June 2026 Monthly Report

HACKNEY'S HIDDEN GEM

Hackney’s Cool Spaces

Summer has truly arrived in Hackney, but I know for many it can be hard to cool down. Please do be careful on days when the temperature rises, making sure to stay in the shade and stay hydrated. If your own home gets too warm, there are designated Cool Spaces around Hackney that have water and free places to sit. You could take respite in any of Hackney’s libraries, Colville Estate Community Centre or Hoxton Church. See here for opening hours. You can also find a map of cool spaces across London here.

PARLIAMENT

Supporting young people not in education, employment or training 

Alan Milburn, a former Cabinet minister, was commissioned by Secretary of State Pat McFadden to review youth unemployment. The number of young people not in education, employment or training soared by 250,000 in the last three years of the last Conservative Government. Alan Milburn released an interim report this month. His findings are stark: the current system is failing a generation. With a decline in the number of entry-level jobs, the first rung of the career ladder is out of reach for many. Of those young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) 84 per cent want a job or training but are not getting the support they need. And without urgent action, the number of young people affected could rise to 1.25 million within five years.

We must invest in our young workforce to ensure our future economy is secure and I continue to push for policies that prioritise intergenerational fairness.

I am pleased the Government is investing in opportunities for our young people through its Youth Jobs Grant, which pays businesses £3000 to take on under 25s who have been unemployed for 6 months or more, and broadening access to apprenticeships. I am keen for Government to pilot approaches to support young people into work. 

Private Member’s Bills

At the beginning of every new Parliamentary session (which starts with a new King’s Speech) there is a ballot of backbench MPs for an opportunity to introduce a Private Member's Bill. Lauren Edwards MP, who came second in the ballot, has announced her intention to re-introduce the Terminally Ill Adults Bill which did not complete its progress in the last Parliamentary session (most Private Member's Bills do not become law). I continue to oppose this Bill as I do not believe there is a way to keep vulnerable people safe, and the consequences of a mistake are far too great.

The proposer is suggesting that she will use the Parliament Act to push through the Bill. This is an Act which was passed to stop the Lords blocking legislation agreed by the House of Commons. But it has only ever been used on Government legislation (i.e. when the House of Lords is seen to be frustrating Government business) and never for a Private Member’s Bill. It also requires the Bill to pass a second time in the Commons in exactly the same format with no amendments. The Bill’s sponsor in the House of Lords had proposed a number of his own amendments and these would not be included. There is a real risk in trying to use the Parliament Act in this way. Firstly, the Bill is lacking clarity in many areas (some of which the sponsor has acknowledged need amending) and is not supported by Royal Colleges including Psychiatrists and GPs.

Secondly, if the Parliament Act is used it would set a precedent for any future Government to pass law via the Private Member’s Bill process to put into law something that was not in its manifesto (the Lords by convention cannot block a manifesto commitment).

Keeping children safe online

Earlier this year the Government opened a consultation on limiting access to social media for children and teenagers.

The Government is now taking action in response and has announced its intention to raise the age limit for social media to 16. It has also said that it will introduce transition measures for 16- and 17-year-olds' use to avoid a cliff edge where young people are unsafe.

There are lots of details still to be ironed out. I am clear that whatever decisions are taken, technology companies must be held to account for enabling our young people to access inappropriate and damaging content.

Support for housebuilding and renters

Hackney has faced a decline in school rolls over recent years. A combination of housing costs and availability, Brexit, Covid and a falling birth rate means there are fewer children in Hackney. It is always sad when schools have to close. But I am keen that these sites do not sit empty. I pressed the Secretary of State for Education on measures to speed up the process or redesignating these sites (where appropriate) for non-educational use.

Renters Rights Act improves housing standards

It is estimated that around 10 per cent of privately rented homes have at least one hazard categorised as ‘serious’ (the most dangerous level) which is simply not good enough. The good news is that new powers to crack down on dangerous rented homes have come into force this month. Measures in our landmark Renters’ Rights Act means landlords who fail to fix serious hazards including severe damp and mould, faulty electrics and fire hazards can now face a fine of up to £7,000. 

EHRC Code of Practice

In my May update I explained how I have some concerns relating to the proposed changes to the EHRC guidance for the Equality Act because of the potential negative impact on trans people. I am particularly concerned about how this guidance interacts and clashes with the Gender Recognition Act. I asked the Minister whether women-only organisations would be allowed to stipulate only cis and trans women can be members, but her answer was unclear. I am continuing to seek clarity on this. 

COMMITTEES

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:   

Financial Inclusion Strategy

Our inquiry into the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy is nearing conclusion. We heard from the Deputy Chief Executive at the Financial Conduct Authority and the new Economic Secretary, Rachel Blake MP to hear about how the ambitions for the Strategy and how the Treasury will monitor its impact.

Student loans and taxation of graduates

After receiving more than 52,000 responses to our call for evidence from the public, the Treasury Committee began oral evidence sessions. The Committee heard from the Minister for Skills, Baroness Smith, and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Lucy Rigby MP, as part of our inquiry into Plan 2 student loans. We also heard evidence from experts in the Higher Education sector. You can follow our work on this inquiry here.

HACKNEY

Wentworth Nursery 75^th Anniversary

I was delighted to visit Wentworth Nursery on Cassland Road to celebrate its 75^th anniversary. Generations of Hackney residents have been looked after and educated at Wentworth. A few years ago we had to battle to retain nursery schools in Hackney and now the Labour Government is investing in early years education and funding more nursery schools. It was good to meet the current head Farzana Chowdhury and previous heads and staff who have contributed to its success. I also met Fred, the Nursery’s beloved 30-year-old tortoise.

The Government is currently seeking views on how to support Early Years teachers, which you can contribute to here.

200 years of St John’s Hoxton

Another staple of Hackney’s community celebrated its anniversary this month: St John’s in Hoxton commemorated 200 years of serving the local area. It was a special service celebrating all the great work at St John’s over the past two centuries. We welcomed the Duke of Edinburgh and the newly appointed Bishop of Stepney, Rod Green, to Hoxton. A special thank you to the young people who played a big part in the special service and to the Revd Graham Hunter for his leadership.

Hackney Community Law Centre turns 50

Hackney Community Law Centre is a charity that supports Hackney residents with free legal advice and representation. In the last year alone it has helped 3,000 people with legal support on issues surrounding housing, immigration, and welfare. Its work is a lifeline to many Hackney residents who would not have legal advice without the centre., You can find out more about HCLC, and apply for legal support, here.

Access to cash in Hackney

I know several residents have voiced their concerns about the closures of banks. After Halifax on Kingsland High Street closed, LINK carried out an assessment to determine whether cash had become less accessible in the area. You can view LINK’s assessment here (type Dalston into the search bar). LINK do not think there is a gap in access to cash that will cause a significant impact so are not recommending any new services. You can appeal this here if you think the report is wrong. If you are unsure how to deposit or withdraw cash locally, you can use LINK’s Cash Locator to see what options there are.

Bank and building societies are about much more than accessing cash. I am pleased that the Government has asked Richard Lloyd (former head of the consumer champion Which?) to lead a review of banking services. Face to face advice is still vital for many customers in our borough and across the country. See details here.

HAVE YOUR SAY

The Government and other bodies regularly consult on policy proposals. Below are a few areas that are open for consultation. Click on each option to find out more and to share your thoughts.

• Stop and search authorised professional practice (APP) - GOV.UK - Closes 6 July.

• High Value Council Tax Surcharge - GOV.UK - Closes 14 July.

• Review of the Metropolitan Police Service -  Closes 31 July.

  
  

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 allocated a small number of tickets for tours of Big Ben. I operate a ballot for these four times a year. The next ballot is for tours in the autumn.

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 September.

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.