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MP’S UPDATE AUGUST 2020

I provide regular updates on my work.

You can find previous reports of my work on my web site;
www.ruthcadbury.co.uk [1] I also report regularly on my Facebook page [2]
and via Twitter [3] and Instagram @RuthCadbury [4]. You can see full
details of my questions and speeches in Parliament, and get Regular updates
about my Parliamentary activities on TheyWorkForYou [5]in Hansard [6]and on
YouTube [7]

SEE MY SPECIAL CORONAVIRUS WEB-PAGE [8] FOR INFORMATION ON

LOCAL AND NATIONAL SERVICES, HELP-LINES AND VOLUNTEERING;

 AND TO SIGN UP FOR HOUNSLOW COUNCIL’S DAILY UPDATES.

We have now had four months of upheaval and uncertainty and some have had
far worse; long-term illness, bereavement, loss of income. We had all hoped
that by now the UK would be on top of the virus, but it appears infection
rates are still too high, and local outbreaks mean that life cannot get
back to even semi-normal. I continue to be concerned that the Government is
lurching from one set of dithering decisions to another, without having any
clear strategy for responding and recovering. Although Parliament is in
recess until September 1st, my team and I continue to respond to local
issues whether connected to the pandemic, or not. Meanwhile I do hope
readers are enjoying the sun while it lasts!

THE TRADE BILL had its final debate and votes - an essential piece of
legislation that seeks to define our trade relationship before Brexit.

I had a very large postbag from constituents, rightly concerned about many
aspects of the Bill. _I SPOKE IN THE DEBATE [9]_ about the lack of
Parliamentary oversight allowed for in the Bill, about the risk of Investor
State Dispute Settlements (ISDS) being used to weaken environmental and
other protections. I was the only MP to address concerns about vehicle
safety standards; important because the US has lower safety thresholds for
both vehicle occupants and pedestrians/cyclists than the EU (remember
bull-bars that are now outlawed in the EU?) A US trade deal covering
vehicles could result in a lowering of our road safety record. As I didn't
get a response from the Minister in the Chamber, I have written to him.

FREE TRAVEL FOR UNDER 18S IN LONDON

Following outrage from young people over the Government's requirement for
TfL to remove free travel for Under 18's, I sponsored an_ ADJOURNMENT
DEBATE, [10]_ which a large number of colleagues joined me in. The removal
of free travel for all Under 18s in London was a condition forced on the
Mayor of London as the only binding condition to the Covid financial deal
to help Tranpsort for London. However, removing this universal concession
will not save much money or cut demand for travel. The Government clearly
had not costed the administration of ensuring the 30% of young Londoners
who are eligible for free travel under national rules get that concession ,
and of course many other families will be unable to afford the fares.

FUNDING FOR THE ARTS AND CREATIVE SECTORS I raised with the Arts Minister
the issue of inadequate levels of funding to community arts venues such as
Watermans Arts Centre. Although grants have finally been forthcoming, they
are far less than is needed so many local venues, arts events and jobs
remain at risk.

WINDRUSH VICTORY After taking up her case with the Home Office, one of my
constituents has finally received compensation for the losses she suffered
when the Government illegally withdrew her right to live in the UK after
being here for many decades. Two years from being set up, too few of the
victims have seen a penny in compensation from the schem, including more of
my constituents, who I will keep fighting for.

LOST COVID TESTS Having taken a Covid test in mid June for which I never
received the result, I asked a written question about lost tests. The
answer showed that the Government and Public Health England are not keeping
records of lost tests, which means they cannot calculate the infection rate
accurately. Truly shocking!

ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES It's good to report that Hounslow's new Council
homes will be fitted with zero emission heating systems, not gas boilers.
On the urging of community group Brentford Voice, I _ASKED THE PLANNING
MINISTER [11]_ to ensure the Planning Reforms include a requirement that
all new homes should have low or zero emission. Now that the _WHITE PAPER
ON PLANNING REFORMS_ [12] has been published, I am concerned to see the
Government is deeply unambitious on zero carbon for new developments, not
to mention reigning back on affordable housing and community needs.

THE EXCLUDED: So many of my constituents have been excluded from the
Government Covid support schemes for self-employed support or job retention
schemes due to the nature of their working arrangements, or the timing of
when they set up their business. On their behalf I wrote to Chancellor
Rishi Sunak again to ask that they be covered. I also asked that the job
retention scheme be extended beyond October for those sectors that cannot
recover early. I'm still awaiting an adequate response.

BA STAFF & HEATHROW - Aviation was one of the first sectors to be hit by
the pandemic and will be one of the last to recover. Hounslow is perhaps
the worst affected local authority area with up to 1 in 3 households
affected. Now that the furlough scheme is coming to an end, staff working
for British Airways, Heathrow Airport and other employers are now being
told they are to be made redundant, and with derisory terms. I have
supported actions by Unite and the GMB unions to highlight the human impact
of these job losses, and urged Government to address the impact this is
having not only on those directly affected, but also on our local economy
and community.

DURING JULY I ALSO:

* spoke against the Government's decision to ABOLISH THE DEPARTMENT FOR
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT; saying how UK aid, when not tied to Foreign
Policy objectives, plays a life-changing role to people in the countries
where it is spent
* took part in the ESCOOTERS INQUIRY - As a member of the Transport
Select Committee scrutinising the Government's trial of rental schemes for
eScooters (which currently are not legally allowed on UK public highways).
* took part in a Times Radio programme on ELECTORAL REFORM (which I
support)

COMMUNITY UPDATE

OSTERLEY HOMEBASE/TESCO SITES PLANNING APPLICATION: Along with resident
associations and councillors I attended a presentation on the expected
planning applications to Hounslow from Berkeley Homes. The outline plans
are for over 2,000 new homes, a new Tesco and some open spaces. It will
undoubtedly have a significant impact on the Osterley area. It will take
some time before the Council will formally consider the proposals but
current information can be found on the _OSTERLEY & WYKE GREEN RESIDENTS
ASSOCIATION [13]_ and _BERKELEY HOMES_ [14] sites.

NEWS OF LOCAL MARKETS: Brentford Market returns on the 9th August (then
every Sunday 10am-2pm) and a new Flower Market in Chiswick will be launched
on 6th September. This is a community initiative to support Chiswick's
local shops and other businesses and will be held every first Sunday by
Chiswick Police Station.

BRENTFORD FC Like so many local people, I was gutted that Brentford didn't
make the Premier League for their first season at the new Lionel Road
stadium. It would have brought around £170m to the club. However, their
performance over this last season shows they're nationally recognised as a
club to watch, and I am sure their performance will mean more season ticket
sales and much needed income for the club. In due course Griffin Park,
where they've been since 1904, will be redeveloped for low-rise housing,
the sale of which helps to fund the building of the new stadium.

LBH MEETINGS I continue to have regular meetings with the leadership of
Hounslow Council. Kelly O'Neil, Hounslow's fantastic Director of Public
Health, is now finally getting detailed information about those infected
from the national Track & Trace programme. This should have been provided
from the start, as without this ,she cannot identify who is likely to be at
risk of infection or of spreading Covid19. Council staff are being deployed
from other duties to support her - to act as local track and trace
specialists.

ROYAL MAIL SORTING OFFICES

We have been told that when the Brentford & Isleworth Sorting & Delivery
office closes, its sorting function will be transferred to the Jubilee Mail
Centre on the far side of Hounslow town. But as Jubilee has no public
access, residents will be expected to pick up parcels and signed-for mail
at the Hounslow Town Centre office just behind the High Street. I have
written to Royal Mail expressing my concern that mail could take longer to
be transferred between the two sites, and also that the Hounslow office is
difficult to get to for many residents. Meanwhile in Chiswick, the future
of the Sorting Office, and the main post office on the same site in
Heathfield Terrace, also remain uncertain.

BRENTFORD PLANT SWAP & SALE

Local Community organisation Brentford Voice raised an impressive £680 for
Hounslow Community FoodBox at this event. I dropped off some excess lettuce
plants and picked up a fennel plant and some plants and a garden rake.

AFTER FOUR LONG MONTHS OF LOCKDOWN the need for help and support for
vulnerable people has increased, so if you have time, or money, please do
support your local community.

IF YOU CAN VOLUNTEER please do; with your local _COVID19 MUTUAL AID GROUP
[15]_, or _HOUNSLOW VOLUNTEERING CENTRE_ [16] to help a Hounslow community
organisation.

IF YOU CAN SPARE MONEY TO HARD-PRESSED CHARITIES - then please do that too.
Many vital charities may not survive the loss of income as normal
charitable giving collapses. And now there will be the exponential growth
in demand for some such as foodbanks, advice and information services and
domestic violence charities.

Here are some local ones: _HOUNSLOW COMMUNITY FOODBOX_ [17] Ivybridge
Foodbank (_RUN BY ALL SOULS CHURCH, ST MARGARET’S_ [18]), _AGUE HOUNSLOW_
[19], and _HOUNSLOW OPEN KITCHEN [20]_

If you can - please give generously of your time or your money!!

You can get DAILY UPDATES about national and local information and services
from Hounslow Council _HERE [21]_

UNSUBSCRIBE [22]

Printed from an email sent by Ruth Cadbury MP 367 Chiswick High Road
London, LON W4 4AG
United Kingdom




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