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MP’S UPDATE FOR RESIDENTS – OCTOBER 2021

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]

I HAVE RESTARTED FACE-TO-FACE SURGERIES AND AM ALSO HAPPY TO MEET
CONSTITUENTS EITHER BY PHONE, OR ON-LINE, TO DISCUSS YOUR CONCERNS. FOR AN
APPOINTMENT PLEASE EMAIL ME ON [email protected] WITH YOUR
ADDRESS, A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE ISSUE AND ANY RELEVANT REFERENCE NUMBERS.
 

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.

AFGHANISTAN: August is usually our quietest month in the office, when my
team members are able to take holiday. However from the 16th August when
the Taliban swept towards Kabul, we were inundated with over 500 separate
constituents calling or writing on behalf of themselves or their family,
desperate to get out of Afghanistan. They are a mix of local residents with
UK citizenship, those who have worked for the UK Army or other UK
organisations, and human rights, women's rights campaigners, judges and
others who are in mortal danger from the Taliban. Despite working all hours
taking detailed information, listening to distressing stories, and keeping
the Government informed, my team and I felt we were unable to provide
adequate reassurance or help. This was because the UK Government was
clearly in chaos, with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the Home Office
and the Ministry of Defence giving out unhelpful and often conflicting
information about what route Afghans should follow depending on their
circumstances, and providing zero information about any of our constituent'
chances. The 15,000 lucky enough to get out of Kabul in those last two
weeks initially arrived in quarantine hotels near Heathrow, and have now
been dispersed, some with family if they have some already here, and the
rest around the country with an uncertain future ahead.

Back in Parliament I questioned Dominic Raab after reports British Citizens
were blocked from fleeing across land borders, while citizens of other
countries were allowed to cross.

UNIVERSAL CREDIT: Around 14,000 households in B&I are now £20 per week
worse off. Many constituents have told me what this means to them; being
pushed further into high-cost debt, facing the choice between heating and
eating, and the need to buy school uniforms and winter coats. Almost 40% of
these households are in work. Most cannot work more hours, and even if they
could, would have to work an extra full day per week to make up for the
£20 cut due to the way benefits taper. I spoke in Parliament about this
injustice, and specifically mentioned the high cost of rent in West London
which means that many on UC are having to use their "standard allowance"
(meant for basics like food) to top up their rent which is so often above
the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) level. I also pointed out the UC takes
£15m out of the constituency's local economy, from businesses that
themselves employ people and pay tax.

Of course I voted against the £20 cut, but this was pushed through anyway
by the Tories in Government. Instead of avoiding the cut they are now
promising a discretionary fund, administered by already overstretched
Councils, funded at a fraction of the total of the UC cut. I also voted
against the National Insurance rise, as that will further push low-income
families further into poverty, further exacerbated by the rising cost of
living.

ADDRESSING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & GIRLS: Labour's Shadow Home Secretary
Nick Thomas Symonds called for a full independent inquiry following the
sentencing of Sarah Everard's rapist and murderer. This appears to have
forced the Home Secretary to half-heartedly announce an inquiry in her
conference speech. However, it is not on a robust, statutory footing which
would ensure there are no barriers in the way to getting answers. The
Government should be getting on with implementing all the recommendations
of the damning report from the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire &
Rescue Services. Yet Ministers still continue to dither.

Labour will ensure that the Government brings forward legislation that
should toughen laws on street harassment, increase sentences for rape and
stalking, fast-track rape and serious sexual violence cases through the
courts, and enshrine the rights of victims in a Victims' Law. Expecting
women to take responsibility for their own safety, without dealing with
these criminals in the same way that suspected terrorists and drug dealers
are dealt with, is unacceptable.

BUILDING SAFETY: As regular readers of my updates know, I have consistently
been working with leaseholders of blocks of flats affected by building
safety concerns that were exposed by the Grenfell fire. I currently sit on
the Fire Safety Bill Committee where we are challenging the Government
line-by-line on their Bill. As currently drafted it defines "High Risk"
building as being over 18m and used for residential purposes. This is
despite the fact that many lower buildings, and those used for other
purposes such as hospitals, continue to pose extreme fire risks. The
Government is still refusing to support leaseholders of flats built more
than 15 years ago, those with fire risks other than ACM cladding, nor will
it help housing associations managing social-rent flats that are high-risk.


With other colleagues I attended the leaseholders' demonstration in
Parliament Square attended by campaigners from across the country demanding
justice on charges for re-cladding, and also on the many other rip-off
issues that facing residential leaseholders.

ELECTIONS BILL: I voted against this anti- democratic bill at its 2nd
reading because it will require voters to produce photo ID - something that
is not required in the UK unless you have need for a passport, a driving
license, or have been given leave to remain in the UK and so have a
Biometric ID card. The Electoral Reform Society say that roughly 2.1
million people in this country have no recognisable photo ID. The Bill also
removes proportional representation in Mayoral and Assembly votes, which
could give the Tories a greater chance of winning in London and other
mayoral elections.

PLANNING REFORM BILL : Following draft reforms outlined in a White paper,
the long-awaited bull appears to have been kicked into touch by Michael
Gove when he was appointed to replace former Housing, Communities and Local
Government Secretary, Robert Jenrick. Jenrick is now blamed for the
universally unpopular-of reforms. Gove appears to also have responsibility
for "inter-governmental relations", elections and of course "levelling up"
whatever that means, and we don't yet know what he plans to do about the
Planning System.

What we do know is that like Jenrick, Gove has benefited from donations
from property developers. These are the very people who were pushing
Jenrick's reforms, which involved removing local voice and democratic
control, allowing volume housebuilders an almost free-rein and ignoring
both the climate and the affordable housing crises.

Even though the Bill has been withdrawn, the planning system is in a real
mess. Under the Tories, the use of Permitted Development Rights, allowing
property owners to by-pass the planning system, has been massively
extended. We have seen the growth of modern-day slums as office blocks are
converted into sub-standard housing such as this block in Luton that I
visited recently. And in August this "PD" right was extended to all
commercial premises, which could now pose a real threat to our high
streets.

As Shadow Planning Minister I will be working with our housing, local
government and environment teams on a robust response to the Government's
failures.

OTHER PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITY

* ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING: Following our Transport Committee report on the
charging infrastructure I received an email from owner-occupiers of a block
flats in Brentford who were having great difficulties in getting electric
power into their car-park. Ineligible for grants that street properties are
entitled to, the cost is going to be high. So I raised this in the Chamber
with a Transport Minister - who will now "look into it"
* SUPPLY CHAINS: I spoke about the shortage of HGV drivers & raised
concerns about how Government relaxation of driving hours and testing
requirements could impact on road safety
* LOAN CHARGE: The Yorkshire Post reported that former armed forces
personnel who had taken up agency work were feeling suicidal as HMRC had
hit them with the Loan Charge. Yet again I tackled Treasury Minister Jesse
Norman on the inequity of the loan charge, and yet again I got a
non-answer.

Across from Parliament I visited the extraordinary COVID-MEMORIAL WALL, met
Jo Goodman, one of the founders of the project, and joined the calls of the
bereaved families for the wall to be made into a permanent memorial to
those who have died during this pandemic.

COMMUNITY UPDATE

CHISWICK’S LIFEBOAT STATION is the RNLI's second busiest of all their
stations across the UK and Ireland. At my visit I learned that sadly,
attempted suicides form a significant number of their "shouts". So the RNLI
is working with the NHS, Samaritans and others on a strategy to support
people feeling suicidal.

BOLDER ACADEMY is the long-awaited non-faith-based mixed secondary school
serving Isleworth & Brentford. It was a great pleasure to attend the formal
opening of their amazing new building next to Sky, a link that will provide
valuable opportunities for Bolder students now and in the future.

THE MULBERRY CENTRE supports those affected by cancer. An independent
charity in the grounds of West Mid, the Mulberry Centre is now seeing far
more people facing a late-stage cancer diagnosis as a result of Covid
pressures on the NHS. They are having to adapt their services to the needs
of these cancer patients. I am so pleased that the Centre and its 150
volunteers have been awarded a Queen's award for Voluntary Service.

WEST MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL. 100 years ago the former Brentford Workhouse
Infirmary became West Middlesex Hospital, and has served the people of
Hounslow and Richmond boroughs ever since. Staff, trustees, MPs and NHS
figures attended a church service followed by a tea party and celebrated
the wonderful hospital staff and the work they do for us all.

I also met hospital staff in September to hear their concerns about the
pressures that Covid continues to have on them and all parts of the NHS.
Almost all of the 25 in-patients admitted with Covid are unvaccinated
people in their 30s to 60s. These numbers, plus the pressure from long
waiting lists, mean there are real concerns about the bed and staffing
capacity of the hospital prior to the inevitable winter rise in
in-patients.

FINALLY!  MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING & MY MARATHON FUNDRAISING ON 6TH
NOVEMBER

Macmillan supported my sister in her final weeks, and her family
afterwards, so this national charity is close to my heart. The annual
Macmillan Cake-fest saw me at Brentford Dock, and then Milford Arms in
Isleworth where I had the pleasure of at least 6 pieces of cake.

I had to pull out of the London Marathon due to illness so instead, on
November 6th, will be running the Thames Meander marathon raising funds for
two charities. One is Macmillan, and the other, local charity, Friends of
Cathja, a creative workshop for adults who are vulnerable to severe and
enduring mental health issues. They are based on the Cathja, a Dutch barge
on the Thames in Isleworth.

I had to pull out of the London Marathon due to illness so instead, on
November 6th, will be running the Thames Meander marathon raising funds for
two charities. One is Macmillan, and the other, local charity, Friends of
Cathja, a creative workshop for adults who are vulnerable to severe and
enduring mental health issues. They are based on the Cathja, a Dutch barge
on the Thames in Isleworth.

If you would like to support my marathon fundraising you can!

Donate to Macmillan via my Virgin fundraising page;
_HTTPS://UK.VIRGINMONEYGIVING.COM/RUTHCADBURY [9]_

And to Friends of Cathja's via their fundraising link;
_HTTPS://CONNECTFOUNDATIONMENTHALHEALTH.ENTHUSE.COM/#!/ [10]_ & add "
Ruth's marathon run" in the message part

And do come and cheer me on, along the Thames path anywhere from Kingston
downstream to Barnes on November 6th

KEEPING IN TOUCH

TWITTER: @RUTHCADBURY [3] WEB: WWW.RUTHCADBURY.ORG.UK [11] FACEBOOK: “
RUTHCADBURYMP [2]”

CASEWORK: for issues to raise with me as your MP, please contact my office:
[email protected]

TEL: 020 8581 3646 OR WRITE: RUTH CADBURY MP, HOUSE OF COMMONS, SW1A 0AA. I
hold regular advice surgeries, please get in touch for an appointment. Many
issues can be dealt with quickly be email or a phone call which saves
waiting for the next available surgery.

DIARY: I welcome the opportunity to attend community events and to meet
residents or party members, concerned about issues affecting the area or
specific groups of people. Please do get in touch with by emailing
[email protected] OR PHONE 020 7219 8590

UNSUBSCRIBE [12]

Printed from an email sent by Ruth Cadbury MP 367 Chiswick High Road
London, LON W4 4AG
United Kingdom




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