July Highlights
JULY HIGHLIGHTS
New cases opened for residents: 478
Cases resolved for residents: 500
Just some of the parliamentary highlights:
After a long campaign, I’m so pleased that the Government has pledged to review parental leave entitlements for all parents. This includes Paternity Leave, which I’ve been consistently arguing should be longer… 2 weeks is simply not enough. I welcomed the review in Parliament and will continue the campaign: https://hansard.parliament.uk/.../ParentalLeaveReview...
I joined a group of cross-party MPs to advocate for a ban on trophy hunting imports. Since Cecil the Lion’s death, more than 10,000 more lions have been killed by trophy hunters. And this doesn’t just affect lions. Read more here: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/.../yorkshires-mark...
I was very pleased to welcome several constituents to Parliament in July, for a tour and an explanation on how the place works. I was also delighted to take a children’s nurse to No 10 to meet the Prime Minister and celebrate the work of those serving our country in vital services, including military personnel, police officers and NHS workers. If you’re a resident of Leeds South West & Morley and you’d like to visit Parliament, please just let me know.
The Government announced the NHS 10-year health plan, which includes a dramatic shift to a community focussed health model. I’m advocating in Parliament to ensure that Leeds South West & Morley are properly served by this new model and will have further conversations with the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, as the plan is put into action. My contribution here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/.../DC09A.../NHS10-YearPlan...
Welcome back Sure Start! Although this time, it has a new name, the Best Start Family Hubs. The Government will roll out these hubs designed to give every child the best start in life, whatever their background. They change lives, just like Sure Start did. I’ve suggested that Leeds South West & Morley would be an excellent place for one: https://hansard.parliament.uk/.../GivingEveryChildTheBest...
The Education Select Committee concluded our work on Children’s Social Care and published our report, which you can read below. The report was widely welcomed by the sector and the Government have until September to respond to our recommendations. We will also work as a committee throughout August and early September to conclude our enquiry into the SEND system and publish our recommendations to Government so that they can be properly considered before Education Ministers make their proposals later to fix the system later this year.
Children’s Social Care Report: https://committees.parliament.uk/.../docu.../255354/default/
Just a few constituency highlights:
Met with staff and students at Asquith and Birchfield schools to cover ongoing in crisis in special educational needs education across all schools. I’m using their feedback and that of so many of my constituents to complete my work with the Education Select Committee over August on our recommendations to fix the SEND system. Please contact me if you want to contribute any of your experiences or expertise before we conclude this work.
Joined lots of community events and organisations, including Paw-tea in the Park, Drighlington Gala, Outer South Health & Wellbeing Event, Morley Music Festival and Wortley & Farnley Parish’s fun day - great to see students from Ryecroft Academy perform there! Also celebrated the appointment of Morley Mayor, Carol Edwards, at her civic service at Morley Community Church. Thanks as well go to the residents and staff at Rievaulx House Care Home for welcoming me and discussing challenges across the sector: https://www.msn.com/.../residents-at-leeds.../ar-AA1IZhOh
Met with many local residents. This month, this included Anne-Marie to discuss her work at Archie’s Pit Stop. A project will create a 100% gluten free café and community hub in Leeds South West & Morley which would offer an inclusive space for those affected by coeliac disease, cancer, chronic illness and bereavement by suicide.
Kept up our regular door knocking and acted on the casework you give my team and I directly from our doorstep conversations. I act on all casework sent to me too – please do send me a message to mark.sewards.mp@parliament.uk. This is the email address that I manage all casework though.
Continued to hold regular, advice surgeries, both open and appointment-only across Leeds South West & Morley. This month we added Gildersome Meeting Hall and Farnley Community Centre to the list of local venues, and we returned to Tingley Community Centre.
Held many telephone appointments with residents and meetings with some local businesses. This included speaking with local business owners and staff at Morley Bottoms alongside the police to seek solutions following a recent spate of burglaries. Work is ongoing here and I raised this in Parliament too, asking for more police with increased powers to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour: https://hansard.parliament.uk/.../BusinessOfTheHouse...
Confirmed new franchise details for Morley Post Office – all services are staying, new ones will be added and opening times will remain the same expect for slightly earlier on a Tuesday, at 9am. The permanent Banking Hub will be in a separate building, location still to be decided.
Parliament is now in recess for August and returns in September. I have a packed constituency agenda for August but if there's a group, business or cause you'd like to meet or talk about, please just let me know: mark.sewards.mp@parliament.uk