IN THE CHAMBER 

• Before Brexit Erasmus brought huge benefits to the UK, especially to the young people who went on the programme during their degree course. The Government announced that they have negotiated for the return of Erasmus, with a wider remit so that Youth Workers, those doing apprenticeships, FE students, sports teams and teachers can benefit from Erasmus plus. I took the opportunity to ask the Paymaster General Nick Thomas-how these sectors new to the scheme will know to be involved and be able to gear up for it.

     

• It must have been my PMQ on Leasehold that did it!  I finally got to ask a question at PMQs, and given the numbers of leaseholders in the constituency who are impacted by our feudal leasehold system I decided to focus my question on that.  Specifically when the long-overdue Leasehold & Commonhold Reform Bill would be coming to parliament.  Two weeks later the Government finally announced the legislation is being introduced this parliament. 

   

• I’ve written to the Foreign Secretary expressing concern about he Government’s apparent move to unblock the arms licenses to Israel and the transfer of new F-35s from a British air base. 

• I spoke in the debate on High Street Gambling reform, because through my casework I am all too aware of the devastating impact that gambling addiction has.  We were asking the Government to give local authorities more powers to take back control by reviewing and ultimately removing the “aim to permit” rule from the Gambling Act. 

• The crackdown on the protests in Iran have shocked us all, and unsurprisingly many constituents who hail from Iran have written to me with concerns for their families.  I asked the Government Minister to outline how the Government are working with the Iranian diaspora in the UK to provide support and reassurance to them and to their families still in Iran. 

   

• Brentford FC is the first employer to adopt the principles of Hugh’s Law, the campaign for better support from employers for parents forced to leave work when their child becomes critically ill. The campaign was set up in memory of six-year-old Hugh Menai-Davis who sadly died in 2021 after a 10-mongh fight with cancer. I met BFC’s general counsel Nity Raj (centre) along with Hugh’s parent’s Ceri (right) and Frances (holding the sign), when they came to the Commons.  Nity said that the club were keen to sign up because they feel that when a child is seriously ill, work should not add further pressure on parents at an already devastating time.  The campaign is also calling for improved statutory support for parents from the state, and the NHS, during the time their child is critically ill. 

TRANSPORT COMMITTEE  

Road Safety Strategy: We’ve experienced 14 years of the previous Government’s inaction on road safety during which time the rate of deaths and serious injuries on our roads have flat-lined.  This followed decades of cuts in deaths on our roads (thanks to Barbara Castle in particular) and the UK was once a world-leader in road safety.  So I was so glad to welcome Minister Lilian Greenwood’s presentation of the Road Safety Strategy to the Commons, and announced that the Committee’s inquiry will look at the various aspects of the Government’s commitments.  

With the Rail Bill that created Great British Railways now steaming ahead through the Commons, our Committee has been hearing from stakeholders about their hopes and fears for the Bill.  These include Transport for All, speaking on behalf of disabled people seeking full representation, and the rail freight sector concerned that GBR’s own passenger services may get priority for track access. 

Northern Powerhouse Rail: In the Commons I welcomed Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander’s announcement of a series of rail projects across the north of England  

For more details of the Committee’s work - Transport Committee - Summary - Committees - UK Parliament 

Kew Bridge and Gunnersbury Stations  Following extensive lobbying by me, Andy Slaughter MP, Hounslow Council, Brentford FC and local residents association, we heard that the Government has committed to fund detailed studies to address the need for lifts at both stations, under the Access for All Scheme s.  both stations had long been on the Access for All list but the previous Government had not put any money behind them - big improvements of this nature require government funding and a lot of detailed work to go behind the planning.

We’ve seen the benefits the lifts have made at Isleworth Station (pictured here soon after their installation in June 2024) so I’m really pleased about this news.

Awaab’s Law - I continue to receive calls and messages from constituents facing serious issues with damp and mould in homes they rent from Housing associations or Hounslow Council.   Following the avoidable death of a boy who lived in a damp mouldy flat in Rochdale, Awaab's law was introduced into Parliament by the Labour Government and came into force last autumn.  The legislation requires Council Housing Departments and Housing Associations to respond in a fixed timeframe when residents raise issues around damp and mould.

Last month I wrote to and spoken to senior staff at Hounslow Council, and the Housing Associations with property in this constituency, to learn how they are implementing Awaab’s Law given the importance of the issue.

London Museum of Water & Steam (aka Kew Bridge Steam Museum!): I attended the unveiling of Reciprocation, a new permanent interactive installation, London Museum of Water & Steam.  Inspired by the transformative power of steam engines, this site-specific, moving sculpture for the Steam Hall has been designed specifically by Studio Areté.

Coptic Christmas: The Coptic and Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas (and the Epiphany) in January and I joined Councillors, and local residents for the special service of hymns at the Coptic church in Heston.  We were honoured by the presence of Archbishop Angaelos, the Archbishop of London for the growing Coptic Church in the UK. 

Holocaust Memorial The theme of Holocaust Memorial Day this year is 'bridging generations'- which reminds us to seek out and listen to the testimony of those who experienced and witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust.  Hounslow’s service was held this year at Heston Community School.  Before we lit the candles to remind us to commit that such atrocities must not happen again, we heard from the granddaughter of a holocaust survivor, as she told the remarkable story of her grandfather who live, and almost died at the hands of the Nazis before and during World War II. 

Honours: Tracy Aust, West Thames College’s recently retired Principal and CEO, was awarded an OBE for services to Further Education in the New year Honours.  Under her leadership West Thames has become one of the UK’s most successful FE colleges. Tracy also led the West London skills partnership which has transformed the relationship between the education & training sectors and employers - which is so important for a thriving economy and to ensure clear routes from school to career for young people (and those returning to work).