News from Westminster
Yesterday, at a meeting of the Liaison Committee, made up of select committee chairs, I had my first opportunity to join in the detailed questioning of the Prime Minister.
I pursued two lines of questioning on domestic justice policy, the first on the previous government’s cuts to legal aid and their effect on access to justice, the second dealt with the work the government needs to do to reduce reoffending by ensuring that prisoners and those released from prison receive proper rehabilitation.
Parliament has been busier than ever in the run up to the summer recess. The government continues to push forward some very significant pieces of legislation such as the Employment Rights Bill and the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The Employment Rights Bill aims to bring about the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, ending exploitative zero-hours contracts and doing away with ‘fire and rehire’.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will modernise the regulation of our country’s insecure private rented sector, giving tenants greater security in their homes. It is still the case that housing is the biggest issue represented in the casework I do, and I welcome the proposed changes in the Bill. Giving tenants greater security not only gives them stability, but it also helps local communities by allowing tenants to stay in their homes for longer and become part of their neighbourhood.
As the government marked a year in office, I wrote an article for the Chiswick Calendar, about what has gone right and wrong so far.
The Justice Committee, which I chair, heard evidence last week from the Minister for Prisons, Lord Timpson, which will feed into two of the current inquiries, one on tackling drugs in prison and the other on rehabilitation and cutting reoffending.
We’ve recently published a report on the Criminal Cases Review Commission, following which the Chief Executive has chosen to stand down, and yesterday published a report on the crisis in the County Courts.
I raised the issue of the backlog in our Crown Court system during Justice questions, highlighting the need for contractors such as Serco, which runs tagging and prison transport, to improve their performance or else risk undermining the reforms being implemented by the government.
I also led a debate in the House of Commons on the criminal justice system. On Wednesday this week we are beginning our new major inquiry for the autumn on access to justice.
I was very moved to speak in the debate on the Rare Cancers Bill and raised the cases of constituents whose lives have been cut tragically short by rare cancers. The Bill, which promotes research into rare cancers, has wide support from all parties, and I am hopeful that it will be enacted later this year.
Local policing
At the end of last month, the Met police launched Met Engage, a new way for Londoners to receive updates directly from their local officers.
The new website will provide updates on local incidents and investigations but will also advertise local events and meetings where residents can meet with officers to discuss concerns.
If you’re interested in signing up to this, then visit the Met Engage website.
Earlier this month the Met launched its ‘Safer Streets Summer Initiative’. The Met has identified the top 32 town centre and high street locations across London that have faced challenges with anti-social behaviour and street crime, and these areas will be the focus for enhanced action to tackle crime.
Shepherds Bush Green has been identified as one of these areas, and over the summer there will be increased police patrols, plain-clothed operations and directed targeting of offenders committing multiple offences, particularly shoplifting and ASB.
As I wrote in my last newsletter, residents have been raising significant concerns about crime and ASB around Uxbridge Road and Shepherds Bush Green, and local Police have responded by putting more resources into policing Uxbridge Road. Now there will also be extra help from the Met centrally.
However, I am disappointed by plans to close police station front counters, including the one at Hammersmith, leaving Charing Cross as the only police station in central London with a 24/7 front desk service.
Acton Police Station will maintain a 24/7 front desk service, which is convenient for some residents in Chiswick and Shepherds Bush. I spoke to the Chiswick Calendar about these changes to police stations in the area.
The reasons for the closures are partly financial, but the Police argue that only 5% of crimes are reported at front counters, with the overwhelming majority of incidents being reported by phone or online. Given this, the Met has taken the decision to prioritise having officers out patrolling the streets rather than staffing front desks.
Palestine
While questioning the Prime Minister at the Liaison Committee yesterday, I was able to ask a series of questions as to why the government has not taken stronger action on the horrific situation in Gaza.
Following that meeting I was also able to raise this with the Foreign Secretary during his statement on the Middle East.
As the situation in Gaza deteriorates, I have continued to raise this issue in Parliament whenever I have the opportunity.
I spoke in a debate on forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank, calling for the government to ban trade with illegal settlements, and adopt more widespread sanctions against Israel.
While the focus has understandably been on the horrors taking place in Gaza, this has provided cover for a brutal expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank. The case for Palestinian recognition has never been stronger, and I will continue to push the government on this.
I worked with the Council for Arab-British Understanding on two joint letters to the Prime Minister: the first called for sanctions on Israel, and the second called on the government to publish its response to The International Court of Justice and its ruling on the actions of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Independent Age
Recently I met with natioanl charity Independent Age at their offices in Hammersmith. We spoke about the issues facing older people on low incomes and the research that Independent Age has been doing on this.
In Hammersmith alone, around 2,000 eligible pensioners are missing on Pension Credit, and Independent Age has met with the Pensions Minister to push for some simple fixes that could help.
Their research document on this issue, ‘Jumping through hoops‘, is well worth a read.
Local Issues
I have had further meetings with Post Office Ltd about reopening the post office in Chiswick. They have reassured me that the post office is viable and it is a questions of when and not if it will reopen.
I have been told there are some outstanding matters yet to be finalised, but I have scheduled weekly contacts with Post Office Ltd to chase progress on this.
The London Borough of Hounslow has written to the Rail Minister, Lord Hendy to express its support for step-free access improvements at both Kew Bridge and Gunnersbury stations.
With the Council having secured funding from a number of large planning permissions locally, there is an opportunity to bring about the access improvements these two stations so badly need.
In Hammersmith we’re also pressing for improvements to Olympia station, both step free access but also a implementing a regularly daily tube service between Olympia and Earl’s Court. Residents have been campaigning on this and are supported by the owners of the new Olympia development.
Separately, having introduced a new parking scheme, residents and the Council are also pursuing Olympia to control the traffic flows generated by the development as per the planning permission that was granted. I’ll be working on this with councillors and residents to ensure that there is no rat running or heavy vehicles on residential streets.
Earlier this month I had a meeting with the residents of Pocklington Lodge, a housing scheme in Hammersmith for those who are blind or partially sighted.
Residents are fearful for the future of their homes, as the charity that owns the property, the Thomas Pocklington Trust, has plans to sell.
It was useful to hear the perspective and concerns of the residents, and I will again be raising this with the Trust to seek assurances for residents that their wellbeing and housing security is protected.
Residents of south Chiswick were horrified when hundreds of metres of mature hedge were ripped up from Dukes Meadows by contractors, without any warning that this work was being done.
The land is leased to Thomas’s London Day Schools, who have said they will replace the planting with a new hedge. The well-established old hedges provided habitats for many species including birds and small mammals, and local environmental groups are concerned that new planting will not provide for the same level of biodiversity.
Cllr Amy Croft held a meeting with local community groups, which I attended, to learn more about the issue and the concerns that residents have about the increasing commercial use of Dukes Meadows and what more can be done by the Council to protect this land.
Out and about
Earlier this month H&F Council hosted School Arts Week across the Borough. This provided school children free access to arts workshops delivered by local cultural organisations organised by the Lyric Theatre.
As part of the event I attended a Visual Arts and Manga workshop at White City Primary School, and met with the children taking part who created some very impressive art.
I also had the pleasure of attending the POSK picnic in Ravenscourt Park to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War. Visitors enjoyed performances by music and dance groups, as well as plenty of delicious Polish food.
It is 30 years since the opening of the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith. Along with all those who’ve been part of its success, I joined in the celebrations at the Irish Embassy last week. The Irish government and Hammersmith and Fulham Council have been generous supporters of the centre and this is proving to be their most ambitious year of events yet.
Cavendish Primary invited me to their summer exhibition, curated by one of the school’s teachers, Mr Stewart. The theme of the exhibition was ‘where we belong’ and children from all year groups took part.
It was lovely to get to know more about the school and I was so impressed by the wonderful art created by the pupils.
I attended another art exhibition in June, this time at St Paul’s CofE primary school, where I was joined by Hammersmith Broadway Councillor, Callum Nimmo. Not only did we get to see the brilliant art created by the children during their art week, but we also met with children, parents and staff and went on a tour of the school.
On 10 July I attended a wine tasting fundraiser at the Hogarth Youth and Community Centre. This is the fourth such event they’ve hosted and the night was supported by many kind donors. The night was also a celebration of the charity’s 25th anniversary.
I was very happy to be invited to the Grove Park Group (GPG) summer get together, on what was one of the hottest days of the year.
The Grove Park Group is a very active community group that has done much positive work on local issues. The group had carried out a survey on what matters most to residents of Grove Park and had now prepared an action plan for addressing the main areas of concern.
Another active and well-established residents’ group is the Stamford Brook Residents’ Association and last week I attended their AGM and social evening where I learnt about the work they had been doing over the year and spoke about my concerns regarding the expansion of Heathrow and the future of Hammersmith bridge.
It is always a delight to be the MP for a constituency that has so many active and positive community groups such as the GPG and SPRA.
Meeting with young refugees
Yesterday I was delighted to welcome a group of young Saharawi refugees to Parliament.
These children were born in refugee camps in Algeria following the displacement of their parents and grandparents from Western Sahara by Morocco and were visiting the UK as part of a programme organised by the charity Sandblast, which works to support and advocate on behalf of the indigenous people of Western Sahara.
The children spoke to me about their lives in the refugee camp and were full of questions about life in the UK and my work as an MP.
The group were so polite and engaged, and I was very humbled to receive gifts of tea and other items from their home.
Lastly, I was very sad when I heard of the passing of Pamela Mussenden, and I attended her funeral at St Stephens and St Thomas’s Church in Shepherd’s Bush.
Pamela was a well-known deeply-respected community leader in Shepherds Bush and White City for many years, involved with the Hut Association and senior citizens’ groups. She was deeply committed to public service and will be missed by all who knew her.