Your June update from Gareth Thomas
MP ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌


[Update]

 

Good morning John,

 

I hope you managed a restful June and that you have some good plans
ahead of you this July. As we get into Summer in Harrow, I’m looking
forward to joining many of the big summer fetes across town, as well
as the always fun, ‘MADE IN HARROW: SUMMERFEST’
[[link removed]] on SATURDAY, THE 23RD JULY on Lowlands Rec
(opposite Harrow on the Hill tube station). Below is my newsletter
covering some of my work in Parliament and locally in Harrow too –
through out the month, you can find regular updates from me on
FACEBOOK [[link removed]], TWITTER
[[link removed]] and INSTAGRAM
[[link removed]].

265, THE RIDGEWAY

[GT Ridgeway]

 

This month I spoke at the public inquiry to oppose again the Harrow
Gospel Hall Trust’s controversial planning application to put 178
flats and 900 square metres of so called D1 use on the 265 The
Ridgeway site. This application was rejected cross-party by each
member of Harrow Council’s Planning Committee last year but the
Plymouth Brethren have put their money behind an expensive appeal.

 

I argued that the development would be completely out of keeping with
the area, would damage the local environment and ecology, would lead
to increased traffic and was unnecessary.

 

I will be writing to residents local to the proposed development to
provide them with a dull copy of the evidence that I presented to the
Inquiry and will continue to push on the issue to ensure that any
development in Harrow is sympathetic our community, has the required
ancillary infrastructure and the support of local residents.

TRADE WITH THE EU

[Seeds of Italy]

 

In both my roles as a Shadow Trade Minister and constituency MP, I
have met with businesses across the constituency, including 'Seeds of
Italy', to hear first-hand of their problems in trading with the E.U.
since the UK’s departure from it. Problems which look to be further
exacerbated by the Government’s cavalier approach to the Northern
Ireland Protocol which risks further damaging trade & investment for
UKs businesses of all sizes. I have pushed Ministers to commit to
publish analysis of the implications of their Bill for those whose
jobs depend on exports to the E.U.

 

So much for cutting red tape, central Harrow’s ‘Seeds of Italy’
can no longer export to any EU country and has suffered a significant
amount of shortages and delays, reducing its range including dropping
some products. Instead of focusing on what is important to their
business, a bureaucratic nightmare has left staff spending hours
filling out paperwork. At the same time costs are rising, there are
significant shortages, all while orders are taking much longer and
choice is diminishing for customers. Like many businesses, they have
been unable to secure more staff.

I also spoke at an event for the Labour Movement for Europe on the
detrimental effects we seeing for trade, for UK businesses, as a
result of the Government’s poor deal with the E.U. and talked to the
potential measures a Labour government would implement to ameliorate
the problems faced by UK business who trade with Europe.

GRENFELL TOWER & TRIDENT POINT

[Grenfell]

 

This month saw the 5th anniversary of the Grenfell Fire tragedy, still
there has been no compensation for survivors, the cladding problem is
still causing misery to leaseholders and there has been a lack of
progress on criminal charges for those responsible for the deaths of
72 people.

 

Grenfell is a political and corporate scandal. Fire safety must not be
compromised, building regulations must be comprehensive & Government
must work with the construction and housing sector to take
responsibility for the safety of residents across the UK.

 

Leaseholders in our borough still face great uncertainty as a result
of the Government's mishandling of the cladding crisis. Faulty
cladding is just one aspect of this sorry and tragic mess; inspections
in Harrow have uncovered other fire safety risks including unfit
insulation. Through no fault of their own, leaseholders may end up
facing exorbitant bills of thousands of pounds and unsellable
properties.

 

Shockingly, residents at Trident Point in central Harrow are still
experiencing critical safety issues, including lifts not working and
other maintenance issues which are detrimentally affecting the lives
of residents. I am in regular consultation with both residents and
stakeholders to try and resolve these issues.  

 

I will continue to use what ever avenues are available to me to ensure
that all residents in across Harrow West have clean, safe and
well-maintained housing.

 

PALESTINE:

I have spoken in Parliament on the important work that the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near
East does regarding the desperate situation being faced by those in
the Palestinians territories.

 

The work of UNWRA is hugely important work in reducing poverty,
preventing hunger, and joblessness but they often struggle to get the
funding they need.

I pushed for Ministers to lead an international process to ensure the
UNWRA get the money they need to make a real difference to the lives
of Palestinians

COMMUNITY LANGUAGE GCSES

[Community language]

 

As I mentioned in the House of Commons this week,
[[link removed]]
there has been a steep decline in the numbers taking GCSE Gujarati, in
the last 10 years. To support trade with India and help young
people’s wider learning, Ministers ought to offer support to the
Saturday schools & teachers supporting the teaching of languages such
as Gujarati.

 

Since 2015, there has been a 22% decline in students studying Gujarati
at GCSE Level and a 30% decline in those studying Urdu. The figures
also show even more dramatic reductions in students obtaining Punjabi
and Bengali GCSES with an over 39% and 51% decline respectively. These
four languages combined are spoken by approximately 480 million people
worldwide.

 

Qualifications in Community languages are falling sharply.
Minister’s failure to invest in these languages is leading to a
marked decline in the number of students taking exams. The Government
needs to provide proper financial support to help local communities
and schools.

 

YOU CAN SIGN MY SIGN MY PETITION CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PUT
VITAL INVESTMENT INTO COMMUNITY LANGUAGES HERE.
[[link removed]]

 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

[Community]

 

On a more positive note, the past month has provided some great
opportunities for celebrations across our constituency with the Queens
Jubilee providing a for a great weekend at the start of the month and
an opportunity to reflect on the great work of Navin Shah who was
awarded a CBE for his forty years of public and political service in
the Queen’s birthday honours list. And not to forget the awarding of
an OBE to Neasden Temple Trustee Vinu Bhattessa who was awarded an OBE
for his charitable services to the community.

 

Since then, it was a pleasure to visit the Kenton Jain Temple where
the Mahavir Foundation had three days of celebrations commemorating 35
years of community activity and ten years of their consecrated Temple.

 

Another highlight was visiting Harrow Carers, as part of Carers Week
to thank all those who provide vital care to those who need it.
Whether it’s looking after family or friends with a disability,
mental or physical illness, or support as they grow older. There are
6.5 million people in the UK who are carers and it is vitally
important for identifying carers & making sure they feel supported.

TOWN CENTRE POLICE CAMPAIGN

[PC Thomas]

[Harrow v London stats]

 

Hundreds of residents have now signed my petition calling on the Met
Commissioner for our own Town Centre Police Team. As many will know, I
welcome the announcement of a dedicated team for Uxbridge and Wembley
but given that Harrow is both a significant commercial district, has
an increasing nightlife and is an important transport hub
with Harrow Bus Station and Harrow on the Hill Station both within
the town centre, I struggle to understand why it hasn’t been
prioritised for its own dedicated team of police officers.

 

Please help apply pressure on the Met Commissioner and sign my
petition calling for a dedicated town centre police team:
[link removed]
[[link removed]]

 

SURGERY AND PARLIAMENT TOURS

[Surgery 06/07]

 

As I return to in-person surgeries, I plan to continue my roving
surgeries across Harrow West. In recent months, this has been held at
local churches and community centres across the borough. My next
walk-in surgery is taking place on MONDAY, 4TH JULY at THE
INTERNATIONAL SIDDHASHRAM SHAKTI CENTRE at 22 PALMERSTON ROAD, HA3
7RR, from 11AM-1PM. Open to all Harrow West residents, please drop
by if you have any concerns or issues that you would like to raise
with me.

 

[Surgery 11/07]

 

On MONDAY, 11TH JULY, I will also be holding a walk-in surgery, open
to all Harrow West residents at VICTORIA HALL ON SHEEPCOTE ROAD, HA1
2JE from 10:30AM - 12:30PM. If you have a suggestion of where you
would like me to host a surgery, do please drop me a line!

 

I have now returned to my regular advice surgery, taking on casework
at my constituency office at 132-134 Blenheim Road, the surgery is
usually appointment-based and appointments can be made by calling my
parliamentary office on 020 7219 4243.

[Parliament tour]

 

After two long years - Following the restrictions put in place during
the Covid-19 pandemic, I am now resuming my own tours for residents of
Harrow West, while paid tours can also be arranged through the Houses
of Parliament. 
[[link removed]]

 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN AN UPCOMING TOUR OF PARLIAMENT PLEASE FILL
OUT THE FORM USING MY WEBSITE HERE.
[[link removed]]

 

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[link removed]