March Monthly Report

 HACKNEY'S HIDDEN GEM

Big Lunch funding

Hackney Council is offering funding to support residents of council estates to take part in the community-building Big Lunch initiative. Bring together your neighbours to share food, friendship and fun on the weekend of 7 and 8 June. Hackney’s Housing Services’ resident participation team are offering people living in Hackney council homes the chance to apply for grants. You can apply for up to £750 to hold an event for all local residents. Applications for funding need to be made by Wednesday 30 April and must be made from a home managed by Hackney Council. For further information see here, and to apply see here.

PARLIAMENT

Changes to DWP payments

There has been much speculation about changes to welfare benefits – some of which is unfounded. I represent many disabled constituents, and I want to see them protected through the upcoming changes.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall MP, gave a statement to the House of Commons outlining the Government’s proposed changes and why they are needed – see here for her full statement. Some of the recent figures are concerning - one in eight young people are not in education, employment or training, and the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast that the number of working age people claiming Personal Independence Payment was set to more than double this decade from 2 million to 4.3 million.

The staff at Hackney Job Centre do a good job supporting vulnerable people, but more support is needed.

These reforms are aimed at helping those who want to work to do so and supporting and those who cannot work because of ill health or disability. Disabled people are too often excluded from the workplace and a lot needs to be done to support them into work.

I will be looking closely at the detailed proposals (many of which are not finalised) because past experience of work programmes is that even the most successful ones help fewer than 10 per cent of people into work. A lot of people need specific health support and support from employers, so making sure there is a joined-up approach between the DWP, health services and employers is key to support people into work.

The reforms include investing £1 billion a year for work, health and skills to support people on pathways to work. The Government is scrapping the Work Capability Assessment and is reforming how assessments will be done entirely, including ending the undignified reassessments for those who will never be able to work. To improve security for those looking to try and work, these reforms will legislate a guarantee that starting a job in and of itself will never lead to someone being called for a reassessment – enshrining a right to try. This is alongside existing rules which allow people to try work and return to their old benefit without the need for reassessment if it doesn’t work out.

The Government is reforming parts of Universal Credit to protect those with the most severe conditions. The standard allowance will be increased above inflation – equating to a £775 cash increase per year by 29/30 for existing and new claimants. The health top up for new claims will be reduced from April 2026 but this will be alongside active support to help people back to health and work. I raised with the Secretary of State a question about the health top-up – see here.

Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are being reformed to focus on those with the greatest needs. Ensuring those who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them, still get support is the priority. This will mean some people with lower-level needs will no longer get PIP. This change will not happen overnight – it will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026 subject to parliamentary approval. The Secretary of State assured the House that she is not freezing PIP or making it means-tested.

These are just a few of the reforms being made – for full details, see the Government’s Green Paper here.

The Government is consulting on these proposals and is particularly interested to hear the views of disabled people and people with health conditions. I would urge you to share your views if you are able – the more information the Government receives, the better. You can find out more, and submit to the consultation, here. It is receiving submissions until 30 June.

I know that the speculation around the reform to benefits has caused uncertainty and fear for many people. More clarity is needed. I raised this with the Minister – see here. Please be assured that for people who need benefits the most, the Government will ensure they are supported.

Child poverty

One in two children in Hackney live in poverty after housing costs are taken into account. As the Government brings forward measures to tackle child poverty, I want to ensure that all families are supported. That’s why I pressed the Department for Work and Pensions Minister on this. You can hear my question and the Minister’s response here. I hosted a meeting in Parliament with child poverty groups about the Government’s child poverty task force.

NHS England

The Government promised to reduce NHS waiting lists (there was a backlog of 7.6 appointments in July 2024). It set up pilots in a number of target areas of the country and these have all seen a drop in the appointments backlog month on month in the last five months – down by almost 200,000 in England since the Government was elected.

The Government wants to continue to improve the efficiency of the NHS. As part of this it has decided to absorb NHS England into the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). NHS England was established under the previous Government as an arm's length governing body for NHS services in England. The aim is to cut red tape for patients and staff. It is vital that the NHS can manage the extra money it was given in the last Budget to deliver the much-needed reform for patients. I pressed the Health Secretary on the need to improve procurement and he assured me that his reforms aim to reduce deficits and improve spending efficiency – see here to watch my question in full.

Savers

Prior to the Spring Statement there was a great deal of speculation about the future of cash ISAs (individual savings accounts). This is a saving account which is in a tax-free wrapper – which means that the holder never has to pay any tax on the interest earned. Currently you can save £20,000 a year in cash.

Many Hackney residents live week to week, without the safety net of any savings. It can be very difficult to put money aside when you’re trying to make it stretch.

For people with a little cash to spare who save for their first home or to help their child at university the cash ISA is popular. The money saved is used by lenders to fund mortgages. Speculation that the cash limit would be reduced turned out to be just speculation. But it is important that we have a wider discussion about savings to support all households, but particularly the poorest to be more financially resilient. I pressed Treasury Ministers on their plans for this – see here for my question in full.

The Treasury Select Committee is conducting an inquiry into the Lifetime ISA which is a hybrid savings and pensions product – see here to follow its progress.

Assisted dying

A Bill which would legalise assisted dying has passed another parliamentary hurdle. Over the last months it has undergone scrutiny by a Committee which debated hundreds of amendments on issues surrounding capacity, mental illness, eligibility and domestic abuse. I am concerned that some of the safeguards in the initial bill have been dropped – significantly, the High Court stage has been replaced with a non-judicial multi-disciplinary panel – and proposals which could strengthen it were defeated. The Bill will have its report stage – where the Committee reports the newly amended Bill to the House and further amendments are debated – on 25 April. To follow the progress of the Bill, see here. I have tabled amendments that would prevent doctors from raising the subject of assisted dying before a patient and prevent any part of the process happening with an under-18.

International Women’s Day

This Parliament has a record number of women MPs – 263, making up 40 per cent of the 650 MPs in the House of Commons. For On International Women’s Day, we met for a photograph to mark the moment. I was the 275th woman ever elected to the UK Parliament – between 1918 and 2024 only 693 women were elected. Both inside and outside Parliament there is a long way to go. In many areas of life, such as pensions and pay, women are still frequently less well off than men and this is even more stark when race and disability are taken into account.

AI and creative copyright

Hackney is renowned for its creative industries, which contribute both to Hackney’s vibrant culture and to the local and national economy. With the rise of artificial intelligence, I am concerned about protecting creators’ copyright and remuneration. I am pressing Ministers to make sure creatives are protected and I raised this with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology – see here.

TREASURY SELECT COMMITTEE

Work of the Payment Systems Regulator

The Committee heard evidence from the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) the day after it was announced that it would be absorbed into the Financial Conduct Authority. The PSR has been a champion for consumers in instances of fraud – ensuring that banks pay up to £85,000 compensation if you are a victim of push-payment fraud. We are keen to see how consumers can continue to be protected in this merger – see here for details.

Financial Services and AI

The Committee is seeking evidence on the impact of how AI is being used, or could be, to support financial services. See here for more information and to submit to the inquiry. The deadline for submissions is Friday 11 April.

Committee Corridor Podcast

Committee Corridor is the podcast from Parliament which explores the work of Select Committees. I hosted the first two episodes of the new series - see here to listen.

HACKNEY

Bike thefts

Several residents have raised issues of bike theft with me in my doorstep surgeries. Hackney is a proud cycling borough, and we must ensure our bikes are protected. I am raising this with the police to find a way forward where we can reduce the number of bikes that are stolen in Hackney. If this has happened to you, please do get in touch with me.

Stop and Search Charter 

After consulting with Londoners and taking on recommendations from Baroness Casey’s 2023 review, the Metropolitan Police has announced a Stop and Search Charter aimed at improving the relationship between police officers and residents and ensuring stop and search is conducted fairly, respectfully and effectively. Many people, especially from black communities, have had bad experiences and this sours relations between communities and the police. This charter is a step in the right direction for rebuilding the public’s trust in the police through better training, implementation and complaints procedure. See the full charter here.

Love Dalston shopfront award

Hackney is known for its bustling high streets, filled with local businesses that are integral to its culture and community. As one of our major shopping centres Dalston is home to many thriving businesses. To showcase businesses and celebrate everything Dalston has to offer, I have joined forces with the Hackney Gazette to launch a Love Dalston Shopfront Award. This is a competition where you can nominate your favourite shopfront, which makes it stand out from the crowd – it can be any type of business, as long as it is in Dalston. To nominate your favourite business, see here. The deadline for nominations is Friday 25 April and I will then present the winning business with an award.

E-bikes

Electric bikes are now a common form of travel in and around Hackney. Lime Bikes are particularly popular, and I have been liaising with Lime and Hackney Council about general e-bike safety and the introduction of more parking bays in the borough. While these bikes are great for encouraging more environmentally friendly ways to get around, some reckless cycling has worried residents.

I am also concerned about the speed of e-bikes. I recently asked the Transport Minister to consider lower speed limits for e-bikes, so that they are safer for other residents. See here for the Minister’s response about the speed limit imposed for e-bikes. I am continuing to raise issues around these bikes with the Department.

Samaritans

I met with volunteers from the charity Samaritans to promote their campaign Small Talk Saves Lives. The group highlights that two in five of adults in the UK (44%) say they sometimes find themselves struggling to cope, and 67% of people in the UK we would appreciate someone checking on them, offering words of support, if they were struggling to cope. The campaign encourages us to reach out to those who are struggling by chatting to them.

If you or anyone you know is struggling and needs someone to talk to, please do contact the Samaritans by phoning 116 123 or see here for other ways to get in touch. If you would like to join in with all the great work that the Samaritans do, see here for information about volunteering.

Switch your energy meter

Consumers with Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS)/Dynamic Teleswitch Service (DTS) energy meters are being urged to change to smart meters. By 30 June 2025, the RTS/DTS will be switched off as it is reaching the end of its operational life. The switch off will affect energy customers that have an RTS meter in their home and may mean that their heating and hot water supply stops functioning as normal.

You may have an RTS meter if:

your home has a separate switch box near your meter with a Radio Teleswitch label on it
your home is heated using electricity or storage heaters
there is no gas supply to your area, including high-rise flats
you get cheaper energy at different times of day, for example, you might be on an Economy 7, Economy 10, or Total Heat Total Control tariff.

Please do get in touch with your electricity supplier if you’re still not sure which meter is in your home – though be assured that, if you need to switch, your supplier should be in touch. See here for more information.

Fundraising five-a-side

Hoxton’s longstanding boys’ community club Crown and Manor are hosting a fundraising five-a-side football tournament. The day will be a way for budding local footballers to enjoy a morning of sport as well as securing sponsorship for the club. Crown and Manor want to expand to allow other groups to use the club’s facilities to serve Hackney’s community better, which will require investment in building maintenance. To donate to the fundraiser, see here. If you’d like to play, gather a team and sign up by emailing Ben Arojojoye at ben.arojojoye@outlook.com . Please also use this email if you would like to find out more. Event info:

Venue: Haggerston School, Weymouth Terrace, London E2 8LS

Date: Sunday, 18th May, 2025 Time: 9.30 am – 12.30pm

Volunteer with a soup kitchen

Storehouse, a local soup kitchen based in Haggerston, is looking for volunteer drivers. The Storehouse supports anyone who is homeless, vulnerable and unemployed in Hackney with food, clothing and other essential items. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer driver, you can contact Patsy and Errol Francis via email at storehouse20@gmail.com .

Hackney schools promote girls’ sport

Two Hackney schools, Ickburgh and Gayhurst, took part in the Biggest Ever Football Session, a national campaign event organised by the FA to encourage more women and girls into football. Schools across the country organised football sessions aimed at girls on the same day, promoting inclusivity and empowering girls into the sport. Research has shown that the number of girls taking part in sport drops as they get older due to lack of confidence, issues with PE kits and barriers such as periods [Youth Sport Trust]. It is so important that we value and support girls’ sport, so it is great to see these Hackney schools making that a priority.

VE Day Art Competition

Hackney’s Speaker is holding a competition for art to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day on Thursday 8 May 2025. Pictures of creations related to the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day are invited to be submitted, of art in any format. There will be prizes for the best three entries which will be announced by 5pm on Friday 2 May.

There are three categories for the competition:

13-18 year olds
7-12 year olds
6 years olds and under

The winner in each category will win £40 in Amazon vouchers, with the runners up also receiving vouchers, and the top three entrants will have their work displayed in Hackney Town Hall and shared on the Council's social media. All winners will receive an invitation to an exclusive prize presentation reception taking place on Thursday 8 May from 3pm in the Speaker's Parlour at Hackney Town Hall, hosted by the Speaker and also attended by the Mayor and Deputy Lieutenant.

Submissions should be sent to speaker@hackney.gov.uk by 5pm, Thursday 1 May.

Dalston Cancer Research event

Cancer Research UK’s Cancer Awareness Roadshow will be coming to Hackney on 10 April at Ridley Road Market between 10am-4pm. Every year, the Cancer Awareness Roadshow sets off to talk to people about cancer. Cancer Awareness nurses will be there to talk about how small health changes can reduce cancer risks, provide information on spotting cancers early and will be available to have private conversations about any of your concerns.

Learn more about healthcare

A new podcast where doctor and Hackney resident Dr Brinda Christopher interviews healthcare professionals has recently launched. The podcast hopes to address public misconceptions about healthcare. See here for more information.

HOW TO CONTACT ME

Via email on meg.hillier.mp@parliament.uk or you can call me on 020 7219 5325. The main phone line is open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm.

Visiting Parliament and Prime Minister’s Questions

Tours of the Houses of Parliament can be arranged for groups of up to 20 people. Tours last up to 75 minutes and start between 9am and 12pm Monday to Wednesday, and between 9am-1:30pm and 3.30pm-5pm on Fridays.

MPs are also given a very limited number of tickets for Prime Minister’s Questions. I operate a ballot system each month. The ballot is now open to attend PMQs in June.

To apply for a tour, or be entered onto the ballot, please send your name, and full postal address (you must live in Hackney South and Shoreditch) to meg.hillier.mp@parliament.uk. 

If you would like to enter the PMQs ballot, please also supply a contact number. It is easier to arrange viewing tickets for other departmental question times or debates. To see what's on click here. 