My Email

Dear John,

It’s the end of the first week of March and I’m looking forward to longer, brighter days as the Spring equinox approaches. February passed by quickly in Harrow and Westminster and I fear, with average energy bills set to rise, that some of the coldest days of the year are not yet behind us for many in Harrow.

While people are struggling to keep homes warm, I completely recognise the need to normalise the support for those that need it, please do visit a warm hub if you are in need of a warm drink and warm company. The excellent Voluntary Action Harrow Co-operative have set-up a very helpful map of all the warm hubs accessible across Harrow, which can be found here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?ll=51.61039799008117%2C-0.33882177684980475&z=12&mid=1ZiaaiOTQTaSI5zuDatNOjGD0b-NfKe4

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 , Twitter and Instagram.

SURGERIES, LITTER-PICKING & TOURS

Following our recent community clean-up of West Harrow Park, where together, we collected over 30 bags of rubbish from across the park, I look forward to joining an even bigger project. The indefatigable Harrow Litter Pickers will be taking on Wealdstone as part of the Great British Spring Clean from the 17th March - 2nd April. 🌳 🚮

I look forward to joining the first day meetup at Harrow and Wealdstone Station at 10.30AM and hope to see many local residents there!

Last year, #LitterHeroes from around the country pulled on their gloves, grabbed their litter-pickers and pledged to join the #BigBagChallenge. Together, many removed almost half a million bags or rubbish from the environment.

18 MARCH - 2 APRIL 2023

SHEET TO SIGN UP AND VOLUNTEER

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KUJiAOt0dyFiYb4nCCvFJ5b6xoa6128X6AQihZjQQKo/edit#gid=0

MAP

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1K3VS6QbKwtzabpl1cCi84ZutDLcblwY&ll=51.59526171705397%2C-0.32976369999999644&z=15

(Credit to George Bit of Harrow Litter Pickers for working so hard to put this together)

Last year, I held at least one walk-in surgery in every ward of Harrow West, collecting hundreds of cases in surgeries across local churches, temples, mosques and community centres.

If you have a suggestion of where you would like me to host a surgery in 2023, do please drop me a line. I also run my regular advice surgery, taking on casework at my constituency office at 132-134 Blenheim Road, this surgery is appointment-based and appointments can be made by calling my parliamentary office on 020 7219 4243.

It was a privilege to show a number of families around Parliament over the last month – as always, great questions about political decisions in Westminster and the impact they have locally on people in Harrow.

A reminder that anyone living in Harrow West and wanting to join a tour of your House of Commons, please feel free to let me know by filling out a form here: https://www.gareththomas.org.uk/parliamentary-tours/

CAMPAIGN FOR TOWN CENTRE POLICE TEAM

As many will recall, I wrote to the Met Police Commisioner in late 2021 to outline our urgent need for a Town Centre Police team in Harrow. This followed a number of meetings I had held with local residents & SNT to discuss the issue of violence against women and girls & safety in the Town Centre.

It astonishes me that after our efforts, with hundreds of residents supporting the campaign- Harrow only just missed out on a Town Centre Police team last year. Last week's stabbing in central Harrow only emphasised the need for one.

According to Independent Crime Statistics, since 2010, crime has risen by 15% in Harrow. Our Town Centre is definitely in need of its own inspector, three sergeants and 21 police constables. If you haven't already - sign and/or share my petition calling on the Met Commissioner to support us with a Town Centre team: https://www.gareththomas.org.uk/town-centre-police-team-campaign/

I will aim to present another letter to Sir Mark Rowley after I meet with local police.

PARLIAMENT ROUND-UP

Cammell Laird 37

Earlier this month I led a debate to call for a Public Inquiry into the potential historic injustice of the Cammell Laird 37. It is almost 40 years since Cammell Laird ship workers voted for strike action in an effort to save their jobs as the yard faced a round of 800 redundancies.

This led to a four-month occupation of a rig and frigate under construction at the yard, with the men only reluctantly agreeing to leave after having their water cut-off and threats of special forces taking them by force. The men were arrested as they left the rig they were occupying and imprisoned at Liverpool’s HMP Walton without the representation of their choice. The strikers were also striped of their right to redundancy, pensions and blackballed from their trades.

Whilst documentation surrounding the imprisonment is scarce or admitted to having been destroyed by government departments involved in the case recently released documents suggest the Government of the time, led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, were keen to mothball the shipyard as they sought to privatise the sector.

These men were at the heart of a legitimate national industrial dispute about the very future of British Shipbuilding. Shipbuilding yards across the UK were pitted against each other. These men built the ships our defence industry relied upon, and they were also trying to defend their jobs that was the lifeblood of their community, but they were painted as militants and thrown into prison as the Thatcher Government sought to sell off the nations thriving shipbuilding industry.

I will continue to do what I can to fight on behalf of the 37, these men deserve justice, and the case resonates to this day as we see the current Tory government perpetually trying to smear key workers as they try to save their sectors.

· You can read the full debate here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2023-02-07/debates/CA5DDD28-D60A-488B-99CC-4A882E885282/CammellLairdWorkersImprisonedIn1984#contribution-EF513323-A907-426F-AF8A-F59A3D18BAAF

· And watch my speech here: https://twitter.com/GarethThomasMP/status/1623983587690258432

Trade Questions

The Department for International Trade has recently been merged with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in a reshuffle by the Prime Minister. Whilst I understand there might be an argument for the interlinking of these two departments, I cannot help but fear this is an effort by government to sweep their appalling record on trade under the carpet, a move which will lead to even less scrutiny of the government on their failed trade policy.

The scheduled trade questions did go ahead and took the opportunity to ask Ministers from the newly amalgamated Department of Business and Trade (BaT) why exports to Germany from nations around the world are up but exports to Germany from the UK are DOWN. Was it the EU deal at fault or lack of support for exporters? Ministers once again didn’t have any explanation for these shocking figures.

I also pushed Ministers on their once much trumpeted trade deal with the United States. They, of course, never managed to secure a deal. Once again overpromising and underdelivering. A situation which is particularly problematic as had they negotiated a free trade agreement with the U.S., as they all promised at the last General Election, British firms would have been protected from the Inflation Reduction Act that means new investment & jobs here in green energy & tech are at risk. Unfortunately, the infighting in the Conservative Party last year led to Ministers waking up too late to the threat and they’ve done much too little since to respond to the problems these new subsidies will cause British firms.

You can watch and read Ministers evade these important questions here:
https://twitter.com/GarethThomasMP/status/1623651384934506496?t=h0kE5JSsE25NSch_rZp_wQ&s=19

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2023-02-09/debates/E5CC39DC-F4E6-4D0C-A45B-824B19EBB9F8/TradeWithEuropeanCountries#contribution-F9440D83-014F-4B7A-8329-492A1DD0B414

And here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2023-02-09/debates/28A6336D-E1B4-4669-B5C5-020EFA4A96B3/FreeTradeAgreementWithTheUS#contribution-614EF01C-1ECB-4814-9530-079B06F16777

Governor of Xinjiang - UK Visit:

As it turned out the Governor of Xinjiang, a man who appears to be directly responsible for human rights violations taking place towards the Uyghur Community, ended up cancelling his visit to the UK. Until he did the Government were intent on meeting with rather than sanctioning him. A point I raised to the Minister.

· Available here:

· https://twitter.com/GarethThomasMP/status/1624089763635507210?t=eY1PKJn_K-fzfDoC3xgdqQ&s=19

· https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2023-02-09/debates/6F445411-C982-46AC-8E75-B34DE38D7B9C/GovernorOfXinjiangUKVisit#contribution-72C67724-6F83-412D-9701-34E653D40ACE

Overseas Aid: Child Health and Education

Westminster Hall saw an important debate on overseas aid and its impact on the health and education of children around the world. I have always believed that our first responsibility in this House is to our own citizens. However, there is also a moral responsibility for us, to do our bit to help those in the poorest countries.

It is in our self-interest to do so. DFID was a global leader throughout its existence, which enhanced UK soft power. Development assistance helps to build up markets, creating job opportunities not just in country but, as a result of trade, also benefits people here in the UK.

Read and watch my full speech here:

· https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2023-02-22/debates/B8C89A5E-D1D1-4132-AAE3-1E6AC2EA49E1/OverseasAidChildHealthAndEducation#contribution-FA83835F-9CBE-48E1-9505-8C5874C6931A

· https://twitter.com/gareththomasmp/status/1630185321638895619?s=46&t=yKk3YnQnei6FEbvYjZ4ISw

And

· https://twitter.com/gareththomasmp/status/1630167734578192387?s=46&t=yKk3YnQnei6FEbvYjZ4ISw

HARROW COUNCIL

One of the biggest campaign issues raised during last year’s council elections was the high levels of council tax being forced on the Harrow taxpayer. The low level of funding to Harrow from central Government is an issue I have raised in Parliament on a number of occasions over the years. A sad outcome of the Conservatives making Council Tax a huge campaigning issues is that they have been unsuccessful in cutting council tax.

In grim news for Harrow residents, Harrow Conservatives have decided to raise our tax bills by the maximum 5% this year, while cutting support to the elderly and cutting street cleaning and refuse collections. These cuts can not come at a worse time – as my office is receiving several e-mails per weeks relating to missed bins and fly tipping. Good to know then, they’re setting aside £250,000 for videos to promote themselves and the Council...

https://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/23323926.harrow-council-raise-tax-bill-100-4-99-increase/?fbclid=IwAR0QK80kcEPq30FMsjIrn2U7CI72qwT7XH_Oqk0xiZ-a_3Pwofvi9WI23N4

It's also worth recognising, the Conservatives have no plan to end soaring energy bills. Their Government is still refusing to scrap the planned £500 rise in household energy bills on April 1st. I know many families are really worried about prices soaring in April and so it's urgent the government gives them reassurance now, and extends the windfall tax on oil and gas giants to give them support for their energy bills as Labour would.

Worth remembering, this is at the same time that Centrica, the company that owns British Gas, made a record profit of £3.3bn in 2022. Lower energy bills, warmer homes, and clean power. That’s the difference a Labour government would make!

CAMPAIGN FOR MORE ITU BEDS AT NORTHWICK PARK HOSPITAL

The Accident & Emergency service at Northwick Park continues to be the busiest in London and one of the busiest in the country. The Intensive Therapy Unit ITU regularly receives the highest number of blue-light ambulances in London, placing additional pressure on critical care.

As a result, Northwick Park’s ITU has regularly averaged as high as 99% of its bed occupancy and is clearly in need of additional ITU beds. Our ITU is in need of additional beds to meet its current pressures. This would also allow our local Trust to use existing space to increase its general and acute bed base.

It is clear that a new 60 bed unit would offer better staff to patient ratios, create a much better working environment and crucially, provide improved clinical outcomes. I have written to the Health Secretary to find out how the Dept for Health will seek to improve our ITU facilities.

Hundreds of people have now signed my petition – please continue to share as I call on the Secretary of State for Health to fund more ITU beds in Northwick Park hospital: https://www.gareththomas.org.uk/petition-increase-icu-beds-in-northwick-park-hospital/

UNIVERSITY FAIR - FEBRUARY 27^TH 2023

O n Monday, February 27^th , I joined Whitmore High School to host our sixth annual University Fair - I was delighted to meet with hundreds of Harrow students, from Whitmore and Avanti, to Nower Hill and Pinner, to Rooks Heath and more, all in attendance at my University Fair this afternoon! Great to have local representation in Brunel and Westminster, as well as unis further out in Newcastle and Oxford too. I really appreciated meeting Year 11s too. It’s never too early to have these discussions - university comes around quite quickly and if students can’t plan a visit to one, it’s always helpful to get reading up on different universities and different degrees or apprenticeships.

The University Fair is one of the only events in Harrow’s calendar where students from local Harrow state schools have the opportunity to engage with 30 of the UKs leading universities including Oxbridge. Harrow has excellent schools with an estimated 63% of local school students going onto Higher Education. Until six years ago there wasn’t an opportunity within the borough of Harrow for these students to speak with representatives of the leading UK Universities prior to submitting their UCAS applications.

All the big private schools across the country organise their own University Fairs giving their students a significant advantage in the UCAS process as well as ensuring that they have all the information necessary to make the decision that will define their future for at least the next three to four years if not longer. With this event, in partnership with Whitmore School, I have alwayed aimed to even out the playing field, to provide our school students with some of the same opportunities as their privately educated peers.

SUPPORT IN HARROW

In the backdrop to all the political turmoil in Westminster this year - on the ground here in Harrow, one of the richest countries in the world will be dependent on the good will of some amazing charities, churches and mosques for “warm hubs” this winter.

I will aim to drop by to more of the warm banks and offer my support when I can. While people are struggling to keep homes warm, I completely recognise the need to normalise the support for those that need it, so do visit a warm hub if you need a warm drink and some warm company.

Voluntary Action Harrow have set-up a very helpful map of all the warm hubs accessible across Harrow, which can be found here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?ll=51.61039799008117%2C-0.33882177684980475&z=12&mid=1ZiaaiOTQTaSI5zuDatNOjGD0b-NfKe4

NEW MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP FOR HARROW

The excellent Young Harrow Foundation has created a suite of FREE new mental health services and resources for young people aged 5-25. The services are designed to help empower young people to take control of their emotional health, before the crisis point. School based services for teachers and Community-based services open for referrals from parents, schools, GPs, and other professionals working with young people.

Visit the suite here: https://youngharrowfoundation.org/HarrowMHP

London’s Community Kitchen:

London's Community Kitchen (based at The Bridge, next to Harrow Leisure Centre) run a Free Surplus Food Market open to everyone every Friday from 3-5PM. At the height of the pandemic, this operation served over 10,000 people across Harrow and London. Please consider donating or getting involved in any way that you can with this incredible Harrow-wide response to the cost of living crisis: https://www.londonscommunitykitchen.com/home-1

If you’re ever in need of their support, the Community Kitchen want to help - they won’t ask you for any details, or anything in return, just turn up and they will provide you with food.