June Monthly Report

HACKNEY'S HIDDEN GEM

V&A East Storehouse     

The V&A has come East! While many of you will be familiar with the Victoria and Albert museum in Kensington, Hackney residents can now easily access this cultural experience. Located in the Olympic Park, the V&A has opened a sister site housing part of its renowned collection celebrating art, design and fashion. You can find out more and plan your visit here.  

V&A East joins the London Museum Stores on Eagle Wharf Road in Hoxton which houses the world’s largest archaeological archive. You can visit and see artefacts that are not on display in the main museums. It is currently closed to the public as the London Museum (formerly the Museum of London) prepares to move to its new premises at Smithfield during 2026. 

PARLIAMENT

Spending Review  

After laying out the total funding available in her first Budget last October, the Chancellor has now set out public spending plans for each government department in the Spending Review. This allocates money to all government departments for the next three years and is the first multi-year review of departmental spending since 2021. It includes the extension of free school meals for children of parents in receipt of any amount of Universal Credit – lifting 100,000 children out of poverty and saving parents up to £500 a year. More than 16,000 households in Hackney will benefit from this starting in September 2026. Other good news for families is the delivery of free school breakfast clubs and nurseries based in schools.   

The Chancellor also committed £39bn over 10 years for social and affordable housing, an increase from the amount under the last government of £2.3bn a year. Hackney has been at the sharp end of the housing crisis for years, and too often at my advice surgeries I meet people in overcrowded housing, struggling to find somewhere to rent privately, or to get their foot on the housing ladder. Although there are no quick fixes I will be pressing for an increase in social housing in Hackney. Other announcements include an increase in funding for the NHS and Defence. 

I chair the Treasury Select Committee, which examines HM Treasury’s policies and expenditure, so we are looking at the Spending Review in detail. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (the minister in the Treasury who oversees the spending by Government departments) appeared before committee, and we quizzed him on the plans, including how the Home Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government could deliver on the Government’s plans with the tight budgets allocated to them.  

Welfare reform  

The Government announced in the Spring Statement that it intended to bring reform to the welfare system. Its Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill is one element of this, intending to restructure how these payments are made and who is eligible for them. There are a host of measures in the bill, including an above-inflation increase to the standard Universal Credit payment. I recognise the need for reform of the social security system - the figures of people not in employment, education or training are stark, particularly young people of working age. We cannot allow a significant number of this generation to fall behind and miss out on opportunities for a fulfilling career and everything this provides in life. The Government will be overhauling the assessment process for PIP and reintroduce face-to-face assessments. 

However, a number of colleagues and I had concerns about how this bill was going to affect people who rely on Personal Independence Payments (which is a benefit to help disabled people pay for the extra costs of living with a serious health problem or disability). I worked with over 100 of my colleagues to press the Government to make changes. 

The Government listened, and made commitments on:  

1. Continuing support for disabled people currently in receipt of PIP and the health element of Universal Credit. 

2. A pledge to co-produce future changes to disability support with disabled people, as part of a review into PIP by Minister Stephen Timms MP, to create a system that involves disabled people in decisions about their lives.  

3. Making sure that employment support will be brought forward and substantially improved so that people who want to work are not trapped in the benefit system. 

On the day of the vote on the principle of the bill the Government delayed major changes to PIP until the outcome of the Stephen Timms review. This means that changes proposed for November 2026 will not now take place. 

You can see my full statement here.

Child poverty  

In Hackney, one in two children live in poverty once housing costs are taken into account. The Government has committed to providing all children with a free breakfast before the start of school and it has expanded the eligibility of free lunches so that children of parents in receipt of any amount of Universal Credit can benefit. This will lift 100,000 children out of poverty and save parents up to £500 a year. 

I’m also continuing with my campaign for the Government to lift the two-child benefit limit– which would be one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to lift children out of poverty. I’ve held further meetings with the Child Poverty Action Group and backbench Labour MPs and asked for commitments from Minister that they are seriously looking at this – see here. Any decision will be made after the Government’s Child Poverty Taskforce publishes its report, which is now due in the autumn.   

Copyright and AI  

Hackney is renowned for its contribution to both the creative and tech industries. The rise of artificial intelligence poses challenges that need to be worked through, particularly on the issue of creative copyright. As an MP representing both sectors I am keen to ensure we have robust data and copyright regulation to make the system work for everyone. The Minister recently announced the creation of a working group on this issue. I am also organising a round table with Hackney creatives with concerns about copyright and AI and a government minister will attend. Please contact me if you are interested in attending. If you work in a sector affected by AI, I am keen to hear about any concerns you may have.  

Assisted dying 

A bill legalising assisted dying passed its third reading in the House of Commons. It will now go to the House of Lords for further scrutiny and debate. The bill was introduced as a Private Members Bill and first published just 10 days before it was first debated in November 2024. This is in contrast to most Government bills which are consulted on and published many months in advance. I tabled a new clause that would prevent discussions about assisted death with under-18s which was voted on and passed by MPs – the only amendment passed by the House of Commons as a whole. I remain strongly opposed to the bill – I do not believe it protects vulnerable people who could be coerced into seeking an assisted death for financial reasons or because they feel a burden to their family. The new system would be funded by the NHS but palliative care is mostly funded by charity and is struggling to deliver services. A choice to have an assisted death is not a choice if palliative care supporting people at the end of life is not available. 

Thames Water  

Too many people in Hackney have been let down by Thames Water through its eye-watering costs and poor service. Ofwat has fined Thames Water its largest-ever penalty (£122.7 billion) over its failures to both customers and the environment. As the Government looks at Thames Water’s future, I am pressing to make sure consumers are protected from bearing the burden of costs. See here for my question to the Secretary of State.  

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:  

HMRC  

We heard from the new HMRC Permanent Secretary JP Marks as he appeared before the committee for the first time, asking him about his vision for the department. We also questioned him about the tax gap (the difference between taxes owed and taxes collected), and plans for improving customer service.  

The committee also wrote to HMRC warning that its failure to report details of a data breach affecting around 100,000 taxpayers was unacceptable. The information only became apparent to the Committee when a notification was published on the HMRC website on the same day as a live evidence session, and cost the taxpayer £47 million. More information here.  

AI in financial services  

As part of our inquiry into artificial intelligence in financial services, the committee heard evidence from academic experts about the potential impacts of using artificial intelligence in financial services, including the risks and benefits of using different forms of AI, the risk of AI reinforcing human biases, and the extent to which financial regulators are adequately prepared and knowledgeable to protect consumers against potential AI-related harm.  

Bank of England Monetary Policy Report  

We questioned the Governor of the Bank of England and members of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on the decision to maintain Bank base rate at 4.25%. These sessions are an opportunity to understand the most recent decision but also question the independent members of the MPC about their thinking about the future economic outlook including the impacts of inflation and US tariff policy. Since August 2024, the MPC has voted to cut the Bank Rate four times to its current level of 4.25%. The Governor and MPC members were confident that rates would continue to decrease over time. 

National Wealth Fund  

The National Wealth Fund is the fund established by the Government to deploy £27.8 billion to drive private investment in areas that align with the Chancellor’s priority sectors: clean energy, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and transport. It is based on the UK Infrastructure Bank but renamed, with different strategic priorities, and has been given an additional £5.8 billion. The committee gathered views from academics and think tank officials on the strategic objectives of the fund and how it compares to similar funds set up by other governments. We also questioned the outgoing chief executive John Flint and the responsible minister Lord Livermore. The committee also met one of the recipients of the first finance support paid out by the NWF. 

HACKNEY

Child Q 

In December 2020 a black child at school in Hackney was wrongly suspected of possessing cannabis, the police were called and they carried out an intimate strip search, without proper authorisation and conducted without an appropriate adult.  

This week the police disciplinary panel found that two of the police officers involved were found to have committed gross misconduct and have been dismissed. 

Hackney’s Local Child Safeguarding Review, released in 2022, found that the search was unjustified, that racism was likely to have been a factor, and concerns around adultification of black children were again raised. The panel found it not proven that the officers were motivated by racial or unconscious bias; it did find that the search was unnecessary, inappropriate and disproportionate.  

Following the incident, the Independent Office for Police Conduct issued learning recommendations which the Met accepted, stating that it was a ‘catalyst for change’ and that process around stop and search and strip searching have improved. Hackney Council has established Hackney Community Police Scrutiny Panel, which gives volunteer community members the chance to hold the police to account for their use of police powers such as stop and search, handcuffing, the use of tasers and intimate searches. 

None of this negates the traumatic experience of the child at the heart of this, and the impact on other black children and communities. This child was let down by all those in authority who were there to protect her.  

Jobs fair  

In Hackney South and Shoreditch, 7.4 per cent of working-age people are claiming unemployment-related benefits. There are too many barriers to work for many job seekers, including the digital divide. With employers increasingly asking for online applications long before they meet applicants face to face, many job seekers can be excluded if they don’t have the necessary IT, Wi-Fi, or knowledge on how to satisfy a particular algorithm.   

I worked with Hackney Jobcentre and Hackney Council to host a jobs fair at Morningside Community Centre in Homerton. There was a great turn out, with residents engaging face to face with local employers to hear about job opportunities and receive advice on applications as well as being able to talk to training providers and organisations providing mental health support. 

Financial literacy in schools  

City Academy Shoreditch Park has been working with the Financial Times' Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign for three years, and it was great to hear from pupils and teachers about what they have learnt about personal finance. The Financial Times programme provides school with lesson plans and is evaluating the impact of the programme on young people’s understanding of financial issues. It is so important to equip young people with the skills they need to navigate these vital life skills. 

St John’s Hoxton summer fair  

I was delighted to present the medals to the participants in the football tournament at St Johns’ summer fayre. The church set up a football team for adult refugees and this has spawned a youth football club. St John’s and vicar Graham Hunter work really hard for the Hoxton community. 

Windrush day  

Hackney has long been a welcoming and diverse community. The contribution of people from the Caribbean to Hackney should rightly be recognised and I was pleased to see the recent naming of the Windrush overground line that runs through Hackney. There were a number of Windrush events across Hackney in June, from film screenings, book readings, music and markets.   

Of course, there is still work to be done following the Windrush scandal. Far too many people, having settled in the UK, were faced with the often nearly impossible task of proving their residence in the UK over previous decades, when paper records were often not retained. For many, it resulted in loss of employment, denial of healthcare, and in some cases deportation. The Government has announced extra funding to support victims in accessing the compensation fund. See here for more details.  

Love Dalston shopfront award  

Dalston is home to many thriving businesses and a vital town centre in Hackney. I am proud to support our local independent high street businesses and the branches of bigger chains which keep our high streets alive. To showcase businesses and celebrate everything Dalston has to offer, I have joined forces with the Hackney Gazette to launch a Love Dalston Shopfront Award. This is a competition where you can nominate your favourite shopfront, which makes it stand out from the crowd – it can be any type of business, as long as it is in Dalston. To nominate your favourite business, see here.  

V22  

Art studios based in Dalston’s Ashwin Street are set to remain at the heart of the local creative community following an agreement that will see operator V22 buy 10-16 Ashwin Street from Hackney Council and create a permanent cultural hub. The agreement includes provisions to protect its long-term future as a home for Dalston’s creative and cultural life. Hackney Council has provided further information about this here.    

Social tariffs for broadband and water 

The cost-of-living crisis has affected many residents in Hackney. It may be helpful for you to know that many residents are eligible for social broadband tariffs. These provide cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. They are delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price. See Ofcom’s website here to check if you qualify. You may also qualify for the WaterSure scheme with Thames Water, which works by capping your bills if you are receiving certain benefits. See here for further information.  

Dalston Kingsland station  

As part of my campaign with Cllr Grace Adebayo for a lift at Dalston Kingsland station, I raised the matter with both the rail minister and the Secretary of State for Transport – see here. It is vital that public transport is accessible. I am pressing for Dalston Kingsland to be renovated to include step-free access so that both Hackney residents and visitors to our renowned Ridley Road market are able to use the station unimpeded. If you would like to add your name to the petition, see here for how to do so.  

Thank you to everyone that has signed the petition so far, but we need more signatures before I am able to present it in Parliament. Please do encourage your friends and neighbours to sign this petition.  

E-bikes  

There was a recent housefire in Hackney, caused by a faulty e-bike battery. In 2024, the London Fire Brigade recorded 142 fires involving e-bikes and 29 fires involving e-scooters. Many people are buying their e-bike batteries online, through sellers who cannot guarantee safe batteries. If you need to buy an e-bike battery, please purchase them through a registered retailer.   

To help prevent any further incidents, London Fire Brigade’s #ChargeSafe campaign provides essential safety advice on how to charge, store, and use e-bikes and e-scooters safely. See here for further information. 

Hackney Pride365  

Hackney Council’s Culture Team has launched a PRIDE365 grants programme for 2025/26 for LGBTQIA+ residents and/or for LGBTQIA+ cultural activities that take place in Hackney and are focused on engaging Hackney’s communities.   

These awards are for activities happening anytime between August/September 2025 and the end of March 2026.  

They welcome applications covering a broad range of projects, including: community events, educational activities, film screenings, talks, walks, exhibitions, nightlife, podcasts or reminiscence sessions. Find out more 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 October.

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.