I was glad to see last week that there is a new push to help people fighting rare diseases. The National Cancer Plan includes a special section on rare cancers, like brain tumours, which have been hard to treat in the past. The goal is to make the UK one of the best places in Europe for surviving these illnesses.
To make this happen, the Government is investing £25 million into brain tumour research, giving £3 million to help turn research into new treatments faster, and appointing a leader to make sure these goals are met and patients get the best care.
Another measure under consideration, to make sure your representatives are focused on you, is that MPs are banned from having second jobs, with only a few very small exceptions. This sends the very clear message that being an MP is a full-time job, with their focus on serving the people they were elected by.
Other good news this week was that a new Local Power Plan has been launched to help communities create their own clean energy. Backed by £1 billion, this plan will help local groups put solar panels on buildings like libraries and community centres.
The goal is to give communities more control over their energy and help lower bills. A new one-stop shop through Great British Energy will offer expert advice to help these local projects succeed.
To help with the cost of living, the Government is increasing financial support. The State Pension will go up by £575 this year because of the “triple lock” rule, which ensures pensions keep up with rising wages.
There is also good news for people who rely on Universal Credit. For the first time, this benefit will get a permanent increase that is higher than inflation. In total, the Government is spending an extra £9 billion to support pensioners, people with disabilities, and working families.
There was welcome news for policing, with the announcement of a £1.3 billion boost for police funding, bringing the total budget to £21 billion.
This money is meant to help increase the number of officers seen in local neighbourhoods and improve how they tackle modern crimes. A large part of this money (£1.2 billion) is also set aside for counterterrorism to keep the country safe from major threats.
Local pharmacies are getting £3.1 billion in funding to help them stay open and provide more care. This supports the Pharmacy First service, which lets you see a pharmacist for seven common health issues instead of waiting for a doctor’s appointment.
Finally, Parliament celebrated LGBT+ History Month. While there has been a lot of progress, the Government knows many people still feel anxious about discrimination. To help, they are planning a total ban on conversion practices and making hate crime laws fairer for everyone. They are also providing nearly £500,000 for domestic violence services that focus on the LGBT+ community.