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Birmingham MP welcomes 6% funding uplift for police force amid wave of knife crime in region  Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, has welcomed a major funding increase for West Midlands Police Force from the Government to help deliver on its mission to create safer streets. West Midlands Police will receive an additional £48 million for 2025-26, equivalent to a 6% funding boost. The announcement of new funding comes amid a series of tragic knife-related incidents in the West Midlands. Earlier this week, 12-year-old Leo Ross was murdered in Hall Green, Birmingham, after a knife attack on his way home from school. Under the Conservatives, knife crime rose drastically. In July, the ONS found knife crime in England and Wales had shot up by 78% over the past ten years. Enforcement for knife offences has also been remarkably low. Only 4 in 10 knife possession offences last year resulted in any formal criminal justice outcome, meaning that far too often, carrying a knife has not carried any consequences. This week, in a Parliamentary debate on knife crime in the West Midlands, Preet Kaur Gill MP expressed her concern about the rise of serious violence among young people and welcomed the Government’s commitment to halve knife crime in a decade. Labour is working to tackle violent crime in our communities by delivering a vital funding boost of up to £1 billion in 2025-2026 for police forces across England and Wales. This includes £100 million to kickstart the recruitment of 13,000 neighbourhood officers and £50 million for Violence Reduction Units to tackle knife crime.  Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said:   “Knife crime is a crisis in our communities. In recent years, I have been witness to some horrific cases – in every one, what strikes you immediately is the senselessness of it.  “We must work to prevent this awful crime and find a meaningful solution to the epidemic of young boys taking each other’s lives. “I welcome the Government’s much-needed funding boost to our police force, including a dedicated pot for tackling knife crime, accompanied by a package of measures to deliver on our commitment to halve knife crime in a decade.”  The government has set out a pathway to bring down knife crime:  A new Young Futures programme – with new Prevention Partnerships and youth hubs so we can intervene earlier to prevent at-risk young people from being drawn into violent crime  A ban on ninja sorts and fines for senior social media execs who fail to remove illegal knife crime content from their platforms  Online retailers to be forced to ask anyone buying a knife for two types of identification, with buyers asked to submit an identity document, such as a passport, and record a live video to prove their age  A new coalition to tackle knife-enabled crime, working together with technology companies, sport organisations, the health service, the police, and the families of victims  A new offence of criminal exploitation of children, to go after the gangs who are luring young people into violence and crime  A plan to plan to place youth workers and mentors in A&E units and Pupil Referral Units, to identify and help those children and young people who are victims of serious violence and exploitation  ENDS

Southport Keir Starmer's full statement on Southport stabbings What happened in Southport will remain one of most harrowing moments in our country’s history.  I know many of you will join with me in remembering Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Aguiar, and Bebe King. All of our thoughts are with the families and everyone affected by the unimaginable horrors that unfolded in Southport. We must make sure that this doesn’t happen again. We have launched a public inquiry and will review our entire counter-extremist system to make sure that we can face up to this new threat. Read Keir Starmer’s full statement here .  Knife Crime  From the debate on knife crime in the West Midlands This week, we tragically lost 12-year-old Leo Ross, who was fatally stabbed on his way home from school in Hall Green. Knife crime is a crisis in our communities. In recent years, I have been witness to some horrific cases – in every one, what strikes you immediately is the senselessness of it. Jordan Moazami was 18 years old, and described as a ‘role model’ by his peers – who was stabbed and killed on Tennal Road in my constituency in 2019.  Muhammad Hassam Ali, 17 years old, who was followed and killed by a 15-year-old after a four minute conversation in Birmingham City Centre. Dea-John Reid, my constituent, 14 years old, was hounded by a gang of five boys and grown men before being stabbed in the chest in 2021. Under the Conservatives, knife crime became an epidemic. In July, the ONS found knife crime in England and Wales had shot up by 78% over the past ten years.  Across England and Wales, there were 50,000 knife related crimes in the Year to March 2023, around 5,000 of those in the West Midlands Police Force area.  This week, I spoke in a debate on knife crime in the West Midlands, where I expressed my concern about the rise of serious violence among young people and welcomed the Government’s commitment to halve knife crime in a decade.  For far too long, it has been shockingly easy for our children to get their hands on deadly knives. The government has now introduced new laws which will require online retailers to ask anyone buying a knife for two types of identification, such as a passport or driving licence, and also record a live video to prove their age.  Labour is working to tackle violent crime in our communities by delivering a vital funding boost of up to £1 billion in 2025-2026 for police forces across England and Wales, with £48 million for West Midlands Police. This package includes £100 million to kickstart the recruitment of 13,000 neighbourhood officers and £50 million for Violence Reduction Units to tackle knife crime.  We have also announced a package of measures to help us achieve our mission to halve knife crime in a decade.  A new Young Futures programme – with new Prevention Partnerships and youth hubs so we can intervene earlier to prevent at-risk young people from being drawn into violent crime  A ban on ninja sorts and fines for senior social media execs who fail to remove illegal knife crime content from their platforms  Online retailers to be forced to ask anyone buying a knife for two types of identification, with buyers asked to submit an identity document, such as a passport, and record a live video to prove their age  A new coalition to tackle knife-enabled crime, working together with technology companies, sport organisations, the health service, the police, and the families of victims  A new offence of criminal exploitation of children, to go after the gangs who are luring young people into violence and crime  A plan to plan to place youth workers and mentors in A&E units and Pupil Referral Units, to identify and help those children and young people who are victims of serious violence and exploitation  Housing Talking about Labour's plan for growth in the King's Speech Building debate If we want growth, we need the infrastructure to support it.  For 14 years, the Conservatives have let Nimbys and zealots clog up our legal system and stop the government building the infrastructure Britain needs. This Labour Government is backing the builders, not the blockers. We’re fast-tracking 150 infrastructure projects, giving us the GP surgeries, roads, railways, the reservoirs and grids for the new homes, towns and villages we’re going to build.   We’re also scrapping the excessive three attempts to challenge decisions in the courts to stop blockers getting in the way of the government’s central mission to grow the economy. Read more here.   Fraud With Prime Minister Keir Starmer This week, we have launched the biggest welfare fraud crackdown in a generation. This means welfare fraudsters who cheated the taxpayer out of £7 billion last year could be banned from driving if they repeatedly fail to reimburse the public and repay their debt. Read more here .    Business and Trade  With Chancellor Rachel Reeves With Labour in government, the UK has now risen to become the second-most attractive global destination for international investment, according to global CEOs.  We are delivering investment to grow our economy and make working people better off. Read more here .  Security Preet at a morning briefing with the police A major deal, worth approximately £9 billion, has been struck with British firm Rolls-Royce to bolster support to the Royal Navy’s fleet of nuclear submarines, boosting national security and economic growth. This represents a major boost for economic growth, creating and maintaining 5,000 long-term UK jobs. Read more here .  Ethnicities Bill Speaking about my Ten Minute Rule Bill Sikhs and Jews have been legally recognised as ethnic groups for over 40 years. Both are in the unique position of being recognised as both an ethnicity and a religion in the Equality Act 2010. But both communities have been missed out by public bodies not recording them as ethnic groups. I have presented a bill to Parliament which will would provide that, where a public body collects data about ethnicity for the purpose of delivering public services, it must include specific “Sikh” and “Jewish” categories as options for a person’s ethnic group.  Read my full piece for Politics Home here .   3D Guns This week, an extremist was arrested and found to be in possession of 3D printing gun instructions. It’s terrifying how easy it is for these blueprints to get into the wrong hands. I have presented a bill to Parliament which would make it illegal to download and possess the blueprints to 3D-print a gun. You can read more about my bill here .  Trade Remedies Authority Hosting Trade Remedies Parliamentary Reception It was great to host the Trade Remedies Parliamentary Reception, bringing together industry leaders, producers, policy makers and Parliamentarians. The work they do is vital in defending UK economic interests against unfair international trading practices.  University of Birmingham With UoB in Parliament After I visited the University of Birmingham to hear about an education toolkit they were launching, it was great to meet again in Parliament to learn more about how this pack of resources can help primary schools to involve all pupils in developing a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. I would urge schools to consult the toolkit. You can find it, and more information, here.   Local News - Birmingham City Council With the Joanne Roney (far left) and Rishi Shori (right) This week, it was great to meet with the new Senior Leadership Team at Birmingham City Council, including Managing Director Joanne Roney and Deputy Chief Executive Rishi Shori.   I look forward to working together to address some of the city’s challenges along with sharing its successes too. I raised the Hagley Road Metro Scheme, how to deliver more housing, libraries and day centre cuts. I'm glad the council has listened to my suggestions and is encouraging local groups to take over or partner with facilities at risk, like libraries. I asked the council if they could provide more information about how these groups can express their interest. Read my full letter to Rob Pocock here .  Leasehold Speaking about freehold in the Chamber I wrote to First Post on behalf of several constituents who have contacted me about financial mismanagement and poor service they have received from FirstPort acting as their managing agent. The slow transfer of funds from Firstport has been causing serious issues to leaseholders in my constituency. I asked FirstPort to ensure that this money is transferred as soon as possible. Read my full letter here: Harborne Ward Forum The next ward meeting for Harborne ward will take place on Monday 17th February, 6.30pm at Harborne Leisure Centre, Lordswood Road, Harborne, B17 9QS. I hope you’ll be able to attend to raise any issues you face in your area.  Keep Warm and Well The Edgbaston Neighbourhood Network Scheme are holding a Keep Warm and Well community event in Bartley Green. There will be members of the community, various organisations with stalls, and will be offering lifestyle checks, welfare benefit checks, home energy advice and more.     The event takes place on Monday 3rd February 10am to 2pm at Milebrook Hall, Field Lane, Bartley Green, Birmingham B32 3JT.  Local Alliance I’m pleased to announce that the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City Football Club (BCFC) have announced a strategic alliance, creating opportunities in research, education and health, raising aspirations across Birmingham, and enhancing the city’s reputation on the global stage. The alliance will enable the University community of 40,000 students and 8,000 staff to have access to a local football club, providing internships, job opportunities and entertainment. BCFC’s Academy will also benefit from a sophisticated character education programme, developed by the University.   Read more here . MHWC On Monday, 27th January, the MHWC will be visiting Simmons Drive in Quinton, B32 1SL, and on Wednesday, 29th January, Glencoe Road in North Edgbaston, B16 0PB. The centre will be open between 07:30 and 13:00, so please do come along if you have any 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

Preet Kaur Gill MP outside Chad Vale Primary School At the recent Budget, the Labour government took tough decisions to fix the foundations and deliver change. By taking these decisions, we’ll be able to make crucial investments in our public services.  A favourite measure of mine, because I know how much of a difference it will make to families in Birmingham, is the tripling of government investment in breakfast clubs. New research has shown that 110,706 primary school children in Birmingham could benefit from free breakfast clubs, with Labour’s Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill now making its way through Parliament. Breakfast clubs have a dual-purpose. Firstly, they’re proven to boost attendance and attainment, they will ensure children start the day ready to learn. Evidence shows that providing a healthy school breakfast at the start of the school day can contribute to increased concentration as well as improved wellbeing and behaviour. At the same time, they are a valuable source of childcare for parents at the beginning of the day. The clubs are estimated to save parents £450 a year. Research shows over half of parents say they have problems finding formal childcare that is flexible enough to fit their needs, while four in ten of mothers say they have had to work fewer hours than they would like because of childcare costs. Together, these breakfast clubs will boost parents’ work choices and children’s life chances. That’s why it’s such a shame that under the Tories, these clubs were available in just one in ten primary schools across England. Labour will make them available for all our children.  This government’s mission is to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child and at every stage. That means that where you’re from, shouldn’t determine where you end up. If you work hard, you should be able to get on in life. That’s the ordinary hope of British people, that’s what our mission will restore. As part of Keir Starmer’s Plan for Change, Labour is determined to give children in Birmingham the best start in life. It’s clear to me, from my conversations on the doorstep, that free breakfast clubs will play a key role in meeting that milestone.

Renters across Birmingham will be saved from forking up to thousands of pounds in rent upfront thanks to new plans introduced to Parliament by the Labour government today.   Currently, there is no limit to how many months rent landlords can require tenants to pay upfront to secure a property. This loophole - coupled with high demand for rental properties - has resulted in some landlords forcing tenants to pay extortionate sums of money upfront, in the form of several months' rent, before securing a tenancy. Deposit Protection Scheme data shows that, between May and December last year, 1 in 8 surveyed landlords asked for between four and six months' rent upfront for one of their rental properties. Under new measures introduced as part of Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill, the amount of rent landlords can demand in advance will be limited to a maximum of one month’s rent. The bill also includes a raft of measures to boost renters' rights, abolish no fault evictions, apply Awaab’s Law to the sector and ensure landlords do not unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home. Labour’s actions stand in stark contrast to the previous Conservative government who shelved plans to boost renters’ rights, leaving households exposed to spiralling costs and poor housing. Preet Kaur Gill, Local MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said: “For too long, renters in my constituency Have had to find large sums of cash upfront, meaning they are pushed into debt or have to go without essential living costs. “Today’s announcement will protect tenants who do not have upfront funds from being blocked from the private rented sector. It’s just one of the ways that this Labour Government is working for us in Birmingham, Edgbaston.” Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “Labour will put an end to renters being charged eye-watering up-front costs when they take on a new tenancy. “Whilst the Tories completely failed to deliver on their promises to renters and bowed to vested interests on their benches, Labour’s Renter’s Rights Bill will transform the rights of renters, ending rental bidding wars and ‘no fault evictions’ for good. “Labour is getting on with our Plan for Change, increasing living standards across the country and putting more money in working people’s pockets.”  ENDS

“Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse are the most despicable, appalling crimes, affecting some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our society. “As a former Children Services Manager in Birmingham, I worked at the front line of protecting vulnerable children in our city for many years. I have uncovered abuse cases and even paedophile rings in my line of my work, and I am proud to have played my part in putting child abusers behind bars. “Some issues should be above party politics, so I am glad that the new Government has committed to pursuing justice for victims and survivors of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse who have been badly let down for far too long.  “It is excellent news that Baroness Casey will be taking forward a rapid review into the scale and nature of grooming gangs offences in this country today because we know that official figures will be a significant underestimate given the vast levels of exploitation and abuse that go unreported and unidentified in some of ours towns and cities.  “It's important the systems in place for reporting these crimes command the confidence of victims and survivors, and I hope that politicians on all sides of the aisle will support the significant package of measures announced today.”

* Introduction of major new legislation for the water sector will deliver the most significant increase in enforcement powers in a decade   * Water (Special Measures) Bill hands new powers to regulators to ban bonuses and impose tougher penalties for law-breaking, including imprisonment for water bosses   * In a speech this week, the Secretary of State outlined his long-term vision to reform the sector and clean up water pollution   The Labour Government has introduced major legislation to crack down on water bosses polluting Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas - the most significant increase in enforcement powers in a decade.   Record levels of sewage were pumped into Britain's rivers in 2023, the final full year of the Conservative government. The number of hours of sewage spilling into our waterways in Birmingham, Edgbaston skyrocketed by 69%, to 360 hours in 2023, compared to 213 in 2022.  The Water (Special Measures) Bill has been introduced to parliament and will give regulators new powers to take tougher and faster action to crack down on water companies damaging the environment and failing their customers.  The Bill delivers on the manifesto pledges to clean up the water sector, including significantly increasing the ability of the Environment Agency to bring forward criminal charges against lawbreaking water executives. It will create new tougher penalties, including imprisonment, for water executives when companies fail to co-operate or obstruct investigations.   The new legislation will also ban the payment of bonuses to water bosses if they fail to meet high standards to protect the environment, their consumers and their company’s finances.   Other measures in the Bill include severe and automatic fines for a range of offences, including allowing regulators to issue penalties more quickly, without having to direct resources to lengthy investigations. It will also introduce independent monitoring of every sewage outlet, with water companies required to publish real-time data for all emergency overflows. Discharges will have to be reported within an hour of the initial spill.   Preet Kaur Gill MP, said:   “14 years of Conservative failure has meant raw toxic sewage is being pumped into our waterways in Birmingham, Edgbaston.   “That is why the Labour government has introduced immediate action to end the disgraceful behaviour of water companies and their bosses.   “Under this Labour Government, water executives will no longer line their own pockets whilst pumping out this filth. If they refuse to comply, they could end up in the dock and face prison time.   “This Bill is a major step forward in our wider reform to fix the broken water system. The Labour Government will outline further legislation to fundamentally transform how the water industry is run and speed up the delivery of upgrades to our sewage infrastructure to clean up our waterways for good.

• Government consults with British Medical Association on measures including largest boost to GP funding in years and reducing outdated targets to free up time   • Reforms are part of Government’s Plan for Change to get more patients through the NHS front door and bring back the family doctor GPs in Birmingham, Edgbaston will be able to spend more time treating patients under Labour’s proposed reforms to general practice which will bring back the family doctor and slash red tape. Preet Kaur Gill MP has today welcomed Labour’s plans to bring back the family doctor and end the 8am scramble for appointments – key manifesto commitments with action being taken to deliver on those promises and get the NHS back on its feet. Under the proposals, patients in Birmingham, Edgbaston, including those with complex needs, long-term conditions, or the elderly would experience greater continuity of care. The proposals fall under the new GP contract for 2025/26, which is now out for consultation with the British Medical Association’s General Practice Committee to provide its feedback. The proposals are backed by the biggest boost to GP funding in years – an extra £889m on top of the existing budget for general practice. The proposed measures would also reduce the number of outdated performance targets that GPs must meet, in a further step to reduce bureaucracy and ensure doctors can spend more time with their patients. Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said: “When I knock on doors in my constituency, I hear time and time again the difficulty that residents have in making a GP appointment and how important the front door to our NHS is to them and their families. “I promised residents in Birmingham, Edgbaston that we would help bring back the family doctor and I’m delighted to see proposals that would deliver on that promise.” Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “General practice is buckling under the burden of bureaucracy, with GPs filling out forms instead of treating patients. It is clear the system is broken, which is why we are slashing red tape, binning outdated performance targets, and instead freeing doctors up to do their jobs. “We promised to bring back the family doctor, but we want to be judged by results - not promises. That’s why we will incentivise GPs to ensure more and more patients see the same doctor at each appointment.   “Through our Plan for Change, we are acting to fix the front door to the NHS and we have already started hiring an extra 1,000 GPs into the NHS. “We are proposing substantial additional investment and greater flexibility to employ doctors so patients get better care. I call on GPs to now work with us to get the NHS back on its feet and end their collective action.”   ENDS   Notes to editors   • The Government will now consult on its proposals for the GP Contract 2025/26 with the British Medical Association’s General Practice Committee over the coming weeks, before unveiling it in Spring 2025.   • Through the Budget, the Government is also investing an extra £100 million to upgrade GP estates across England, making facilities fit to deliver effective, quality care as well as starting to hire 1,000 extra GPs.   • There are already hundreds more full-time GPs than when the government took control, and proposed changes to the contract would provide further staffing support by making the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme more flexible, helping to tackle GP unemployment.   • The government has also already committed to producing a refreshed workforce plan in the summer with a focus on shifting care from hospitals and into the community.

Israel-Gaza The release of hostages and a ceasefire have always been the pre-conditions for peace. Provided a deal is agreed, the breakthrough this week will be a huge relief for millions who have been through hell over the past 15 months. After the false dawns of 2024, I am hopeful that we can now finally bring the bloodshed to an end. We need to now see a surge in humanitarian aid and all hostages released. The international community must not rest until we secure a lasting peace, with stability, sovereignty and security for both Israelis and Palestinians at its heart. You can read the Prime Minister’s statement here .  Ukraine Yesterday, the Prime Minister signed a landmark 100 Year Partnership with Ukraine to deepen security ties and strengthen our partnership for future generations. This deal is not just about the here and now, but about investment in our two countries for the next century, bringing together technology development, scientific advances and cultural exchanges, and harnessing the phenomenal innovation shown by Ukraine in recent years for generations to come. Find out more here .  Renters Rights Bill Speaking to ITV about section 21 evictions For too long, private renters in my constituency have had to live day in day out not knowing if they and their families could be uprooted from their homes with little notice and minimal justification. Many have also been expected to find large sums of cash upfront when trying to find somewhere to live, meaning they are pushed into debt or have to go without essential living costs. This week, I voted to end no fault evictions for good and to protect tenants who do not have upfront funds from being blocked from the private rented sector. Find out more about the new protections for tenants introduced in Labour’s Renters Rights Bill here .  AI Opportunities Action Plan Keir Starmer's full speech on AI This week, the Government announced our AI Opportunities Action Plan to make Britain the world leader and driving incredible change in our country.   Artificial Intelligence will be the centrepiece of this Government’s industrial strategy. We'll create dedicated AI Growth Zones to speed up planning for infrastructure, meaning more jobs and investment in the UK and more money in people’s pockets. Find out more how our plans to turbocharge AI will make people better off here . Key recommendations  Create AI Growth Zones (AIGZs) - areas with enhanced access to power and streamlined planning approvals, to accelerate the build out of AI infrastructure on UK soil. Growth Zones will pioneer innovative public-private models to deliver secure, dedicated public-sector computing capacity, supporting key national priorities, including to develop one of the UK’s largest AI data centres, beginning with 100MW of capacity and with plans to scale up to 500MW. The first pilot AI Growth Zone will be at Culham, in Oxfordshire, a world-renowned hub for clean energy and fusion research.   Expand our sovereign compute capacity by at least 20x by 2030 – as compute needs grow such expansion is critical if the UK is to keep pace.   Establish an AI Energy Council with industry leaders from the energy and AI sectors, which the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology will co-chair with the Energy Secretary - to provide expert insight on the energy needs of AI and the development of innovative energy solutions.   Launch a new dedicated team tasked with strengthening our sovereign AI capabilities by supporting high-potential frontier AI companies in the UK. This team will work across Number 10 and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, partnering with fast-growing firms and leveraging every tool at our disposal to ensure they can access the compute capacity, data, and global talent they need to succeed.  Early Years Support As an ex-children's services manager, I'm delighted that families in Birmingham will be able to access early years support such as pregnancy support, infant feeding advice, and parenting classes following a £3.7 m funding boost from the Government. The first two years of a child’s life lay the building blocks for their physical and emotional wellbeing into adulthood. That’s why we are investing in early years, as part of our Plan for Change, to improve access to services in deprived areas to ensure no-one is left behind. Find out more about how families in Birmingham will benefit here .  Statement on Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse are the most despicable, appalling crimes, affecting some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our society. As a former Children Services Manager in Birmingham, I worked at the front line of protecting vulnerable children in our city for many years. I have uncovered abuse cases and even paedophile rings in my line of my work, and I am proud to have played my part in putting child abusers behind bars. Some issues should be above party politics, so I am glad that the new Government has committed to pursuing justice for victims and survivors of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse who have been badly let down for far too long.   It is excellent news that Baroness Casey will be taking forward a rapid review into the scale and nature of grooming gangs offences in this country today because we know that official figures will be a significant underestimate given the vast levels of exploitation and abuse that go unreported and unidentified in some of our towns and cities. It's important the systems in place for reporting these crimes command the confidence of victims and survivors, and I hope that politicians on all sides of the aisle will support the significant package of measures announced today. As well as committing national support to local inquiries, the government has announced £10 million funding to pursue justice for victims and survivors, urge police forces to review unsolved and closed cases, empower more victims to be able to request a review of their cases and launch a rapid audit into the scale of grooming gangs announced.  Economy Speaking in the Chamber after the Chancellor's statement on her visit to China This week, I spoke in the Commons after the Chancellor’s statement on her visit to China, helping to secure growth for the UK economy. While Members on the Conservative benches were carping about our Chancellor’s whereabouts, she was having serious discussions with the world's second largest economy and securing access for UK firms. Only Labour is serious about growth.  UHB Asking the Health Secretary about waiting times in the Chamber In my constituency, University Hospitals Birmingham recently had to declare a critical incident due to immense pressure on services. This is very worrying – everyone should be able to access urgent care when they need it. In Parliament, I asked the Health Secretary if he agreed with me that shifting the focus of healthcare from hospital to community would have a consequential impact on the number of people in hospitals.  Safe Surgery Meeting with Professor Dion this week It was fantastic to meet Professor Dion from The National Institute for Health and Care Research Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery at the University of Birmingham. Poor surgical practice leads to more deaths worldwide than tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and malaria combined. Through the 100 4 100 campaign, the university works with 50,000 surgical teams across 120 countries saving thousands of lives worldwide. I look forward to working together on sustainability in healthcare.  SEND At the SEND Access for All Parliamentary event It was great to attend the SEND Access for All event in Parliament this week, hosted by the Thomas Pocklington Club. Theirs is a campaign designed and led by youth champions to improve learning experiences and outcomes for students with SEND. It was wonderful to hear more about how we can improve access for all.  Open Doors At the World Watch List launch event in Parliament In Parliament, I attended the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 launch event. Over 300 million Christians face persecution worldwide. It’s vital as Parliamentarians that we speak up and use our voice for those facing persecution simply for practising their religion – a fundamental human right. I spoke to Open Doors about the importance of their work – you can read the article here .  3D Guns I was very concerned to discover that a man in the West Midlands attempted to 3D-print a gun at home. This is a very worrying trend that we are seeing replicated across the country.    I've presented a Bill to Parliament that would make it an offence to download and possess a blue print for making a 3D gun.     I spoke to the BBC about my Bill – read the article here .      Potholes  Labour is serious about fixing our roads. 14 years of Tory decline have left our roads in a disgraceful state, with 100 times more potholes on our roads than craters on the moon. I know that potholes are a blight on the lives of drivers in Birmingham. Since being elected, I have worked with countless constituents to get potholes filled and make our roads safer. Please report any potholes to me, by calling 0121 392 8426, between 9am and 5pm, or email preet.gill.mp@parliament.uk . Labour is investing in our roads. We will invest £1.6 billion this year to fix millions of potholes, including £8.6 million allocated for the West Midlands.   Read more about our plans here .  PACT meeting   Preet Kaur Gill with West Midlands Police The next police meeting for Edgbaston and Harborne residents will be held on 23rd January at 6pm at University of Birmingham Old Gym, Ring Road South, B15 2TT Room LG10. Please do come along if you have any issues that you would like to raise with the police.   Speeding  This week, I wrote to residents on Augustus Road and Gillhurst Road about speeding. As a resident that frequently walks along these roads, I know that there are particular problems in the area, which is why I have been working with the police, council and the community to tackle the issue. For example, I set up a community neighbourhood speed watch to deter dangerous driving in the community. In the coming weeks, I will be joined by officers from Birmingham City Council on Augustus Road and will be raising the concerns residents have shared with me and will be looking for them to introduce better safety measures in the area - the council are currently conducting a road classification review, which is looking to downgrade a number of roads around Harborne and Edgbaston as part of wider plans to direct traffic heading in and out of the city centre away from these areas altogether.    If you are concerned about road safety, please contact my office by calling 0121 392 8426, between 9am and 5pm, or email  preet.gill.mp@parliament.uk .  University of Birmingham I’d like to wish the University of Birmingham a very happy birthday as it marks 125 years since Queen Victoria granted its Royal Charter. From its wonderful student community, world-class education and research, UOB is a huge asset to our city. Many happy returns!  MHWC On Monday, 27th January, the MHWC will be visiting Simmons Drive in Quinton, B32 1SL, and on Wednesday, 29th January, Glencoe Road in North Edgbaston, B16 0PB. The centre will be open between 07:30 and 13:00, so please do come along if you have any 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 announces £8.6 million to fix potholes in the West Midlands as part of record £1.6 billion investment across England for 2025/6   • The Government is also clamping down on disruptive street works   • Funding goes well beyond the Labour’s manifesto pledge, helping councils fix the equivalent of seven million potholes next year and saving drivers hundreds of pounds in repairs   • England’s roads have been plagued by potholes for too long, and the Government is investing to boost infrastructure as part of its Plan for Change   Preet Kaur Gill MP, Labour Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Edgbaston, has today marked National Pothole Day by welcoming the Government’s plans for safer roads. This comes in the form of up to £8.6 million to repair roads and fix potholes in the West Midlands, as part of a record national £1.6 billion investment to repair road networks in England. The landmark investment – an increase of nearly 50% on local road maintenance funding from last year – goes well beyond the Government’s manifesto pledge and is enough to fix the equivalent of over seven million extra potholes nationally in 2025/26. Across England, local highways authorities will receive a 40% uplift in funding on average as the Government looks to rebuild Britain as part of its Plan for Change. Fixing our roads and filling potholes not only makes roads safer, but they also improve journey times and save drivers money from avoidable repairs. It comes as figures from the RAC show for drivers in the West Midlands the cost of pothole damage to vehicles is around £500 on average a year, with more severe repairs costing considerably more. According to the AA, fixing potholes is a priority for 96 per cent of drivers. The public is also being encouraged to report potholes in through a dedicated Gov.uk page: https://www.gov.uk/report-pothole .   Labour’s approach is in stark contrast to the Tories’. Under the last Government, damage to cars cost drivers almost £500m and car insurance went up by more than £200 on average in just two years. To further protect motorists given continued cost-of-living pressures and potential fuel price volatility amid global uncertainty, Labour froze fuel duty at current levels for another year at the last budget, saving the average car driver £59. This Labour Government is delivering its Plan for Change with investment and reform to deliver growth, improving living standards in the West Midlands and across the country by putting more money in people’s pockets and rebuilding Britain. Preet Kaur Gill, Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said:   “On National Pothole Day, I am delighted that this Labour Government is doing things differently and taking swift action to fix our roads. Drivers have been plagued by potholes for too long, after 14 long years of Tory neglect. Under the Conservatives the situation spiralled out of control, with pothole damage costing drivers almost £500 million.” ”The impact of this funding will be transformative, with journeys in Birmingham made safer, quicker and cheaper for drivers. This announcement goes well beyond the promises we made in our manifesto at the last election and shows that we’re serious about our Plan for Change, which will focus on investment and growth to put more money in people’s pockets and rebuilding Britain.”   Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Potholes have plagued motorists for far too long, but this record investment will start to reverse a decade of decline on our country’s roads. “Too many drivers have to endure an obstacle course when on the roads – whether that’s to go to work, pick up children from school, or see friends. Potholes damage cars and make pedestrians and cyclists less safe. We are investing £1.6bn to fix up to seven million more potholes next year. “This government is firmly on the side of drivers. Every area of England will get extra cash to tackle this problem once and for all. We have gone beyond our manifesto commitment to back motorists and help raise living standards in every part of the country.”   ENDS Notes to editors:   • National Pothole Day takes place on the 15th January   • The breakdown for funding across England is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/highways-maintenance-fundingallocations/highways-maintenance-block-formula-allocations-2025-to-2026

Preet Kaur Gill MP at Quinton Baby Bank • Birmingham is expected to receive at least £3,664,300 through family hubs and the Start for Life programme.  • Funding part of £126 million boost for families to give every child the best start of life and deliver on Labour’s Plan for Change.  Families and children in Birmingham will be able to access early years support such as pregnancy support, infant feeding advice, parenting classes and other support to give their child the best start in life, following a £126 million Government funding boost – delivering on the Labour’s Plan for Change.  Birmingham is expected to receive at least £3,664,300 as part of the wider investment increase.  Children’s early years are crucial to their development, health and life chances. Antenatal classes, health visitors, parenting support, baby and toddler groups and access to affordable, high-quality early education and childcare – all are vital to guiding parents and supporting child development. Yet over 80% of parents have said they struggled to access services.  As part of our Plan for Change we’re committed to strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood and improve long term outcomes for children - including through today’s investment in Family Hubs and the Start for Life programme.    Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston said:  “As an ex-children's services manager, I am absolutely delighted that families and children in Birmingham, Edgbaston will be able to access early years support through this funding boost from the Government.  “Families in Birmingham, Edgbaston elected a Labour government to give every child the best possible start in life, and that is what we’re delivering.  “Given the cuts to children's centres made by the last government, this will make such a huge difference for so many families in our community and I know that the impact will be felt for years to come.”  Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said: “This crucial investment provides a strong foundation to deliver our commitment to raise the healthiest generation of children ever, by giving parents the support they need to ensure their baby has the best start in life. “The first two years of a child’s life lay the building blocks for their physical and emotional wellbeing into adulthood. That’s why we are investing in early years, as part of our Plan for Change, to improve access to services in deprived areas to ensure no-one is left behind.”  ENDS Notes for editors     Around £57 million will be made available to 75 local authorities with high levels of deprivation in 2025-26. This will provide a raft of support through Start for Life services to families with babies, from pregnancy up to the age of two.     It comes on top of the £69 million announced in the Budget for a network of family hubs, which act as a one-stop-shop for families to get help with infant feeding advice, parenting classes and perinatal mental health support, among other areas.     The figures below are provisional funding allocations that the 75 programme local authorities will be eligible to receive for the financial year 2025-26. Final figures will be confirmed in due course.     Local Authority Total  Hartlepool £939,800  Middlesbrough £1,102,500  Redcar and Cleveland £1,010,100  Halton £1,007,900  Blackburn with Darwen £1,131,800  Blackpool £1,038,900  Kingston upon Hull, City of £1,375,500  North East Lincolnshire £1,056,700  North Lincolnshire £1,071,500  Derby £1,338,300  Leicester £1,637,100  Nottingham £1,460,300  Telford and Wrekin £1,159,300  Stoke-on-Trent £1,357,600  Bristol, City of £1,718,900  Plymouth £1,251,600  Torbay £965,700  Peterborough £1,290,600  Luton £1,402,900  Thurrock £1,209,000  Medway £1,415,000  Portsmouth £1,177,300  Southampton £1,280,800  Isle of Wight £956,600  County Durham £1,684,300  Cornwall £1,716,500  Bedford £1,168,000  Northumberland £1,281,300  North Northamptonshire £1,519,400  Bolton £1,474,000  Manchester £2,115,300  Oldham £1,381,400  Rochdale £1,311,300  Salford £1,423,900  Tameside £1,251,800  Knowsley £1,130,600  Liverpool £1,769,900  St. Helens £1,115,800  Barnsley £1,257,000  Doncaster £1,419,300  Rotherham £1,322,100  Sheffield £1,911,100  Newcastle upon Tyne £1,376,200  South Tyneside £1,034,200  Sunderland £1,294,000  Birmingham £3,664,300  Coventry £1,583,700  Dudley £1,441,000  Sandwell £1,619,700  Walsall £1,449,400  Wolverhampton £1,422,800  Bradford £2,134,200  Calderdale £1,166,600  Wakefield £1,505,200  Gateshead £1,129,100  Barking and Dagenham £1,417,600  Brent £1,576,400  Camden £1,143,000  Croydon £1,709,000  Enfield £1,535,700  Greenwich £1,472,500  Hackney £1,385,700  Haringey £1,330,600  Hounslow £1,443,400  Islington £1,177,200  Lambeth £1,342,400  Lewisham £1,440,400  Newham £1,744,100  Southwark £1,379,100  Tower Hamlets £1,486,800  Waltham Forest £1,476,800  East Sussex £1,686,800  Kent £4,099,400  Lincolnshire £2,103,000  Norfolk £2,343,500

NHS This week, the Prime Minister announced plans to make millions more NHS appointments available to patients closer to home. In my constituency, I’ve seen NHS waiting lists skyrocket, leaving thousands of my constituents suffering or in pain with their lives on hold.   We have announced a variety of reforms to cut waiting lists. We will:  Slash NHS waiting times from 18 months to 18 weeks   Make sure community diagnostic centres will operate longer hours (12 hours a day, seven days a week) for faster, local treatment outside hospitals   Make a deal with private clinics to treat NHS patients – with particular emphasis on joint operations and gynaecological procedures     Find out more about our plan to cut waiting lists here .  The Prime Minister has also set out plans to give more power to patients over their healthcare. Patients will also benefit from:   An upgraded NHS App will enable patients to choose providers, book appointments in more settings and receive test results, all in one place   The establishment of minimum standards patients should expect as they wait for care    The ability to view and manage appointments at a time and place that is convenient to them, reducing missed appointments  Find out more about our plan to give more power to patients here .  Immigration Since coming into power, this government has taken swift and robust action to secure our borders. We’ve already smashed our targets and returned 16,400 people with no right to be here, the highest number in more than half a decade. This week, we launched a world first sanctions regime to cripple people smuggling crime rings and starve them of the illicit finance fuelling their operations We are delivering on our commitment to protect the UK’s borders. This new regime will boost our ability to prevent, combat, deter and disrupt irregular migration and hold the perpetrators accountable. Find out more here .  Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill Preet with students at St Mary's Catholic Primary in Harborne As an ex-children's services manager, I have worked with thousands children who have been failed by a disjointed system. The landmark Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which passed its Second Reading in Parliament this week, will finally stop vulnerable children falling through the cracks through historic reforms to safeguarding and children’s social care. Our bill will:  Introduce a register for children that are not in school  Fund free breakfast clubs, saving £450 per child Cap the number of branded school uniform items, saving £50 per child  You can read more about our safeguarding reforms and plans to break down the barriers to opportunity  here . On Wednesday, the Conservatives had a chance to back our plans to protect vulnerable children from abuse. They failed to do so. If they truly cared about the safety and wellbeing of children and young people, they would support our bill because the measures already set out are designed to keep children safe and protected. The Conservatives have suggested they were calling for a public inquiry into grooming gangs. What they were actually doing was trying to kill our bill altogether. Here is the text of their amendment:  I have been shocked by the politics being played by the Conservatives. This isn't about political manoeuvring - it's about the safety of our children. Ticket touting Preet at the Carabao Cup final For too long, fans have faced an uphill battle to find face value tickets to see their favourite artist perform or sports team play live. These unfair practices look to fleece people of their hard-earned income, which isn’t fair on fans, venues and artists.  Labour is launching a consultation to put fans back at the heart of live events. The consultation will explore a range of options to make ticket resales fairer and more transparent, which include:  Introducing a cap on the price of ticket resales  Increasing the accountability of ticket resale website and apps  Strengthening consumer enforcement  Find out more about the consultation  here .  Violence Against Women and Girls In a general debate this week about Violence against Women and Girls, our Labour government reaffirmed our unprecedented ambition to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. As an ex-children’s services manger, I have more than 30 years' experience supporting women facing domestic abuse and sexual violence. I welcome Labour’s many commitments to tackling violence against women and girls, including: Fast-tracking rape cases through the courts and introducing specialist rape courts to deliver swift and effective justice  Police given powers to issue Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) Empowering police to give women the right to know the identity of their online stalkers, strengthening stalking protection orders and ensuring that the police work with all support services to give victims the protection they deserve Find out more here .  Libraries Preet outside Bartley Green Library Libraries are vital community spaces. They're a base for reading, learning, and wider community activities. For months, I’ve been campaigning to save the libraries in my constituency – Harborne, Quinton and Bartley Green. I'd strongly encourage all groups concerned about maintaining our libraries in the constituency to register their interest with the council. You can read my latest letter here . Buses Consultation With Keir Starmer in the constituency Have your say about greater public control of our bus network by taking part in the ongoing consultation. You can share your views, and find out more about bus franchising, here. Police meeting At a morning briefing with police The next police meeting for Edgbaston and Harborne residents will be held on 23rd January at 6pm at University of Birmingham Old Gym, Ring Road South, B15 2TT Room LG10. Please do come along if you have any issues that you would like to raise with the police.   MHWC On Friday 17th January, the MHWC will be visiting Ferncliffe Road in Harborne, B17 0QG. The centre will be open between 7:30am and 1pm, so please do come along if you have any bulky household waste to dispose of.    John Alden  I was very sad to hear of the passing of John Alden. John was a respected figure in our community and his contributions will be remembered by many.  I’m sure many of you will join me in extending your condolences to Cllr Deirdre Alden and her family.  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 at St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Harborne - Labour’s Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to receive Second Reading in Parliament, putting children’s interests at the heart of government policy  - Landmark reforms include measures to improve school standards, ease cost of living for parents and strengthen children’s safeguarding   - Bill to deliver on commitments to rollout free breakfast clubs in Birmingham, Edgbaston and cap number of branded uniform items Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, has today (Wednesday 8th January 2025) come out in support of a landmark children’s bill, designed to put children and their wellbeing at the centre of government policy, as it makes its way through Parliament.   The focus of Labour’s Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill is to make ‘child-centred government’ a reality through a series of reforms to deliver on the government's mission to break down the barriers to opportunity.   Central to the bill are a number of measures to cut the cost of sending children to school and make life easier for families in Birmingham, Edgbaston, notably including a cap on the number of branded school uniform items. It comes as research shows almost half of parents are concerned by the cost of uniform and over 1 in 10 experience financial hardship as a result. Estimates show the legislation could save parents over £50 per child on the back to school shop. Accompanied by Labour’s plan for free breakfast clubs in primary schools, to save families an estimated £450 per year per child, the bill contains measures that could keep a sizeable £500 in parents’ pockets. In addition to steps to ease the burden on families, Labour have outlined a number of reforms to schools in order to drive high and rising standards. This includes putting more qualified, expert teachers at the front of classrooms and rolling out a new, cutting-edge national curriculum designed to ensure young people are ready for work and ready for life. In response to a number of shocking cases of children being failed by a disjointed system over recent years, the Labour government has also brought forward a number of measures within the bill to protect children at risk of abuse and stop vulnerable children falling through the cracks. Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said: “Measures in this bill will make a real difference to the household finances of families and the life chances of children across Birmingham, Edgbaston. “As an ex-children's services manager, I have worked with countless children who have been failed by a disjointed system. This landmark legislation will finally stop vulnerable children falling through the cracks through historic reforms to safeguarding and children’s social care. “From my regular engagement with constituents on the doorstep, I also know how much parents will value having a free breakfast club at their local primary and a cheaper back to school shop. “I’ll back this legislation every step of the way to break down the barriers to opportunity for children in Birmingham, Edgbaston.” Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, said: “This bill will be a seminal moment for the Labour government as we put our vision of child-centred government into action. “The bill will allow us to lead pragmatic, but radical, reform to drive high and rising standards in schools, make lives easier for families by cutting the cost of sending children to school and make real, lasting change by stopping children from falling through cracks. “Children in our country deserve the best start in life, nothing less. Labour will make that a reality.” Labour’s Plan for Change will rebuild Britain with investment and reform to drive a decade of national renewal and put politics back in the service of working people. As part of this, the government has committed to ensuring a record share of children are school ready, helping deliver our mission to close the break the link between background and success. To tackle the obstacles holding children back, Labour has already taken steps to increase the availability and accessibility of childcare, strengthen school accountability through Ofsted reform and end the tax breaks private schools enjoy to reinvest in the local schools that 94% of children attend.   ENDS   Notes to editors: The Bill is available here: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3909 .   Further information for parents available on Education Hub: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/12/17/the-childrens-wellbeing-bill-what-parentsneed-to-know/ .   DfE newsdesk contactable on 020 7783 8300.