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MY WEEKLY UPDATE
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Dear John,
This week marks four years since I was first elected your MP for Edgbaston
and as the first female Sikh MP. I was born and raised in this constituency
and so it has been my absolute privilege to represent you and your families
during this time.
In the last four years I've been able to help over 24,000 constituents who
have contacted me with issues ranging from speeding, education or health
issues to more complex cases needing a change in legislation like the
dangerous cladding on people's homes.
I have always followed the ethos that an MP uses their voice to amplify
those of underrepresented communities and it was a privilege to be
recognised for this last year, when I was announced as the Patchwork
Foundation's MP of the year for 2020.
Looking to the future, I will continue to fight on behalf of everyone in my
constituency from Bartley Green to Harborne, Quinton and across to
Edgbaston to tackle issues with speeding, rising mental health challenges
and working with residents to address problems with exempt properties. I
strive to make your voices heard in Parliament and hope that I continue to
be an MP you are proud of to have represent you and your families.
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RISING COVID INFECTIONS VS. LOW VACCINE UPTAKE
Over the last week, we have seen data from Birmingham’s public health
team now starting to show cases, in parts of the city, beginning to rise at
an alarming rate.
Birmingham’s average infection rate is 58.5 per 100,000. While this is
still relatively low, it’s a 40% increase on the previous week and in
certain wards around the city, rates are reaching as high as 180 per
100,000.
We need to do everything we possibly can to stop the rate of infection from
rising any further. This means following Government advice about how we
meet up with people from other households in well-ventilated spaces but
also, getting regular Covid tests and most importantly, getting vaccinated
as soon as we possibly can.
To keep our friends and family safe, vaccine uptake needs to increase
substantially, particularly in wards like Edgbaston, where only 43.5% of
40–49-year-olds have taken up the offer of a first vaccine. This is one
of the worst rates in the city and puts us at risk of the virus once again
spreading. My second vaccine appointment will be very soon and I believe it
is my responsibility, not just as an MP, but as a mother, a daughter, a
friend and a member of my local community to play my part in our fight
against and Covid to get the vaccine.
BOOK YOUR VACCINE HERE
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PUTTING EXEMPT PROPERTIES ON NOTICE
Exempt properties are places which are designed to support some of our most
vulnerable citizens. They are places that should offer safe accommodation
and the appropriate levels of supervision and support depending on the
needs of the resident.
However, they are also properties which cannot be regulated in the same way
as other properties or businesses because of their exempt status, meaning
the standards being provided to residents greatly vary and often, it is the
local community which feels the impact. We know there are huge problems
with anti-social behaviour and crime linked to these types of properties.
In Edgbaston, we have over 280 exempt properties right across the
constituency. I have written to all these providers, notifying them of the
actions I have now jointly taken with residents, the Police and Birmingham
City Council to find a way to raise standards, stop this anti-social
behaviour from happening and ultimately, close those properties which
continue to be a burden on the communities they are meant to serve. I am
also carrying out spot checks of these properties to ensure they are
meeting the calibre we all would expect of them.
READ MY LETTER HERE
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COVID MORTALITY RATE FOR SIKHS WORSENED BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND WAVE
After new ONS figure showed that the Covid mortality rate got worse for
Sikhs between the first and second wave, I wrote to the Government’s
equalities minister, Kemi Badenoch MP, calling on him to urgently outline
the actions he is taking to address these inequalities.
It’s absolutely scandalous that despite the national outcry around
inequalities and structural racism last year that this has been blithely
ignored and allowed to worsen.
In practical terms before Government can address the blatant inequalities
Covid has exposed, basic information is needed, including how many Sikhs
live in Britain, so resources are put in the right places to support our
communities.
READ MY FULL BLOG POST HERE
[7]
EMERGENCY DEBATE ON CUTS TO AID AHEAD OF THE G7
This week an amendment was due to be voted upon in Parliament that would
have likely seen a reversal to the Government’s cuts to global aid.
Instead of allowing a fair and democratic process happen, the Government
went into hiding and the vote did not go ahead.
Working with MPs from across the political divide, we have made it clear
that we will not turn our backs on the world’s poorest during the worst
humanitarian crisis of our generation. On Tuesday we arranged for an
emergency debate to take place in the Commons so that the Government could
hear the effect that these cuts are having.
UK funding for global aid automatically reduces or increases to reflect our
economy, however, the Conservative Government callously slashed the budget
by a further £4 billion, without carrying out any kind of impact
assessments.
Britain is the only G7 nation to cut aid during this global crisis and now
our allies are taking note. With the G7 Summit happening today in Cornwall,
the stubborn refusal by the Government to reverse its decision, has
weakened the country’s position considerably. Notably, the US Congress
has written a letter urging the UK to reconsider its position.
WATCH MY SPEECH IN PARLIAMENT HERE
© 2020 Printed from an email sent by Preet Kaur Gill. Promoted by A.J Webb
on behalf of Preet Kaur Gill, both at 56 Wentworth Road, B17 9TA.
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