Preet Kaur Gill MP - My Weekly Update - 3rd April 2026
- Apr 1
- 9 min read
Updated: Apr 3
This Week the Government Announced...
Helping with the cost of living
A raft of new measures introduced by the government coming into force this week will see wages go up, bills come down, and more support for those who need it most in Birmingham Edgbaston.
In an uncertain and volatile world, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is continuing to work with allies to push for de-escalation in the Middle East which is the surest and quickest way to bring down pressures on prices.
On Monday, he hosted a roundtable with energy, insurance, and shipping companies and on Tuesday he chaired a COBRA meeting to assess the situation with Cabinet colleagues.
Thanks to this Government's choices, measures coming into force today, benefitting families across Birmingham Edgbaston include:
Increasing the National Living wage to £12.71 a £900 pay rise for some of the lowest earners in Birmingham Edgbaston and a boost to 2.4 million workers nationally
Increasing the National Minimum Wage to £10.85 a £1,500 boost for many constituents and over 200,000 young workers across the country
Cutting energy bills by an average £117 a year for residents of Birmingham Edgbaston and millions across the UK locked in until end of June
The Crisis & Resilience Fund starts running enabled by £1bn of funding which helps vulnerable households in Birmingham with things like heating oil
A freeze on prescription prices so locals aren’t spending more than a tenner on their medicines.
200 new Best Start Family Hubs announced
I have worked with Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education and secured investment to bring a Best Start Family Hub to Edgbaston, based in Bartley Green.
We are building on the proud legacy of Sure Start, reviving family services and putting them back at the heart of every community.
The Government is extending its Best Start programme by opening 200 new Best Start Family Hubs across England.
To find out more about what services our Edgbaston Family hub will deliver, visit: Birmingham Forward Steps | Barnardo's Birmingham Forward Steps | Barnardo's
Families in every council area will have access to a hub. This is the first stage of a plan to create up to 1,000 hubs across England by 2028, with hundreds expected to be operating as Best Start Family Hubs by April.
Read more here: All children deserve the Best Start in Life
New Screentime guidance launched
The Government has launched Screentime guidance for under 5s, providing advice on how best to navigate screens with young children. The guidance is the first-of-its-kind, with evidence-backed advice developed with Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and leading experts. It provides up-to-date practical, judgement-free support available online to help parents know the best practice for screens at home.
Read more here: PM: I WON’T LEAVE PARENTS TO FACE SCREEN-TIME BATTLE ALONE
The guidance is available here: https://beststartinlife.gov.uk/screen-time-under-5s/
Employment Rights Act comes into effect
This month, new measures from the Government's historic Employment Rights Act come into force, giving millions of workers boosts to their wages and transformational upgrades to their rights.
From the 1st April, workers across the UK will also be taking more money home at the end of each month, with significant uplifts to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage. The National Minimum wage has gone up by 50p to £12.71 for over 21s, while workers aged 18-20 will see an 85p rise to £10.85, and under-18s and apprentices will get 45p more to £8 an hour.
Starting on the 6th April, new measures will give day one rights for paternity and unpaid parental leave, strengthen statutory sick pay and enhanced protections for workers who ‘blow the whistle’ on sexual harassment.
Next week, also marks a new era for British businesses too. On the 7th April, the Fair Work Agency will bring together key labour market enforcement functions into a single body, ending fragmentation and creating a more joined-up system.
That means stronger protection for vulnerable workers, clearer enforcement, and a fairer environment for the many businesses that do the right thing. The Agency will also take on responsibility for enforcing the National Minimum Wage, with HMRC continuing to deliver that work in the first year to ensure continuity during the transition.
Read more about how the Government is supporting workers by visiting: Employment Rights Act 2025: overview factsheet
Launch of biggest overhaul of procurement policy backing British businesses
Every year, £400 billion of public money is spent on government contracts. Spending that on Britain businesses and supporting British workers should be a no brainer.
The honest truth is that for too long, that’s not how it’s worked. Doors have been effectively closed to many small businesses, start-ups and charities. Too many workers and communities have lost out. And too often, British businesses felt that government didn’t have their back.
Departments must use national security exemptions to reserve contracts for British firms.
Read more here: Modernising public procurement: backing British businesses and building a fairer economy - GOV.UK
Wishing you a joyful Easter
At Easter, the Christian proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ affirms new life beyond death, hope beyond despair, and ultimate justice. It is from this conviction that many in our community will draw their long-standing commitment to service, compassion, and social responsibility.
Wishing a joyful and peaceful Easter to Christians and everyone celebrating. I hope this season of reflection and celebration sustains your community in its witness of faith, service, and care for others.
Happy Passover
Happy Passover to the Jewish community, Passover is a time for families and communities to come together, share traditions, and pass on stories generationally. Chag Pesach Sameach!
Simpler recycling
This week the Government put into place new Simpler Recycling reforms, which will finally end the confusing postcode lottery of recycling rules that people have faced for years.
Under the previous system, recycling collections varied widely between councils, leaving residents unsure about what could be recycled and where. The Government has introduced a new system with a maximum of four containers, with flexibility for councils to decide how best to collect waste locally. This practical, common-sense approach will make recycling easier for households while supporting councils to deliver efficient services.
Simpler Recycling will ensure that all homes, businesses, and institutions recycle the same core materials - including paper, card, plastic, metal, glass, and food waste - helping to boost recycling rates and reduce waste going to landfill.
Local News
Three community projects receive Pride in Place Impact Funding
£114,000 has been granted to three community projects through the Pride in Place Impact Fund.
Funding has been awarded to two projects in Bartley Green — the Bartley Green Library and Community Hub, and the Conservation Volunteers’ Ley Hill Food Forest Project. A further allocation has been provided to North Edgbaston’s Nature and Wellbeing Centre to support the development of its new Green Barn.
Speed bumps installed on World's End Road
Big win for safer streets on World’s End Lane. After sustained campaigning, new speed bumps have been installed near World’s End School to slow traffic and protect children and families. This is what residents have been asking for, and I’m pleased we’ve been able to get it done.
Register to vote for May elections
Birmingham City Council elections are taking place on Thursday 7th May. The deadline to register to vote, is Monday 20 April at 5pm, for those who wish to apply for a postal vote the deadline is until 5pm the following day on Tuesday 21 April.
To register visit: Register to vote - GOV.UK
Have your say on Pride in Place funding for Woodgate and Bartley Green
Calling on Woodgate and Bartley Green residents - I want to hear how you think the £20 million Pride in Place investment should be spent.
After years of campaigning I've secured £20 million for Woodgate and Bartley Green as part of the Pride in Place programme.
Woodgate and Bartley Green have long faced challenges with limited opportunities for young people, and closure of community facilities. This investment aims to reverse years of underfunding, and rebuilding pride in local neighbourhoods.
I'm asking residents to share their thoughts on how the money should be used. It could be for more youth services, a community hub, improved outdoor spaces or more support for skills and employment. All ideas are welcome and will inform the plans for how the funding will be spent with the goal to benefit as many residents as possible.
Please complete the survey here.
Correcting local misinformation on Pride in Place
Recent leaflets distributed in Bartley Green by councillors contain clear misinformation about the Pride in Place programme. In a healthy democracy, facts matter and residents deserve accurate information, not material that misleads.
Let me be absolutely clear that at no point have I, or Birmingham City Council, stated that Woodgate Valley falls within the Pride in Place boundary. Claims that residents have been “duped” are false. Pride in Place is designed so that local people shape decisions, and while funding is targeted, the benefits will extend to surrounding communities, including Woodgate Valley.
It is also wrong to suggest that Pride in Place is the same as the previous Government’s Levelling Up Fund. These are entirely separate programmes. Bartley Green did not receive Levelling Up funding in fact, all five of Birmingham’s bids in 2023 were rejected by the Government.
Pride in Place represents a different approach. This is long-term investment, with £20 million over a decade, and it is not dictated by ministers in London. Decisions will be made locally, by the community, because local people know their area best. This is about shifting power back into the hands of residents.
With that opportunity comes responsibility. Those seeking to represent the community including councillors who may sit on the Neighbourhood Board must understand the programme and communicate it honestly. Spreading misinformation in election material undermines trust and does a disservice to residents.
Bartley Green deserves better than this, it deserves the full benefit of this transformative investment.
Libraries for Primaries programme open to schools
Each year, National Literacy Trust run the Libraries for Primaries programme, working with hundreds of schools across the UK to give them the training, resources, books and furniture that they need to develop the reading for pleasure culture in their school.
If you're a local school leader and are interested in participating in this year's programme you can apply by completing the expression of interest form here: Schools | Libraries4Primaries
No surgery on this week
My next surgery to April will be held on Thursday 9th April, this is due to the bank holiday for Good Friday. Thank you for everyone who attended this month.
In the meantime, if you have any issues, please contact me on email preet.gill.mp@parliament.uk or call 0121 392 8426.
Mobile Household Waste Centre dates and locations
Birmingham City Council arranges Mobile Household Waste Centres across the city.
Bartley Green | ||
8 April 2026 | Woodgate Valley Park car park, Clapgate Lane, B32 3DS | 7:30am to 12:30pm |
Quinton | ||
30 April 2026 | Quinton Park car park, Highfield Lane, B32 1QX | 7:30am to 12:30pm |
To find the next pick-ups near you, please visit: Mobile Household Waste Centre dates and locations | Mobile Household Waste Centres | Birmingham City Council
Police drop-in sessions across all wards
West Midlands Police hold regular drop-ins and PACT meetings providing residents with the opportunity to speak directly with officers about concerns relating to crime in the community. Please see below a list of the drop-in sessions coming up in my constituency.
Bartley Green
Drop-in Session - St Francis Community Church
10:30AM - 11:30AM, Wed 08 April 2026
St Francis Community Centre, Glenside, Bartley Green
Drop-in Session - MILEBROOK HALL
10:00AM - 11:00AM, Thu 09 April 2026
Milebrook Hall, 143-151 Field Lane, Birmingham
PACT meeting (police and communities together)
8:00PM - 9:00PM, Tue 21 April 2026
Milebrook Hall, 143-151 Field Lane
Find more information here: Birmingham | West Midlands Police
My WhatsApp channel
I’m excited to share I’ve launched a WhatsApp channel to share updates on my work in Parliament and in the Constituency.
If you’d like to subscribe you can do so here: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7R7tsHbFV5Ja8iBF1z
Here’s eight things the Government has delivered in England this week:
👨👩👧 New rules will protect families from unfair costs by stopping firms exploiting global crises to hike fuel prices
💷 The Government is cracking down on late payments to support small businesses and working families, with the toughest laws in 25 years
🧒 The Government is giving the single biggest funding boost for councils to create more SEND places with every secondary school set to have an inclusion base
🏘️ 40 more communities will take control of up to £20 million each to restore pride in their local area
🩺 27 new neighbourhood health centres backed by up to £50 million will bring care closer to home and help cut waiting lists
👨👩👧 The Government is backing parents with new guidance on keeping meal and bedtimes screen-free and limiting screen time to an hour a day for 2- to 5-year-olds
🏠 Seven new towns will deliver at least 10,000 homes each, driving the biggest housebuilding push in a generation
🗳️ The Government is capping overseas political donations at £100,000 and banning crypto funding to protect UK democracy
As always, if you have an issue you'd like to discuss, please contact my office at 0121 392 8426 or preet.gill.mp@parliament.uk, or through my website.
With warm regards,
Preet Kaur Gill MP
Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton
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