Weekly Update - 14 November

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 17,000 veterans in Birmingham to benefit from new Veterans Strategy

Over 17,000 veterans in Birmingham are set to benefit from a transformational new Veterans Strategy as the government announced plans this week to renew the nation's contract with those who serve and have served. £27m released from the £50m VALOUR system, to ensure veterans have easier access to essential care and support through a network of innovative new support hubs. Centres will offer guidance and support in health, housing and employment, and can extend to finance, wellbeing, welfare and integration into society. The government will end the fragmented support services which veterans have faced for too long. Working to end veteran homelessness with a new £12m fund for reducing homelessness and extending Op FORTITUDE – including a dedicated wraparound service for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, to ensure they have access to specialist support for employment and independent living. Investing in world-class, veteran-specific NHS support: making sure that the armed forces community gets healthcare that fully understands their needs. Clean-energy jobs pilot, helping veterans develop the skills they need to do the jobs of the future. Extending Nuclear Test veteran medals to those all those who served in French and Chinese testing recognising the extraordinary sacrifice of those brave service personnel. New £350,000 competition to recognise and celebrate women veterans including a new women veterans forum. £75m LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme to recognise the historic wrongs experienced by LGBT veterans in the Armed Forces. Delivered on our manifesto commitment to make the Veterans’ Card an accepted form of voter ID. The new strategy recognises veterans as national assets, whose unique skills strengthen communities, boost the economy and enhance national security. The strategy is built on three priorities: celebrating those who have served, harnessing veterans' skills, and ensuring effective support for those who need it.

New strategy to phase out animal testing

We are a nation of animal lovers, nobody wants to see animals suffer. Animal welfare, specifically concerns about the use of animals in science, is one of the topics constituents write to me about the most. That's why I am delighted that the government has listened to my constituents and this week announced strong action to phase out animal testing, delivering on our manifesto pledge. The government's plan will accelerate the roll out of safe and effective alternatives to phase out animal testing wherever possible. The new strategy aims to establish the UK as a world leader in developing and adopting alternatives to animal testing. Under 14 years of the previous government, research into alternatives was underfunded meaning only a few alternative methods were adopted. This week's strategy commits to increase research and investment so we can replace use of animals with alternatives wherever possible. New £75m of funding will help bring forward new testing methods for products that can save lives and speed up the path to regulation for researchers. By streamlining the process for bringing alternatives forward, the government will accelerate our transition away from animal use while continuing to support crucial research and innovation to protect Brits and grow the economy. With cutting-edge alternatives like 3D bioprinted tissues and devices that mimic human organ functions, the government are backing researchers to deliver solutions that protect animal welfare. The ambitious roadmap includes clear commitments: 👁️ By 2026: End testing on animals for skin and eye irritation investigations 🐟 By 2028: Reduce or replace the use of fish in acute toxicity testing of medicines, pesticides, and agrochemicals 💊 By 2030: Substantially reduce the use of dogs and non-human primates for investigating drug exposures or effects on heart rhythm Enabling the properly regulated use of animals, while we move away from animal testing, is essential to improving the health and lives of humans and animals and to the safety and sustainability of our environment. The government will continue to support the appropriate use of animals where reliable and effective alternatives are not yet available. We will not compromise on people’s safety. Read more here.

Timeline for Renters Rights Act

The Renters Rights Act, which became law a few weeks ago, will empower renters by providing them with greater security, rights and protections so that they can stay in their homes for longer, build lives in their communities, and avoid the risk of homelessness. It will ensure that we can drive up the quality of privately rented housing so that renters have access to good-quality and safe homes as a matter of course. And it will allow us to crack down on the minority of unscrupulous landlords who exploit, mistreat or discriminate against renters. This week, the government announced its timeline for implementing the reforms in the Act. This will happen in three phases: From 1 May 2026, the private rented sector will see: Section 21 'no fault' evictions abolished Rent increases limited to once a year Rental bidding banned Maximum of 1 month's rent able to be requested in advance Vast majority of private tenancies will become rolling agreements Landlords must consider tenant's requests for a pet From late 2026: Above tenancy reforms implemented in social rented sector Regional rollout of landlord database Introduction of landlord Ombudsman Phase 3 - following a consultation Decent Homes Standard extended to private rented sector for the first time Awaab's Law extended to private rented sector Read more here.

Army brought in to tackle driving test backlog

In March, I asked a Parliamentary Question which exposed Birmingham as having some of the world wait times for driving tests in the country, with learners waiting 24 weeks for a test. Under the previous government, waiting times at some test centres in Birmingham quadrupled. I called on the government to fix the issues with the driving test booking system and increase availability of tests for my constituents. This week, the government announced further plans to fix the system. They will crack down on online bots and bring in military driving examiners to help tackle the backlog. 1000s of extra tests will be delivered, helping learners get on the road sooner. Read more here.

Tough new laws to clean up local politics

Councillors and mayors who repeatedly break the rules or commit serious misconduct will face tougher sanctions under proposals published today to clean up local politics and restore public confidence. The sweeping reforms will strengthen standards and rebuild confidence in local government. Local authorities will gain powers to suspend councillors and mayors for serious misconduct and to withhold allowances where behaviour falls short. These changes follow overwhelming public support, with 94% of consultation respondents backing a mandatory code of conduct – as part of wider plans for national renewal. This year alone, two separate councillors were convicted of serious offences and remained in post until receiving prison sentences because there were no powers to suspend them. Rooting out bad actors within local authorities and providing the powers to quickly deal with misbehaviour will mean that local government's focus can remain firmly on delivering for residents.

Funding boost to protect war memorials

The government have announced they are investing an additional £2 million to protect and maintain local war memorials. Across the United Kingdom there are estimated to be more than 100,000 war memorials, with thousands in need of urgent maintenance due to neglect, weathering, or vandalism. This is especially welcome news following the awful vandalism of the Bartley Green memorial. Our monuments must be protected for future generations so we never forget the sacrifice of others for our freedom. Read more here.

Protecting the UK from cyber-attacks

The UK is now the most targeted country for cyber-attacks in Europe, with threats from criminals and hostile states putting essential services at risk. New independent research shows cyber-attacks cost the UK economy nearly £15bn annually, and the Office for Budget Responsibility warns a major attack on critical infrastructure could increase borrowing by £30bn - equivalent to 1.1% of GDP. Recent incidents, such as the Synnovis NHS attack disrupting over 11,000 appointments, highlight the real-world consequences for patients and businesses. These attacks are not hypothetical; they are happening every day, and the UK must act decisively to protect national security and economic stability. The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, introduced to Parliament this week, delivers that step change. It will impose tougher security duties on essential services like healthcare, energy, water, and transport, as well as on managed service providers and data centres that hold trusted access across government and business networks. These measures will keep the taps running, the lights on, and NHS appointments on track, while safeguarding economic growth and public confidence. By raising the baseline of cyber resilience across sectors, the Bill strengthens the UK’s position as a global leader in security and sends a clear message: the UK is no easy target.

Protecting children from AI abuse

The government continues to take online safety extremely seriously and is acting to stop AI being misused to create child sexual abuse material. Reports of AI-generated abuse images have more than doubled in the past year, with a disturbing rise in depictions of infants. This shows why urgent action is needed to keep pace with evolving threats. New laws will empower trusted organisations, including AI developers and child protection bodies, to test models for vulnerabilities and ensure safeguards are built in from the start. By giving regulators powers to enforce compliance and prevent misuse, the UK is leading globally in making AI safe by design. We must stop abuse before it happens, rather than waiting for the damage to be done. These measures reflect our commitment to making the UK the safest place in the world to be online and to protect children from exploitation while supporting responsible innovation. Watch Liz Kendall explain in the House of Commons explain how we are protecting the UK against the full spectrum of digital threats.

£100 million saved by abolishing Police and Crime Commissioners

This government will abolish Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to deliver clearer, cheaper and more accountable local police oversight. This reform is expected to save around £100 million and help fund frontline officers to cut crime and protect town centres. At least £20 million will be reinvested every year as a result of efficiencies in police governance, enough for 320 constables. Since their introduction in 2012, public engagement with PCCs and public knowledge of who is in the role has been low. PCC responsibilities will be transferred to regional and city mayors, integrating policing with wider public services like housing, health and transport. PCCs will be phased out gradually as their terms end, with full transition expected by 2028. I want to thank our West Midlands PCC Simon Foster for all his hard work and dedication to the role.

Small Modular Reactors bring clean power to 3 million homes

The government have confirmed Wylfa in North Wales has been selected to host first of a kind Small Modular Reactors. This historic decision by Great British Energy - Nuclear will: Create 3,000 jobs for local community and more across the UK in the supply chain Invest billions into the North Wales economy Enough power for 3 million homes Energy security, good jobs and climate action Three units for the site will be delivered by Rolls-Royce SMR, with the potential for up to eight more to be hosted at Wylfa. Where the previous government failed to act, this government are delivering the biggest nuclear building programme for a generation.

Supporting schools to improve attendance

Children in Birmingham Edgbaston stand to gain more days of learning as the Education Secretary has set local schools an individual minimum attendance target – part of an urgent drive to restore absence to pre-pandemic levels. Last year saw the biggest improvement in overall attendance in a decade nationally, with the government overseeing 5.3 million more days in school and 140,000 fewer persistently absent pupils. But with 1 in 3 schools failing to improve, the Department for Education is providing schools in our area with roadmaps to double down on efforts to support pupils back to class, as research shows the importance of every day in school for children’s opportunity in life and future earnings. From this month, Birmingham schools will be issued with AI-powered minimum attendance improvement targets to ensure children are in school and ready to achieve. The attendance baseline improvement expectation (ABIE) will be based on schools’ circumstances – including location, pupil needs and deprivation. The government is also harnessing AI and data to give more support to schools to meet the minimum expectations, by linking them up with high performing schools with similar circumstances. These top schools will be identified within each school’s ABIE report. This comes alongside 36 new Attendance and Behaviour Hubs, which will offer direct one-to-one support reaching tens of thousands of pupils across hundreds of schools, as wider sharing of best practice through events and open days. Find out more here.

Local News

Remembrance Sunday

Last Sunday, I was honoured to attend a moving Remembrance service and lay a wreath at St Peter's Church Harborne. As we honour all who gave their lives for our freedom, I also remember the immense contribution of Commonwealth soldiers including the many brave Sikh Hindu and Muslim servicemen who fought with courage and dignity as part of the British Indian army. “We must never forget that when Great Britain stood alone, the dominions stood with her, and the empire’s men came from every quarter of the globe to fight for freedom.” Winston Churchill For me, this day holds special meaning as I remember my own family’s service my great-grandfather who served in the First World War and my grandfather who served in the Second. Their sacrifice, and that of so many others, will never be forgotten. We will remember them. Lest We Forget.

Visiting Jaguar Land Rover

Today, I visited Jaguar Land Rover's plant in Solihull. It was great to see the site back up and running after the cyber attack. JLR are a key employer in our community and their supply chains include great businesses in our constituency. Earlier this year, the government saved 12,000 jobs at JLR by negotiating a trade deal with the USA. I will always work to bring more jobs and investment into our region.

Discussing urgent treatment centres

I met with Dr Barbara King (Senior Responsible Officer for UTC review) and Emma McKinney (Associate Director of Communications and Engagement) from Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) to discuss the urgent treatment centres review. Urgent treatment centres (UTCs) are walk-in facilities that provide medical care for urgent, non-life-threatening conditions that require prompt attention but cannot wait for a standard GP appointment. We discussed options for improving urgent care in South Birmingham, I will continue to work with the ICB to ensure our community can access the treatment it needs.

Meeting the Canadian Speaker

Alongside MPs from all parties, it was wonderful to meet the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada this week. We spoke about deepening trade opportunities between our two countries, enhancing cooperation, and standing together in defence of democracy.

New Midlands Ecosystem Platform

Last month was the launch of the new Midlands Ecosystem Platform from three linked initiatives: Forging Ahead, Midlands Mindforge, and the Invest in UK University R&D–Midlands campaign. The platform is a free, open-access digital gateway to the region’s £31bn innovation economy. This data hub is designed to empower founders, investors, universities, industry leaders, and policymakers with real-time insights and actionable intelligence, bringing together data on nearly 6,000 startups in the Midlands, including 400 university spinouts, and connects users to 54 science and tech campuses, accelerators, corporates, and over 1,000 active investors. Read more here, and take a look here.

Ring & Ride

From 1 December 2025, Ring & Ride will officially become part of West Midlands Bus on Demand, creating one consistent and accessible service across the region. This brings together two existing services: Ring & Ride, which supports people who find it difficult to use public transport West Midlands Bus On Demand, which provides a flexible, shared transport option for anyone living in Coventry and nearby areas Bringing them together makes the service simpler to understand and helps ensure it remains reliable and fit for the future. For most users, day-to-day travel will continue much as it does now. Residents will still be able to: Book by phone or through the app Pay in cash Travel in accessible vehicles

7 things the Government delivered that you might have missed last week

📚 National curriculum reforms will support children and young people to thrive in the modern world by being equipped with new skills like being able to spot fake news online and better manage their money, as well as key strong foundations in reading, writing and maths 🏡 Mayors outside of London will be given greater influence over the Government’s historic £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes programme to provide secure, affordable housing faster for families who have been priced out of home ownership 👷♂️ At COP30, the Prime Minister announced new deals across Greater Manchester, Great Yarmouth, and Belfast to secure clean energy jobs and deliver national renewal 🎖️ Our defence housing strategy will upgrade 40,000 homes, the biggest renewal of forces’ housing in over half a century 🌳 Our second new national forest will be in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor backed by a £1 billion investment in tree planting across the two new forests 💷 We have removed trade barriers for British farmers and food producers, who will benefit from export opportunities worth nearly £100 million ❌ As part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls, we are cracking down on degrading online content that’s fuelling an epidemic of sexual violence 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

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