After a busy few weeks in the constituency whilst Parliament was in recess for the Party Conferences, Parliament returned on a sombre note as the Home Secretary paid tribute to the victims of the horrific terrorist attack of the 2nd October at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. This sickening incident coincided with the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and brought terror to a place of sanctuary. Greater Manchester has a unique community spirit and it’s been humbling to see the show of unity from faith, civic and political leaders in condemning this incident and showing support for the Jewish community.
As we look to heal from these tragic events, the words of the late Jo Cox feel especially apt: “we have far more in common with each other than things that divide us”. Hateful and divisive opportunists cannot be allowed to gain momentum, and we must redouble our efforts to root out racism and prejudice in all its forms.
Monday afternoon saw the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology give a statement on our plans to deliver free digital ID. This proposal has resulted in a lot of scaremongering, but I believe that it will help us to remove barriers to accessing public services, save money in the long-term, and tackle fraud, illegal working and modern slavery. I have received many emails about this, and I will share details of the public consultation when it is launched so that people can submit their views.
Last week was a landmark moment for delivering peace in the Middle East and laid crucial foundations for ending the immeasurable suffering and bloodshed that we have seen in Gaza and the wider area over the last two years.
I am pleased that the Government has confirmed £20 million in crucial humanitarian support, which will provide water, sanitation and medicine to Gazan civilians. We are still in the very early stages of this fragile peace process however, but I know the Government is focussed on doing everything in its diplomatic power to deliver a sustainable two state solution and long-lasting peace in the region.
I was delighted to see our Mental Health Bill complete the final stages of parliamentary scrutiny on Tuesday and look forward to it becoming law very soon. This is such an important piece of legislation as many of the elements of the Mental Health Act 1983 are utterly outdated and linked to racial inequalities, poor care for people with learning disabilities and autism, and doesn’t give patients a proper voice in their care.
I am proud to support the Government’s reforms to deliver once-in-a-generation change to the way we treat and support people with the most serious mental illnesses. This includes giving patients greater choice over their care, alongside enhanced rights and support, to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect throughout treatment.
Alongside these reforms, the Government is driving forward plans to make sure that our mental health services are fit for the future. As part of our 10 year plan to rebuild the NHS, we are investing £680 million in mental health this year, which will reduce delays for accessing treatment, ease pressure on hospitals, and enable us to meet our manifesto pledge of recruiting 8,500 mental health staff.
There were several awareness raising events last week on issues that I know are close to the heart of many constituents. I attended the Speak Their Name exhibition on Wednesday, which featured the Memorial Quilt made by residents of Greater Manchester bereaved by suicide. 7,000 people a year die from suicide, and we must do more to prevent these deaths and support those left behind. I also dropped into Hospice UK’s annual Hospice Care Week event and discussed a range of challenges facing the sector, from rising costs and care demand to support for providing more care close to home as part of our 10-year health plan. Hospices provide invaluable support for people nearing the end of life and their loved ones, and I welcome that the Government is investing £75 million to upgrade and modernise hospices across the country.
Thursday saw the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Bill introduced for its second reading, which makes a significant step towards delivering on the UK’s commitment to protect two thirds of the world’s oceans. Many constituents have contacted me to express support for the Global Oceans Treaty and I am pleased that this government is delivering on our commitments in this space – turning words into action.
I then travelled away from Westminster for a couple of days in the Outer Hebrides on a ministerial visit to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. It was a stunning visit, and I was pleased to be able to talk to a range of employers about the challenges faced in recruiting staff in remote areas, as well as visiting the Jobcentre and DWP office to talk to departmental teams about how we can improve the services they deliver in their community.
I’m looking forward to being back in the constituency this week when I’ll be meeting with local carers, catching up with my hardworking constituency team and holding one of my regular surgeries for constituents. If there is something you would like to raise with me, please get in touch with my office on 0161 749 9120 or by email on Andrew.Western.MP@Parliament.UK