December 2023 Update
I am pleased to bring you my December 2023 Update. As ever, if you would like to sign up to my mailing list, you can do so on this page or by emailing [email protected].
Dear constituent,
It has been a busy and eventful year, and the final few weeks of 2023, both in Parliament and Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, have been no exception.
Of course, in between Parliamentary debates and constituency appointments, my team have continued to work incredibly hard to support residents with individual matters and wider policy concerns.
I am pleased to share with you my final update for the year, and a snapshot of what I have been up to over the past few weeks.
If you would like to keep up to date in between newsletters, I would encourage you to visit my website or Facebook page.
In the Constituency
Health Matters
Residents will be aware that earlier this year, Steve Barclay - the then Health Secretary - confirmed that construction work for the new Hillingdon Hospital is expected to commence in 2025. This was an encouraging update following a long-standing campaign to ensure that we see shovels in the ground at the site. I am now pleased to share with you a computer-generated video that provides residents with a feel of what the hospital will look like, which can be found here.
Turning to other local health matters, concerns have been raised with me about the future of the Northwood and Pinner Cottage Hospital site. Following a finalised agreement between NHS Property Services and Hillingdon Council, work had started on the interior of the new hospital. However, since the initial stripping-out period, no work has been visible at the site, and the adjoining enabling development for a block of flats is now also being marketed for sale. As no communication has been received from NHS Property Services on any change prior to the marketing of the site, I have written to the Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins. I hope to seek assurances on behalf of residents that commitments previously provided about the development of the site for a GP practice will be adhered to.
Similarly, following a visit to the Harefield Practice, I have sought intervention from the Health Secretary to ensure that residents are able to benefit from an extended service at the practice. The Harefield Practice operates from the ground floor, but during my visit the team showed me the fully integrated second floor that frustratingly remains vacant. This is significantly limiting the services that can be offered, including mental health nursing, due to the lack of available space. While the team have approached NHS Property Services to come up with an agreement, it has been indicated that this cannot be reached. I am therefore escalating the matter and to call for a positive outcome.
Meeting with the team at the Harefield Practice on Rickmansworth Road
Happy Chanukah: Visit to Pinner Synagogue
Readers may recall that, alongside Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, I co-Chair the APPG on British Jews in Parliament. As such, it was great to make a timely visit to the Pinner Synagogue for the last evening of the 8 day festival of Chanukah.
Following the atrocities of 7 October, the ongoing conflict and its impact on life here in the UK, it felt a very fitting time to promote compassion and cooperation, and the importance of different communities reaching out to help one another. We must stamp out the hostility which threatens our stability if we are not to allow evil to triumph.
I am grateful to both the Pinner Synagogue and B'nai B'rith UK for hosting this excellent event, and I hope that all those celebrating had a wonderful Chanukah.
With Dr Jeremy Havardi, Dame Margaret Hodge MP and Alan Miller, National President of B'nai B'rith UK
Constituency December Round-up
December has been a busy period for constituency visits and engagements. I would firstly like to thank residents who took part in my local bus network survey from last month's newsletter. The survey has now closed and the responses collected. I will be making representations to TfL in the new year on the key points raised by residents.
Surgeries also continued this month. I am grateful to the teams at We Love Coffee in Harefield, Marjan's in Northwood and Vito's Cafe in Ruislip for hosting my final round of surgeries for this year. Of course, I would also like to extend my thanks to all the venues who have hosted my team over the past 12 months, as well as the residents who have taken the time to meet with me.
If you would like to make an appointment to meet with me, or if you are a business who would be interested in hosting a surgery in the new year, please email [email protected] or telephone 0203 545 2462.
With Tushar, owner of the fantastic We Love Coffee in Harefield
The first weekend in December is host to Small Business Saturday, an excellent opportunity to celebrate the success of small businesses and to encourage residents to shop local. This year, it was a pleasure to visit Bikewise, an independent bike shop on Ickenham High Street. It has been a long-standing asset within the community, and popular with residents thanks to the friendly staff. I am grateful to all for their time.
Celebrating Small Business Saturday at Bikewise in Ickenham
I was also pleased to be able to drop in to Tesco in Pinner Green to support their Winter Food Collection. This annual event is now in its 11th year and takes place in partnership with the Trussell Trust and FareShare. It was a great opportunity to chat with the team and volunteers, as well as to thank them for their efforts in supporting charities to provide food to those facing hardship.
With workers and volunteers at Tesco in Pinner Green to support their Winter Food Collection
This month, I have also visited the Anoopam Mission Swaminarayan Temple, sitting just outside of the constituency in Denham, but which serves residents in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner. The temple is hugely impressive, and I am very grateful to my excellent hosts for showing me around.
At the Anoopam Mission Temple, serving constituents across the Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
Finally, I joined an event hosted by Community ConneX, formerly Harrow Mencap, at the Northwood Methodist Church. The charity provides care and support to those with learning disabilities, autism and additional needs, and so it was great to hear from those who benefit from these services over coffee and cake.
Speaking with residents at the Community ConneX event in Northwood
Christmas Card Competition 2023: Winner Announced
After receiving so many fantastic entries, I had the very difficult task of choosing a winner for my annual Christmas card competition. However, I am delighted to extend my congratulations to this year's winner; Aarav from St John's School in Northwood Hills.
In addition, I would also like congratulate the runners up - Agata, Hillside Junior School; Siya, Northwood College for Girls; Tiana, Northwood College for Girls; Avika, Reddiford School; Ayesha, West Lodge School - and to thank all this year's entrants from Northwood College, Reddiford School in Pinner, Hillside Junior School in Northwood, St John's School in Northwood Hills and West Lodge School in Pinner.
I am also grateful to Hillingdon Print Ltd for printing the cards. It was great to be able to able to support one of our excellent local businesses.
All entries can be viewed on my website here.
The winning entry from Aarav and the handful of runners up
Presenting the winning entry to the Prime Minister in his Westminster office
In Parliament
As we approach Christmas, the Government has been keen to push forwards with its legislative agenda. In Parliament this month, we have already discussed important matters relating to immigration, tax cuts, the cost of living and crime.
The latter is important to many of my constituents who are concerned with the safety of our streets. It is for that reason that I am delighted to announce that I have accepted the position of Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Ministry of Justice.
This new role will not detract from my ability to represent constituents, but will allow me to further my engagement with Ministers in the Department. Already I have helped Ministers as important pieces of legislation have moved through the House of Commons.
Since I accepted the role, I have supported both the Sentencing Bill and the Victims and Prisoners Bill in Westminster. These are important pieces of legislation that my constituents will see the benefit of on our streets.
As I set out, this is just one area which MPs have scrutinised the Government’s plans in, and I am glad to bring you an update on my other work in Westminster.
National Insurance Contributions Bill
Readers will know that the Government has set out its fiscal plan for the upcoming months. At the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer outlined how improving economic conditions have allowed the Government to revisit the burden placed on my constituents by taxation. We all know that over the last few years, the Government has had to step in to support people across the UK. £400 billion was spent during the COVID-19 pandemic to support jobs and businesses, while £100 billion has been spent since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to support people with energy costs.
As a Conservative, I firmly believe in fiscal responsibility. Every pound borrowed must be paid back and we need to ensure that our nations debts are not allowed to build further. Thanks to the careful work of the Chancellor, we are now able to cut taxes and look to growing the economy.
In the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced plans to cut taxes for twenty-nine million working people. This is achieved by reducing national insurance contributions in class 1 primary main rate; the reduction of the NICs class 4 main rate; and the removal of the requirement to pay class 2 NICs. By cutting national insurance first the Government is putting more money into the pockets of working families, rewarding those in work.
It is for this reason that I was keen to speak in a recent debate on the National Insurance Contributions Bill. This will see individuals save hundreds at a time when inflation remains high, and others look to punish hard working families through punitive measures such as the Mayor of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone.
I focused my brief speech on the impact of foreign students on the UK economy and the challenges that many face looking to settle here after graduation.
If you would like to watch my full contribution to the debate, you can do so here.
Finance Bill
Going beyond the cuts to national insurance, the Government has brought forward the Finance Bill. This is a wide-ranging Bill that has been closely scrutinised by MPs over the past few months, and was debated again in Parliament prior to Christmas recess. The Finance Bill supports British businesses by allowing them to invest for less, which will encourage innovation and enhance productivity. Secondly, its measures will improve and simplify our tax system, which will ensure that it is fit for purpose.
As I set out in my opening remarks, I am proud of our country and number of people who are now in work compared to 13 years ago. The rate of youth unemployment has consistently fallen during this time, meaning that people across the country have a stake in the success of our economy’s success.
I have seen this first-hand in Ruislip, Northwood, and Pinner, which the statistics tell us is very much a constituency of workers. Locally, we see exceptionally high levels of employment and a higher than average than the rest of the UK. Many of those are beginning their careers or work in small businesses and it is for them that I support this piece of legislation.
You watch my full contribution to the debate here.
Safety of Rwanda Bill
Regular readers will know that I have a keen interest in immigration matters. This stems from my time on Hillingdon Council, as I saw how arrivals at Heathrow Airport are cared for. This month, the Government brought forward its legislation designed to ensure that deportations to Rwanda can commence. I am satisfied that the legislation will make a meaningful impact on our work to break the business model of human traffickers, and I am therefore broadly supportive of the Government.
I have come to this conclusion having heard first-hand from those in Calais and those leading the response here in the UK. Leading charity figures and leaders in local government have expressed their concern for the large numbers of people arriving here in a short space of time. Once here, they are rightfully given access to housing, education, and other important public services.
Having started off as a Rwanda sceptic, I was eager to hear the Home Secretary set out his plan to deal with small boat crossings, while adhering to our international commitments. I am glad that the Home Secretary has chosen to work with our international partners to tackle this issue, rather than to isolate ourselves as others had pushed him to do.
Building on the Supreme Court’s judgement last month, the Bill in my mind addressed many of those concerns. Individuals sent to Rwanda will have the sufficient safeguards on their human rights. As a result of this policy, individuals processed in Rwanda will have the same safeguards as those sent elsewhere.
Although this Bill is not perfect, it shows that decision-making in the Home Office has quickly improved in recent months. More work is being done with stakeholders to create a fair and equitable system that prioritises those who are most in need, while ensuring that those exploited by human traffickers are not punished.
You can watch my full contribution to this debate here.
Oral Questions
Regular departmental question time has also continued. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to press Ministers from the Department of Work and Pensions on the ongoing effects of high energy prices on constituents. I am always eager to raise the concerns of residents directly with Ministers and to champion their businesses when possible.
This week, I was privileged to ask two separate questions during the same session. In these questions, I hoped to raise the specific challenges faced by pensioners at a time when their household finances are squeezed.
In his first response, the Minister set out broadly what steps are being taken to support pensioners with the cost of energy this year. As the Minister said, more than eight million pensioner households will receive a £300 payment this winter to top up their winter fuel allowance payment. The 1.4 million pensioners currently in receipt of pension credit may also receive cost of living payments totalling up to £900 in 2023-24.
Secondly, I asked about pensioners' access to benefits and other Government support for those who are stuck in an annuity trap. I was glad to hear the Minster assure me that they are trying to get people to engage in a more considered way with what they do at the point of decumulation of their pension funds.
Links to both questions can be found on my website here.
Social Work
Residents may be aware of my interest in the challenges faced by social workers. I have had the opportunity over many years in the world of local government to see the transformative benefits that social workers can bring to the lives of many of our most vulnerable people. Those are children in the care system, adults with learning disabilities and people facing difficulties in old age, where the professionalism, attention to detail and the care provided by local authorities across the country have enabled people to live the best life they possibly can in the circumstances they face.
As part of my ongoing engagement with the sector, I hosted a meeting in Parliament with Scott Richardson and Jenni Guthrie about the experience of neurodivergent people working in the sector. Along with the British Association for Social Workers, I am keen to address the challenges facing those seeking to work in the sector.
I am grateful to both Scott and Jenni for visiting Parliament to discuss how their own situation is mirrored across the country and is prohibiting more people from entering the workforce. Following our productive meeting, we outlined a number of steps that can be taken to reduce these barriers. I look forward to continuing this work into the new year.
Discussing social work with Scott Richardson and Jenni Guthrie in my Westminster office
Also in Parliament...
The work of farmers is hugely valued across the UK, including in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, which is home to around 80 farms and fisheries. I was therefore delighted to attend the National Farmers Union's manifesto launch in Parliament this month, and to show my support for UK food and farming.
At the National Farmers Union's manifesto launch and Christmas reception in Parliament
At a recent surgery, I met with Michael, who is both a constituent and member of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, about his involvement in efforts to stop anti-Semitism in football. While huge strides have been made to stamp-out discrimination across all sport, I appreciate that more can be done. I therefore arranged a meeting in Westminster between Michael and chair of the APPG on Football, Clive Betts MP, to discuss this further. It was a useful conversation and I hope to see progress made in the new year on this important matter.
With constituent Michael in Parliament following our meeting with Clive Betts MP
I would like to take this opportunity to wish residents across Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Kind regards,
David
