December/January Monthly Report

HACKNEY'S HIDDEN GEM

Kahaila Courtyard Café 

Not-for-profit coffee shop Kahaila, located in the courtyard of St Mary of Eton church in Hackney Wick, supports people from disadvantaged or vulnerable backgrounds into employment through its BREW school. The coffee is great and the money goes to support a good cause so do check it out. See the video above to find out more. 

PARLIAMENT

Business rates support for music venues and pubs 

The Government announced a new package of support to assist pubs and music venues with their business rates. From April, every English pub will receive an additional 15 per cent off its business rates bill with these bills then frozen in real terms for two years. It amounts to roughly £1650 worth of support for the average pub and means three-quarters of pubs will see their bills fall or stay the same next year. Importantly for Hackney, this package of support will also apply to music venues. Whilst this support is very welcome, I pressed the Minister on the need for clarity over wider business rates reform – especially around timelines. Businesses of all types, including pubs, need certainty most of all, so that they know the trajectory in good time and can plan. See here for further details about the support.  

Leasehold reform 

The Government published its draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, which is an important step towards ending the outdated and unfair leasehold system. When the bill becomes law it will make commonhold the default for nearly all new flats, improve and make easier the system for existing leasehold properties to convert to commonhold, and cap the ground rent for older leaseholds properties to £250 year (which, over time, will transition to peppercorn rent). I asked the Minister about how these reforms will work for those who’ve purchased their properties under a shared ownership scheme and whether, given the complexities, there will be some form of government support (such as an advice hub or something similar) to point people in the right direction when enquiring about converting to commonhold. The Minister promised to look into the issue of shared ownership and provide a written update with additional details on this and what other support may be available for leaseholders.  

Children and social media 

The Government is committed to keeping children safe online and has announced a consultation on the best ways to do this, including the idea of creating a minimum age of 16 for social media users. The consultation will be for parents, children, teachers and other experts to make sure the way forward is as effective and safe as possible – do keep an eye out on the Government’s consultation page to submit to this once it’s open. 

Police reform 

The Home Secretary announced the most serious reform to policing in a generation. A national policing commissioner will oversee a newly established National Police Service, which will concentrate on dealing with issues such as terrorism, fraud, and organised crime. Serious and complex crimes, such as rape and murder, will be handled by specialist regional forces. And there will also be a third tier of local policing teams embedded in the community who will be freed up to focus on the day-to-day basics, such as tackling shoplifting, antisocial behaviour, and keeping neighbourhoods safe through regular patrols. These reforms are on top of the Government’s commitment to 13,000 more neighbourhood officers by the end of the Parliament as well as a named contactable officer for every community.  

A real policing pressure in Hackney is the diversion of local policing officers to other parts of London to help with other requirements, such as policing national protests. I raised this with the Home Secretary, who reassured me that this will now be the responsibility of the National Police Service but that in the interim she will appoint a special command to deal with public order policing in particular. See here for further details.  

Offshore wind

I was pleased that the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero announced successful bids for offshore wind projects which will produce enough energy to power 12 million homes. The previous government banned onshore wind and failed to secure any new projects through their auctions, so this success is good news. This domestic energy will be cleaner and cheaper than fossil fuels – good for residents and good for the planet – and will also strengthen the UK’s energy security. I asked the Secretary of State about his plans to upgrading the grid and he assured me that the National Energy System Operator has recently undertaken a significant overhaul of the grid. 

e-Bike batteries 

Unregulated e-Bike batteries can be extremely dangerous. On average, firefighters in London attend one e-bike or e-scooter fire every 48 hours, and since 2023, five people have sadly died in incidents involving these devices. I raised the issue of these dangerous third-party batteries with the Minister, and I will continue to work with her on this issue. If you are looking to buy a new battery for your e-bike, please go to a regulated provider to ensure it is safe for use. 

Erasmus 

The Government announced that British students will again be able to participate in the Erasmus Scheme, where university students can go abroad to study in another country for a period of their degree while paying usual home fees. I was especially pleased that Ministers chose to unveil the policy with the Mayor of Hackney, Caroline Woodley, at Hackney’s own New City College. 

Community energy 

Hackney has long pioneered community energy projects, including solar panels on Banister House in Homerton, which is the largest community scheme on social housing. I raised this example with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero as we look ahead to the forthcoming local power plan. He was full of praise, saying ‘I congratulate Hackney council—Labour-led Hackney council—on the brilliant job it is doing on green energy. Unlike some who just talk about it, the council is actually delivering, and I congratulate it. I see Hackney as being at the forefront of our local power plan, which will be coming out in the coming months.’ 

Hackney Council is leading the way with schemes to help make your homes more green and energy efficient, such as its Green Homes programme. This helps low-income homeowners or private sector renters with energy advice and home improvements – these can include air source heat pumps, solar panels, smart controls, and wall, loft and underfloor insulation. See here for further details. 

Cybersecurity 

The Government is introducing new measures to improve cybersecurity, including giving regulators new powers to protect businesses and public services against cyber-attacks. Hackney is home to many businesses and tech companies who will benefit from this bill. I welcome the emphasis on security and raised the need for measures to support smaller companies, so they are both protected and able to grow. 

Financial inclusion 

I was pleased to support my colleague Gareth Thomas’ Ten Minute Rule Bill calling for banks to report on their performance on reducing financial exclusion and improving access to finance for small and medium enterprises. It would also encourage better cooperation with credit unions. Ten Minute Rule Bills are used to raise an issue in the House of Commons, but do not usually lead to changes in the law – see here for an explanation. 

Committees 

Liaison Committee hearing with the Prime Minister 

I chair the committee made up of all the Select Committee Chairs. This group – the Liaison Committee – coordinates the work of the Committee Corridor and chooses reports for debates. It also has the opportunity to question the Prime Minister, which we did before Christmas. We asked him about his plans for this government – rebuilding the NHS, making streets safer, and improving economic growth among other things - and standards in public life. See here for more information. 

Chancellor at the Treasury Committee 

After the Budget, the Chancellor appeared in front of the Treasury Committee where we had the opportunity to question her over the decisions she made. We covered a number of issues, including business rates and salary sacrifice contributions, as well as the issue of leaks in the run-up to the Budget. See here for the transcript. 

AI in financial services report 

The Treasury Committee published a report raising the alarm on artificial intelligence (AI) in financial services. We are concerned that the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the Treasury are exposing the public and the financial system to potentially serious harm due to their current positions on using AI in financial services. These institutions are responsible for protecting consumers and maintaining stability in the UK economy but by adopting a wait-and-see approach they are not doing enough to manage the risks presented by the increased use of AI in the financial services sector. 

We have urged the Bank of England and the FCA to conduct AI-specific stress-testing to boost businesses’ readiness for any future AI-driven market shock. We also call for the FCA to publish practical guidance on AI for firms by the end of this year. This should include how consumer protection rules apply to their use of AI as well as setting out a clearer explanation of who in those organisations should be accountable for harm caused through AI. 

HACKNEY

Homerton Hospital waiting lists fall 

Good news as new data released this month confirmed the Government’s made fast progress in cutting national NHS waiting lists by 86,000 in November (the second biggest drop in waits for fifteen years). And at Homerton Hospital, waiting lists have fallen by 5938 since the General Election. This has only been possible thanks to the hard work of staff across the NHS alongside the Government’s record investment to help drive modernisation across the entirety of the NHS. 

Love Dalston shopfront awards winner 

It was good visiting fan-favourite local businesses in Dalston, as voted for by Hackney residents. As part of Small Business Saturday, I announced the winner of my Love Dalston Shopfront Award: Kaffa Coffee. Located in Gillett Square, Kaffa serves Ethiopian coffee is soon to reopen its indoor venue to join their outdoor space. See here to watch the video.  

Route 38 bus 

Route 38 has served Hackney for over a century and remains a vital piece in Hackney’s public transport infrastructure. I’ve been campaigning against Transport for London’s proposals to cut short the route 38 bus so it terminates at Holborn instead of Victoria. Thank you to everyone that submitted to Transport for London’s consultation on this, which has now closed. As well as Victoria, the 38 bus connects Hackney directly to Covent Garden, Green Park, Hyde Park, and the West End. I’ve reminded TfL that any decision to curtail the 38 would also be in the context of previous choices cutting back direct access to London from Hackney. I will be meeting with the Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, to further press the point and will keep you posted.  

Solar panels at Lauriston School 

As part of the Mayor of London’s Greener Schools programme, local energy company Stokey Energy recently installed solar panels on Lauriston Primary School. It was good to attend the unveiling alongside London Deputy Mayor Mete Coban and Hackney councillors, and to hear from the pupils about the importance of energy efficiency. 

Grant funding for waste-reducing community projects 

Applications are open for a share of the North London Waste Authority grant funding for community-based projects aimed at reducing waste. There are different sized grants available. Previous beneficiaries include Hackney’s Woodshop of Recycled Delights to deliver ‘Building Skills, Repairing Futures: Tackling Furniture Waste,’ a project teaching the skills needed to repair and upcycle furniture and use waste timber. Find out more and apply here – the deadline is 16 February. 

Mosaics in Hackney 

The Hackney Mosaic Project is a community project that provides opportunities for those recovering from addiction or mental ill-health to get creative and join a community. Tessa Hunkin’s extraordinary designs can be seen in many places around Hackney, from Hackney Downs to Shepherdess Walk to the pavement near Haggerston Station. The project has recruited local residents and people from Hackney Recovery Services who volunteer to help build the pieces. If you’d like to find out more, you can get in touch by emailing hackneymosaic@gmail.com or by visiting Hackney Mosaic Project. 

Letter about statues 

I received a detailed letter from a young Hackney resident from Form IV about returning Greek statues and the British Museum Act. Unfortunately, there was no return address. I would be very keen to write back, so if you wrote to me (or you know who did), please do get in touch. 

HAVE YOUR SAY

The Government regularly consults on its policy proposals. Below are a few areas it is currently seeking opinions on. Click on each option to find out more and to share your thoughts. 

• Earned settlement - GOV.UK - Closes 12 February. 

• Legislative proposals to address broadband rollout in leasehold flats - GOV.UK - Closes 16 February. 

• Licensing for knife sales - GOV.UK - Closes 24 February. 

• Britain’s Story: The Next Chapter - the BBC Royal Charter Review, Green Paper and public consultation - GOV.UK - Closes 10 March. 

• Enhanced protections for homeowners on freehold estates - GOV.UK - Closes 12 March. 

• Significant water management issues - Environment Agency - Citizen Space - Closes 20 May 2026. 

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 April. 

To apply for a tour, or be entered into 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.