Ukraine
This week, the Prime Minister reaffirmed our unwavering support for President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine.
We are at a crossroads in our history. Once again, we live in an era where peace in Europe depends upon strength and deterrence. That’s why the Prime Minister has announced the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War.
The Prime Minister also announced a deal with Ukraine that allows them to use £1.6 billion of UK Export Finance to buy 5,000 air defence missiles, manufactured in Belfast. That will enable us to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for peace, and create new jobs and apprenticeships in our country.
The Prime Minister has announced thousands of small UK businesses will now receive government support to ensure they benefit from the decision to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. This will include a new support hub to provide guidance to small businesses on accessing the defence supply chain, unlocking new jobs and putting more money in people’s pockets.
You can read the Prime Minister’s full statement delivered to the House of Commons on Monday here, and find out more about how small businesses are set to benefit from increased investment here.
Leasehold
Speaking to LBC about the archaic leasehold system in 2020
Many of my constituents who are leaseholders have been let down by unreliable managing agents like FirstPort, facing punitive and escalating ground rents, unreasonable or extortionate charges and onerous conditions.
The Government has published the Commonhold White Paper, which will seek to put an end to to the feudal leasehold system. Under our plans, homeowners will have a stake in the ownership of their buildings from day one, not have to pay ground rent, and will gain control over how their buildings are run. Read more about our plans here.
Rail Reform
For far too long, my constituents have been consistently let down by an unreliable rail network. Avanti West Coast and Cross Country, which connect Birmingham to the rest of the country, have two of the highest cancellation rates of any operators.
The government has announced that stations will now have to display how often trains are delayed, ushering in a new era of accountability and putting passengers first. You can read more here.
Employment Rights Bill
Showing my support for a New Deal for Working People
The Government has tabled amendments to the Employment Right’s Bill this week, our historic bill which will increase productivity, improve worker’s rights and create the right conditions for long-term sustainable, inclusive, and secure economic growth.
An amendment tabled by the government will bring forward landmark changes to statutory sick pay that will help people stay in work and grow the economy. Under new plans, more than a million people across the country on low wages will either receive 80% of their average weekly earnings if they find themselves ill, or the rate of Statutory Sick Pay which will be £11.75 a week from April.
This Government is boosting living standards by making low earners better off and enabling people to have the time off they need to recover, so they can get better and remain in work rather than risk quitting altogether.
Other Government amendments include applying zero hour contract measures to agency workers, more reforms to trade unions, such as simplifying industrial action notices, and regulating umbrella companies.
Read more here.
Work Coaches
The Government has announced that work will be unlocked for thousands of sick and disabled people through new measures that will bolster the support offered in Jobcentres and make the welfare system more sustainable. 1,000 work coaches are set to be deployed to deliver intensive employment support to sick and disabled people, helping them break down the barriers to opportunity, drive growth and unlock the benefits of work. Read more here.
Justice
The Conservatives left us with record court backlogs, meaning victims faced huge delays to justice. Rape victims are staggeringly waiting more than 300 days on average just to see their perpetrators charged. This is a disgraceful legacy and we are determined to turn things around.
The Government has announced that victims will see swifter justice, with Crown Court sitting days to be increased to record levels. Crown Court judges will sit for a collective 110,000 days in the next financial year – 4,000 more than was previously allocated the previous year. You can read more here.
We have also committed to fast-tracking rape cases through the courts, introducing specialist rape courts to deliver swift and effective justice to some of the most vulnerable victims in the criminal justice system.
UK-Ireland Summit
The Prime Minister met with Taoiseach Micheal Martin at a UK-Ireland Summit to discuss national security, growth and energy security. Through a new data sharing agreement, the UK and Irish governments will lay the groundwork for commercial developers to increase offshore energy. You can read the Prime Minister’s remarks here.
Dentistry
Preet Kaur Gill speaking at the British Dental Association Conference
This government inherited an oral health crisis. The most common reason that children 5-9 go to hospital is for treatment for rotting teeth, and a third of 5-year-olds in the most deprived areas have experience of tooth decay.
We are delivering supervised toothbrushing to young children aged between 3 and 5 years old and families who are most in need of support. This includes providing 23 million free toothbrushes and toothpastes through our partnership with Colgate-Palmolive to reach up to 600,000 children each year. Read more here.
National Youth Strategy
Local authority spending on youth provision has reduced by 73% since 2010, which equates to over £1 billion less being spent on young people every year.
The availability of youth services can have a significant impact on the lives of young people. This week, the Government has launched a wide-reaching national survey asking about young people’s needs, challenges and priorities as part of the strategy to engage with young people to develop the National Youth Strategy. Have your say here.
Restoring Pride in Britain's Neighbourhoods
With Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker
The Government has announced a record £1.5 billion will be handed to towns across the UK to tackle deprivation and turbocharge growth. A total of 75 areas will each receive up to £20 millions of funding and support over the next decade through the plan, which will help to transform multiple areas. Read more about our plans here.
International Women's Day
In the UK, violence against women and girls is an epidemic. At least 1 in 12 women is a victim of domestic abuse each year, and nearly 100 domestic abuse related offences were recorded every hour by the police in 2024.
Ahead of International Women’s Day, it was a pleasure to speak at University of Birmingham and recommit to accelerating action to tackle violence against women and girls.
This Labour Government is committed to halving violence against women and girls in a decade. We have:
Passed Raneem’s Law, placing domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms so when someone calls, they are listened to and heard. This is currently underway in the West Midlands.
Pledged to introduce new Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and orders to protect victims of all types of abuse such as physical, psychological, stalking and coercive control, meaning more perpetrators will be forced to live under restrictions.
Pledged to strengthen the use of Stalking Protection Orders and give women the right to know the identity of online stalkers.
Committed to making spiking a criminal offence, after incidents reached record levels last year.
You can read more about our plans to tackle violence against women and girls here.
World Bank
With Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank
It was an honour to meet Ajay Banga, the President of the World Bank, in Parliament.
International development is integral to our national security. We should be proud of the UK’s leadership in international development through the World Bank over the many years that we have worked together.
Global Partnership for Education
With Laura Frigenti, GPE CEO
It was great to meet with Laura Frigenti, CEO of Global Partnership for Education in Parliament yesterday.
I’ve been championing the Global Partnership for Education’s work for many years. We discussed our shared commitment to providing quality education to children in lower income countries, which we know is vital to the development of stronger economies across the world.
3D Guns
This week, a man in Crewe was jailed after he was found with a loaded 3D-printed gun.
3D guns are increasingly presenting a threat to our safety and security up of our country. I’m glad that the government is taking forward my bill and legislating to make it an offence to possess and share templates for 3D-printed guns.
You can watch the Channel 4 Documentary I featured in about 3D guns here.
GG2 Awards
It was great to attend the GG2 Leadership and Diversity awards, with a keynote speech from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
Thank you to Kalpesh and Shailesh Solanki for a wonderful celebration of the contribution ethnic minorities make to the UK.
Brain Tumours
At the Brain Tumour Charity drop-in
Brain tumours are the largest cancer killers of those under 40, and 12,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year in the UK.
It was good to meet with the Brain Tumour Charity in Parliament to learn more about this condition.
World Book Day
At World Book Day Parliamentary drop-in
This week it was World Book Day. Reading for pleasure really matters, with research suggesting that reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income.
World Book Day makes a difference. 25% of pupils receiving Free School Meals said the £1 book they "bought" with their £1 token was the first book of their own. It was great to meet with representatives from World Book Day in Parliament and show my support for this great initiative.
Local News
PACT Meeting
At a morning briefing with West Midlands Police
On 21 March, there is a police and community (PACT) meeting in Quinton between 7pm and 8pm, at St Faith and St Laurence Church, Balden Road and Croftdown Road, B17 8RD. This is a great opportunity to raise any issues you might have with the local police.
Meeting with the Inspector
This week, I met with our Inspector Paul Hatton to discuss crime across the constituency. Please do report your concerns to me by contacting my office, by emailing preet.gill.mp@parliament.uk or calling 0121 392 8426 Monday to Friday, between 9:00am and 5:00pm.
MHWC
Next week, the MHWC will be visiting Winson Street in North Edgbaston, B18 4JW, on Monday 10th March, and Arosa Drive in Harborne, B17 0SE, on Friday 14th March. The centre will be open between 7:30am and 13:00pm, so please do come along if you have bulky household waste to dispose of!
Best wishes,
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Preet Kaur Gill MP
Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton
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