You can find previous reports of my work on my web site; www.ruthcadbury.co.uk  I also report regularly on my Facebook page and via Twitter and Instagram @RuthCadbury.    

 

If you would like to raise issues with me please email on [email protected] with your address, a quick summary of the issue (and relevant reference numbers).   

 

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What the Budget means for the Brentford & Isleworth Constituency

Last week we saw the first Labour budget in over 14 years; an NHS properly funded, £5 billion to deliver the Government’s housing plan, and £500 million to resurface a road network run ragged by 14 years of austerity – this is the difference a new government can make.

Here in Brentford & Isleworth constituency, the budget will mean a £485 million settlement for TFL, to help pay for new trains and depots on the Piccadilly line. It will mean a £1billion extension to the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments to help households who are struggling to cope.

 

Those on the National Living Wage will see their incomes go up by 6.7%, while those receiving a state pension will see an increase of up to £470 per annum.

 

Tough choices had to be made but promises had to be kept. That is why the Chancellor was able to deliver all that and more, with no increases in income tax, VAT or employee National Insurance contributions.

 

I welcome this budget that invests in our part of West London, while supporting those in our community who have been hardest hit by austerity and the cost-of-living crisis.

 

Search on “Hansard Ruth Cadbury” to see my budget speech in full.

MY PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITY IN SEPTEMBER

For full details of my questions and speeches in Parliament, get regular updates about my Parliamentary activities TheyWorkForYou (votes) or see Hansard (speeches) & on YouTube

“All change”: first meeting of new-look transport committee

It’s been a busy few weeks back in Westminster. Before the Conference Recess I was elected by MPs from all parties to be Chair of the Transport Committee. Last week we held our first meeting.

 

Over the course of this Parliament, it will be our job to scrutinise the Government’s transport policy and to hold to account transport decision makers in both the public and private sector.

 

We will look at how we can improve accessibility, investment, sustainability, and value for money across the UK’s transport networks.

In the Chamber;

For full details of my questions and speeches in Parliament, get regular updates about my Parliamentary activities TheyWorkForYou (votes) or see Hansard (speeches) & on YouTube

A group of Girl guides and brownies came into Parliament to promote their work with girls across the country. We talked about playing football – I had just attended the All-party Women in Football Group meeting.  The Brownies told me about being discouraged from playing football at school – and how it made them feel.  I suggested they raise that with their school council – which they are now going to be doing!

It was a pleasure to meet multi-Olympic gold medal winner Dame Sarah Storey in her capacity as Greater Manchester’s Walking and Cycling Champion, along with Transport Commissioner Vernon Everitt. I learned how Manchester is working to improve public transport and the environment for Walking & Cycling, to reduce congestion and pollution across the conurbation.

COMMUNITY UPDATE

I met volunteers Rod, Jayne and Hugh from the SSAFA, an armed forces charity who help servicemen and women make the transition to ‘civvy street’. Meeting with their SW London branch in Whitton, they told me about the ways in which they can provide support to ex-service personnel and their families. They work with other charities to provide practical support on issues like housing, welfare, pensions and more. Find out more at www.ssafa.org.uk

On that wet Sunday, I was down at Brentford Station, helping with some spring bulb planting with “Air Quality Brentford”. It was great to see so many local people getting involved to help brighten up our green spaces – whatever the weather!

Cllr Jagdish Sharma has been a Hounslow Councillor for 50 years and the Council celebrated his achievement by presenting him with a specially commissioned photo at an event in Hounslow House.  Jagdish was the UK’s first Asian Mayor, and when he was leader of the Council in 2010-12, I was his deputy.

So many parents of children with special needs and disabilities tell me about their struggle to get the support for their children that they feel they need.  So, I invited the Special Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs) of the schools in my constituency to give me their perspective.  While they acknowledge the national crisis in SEND due to 14 years or underfunding, they told me of the need to improve communication with schools and parents to ensure the swift provision of support.  I am currently working together with the leader and lead cabinet member at Hounslow to address this important issue.

Multicultural Richmond is a welcoming space for people at the centre on Kneller Road.  For Black History Month they held an Open Morning with a Zumba session, but also the chance to meet a range of organisations including the neighbourhood police, Healthwatch Richmond, and the Crime & Community Support team.  This is a great social organisation easily accessible for people living in south Hounslow and Whitton.

I had a productive meeting with Seb Dance, the Deputy Mayor of London for Transport and Cllr Katherine Dunne, at Chatsworth Primary School on Friday 25th October. We met local parents and children, and talked about what local communities are achieving on local transport solutions. It was particularly useful to hear from parents and students alike about the success of their #schoolstreet and about the need for a crossing at Hall Road/Heath Road.

While I was at Chatsworth School I was able to watch the Black History Month awards assembly.  Teacher Ms Golley arranged for her Gold-medal winning husband Julian Golley to present the awards.  He was Britain’s top triple jumper and brought along his medal from the 1994 Commonwealth Games.         

Last month I was contacted by workers locally about industrial action that was taking place at the Natural History Museum and Science Museum. Security workers employed via a third party were striking due to poor pay, and a lack of equal treatment compared to directly employed staff. I have written to the senior leadership at both museums to express my concern over the workers treatments, and my hope that a fair pay deal can be reached

Finally, as Thomas Frank’s kit sponsor, I was delighted to witness Brentford’s stunning 4:3 comeback against Ipswich Town. It was great to secure both a hard-fought victory and bragging rights over my Ipswich-supporting family.

 

Come on you Bees!

 

With best wishes

 

 

 

Printed from an email sent by Ruth Cadbury MP