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Hello from Mims!
It's a new month, a new season and October has been a busy one! The Prime Minister and the Government have been working non-stop to get us a Brexit deal bringing together a broad section of views while ensuring we can leave the EU on the 31st October. I've had many constituents get in touch about preparing for Brexit. You can see my updates below or you can visit the following link: https://www.gov.uk/brexit.
It was fantastic to round off last week by welcoming over 17 Independent Lifeboats from across the UK, including our very own Hamble Lifeboat, to the House of Commons for our first Independent Lifeboats Reception! I'm incredibly grateful to each and every one of our attendees for taking the time out, after a very busy summer, to visit, grab some afternoon tea to share their ideas with other Independent Lifeboats. Read more about the event throughout this newsletter!
It was also great to join colleagues, friends and activists at the Conservative Party Conference (CPC) this month. This was a brilliant opportunity to connect with so many organisations and lend my support as a local MP. It was a pleasure to meet with a whole host of charities and campaigners from The National Autistic Society, the British Lung Foundation, to Scouts UK to the Conservative Woman’s Organisation and many more! Not to mention a fantastic speech from our Prime Minister, which you can read here.
A huge thanks to the team at CCHQ for a great, safe and rousing event and also to the Police and Security staff for all their help and goodwill. You can find out more about what I got up to at the CPC below.
I am also pleased to welcome the new Queen’s Speech this month, setting out many of the priorities that local people have raised with me. In particular, I welcome that a new sentencing law to better reflect the severity of crimes will be introduced, together with the continuation of the Domestic Abuse Bill, something that I have supported on its stages through Parliament so far. Read more below.
In other news, climate change has been a big issue globally and locally. This month, the Prime Minister announced a higher ambition to tackle climate change in developing countries and a new £1 billion fund that British scientists will use to promote clean energy. You can find my most recent environment update by below.
On the topic of national news this month, many of you may be concerned about the recent collapse of Thomas Cook. This is very sad news for staff and holidaymakers – that’s why the Government work ect round the clock to help people get home and continues to support those staff affected. For more information, help and support, please click here.
In addition to climate change, I've also had lots of emails about mothers mental health, the Environment Bill and trophy hunting. I provide regular updates to key policy matters on my website, you can find my responses here.
Thank you to all of those who have taken the time to write in and as ever, please get in touch if you’d like to be added to my mailing list or do contact me if there’s anything else you would like to have a chat about.
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Brexit Updates
I've had lots of emails and letters about Brexit and I'm sending out regular updates on this matter which you can read on my website.
Read my latest Brexit update here.
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Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
Our Fire and Rescue services work around the clock to keep us safe and do an incredible job. That's why it was fantastic to join the team at the 2019 annual Eastleigh Fire Station open day. Thanks to everyone who organised such a successful, interesting & informative & fun packed day which lots of families enjoyed.
I was also pleased to meet with Chief Fire Officer, Neil Odin and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service last week to talk about Brexit Resilience, community fire safety and their work with the Princes Trust. Our services do a brilliant job around the clock and it's fantastic to see so much support across the patch!
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month
I have been a strong supporter of organisations working to tackle cancer, meeting with nurses, carers and patients at local hospices, most recently visiting the Countess Mountbatten Hospice. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I have met with some of the Breast Cancer Now team to mark their ‘Wear it Pink Day’ which took place on Friday 18th October. I encourage everyone to join me, get involved and show your support!
Click here for more information
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British Lung Foundation
Clean air is vital to our health. Pollution can make it harder for people with a lung condition to breathe and make their condition worse.
That’s why it was very helpful chatting to the team from the British Lung Foundation about concerns raised by our excellent local Breathe Easy group in Hedge End and making plans on how we can engage more, using the power of the Government to change lives, tackle pollution and encourage active travel to reduce queues and pollution.
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School Funding
Every child in Eastleigh deserves the best possible start in life – regardless of their background or where they live. That's why I'm delighted to see that schools are set to receive an average of 5.8% more funding per pupil next year as part of the Government’s recent multi-billion pound investment in primary and secondary education.
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Autism Awareness
I’ve had lots of constituents email in about autism. That’s why it was fantastic to stop by the Autism Awareness stand at the Conservative Party Conference.
A huge thank you to Tim for catching up on empowering employers to be more diverse with their staff, supporting those with hidden disabilities and backing the Autism Act 10 years on, building on the incredible work from so many who are battling for more inclusivity.
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Environment Update
The environment has always been one of the most talked about subjects in my mailbox and a key issue in our area. It was great to catch-up with local residents about how we can all work together to tackle climate change. I know how important these issues - as well as the broader issue of tackling climate change - are to people in our area, with them regularly filling my inbox.
I've also written to my constituents with my newest environment update, if you would like to be added to the mailing list, please drop me an email at [email protected] |
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Eastleigh Pride
As a former member of the Women and Equalities Select Committee I know how important safeguarding and enhancing equality is to our wellbeing and ability to lead fulfilling lives. That's why it was fantastic to attend Eastleigh Pride again this year to join so many community groups, charities and services to celebrate the UK's progress of LGBT+ rights and to lend my support for our LGBT+ community.
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Ministerial Updates
As part of my role as the Minister for Employment, I know how important job centres are for local people. Having previously visited the job centre plus, it was great to undertake more visits across the UK to meet with employees, sit in on important support sessions with job coaches for those who have particular challenges in getting a job and see what great support and assistance job seekers get to progress.
It was a fantastic opportunity to hear feedback on how claimants are being supported by Universal Credit and what local claimants are finding are barriers in their job progression. I was also delighted to see our key Disability Confident scheme is growing its employer support.
For more updates on my Ministerial role, please click here. |
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Celebrating Independent Lifeboats
This month, I was pleased to welcome 17 independent lifeboats from across the country to an Independent Lifeboats Reception in the House of Commons. A great opportunity for lifeboats to share ideas, network and relax after a long hot summer and enjoy Afternoon Tea courtesy of our generous sponsors: SC Group, SCISYS and Bosch Rexroth.
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New Office for Veterans Affairs
I have always supported veterans, both locally across the Eastleigh area by annually supporting Remembrance events and working with local armed forces groups, as well as by serving as a Trustee of Armed Forces charity Building Heroes.
The newly created Office for Veterans’ Affairs will be a champion for our ex-servicemen and women at the centre of government - building on the excellent work done since 2010. It will promote the outstanding contribution veterans are already making to our economy and society and ensure no individual who needs help is left behind after they leave service.
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The Queens Speech
This month, The Queen’s Speech set out the government's priorites for law and order, improving the environment and supporting the NHS. Other announcements within the Queen’s Speech include a new Immigration Bill and setting out a new economic plan.
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Eastleigh CWO Launch
As the 380th woman elected to the House of Commons and as the former Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Parliament, I am proud to support Women’s engagement locally and across the nation. That’s why in September, I was delighted to join so many local supporters and friends from across the patch to launch the Eastleigh’s very first Conservative Women’s Organisation (CWO).
For more information on my involvement, Click here. |
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Lloyds Bank
Since developing a mentoring scheme for young women in conjunction with Lloyds Bank, we have been able to connect young women with business leaders and politicians, like Katie, the owner of Bishopstoke based Kat’s Bakery.
It was great to visit their stand at the CPC and hear about how they are supporting vulnerable customers, using innovation in rural banking, backing social entrepreneurship and leading the way on diversity. This was also a great chance to talk about the power of mentoring in workplace and wider community.
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UK Scouting
It’s key that our young people are equipped with skills that they can use in later life. It was fantastic to visit the UK Scouts stand at the CPC and spend time chatting about how we can work to boost employment skills for our young people and how we can use the Youth Charter to help focus on employability, confidence and future opportunities.
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Basingstoke Business and Enterprise Forum
The Basingstoke Business & Enterprise Forum (BBEF) is an organisation providing an independent middle ground where businesses can meet, build rapport and give a viewpoint to their MP. As a recent guest speaker, was great to speak about the need for creating a flexible working environment enabling more people with caring responsibilities to enter the workforce and for enabling people who have few academic qualifications to move into work.
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National Fitness Day 2019
National Fitness Day celebrates the enjoyment, accessibility and diversity of being active. This years National Fitness Day 2019 took place on 25th September and I was joined by Baroness Grey-Thompson – more commonly known as one of the UKs most successful athletes, Tanni Grey-Thompson.
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Positive changes to Universal Credit
For many parents, sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. This month, the Government announced that working parents and guardians will be given weeks of extra time to apply to be reimbursed for their childcare costs.
Costs can be reported online, and those in work while in receipt of Universal Credit can apply for up to £646.35 per month if they have one child and up to £1,108.40 for 2 or more children.
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