Stephen attends event on diabetes

World Diabetes Day was on 14 November. Stephen attended an event in Parliament to hear about the experience of those living with diabetes, and what can be done to better support them.

During the event, Stephen met with Diabetes UK’s new Campaign Champions, who explained how care for the 4.9 million people with diabetes can be improved. They warned of the long-term consequences the impact of the pandemic could have on those living with the condition if action is not taken now.

Speaking after the event, Stephen said “I enjoyed meeting with Diabetes UK’s new Campaign Champions, and hearing about their work to improve prevention and care for those living with diabetes. Services supporting people with diabetes have been significantly disrupted during the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, but with the right support and care, everyone with diabetes can live well.”

Stephen joins call to support children in palliative care

On 24 November, Stephen attended an event in Parliament, held by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Children Who Need Palliative Care, and joined the call for further cost of living support for families whose children will have short lives.

At the reception, MPs heard from families of seriously ill children about how the rising cost of living is impacting them. The charity Together For Short Lives also explained how their ‘cost of living support fund’ is helping with energy bills and other necessary medical equipment.

An estimated 3,000 seriously ill children require long-term ventilation to stay alive and around 6,000 are dependent on ‘assistive technology.’ Together for Short Lives are calling on the Government to commit to additional funding to help families access better treatment and to reflect their higher energy costs.

Speaking after the event, Stephen said “I was pleased to attend the APPG’s reception on children who need palliative care. The rising cost of living is impacting families whose children will have short lives. I applaud Together for Short Lives for the work they are doing to support these families. However, the Government must also act now so that they can make the most of every moment they have together. There is no time to waste.”

Stephen hosts event in Parliament on supporting garment workers

On 22 November, Stephen jointly held a drop-in event in Parliament with MPs and Transform Trade, to call for the implementation of a Fashion Watchdog to improve workers’ rights across global supply chains.

At the event, MPs heard from Transform Trade and researchers about unfair purchasing practices in fashion. Transform Trade are calling on the Government to establish a garment supply chain adjudicator, to monitor practice in the industry and protect works both in the UK and abroad.

A Fashion Watchdog would ensure larger brands selling into the UK are unable to subject suppliers to unfair purchasing practices, and would promote fair commercial treatment.

Speaking at the event, Stephen said “modern slavery is rising globally. Unfair purchasing practices in the garment industry play a large part in this. I am grateful for the opportunity to raise awareness of this problem in Parliament and hope the Government takes seriously Transform Trade’s call for a Fashion Watchdog.”

Stephen urges Government to support asylum seekers in hotels

On 23 November there was an urgent question to the Home Office about consultation with local authorities in the selection of hotels for contingency asylum accommodation. Stephen spoke about the situation in Newham.

The Home Office commissions Clearsprings to provide hotel accommodation for asylum seekers in Newham. When a safeguarding concern is reported, the Council is not informed by Clearsprings, even though they have a statutory responsibility. Instead, the Home Office is alerted.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Stephen asked the Minister “will he ensure that particular aspect of communication is resolved?”

Watch Stephen’s full question, and the Minister’s response, below.

Stephen responds to the Chancellor's Autumn Statement

On 17 November, the Chancellor laid out the Government's fiscal plans for the next term. Stephen welcomed the Chancellor's assurance that benefits and pensions would be uprated, as he has been calling for. He raised concerns, however, that no such commitment was made for local housing allowance.

In April, social security benefits were only uprated by 3%, whilst inflation was around 10%. Rishi Sunak, when Chancellor, had made assurances that there would be a catch-up increase next April. When Kwasi Kwarteng moved into the role of Chancellor, Stephen asked if he would make the same promise. Kwarteng refused to repeat that assurance. Stephen and others have since repeatedly called on the Government to follow through with this prior commitment.

Stephen therefore welcomed the Chancellor’s recent announcement that pensions and working-age benefits will indeed be uprated in line with inflation. He raised concerns, however, that no commitments were given to raise local housing allowance in the same way.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Stephen asked the Chancellor if he will “…uprate local housing allowance, which has been frozen since the start of the pandemic, at a time when rents have surged?”

You can watch Stephen’s full question, and the Chancellor’s response, below. You can also watch his speech in the following debate on the statement here.

Stephen leads debate on the importance of mathematical sciences

During Maths’ week, Stephen led a Westminster Hall debate on the contribution of mathematical sciences to British society.

The aims of Maths Week are to celebrate maths and raise further interests for many across the country. In the debate, Stephen spoke about the importance of maths and the need to change the conversation about it to be more positive for people of all background. He highlighted how influential it is in our everyday lives and jobs, as well as its contribution to the UK economy.

Stephen also discussed the Government’s commitment to invest £300 million into the research of mathematical sciences. It was introduced by the then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in January 2020 and was welcomed by many researchers and academics. However, it has been pointed out that more than half of the investment - £176 million – has still not been allocated. Stephen warned that should it not be invested as promised, many research roles could risk losing funding in the future.

Speaking in the debate, Stephen said: “maths enables the most exciting and urgent technological developments in energy generation, artificial intelligence, driverless cars, quantum computing and tackling climate change.”

You can watch Stephen’s full speech and the Minister’s response below.

Stephen presses Government on NRPF data

During Home Office orals on 14 November, Stephen asked the Minister when the department will improve data collection and distribution on those in the UK granted leave to remain with no recourse to public funds.

The Home Office currently does not hold information on the total number of people in the UK with no recourse to public funds - a condition on their visa restricting them from accessing state funded support, including Universal Credit.

Earlier this year, the Government promised to improve data on NRPF by introducing a new IT system by the end of 2022. This is yet to be put in place.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Stephen asked “when will the department now take back control and switch on their new system so they can provide this completely basic information?”

You can watch Stephen’s full question and the Minister’s response below.

Stephen urges Government to protect triple lock and increase benefits

On Tuesday 8 November, Labour held a debate in Parliament on the pensions triple lock. Stephen spoke in the debate, urging the Government to protect the triple lock and increase working age benefits in line with inflation.

The state pension was due to increase this year in line with the highest of the following: inflation, average increase in wages, or 2.5%. This is also known as the triple lock. However, the Prime Minister has not yet confirmed his plans and MPs are worried that pensions will not be increased with rising inflation.

Stephen urged the Government to assure the House that the triple lock with be protected. He also argued that benefits should be uprated with the current inflation figure. Speaking in Parliament, he said “Trussell Trust food banks gave out 2.1 million emergency food parcels in 2021-22; they gave out 60,000 in 2010-11. They have reported that demand in August and September this year was 46% higher than last year. Why is the economy failing so many people?”

You can watch Stephen’s full speech below.

Stephen raises food insecurity in Parliament

During questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on Monday 31 October, Stephen asked if the Government would raise benefits in order to tackle food insecurity amongst Universal Credit claimants.

The family resources survey shows that food insecurity among Universal Credit claimants fell from 43% to 27% during the period of the £20 a week uplift to Universal Credit. Since the uplift was removed, food insecurity has started to rise again.

On Monday the newly appointed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride, answered questions in the House of Commons. Stephen raised the findings of the family resources survey and asked “does not all that show how crucial it is that the Prime Minister keeps the promise he made as Chancellor to uprate benefits next April by 10.1%?”

Watch Stephen’s full question - and the Secretary of State’s response - below.

Stephen writes to Minister about benefits uprating

Stephen has written to Chloe Smith, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, asking for benefit reforms to support families and children.

Currently, the cost of living outweighs benefit incomes for families across the UK.  Many households are worried they will struggle to put food on their table – and pay their energy bills – ahead of this coming winter. According to the Good Childhood Report, 85% of parents are troubled about the impact the cost-of-living crisis will have on their family. 

Last year, it was found that child poverty cost the UK around £38 billion a year. With the recent rise of energy bills, there are concerns that child poverty will increase further. To combat this, Stephen has written to the Secretary of State to consider changes such as scrapping the Benefit Cap. This affects nearly 300,000 children. He would also like more money invested into Child Benefits and to uprate all benefits in line with inflation. This will advance children’s wellbeing allowing for education and welfare to flourish.

Having sent the letter, Stephen said “It is morally right the Government implements these changes for the benefit of all children in the UK.”

Stephen urges Government to uprate benefits

On Monday 17 October, the newly appointed Chancellor - Jeremy Hunt - gave an economic statement to the House of Commons. Stephen asked him if he would increase benefits to align with inflation.

During the statement, the Chancellor explained how the Government will reverse most of the changes to taxes they had announced at the recent Fiscal Event. While stamp duty and National Insurance measures will remain, the Government will scrap plans to cut dividend tax rates, reverse off-payroll changes, and to introduce a VAT free shopping scheme for tourists.

In April, social security benefits were only uprated by 3%, whilst inflation was around 10%. Rishi Sunak, when Chancellor, had made assurances that there would be a catch-up increase next April. Last month, Stephen asked the then-Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, if he would make the same promise. Kwarteng refused to repeat that assurance.

Speaking during the current Chancellor’s statement, Stephen asked Hunt the same question, ending with “will he recognise, as he reflects on his announcements in a couple of weeks’ time, that this is a matter, yes of compassion, but also of fairness?” Hunt did not commit to uprating benefits.

You can watch Stephen’s full question, and the Chancellor’s response, below.

The following Wednesday, Stephen raised this issue again during a debate on economic responsibility and plans for growth, making the case for raising benefits during the cost-of-living crisis. You can watch his intervention here.

Stephen visits Christians Against Poverty's new office

On 10 October, Stephen travelled to Bradford for the opening of Christians Against Poverty’s (CAP) relocated head office.

CAP is a debt charity which seeks to tackle the causes of poverty by empowering local churches to provide free financial support and budgeting skills. Since 2010, they have helped over 20,000 people become debt free.

CAP first opened its headquarters in 2001. Ten years later, it opened a neighbouring centre to house more staff and volunteers. The organisation has since grown significantly, so CAP have moved into one single building.

During his visit, Stephen addressed CAP’s staff team, volunteers and supporters. He was given a tour of the premises and heard from a number of the charity’s support teams who will now be based together in the new building.

Speaking after his visit, Stephen said “I enjoyed visiting Bradford again, for the opening of Christians Against Poverty’s new headquarters. Now, more than ever, families across the country need CAP’s vital support. Without the efforts of their volunteers based in local churches across the UK, many would be in a terrible situation this winter as they grapple with the cost of living crisis. CAP’s new building looks like a great place for staff to carry out their vital work.”

Stephen seeks protection for wildlife laws

Stephen has today written to the Secretary of State for the Environment asking that the government commit to keeping key nature protections within UK law. 

Stephen has been approached by number of constituents who are concerned that the government plans to water down regulations which protect vulnerable habitats and species. He made clear in his letter that protecting biodiversity, halting the decline of nature and restoring habitats and wildlife must be a priority. 

Speaking about the letter, Stephen said “The recent announcements by Ministers in recent months are an unprecedented attack on nature. The government is threatening to tear up the laws that protect our best wildlife sites, weakening protections for nature in the planning system and may be about to scrap vital proposals that would help farmers help nature". 

A consultation was held on environmental laws earlier this year. In July, the government said it was analysing responses to the consultation and would publish a formal response “in due course” .

Stephen asks Chancellor to raise benefits in line with inflation

On Friday 23 September, the recently appointed Chancellor - Kwasi Kwarteng - gave a statement to the House of Commons on the Government's plans for growth. During the statement, Stephen asked if he will raise benefits in line with next month's inflation rate.

Inflation is around 10%. However, social security benefits were only uprated by 3% in April. The previous Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, had made assurances that there would be a catch-up increase next April.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Stephen asked “will the Chancellor give the important assurance that his predecessor gave, that social security benefits will be fully uprated in the usual way, in line with this month’s inflation figure?” Kwasi Kwarteng refused to repeat that assurance.

You can watch Stephen’s question, and the Chancellor’s response, below.

Stephen pays tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Credit: Samuel Regan-Asante

Stephen has paid tribute to Her Majesty The Queen in the House of Commons.

Speaking about her many visits to Newham, Stephen endorsed the Prime Minister’s view that she had a unique ability to “transcend difference and heal division” evidenced by when she met a group of protesters at the opening of London City Airport in 1987. He noted her comments to the group eased the rancour between the objectors and the airport.

You can read Stephen’s address to MPs here.

Launch of Keeping the Faith 2.0

Stephen has launched a new report looking at how faith groups and local authorities are building on partnerships forged during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Keeping the Faith 2.0 was commissioned by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Faith and Society as a follow-up to a 2020 report which charted the dramatic increase in collaboration between local authorities and faith groups at the start of the pandemic crisis. It found that two thirds of local authorities reported an increase in partnership working with faith groups after the pandemic began. The report found that over 90% of the local authorities described their experience of working with faith groups in the pandemic as “very” or “mostly positive”, and that over three quarters expected the partnerships to continue in the future.

Keeping the Faith 2.0 is drawn from in depth interviews with faith group and local authority leaders from around the UK, carried out in the year after the earlier report. It assesses how partnerships between local authorities and faith groups forged in the intense initial months of the pandemic have developed since.

The research showed that the initial focus of partnerships on food distribution had broadened out to encompass first vaccination, and then wider mental health and wellbeing support. Faith groups were being more systematically involved in service provision. Their pandemic experiences, and the greater recognition it had brought them, had galvanised their sense of mission and purpose, and strengthened their confidence.

The Faiths Minister, Paul Scully, attended the launch. He welcomed the report and assured the audience that central Government would continue to look at ways in which it could work with those whose of faith. “I know you will continue to provide seemingly limitless reserves of commitment and goodwill and trust to people who face difficult times,” he said. “The government wants to work with you on that, to co-create the kind of solutions and world we want to live in.”

Speaking at the launch, Stephen said: “We warmly welcome this new report, highlighting lessons from the intense collaborations formed as the pandemic crisis broke, and suggesting how those lessons can best be applied and developed in the future.”

To read the report, click here.

Stephen urges Government to review its arms trade with Israel

Stephen has written to Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary - and Prime Minister elect - asking for the UK to reflect its trade policy with Israel.

There are growing concerns that Israel is using increased violence against Palestinian nationals. According to international human right bodies, such as Amnesty International, Israel is enacting a system of apartheid rule, violating international law.

A number of constituents have been in touch with Stephen noting that the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs found that 260 Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks on Gaza between 10 May and 21 May last year. Thousands more were injured, and over 110,000 people were displaced.

The UK continues to trade with Israel. Both countries have benefited from decades of military trade. For many, this raises worries that the UK is supporting Israel’s illegal activity in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Speaking about the letter, Stephen said: “I am troubled to learn the UK may be encouraging repression against Palestinians and violation of international law through its arms shipments. The Government must review its trade policy as a matter of urgency.”

Stephen visits CAP head office

On 3 August, Stephen visited the Christians Against Poverty (CAP) head office in Bradford. He met with the Chief Executive, Paula Stringer, and some of the charity’s debt advisors.

CAP is a charity tackling the causes of poverty by empowering local churches to provide free debt advice and budgeting skills. Since 2010, they have helped over 20,000 people become debt free.

After meeting with the Chief Executive and debt advisors to discuss ways in which MPs and CAP can work together to help reduce debt in the UK, Stephen was given a tour of the charity’s new office, as they expand their team.

Speaking after his visit, Stephen said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to CAP’s head office. It was great to meet with the Chief Executive and hear from CAP debt advisors. I applaud CAP’s volunteers around the country for their remarkable work to help people out of debt and poverty. Their work is more important than ever during this cost of living crisis.”

Stephen questions delays at Beckton Water Treatment Works

Credit: Harry Grout

Stephen has asked Thames Water why a multi-million pound desalination plant in Beckton, which was built to supply Londoners with water during a drought, has been shut down until next year.

The Beckton Water Treatment Works in east London can draw 100m litres a day from the River Thames. It opened in 2010 with the capacity to pipe drinking water into 400,000 homes in London.

But Thames Water has admitted the high-tech plant is offline and unable to be used before 2023. In a statement, the company said: “Due to further necessary planned work the plant is currently out of service. Our teams are working as fast as possible to get it ready for use early next year, to achieve protection to our supplies if we were to have another dry winter.”

Stephen said he was puzzled by Thames Water’s decision to mothball the plant after the driest July on record. “The plant was built in my constituency at great expense to Thames Water customers twelve years ago," he said.

"It was built to help out in a crisis exactly like the one we seems to be heading into at the moment with drought conditions. It's expensive to run, it take a lot of electricity which at the moment is very expensive. It may be that Thames Water does not want to pay the costs of running it at the moment," he added.

Thames Water is advising customers to cut down water usage by taking shorter showers, turning taps off when brushing teeth and using watering cans, rather than hoses in the garden.

Stephen calls on benefit deductions to be paused

Credit: Sarah Agnew, Unsplash

Stephen has said automatic repayments to the government by people claiming benefits should be put on hold to help households struggling with huge financial pressures during the cost of living crisis.

About 2.4 million households – nearly half of all claimants on universal credit – have on average £62 docked each month to repay benefit advances, tax credit overpayments and debts owed to landlords and utility companies.

With inflation set to peak at its highest level for 40 years, the report from the cross-party Work and Pensions Committee highlights how the deductions from benefits, usually taken to recover money owed for a variety of debts and advances, are pushing some people into hardship and leading them to depend on foodbanks.

A report published by the Work and Pensions Select Committee - which Stephen chairs - calls on DWP to pause the deductions and restore them gradually only as the rate of inflation reduces, or when benefits have been increased to accurately reflect the rise in prices. In addition, the Committee recommends that the Government reviews and increases the benefit cap - which has remained frozen since it was lowered in 2016.

Speaking about the report said: “Deductions by [the] DWP from benefits are contributing to the hardship, and the government should give those struggling some much-needed breathing space by following its own advice to other creditors and pausing repayments until the threat of inflation recedes.”