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MP UPDATE FOR RESIDENTS

DECEMBER 2021

 

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]

 

DUE TO ONGOING CONCERNS ABOUT COVID INFECTIONS AND OMICRON, I AM HAPPY TO
MEET CONSTITUENTS EITHER BY PHONE, OR ON-LINE, TO DISCUSS YOUR CONCERNS.
PLEASE EMAIL ME ON [email protected] WITH YOUR ADDRESS, A QUICK
SUMMARY OF THE ISSUE AND RELEVANT REFERENCE NUMBERS.  

SEE MY CORONAVIRUS WEB-PAGE [8] FOR INFORMATION ON LOCAL AND NATIONAL
SERVICES, HELPLINES AND VOLUNTEERING;   AND TO SIGN UP FOR HOUNSLOW
COUNCIL’S DAILY UPDATES.

 

BUDGET DEBATE:   My speech focussed on the decisions that will hit so many
people in their pockets, with a double whammy of TAX HIKES AND CUTS TO
UNIVERSAL CREDIT. Charities like Hounslow Community FoodBox and Open
Kitchen, are doing vital work to support families who are struggling to
make ends meet, but they are only needed because Government policies are
pushing people further and further into debt. I also focused on FURTHER
EDUCATION: by 2024 sixth-forms and adult education colleges will have seen
14 consecutive years of cuts. This makes it harder for colleges like West
Thames to provide world class education and develop the skills our economy
needs for the future.

IN THE ENVIRONMENT BILL debate I spoke against the Government's refusal to
TACKLE SEWAGE POLLUTION, saying we need higher fines for polluters, proper
parliamentary scrutiny and clear reductions in sewage discharges. The
second time the relevant amendment came back to the Commons from the Lords,
the Government caved in and agreed to address the issue.

GURKHA VETERANS are seeking equal pensions to other British veterans of the
same rank and service. In a debate about their plight I also addressed the
unfair immigration fees they are required to pay; £2,000 per person, when
the cost to the Home Office of dealing with an application is just £200.

NAZANIN ZAGHARI-RATCLIFFE remains in custody in Iran. I visited her
husband, Richard Ratcliffe on the sixteenth day of his hunger strike,
alongside Lord Alf Dubs and Baroness Doreen Lawrence. It is time for the
Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to finally take action to secure her
release.

I joined the Muslim Council of Britain and Amnesty International to mark
ISLAMOPHOBIA AWARENESS MONTH. It's appalling to see that 45% of religiously
motivated hate crimes are targeted against Muslims, with a 40% increase in
online attacks.

SOME GOOD NEWS FROM INDIA: After over a year of protest we learn that their
Government are set to repeal new farming laws that would have impoverished
millions of Indian farmers. Following an informative meeting some months
ago I, and other MPs, wrote to the UK Government to put pressure on the
Indian Government, so we may have helped.

 

CLIMATE ACTION

COP26 was possibly the most significant international event for many years
in determining what sort of world we leave to our children and
grandchildren. It was in fact two events; an enormous conference, and a set
of international negotiations of huge significance tasked with agreeing a
clear delivery plan to bring global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees C.

I was lucky enough to go to Glasgow for two days. It was an amazing
conference running alongside the negotiations, full of information-sharing,
networking, challenge and celebration. I attended the days focussing on
Transport, and on Cities and Regional Government. I met and heard
presentations from national and international politicians, experts and
campaigners which I hope to bring into my work in the coming year.

I took with me to Glasgow the hopes and fears of many local children,
having visited schools in Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth and Hounslow over
the last month, to hear what COP26 means to them. Many schools have or are
working towards the Eco-Schools Green Flag and children are pushing their
headteachers to address issues such as lowering the heating, separating
waste, to adopt travel-to-school policies and meat-free Mondays, and much
more. There is no doubt that our environment is right at the top of young
people's concerns for the future, and they made it clear that elected
politicians have a responsibility to deliver for them now. Their questions
and observations were so wise, and make me hopeful for the future

In terms of the negotiations by Governments and their final outcome; most
climate-exposed countries of the global south were deeply disappointed,
especially after India forced the language around coal to be watered down
at the 11th hour. Greenpeace concluded "the 1.5C goal is only just alive,
but a signal has been sent that the era of coal is ending. And that
matters".

Meanwhile, and back in Parliament, there is no doubt that our own
Government is strong on the rhetoric, but weak in delivery when it comes to
Climate Change. It was really disappointing that in the Budget the
Chancellor announced a tax cut for domestic flights, which is estimated to
lead to over 400,000 extra journeys a year and will do nothing to support
more climate-friendly travel, particularly rail. They are delivering few
sensible climate targets, and little consistent action in areas of
planning, development, housing, the environment or transport. The UK has
gone backwards since the Conservatives came to power; for instance they
abandoned the Labour Government's Zero Carbon Homes policy, since when 1
million homes have been built that are expensive to heat and cool, and
which will have to be retrofitted to achieve emissions targets.

COMMUNITY UPDATE

BRIDGE LINK COMMUNITY CENTRE ON IVYBRIDGE ESTATE HOSTS A YOUTH CLUB twice a
week. I had a wonderful time meeting members, volunteers, and staff. Due to
cuts in Council spending, they are one of the few youth clubs in the
borough now open, despite their importance in supporting young people who
often have few opportunities outside of school.

I spent a shift in the car with one of our local POLICE RESPONSE TEAMS.
Between them these cars patrol the length and breadth of the borough,
responding to calls that come in on the radio, and following up from
incidents and calls from the previous 24 hours. I learned from the two
officers that so much of their time is spent dealing with a relatively
small number of people. The issues too often involve addiction, domestic
abuse and/or mental illness. The officers felt that their job has
increasingly meant they are picking up the pieces as other front-line
services have been cut.

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THE SUEZ WASTE TRANSFER STATION in Transport Avenue in Brentford is where
our "black bin" waste goes for crushing before being put onto trains to be
taken to an "Energy from Waste" plant near Bristol. I had a chance to see
the improvements they've made to the site, and learn how they handle waste
from Hounslow, Ealing and Richmond.

A PROMISING STUDENT AND BASKETBALL COACH, Ali was murdered and great
grandmother Betty seriously injured in a knife attack in Brentford on 12th
November. The community has come together in the face of this tragedy. I
have met both their families to offer my support, and an emotional vigil
was held to celebrate the loss of a lovely young man with so much promise
whose life was cut short so needlessly. Anyone with any information should
phone 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers, quoting cad ref 6423/12Nov21

Residents of ACADEMY PLACE IN ISLEWORTH spent over a week without water
while A2Dominion and their property manager, Mainstay, dithered before the
repairs were finally carried out. Local Councillors and I pushed both to
sort the problem and to provide water and other support, particularly for
vulnerable residents. I am still waiting for a substantive response from
A2D and Mainstay to my questions about the cause of the delays and
compensation for the affected residents.

It was an honour to be at BRENTFORD’S REMEMBRANCE SERVICE to pay respects
to those who've served and lost lives in our name. We honour and remember
them. In the light of Ali's tragic murder & for Betty, Rev Guinness also
asked us to commit to community peace & harmony.

I was at GURUDWARA SRI GURU SINGH SABHA in Hounslow celebrating the birth
anniversary (Gurpurab) of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. It was
delightfult to hear the always-wise Lord Inderjit Singh talk about the
Guru's core teachings and how they apply to us all, of all faiths.

HOUNSLOW WAS AWARDED COUNCIL OF YEAR in the Local Government Chronicle
Awards. This is great news and a tribute to the staff and councillors at
Hounslow Council. Over the past 18 months we've seen the Council reach
their housebuilding target, provide free school meals to young people
during half term, roll out the extremely successful £20 voucher scheme for
local businesses and set up a Community Hub (now renamed "Community
Solutions") to provide a single-point of contact for any borough resident
needing help, support or advice.

MY MARATHON FUNDRAISING

I raised over £2,000 in the Thames Meander Marathon for Macmillan Cancer
Support, and Friends of Cathja, a creative workshop for adults who are
vulnerable to severe and enduring mental health issues. Rin at FoC tells me
the money raised will enable them to replace some of their older tools such
as cordless drills, which are about £100 each. Thank you so much to
everyone who donated to these two great charities!

I do hope all readers of my Update have a wonderful festive season, a Happy
Christmas holiday and a peaceful New Year. Perhaps like the Prime Minister,
you'll visit Peppa Pig World; "as I am sure we all must" - he said to a
hall full of incredulous business people, or maybe you won't, and instead
you'll be able to spend the Christmas and New Year with family and friends
(Covid permitting)

With best wishes, and here's hoping 2022 is a better year for everyone

KEEPING IN TOUCH

TWITTER: @RUTHCADBURY [3] WEB: WWW.RUTHCADBURY.ORG.UK [10] FACEBOOK: “
RUTHCADBURYMP [2]”

CASEWORK: for issues to raise with me as your MP, please contact my office:
[email protected]

TEL: 020 8581 3646 OR WRITE: RUTH CADBURY MP, HOUSE OF COMMONS, SW1A 0AA.

DIARY: I welcome the opportunity to attend community events to hear your
views about issues affecting the area, or to meet different groups in our
community. Please do get in touch with by emailing
[email protected] OR PHONE 020 7219 8590

 

UNSUBSCRIBE [11]

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




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