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A New Deal for Working People In opposition, Labour promised we would introduce a New Deal for Working People in our first 100 days. We did - and this week the Bill passed the House of Commons, delivering on our pro-business, pro-worker, pro-growth agenda.   The Employment Rights Bill ensures 1.3 million of the lowest paid people in our country will be eligible for sick pay for the first time, that fire and rehire is prevented and that workplace rights will be properly enforced.   It also means people on zero hours contracts will now be able to have a contract that reflects the regular number of hours they work - if that is what they want.   The Bill must now pass the Lords, but we are on the way to providing dignity, respect and security for everyone in the workplace. These measures will benefit the whole country, but particularly places like Birmingham.   I am extremely proud of the role I have been able to play in getting this legislation over the line, as PPS to the Secretary of State.   ·         Day one rights ·         Strengthened parental leave ·         Expanded sick pay ·         Fire & rehire and exploitative zero-hours contracts banned The biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation (and t he Tories and Reform voted against it). War in Ukraine With Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko Earlier this week, we saw the welcome news than an agreement had been reached in Jeddah between President Trump and President Zelenskyy.   This was an important moment for peace in Ukraine, and as both the Americans and Ukrainians said, put the ball in Russia’s court.   It is very disappointing that Moscow has rejected the proposal. I am absolutely clear it is wrong for Russia to try to impose conditions on a ceasefire.   We must bring an end to this war in a just and permanent way that allows Ukraine to enjoy its freedom. Read the Prime Minister's statement from earlier this week here . Taking back our streets This week I voted for the Crime and Policing Bill in Parliament - the biggest package of measures on crime and policing for decades, with 50 new laws to cut crime and make our streets safer. After 14 years of Tories, we have seen an epidemic of antisocial behaviour, theft and shoplifting across Birmingham.  Labour’s comprehensive set of new measures will tackle ASB, shop theft and street crime head on, giving the police and our communities new powers to take back town centres from thugs and thieves. The Bill also includes measures to address the most serious violence and highest-harm offences such as knife crime, violence against women and girls, cybercrime, child sexual abuse, and terrorism. Measures in the Bill will be backed up by the recruitment of 13,000 extra neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs, with a named, contactable officer in every community. Read more about the recent funding uplift for the West Midlands here . Israeli-Palestinian Peace This week I was pleased to take part in a debate on the merits of establishing an international fund for Israeli-Palestinian peace.   The last 18 months have been horrific, but with the announcement of a ceasefire earlier this year, there are glimmers of hope that we can bring this appalling conflict to an end. As I said during the debate, out of the rubble, we must vow to create the conditions for peace: a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and independent Palestine.   I spoke about the UK’s longstanding expertise in peacebuilding, particularly in Northern Ireland, can help us bring about change from the bottom up, as well as through top-down diplomacy. We owe it to the people of Israel and Palestine. Backing the builders With Keir Starmer at Birmingham Alexandra Stadium This week the government also published the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, a key part of our plans to unblock growth and build 1.5 million homes to tackle the housing crisis. The Bill will see significant measures introduced to speed up planning decisions to boost housebuilding and remove unnecessary blockers and challenges to the delivery of vital developments like roads, railway lines and windfarms. This will boost economic growth, connectivity and energy security whilst also delivering for the environment. Reshaping the state With the Health Secretary Wes Streeting in Birmingham Labour were elected on a promise of change, and the Prime Minister is delivering just that.   This week, he has taken the bold decision to abolish NHS England, the world’s biggest quango, to bring the management of the NHS back under democratic control.   As the Prime Minister said in his announcement: “the buck stops with politicians.”   Since the disastrous Lansley NHS reforms under the Tory-Lib Dem coalition a decade ago, our brilliant NHS staff have been set up to fail by a bureaucratic and fragmented system. It’s time to get more funds back to the frontline. Defence Industrial Strategy With Defence Minister Al Carns MP at Sikh Military Foundation event As part of our recent commitment to increase defence spending, the new government has pledged to publish a Defence Industrial Strategy to help ensure more defence spend is directed to British-based businesses, supporting British jobs.   As part of our commitment to raise defence spending to the highest level since th e Cold War, the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary have announced that the Ministry of Defence will set new targets to increase the amount of defence spending directed to small and medium-sized businesses.   This can only be a good thing for jobs and SMEs in the West Midlands Nearly 70% of defence spending goes to businesses outside London and the South East, bolstering local economies, with £1.6 billion spent in the West Midlands last year. Defence small and medium enterprises (SMEs) employ an estimated 17,820 jobs across our region. However, under the Conservative Government only 4% of direct MOD spending went to SMEs last year – and SME spending was in decline, which is why the Labour Government is stepping up to provide more support to SMEs and help them get their foot in the door in the defence supply chain. Read more here . Funds for farmers This week it was announced that the government has successfully allocated the sustainable farming incentive budget for 2024.   This Government inherited farming schemes which were underspent, meaning millions of pounds were not going to farming businesses. At the budget, the Government proudly secured the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history, with £5 billion was committed in the farming budget over a two-year period.   As a result of the Government’s determination to get more farmers to participate, there is now a record 50,000 farm businesses and more than half of all farmed land is now managed under our schemes.    The largest of these schemes, SFI, now has more than 37,000 multi-year live agreements and is not only delivering sustainable food production and nature’s recovery for today and the years ahead, but it is also putting money back into farmers’ pockets.   Commonwealth Day At the launch of Labour Friends of the Commonwealth in December On Monday we celebrated Commonwealth Day.    The Commonwealth brings together 56 independent countries, and is home to 2.7 billion citizens.   Birmingham itself is a Commonwealth city, with citizens whose heritage stretches right across the globe.   As Chair of Labour Friends of the Commonwealth, I appreciated the opportunity to celebrate our unity, shared values and our commitment to peace, justice and sustainable development. Local News Bin strikes My letter to the Council This week I have heard from many residents about the state of waste collection services. Rubbish piling up in the street. Rats. Cockroaches.   I’m clear that this has become a public health crisis and I share residents’ frustrations about collections.   That is why I have written to the Council this week, and am now working with them to find a solution. In the meantime, advice on what to do if you’ve had a missed collection is available here .   I spoke to the BBC earlier this week. You can read more here . Road Safety Meeting RoSPA In the past year, too many constituents have written to me about road safety, raising issues such as dangerous driving, off-road bikes and potholes.   This week I met with the Policy Director of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents to discuss how we can improve road safety nationally and here in Birmingham. Reading for Pleasure Study after study shows how important reading for pleasure is for a child's life chances. That's why I was so pleased to learn that Harborne Academy in our constituency is taking part in the National Reading Champions Quiz, hosted by the Literacy Trust and ALCS. I wrote to wish them the best of luck!  My letter to Harborne Academy West Midlands Multibank This week I also welcomed that a multibank has been launched for the West Midlands.   This brilliant initiative, spearheaded by former Labour PM Gordon Brown, has brought together the Birmingham Voluntary Sector Council (BVSC) and Amazon to collect and distribute donations to families and children in need.   It aims to distribute 750,000 goods over the next 12 months to 75,000 families. Read more here . Local Iftar with Richard Parker at local Iftar Amidst a busy week, it was lovely to take some time out to join an Iftar along with the West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, hosted by my constituent Mr Ahmed in Edgbaston. Thank you for having us! Quinton PACT On 21 March, 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.  Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton

Labour has announced that eight new councils will join the High Street Rental Auction programme and will set an example for other councils considering signing up to the scheme.    Under High Street Rental Auction powers, councils will be able to step in and put a property to rental auction where it has sat vacant for more than 365 days in a 24-month period. The new measures will prevent disengaged landlords from sitting on empty units which could otherwise be supporting local economic growth and jobs.     The announcement comes as Labour takes action to breathe new life into our high streets after 14 years of Conservative economic mismanagement. Research shows that, by the time the Tories left office, around 16.2% of retail units sat empty across the West Midlands.     Since being elected, Labour has made revitalising high streets and town centres a core part of its Plan for Change. The party has already introduced new measures to tackle late payments, cut taxes for small businesses by increasing the employment allowance, and drive down antisocial behaviour blighting high streets. A new Small Business Strategy will be introduced later this year.     Commenting Preet Kaur Gill MP said:     “Labour’s Plan for Change will put more money into the pockets of working people and breathe new life into our communities after 14 years of Conservative chaos.”     “High streets are the beating heart of our local communities and are key to driving economic growth and supporting good jobs across Birmingham.”     “No one wants to see shuttered shops in our town centres, so I’m really pleased that eight new councils will lead the way with new powers to tackle empty shop units.”    ENDS

Data showing the punctuality of trains at Five Ways and University Station.   Statistics covering over 1,700 stations across England also show reliability of services.   Fulfils a commitment to transparency and to hold operators to account, improving connectivity and supporting growth as part of Labour’s Plan for Change.   Passengers across England can now see how reliable their local train services are, as this performance data goes live at over 1,700 stations from today (6 March), including at Five Ways and University Station in Birmingham, Edgbaston constituency.     The data available to passengers, broken down by operator, shows live punctuality and cancellation statistics - the first time that station-level data has been. It is now live at major stations through digital screens, where possible, and at other stations, passengers will be able to scan a QR code to see the data online.     This fulfils a commitment made by this Labour government to be fully transparent with passengers, demonstrating how the railways are working and allowing the public to hold train operators to account as we bring services into public ownership.     As well as delivering more reliable, better-quality services, these reforms will catalyse economic growth through improved connectivity, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change. By holding operators to account, they will be encouraged to drive up efficiency and productivity - providing better value for money for passengers and driving forward the government’s growth mission by delivering better connectivity.     The government is determined to drive up performance, and the Rail Minister is meeting with all train operators to address concerns and demand immediate action. In response, the industry has set out a framework with clear areas of focus, including timetable resilience and staffing, to recover performance to acceptable levels.     Preet Kaur Gill, Labour Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said:      “Easy access to punctuality and cancellation data is a very welcome development. Railway passengers in my constituency deserve to know what is happening on their journeys and forcing operators to make information public will mean they can’t hide any more.     “We’ve had decades of poor service on our railways but bit by bit Labour is turning things around and I will continue to work hard to boost our local economy, connect families and ensure better value for money for all passengers.”     Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:      “Today marks the beginning of a new era of rail accountability.    “These displays are a step towards rebuilding trust with passengers using our railways, as we continue to tackle the root causes of frustrating delays and cancellations.     “Through fundamental rail reform, we’re sweeping away decades of dysfunctionality – putting passengers first, driving growth through connectivity as part of this government’s Plan for Change.”     Each station’s data can also be found on the ORR’s new data portal, which contains punctuality and reliability information for all stations in Great Britain. The online data is also screen reader compatible, for those with accessibility needs.     The screens also display a short commentary on work underway by the operators and Network Rail to improve performance, informing and assuring passengers of the ongoing work across their area to improve the reliability and efficiency of services.     This forms part of a wider overhaul of the railways, which will establish Great British Railways (GBR) as a new body to bring track and train together, to end years of fragmentation and waste. GBR will relentlessly focus on driving up standards for passengers, and proposals for how it will run, including plans for a powerful new passenger standards watchdog, are currently under consultation.     Separately, the landmark Public Ownership Act will improve services and save taxpayers up to £150m a year that was previously given to private shareholders, with the first services being brought in as soon as May 2025.     This Labour government will deliver change that can be felt, driving growth across the country by ensuring passengers can use the railways to get to work, school, appointments and see friends and family with ease.     Notes to editors   • ‘Punctuality’ on the performance displays is defined as the percentage of trains arriving within three minutes of their scheduled time.   • The information displayed on the screens will cover the 14 DfT funded operators, except where other operators have agreed that information on their services can be displayed

Ukraine With Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko This week, the Prime Minister reaffirmed our unwavering support for President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine. We are at a crossroads in our history. Once again, we live in an era where peace in Europe depends upon strength and deterrence. That’s why the Prime Minister has announced the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War. The Prime Minister also announced a deal with Ukraine that allows them to use £1.6 billion of UK Export Finance to buy 5,000 air defence missiles, manufactured in Belfast. That will enable us to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for peace, and create new jobs and apprenticeships in our country. The Prime Minister has announced thousands of small UK businesses will now receive government support to ensure they benefit from the decision to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. This will include a new support hub to provide guidance to small businesses on accessing the defence supply chain, unlocking new jobs and putting more money in people’s pockets. You can read the Prime Minister’s full statement delivered to the House of Commons on Monday here , and find out more about how small businesses are set to benefit from increased investment here .   Leasehold Speaking to LBC about the archaic leasehold system in 2020 Many of my constituents who are leaseholders have been let down by unreliable managing agents like FirstPort , facing punitive and escalating ground rents, unreasonable or extortionate charges and onerous conditions. The Government has published the Commonhold White Paper, which will seek to put an end to to the feudal leasehold system. Under our plans, homeowners will have a stake in the ownership of their buildings from day one, not have to pay ground rent, and will gain control over how their buildings are run. Read more about our plans  here . Rail Reform Outside University Station in my constituency For far too long, my constituents have been consistently let down by an unreliable rail network. Avanti West Coast and Cross Country, which connect Birmingham to the rest of the country, have two of the highest cancellation rates of any operators.    The government has announced that stations will now have to display how often trains are delayed, ushering in a new era of accountability and putting passengers first. You can read more here .     Employment Rights Bill Showing my support for a New Deal for Working People The Government has tabled amendments to the Employment Right’s Bill this week, our historic bill which will increase productivity, improve worker’s rights and create the right conditions for long-term sustainable, inclusive, and secure economic growth. An amendment tabled by the government will bring forward landmark changes to statutory sick pay that will help people stay in work and grow the economy. Under new plans, more than a million people across the country on low wages will either receive 80% of their average weekly earnings if they find themselves ill, or the rate of Statutory Sick Pay which will be £11.75 a week from April. This Government is boosting living standards by making low earners better off and enabling people to have the time off they need to recover, so they can get better and remain in work rather than risk quitting altogether. Other Government amendments include applying zero hour contract measures to agency workers, more reforms to trade unions, such as simplifying industrial action notices, and regulating umbrella companies.  Read more here .  Work Coaches The Government has announced that work will be unlocked for thousands of sick and disabled people through new measures that will bolster the support offered in Jobcentres and make the welfare system more sustainable. 1,000 work coaches are set to be deployed to deliver intensive employment support to sick and disabled people, helping them break down the barriers to opportunity, drive growth and unlock the benefits of work. Read more here .  Justice Expressing my support for a world where there is no violence against women and girls The Conservatives left us with record court backlogs, meaning victims faced huge delays to justice. Rape victims are staggeringly waiting more than 300 days on average just to see their perpetrators charged. This is a disgraceful legacy and we are determined to turn things around. The Government has announced that victims will see swifter justice, with Crown Court sitting days to be increased to record levels. Crown Court judges will sit for a collective 110,000 days in the next financial year – 4,000 more than was previously allocated the previous year. You can read more here .    We have also committed to fast-tracking rape cases through the courts, introducing specialist rape courts to deliver swift and effective justice to some of the most vulnerable victims in the criminal justice system.  UK-Ireland Summit Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheal Martin The Prime Minister met with Taoiseach Micheal Martin at a UK-Ireland Summit to discuss national security, growth and energy security. Through a new data sharing agreement, the UK and Irish governments will lay the groundwork for commercial developers to increase offshore energy. You can read the Prime Minister’s remarks here .  Dentistry Preet Kaur Gill speaking at the British Dental Association Conference This government inherited an oral health crisis. The most common reason that children 5-9 go to hospital is for treatment for rotting teeth, and a third of 5-year-olds in the most deprived areas have experience of tooth decay. We are delivering supervised toothbrushing to young children aged between 3 and 5 years old and families who are most in need of support. This includes providing 23 million free toothbrushes and toothpastes through our partnership with Colgate-Palmolive to reach up to 600,000 children each year. Read more here .  National Youth Strategy Speaking to students at University of Birmingham this week Local authority spending on youth provision has reduced by 73% since 2010, which equates to over £1 billion less being spent on young people every year.  The availability of youth services can have a significant impact on the lives of young people. This week, the Government has launched a wide-reaching national survey asking about young people’s needs, challenges and priorities as part of the strategy to engage with young people to develop the National Youth Strategy. Have your say here .  Restoring Pride in Britain's Neighbourhoods With Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker The Government has announced a record £1.5 billion will be handed to towns across the UK to tackle deprivation and turbocharge growth. A total of 75 areas will each receive up to £20 millions of funding and support over the next decade through the plan, which will help to transform multiple areas. Read more about our plans  here .  International Women's Day Speaking to students about my experience of stalking and sexual assault and action the government is taking In the UK, violence against women and girls is an epidemic. At least 1 in 12 women is a victim of domestic abuse each year, and nearly 100 domestic abuse related offences were recorded every hour by the police in 2024.  Ahead of International Women’s Day, it was a pleasure to speak at University of Birmingham and recommit to accelerating action to tackle violence against women and girls. This Labour Government is committed to halving violence against women and girls in a decade. We have:   Passed Raneem’s Law, placing domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms so when someone calls, they are listened to and heard. This is currently underway in the West Midlands.  Pledged to introduce new Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and orders to protect victims of all types of abuse such as physical, psychological, stalking and coercive control, meaning more perpetrators will be forced to live under restrictions.  Pledged to strengthen the use of Stalking Protection Orders and give women the right to know the identity of online stalkers.  Committed to making spiking a criminal offence, after incidents reached record levels last year. You can read more about our plans to tackle violence against women and girls  here .  World Bank With Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank It was an honour to meet Ajay Banga, the President of the World Bank, in Parliament. International development is integral to our national security. We should be proud of the UK’s leadership in international development through the World Bank over the many years that we have worked together.   Global Partnership for Education With Laura Frigenti, GPE CEO It was great to meet with Laura Frigenti, CEO of Global Partnership for Education in Parliament yesterday. I’ve been championing the Global Partnership for Education’s work for many years. We discussed our shared commitment to providing quality education to children in lower income countries, which we know is vital to the development of stronger economies across the world.  3D Guns Speaking in the Chamber This week, a man in Crewe was jailed after he was found with a loaded 3D-printed gun. 3D guns are increasingly presenting a threat to our safety and security up of our country. I’m glad that the government is taking forward my bill and legislating to make it an offence to possess and share templates for 3D-printed guns.  You can watch the Channel 4 Documentary I featured in about 3D guns here .  GG2 Awards With colleagues and friends at GG2 Awards It was great to attend the GG2 Leadership and Diversity awards, with a keynote speech from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. Thank you to Kalpesh and Shailesh Solanki for a wonderful celebration of the contribution ethnic minorities make to the UK.  Brain Tumours  At the Brain Tumour Charity drop-in Brain tumours are the largest cancer killers of those under 40, and 12,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year in the UK. It was good to meet with the Brain Tumour Charity in Parliament to learn more about this condition.  World Book Day At World Book Day Parliamentary drop-in This week it was World Book Day. Reading for pleasure really matters, with research suggesting that reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income. World Book Day makes a difference. 25% of pupils receiving Free School Meals said the £1 book they "bought" with their £1 token was the first book of their own. It was great to meet with representatives from World Book Day in Parliament and show my support for this great initiative.  Local News PACT Meeting At a morning briefing with West Midlands Police On 21 March, 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.  Meeting with the Inspector This week, I met with our Inspector Paul Hatton to discuss crime across the constituency. Please do report your concerns to me by contacting my office, by emailing preet.gill.mp@parliament.uk  or calling 0121 392 8426 Monday to Friday, between 9:00am and 5:00pm.    MHWC Next week, the MHWC will be visiting Winson Street in North Edgbaston, B18 4JW, on Monday 10th March, and Arosa  Drive in Harborne, B17 0SE, on Friday 14th March. The centre will be open between 7:30am and 13:00pm, so please do come along if you have bulky household waste to dispose of!   Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton

Labour’s Preet Kaur Gill MP has welcomed tough new action on antisocial behaviour and town centre crime for the people of Birmingham.     The Labour Government has introduced a raft of measures including brand new Respect Orders and action against shoplifting, as part of its flagship Crime and Policing Bill. Respect Orders – promised in Labour’s 2024 manifesto and delivered today – will enable swift enforcement against persistent antisocial behaviour offenders.     The Orders come as shock data shows that West Midlands Police Force failed to hand out a SINGLE Penalty Notice for Disorder for ASB in 2023.    Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s Bill also includes action on shoplifting, including introducing a new offence of assaulting a retail worker.     Labour will also scrap the Tory ‘shoplifter’s charter’, a law which deprioritised the theft of goods under £200. Stats show there were 28,542 incidences of shoplifting in the West Midlands Police Force Area, around 549 per week.    In 2023, Conservative Policing Minister Chris Philp was roundly mocked when he urged members of the public to make citizen’s arrests on those they witnessed shoplifting.    Labour’s bill will also give the police new powers to enter premises without a warrant, enabling the police to search and seize stolen property swiftly which they believe is at an address.     Labour’s action comes as the number of snatch thefts last year reached 85,000 across England and Wales.     The new measures will be supported by the government’s plan to recruit 13,000 additional police officers, PCSOs and special constables into neighbourhood policing roles over the course of this Parliament.     West Midlands Police has been granted a 6.8% increase in funding to deliver the reforms.     Preet Kaur Gill, Labour MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston said:      “After fourteen years of Conservative rule, our town centres and neighbourhoods are plagued by anti-social behaviour. The people of Birmingham will wholeheartedly welcome the tough new action included in Labour's bill. Whether it’s street drinking, harassment or vandalism on the high street or noisy and intimidating off-road bikes terrorising our estates, my constituents are fed up.     “As Chair of the Co-operative Party Parliamentary Group, it’s great to see Labour taking swift action to crack down on shoplifters and protect shop workers, after a successful campaign by the Co-operative Party and Usdaw which put the issue of shoplifting on the Government’s agenda.     “The flagship Crime and Policing Bill is a vital step towards the safer streets promised in this Government’s Plan for Change”.     Ends     Notes   • Chris Philp comments: https://www.thetimes.com/article/if-you-see-a-shoplifterarrest-them-yourself-police-minister-says-0pvnkxq5h    • Data for PNDs: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justicesystem-statistics-quarterly-december-2023 Out of court disposals data tool.   • Data for shoplifting: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bullet ins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingseptember2024/relateddata , Police Force Area data tables, table P1.  • Data for snatch thefts: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bullet ins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingseptember2024/relateddata, Appendix Tables, Worksheet A1.

Crime and Policing Bill At a morning briefing with West Midlands Police On Tuesday, we brought forward one of the biggest legislative updates to policing for decades with our Crime and Policing Bill.   Our bill includes measures to address the highest-harm crimes impacting society, such as knife crime, violence against women and girls, cybercrime, child sexual abuse and terrorism. It also gives police new powers against theft of mobile phones – no longer needing a warrant to search properties where stolen items have been electronically geolocated. Our bill will treat violence against women and girls as the national emergency it is, strengthen Stalking Protection Orders, introduce a new criminal offence covering spiking and bar registered sex offenders from changing their name where they continue to pose a threat. The bill places significant focus on protecting high streets. There will be increased powers to crack down on repeat antisocial behaviour offenders, with new Respect Orders banning those prolific offenders from our town centres. Police will also be given the power to seize vehicles that cause havoc to communities, allowing them to deal with the scourge of off-road bikes in public parks and dangerous e-scooters on pavements. As Parliamentary Chair of the Co-operative Party, I’m glad the Government is taking forward a Co-operative and Usdaw campaign and creating a specific offence for assault against retail workers. The effective immunity for shop theft of goods below £200 will also be scrapped. You can read more about what the bill will do  here .  PM Keir Starmer meeting with President Trump Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and President Donald Trump Yesterday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer had a very successful meeting with US President Donald Trump in the White House. The leaders discussed their special relationship between their two nations and their commitment to shared security and prosperity. They also spoke about the fair, balanced and reciprocal economic relationship that the two countries enjoy, and agreed their teams should work together to deepen this relationship, and to work to agree a trade deal focussed on tech. The leaders agreed that on Ukraine, talks must work towards a lasting peace. The Prime Minister said the UK is ready to play a leadership role on supporting Ukraine’s future security.   The President also accepted an invitation on behalf of His Majesty the King for an unprecedented second State Visit to the United Kingdom. Read more about the visit here .  National Security With Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko We are facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our country and our continent. Global instability, Russian aggression in Ukraine, increasing threats from malign actors, climate change and rapid technological disruption have all contributed to a rapidly deteriorating security landscape. Resolving the Ukraine crisis through protecting its sovereignty is imperative for European security. On the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine, we have stepped up our support. We committed to boosting military aid, extending the UK’s training programme for Ukrainian troops, and have announced the largest sanctions package against Russia since 2022. As a leading European power, the UK must step up to safeguard continental security on an enduring basis. That is why this Labour Government is increasing defence investment to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027. You can read Keir Starmer’s full speech here .    GPs Outside University Hospitals Birmingham Rebuilding our broken NHS starts with GPs. I’m thrilled that our government has agreed a new deal for GPs – the first since the pandemic. By slashing red tape, we will free up GPs and take the first steps to end the 8am scramble for appointments. We will modernise general practice by requiring surgeries to allow patients to request appointments online, freeing up the phones for those who need them most. We will also bring back the family doctor, enabling patients to request to see their regular doctor for each appointment, backed by the biggest funding boost for General Practice in years. You can read more here .  Dentistry On a visit to Edgbaston Dental Centre After 14 years of Conservatives, it has become near impossible to get an NHS dental appointment.  Statistics show that around 1 in 4 patients who tried to see an NHS dentist in the past 2 years were unable to do so.  This government is delivering on its mission to provide 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments, with a target of 9,000 appointments in Birmingham. We will rebuild dentistry – focusing on prevention, retention of NHS dentists and reforming the NHS contract to make NHS work more appealing to dentists and increase capacity for more patients. You can read more here .  Water At Edgbaston reservoir This week, we passed a new law banning bonuses for water bosses who pollute our rivers, lakes and seas. The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 will give regulators new powers to take tougher and faster action to crack down on water companies damaging the environment and failing their customers. You can read more about the Act here . This is just the beginning. The Government is inviting the public, environmental groups, investors and others to have their say on future changes to the water sector. The Independent Water Commission will report back later this year to shape new laws that will transform our water system so we can clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas for good. Find out more and send in your comments here .  Skills England With Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson This week, I voted to create Skills England, to support local areas to develop the skilled workforces they need. Our plans will kickstart economic growth, by opening up new opportunities for young people and enabling British businesses to recruit more home-grown talent. Ahead of the vote, I met with Phil Smith, Chair of Skills England, to discuss pathways into work in the West Midlands. Together, we can address the skills gaps we have in our region by ensuring partners work together.   With Skills England Chair Phil Smith Grenfell Inquiry My comments on the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 1 report to Hits Radio last September The Government has responded in full to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, setting out tough new reforms to fix building safety and strengthen accountability. We have accepted the report’s findings and will take action on all of the 58 recommendations in the report. This means greater accountability, stronger regulation, and putting residents at the heart of decision-making to make sure no community will ever have to face a tragedy like Grenfell ever again. I know the Government’s commitment to reforming building safety will be welcomed by my constituents who are waiting for vital upgrades to unsafe homes. Last year, we introduced a Remediation Acceleration Plan, which includes new measures to get buildings fixed quicker, ensures rogue freeholders are held to account, and puts the end in sight for affected residents. You can read the Government’s full response to the inquiry  here .  Hospices With Health Secretary Wes Streeting Families across England will start to see improved end-of-life care as the Government brings in major upgrades to hospice services nationwide. I’m delighted that Birmingham Hospice will receive an additional £345,224, as part of the largest investment in hospices in a generation. Birmingham Hospice does a wonderful job providing support for people with life-limiting conditions and their loved ones. This funding will go towards modernising facilities, improving IT systems and ensuring patients receive the highest quality care. You can read more here .  Digital Inclusion Action Plan With Prime Minister Keir Starmer Millions of people in Britain are set to gain greater digital skills to help boost economic growth and success. With daily tasks like speaking to a GP, applying for jobs, or renting and buying a house becoming increasingly digitalised, improved digital skills and access to technology are essential for people to access vital services and boost their employability. Our Digital Inclusion Action Plan includes funding for local initiatives targeted to the most digitally-excluded groups, including the elderly and low-income households. We will also partner with inclusion charity Digital Poverty Alliance to provide laptops to people who are digitally excluded. Read more about our plans here .  Pension Credit On the campaign trail Figures published this week reveal nearly fifty thousand extra pensioners are now receiving vital Pension Credit support following a surge in claims processed. Stats show the DWP is processing record number of claims a week, bringing down outstanding applications and giving the poorest pensioners vital support. To apply for Pension Credit or check if you’re eligible, you can   apply online , call on 0800 99 1234, or  print out and fill in the Pension Credit claim form   (or call the claim line to request a form) and post to: Freepost DWP Pensions Service 3.  3D Guns With West Midlands Police officers This week, I was glad to see that the West Midlands Police Federation welcomed my work on criminalising the blueprints for 3D-printed guns. 3D guns are increasingly presenting themselves as a threat to our safety and security and as organised crime changes, legislation must keep up.  After presenting a bill to make it illegal to possess and share the templates for 3D guns, I’m glad that the government has taken this forward and that these measures are now making their way through Parliament. Read more  here .  You can watch the Channel 4 Documentary I featured in on 3D-printed guns here .  Energy Bills Explaining Labour's vision for Great British Energy on Politics Live We are protecting families in the West Midlands who are struggling to pay their energy bills. It’s great news that 270,000 more families in our region will be able to receive the Warm Homes discount to help them to deal with an unpredictable energy market next winter. Read more here .  The Government has also provided a webpage with information about rising bills and useful resources for those who seek support with their energy bills, here .  Community Britain Chairing a panel at Co-operative Party event This week, the Co-operative Party launched Community Britain, a campaign recognising the people and places that bring pride to communities, and the serious solutions they offer to our politics and our country. The Party has also reached out to community leaders, experts and representatives around the country and produced an essay collection, Stories from Community Britain, that showcases the communities across the country who are pioneering solutions to important issues like climate change, economic stagnation and social cohesion. You can read more and find the essay collection  here .  Co-op Live: International Development On a trip to Uganda while I had the development brief It was great to speak on a Co-op Live panel about International Development on Thursday evening. As former Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, Britain's’ proud legacy on development is one that I cherish dearly. Our country has a proud history of tackling poverty, improving food security and limiting the worst effects of climate change in all corners of the globe. Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Awards  At the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony Last night, it was great to attend the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Awards 2025, opened by fantastic CEO Henrietta Bailey and Mayor Richard Parker. Over 1,000 people attended to celebrate the contribution of diverse businesses in our city and region. It was also a pleasure to see some of the region’s brilliant up and coming arts and culture talent showcased at the ceremony.  Local News Breakfast Clubs With Bridget Philipson, Secretary of State for Education I’m delighted that three schools in my constituency - Nonsuch Primary School, St Patrick and St Edmund’s Primary School and World’s End Infant and Nursery School – are early adopters to the Government’s free breakfast club scheme.  This government is removing the barriers to opportunity by making sure every child starts the school day ready to learn.  With students from St Patrick and St Edmund's, who won an award for their breakfast club Westbourne Centre On a visit to the Westbourne Centre It was great to visit the Westbourne Centre, a healthcare facility, in my constituency. I toured facility and met with consultants, nurses, and staff to learn more about how they are delivering patient care in the community and support the NHS. Brsk Meeting with Brsk in Parliament I was glad to have the opportunity to represent constituents in a meeting with Brsk, raising concerns about new infrastructure being deployed only via poles and in areas where they are not needed. Resident’s voices must be heard. I will continue to work with residents, the council, the government and broadband providers to find solutions collectively.  I spoke in a debate about the rollout of broadband infrastructure, you can watch it here .  Job Club at Brandwood Centre With Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker The Brandwood Centre have announced their next job club will take place at the centre on Monday, 3rd March, from 9:30am to 11:30am. Their volunteer mentors will be available to support participants with job search tips and advice, guidance on writing covering letters, and crafting the perfect application. If you’re interested, send your name, contact number, and email address to alison@brandwoodcentre.co.uk .   Missed Bins  Constituents have contacted me to say that their bin collections have been missed. You can report missed collections  here .    MHWC Next Friday, 7th March, the MHWC will be visiting Meadow Road in Harborne, B17 8BN. The centre will be open between 7:30pm and 1pm, so please do come along if you have any bulky household waste to dispose of.  Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton

Labour’s Preet Kaur Gill has welcomed tough new action against perpetrators of stalking and spiking.   The Government has this week introduced new legislation to deliver on its commitment to tackle the scourge of violence against women and girls.   The Bill contains a range of new measures to strengthen enforcement and better protect victims, such as making it easier for courts to issue Stalking Protection Orders, introducing a new offence for spiking and improving information sharing with victims.  Gill has worked with the community to tackle spiking in Birmingham. In 2021, she organised a meeting with the police, council and nightclub bosses to agree on actions to take to keep women safe.  Several reforms seek to tackle the rise of stalking specifically, which has increased by 10 % over the past year. In the West Midlands Police Force Area, over 37,127 stalking and harassment offences were recorded by the police.   Not knowing the identity of an online stalker can be extremely unsettling with victims left in the dark as to whether the offender is known to them, which can put them in more danger.   New ‘Right to Know’ guidance will be brought into force, empowering the police to release the identity of an online stalker at the earliest opportunity. This will provide victims who are subject to this chilling crime with greater reassurance that they will be quickly told the identity of the individual threatening them online.   Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) can also ban stalkers from going within a certain distance of their victims or contacting them and can also compel them to attend a perpetrator programme to address the root causes of their behaviour.   Currently, however, these can only be applied when an offender is convicted and when a protection order was in place before they went on trial.   A BBC investigation earlier this year found that since SPOs were introduced back in 2020, just 1,439 had been issued by the 40 police forces. This is despite over 440,000 offences being recorded by the police over the same period.   Under Labour’s new measures, courts will be able to directly apply protection orders on those who have been acquitted if there is enough evidence to suggest that they are still a risk to the victim.   Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston said: “This Labour government is expanding support for victims of stalking and spiking in the West Midlands. Victims show tremendous courage to come forward and seek help. Our new orders will make that as straightforward as possible.  “Labour is committed to halving violence against women and girls in a decade, and today we are beginning our work to make good on that promise.   “For too long governments have treated violence against women and girls as an inevitability instead of the emergency that it is. This government speaks with a single voice: on our watch victims will receive the vital protections they so desperately deserve”. ENDS Notes to editors • Crime statistics broken down by police force area are provided by the ONS and can be accessed here - Crime in England and Wales: Police Force Area data tables - Office for National Statistics.   • A summary of the number of offences recorded by the police can also be found here - Crime in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics   • Statistics on the number of SPOs issued by the police provided by the BBC can be found here - Tiny proportion of stalking cases result in protection orders - BBC News

GP contract reforms will fix the front door of the NHS and see the return of the family doctor, while helping end the 8am scramble for appointments   Biggest doctor’s union backs new government deal with GPs to fix the front door of the NHS and bring back the family doctor  Slashing red tape and cutting box ticking targets will free up GPs and take the first steps to end the 8am scramble for appointments Reforms will be backed by increased funding to reverse years of under investment in General Practice Agreement with the BMA on the GP contract for the first time in four years is a reset of relations after recent collective action that has blighted the health service   For the first time in four years, government and GP representatives have agreed reforms to GP contracts, to fix the front door of the NHS and bring back the family doctor, which was identified as a priority by the Health and Social Care Secretary when he first joined the department. The new deal agreed yesterday (February 27) between the government and British Medical Association (BMA) will free up doctors from red tape and box-ticking targets to concentrate on what they do best – treating patients. The new agreed contract will modernise general practice by requiring GP surgeries to allow patients to request appointments online throughout working hours from October, freeing up the phones for those who need them most, and making it easier for practices to triage patients based on medical need. The reforms are part of the government’s Plan for Change to make general practice fit for the future and will support GPs in taking the first steps to end the 8am scramble for appointments, which so many patients currently endure every day - in turn improving access to GPs for everyone. The deal for family doctors is backed by the biggest funding boost for General Practice in years, reversing the decade-long cuts to general practice funding as a share of the NHS budget. Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said:  “For too long, my constituents have found it near impossible to see their GP. I’m very pleased that the government is delivering on our manifesto commitment to bring back the family doctor and deliver a modern booking system to end the 8am scramble for appointments. "Excellent primary care is the key to earlier diagnosis. That’s why our Labour government is reforming the front door to the NHS by cutting red tape and providing record funding for GPs.”  Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “Rebuilding the broken NHS starts with GPs. Patients need to be able to easily book an appointment, in the manner they want, with their regular doctor if they choose. “Today, we have taken the first step to fixing the front door to the NHS, bringing back the family doctor, and ending the 8am scramble. “Over the past decade, funding for GPs has been cut relative to the rest of the NHS, while the number of targets for GPs has soared. That’s why patients are struggling to get an appointment. “This government is cutting the red tape that ties up GPs time and backing them with an extra £889 million next year. In return, more patients will be able to request appointments online and see their regular doctor for each appointment. Through the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, we will work with GPs to rebuild the NHS and make it fit for the future.”  Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS England national director for primary care and community services, said: “Improving patients’ access to general practice is a huge priority for the NHS and this contract sets out the next steps to put the family doctor at the heart of the shift to a neighbourhood health service. “This is the first time in four years that the GP contract has been accepted as proposed and I hope it will be seen as positive for practices, GP teams and patients when introduced in April. “It shows how NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care have listened and delivered on the priorities that matter most to patients and general practice teams, including a significant increase in funding and extra flexibility in the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme to recruit more staff including GPs.” Other key changes include improved digital access for patients, setting out what patients can expect from their practice in a new charter and encouraging GP teams to identify patients with the greatest need that would most benefit from seeing the same clinician at every appointment. Today’s reforms will be underpinned by an extra £889 million to fix the front door of health, bringing total spend on the GPs contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26.

Tough new legislation to combat knife crime has today been welcomed by Preet Kaur Gill MP, Labour MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, who has been campaigning for action on knife crime following the death of her 14-year-old constituent, Dea-John Reid, who was stabbed.  In 2021, Dea-John Reid was pursued by a mob of five people and fatally stabbed in Birmingham after going out to play football.   Last month, Gill re-iterated her called for urgent action on knife crime in a Parliamentary debate about Knife Crime in the West Midlands.  The Government’s flagship Crime and Policing Bill fulfils multiple Labour manifesto commitments. During the campaign the Party pledged to ‘get knives off our streets’. The Bill introduced this week will give the police new powers to seize, retain and destroy knives held in private, applicable when the police believe the knife will be used in a violent crime.   Labour’s bill comes as statistics show that in the West Midlands Police Force Area, knife crime rose by 118.63% under the Tories.   It also includes strong new rules to prevent online knife sales, including personal liability for senior managers of online platforms who fail to act on illegal content including knives and offensive weapons.   Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will also introduce a new offence of possession of an offensive weapon with intent to cause harm. It also increases the maximum penalty for offences relating to the sale of offensive weapons.   The Bill will also strengthen age verification requirements for online sale of bladed products. The law will be named after 16-year old Ronan Kanda, stabbed to death in Wolverhampton by a boy who had used his mother’s ID to purchase a 22-inch sword online.   Making Britain’s streets safe is a major plank of this Labour Government’s Plan for Change, and the Government has pledged to half knife crime in a decade.   Preet Kaur Gill, Labour MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said: “I wholeheartedly welcome this tough new action to crack down on knife crime and protect communities like mine in Birmingham, Edgbaston. Too many children's lives are being lost, with families and communities left devastated as a result.   “This government has set an ambitious mission for the country to halve knife crime over the next decade and we will pursue every possible avenue to save young lives. I wholeheartedly welcome this tough new action to crack down on knife crime and I will continue to campaign on this issue for communities like mine in Birmingham.”    “This Government is committed to making Britain’s streets safe again, as part of Labour’s Plan for Change. I stand full square behind these efforts.”   Ends  Notes   • Data for increases in knife crime: Number of knife and sharp instrument offences recorded by the police, for selected offences, by Police Force Area. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/policeforceareadatatables , Tab P5

270,000 more families in the West Midlands will be able to receive the £150 Warm Home Discount next winter under new proposals to help people with their energy bills.   One in five families across Britain would get help with their bills, providing households in the West Midlands with support to deal with an unpredictable international energy market.   Labour government also sets out plans to accelerate a debt relief scheme, to tackle debt and reduce households’ energy costs.     Almost three million more households, including 270,000 more families in the West Midlands, will get support to pay their energy bills next winter, as the Labour government consults on proposals to offer more support to consumers across the country.     Due to global gas price spikes this winter and the continued impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the energy regulator Ofgem announced an increase in the energy price cap for April-June 2025. This price is set independently of the government, reflecting changes in wholesale prices and global markets.     In response, Labour is acting to protect families in the West Midlands by bringing forward plans to expand the Warm Home Discount, giving eligible households £150 off their energy bills. This would bring a total of nearly 2.7 million households into the scheme across the country – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to an estimated 6.1 million.     Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston said:     “This announcement from Labour will make a real difference to families in my constituency who are struggling to pay their energy bills.     “Labour is determined to secure our energy system, protect it from the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets and give working people the security they deserve.     “Through our mission for clean power, and the support announced today, this Labour government is putting money back in the pockets of working people.”     Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:     “Labour is determined to do everything we can to protect families from the grip of fossil fuel markets. Expanding the Warm Home Discount can help protect millions of families from rising energy bills, offering support to consumers across the country.    “This Labour Government will always stand up for working people.     “Through our clean power mission we are determined to deliver energy security and bring down bills for good, with homegrown clean power that we in Britain control.”    Labour is also accelerating proposals to introduce a debt relief scheme, which would target unsustainable debt built up by households in the West Midlands during the energy crisis. This would help to cut the costs of servicing bad debt, which currently contributes to higher bills for all billpayers. Under these plans, the target would be to reduce the debt allowance to pre-crisis levels, with Ofgem estimating that these plans could lower these costs by £25-30 per year.     This additional support for households across the West Midlands complements the government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower, delivering energy security and bringing down bills for good. The expected rise in the price cap shows once again the cost of remaining reliant on the unstable global fossil fuel markets that are driving price increases. Three years on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, wholesale gas prices have now risen by 15% compared to the previous price cap period, which is directly affecting the cost of generating power and heating of homes. Moving to a power system based on homegrown, clean energy will reduce the UK’s reliance on volatile markets and protect billpayers.     While Labour presses on with our clean power mission, swift action has already been taken to shield energy consumers from high prices. These measures include:   Extended the Household Support Fund to provide help through local councils to struggling households with essential costs, including energy bills.   Worked with energy suppliers to negotiate a £500 million winter support package for consumers.   Rolled out the next steps of the Warm Homes Plan, which will upgrade 300,000 homes this financial year.   Consulting on boosting living standards in the private rented sector by requiring all private landlords in England and Wales to meet Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C or equivalent in their properties by 2030, which will help a million renters out of fuel poverty.   Announced a comprehensive review of the energy regulator Ofgem, empowering it to facilitate growth and innovation and become a stronger champion for consumers.   Driving forward with pro-consumer reforms:   Challenging unlawful back billing; taking action on inaccurate bills.   Driving the smart meter rollout.   Giving every family the option of a zero standing charge tariff, so they have more choice in how they pay for their energy.   Ensuring compensation for wrongful installation of prepayment meters.     ENDS     Notes to editors     Further information on the Warm Home Discount scheme can be found here: Warm Home Discount Scheme: Overview - GOV.UK    Ofgem’s consultation on establishing a debt relief scheme closed on Thursday 6 February. The consultation document can be found here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consultation/resetting-energy-debt-landscape-case-debtrelief-scheme

Preet Kaur Gill with dentists at Edgbaston Dental Centre The Government has announced that hundreds of thousands of people, including in Birmingham, will soon be able to access urgent and emergency dental care as the government and NHS rolls out 700,000 extra urgent appointments, delivering on Labour’s manifesto commitment.     Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston welcomed the Labour Government’s announcement, describing the new appointments as ‘vital’ and ‘desperately needed’.     In Birmingham, 1 in 5 patients who tried to see an NHS dentist in the last two years were unable to do so, with access to NHS dentistry increasingly a lottery across the country.    The announcement marks the start of the government and NHS delivering on the manifesto pledge to provide 700,000 extra urgent and emergency dental appointments to address the crisis in NHS dentistry.     The Government has asked Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) to meet a target of at least 9,005 urgent dental appointments.   After over a decade of failure, the Tories shockingly left millions of people in England with unmet need for dentistry. They brought in a New Patient Premium scheme that didn’t have any impact for new patients, with figures this week revealing that £88 million was wasted on the scheme.     Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston said:    “Everyone in Birmingham, and across the country, knows the scale of the challenge facing NHS dentistry after years of failure under the Tories.     “In recent years it has become near impossible to get an NHS dental appointment and it is scandalous that the number one reason that five to nine year olds are admitted to hospital is because of tooth decay.     “I know that this is just the start and we need to see dental contract reform, but I am delighted that this Labour Government is taking such an important step not only repairing NHS dentistry but making it fit for the future.     “Labour made a promise and is now delivering that promise through our Plan for Change.”     Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care said:     “We promised we would end the misery faced by hundreds of thousands of people unable to get urgent dental care. Today we’re starting to deliver on that commitment.     “NHS dentistry has been left broken after years of neglect with patients left in pain without appointments or queueing around the block just to be seen.     “Through our Plan for Change, this government will rebuild dentistry – focusing on prevention, retention of NHS dentists and reforming the NHS contract to make NHS work more appealing to dentists and increase capacity for more patients. This will take time but today marks an important step towards getting NHS dentistry back on its feet.”     ENDS Notes to editors:     • The number of patients, by region, who tried unsuccessfully to get an NHS dental appointment in the last 2 years can be found here .     • Dental New Patient Premium - Datasets - Open Data Portal     • NHS England has today written to integrated care boards (ICB) across the country, directing health chiefs in each region to stand up thousands of urgent appointments over the next year.     • The extra appointments will be available from April and have been targeted at dental deserts – areas where patients particularly struggle to access NHS dentists.     • Each ICB has a target of urgent appointments to roll out, based on estimated local levels of unmet need for urgent NHS care. Levels of unmet need are calculated by measures including looking at how many people tried and failed to get an NHS dentist appointment.     • These extra appointments will be for patients who are likely to be in pain – including those suffering from infections or needing urgent repairs to a bridge – and require urgent treatment. NHS commissioners will be working fast to secure these extra appointments this year, with appointments to start coming online from April.     • Urgent care appointments to be delivered by Birmingham and Solihull ICB: 9,005

Ukraine With Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko On Monday, our Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended an emergency summit with European leaders in Paris to discuss the security of Ukraine and Europe as a whole.   We are facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent. Securing a lasting peace in Ukraine that safeguards its sovereignty for the long term is essential if we are to deter Putin from further aggression in the future. This is the moment for us all to step up, and the UK will do so because it is the right thing to do, and because it is crucial to our own national security. You can read Keir Starmer’s article in The Telegraph  here .  NHS Outside University Hospitals Birmingham This week, our Labour Government met our manifesto pledge of delivering two million  extra NHS appointments – seven months early. These include appointments for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endoscopy, and diagnostic tests as the government delivers its first steps to fix our health service. Since Labour were elected in July 2024, hospital waiting lists have been falling consistently. University Hospitals Birmingham has cut waiting lists by almost 5%, twice the rate of the rest of the country over the same period. We know the job isn’t done. Our government is determined to go further and faster to deliver more appointments, faster treatment, and a National Health Service that the British public deserve. Read more here .  Rail Consultation At University Station supporting investment in our railways On Tuesday, we launched a consultation on Great British Railways so that we can create a unified, simplified rail network that will put passengers first, raise living standards and boost growth. Part of the government’s plans include setting up a new rail watchdog to give passengers a voice and hold railways to account. We will also be giving devolved leaders more of a say on the services that directly impact their towns and cities, working together to integrate transport, making it simpler to travel and attracting more people to our railways. Read more and have your say on the future of our railways  here .   Knives A clip from my speech on knife crime in the West Midlands Too many people have tragically died because of knife crime.  On Wednesday, the Home Secretary announced that the government is introducing stricter rules for online retailers selling knives, along with tougher penalties for failing to the enforce them. Ronan Kanda was tragically killed in Wolverhampton in a knife attack in 2022 – his killers were under 18 and had been able to buy deadly knifes and swords online. Ronan’s Law’, introduced in memory of Ronan Kanda will require retailers to report any bulk or suspicious-looking purchases of knives on their platforms to police to prevent illegal resales happening across social media accounts. The government is also increasing the sentence for selling weapons to under 18s from 6 months to up to 2 years prison time. Read my full speech on tackling knife crime in the West Midlands here .  Dentistry On a visit to Edgbaston Dental Centre NHS dentistry has been left broken after years of neglect, with patients left in pain without appointments, or queueing around the block just to be seen.  Our Labour Government is delivering on our manifesto commitment to roll out 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments across the country, benefitting hundreds of thousands of patients. NHS England has written to integrated care boards (ICB) across the country, directing health chiefs in each region to stand up thousands of urgent appointments over the next year. “Dental deserts”, where patients struggle to get appointments, are being targeted. Read more here .  Violence Against Women and Girls Stating my commitment to end violence against women and girls To deliver on our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, our Labour Government has launched Raneem's Law to embed the first domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms. Raneem’s Law was established in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem, who were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband in August 2018. There were 13 reports made to the police about concerns for Raneem’s safety, but no arrests were made. On the night she was killed, she rang 999 four times, but the police did not respond in time. I’m glad that West Midlands Police is one of the five forces pioneering this new approach.  Read more here .  Arts and Culture Announcement  Outside Bartley Green Library Arts and culture are enjoyed by people across our country and make a huge contribution to our economy. I welcome the Government's announcement of over £270 million to support hundreds of arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector. Read more here . It’s also great news that regional growth and regeneration will get a much-needed boost as 10 major culture projects across the UK will receive more than £67 million in Government funding. This includes investment in our region:   £5 million for City Centre Cultural Gateway in Coventry, that will support the repurposing of the former IKEA building in Coventry city centre to become a new cultural and visitor attraction.     £2.3 million to three cultural projects in Worcester, these three projects will deliver new cultural and public spaces around the Scala arts venue  Read more here .  Baby Formula With Labour activist Elaine Hook at Quinton Baby Bank The price of baby formula is soaring, with the cheapest brand shooting up by 45% in just two years, way above inflation. This means, on average, a single tin costs an eye-watering £12, making it difficult for struggling families to feed their infants. It was great to see that the Competition and Markets Authority has said parents should be allowed to use vouchers and loyalty points to buy infant formula, a win for the Metro and charity Feed’s Formula for Change campaign. I backed the campaign to update the legislation that currently prohibits parents and carers from using cash equivalent methods, such as Nectar, Tesco Clubcard and Boots loyalty points, store gift cards, or grocery vouchers provided by foodbanks and local authorities, to purchase infant formula. Read my op-ed supporting the Formula for Change campaign here .    Co-op and Labour Event A clip of the session with Joe Fortune, General Secretary of the Co-operative Party As Parliamentary Group Chair of the Co-operative Party, it was great to take part in a session on the history of the co-operative movement and its relationship with the Labour Party. Thank you to all who attended.  Local News Welcoming Exceptional Funding Support for Birmingham With Birmingham City Council's executive team Birmingham City Council, the largest local authority in Europe, has been decimated by budget cuts under the Conservatives. Since 2010, the council has been stripped of £1 billion and as a result, residents have had to suffer cuts to vital services. Our Labour government is committed to working in partnership with councils and protecting the interests of local residents. I'm glad that our Labour Government has announced this week that Birmingham City Council, along with 29 other councils, will be receiving additional financial support through the Exceptional Financial Support process. Birmingham has been provided with an in-principle capitalisation for 24/25 of £490m and 25/26 of £180m, which will help the council recover from the financial challenges it faces. It's also welcome news that for the first time, additional expectations have been set to protect treasured community assets, culture and identity, with councils using capitalisation instructed not to dispose of community and heritage assets.  Dudley Road Walkabout  On a walkabout on Dudley Road On Tuesday, I joined Winson Green and Ladywood Police teams, Cllr Sharon Thompson and local community representatives on a walkabout on Dudley Road in North Edgbaston. I have had constituents contact me raising issues with crime, antisocial behaviour, flytipping and parking. I look forward to working with residents and the council to bring vital investment in the local area.  Speed Van Announcement On a speedwatch in the constituency Since I was elected as an MP, improving road safety has been a priority. I'm glad that thanks to my campaigning for tougher speeding measures, Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has committed to doubling the region's fleet of mobile speed camera vans. Read more here . Regional Energy Strategy With Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker The Mayor, Richard Parker, has launched a new Regional Energy Strategy for the West Midlands, which will help our region become a national leader in smart energy. The strategy outlines the powers and funding needed to introduce cutting-edge technology that will transform the way energy is generated, stored and used. This is another step towards a new era of cleaner, more resilient and cheaper energy and will support the transition to net zero. Read more here .  Potholes With Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander Since I was first elected, my inbox has been inundated with constituents who are frustrated about potholes on our roads. I have worked with the council to get potholes filled across the constituency and have onsistently campaigned for safer roads. It’s great news that Richard Parker has secured an extra £8 million – a 30% increase - in the region’s highway repair funding to fill more potholes and resurface bad roads. This is on top of the £24 million already awarded from the Government for 2025-6. You can read more here .  See my letter to Richard Parker asking about the allocation for my constituency, here: Kenrick Centre   It’s very disappointing news that the Kenrick Centre in Harborne, which supports adults with various needs and is a vital step-down service to support discharges from hospital, may close down. I have asked the council to retain the service by pooling resources with NHS partners locally. You can read my full letter here .    Missed Bins  Constituents have contacted me to say that their bin collections have been missed. You can report missed collections  here .    MHWC Next week, the MHWC will be visiting Leigham Drive in Quinton, B17 8AT, on Monday 24th February, and Hermitage Road in Edgbaston, B15 3UP, on Friday 28th February. The centre will be open between 7:30am and 1:00pm, so please do come along if you have bulky household waste to dispose of. Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton