MP’S UPDATE FOR RESIDENTS
FEBRUARY 2021
RUTH CADBURY MP
You can find previous reports of my work on my web site;
www.ruthcadbury.co.uk [1] I also report regularly on my Facebook page [2]
and via Twitter [3] and Instagram @RuthCadbury [4]. You can see full
details of my questions and speeches in Parliament, and get Regular updates
about my Parliamentary activities on TheyWorkForYou [5]in Hansard [6]and on
YouTube [7]
SEE MY SPECIAL CORONAVIRUS WEB-PAGE [8] FOR INFORMATION ON
LOCAL AND NATIONAL SERVICES, HELP-LINES AND VOLUNTEERING;
AND TO SIGN UP FOR HOUNSLOW COUNCIL’S DAILY UPDATES.
JANUARY was yet another busy month for my team and I, like most people
apart from essential front-line workers, none of us have left home (in my
case, occasionally going out for a run if I can face the cold and rain).
I attend regular COVID briefings with Ministers, London NHS and Public
Health Leads, as well as the hospital, the Council and Hounslow CCG (GPs).
Whilst North West London’s Covid infection rates continue to be the
highest in London, and hospital ITU units are still full, there are
glimmers of hope that the vaccines will release us from the grip of the
pandemic within months.
The vaccination program is the one aspect of the Covid response that the
Government have more or less got right, but only because they have put the
programme fully in the hands of the NHS working closely with local
councils. If only they had done the same with Testing, Track &Trace, and
PPE procurement, we perhaps wouldn’t have the highest per head death rate
in the world by now.
I met the Director and Medical Director of WEST MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL, and
expressed my thanks to all who work there for what they do. West Mid has
coped better than some (no ambulances with patients waiting to admit to
A&E). However the hospital is stretched to the limit, staff are tired and
too much important non-Covid work has stopped
The inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris was a bright point in
January too, and we all hope that the US will have a progressive,
international focus now, and particularly have a positive approach to
climate change and COP26.
VICTORY AGAINST BA FIRE & REHIRE: It’s good to report that Unite secured
a deal, subject to a ballot by members, to end the long-running dispute
over British Airway's plans to "fire and rehire" over 800 Cargo staff.
Unite credited those of us who have raised the issues in Parliament and
also on social media, in being critical to getting BA back to the
negotiation table.
The funding of UNDER 5S NURSERIES is in crisis due to incomprehensible
funding decisions by the Government. This is affecting those run as
businesses and nursery classes in primary schools. I arranged for
representatives of both types to meet Labour’s Shadow Under 5s Minister,
Tulip Siddiq to discuss their concerns.
I’ve also met more representatives of LOCAL BUSINESSES BADLY AFFECTED by
the lockdowns such as Colliers Launches. Because they have no property with
a Rateable Value (their business premises floats on the Thames) they are
ineligible for a business grant. I have written to Hounslow and the
Chancellor about this inequity to try to help them.
SOUTH WEST RAILWAYS committed to retaining a service for key workers, as
they cut the service during this lockdown. However they have gone against
this and removed the early morning trains on the Hounslow loop into
Waterloo which many construction and shift workers rely on, and meaning the
first trains that do run are too full for comfort. I have written to SWR to
complain about this.
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY was commemorated in Hounslow and nationally with
moving events including testimonies with Holocaust Survivors, and I put a
candle in my window at 8pm on 27th January.
MOGDEN SEWAGE FLOWING IN THE STREETS On 29th January residents in a small
area in Isleworth found their homes, gardens and streets filled with foul
water as the Duke of Northumberland River suddenly rose and breached its
banks, which also affected St Johns Rec and Silverhall Gardens. _THE
GUARDIAN STORY IS HERE [9]_I am seeking full compensation by Thames Water
for the damage caused to residents' properties. I have met Thames Water and
the Environment Agency and asked some serious questions about how they will
prevent another entirely avoidable incident from happening again.
Photo: courtesy of the King family.
IN THE COMMONS (WELL – AT MY DESK AT HOME, ON VIDEO LINK TO THE
CHAMBER!)
- At PMQS I told the PM that the Government are too slow to act on key
issues like testing, financial support and schools ,and urged him to change
his leadership style
- In the debate on Covid support I demanded the Government address the
plight of the Excluded and I opposed the £20 cut in Universal Credit
[10]
[11]
- At the Statement about the SKILLS WHITE PAPER I asked the Government to
work with FE colleges like West Thames to ensure that people can learn new
skills and get training for future jobs, particularly in areas hit hard by
the economic decline like ours
- In the debate on COUNCIL TAX I criticised the Government for years of
funding cuts to councils like Hounslow. Hounslow has lost 80% of Government
grants since 2010 . Hounslow faced a funding gap even before Covid. In the
debate I mentioned how COVID has meant Hounslow has had to spend £20
million more than they received in COVID grant and how the Government has
broken their promise to give local councils the support they need at this
time.
- In the debate on the ENVIRONMENT BILL which is required now the UK has
left the EU, I spoke in support of amendments requiring the need for
Government to work with local authorities and across government around air
pollution - and in favour of stronger regulations and controls over
chemicals used in homes and manufacturing
- I had hoped to speak during the TRADE BILL but time limits meant I
wasn’t called. However I voted in favour of amendments that would have
protected NHS data, blocked trade deals for countries committing genocide
and given Parliament a role in trade negotiations
- At an Urgent Question session I urged EDUCATION SECRETARY Gavin
Williamson to treat school leaders with respect – something that has been
glaringly absent for months.
- I also wrote to Williamson regarding the LACK OF ACCESS TO DATA AND
DEVICES for students learning from home
- With Lillian Greenwood MP I wrote to the Transport Minister about CYCLE
PATHS ALONGSIDE AND AROUND HS2
- I joined a group of London MPs in writing to Matt Hancock to ask for
further data on the ROLL-OUT OF VACCINES and concerns over vaccine supply
for those who are housebound, or street homeless
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY
Several valuable local charities have asked for help. And many thanks to
readers who have donated to Watermans Arts Centre Appeal. They reached
their first target but with further lockdowns and uncertainty about
government support, they continue to need funds. The #SaveWatermans
Emergency Appeal page is HERE [12]
IF YOU CAN SPARE MONEY TO OTHER HARD-PRESSED LOCAL CHARITIES please do:
Hounslow Community Foodbox, [13] Ivybridge Foodbank (run by All Souls
Church, St Margaret’s) [14], Age Hounslow [15], Hounslow Open Kitchen
[16], FoodWithLove [17]
MANY CHARITIES NEED VOLUNTEER HELP TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED. FOR
INFORMATION ABOUT VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE BOROUGH CONTACT
HOUNSLOW VOLUNTEERING CENTRE [18]
THERE ARE REGULAR UPDATES about national and local information and services
from Hounslow Council _HERE [19]._
UNSUBSCRIBE [20]
Printed from an email sent by Ruth Cadbury MP 367 Chiswick High Road
London, LON W4 4AG
United Kingdom
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