March 2026 Monthly Report

HACKNEY'S HIDDEN GEM

Thingy cafe

Nestled just off Trowbridge Road in Hackney Wick is Thingy cafe – a cafe, garden, and event space. Not only does it serve up a variety of creative and delicious dishes for all tastes (including vegan and vegetarian options), it also hosts a community garden and serves as an event space for creatives from all industries. Recent highlights include a poetry workshop, live music, and a carnival costume pop-up. See here to check out its food options and here for updates on upcoming events.   

PARLIAMENT

Middle East 

The US-Israel attacks on Iran will likely have serious repercussions for us all – especially on energy prices and the cost of living. At his recent appearance in front of the Liaison Committee, which I chair, the Prime Minister pointed out that no one can confidently say how long this conflict will continue. But he reassured us that the Government is doing everything it can to protect British lives abroad and shield households as much as possible from the economic impact at home. I also questioned the Chancellor of the Exchequer about how the Government will identify and target support for those who need it most. Already the Government has supported every Hackney household by taking £150 off everyone’s energy bills. And work is now taking place across government (including teams from local government and the Department for Work and Pensions) so that future support can be targeted to those that need it most.   

Protecting jobs for young people 

I’ve raised concerns about the difficulty young graduates are facing entering the job market and the impact of new technologies (particularly AI) on the number of entry-level jobs. The Minister reassured me there is a government unit dedicated to the issue and that the government will bring forward measures to strengthen the youth guarantee. This is the government programme investing £820 million supporting young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) into work. As part of this, the Government will support employers with a £3000 Youth Jobs Grant to employ a young person who has been out of work and on Universal Credit for over six months. In addition, an employer taking on an apprentice will receive £2000 from the Government and if the apprentice has been out of work for six months, they can also claim the £3000 under the jobs guarantee as well. See here for further details.  

Hatzola attacks 

our ambulances belonging to Hatzola (the Jewish ambulance service) were torched in Golders Green in a deliberate antisemitic attack. Hatzola does vital work in Hackney, supporting the Homerton and our local NHS. The Government has acted swiftly with replacement ambulances confirmed within hours and the NHS committing to funding permanent replacements. The Government also convened Jewish community leaders at Downing Street the same day and agreed a series of follow-up measures, including accelerating elements of the social cohesion strategy and boosting support for the Community Security Trust (a charity that protects British Jews from terrorism and antisemitism). This attack was shocking. There has been an increase in antisemitic attacks in London. In Hackney, our communities work to support each other across faiths and backgrounds. We need to be vigilant against hate crimes.   

Food security and market ownership 

The City of London is looking to relinquish its responsibility to provide the Smithfield meat and Billingsgate fish markets – vital parts of London’s food security infrastructure. The plan is for the markets to move to a site in Newham – adjacent to London City Airport and owned by the Greater London Authority. But there will be no legal responsibility to provide the markets, which sell meat and fish to many of East London’s restaurants and markets, including traders in Hackney. This uncertainty is bad for traders, but also for London’s food security more generally. I raised this with the Secretary of State, suggesting that a public stake in such markets could be a way to ensure these vital parts of London’s food economy are protected. A Private Bill which would close Smithfield meat market in the City of London and Billingsgate fish market in Tower Hamlets has been making progress in Parliament. Private Bills are an arcane and rare form of legislation where external organisations can propose bills to the House of Commons – see here for more information.    

Immigration tribunal delays 

The immigration tribunal system is creaking. I raised this with the Minister and pointed out that delays of two years are now a typical feature of our system. The Minister confirmed that the Government is maximising judicial sitting days, recruiting more judges to the immigration and asylum chamber, and developing proposals for a new Independent Appeals Body to handle cases currently heard in the tribunal. You can feed into a consultation on the proposed new Independent Appeals Body here. Note the deadline for submissions is 23:50 on the 22 April 2026.   

Share your views on PIP and other welfare reforms 

Following the significant reservations I raised last year with the Government about its previous plans for reform of the welfare system for disabled people, it set up a review into Personal Independence Payments led by Minister Stephen Timms MP. The Timms Review has now opened for feedback and it is seeking evidence from disabled people, carers, clinicians, organisations and anyone with relevant experience or expertise. This is an important opportunity to shape policy and you have until midnight on 28 May 2026. If this affects you or someone you know, please do submit your views – see here for further details.  

SELECT COMMITTEES

New inquiry announced – student loans and taxation of graduates 

The Treasury Committee, which I chair, has launched a new inquiry into student loans and how graduates are taxed. The numbers speak for themselves: graduates now leave university carrying over £50,000 in debt, repaying nine per cent of earnings above £28,470. The threshold at which repayments kick in was recently frozen for three years.  

Our central question is one of fairness. Have the goalposts been moved on a generation of graduates who signed up under different expectations? When you factor in the effect on marginal tax rates, some graduates are carrying a burden that warrants scrutiny. We want to hear from graduates directly. Anyone over 16 can contribute via the online survey which asks, amongst other things, whether they would take out the loan again knowing what they know now, and whether repayments are materially affecting their financial planning. The link to feed into the survey is here and see here for the full terms of reference.  

Spring Statement 

The Chancellor answered questions at the Treasury Select Committee following her Spring Statement in March. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s economic forecast was positive about growth and inflation. Of course, the forecast was produced before the conflict in Iran, so there will be consequences for the economy that were not predicted.   The session was dominated by the Iran conflict and its economic consequences but we also ranged widely across other issues such as growth, employment, defence, and the public finances in general. On Iran, the Chancellor was understandably cautious about commenting on the economic impact of a fast-moving situation but she was clear that de-escalation (and getting vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz) remains the overriding priority. Other immediate steps taken include working with the Competition and Markets Authority on price gouging in the heating oil and petrol markets. 

Liaison Committee questions the Prime Minister 

I also chair the committee made up of the House of Commons select committee Chairs, the Liaison committee. The Prime Minister attends three times a year. This month the session concentrated on the conflict in Iran, where the Prime Minister was clear that this is not our war, but his Government will act in the collective self-defence of our allies whilst also working to protect our interests in the region (including keeping the strait of Hormuz open for trade). I pressed the Prime Minister on what support households and businesses can expect when the current energy price cap ends in June. We also covered defence spending and readiness, military recruitment, the threat of foreign interference in our democracy, and the situation in Gaza and the West Bank (particularly pressing for concrete steps the Government will take to address the expansion of illegal settlements).   

HACKNEY

Support for people on the pathway to settlement 

Hackney is home to people from all over the world and I am proud to represent such a diverse constituency. I know that recent announcements on earned settlement have caused concern to some people currently on the pathway towards eligibility for indefinite leave to remain. I met with the Minister who is overseeing the changes to settlement, Alex Norris MP, to raise the need for clarity over how indefinite leave to remain is changing for people who are already building a life here. I raised concerns and pressed for changes, including on repeated applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain, and we also discussed the importance of improving access to learning English for people who come here, helping them to integrate better into communities and the workplace.  

Breakthrough on 38 bus campaign 

Transport for London had proposed curtailing the 38 bus route so it terminates at Holborn (rather than Victoria). I pressed Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, to look again and he has intervened and asked Transport for London to look again at the evidence base behind the original proposals and to assess the wider impact of the proposed curtailment of the route 38 bus. This is a great step forward; thank you to everyone that has supported the campaign so far. It is not too late to help – you can join by taking a selfie on or near the 38 bus and sharing it to your favourite social media platform with #SaveRoute38. Don’t forget to tag me into your post. I’ve also created a sticker you can add to your selfie – see here for further details.  

Community space for Hackney start-ups 

I visited Encode Hub, a co-working and community space in Hackney for founders and entrepreneurs working in AI and blockchain. It has recently launched a 'Hub Scholars' programme, which brings in talented students to work on projects with access to professionals and the wider Encode network. I am now working with local sixth forms to build links with Encode Hub, so that young people in Hackney can get a foot in the door of one of the fastest-growing sectors in the economy – not just as future employees, but perhaps one day as future founders too. We also discussed the impact of AI on the creative industries and the Government’s announcement that it no longer favours an ‘opt-out’ model (where creatives would have to proactively opt-out of allowing their work to be used in training AI models). If you work in the same field and are interested joining, see here for a calendar of Encode Hub's upcoming events.

Making Dalston Kingsland accessible for all

The Government has invested nearly £280 million to improve accessibility at stations through the Access for All programme. In January, Dalston Kingsland was identified as a station that has moved into the delivery or design stage. Thank you to everyone that has joined the campaign calling for step-free access at the station. I highlighted the importance in the House of Commons and pointed out that Dalston Kingsland is the key station for our world-famous Ridley Road market. I invited the Minister to visit the area with me to see the positive impact this decision will have in Dalston.  

From speaking with residents, I know that some believe Ridley Road market is under threat of closure. Far from it – it has never been under threat. I am working with the council to support the market and with the police and council to improve safety.  

Support for Further Education institutions/ESOL 

It was good to visit New City College in Hoxton to discuss the issues that Further Education providers are facing. This included the ongoing disparity in pay awards between teachers in schools and in colleges, similar uneven treatment on VAT, and the importance of investing in teaching English as a second language. New City College teach English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) to a variety of levels – from people looking to improve English they’ve already picked up, to those with no contact with English at all. It is so important to invest in people who come to this country to help work. I am pressing the Government to ensure ESOL is funded better. In 21 years as an MP, I have seen too many people who have been welcomed here from other countries trapped in poverty because of a lack of English language.   

Supporting refugees 

I was pleased to visit Refugee Legal Support – a group dedicated to providing legal advice and support to refugees. I know quick and honest legal advice can make a real difference – both for the individual and the system itself. Sadly, Refugee Legal Support were forced to leave their previous offices and move to Hackney after being attacked by far-right gangs. It is a stark reminder of the hostility and threats faced by people who work on the frontline supporting some of the most vulnerable in our society. We also discussed the need to support teaching English, particularly for women with young children who are often the hardest to reach. I have been talking to local colleges about how that can be better funded and delivered, including through community hubs where conversational English can be learned in an informal and accessible setting. I continue to press the Government on this issue.   

Iftar at Haggerston Community Centre 

During Ramadan, I was delighted to join local residents, faith leaders, and community representatives for Iftar. This is the meal that breaks the daily fast at sunset. It was a warm and generous evening, and a reminder of what makes Hackney such a special place – a diverse community that comes together to share and celebrate. I am always grateful for invitations like this and am proud to represent Hackney where events like this are part of the fabric of everyday life.   

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. 

• Building a future tech sector that works for everyone - GOV.UK - Closes 23 April. 

• Making public services work for you with your digital identity - GOV.UK  - Closes 5 May. 

• SEND reform: putting children and young people first - GOV.UK - Closes 18 May. 

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

• Growing up in the online world: a national consultation - GOV.UK - Closes 26 May. 

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 June. 

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.