November 2023 Update
I am pleased to bring you my November 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,
As we draw closer to the end of this year, life in both Westminster and Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner has continued to be very busy.
This month, the Chancellor delivered his Autumn Statement, which has taken us another step forward in tackling the long-term economic challenges facing residents, allowing us to build a more dynamic economy that delivers prosperity across the country. Locally, we have commemorated Remembrance Day, celebrated Diwali and supported Family Business Week.
I am delighted to share with you a November round-up, which will explain a bit more about what I have been up to over the past four 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
Surgeries
This month, I held in-person surgeries at Cafe Hills in Northwood Hills, Marjan's in Northwood and Cafe Amici in Pinner. I am very grateful to the teams for their excellent hospitality and to the residents who came 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, please email [email protected] or telephone 0203 545 2462.
With residents at my surgery at Cafe Amici in Pinner
Harefield Hospital
Earlier this month, I visited Harefield Hospital, alongside my colleague and constituency neighbour Steve Tuckwell, whose constituents in Uxbridge and South Ruislip are also served by the hospital.
I met with Dr. Richard Grocott-Mason, Chief Executive, and Derval Russell, Hospital Director, to catch up on the fantastic work of the hospital and to receive an update on what has been going on since my last visit. Key to this discussion was the impact of the expansion of ULEZ on patients and staff, online patient access and the management of elective care.
It was a thoroughly useful conversation, and I am grateful to all for their time.
Meeting with Dr Richard Grocott-Mason and Derval Russell at Harefield Hospital
Coram Life Education
It was a pleasure to speak with Sarah Thompson from Coram Life Education Hillingdon, a local charity supporting children's' development in schools. I was very interested to learn about the benefits of their work locally and the workshops they deliver in primary schools on a range of topics, such as physical health, drugs education and relationship education.
The charity will also be rolling out Mental Wellbeing Workshops this academic year. Highlighting the importance mental wellbeing plays in everyday life, in the same way as physical health, is crucial to a child's development. Children's Mental Health Week in February will be a prime opportunity to promote these ideas and to offer support in schools.
Furthermore, I know that Sarah and the team are keen to expand into areas in Harrow, including schools in Pinner and Hatch End, and I have been pleased to make the relevant introductions to colleagues at Harrow Council.
Speaking with Sarah Thompson from Coram Life Education in my Westminster office
UK Parliament Week at Bishop Ramsey
UK Parliament Week is an annual event which encourages education about UK Parliament and its vital role in our democracy.
As part of UK Parliament Week this year, it was great to attend a Q&A session with Year 12 Politics students at Bishop Ramsey School in Eastcote. We had an engaging discussion about a range of important issues, such as electoral reform and the humanitarian situation in the Middle East.
I am grateful to the students for their time, and I look forward to visiting again in the future.
Engaging with Year 12 Politics students at Bishop Ramsey
Family Business Week 2023
November means Family Business Week, which celebrates the fantastic contribution family firms make both to our economy and community here in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner.
As part of Family Business Friday, I visited the team at Fauna Veterinary on Green Lane, Northwood, run by Punit and Priya. I know how much we cherish our pets, and that owners want the very best care for their furry family members.
As an independently-run business, Fauna is able to offer just this. Punit and Priya have built an impressive, positive and welcoming practice that guarantees the utmost care for pets.
With the team at Fauna Veterinary, Northwood, in support of Family Business Friday
Remembrance Day 2023
It was a privilege to attend the Remembrance Day Services in Ruislip and Harefield to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms.
In Parliament, I also planted a Remembrance Day Cross in the Constituency Garden on Remembrance, on behalf of residents across Ruislip Northwood and Pinner to commemorate those who served and sacrificed.
We will never forget them, or those who continue to serve our country.
Planting a Remembrance Day Cross in the Constituency Garden of Remembrance in Parliament
Celebrating Diwali 2023
I was delighted to attend the Diwali celebrations at the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Pinner.
Diwali symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance, bringing family and communities together to commemorate this message of positivity and hope.
It is also a fantastic time to celebrate, and to be reminded of, the cultural diversity within our local community. I am proud to represent a constituency that is reflective of the inclusivity of the United Kingdom as a whole.
I hope that all those celebrating had a wonderful Diwali.
Celebrating Diwali at the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Pinner
Get Involved: Take part in my local bus network survey
I know that the efficiency and reliability of local transport networks is incredibly important to residents, particularly since the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone into Greater London.
Residents who use the local bus network might be interested to learn that TfL are currently consulting on proposals to reroute four bus services in the Borough.
In light of this, I would like to invite residents to take part in a survey on our local bus network. This can be done on my website following this link.
Further information on TfL's proposals can be found here.
In Parliament
Following the King’s Speech at the beginning of the month, we have enjoyed a busy period of debate in Westminster. With a new legislative agenda laid out, MPs have been working on passing outstanding legislation carried over from the previous session and seeing the introduction of new Bills that will be passed over the coming months.
King's Speech
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to welcome the Government’s new legislative agenda set out in the King’s Speech, in which four priorities were outlined: Growing the Economy, Strengthening Society, Keeping People Safe and Promoting our National Interests.
To achieve these goals, the Government has outlined how upcoming legislation will set the country on the right trajectory in the long-term, tackling underlying problems in society. In each of these areas, Ministers are committed to taking the right decisions to deliver change so that everyone in the UK can have a brighter future. This means we have to tackle inflation, prioritise growth, reduce debt and cut waiting lists. Due to the demand to speak, my speech came on the last day of the debate on Violence Reduction, Policing and Criminal Justice.
In my opening remarks, I wished to draw attention to the low levels of crime that we face in all areas of the constituency. A strong community spirit across the patch has made Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner a safe place to work, to live and to raise a family. It is therefore right that the Government looks at strengthening our laws to maintain residents' safety.
Key pieces of legislation such as the Victims and Prisoners Bill, as well as the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill will give constituents greater peace of mind.
The Victims and Prisoners Bill introduces a suite of measures intended to improve the way in which we tackle the issue of crime and give particular credence to victims. This is particularly important to residents who have been victims of crime, as well as to women and girls who have suffered harassment on public transport and in the local area. Thanks to the lobbying of Parliamentary colleagues, Transport for London are seeking to make their services safer for women, while the Government’s plans place the victims code on a statutory footing.
Online crime has been on the rise in recent years. The Government’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill seeks to update our laws to take account of the changing world in which we live. The Bill will help my constituents feel safe using the internet and protect them from online fraud, scams and push payments. We must be protected online in our increasingly digital society.
If you would like to watch my full contribution to the debate, you can do so here.
Rwanda
Residents will know that the Supreme Court recently upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal, meaning that we cannot yet lawfully remove people to Rwanda as the Government intends to do. In light of this ruling, the Government has pledged to look again at the finer details of its immigration policy as it seeks to break the model of people traffickers operating in the Channel.
The Home Secretary came before Parliament to set out the Government’s position on this matter, along with the Minister of Immigration. MPs had ample opportunity to question and scrutinise the Government’s plans, and I was glad to ask my question. I welcomed the Home Secretary’s statement and the manner in which he has agreed to proceed. I am grateful for his commitment to our pledge to stop people smugglers from profiting from vulnerable refugees.
This pledge must not come at the expense of our international obligations or our relationship with our European partners. I pressed the Home Secretary on our work with the French and his commitment to the ECHR, and I am glad to be reassured that our work with the French authorities is bearing fruit, and is already damaging people smugglers operating on their beaches.
You watch my exchange with the Home Secretary here.
Autumn Statement
On 22 November, the Chancellor presented his Autumn Statement to Parliament. The impact of the pandemic and global energy crisis has been felt, but our economy is now firmly back on track. Having avoided a recession, the economy is growing thanks to sound economic management.
In the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced measures to support individuals further and to continue our growth. In the statement, 110 measures for growth were outlined as investment was unlocked and taxes cut.
These measures are very much welcomed as we raise business investment, get more people into work, reduce inflation next year and increase GDP. The Office for Budget Responsibility supports these measures and their forecasts show the progress that has been made over the last twelve months.
While supporting the most vulnerable through increasing benefits, raising the National Living Wage and cutting national insurance contributions, I am glad that my constituents will see a noticeable difference over the coming months. There are also measures for innovators and business owners. Temporary full expensing capital allowance has been made permanent, freeports have been extended and planning applications for major developments will be fast-tracked.
The Chancellor also outlined how he will increase the flow of capital by taking forward reforms for pension funds.
Questions to the Chancellor
Our regular work of scrutinising Government departments has also continued this month, and I was glad to have the opportunity to ask an oral question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
A great number of constituents have access to pensions or are contributing to pension funds for future access. These have a great deal of potential when invested correctly, both for those who contribute and for the wider economy. It is for this reason that I asked the Chancellor what plans he has to encourage pension schemes to invest in the UK. Specifically, I asked what plans he has to encourage public sector pension funds to invest in our infrastructure.
In his response, the Chancellor outlined steps already being taken. In July, reforms were announced to increase investment in UK business and improve the competitiveness of our markets. I am encouraged by the efforts being made by the Treasury to help local government pension funds invest in critical UK infrastructure pools worth tens of billions of pounds.
My question to the Chancellor can be viewed here.
Meeting with the Education Secretary
Residents may recall that earlier this year I met with Harrow Council’s Director of Education, Patrick O’Dwyer, along with the cabinet member for Children’s Services, Cllr Hitesh Karia, to discuss provisions for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This was following a bid to the Department for Education’s special free school programme.
In Parliament this month, I joined fellow Harrow MP Bob Blackman and Cllr Hitesh Karia to meet with the Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, so that we could continue this important conversation. Following an impressive presentation about plans to expand SEND school places, the Education Secretary expressed support for the proposals.
I am encouraged by these assurances, and I look forward to facilitating cooperation between all relevant parties to ensure this plan is enacted. This will be hugely beneficial to children in our local area who require this specialist provision, which will provide greater opportunities for their future.
With the Education Secretary, MP for Harrow East Bob Blackman and Cllr Hitesh Karia
Ceasefire Amendment
Residents have continued to contact me about the situation in Gaza, with many of the correspondence in support of an amendment to the King’s Speech motion calling for an immediate ceasefire. I used the debate in Parliament to outline my position on this issue, and released a statement.
If you would like to view my statement and contribution to the debate, this can be found on my website here.
I am grateful to the residents who have taken the time to engage with me this month, and I hope to speak with more of you in the final month of 2023.
Kind regards,
David
