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People in Birmingham will benefit from more services delivered at their local pharmacy following record investment for community pharmacies by the Labour government. Labour promised to shift care from hospitals into the community and community pharmacies will play a vital role in delivering patient services at convenient locations. Under the Conservatives, years of underfunding and neglect left the sector facing significant financial shortfalls, impacting community pharmacies on local high streets and patients in Birmingham. The packaged announced by the Labour government is the first full-year funding package agreed by the sector since 2023, providing community pharmacies with an extra £617 million over two years. Our plan will: End the postcode lottery for women by making the 'morning-after pill' available free of charge at pharmacies on the NHS for the first time ever Boost mental health support in the community by offering patients suffering from depression convenient support at pharmacies when they are prescribed antidepressants Give more patients easier access to consultations by cutting red tape and bureaucracy so more of the pharmacy team are able to deliver a wider range of services Boost funding for medicine supply so patients have better access to the medicines prescribed for them. The reforms will not only improve access for patients, they will free up GP time and help cut waiting lists. Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston said: "After years of neglect under the Conservatives, we saw the closure of community pharmacies across my constituency of Birmingham, Edgbaston. "This Labour Government promised they would shift the focus of care from hospital to community and, through this deal, that is exactly what they are delivering for high streets and patients in our community." Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said: "Community pharmacists are at the heart of local healthcare, and we want them to play a bigger role as we shift care out of hospitals and into the community through our Plan for Change. "We're working to turn around a decade of underfunding and neglect that has left the sector on the brink of collapse. "This package of record investment and reform is a vital first step to getting community pharmacies back on their feet and fit for the future. "This agreement shows how this government is working in partnership with community pharmacy to deliver more care for patients closer to their home, freeing up GP appointments, and catching ill-health earlier and preventing it in the first place." ENDS

Learner drivers are set to benefit from reduced waiting times as the Transport Secretary announced new measures today (23 April 2025) to combat test-buying bots and provide thousands of additional tests every month. The news is particularly welcome for Birmingham, where an answer to a written parliamentary question tabled last month by Birmingham, Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill revealed record waiting times of 24 weeks in Birmingham driving test centres. Average waits of 24 weeks makes Birmingham one of the hardest places in the country to book a driving test, with waits 3 weeks longer than the national average. To open up more tests and break down barriers to opportunity, the Government has announced: • those in other DVSA roles who are qualified to examine will be asked to return to the frontline to provide practical driving tests • doubling the number of permanent trainers to skill up new driving examiners quickly • accelerated consultation to investigate the potential abuse of the driving test booking system and prevent bots from accessing tests • reintroduction of overtime pay incentives for everyone delivering driving tests Under the previous Conservative government, waiting times at some test centres in Birmingham quadrupled. Taken together, the government aims for the measures to reduce driving test waiting times to seven weeks by summer next year. Preet Kaur Gill MP, Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said: “Passing your driving test is a life changing milestone – but excessive waiting times for tests are preventing too many people from reaching that goal. “My constituents should not have to wait six months, travel to the other side of the country for a test and be ripped off by unscrupulous websites just because they can’t afford to wait. “The scale of the backlog Labour has inherited is huge, so I welcome the government’s plan – which includes training more examiners, redeploying trained examiners at the DVSA to the frontline, and tightening cancellation rules – to support more people to take their test.” NOTES 1. Data revealing the waits in Birmingham: Driving test centre Average waiting time as of the 17 March 2025 (in weeks). Birmingham (Kings Heath) 24 Birmingham (South Yardley) 24 Birmingham (Shirley) 24 Birmingham (Garretts Green) 24 Birmingham (Kingstanding) 24 The current national average for driving tests as of February 2025 is 21.3 weeks. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-03-19/39545 2. Increase in waits in Birmingham from 2019-2023: https://www.drivingtestroutes.co/test-centre-waiting-times#westmidlands ENDS

• New Consumer Charter for families in military homes across the West Midlands, delivering on Labour’s Plan for Change. • Comes after 36,000 military homes were brought back into public ownership by the Labour Government – with full Defence Housing Strategy later this year. • Preet Kaur Gill MP welcomes new measures for forces families, including higher move-in standards, more reliable repairs, renovation of the worst homes, and a named housing officer for every family. Living conditions for 2528 families in military housing across the West Midlands will begin to be transformed by Labour under a new Consumer Charter, with Defence Secretary John Healey promising to “stop the rot” in military housing. The Charter will form part of Labour’s Defence Housing Strategy, to be published later this year, which will set out further plans to improve the standard of service family homes across the country. Preet Kaur Gill MP has welcomed the new Charter, which will introduce basic consumer rights for forces families – from essential property information and predictable property standards, to access to a new robust complaints system. These are all changes that the Tories could have put in place but failed to, and will be underpinned by new, published satisfaction figures, putting forces families front and centre. Labour will use the Defence Housing Strategy – overseen by Defence Secretary John Healey and Minister for Veterans and People Al Carns – to overhaul the standard of military accommodation across the country, after 14 years of Tory underinvestment left forces accommodation in a shameful state. Under the Tories, satisfaction with the standard of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) fell to record lows in 2023, while the Defence Select Committee reported that two thirds of SFA was ‘essentially no longer fit for purpose’. The Committee found that quality of housing was having a significant impact on Armed Forces recruitment, retention and morale. Today’s announcement follows the Labour Government’s landmark deal, completed in January, to bring back 36,000 military homes into public ownership, reversing a 1996 sale described by the Public Accounts Committee as “disastrous”, and saving the taxpayer £600,000 per day by eliminating rental payments to a private company. This included 1587 military family homes in the West Midlands. In February, the Prime Minister announced a historic defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, and the Labour government has already delivered the largest pay rise for Armed Forces personnel in over 20 years. Labour’s new Consumer Charter will include the following commitments: 1. A strengthened move-in standard so families can have confidence that the home they are moving into will be ready on time and will be clean and functional.   2. Improved, clearer information for families ahead of a move, including photographs and floor plans of all homes when a family applies for housing.   3. More reliable repairs, including an undertaking to complete urgent repairs within a set timeline consistent with Awaab’s Law, and a new online portal for service personnel to manage repairs.   4. Raising the minimum standard of forces family housing with a new programme of works targeted at the worst homes, with up to 1,000 refurbished as a downpayment on the broader programme of renewal to be set out in the Defence Housing Strategy   5. Better and clearer communication for families, including a named housing officer for every service family who they can contact for specific housing related queries.   6. A new, simpler complaints process that will shorten the process to two stages in line with industry best practice, so that service personnel and families have a quicker resolution, backed up by the new Armed Forces Commissioner.   7. Modernising policies to allow more freedom for families to make improvements, giving them a greater sense of pride in their homes.   Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston said:  “Our Armed Forces serve with extraordinary dedication and courage to keep us safe. It is only right that they and their families live in the homes they deserve.  “Between 2018 and 2023, military families lodged almost 53,000 complaints about their housing. This ends with Labour.  “Our Labour government is providing 5 military families in my constituency, and 2528 families in the West Midlands, with homes fit for heroes.” Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said:   "For too long, military families have endured substandard housing without the basic consumer rights that any of us should expect in our homes. That must end and our new Consumer Charter will begin to stop the rot and put families at the heart of that transformation.   "We cannot turn around years of failure on forces housing overnight, but by bringing 36,000 military homes back into public ownership, we've already taken greater control and are working at pace to drive up standards. This is about providing homes fit for the heroes who serve our nation, and I'm determined to deliver the decent, affordable housing that our forces families have every right to expect."   These improvements will be in place by the one-year anniversary of the announcement to buy back military homes last December, with final detail to be set out in the Defence Housing Strategy following consultation with military personnel and their families.  Many of the commitments in the Charter will be achieved by driving better performance – and better value for the taxpayer – from existing suppliers of maintenance and support for service family housing.   The new standards will be underpinned by new published customer satisfaction measures and enhanced accountability so families can have confidence in the improvements being made. This will sit alongside an independently conducted stock survey, as recommended by the Kerslake review of military housing which was published last year.   The Defence Housing Strategy will be driven by an independent review team, and which will be chaired by former Member of Parliament and housing expert Natalie Elphicke Ross OBE, drawing on expertise from industry and forces families.   The Strategy will also turbocharge the development of surplus military land, creating opportunities for Armed Forces homeownership and supporting the delivery of affordable homes for families across Britain as part of the government’s Plan for Change.   In the meantime, the Defence Secretary and the Minister for Veterans and People have instructed the MOD to immediately plan improvements for the new Consumer Charter, as part of a short-term action plan to enhance the family homes after years of neglect.   ENDS

Preet Kaur Gill MP slams readmission of under-fire FirstPort to trade body Birmingham, Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill has written to managing agent trade body The Property Institute to challenge its decision to quietly readmit under-fire property services firm FirstPort. In December, The Property Institute (TPI) suspended FirstPort for failing to meet standards set in the trade body’s consumer charter & standards. The news came as the firm was summoned to Parliament to answer questions from MPs over widespread shortcomings in services it provides to leaseholders. Preet Kaur Gill has challenged FirstPort publicly over its failure to manage financial information and accounts for hundreds of properties in her constituency, leading to delays of almost a year in settling finances with a new managing agent after its contract was terminated. In one case, it has led to grinding delays in transferring leaseholder funds totalling nearly half a million pounds. Writing to the CEO of TPI, MP Gill challenges the decision to quietly restore FirstPort’s accreditation, and questions the value of accreditation as a watermark of “the highest standards of service and professionalism” – as claimed on TPI’s website. The government has acknowledged that there is a strong case for greater regulation of managing agents as part of its commitment to leasehold reform, with a consultation on the regulation of managing agents due later this year. The previous Conservative government promised to regulate the property agent sector in 2018, but failed to do so. Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said: “The shocking delays and mismanagement of residential accounts in my constituency demonstrates that FirstPort is failing to meet the minimum standards leaseholders should expect. For that reason I find it baffling that The Property Institute has quietly reinstated FirstPort’s membership last month. “Many managing agents do a good job and will be crucial in the transition to commonhold, but too often leaseholders are being let down. More needs to be done protect leaseholders from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous agents. “The sector must get its own house in order, or the new government should regulate it, where the last failed to for too long.” ENDS Notes 1. See Preet Kaur Gill MP’s letter to The Property Institute attached.

Support for Carmakers Prime Minister Keir Starmer with carmakers at JLR base in Solihull On Monday, the Prime Minister visited the West Midlands to unveil a raft of new policies to support automobile firms after the US announced a 25% tariff on cars. Jaguar Land Rover, which has a base in Solihull, announced last week that they would pause shipments to the US until they can address new trading terms.  The Prime Minister told workers at the Solihull factory that he would back workers to the hilt, and pledged a new wave of support for the sector. This included relaxed rules around fines for those who do not sell enough electric cars – and supercars, like Aston Martin cars, will be exempted. He reinstated the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, but regulations around manufacturing targets on electric cars and vans will be tweaked to help firms in transition.  In his speech, Starmer also announced a £2.3 billion boost for manufacturing zero emissions vehicles. This will support Rolls-Royce, Vauxhall and Land Rover in the face of Trump’s tariffs.  We are disappointed the United States has introduced global tariffs – which will clearly have an economic impact here and across the world. We are fully focused on negotiating an economic deal with the United States that strengthens our existing fair and balanced trading relationship and mitigates some of the impact of what has been announced.  The Department of Business and Trade has asked businesses to share their views on potential UK measures responding to the new US tariffs. Find further information and how to respond here .  In the House of Commons, I commended the government for acting decisively to give British carmakers certainty and support. Watch my intervention below. State Pension Increase With elderly residents at a Harborne care facility From this week, millions of pensioners are set to receive a £470 boost to their state pensions. This comes after the government confirmed a 4.1% increase in the state pension for 2025/6.  This Labour Government is committed to delivering for our pensioners – ensuring their financial stability through the triple lock, fixing our NHS and public services, and targeting support towards those who need it most. Read more here .  GPs Outside Jiggins Lane Medical Centre I’m thrilled that new figures show that over 1,503 extra GPs have been hired through our new scheme since 1 October. This major recruitment boost came after this Labour government removed red tape which made it difficult for surgeries to hire doctors.   The increased GP capacity will help fix the front door of the NHS and increase appointments to bring back the family doctor. This milestone comes after successfully cutting waiting lists by 219,000 and delivering 3 million NHS appointments. Read more here .  Israel-Gaza Intervening in Parliament to show express my support for my colleagues In the House of Commons, I paid tribute to two Labour MPs – my friends and colleagues – who were refused entry to Israel last Saturday.  I asked the Minister if he agreed with me that it's essential delegations can visit the region, as that is the only way that we listen, learn and are exposed to a wide range of views.      Bins Speaking to ITV Central about the bin strike at the end of last week The current industrial action in the city is causing misery and disruption to local residents, with waste building up on the streets during these strikes. Worryingly, this is causing serious public health risks to the city’s most vulnerable.  In parts of my constituency, small piles of rubbish have transformed into huge mounds of flytipping over the last few weeks.  Yesterday, Angela Rayner urged striking Birmingham bin workers to accept an improved deal. I have also been calling for Unite to get back around the table and bring an end to these strikes.  It is in the interest of all parties, and most importantly it is for the benefit of Birmingham’s residents, that this industrial action is brought to a close in a meaningful and sustainable way as soon as possible. We need to reform the waste service so that it represents good value for the taxpayer. The strikes must end now – there is a fair deal on the table.  I spoke to LBC ( article and video here ), which was also written up in The Times . Police At a morning briefing with West Midlands Police On Thursday, the government introduced plans to make communities safer and restore trust in policing by putting police officers back in our neighbourhoods. New measures will ensure every community will have dedicated and specialist neighbourhood policing teams, ending the postcode lottery. We will also ensure a named, contactable officer is brought in for every area.   Our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will put 13,000 more officers into neighbourhood policing roles by 2029, an increase of more than 50%. As part of this, West Midlands Police is set to get 150 more neighbourhood police officers, and an additional 20 police community support officers. Read more here.   Universal Theme Park Keir Starmer welcoming the investment in the UK from Universal I welcome news that this government has secured a multi-billion-pound investment that will see Bedford home to one of the biggest entertainment parks in Europe, firmly putting the country on the global stage.   Set to open in 2031, the theme park will form part of a new planned entertainment resort, due to include immersive storytelling, rides, attractions and hospitality.    This is a massive vote of confidence in our country, and is estimated to bring a £50bn boost for the economy. It will also combine local and national growth, creating around 28,000 new jobs across sectors such as construction, AI, and tourism. Read more here .  Vaisakhi At No. 10's Vaisakhi event It was a pleasure to attend a wonderful Vaisakhi event, hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer at No 10. Downing Street.  Sikhs make a huge contribution to Britain, and at the event, the PM affirmed his respect for Sikh values of fairness, equality, service and justice.   I would like to wish everyone celebrating on Sunday a happy and peaceful Vaisakhi.  Local News Exempt Accommodation With residents and Cllr Sharon Thompson outside problematic property Saif Lodge The explosion of under-regulated exempt accommodation in Birmingham is an issue I have been raising for years. Campaigning with the council, the police and residents, we shut down the problem hostel Saif Lodge in my constituency, secured debates in Parliament, compiled and submitted evidence to Ministers, and helped finally secure legislative change.  After repeated delays under the Tories, I am pleased that Labour are finally getting on with the job of introducing these reforms. It's not right that those who are paid to house some of the most vulnerable in society don't have to meet robust minimum standards of care, quality or support.   As pilots in Birmingham have shown, poor provision is rife, and it is no wonder some properties have become magnets for antisocial behaviour and crime. I look forward to working with the government to bring in these long overdue reforms. Vulnerable adults deserve better support; residents deserve safer neighbourhoods; and the taxpayer deserves assurances their money is going to those who need it most. I spoke to Birmingham Live about the exempt issue in our city. Read the full article here .  West Midlands Innovation Accelerator   Meeting entrepreneurs in health tech with Mayor Richard Parker It’s excellent news that the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator has been given £10 million from the Government. This money will go towards providing expert advice and grants to help develop products and technologies in the region.  I visited several businesses taking part in the health tech innovation accelerator with our Mayor Richard Parker earlier this year. It was a pleasure to meet so many inspiring entrepreneurs pioneering breakthroughs in health tech.  Bunting Downing Street is inviting schools and young people across the country to take part in a special creative competition to design bunting for 10 Downing Street for VE Day. They want to see bunting designs that are “colourful, patriotic, and full of creativity and heart”. Find out more and how to take part  here .  Labour’s Plan for Change We have been delivering for working people through our Plan for Change. Here’s some more things our Labour government just delivered:  Three million workers got a pay rise this week through increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage   First 300 new school-based nurseries announced   1,000 flood defence projects announced, protecting 66,500 properties   Extra £617 million over two years for community pharmacies   £302 million cash injection to fix further education colleges   24,000 people returned with no right to be here since the General Election (including 3,500 criminals)   Confirmation of 500,000 vital NHS appointments and operations saved by ending strikes straight after the General Election  Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton

Immigration Summit   With Prime Minister Keir Starmer On Monday, Keir Starmer hosted a landmark summit with over 40 countries to unite behind a new approach to crack down on organised immigration crime. Our summit will strengthen our collective efforts to disrupt criminal networks and protect borders.  Our Labour Government has deported 24,000 people with no right to be in the UK, including 3,500 criminals. We are securing our borders.  Labour has also announced plans to force companies employing people in the gig economy to carry out eligibility work checks. This means rogue firms will no longer be able to take advantage of flexible working arrangements to turn a blind eye to illegal working. We will fine companies failing to carry out these checks up to £60,000 per worker.  You can read more here . Community Pharmacy   At a pharmacy in my constituency People in Birmingham will now benefit from more services delivered at their local pharmacy following record investment from our Labour government, boosting funding to £3bn a year.  Our investment will end the postcode lottery for women by making the ‘morning-after pill’ available free of charge at pharmacies on the NHS for the first time, boost mental health support in the community by offering patients suffering from depression convenient support at pharmacies when they are prescribed antidepressants, and boost funding for medicine supply so patients have better access to the medicines prescribed for them. Read more here .  Politics Live On Tuesday, I appeared on BBC’s Politics Live to discuss the tariffs announcement anticipated from the White House that evening, the future of British steel, satisfaction in the NHS and Just Stop Oil.   You can watch the episode here .  Business and Trade With Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds On Thursday, the Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds made a statement in the House of Commons responding to Donald Trump’s announcement on tariffs. He launched a four-week “request for input” from businesses on imposing retaliatory tariffs on the US if a trade agreement cannot be reached.  The US's decision on global tariffs will be concerning for many businesses in Birmingham and across the country. This government will always support UK industry, and we will continue our engagement with businesses as we determine our next steps. I would urge businesses who are concerned by the announcement on tariffs to visit GREAT.gov.uk for the latest updates.  A trade war with the US is not in the interests of working people, and this Government will never play politics with people’s jobs. We will keep negotiating, keep cool and keep calm, rather than rushing into a kneejerk reaction.   Decisions we take in coming days and weeks will be guided only by our national interest, in the interests of our economy and in the interests of putting money in the pockets of working people. We are prepared. Indeed one of the great strengths of this nation is our ability to keep a cool head. You can read more here .  School-based Nurseries   With school children in my constituency On Tuesday, we announced 300 new school-based nurseries will open this September. They will help parents get to work, provide access to childcare when they need it, and will save parents money.   The rollout of 30 government-funded hours of childcare will save parents up to £7,500 on average, and £450 a year will be saved through our free breakfast clubs in schools, which are launching this month.  We’re raising the bar for early years, delivering on our manifesto commitments and building a system that gives every child the best start in life. You can read more here .  FE Colleges Funding   Speaking to students The government has announced that further education colleges in my constituency will receive a £2,279,244 funding boost, reflecting the government’s priority to train the next generation of skilled workers and grow the economy. This funding is the first capital investment in two years, and will bolster the Labour government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity.   Not only will the welcome cash injection fix crumbling buildings, it will also enable colleges to attract and retain learners, boosting the local economy and inspiring the workforce of the future. Read more here .  Cost of Living At a local baby bank in my constituency From 6th April, 12 million pensioners will see an uplift in their state pension by up to £470 this year. That’s because we are keeping our promise to protect the triple lock. The Pension Credit Standard Minimum Guarantee will also increase by 4.1% from April 2025. This will mean that more of the poorest pensioners will become eligible to receive pension credit. From 6th April, help to save – which supports those on low incomes to build savings with a 50% tax free bonus up to 1,200 – will be extended to all Universal Credit claimants who are in work.  From 7th April, the government will increase the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit from £150 to £196. Alongside this, Carer’s Allowance will increase by 1.7%, rising to £83.30 per week.  From 7th April, millions of families will also see their Child Benefit increase. From 7 April 2025, parents will receive £26.05 per week - or £1,354.60 a year - for the eldest or only child and £17.25 per week - or £897 a year - for each additional child. Read more here .  We have also capped bus fares to £3, frozen fuel duty for another year and provided a £1 billion boost to extend Household Support Fund, which supports people with the cost of essentials like groceries, toiletries, and warm clothes, as well as providing further support with energy bills.  Wage Boost   Supporting Labour's deal for working people On Tuesday, 3 million workers got a pay rise worth up to £1,400 a year and millions more will benefit from rising wages.  The National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage has risen to £12.21 for those 21 and over, and £10 for those aged 18-20. This represents a record increase in the minimum wage for those aged 18-20.  In our manifesto we promised to Make Work Pay. We are delivering on that promise.  NHS Outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital By ending resident doctor’s strikes, our Labour government has saved half a million appointments and operations and waiting lists have come down by almost 200,000.  The progress the Government has made in starting to fix the NHS after 14 years of decline shows the transformatory effect of Labour's Plan for Change.  Since July, over two million extra appointments have been delivered – seven months early – and the waiting list slashed by 193,000, with patients up and down the country beginning to feel a real difference after a decade of neglect – and in some cases after waiting years to get the care they need. Read more here .  LTA Meeting the Lawn Tennis Association A good catch-up with the LTA to discuss launching tennis, padel and multi-sport hubs in my constituency. I support the LTA in their mission to provide year-round opportunities to play tennis and padel. TikTok Meeting TikTok in Parliament I had an interesting meeting with TikTok in Parliament this week.  It was great to chat about how their shop is supporting 1.5 million SMEs in the UK.  Local News Birmingham Bin Strikes Speaking to ITV Central about the Birmingham bin strike Earlier this week, the council declared a critical incident in Birmingham regarding the ongoing bin strike.  The Minister for Local Government, Jim McMahon, made a statement in Parliament and visited Birmingham yesterday in an effort to end the bin strike. He said the Government will not hesitate to act if the Council needs support.  I have been calling on Unite and the Council to get back around the table and end this dispute. 17 bin workers should not be holding a city of 1.2 million people to ransom. Unite should accept the fair deal that 80% of affected workers have taken.  I also raised my constituents’ concerns in Parliament, after a constituent wrote to me to say that a resident had been bitten by a rat.  You can watch my intervention in Parliament here , and read more in Birmingham Live, here . Lordswood Boys School Visit   With students at Lordswood Boys School It was great to visit Lordswood Boys School this week, to meet students who have been working to produce 67 Easter hampers from the most vulnerable families across Birmingham. It was inspiring to see their commitment to providing care and support in the community.  Harborne Hospital On a visit to Harborne Hospital It was great to visit Harborne Hospital, an exciting new healthcare facility in my constituency. It was a pleasure meeting staff and having a tour around the site.  Kenrick Centre  I’ve been campaigning to save the Kenrick Centre, which supports adults with various needs and is a vital step-down service to support discharges from hospital. I’m glad that the Council has extended its Care Centres Consultation. Have your say here .    Street Surgery On a street surgery in Bartley Green Last week, I conducted a street surgery in Bartley Green. I asked constituents about the issues that mattered most to them and have started working on some new cases.  Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton

Spring Statement Rachel Reeves delivering the Spring Statement on Wednesday This week, the Chancellor delivered her Spring Statement to kickstart economic growth, protect working people and keep Britain safe.  The Office of Budget Respon sibility has revealed that people will be on average £500 a year better off from 2029. Growth is forecast to accelerate to 1.9% in 2026, and the OBR has increased the growth forecast every year thereafter. Kickstarting economic growth is the number one mission of this government, putting more money in people’s pockets. We are not satisfied with the short-term growth figures, so the Government has announced we are going further and faster to improve this. We have announced a further £13 billion of capital investment over the Parliament to go further on growth. This will deliver the projects needed to catalyse private investment, boost growth and drive forward the UK’s modern industrial strategy. You can read more here .  In the Spring Statement, I asked the Chancellor if she agreed with me that the Conservatives clearly don’t understand the link between their failure to build houses and infrastructure and the economic constraints we face today. You can watch my intervention below.  Construction With Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Birmingham Alexandra Stadium We have announced that we are investing £600 million to get young people into the construction industry, allowing experienced workers to pass on their skills and support employers to offer industry placements.  The West Midlands already has a proud record of construction jobs, with 173,292 working in the sector – around 5.7% of the total regional workforce. Our investment will get Britain building, training a further 60,000 more construction workers and breaking down the barriers to opportunity for thousands of young people. You can read more here .  Housing With Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Birmingham Alexandra Stadium On Tuesday, the Government announced a new investment of £2 billion to support the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.   This investment will support the construction of up to 18,000 new social and affordable homes, helping hard working families to get safe and secure homes and kickstarting economic growth.  This investment comes as a down payment from the Treasury ahead of more long-term investment in social and affordable housing planned later this year, as part of our plan to build 1.5 million homes and tackle the housing crisis. Read more here .    Community-led Housing The Government is investing to accelerate the delivery of community-led housing. A £20 million package for community groups, such as community land trusts and housing co-operatives, has been confirmed by the Housing Minister that will directly support the construction of more than 2,500 new homes over the next decade. These housebuilding projects will be led by communities to specifically address local needs in their area. You can read more here .   Planning and Infrastructure Bill At Curzon Street Station This week, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill had its Second Reading in Parliament. Making this Bill law will be key to get Britain building and drive economic growth. Significant reforms will be introduced through the Bill to speed up planning decisions, remove unnecessary blockers and challenges to housing development and major infrastructure projects like windfarms, while at the same time delivering for the environment through the new Nature Restoration Fund. You can read more about our Bill here . This week, the OBR has also concluded that our planning reforms will bring housebuilding to its highest level in 40 years by the end of the Parliament. Read more here .  Tobacco and Vapes Bill My speech in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a landmark piece of legislation that will deliver a world-leading smoking ban to stop the cycle of addiction and protect children.   It will also stop vapes and other consumer nicotine products from being deliberately branded and advertised to appeal to children and ban the sale of vapes in vending machines. These measures will help to stop the next generation from becoming hooked on nicotine.  The promulgation of dangerous illicit vapes in shops, schools and on our streets is also a real concern. In Birmingham, trading standards and the police led raids on retailers under Operation Cloud, where they seized nearly £6 million pounds worth of illicit vapes, tobacco and drugs. On the Conservatives’ watch, children were being sold vapes marketed as 0% nicotine, which were found to actually contain nicotine, and vapes that contained dangerous chemicals like anti-freeze and lead. I welcome the Government introducing a testing regime and a licensing regime for vapes, to protect our children and keep consumers safe. The government is also introducing £200 on the spot fines for retailers selling products to people under-age, a policy I suggested during the last Parliament. Read more here .  Defence With Sir Keir Starmer and the Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Our world is changing, and Britain must be ready. Europe is facing a once-in-a-generation moment for its collective security, with conflicts overseas undermining security and prosperity at home.  That’s why we are bringing in a new era of security and renewal, with a further £2.2 billion in defence spending committed for 2025/6. This raises spending on defence to 2.36% next year and will be invested in fitting Royal Navy ships with Directed Energy Weapons five years earlier than planned, providing better homes for military families and modernising His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth.  You can read more here .  Procurement With Prime Minister Keir Starmer This week, a major £1.6 billion equipment contract was agreed with British defence firm Babcock to support British defence jobs.   British Army equipment, including tanks and armoured vehicles, will receive world-class maintenance and spare parts. This contract will also sustain 1,600 UK skilled jobs, including over 400 in Telford and over 250 in Dorset. Read more here .  Access to Arts and Culture  At the museum with Chancellor of the University of Birmingham Sandie Okoro The Government has announced that museums and libraries are set to receive a share of over £30 million of funding to improve access to arts and culture. This money will be dedicated towards maintenance repairs and upgrades to their buildings, ensuring they can continue to tell the story of our nation’s rich history and providing spaces for people from all walks of life to access books, work and learn. You can read more here .  Grassroots Sports Clubs At the Carabao Cup Final Grassroots sports clubs are at the heart of communities across the country. We are investing £100 million into grassroots sports clubs across the UK to deliver funding for pitches and related facilities.  Labour will remove barriers to an active lifestyle and increase opportunity for all, so that wherever people live, they can access high-quality sports facilities and experience the joy that sport brings. Read more here .  NatWest Event Delivering a speech at the NatWest Accelerator Hub It was brilliant to join businesses last night at the NatWest Accelerator Hub in Birmingham. It was inspiring to see entrepreneurs based in the West Midlands pitching their innovative business ideas. Small and medium sized businesses are the driving force of our economy, both at a local and national level. Our Labour government will support businesses to kickstart growth in every region across the country. Local News Restore the Music School Visit With young musicians at Lordswood Boys school It was really great to see how Restore the Music, who provide schools with funding to help them buy diverse and relevant musical instruments, can support students across the UK to explore their interest in music. I visited students at Lordswood Boys School in my constituency who have benefited massively from investment in their music department. NHS Consultation With Health Secretary Wes Streeting at West Midlands Regional Conference We are currently designing our 10 Year Health plan to make our NHS fit for the future.     We are proposing three shifts – hospital to community, analogue to digital and sickness to prevention – to create a health service that delivers for you.      Help us make this a reality by telling us what you think about some of the emerging ideas for change. There are five sections, each with a video introducing the ideas, and some questions for you to answer. Please complete the survey, here , before 14th April .  Buses Consultation With Prime Minister Keir Starmer People in the West Midlands deserve a bus service that is safe, efficient and reliable. Transport for West Midlands are running a consultation on the future of our bus service and its plans to bring the service into public control. Have your say before 30th March, here .  Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton

Preet Kaur Gill MP has welcomed the news that 49 schools and 6 NHS sites across the West Midlands are to receive funding from Great British Energy to fit solar panels, saving thousands of pounds on their energy bills.  The programme marks the first major project for the Labour Government’s publicly-owned energy company – Great British Energy.  Estimates suggest that the average school could save up to £25,000 on their bills thanks to the scheme. It’s estimated that the investment in NHS solar panels will save local hospitals across the West Midlands thousands of pounds on their energy bills over their lifetime.  As a result of the Conservatives’ failure to secure Britain’s energy independence, schools and hospitals have been hit with sky-high energy bills due to the UK’s dependency on fossil fuel markets. The NHS’ annual energy bill has doubled to £1.4bn a year since 2019.   In addition to this new project, the Government has announced that £12m will be put aside for local authorities and community energy groups to build local clean energy projects – including onshore wind turbines, rooftop solar panels and hydropower.  The first panels are expected to be delivered by the end of summer 2025.  Preet Kaur Gill MP said:   “This is a fantastic investment for the West Midlands that will see hospitals and schools saving thousands of pounds on their energy bills.  “Through Great British Energy, Labour is delivering on its Plan for Change by boosting our energy independence, investing in our public services and delivering lower bills for our communities.”  ENDS      Notes to editors:  A  B  C  D  Region   School sites   NHS sites   Total    West Midlands   49  6  55  North West  46  52  98  North East   44  4  48  South East  10  29  39  London  11  31  42  South West  10  34  44  East of England  10  14  24  Yorkshire and the Humber  10  13  23  East Midlands   10  4  14

• New measures to tackle construction skills shortages to build 1.5 million homes   • Will deliver up to 60,000 more construction workers by 2029 as Government goes further and faster on delivering Plan for Change   • £600 million investment will fund more construction placements, establish Technical Excellence Colleges, launch new foundation apprenticeships and expand Skills Bootcamps     Preet Kaur Gill MP has welcomed news that Birmingham is set to benefit from an unprecedented package of measures to boost the construction workforce, deliver good jobs, and get Britain building to deliver new homes and infrastructure projects.     As part of Labour’s Plan for Change to build 1.5 million homes, the government has announced £600m worth of investment over the next four years to get Britain building, training 60,000 more construction workers and breaking down the barriers to opportunity for thousands of young people.    Under the previous Conservative government, the construction sector repeatedly sounded the alarm over skills shortages, with around 320,000 workers lost between 2019 and 2024.     The West Midlands already has a proud track record of construction jobs, with 173,292 working in the sector – around 5.7% of the total regional workforce. Labour’s plans will not only ensure more workers remain in construction jobs, but that young people are given the opportunity to work in the industry.     Figures show more than 987,000 young people in the UK are classed at NEET with areas like Birmingham, Wolverhampton and  Walsall  having rates double the national average.    Labour’s New Foundation Construction Apprenticeships will give young people aged 16-21 the tools they need for a sustained and rewarding career, with employers given up to £2,000 for every apprentice they take on. The package will see new funding to support Further Education providers in offering industry placements, with tens of thousands of students per year set to gain industry experience.     The government will also meet a manifesto promise with new funding for ten Technical Excellence Colleges specialising in construction, as well as an expansion to Skills Bootcamps backed by £100 million of funding.     Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said:     “This Labour government is serious about its Plan for Change to get Britain building.     “This fantastic package of support will not only fuel growth but unlock opportunity for young people and allow experienced construction workers to pass on their skills.     “This will mean more high-quality jobs across Birmingham and the West Midlands, improved economic growth and colleges working closely with local employers to meet their skills needs.”     ENDS

26th March 2025 – The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will give the Government new powers to set up a testing regime for vapes, ensuring products can be regularly checked to confirm they are safe for consumers.    The new proposals, suggested by Preet Kaur Gill during the last Parliament and rejected by the Conservative Government, will give the Government powers to regulate retailers and require vapes and nicotine products be tested.    Unlike with cigarettes, there is no current testing regime for vapes, nicotine products, heated tobacco products, or herbal products, meaning dodgy goods can be approved by the British regulator and end up on the market.    Preet Kaur Gill MP called for a testing regime for vaping products after research by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute revealed an estimated one in three vapes on the market were illicit. Research by Inter Scientific also found many vapes seized from shop shelves contained heavy metals and dangerous substances, including lead and anti-freeze, increasing the risk of harm to users. Over a third of products marketed as “nicotine-free” were also found to contain nicotine.    Earlier this year, in Birmingham, trading standards and the police led raids on retailers, where they seized nearly £6 million pounds worth of illicit vapes, tobacco and drugs. One raid alone, the biggest ever in Birmingham, clawed £1 million pounds of goods out of the hands of criminals.    Shocking research by Labour found that last year 50 per cent of UK councils reported instances of cigarettes or tobacco products being sold to minors. To protect children and crack down on these illegal sales, the Government has confirmed it is also taking forward new £200 on-the-spot fines in England and Wales for breaches of age of sale restrictions.    Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said:    “On the Conservatives’ watch, children were getting hooked on nicotine and sold vapes that contained dangerous chemicals like lead and anti-freeze. Vapes marketed as 0% nicotine were found to actually contain nicotine, and addicting a generation of children to this harmful substance.    “Our strengthened Tobacco and Vapes Bill will tackle the illicit trade of tobacco products and free our children from a life imprisoned by addiction.”    Other measures introduced by the Labour Government to strengthen the Tobacco and Vapes Bill include closing loopholes on vape vending machines and banning vape advertising, promotions and sponsorships.    This week, the Government has also announced a £10 million boost for Trading Standards will bolster operations in local communities for the next year, funding an expected 80 more apprentice enforcement officers to stop harmful tobacco and vape products finding their way into neighbourhood shops and stopping underage sales.    ENDS    Notes to editors:     50% of UK Councils reported incidents of cigarettes or tobacco products being sold to minors: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-11-28/4229/   Despite being branded as having “0% nicotine”, research by Inter Scientific has revealed that 35% of e-cigarettes claiming to be nicotine-free actually contained nicotine: https://www.vapouround.com/news/press-releases/jordan-north-investigates-the-uks-vaping-phenomenon-in-new-documentary-for-bbc-three/    Research conducted by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute estimates that a third of all vapes sold may be non-compliant: https://security-uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/ttpwp/?tkn=3.RIM--cEVLFy4Zd0zr7-buPm-t_a31Gb7OKSsOjY9fY7xRLlHPgj9CMCiHB7WkeoVn0a7d9zPKQ5MPVk7DEySbdTuH6RaJYGCRCh1VwRbzoD8Tk92Ub9nUxi7QvqkVF9EFFx3lPpTv2s-V2PAxjcmQBUqYH7Ia-b2zbx4d7kJyeM.12X5YGHOv82Tqiir0Rv7VQ#/checking?key=aFiBfl5iRGY8fS-wBXX-8K4vg-x7jBR1nfguJKwahsoOBtkHZfWDWsvFYWxD7QrO995GxRTn43UVo1wT6wS8xn9vbkbraCCUw89L0_laqu4ihZXdNmLGH7OQNXsCo8oM    In Birmingham, trading standards and the police led raids on retailers, where they seized nearly £6 million pounds worth of illicit vapes, tobacco and drugs: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/biggest-raid-birmingham-among-councils-30832191

Bin Strikes Speaking to Sky News about bin strikes The accumulation of domestic waste on the streets of Birmingham has now got to a crisis point. Rats and cockroaches are thriving in these conditions, and diseases could spread. The council has statutory duties to protect the public from both environmental and public health perspectives and that must take priority. I wrote to the council last week stating it must use these powers to protect the public health of residents. You can read more about my letter in The Mirror,  here . You can also read more in the BBC and Birmingham Live . Get Britain Working With Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Birmingham Alexandra Stadium This week, our Labour government announced the biggest shake up to the welfare system in a generation to get Britain working. The broken social security system that Labour has inherited from the Tories is holding our people and our country back. The Conservatives have written off millions of people, trapping them in a life of inactivity and then blaming them for a rising benefits bill to grab cheap headlines instead of providing the support they needed to get into work. Our reforms will give people the support they need - whether it is preventing people falling ill and in and out of work in the first place, changing how we assess benefit eligibility and engage with people, or making sure disabled people and people with health conditions get proper employment support and the same chances and choices as everyone else. We will build a system that is fairer and provides vital support for those who need it most, ensuring they are supported to live with dignity and independence, while making sure that everyone who can realise the benefits of work is expected and supported to do so. You can read more here , and submit to the consultation, here .  Professor Alice Sullivan Review With Health Secretary Wes Streeting An independent review by Professor Alice Sullivan of data, statistics and research on sex and gender, commissioned by the government, has been released. The review finds that organisations need data on biological sex and there is no legal barrier to collecting this. The Government agrees that accurate and relevant data is vital in research and the operation of public services, particularly when it comes to sex. Doing so does not prevent us from recording, recognising and respecting people’s gender identity where these differ. We have committed to acting on these findings.  You can read more here .  NHS Outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital This week, the Government announced NHS waiting lists have fallen for five months in a row. Furthermore, a new government initiative to send top doctors to support hospital trusts in areas where more people are out of work and waiting for treatment is cutting waiting lists twice as fast as rest of the country. I'm delighted that patients at Sandwell and West Birmingham will benefit from this scheme. Read more here .  National Wealth Fund With Chancellor Rachel Reeves in Birmingham The Chancellor has told the National Wealth Fund to back higher risk projects in order to deliver growth and boost security. The Chancellor hopes the wealth fund will unlock £70 billion in private investment in the UK. We are committed to delivering further and faster growth, and creating high-paid, high-skilled jobs across the country. You can read more here .  Wage Boost Showing my support for Labour's New Deal for working people From 1st April, the National Minimum and National Living wage are going up. Those on the National Living Wage will get a payday boost worth £1,400 a year. For an eligible full-time worker that’s around £25 a week or £100 a month. If you’re a full-time worker on the National Minimum Wage, your pay could be boosted by £2,500 a year. Read more here .  Household Support Fund With Prime Minister Keir Starmer The government is extending the Household Support Fund, to support residents struggling most with the cost of living with their bills.   Our £740 million fund includes help with energy costs, water and free school meals. You can find out more on how to apply here . To express your interest in this payment, you can also call 0121 634 7100.  Government Waste Labour is cutting government waste Spending on government credit cards has quadrupled in four years. It’s not right that hundreds of millions of pounds are spent on these cards each year, without high levels of scrutiny or challenge. We must ensure taxpayer’s money is spent on improving the lives of working people.  This week, the Cabinet Secretary announced a mass cancellation of thousands of government credit cards in a crackdown on wasteful spending. He announced that tighter new spending controls will be introduced, with the maximum spend for hospitality slashed from £2,500 to £500. A strict new application process for cards will also be introduced, with departments told to approve the minimum number of new cards possible. It’s expected that this will reduce the number of cards by at least 50%.    Read more here .  National Forest Labour is launching a national forest The government has announced that a new national forest stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips is set to be created. The Western Forest will see 20 million trees planted across the West of England in the coming decades, creating at least 2,500 hectares of new woodlands.    The new national forest will help the drive to net zero while promoting economic growth and creating jobs in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and across the West of England, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change. You can read more here . Great British Energy Labour is bringing down energy bills Great British Energy has launched its first major project, which will put rooftop solar panels on 200 schools and 200 hospitals to reduce energy bills by thousands.  In the West Midlands, 49 schools and 6 NHS sites are set to save on their bills with GB Energy.   These solar panels could power classrooms and operations, with potential to sell leftover energy back to the grid. The first panels are expected to be in schools and hospitals by the end of summer 2025, saving schools money for the next academic year. Read more here .  Online Safety New online safety laws are now in force, meaning online platforms must take action to tackle illegal content under the Online Safety Act. That means stronger protections against child abuse material, terrorist content, and intimate image abuse. The ac t puts a range of new duties on social media companies and search services, making them more responsible for their users’ safety on their platforms. You can read more here . NHS Blood and Transplant At NHS Blood and Transplant Vincent Drive Centre It was great to visit NHS Blood and Transplant's Vincent Drive centre in the constituency.    NHS Blood and Transplant do vital work producing lifesaving products, managing the donation, storage of blood and blood components, organs, tissues, bone marrow and stem cells, and researching new treatments and processes.  Local News Edgbaston Ward Forum The next ward forum meeting for Edgbaston Ward is taking place on Wednesday 26th March, 7.30pm – 9.00pm at Edgbaston Community Centre, 40 Woodview Drive, Edgbaston, B15 2HU. NHS Consultation With Health Secretary Wes Streeting at West Midlands Regional Conference We are currently designing our 10 Year Health plan to make our NHS fit for the future.     We are proposing three shifts – hospital to community, analogue to digital and sickness to prevention – to create a health service that delivers for you.      Help us make this a reality by telling us what you think about some of the emerging ideas for change. There are five sections, each with a video introducing the ideas, and some questions for you to answer. Please complete the survey, here , before 14th April.  Buses Consultation With Prime Minister Keir Starmer People in the West Midlands deserve a bus service that is safe, efficient and reliable. Transport for West Midlands are running a consultation on the future of our bus service and its plans to bring the service into public control. Have your say before 30th March, here .  Local Iftar At the Dialogue Society's Community Iftar It was lovely to attend the Dialogue Society's community Iftar event at the University of Birmingham, where we came together to celebrate unity, diversity and interfaith collaboration. English Martyr's Catholic Primary School At English Martyr's Catholic Primary School This morning, I spoke to pupils at English Martyr's Catholic Primary School to talk about my experience as a woman in politics. It was inspiring to see so many young girls keen to become members of society that make a difference. Quinton PACT Tonight, there is a police and community (PACT) meeting in Quinton between 7pm and 8pm, at St Faith and St Laurence Church, Balden Road and Croftdown Road, B17 8RD. This is a great opportunity to raise any issues you might have with the local police.  MHWC Next Monday, 24th March, the MHWC will be visiting Chichester Drive in Quinton, B32 1BB. The centre will be open from 07:30 until 13:00, so please do come along if you have bulky household waste to dispose of!   St Patrick's Day I hope everyone had a lovely St Patrick's day this week! Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh! Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton