August/September Monthly Report

HACKNEY'S HIDDEN GEM

Maps of London

Based in Dalston’s iconic Reeves Building, Urban Good is a community interest company that put access to nature at the heart of planning and urban design. As well as offering advice and research to architects and designers, they design and sell maps of London and other areas that point us towards natural spaces – they estimate that almost half of London is ‘green and blue’ - and invest the returns into social and environmental projects. You can find out more here.

Another of Hackney’s mapmaking social enterprises, Footways, have created walking routes all over London, highlighting new ways to see the city’s centuries of history. Providing ideas for interesting, family-friendly and cheap days out, Footway’s beautiful maps would make for a great gift. Find out more here.

PARLIAMENT

Housebuilding

Housing is a critical issue in Hackney South and Shoreditch, where there are simply not enough good-quality, affordable homes for everyone who wishes to live here. I have been pleased by the Government’s financial commitments to build more homes, including £39 billion in its Affordable Homes Programme, but there is more to be done. I pressed the Chancellor on the need to invest in the skills needed for housebuilding so that we have fresh generations of skilled workers to build the housing Hackney so desperately needs. The Government is working hard to increase opportunities for young people to go into this sector by introducing new construction colleges, offering training in engineering and plumping among other skills, and through reform to foundation apprenticeship schemes.

Immigration reform

While still Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper announced a new body to manage immigration and asylum appeals, as well as committing to redesigning and simplifying the family migration system. It is clear that immigration remains a hot issue, and I am keen to make sure that the real lives of people going through the immigration system are not forgotten in the midst of top-level changes. I frequently see cases where people have received poor legal advice which led to unnecessary complications and cost for them and the taxpayer. I pressed the Secretary of State to make sure this is considered as policies are redesigned. She assured me that the Home Office would look at the legal advice people are receiving as they begin immigration applications.

Israel and Gaza

The situation in Gaza is horrific. We are witnessing a man-made, avoidable famine. On the first day back after summer recess, the previous Foreign Secretary gave a statement expressing his outrage with the Israeli Government for enabling this situation and for refusing to allow aid into Gaza. Alongside the £250 million already funded to aid in the region, he announced an additional £15 million for aid and medical care.

As we approach the second anniversary of the attack on 7 October, and as the Foreign Secretary meets with the UN General Assembly, I pressed the Foreign Secretary on the threshold for deploying UN peacekeeping forces to assist in the aid efforts. See here for my question.

The Foreign Secretary and her team are engaging in serious diplomatic efforts to support the Palestinian people and continues to urge for an immediate ceasefire which allows for the release of all hostages and a surge of humanitarian assistance.

I welcome the Government’s decision, along with some of our closest allies, to formally recognise a Palestinian state. It is a crucial step towards the long-term two-state solution that is so needed. For years, British governments have called for a two-state solution but have only recognised one state. I have voted in the past for the Government at the time to recognise the state of Palestine and I welcome this Labour Government’s decision on this.

Support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

Hackney has a higher-than-average proportion of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). I am pleased that some of our schools are leading the way on mainstreaming practices, making sure every child feels included and heard.

In one of the busiest debates of this parliament in the secondary chamber, Westminster Hall, I highlighted the example of City Academy in Homerton, where teachers work to make all lessons accessible for neurodivergent pupils. I also raised my concerns about inefficient spending and the need to build trust with parents through the planned reforms. See my full speech here.

It was good to see so many members across the house speaking on this issue and taking seriously the need for reform to our SEND system that works properly and that empowers our children and young people.

Many parents and teachers have been in touch with me with concerns and questions about the Government’s plans to support children and young people with SEND. Please do get in touch about your experiences.

Consumer Affairs

The cost of living is continuing to make budgeting more and more difficult for many in Hackney. At a recent Westminster Hall debate, I raised a breadth of issues that many residents face, including the rising cost of insurance for leaseholders, the reduction in the size and increased price of household items and groceries, and the cost of water. It was good to discuss the issues that consumers face in their day-to-day with colleagues. The Minister assured us that he is taking our concerns on board and will feed them into his work.

TREASURY SELECT COMMITTEE

Bank of England

As part of its regular scrutiny work, the Treasury Committee had the Governor of the Bank of England and members of the Monetary Policy Committee in front of us. We discussed their recent cut to interest rates as well as their wider thoughts on the economy.

Motor finance

The Committee is also investigating the motor finance scandal, where millions were mis-sold car finance. The committee questioned the Financial Conduct Authority on its emerging plans to remedy this. It is consulting on the final design of a compensation scheme for those affected which they intend to be user-friendly. Chief Executive Nikhil Rathi was clear that there should be no need to go to a third party for support, meaning each applicant will be entitled to the full amount rather than giving a cut to a claims management company. I will be sure to signpost when the redress scheme is up and running.

HACKNEY

Colville Estate

I have been engaged with Colville Estate for as long as I have been an MP, and it was good to visit this month to see the progress on their 20-year development of affordable social housing. The most recent part of this is a new Green Energy centre which will supply the estate and surrounding parts of Hoxton. It is good to see energy initiatives like this being implemented, making Hackney more self-sufficient.

Counter 71

Hackney’s creativity extends to the world of food, with several top-class restaurants calling the borough home. I visited Counter 71, a chef’s table restaurant in Shoreditch that celebrates British produce, to hear more about their business and the challenges that they and others in Hackney are facing because of higher running costs. I will be taking up their concerns about changing business rates which hit businesses in areas with high property costs like Hackney particularly hard. If this is something your business is affected by, please do get in touch.

StartUp Coalition

Hackney is home to many thriving tech start-ups, contributing to both the local and national economy. It is important that the Government continues to look ahead at how we can best support investment, particularly in research and development.  I met with the StartUp Coalition, a Hackney-based organisation that shapes policy for tech start-ups which have a huge potential to grow and create more jobs with the right government support.

Homerton Hospital

The Government inherited buildings and equipment across the NHS that had been left to crumble, disrupting patient care and hindering staff. In his investigation, Lord Darzi found that the NHS faced a £37 billion under-investment through the 2010s, leaving some hospitals with roofs that have fallen in, and leaking pipes which freeze over in winter. Too many years after the news about potentially dangerous RAAC in our public buildings, Homerton Hospital has finally had its RAAC eradicated. This was a small amount and wasn’t in an area of the hospital open to patients. The removal was only possible because of rapid action by the Government, which allocated £440 million this year to eradicating RAAC from Homerton and six other hospitals, with a view to remove RAAC entirely by 2035. Upgrading hospitals at pace is part of Labour’s Plan for Change to improve the health service and make it more fit for purpose.

Rainbow Grow open day

Hackney is home to many grassroots community initiatives, and it was good to meet with both local gardeners and singers at the recent Rainbow Grow open day. Rainbow Grow is an LGBTQI+ led community gardening initiative that currently maintain a garden in the courtyard of Hackney CVS. The event was warm and vibrant and featured an excellent performance by Hackney Community Singers.

Dalston re-opening

After months hidden by scaffolding and hoarding, Dalston Square has at last been officially re-opened. In true Hackney fashion, the celebratory re-opening was a fantastic and well-attended occasion that featured music and dance workshops by local groups. It is great to see that this area can be a centre for Dalston’s community, with a new exhibition space celebrating its history as a musical hub through the work of Sir Collins and the famed Four Aces and a memorial garden to the victims of the fatal New Cross fire, who included Sir Collins’ son.

Circle collective

On Kingsland High Street, you can find a clothing shop with a bit of a difference. Circle Collective is a charity and social enterprise that supports young people looking to enter the world of work by providing practical training and work experience in retail and general workplace skills. When you enter the shop you’ll likely be met by a young person practising their retail and customer service skills. All young people are also enrolled in a six week programme that includes CV workshops, employability skills training, and networking opportunities (as well as training on how to network). See here to read more about their excellent work.

Circle Collective is also always on the lookout for clothing donations. Their general rule is that the best donations are always items that you’d be willing to purchase yourself. So if you’re having a wardrobe clear-out, do please think about donating a bag of clothes (or two) with them.

Bootstrap

Bootstrap is a charity that runs three large buildings in the heart of Dalston: The Print House, Fitzroy House and ColourWorks (also often known as the Reeves Building after paint company Reeves) It is home to over 70 organisations – everything from award-winning film companies to charities supporting vulnerable groups to start-ups. Bootstrap is driven by the mission that responsible business can be a major force for equality and supporting communities. It offers affordable workspaces, flexibility, and encourages collaboration between all the groups that use the workspace. If you know someone that runs a social enterprise, start-up, or charity and who is on the look out for affordable workspace, please get in touch.

Permanent creative workspace in Dalston

V22 runs seven studio buildings across London, providing affordable workspace for artists and selected creative enterprises. The building on Ashwin Street in Dalston is V22’s original studio building, supporting around 30 artists and artisans. London Deputy Mayor Justine Simons visited the studio, alongside the Mayor of Hackney and I, where we met with creatives working there. Artists and creatives are a key part of Hackney’s culture, but too many have been squeezed out because of high prices. This is an exciting development to retain talented artists and provide them a permanent affordable space in the borough.

Active Travel Conference

Hackney is a proud cycling borough – ranking second in the UK in PeopleForBike’s city ratings - so it was good to attend London’s Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Conference to explore new ideas for promoting active travel in Hackney and the wider London area. This included discussions on how to make active travel options more accessible for disabled residents and making e-bikes safer.

Dai Powell memorial

Dai Powell was a leading light in the world of social enterprises. He was one of the early members of staff at Hackney Community Transport and became Chief Executive in 1993. HCT operated a number of local bus routes including the 394. And as part of its mission it employed many refugees, a number of whom started driving buses and ended up as HCT executives.

He led HCT transformation into a social enterprise. After his death, Dai was described as a “founding father” of such work by Social Enterprise UK Chief Executive Peter Holbrook.

Dai was also active in supporting better transport for disabled people serving as Chair of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee from 2006 to 2014.

Over many years of leading HCT Group, he grew it significantly from being a small community transport organisation to a national social enterprise.

When he retired in 2020 he said “That by combining entrepreneurship with a deep commitment to the most marginalised in our society, it is possible to make a better world.” And he was the living embodiment of that.

He died suddenly and unexpectedly in February of 2024 and it was a privilege to attend his memorial service was held this month.

He was a good friend to Hackney and he will be missed.

Have your say on energy drinks

Some energy drinks contain as much caffeine as four cans of cola. Around 100,000 children drink at least one of these drinks a day, impacting sleep, concentration and general wellbeing. Up to a third of children aged 13-16, and a quarter of 11-12s, drink one or more energy drinks a week. This is not good for children’s health, so the Government is proposing to ban the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to under 16s. It is consulting on this proposal until 23 November – you can find out more, and submit to the consultation, here.

HOW TO CONTACT ME

Via email on meg.hillier.mp@parliament.uk or you can call me on 020 7219 5325. The main phone line is open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm.   

Visiting Parliament and Prime Minister’s Questions 

Tours of the Houses of Parliament can be arranged for groups of up to 20 people. Tours last up to 75 minutes and start between 9am and 12pm Monday to Wednesday, and between 9am-1:30pm and 3.30pm-5pm on Fridays. MPs are also given a very limited number of tickets for Prime Minister’s Questions. I operate a ballot system each month. The ballot is now open to attend PMQs in November. 

To apply for a tour, or be entered onto the ballot, please send your name, and full postal address (you must live in Hackney South and Shoreditch) to meg.hillier.mp@parliament.uk.    

If you would like to enter the PMQs ballot, please also supply a contact number.        

It is easier to arrange viewing tickets for other departmental question times or debates. To see what's on click here.