost to help councils prevent homelessness and support families this winter.

In the 14 years of the previous government, levels of rough sleeping more than doubled and there are now nearly 170,000 children in temporary accommodation across the country. This government will not stand idly by in the face of rising homelessness and rough sleeping.

I am delighted that Birmingham City Council has been allocated over £3.1 million - I have raised our city's difficulties providing support so it is great to see ministers listening and taking action.

This funding will support councils with the highest pressures to deliver a range of services to prevent and reduce homelessness and rough sleeping. This includes strengthening partnerships and services with voluntary, community, and faith sector organisations, supporting children experiencing homelessness and funding evidence-based drug and alcohol treatment for vulnerable individuals.
 

This is on top of the first steps the Government have already taken to getting back on track to ending homelessness. Over £1 billion is being invested this year in homelessness and rough sleeping services, including the largest ever investment in prevention services, helping councils intervene early and stop homelessness before it happens.

10,600 new UK jobs thanks to India trade trip

The Prime Minister this week completed a two-day trade mission to Mumbai, India. Alongside a delegation of 125 CEOs, university Vice-Chancellors and others, the Prime Minister secured 10,600 new jobs for the UK.

Over the course of the trip, 6,900 new jobs were secured thanks to £1.3 billion of new Indian investment into the UK - in sectors ranging from engineering to technology, across every region of the country.

Major film studio Yash Raj Films committed to making 3 new Bollywood blockbusters in the UK from next year, bringing over 3,000 new jobs to the UK from early next year.

Finally, a new £350 million deal will create over 700 jobs in Northern Ireland to deliver UK-manufactured missiles to the Indian Army.

The Prime Minister also promised to open doors for British businesses in India, following the signature of the ambitious UK-India trade deal in July - which will lower tariffs on British goods being imported into India and mean trade is quicker, cheaper and easier.

Watch the Prime Minister's round up of the trip here.

Review of outdated pub licensing rules

Pubs and bars are the beating heart of our communities. This government is backing them to thrive.

The Government has launched a fast-track four week review to rip-up outdated rules punishing pubs & hampering hospitality.

For years, red tape has made it harder for pubs to serve food outside, host live music, or even stay open, with some historic venues forced to shut over noise complaints or outdated advertising rules. Now, a four-week Call for Evidence is giving people the chance to help fix it.

This review is about cutting red tape, boosting footfall, and making it easier for venues to put on the kind of events that bring people together. The shake-up could mean more street food, more live music, and fewer hoops to jump through for venues trying to bring people together - all while keeping the public safe.

When our locals do well, our economy does too. I am determined to back small businesses and bring the buzz back to our high streets.
 

Let the consultation know your views here, you have until 6th November.

Tougher English language requirements for migrants

If you come to this country, you should learn our language and contribute to our communities.

From January 2026, tougher rules will be introduced for migrants applying some graduate routes and skilled worker or scale-up visas. These will see applicants tested in person on their English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, which must equivalent to an A-level standard.

It is estimated that these measures could reduce the number of people coming to the UK by up to 100,000 per year.

Read more here.

£80 million boost to employment support

The government are extending their Inactivity Trailblazers for another year, investing £80 million in localised employment support.
 

Inactivity Trailblazers are an innovative new way of supporting people who face complex, deeply personal barriers that have kept them locked out of the jobs market.
 

Unlike traditional employment support, trailblazers put local authorities in control of designing local solutions which tackle the root causes of unemployment - from mental health struggles, to lack of skills and social isolation. The government are designing and testing new interventions focused on people furthest from the labour market, such as disabled people, those with health conditions and other economically inactive groups.

Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all approach, areas can use the funding to shape the support around what works best for their communities and target funding where it’s needed most – whether that's addressing local job markets, cultural needs, or specific challenges their residents face.

What Great British Energy means for you!

Check out Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, explaining how investing in clean, home-grown electricity will benefit you.

Local News

Edgbaston High School for Girls Question Time

Last Friday, I visited Edgbaston High School for Girls to take part in their Question Time panel on politics and ethics.

We discussed everything from Palestine to AI and I was so impressed with how engaged the students were.

A big thank you to Mr Smith for organising the event.

Maccabi Tel Aviv

I agree with the Prime Minister and the Leader of Birmingham City Council that it is wrong to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the Europa League Aston Villa match.

I am glad that the Prime Minister has promised to do everything in his power to ensure all fans can go to the match.

The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation. Football - and Birmingham - should be a place for everyone.

Operation Skybridge is coming to Quinton

It is excellent news that over this month the Operation Skybridge team will be deployed to Quinton, conducting intel-led proactive policing patrols and keeping our community safe.

If you have any information or intelligence relating to the above offence types that you believe may be useful to the team, please contact them via email: [email protected] Alternatively, you can contact 101, visit your nearest police station in person or by calling Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.  As always, you can approach an officer out on the street.

St Paul's School for Girls - 3rd best state secondary comprehensive in UK!

Huge congratulations to St Paul's School for Girls, Edgbaston on being named the 3rd best fully comprehensive state secondary school in the country by the Times.

Special thanks must go to Headteacher Dr Dawn Casserly for her incredible leadership, as well as to all the teachers and staff who inspire and support our amazing young people.

Here's 10 things the government delivered last week that you might have missed:

🌏 Our partnership with India is delivering for the British people with 10,000 jobs created and £1.3 billion investment back into the UK

💷 First time buyers will save £710 on average, with our new plans to fix the homebuying process

💼 Our £167 million funding boost will help sick and disabled people back into the workplace with job advisers to be embedded in GP surgeries

📚 We’re ramping up our efforts to deliver 6,500 new teachers with bursaries and scholarships worth up to £31,000 tax free for aspiring teachers

❤️‍🩹 The government is investing an extra £84 million to help prevent homelessness this winter

✅ 24,000 homes and businesses are now better protected from flooding thanks to the investment the Government has made

🍺 Launched a fast-track review to tear up outdated licensing rules that have been holding back pubs, bars and local events

💷 Served suspected Covid fraudsters a final warning: pay up before the Chancellor’s Covid fraud hit squad swings into action

As always, if you have an issue you'd like to discuss, please contact my office at 0121 392 8426 or [email protected], or through my website.

With warm regards,

 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