I continue to press the Government for action to support those who are self employed, many of whom have been living on fresh air during the pandemic.
Many have good track records with HMRC but still fall into the gaps in support. The Government needs to understand the cost to the Exchequer as well as the impact on people’s lives.
I will continue to make the case.
All walk-in services at Hackney COVID test centres have now stopped although it took over two days for the Government to notify Hackney Council. This is not good enough.
The Government needs to step up and get a grip on this testing fiasco.
This week the Government confirmed what has become increasingly evident over the previous months: it is one rule for them and another for everyone else.
I was astounded to see the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland admit that the Government was preparing to break international law. The UK Government is proposing to unilaterally rewrite previously agreed sections of the EU Withdrawal Agreement. When this comes before Parliament next week, I’ll be working with my Labour colleagues to stop this.
A number of constituents have contacted me to raise their concerns about supertrawlers (large fishing vessels) operating in Marine Protected Areas. I wrote to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and received this response.
COVID-19 means many Hackney community groups – dance schools, drama groups, sports clubs – are being forced to find new premises.
Can you help?
If you have access to spaces these groups can use, please let me know. You can email me at meg.hillier.mp@parliament.uk
It’s great to see schools reopening safely but after six months of closure and remote learning, I’m concerned about the attainment gap between the richest and poorest students.
Students preparing for their A-Level and GCSE exams next year need extra time to catch-up on the months of missed schooling. I'm calling on the Government to look at slightly delaying the start of the exam season next summer. It is vital that students taking exams next year are not unfairly disadvantaged through no fault of their own.
A new 'walk through' testing site has been opened in Bentley Road Car Park.
It is vital that anyone with symptoms (a temperature, or a new persistent cough, or the loss of taste/smell) gets tested immediately. A fully functioning and effective test, track, and trace system is the only way we can live with COVID-19 and some semblance of normality.
Book your free NHS test online here or call 119.
Now that fabric face coverings are compulsory in shops and on public transport, we’ll all need more. Using disposable ones generates waste and we need to preserve medical grade mask supplies for carers, medical staff, and front-line workers such as shop assistants and transport workers.
All students are due to return to school in the coming weeks. I’m clear that getting children back to school safely and a having plan in place for any Covid-related disruption must be the Government's top priority.
A number of constituents contacted me expressing concerns about how schools can re-open safely. I have now received this response from the Department for Education. I welcome the £650 million catch-up premium for schools and the £350 million National Tutoring Programme that will target support for the most disadvantaged pupils.
I’m proud at how Hackney, and everyone involved with the NHS in Hackney, has pulled together during this public health emergency. Never has it been more apparent that it is the tireless and unwavering commitment of frontline staff that helps keep our NHS going. We all owe a debt of gratitude to the 1.3 million-strong army of nurses, midwives, doctors, physios, pharmacists, healthcare and maternity care assistants, porters, cleaners, and countless other staff who ensure that our NHS is there for every patient that needs it.