July Monthly Report

HACKNEY'S HIDDEN GEM

The Hackney Chinese Community School

The Hackney Chinese Community School in Haggerston has served the local community for 38 years, providing Chinese language education to learners of all ages and backgrounds. It has around 100 students who take part in lessons online and face to face ranging from toddlers in playgroup to A-level students to adult learners. Most students come from Hackney and nearby boroughs, making the most of language and cultural education, including dance and song and celebrating significant events such as New Year. 

PARLIAMENT

Liaison Committee

I chair the Liaison Committee, which is made up of the Chairs of all the other select committees. We scrutinise Government and choose committee reports for debates. We also question the Prime Minister about policy. Keir Starmer was in front of the Committee this month to talk about tackling poverty. We asked him about his first year as Prime Minister, the highs and lows of his first year in Government. The session covered a broad range of policy issues, including those that are really significant in Hackney, including child poverty, housing (including affordable housing and temporary accommodation), social care and welfare reform. You can watch the session here.  

Universal Credit Bill

Last month, I updated you on welfare reform and the Universal Credit Bill (see here for further details about the bill). Since then, the bill has now cleared all its parliamentary stages and will become law. It is a significant step forwards in reforming the welfare system and will see an above-inflation increase to the standard Universal Credit payment. Separately the Government has also committed to co-produce future changes to disability support with disabled people, as part of a review into Personal Independence Payments led by Minister Stephen Timms MP. See here for further details about the review, including its terms of reference.  

Climate lobby day

I met with a number of constituents who came to Parliament to discuss climate issues. We covered a number of topics and policy points including green jobs and the future of agriculture.   We all know how important it is to take action now. Making Britain a clean energy superpower is one of the five missions of the Government — delivering clean power by 2030 and accelerating to net zero across the economy. In the past year the Government has taken significant strides, including setting up Great British Energy and the National Wealth Fund, unlocking investment in clean energy and supply chains, lifting the 9-year onshore wind ban, and approved enough solar and offshore wind to power two million homes. There is always more to do, and I welcome hearing from constituents on what is happening locally to protect climate and nature, and what needs to happen next.

Water

We have seen years of poor management of the water industry, resulting in sewage being pumped into our seas, rivers and lakes, and bosses being rewarded for failure with big bonuses. The River Lea in Hackney has seen significant sewer overflow discharges in recent years affecting the delicate eco system and wildlife there, as well as the ability for Hackney residents to enjoy the river safely. The Government has pledged to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030, by investing to rebuild the sewage system and regulating to slash sewage pollution. Bills are now ringfenced to force companies to invest in upgrades and over £100 million of water fines are being spent on local clean-up projects. The Environment Secretary has also announced the establishment of a water ombudsman to build on the Consumer Council for Water's role (which is currently voluntary for water companies to follow) to support customers in disputes with water companies, including leaking pipes, incorrect bills, and water supply issues. This is good news, too many constituents are facing big increases in their water bills whilst experiencing poor customer service.

Hepatitis C reception

It was good to meet with the Hepatitis C Trust to hear more about their work on the infected blood compensation scheme. Hepatitis C is spread through blood-to-blood contact and is treatable and curable, though it can leave lasting damage. The infected blood scandal led to many people unknowingly contracting Hepatitis C – the Trust thinks there may still be over 1700 people who don’t know they have contracted it. If you had a blood transfusion before 1991 it may be worth visiting your GP for a blood test. You can also order a free home test from the NHS here. Compensation has begun to be rolled out to victims, but this has been slow. I will be following this issue closely. You can find out more about Hepatitis C and the Trust’s work here.  

Pensions

The Pension Schemes Bill had its second reading (a debate on the principles of the bill) in the Commons in early July. The Bill aims to strengthen pension investment and so that people who pay into a pension get a better outcome when they retire. We are currently on course for tomorrow’s pensioners to be poorer than today’s. Someone retiring in 2050 is set, on average, to have 8 per cent lower private pension income compared to a retiree in 2025, while nearly 15 million working-age people are not on track to have an adequate retirement income. Measures in the bill include the consolidation of some pension pots, increased flexibility to release surplus funds, and work around value for money. Of course, people are living longer than ever and it is essential that they plan for their retirement, and it is also crucial that Government takes action to ensure that pensions provide good returns for people who have saved, particularly the lowest paid, which is most often women and ethnic minorities. 

SEND

Many families and children in Hackney receive support with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Our local services do a wonderful job supporting children, and the Minister for Early Education recently visited Hackney to speak to local experts and see services in action. However, there are challenges in the system, including an increase in demand for SEND services across the country. The Government is committed to tackling these challenges, with investment of £1 billion for support of the children with the most severe learning needs and £740m to create more specialist places in mainstream schools. I regularly raise issues around SEND in Hackney with Government Ministers. The Government also wants to hear from children and families about challenges in the system, where often parents feel they have to fight every step, and children can wait months if not years for support. I will be in touch with constituents who have contacted me about SEND in recent years, and teachers, with more information, but if you have experiences to share or wish to feed in your views, please do get in touch at meg.hillier.mp@parliament.uk   

Best Start Family Hubs

Hackney has four family hubs across the borough, providing a brilliant service to support children and families in early years, including health services and mental health support, infant feeding, stay and play provision and support into employment. The Government knows that it is absolutely paramount that every child is given a good start in life, and has announced Best Start Family Hubs in every council in England to support 500,000 more children in the most disadvantaged areas. Plans include the roll-out up to 1,000 Family Hubs across every local authority in England by 2028.  This £1.5bn commitment over the next three years will make early education and childcare more accessible and affordable.  This funding will ensure that these services can continue to be provided in Hackney -  a ‘one-stop shop’ from pregnancy through the early years and beyond.  

TREASURY SELECT COMMITTEE

I chair the Treasury Select Committee, which is tasked with examining the expenditure, administration and policy of HM Treasury, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), and associated public bodies, including the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority. Along with the Spending Review, this month we have looked at the following:   

Bank of England Financial Stability Reports

We questioned members of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) on financial stability, including the FPC’s view of plans for fast-paced deregulation in financial services, government debt and high loan-to-value mortgages. You can watch the session here.

Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) Fiscal Risks

We asked members of the OBR about its Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report, including three key risks to the public finances: pensions, public sector debt and climate change, as well as the impact of recent changes to the Government’s spending plans. We also held a hearing on the re-appointment of Richard Hughes as Chair of the OBR for a second and final five-year term of office. You can watch the session here.

Insurance companies

The committee questioned bosses from four major insurance firms on the challenges, concerns and opportunities facing the sector and their customers, including measuring risk, pricing and the use of AI. See here to watch the session. 

HACKNEY

Graeae Theatre

It was great to meet this month with the directors of the Graeae Theatre in Hoxton to discuss welfare reform and support for disabled people to get into work. The Graeae Theatre Company is made up of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists who put on fantastic productions. It is a wonderful organisation which is rightly recognised and lauded for its inclusivity, access and radical shows. They are experts on access to work for disabled people, as they live and breathe it every day. I want Graeae to help the Government with its plans to support more disabled people into work. 

20^th Anniversary of the London Bombings

I attended the ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral to mark 20 years since the London bombings of 7^th July 2005. Remembering the 52 people who lost their lives is so important, as is thinking about the many injured and impacted by that day. So many of us can remember exactly where we were when we heard the news. It was a tragic day in London’s history, but the anniversary acknowledgements also drew focus to the incredible bravery and fortitude of the emergency services at that time, as well as the many ordinary Londoners who stepped up to help. 

Leasehold consultation

Many leaseholders in Hackney have faced significant challenges in recent years, including cladding remediation, increased service charges and insurance premiums and ground rents. The Government recognises this and wants to hear directly from leaseholders. It has published its Strengthening Leaseholder Protections Consultation here.

The consultation is in two parts. The first focuses on how to implement key measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and the second has proposals to reform the Section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders go through when they face large bills for works. These are just one part of the Government’s plans to change the feudal leasehold system. This is good news for leaseholders in Hackney. The consultation will last 12 weeks and closes at the end of September.   

The Hackney Chinese Community School

I attended the Hackney Chinese Community School’s recent graduation ceremony and 38^th anniversary celebration. It was a pleasure to present awards, hear speeches from staff and students, enjoy poems, songs and take part in a “dot the eyes” ceremony for the school’s lion mascot, a symbolic ritual to bring good fortune to the school community. Very many congratulations to the school’s headteacher, Dr Bonnie Kwok, who was recently awarded an MBE for 23 years of service at the school. 

Hackney Sixth Form Campus of New City College

I pressed the CEO of Hackney Sixth Form (formerly called BSix) with my neighbouring MP in Hackney, Diane Abbott to discuss the removal of A-levels from their curriculum.  I was concerned to hear about this and the impact it would have on the education opportunities for young people in Hackney. The CEO assured me that young people in Hackney will still be able to access A-level courses at their campus in Arbour Square, Tower Hamlets.  

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 October. 

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.