Barry Sheerman MP

I recently had the pleasure of joining the International Development Secretary, Penny Mordaunt, in meeting Sir David Attenborough to address the growing crisis surrounding global plastic pollution.

Sir David shared the astonishing fact that we now produce 400 million tonnes of plastic every single year and that around 10 million tonnes of this finds its way into our oceans. He was quick to add that “the consequence of this, both to humanity and life in the seas upon which we depend, is hideous”. Labour’s own Mary Creagh, who chairs the Environmental Audit Committee, added that the UK alone uses 13 billion plastic bottles a year, of which 5 and a half billion end up either littered, sent to landfills or incinerated. We, as a community and as a nation, should take care to ensure the streets we walk and the rivers and streams which grace our local areas are kept clean. The local charity Greenstreams works hard to ensure people can enjoy our riverside green areas and that these cherished places are kept clean and pollution free. The project, of course, needs help in achieving its goals and anyone who, like myself, is keen to begin the fightback against growing pollution in our area should make sure to get involved.

The event, co-hosted by the Coalition for Global Prosperity, Plastic Oceans UK and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Prevention of Plastic Waste, has shone a much needed spotlight on the UK’s commitment to reducing the plastic waste we see across our planet and it was reassuring to hear that Penny Morndaunt, our International Development Secretary, has doubled the aid support for plastic recycling across the developing world, a much needed step in the right direction but this should not be, by any means, all we do to fight this growing crisis and I believe Britain should be a leading voice in the fight against plastic pollution.

Now more than ever, I encourage my everyone to be proactive in tackling pollution, both in our rivers and streams and on our streets. Meeting Sir David Attenborough was a true privilege, but it is clear from what he said that the time for action is now, not in the future when it may be too late.

Approximately 1.25 million in the UK have an eating disorder. Without treatment, up to 20% of sufferers can die from their disorders.

On average, sufferers wait 3.5 years between the onset of symptoms and treatment for their disorder. The general belief that eating disorders only affect young, white, middle class women of one body type (‘skinny’) discourages sufferers of a different ethnicity, gender and age from seeking help. It also makes it harder for people to spot sufferers among their loved ones given there is such a ‘cliche’ sufferer image that people associate with eating disorders. Furthermore, the increase in the use of ‘anorexic’ as an adjective for a slim individual is evidence of the trivialisation of these fatal disorders and we must work to stop this.

Eating disorders can be fatal. Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses and mortality rates for other eating disorders such as bulimia are also high. Many sufferers may not even recognise that they are suffering from an eating disorder due to the lack of information available and will not seek help until it is almost too late. During this week, it is crucial that we raise awareness as a community that eating disorders can affect anyone and encourage people to seek help, no matter their individual characteristics. Mental illness does not discriminate who it affects, no matter their wealth, gender, age, ethnicity or social position.

Eating disorders are curable and full recovery is possible. We must recognise the stigmatisation that those suffering from eating disorders face and campaign not just this week, but always, to ensure that those suffering seek the help they desperately need.

In my constituency, Platform 1 does incredible work for men’s mental health and I was pleased to visit their inspiring facility last Friday. It is key that those who suffer from mental health issues have a place to go where they feel safe and cared for,  of which Platform 1 is a great example of. Platform 1 provides a place for men to talk about their mental illness with no judgement, which is key to encourage sufferers to seek help.

This week, and always, please look after your loved ones and remember it is okay to talk. Please encourage anyone you suspect to suffer from eating disorders (and mental illness) to seek help, before it is too late.

As well as working hard for Huddersfield as its Member of Parliament, I am also the Chair of the APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) on Miscarriages of Justice. The APPG aims to prevent miscarriages of justice from occurring by campaigning for reform, as well as ensuring justice for those who are wrongfully convicted.

I believe that access to legal aid should not be discriminated by your wealth, education or privilege. As I highlighted in Parliament, the lack of legal aid for those wrongfully convicted is debilitating for those seeking justice. Our criminal system is fundamentally flawed and desperately needs a culture change, which is where our work comes in. The APPG was formed in November 2017, bringing together parliamentarians to examine the problems in the criminal justice system that result in miscarriages of justice. These injustices are caused by state mistakes and consequentially these mistakes should be rectified by the state.

Many of those wrongfully convicted are released with no compensation and support, which is unacceptable. It is key that steps are taken to help those wrongfully convicted rebuild their lives. I continue to push for action alongside my colleagues to raise awareness of the faults in the legal system to avoid wrongful convictions and to support and secure action for those who have been wrongfully convicted.

I have been made aware of an opportunity presented by the Postcode Lottery Trust that gives the opportunity for local charities and community groups to receive funding.

The People’s Postcode Trust, the Postcode Community Trust and the Postcode Local Trust are all open for applications on 6^th February 2019. These Trusts are funded by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Applications are open from 6 February until 20 February and you can apply for grants of between £500 and £20,000. Full details of how to apply are on the websites for each trust. Each trust has a separate focus to which the funding will be given;

• The People’s Postcode Trust supports projects which focus on the prevention of poverty, promotion of human rights and combating discrimination. Their website is http://www.postcodetrust.org.uk/ which has full details on how to apply.
• The Postcode Community Trust supports projects focused on improving health and well-being through grassroots sports, reducing isolation, arts and physical recreation. Their website is as follows; http://www.postcodecommunitytrust.org.uk/
• The Postcode Local Trust supports projects that support green space improvements, increasing access to outdoor spaces, renewable energy and flood prevention, with the following website http://www.postcodelocaltrust.org.uk/ available for details.

This is a great opportunity for our community projects to receive funding. I encourage local charities needing funding support to apply.

This year on 5th February, over 100 countries will be celebrating Safer Internet Day.

This year, Safer Internet Day will focus on uniting parents, children and their support networks to be ‘Together for a Better Internet’. Safer Internet Day aims to promote a national conversation on how the Internet can be used responsibly with respect towards others. In this modern age, our young people live out their lives on the Internet and recent studies have demonstrated how using it wrongly or irresponsibly can have huge impacts on adolescent mental health, futures and careers. Today, the campaign wants to help parents guide their children to use the Internet in a productive and safe way, and remind them that whatever they post is there forever, can be used maliciously, and may not be suitable for employers to view.

Safer Internet Day will educate children on how consent works in an online context – e.g when to ask permission, and when it’s unnecessary. If in doubt – ask! It will also educate the nation’s Internet users on when and how to report issues. At the centre of consent in an online context is the sharing of explicit pictures. It is imperative that children are educated that the sharing, possessing or taking of explicit pictures of underage persons is a criminal offence.

I would love for the local community to get involved with Safer Internet Day. You can register as a supporter using this link; https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-2019/register-safer-internet-day-2019-supporter and if you want to help educate our children about using the Internet safely, use this link; https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-2019/education-packs to find education packs.

#OurInternetOurChoice

For information and support, visit http://www.buildsoundminds.org.uk

In Westminster, I was joined by many exceptional young people and mental health experts from the leading charity, Action for Children, to support the parliamentary launch of ‘Build Sound Minds’ – a campaign to help children and teenagers build good mental health and emotional well-being.

A third of 15 to 18-year-olds assessed by Action for Children were found to be suffering from mental health issues. Pupils in need of support have been taking part in the Blues Programme, the first ever UK-wide early help intervention for teenage depression. Ahead of Children’s Mental Health Week (4th-10th February), I pledge to support the charity’s campaign, which aims to improve children and teenager’s mental health by providing families with accessible information, tools and tips.

At the parliamentary launch, I said:

“The most recent official figures show one in nine children between 5-15 experiencing a mental health disorder. This simply can’t go on. Acting early can help stop problems in their tracks and its vital we do everything we can, not only to help these young people, but to prevent these problems coming about in the first place.”

“That’s why I’m pleased to be supporting Action for Children’s work through Build Sound Minds, and I am encouraged young people of all ages across Huddersfield to look out for their own wellbeing and to seek support early if they’re struggling.”

The chief executive of Action for Children, Julie Bentley, said:

“Just like our physical health, our emotional wellbeing needs care and attention. And the first step in doing this is to create a positive conversation about mental health. Every day we support children and teenagers who are struggling for a number of reasons. Some are concerned about their futures, many are dealing with the intense pressure of school work and others are experiencing problems at home, all while navigating a complex 24/7 world with constant stimulation from social media.”

“Its no wonder that things can sometimes become too much for young people to handle. But with the backing of MPs like Barry, Action for Children can support young people to deal with their feelings from an earlier age, help prevent problems from starting and allow them to bounce back quickly if they do.”

Julie is right. To support young people, the people who represent our future, we must engage in a positive conversation about mental health and create an environment where young people feel secure enough to come forward and speak about the state of their mental health. I wholeheartedly support this campaign and I would like to thank Action for Children for their outstanding work.

I’ve been contacted by Ofcom about an exciting opportunity for my constituents to boost their broadband to Superfast for the same, or less, money than they pay for their current broadband. According to Ofcom figures, Superfast broadband is available in 9/10 homes, yet less than half of those available have taken the offer up.

This exciting campaign is running until Easter 2019, meaning you can get more for less with your broadband. If you’re interested (and why wouldn’t you be?), please follow the instructions below;

Go to BoostYourBroadband.com and complete the below simple steps.

1. Enter your postcode to see what type of broadband – standard, superfast or ultrafast – is available at your address. This checker draws on Ofcom’s authoritative, up-to-date information.
2. Decide what you need – by seeing what kind of broadband user you are.
3. Speak to your provider – armed with information on what to ask for, and how to get the best deal.

#BoostYourBroadband

 

Last Friday, I enjoyed a very busy day in the constituency! It was great to travel around Huddersfield and meet some of the most talented and hard-working individuals – a true reflection of our town!

I started the day by visiting the Textile Centre of Excellence, a hub of local skills, creativity and talent. There I chaired a meeting of Cobbett Environmental Ltd, an organisation that supports local environmental projects through grants. The environment has long been a passion of mine and I continue to work to support local causes as well fighting for greater environmental protections nationally.

From there, I journeyed to Reliance Precision, an engineering manufacturer in Lepton alongside Paula Sherriff, MP for Dewsbury. I was fortunate enough to be given a tour of the facility and shown some of the cutting-edge work which the organisation is producing. The manufacturer is an exemplar of talent, passion, work-ethic and a desire to be at the forefront of their fields. The company is a key component of the local economy and a motivating and elevating employer. I had the opportunity to meet a number of apprentices; they were true reflections of what can happen if the conditions are put in place for young people to succeed in the workplace. Their raw talent and desire to learn was a true inspiration and I look forward to working with the organisation in the future.

I then visited Greenhead College for a Q&A on the issue of Brexit alongside a representative from ‘Our Future, Our Choice.’ with the students. I engaged in a spirited discussion and in spite of some differences in opinion, it was inspiring to see so many students show their investment in our political process and the future of our country.  Although the issues what we covered were complex, each student showed great maturity and understanding. I hope that the students’ passion for politics endures and I look forward to visiting the college in the future.

Finally, I met with the officers and representatives of Huddersfield University’s Student Union. The team are currently working on a number of campaigns which support a great many worthy causes across our community. I spoke at length with the Union’s leadership on how we can work together in the future to bring tangible improvements. I look forward to assisting in these campaigns going forward and I share in their motivation to find new ways to transform our community for the better.  

It was to my deep sadness and regret that on I was informed on Tuesday that Marks and Spencer is to close its store in Huddersfield town centre. The store is not only the source of employment to 71 of my constituents, but it is a vibrant and long-standing pillar of our town.

The decision will have profoundly damaging and lasting effects on footfall in the town centre, the security of the store’s employees, the access of shoppers, the prospects of M&S and indeed the faith consumers have in the retailer. Huddersfield, for 85 years, has shown loyal custom to the retailer and I believe that M&S should duly value this and reconsider its decision to withdraw from the town centre.

Huddersfield is a vibrant retail hub and it saddens me greatly to know that M&S intend to no longer be a part of that. For nearly a century, the people of Huddersfield have had access to a full range of M&S products and that practical convenience is now being taken away from them in a move that I consider to be short-sighted and fundamentally flawed.

I urge Marks and Spencer to halt its implementation of this decision and consider how it can retain its vital and valued presence in Huddersfield. I stand with my constituents and ask the retailer to think on what I believe to be a decision which will incur lasting damage to consumer confidence, the place of M&S on the high street, the constituency’s loyal customers and the store’s 71 employees.

On New Year’s Eve, a fire at a self-storage facility in Croydon meant that almost 12,000 customers lost everything that they had stored within the facility – in some cases this included treasured personal possessions or the entire stock of some businesses. After the event, customers raised concerns and questions regarding fire safety risks within not only the facility in Croydon, but self-storage centres across the country. These concerns were relayed to me by the MP for Croydon North, Steve Reed, who determined that the fire in his constituency, which devastated the lives of many, was an ‘accident waiting to happen.’

The facility’s inadequacies included that the storage units were open at the top allowing the blaze to spread from one unit to the next, a lack of a sprinkler system and 24/7-hour security presence, no records being taken of what was stored in the facility, and considerable issues surrounding the insurance of goods. Given the amount of personal and commercial property which held in these facilities in Huddersfield and nationwide, I feel compelled to share these concerns with their managers and owners. As such, I have corresponded with each facility in Huddersfield, urging them to consider the answers to the questions below in order to identify, pre-empt and resolve any safety concerns which could cause irreversible damage. The questions include:

• How does the design of your self-storage facility prevent fire from spreading once it starts? E.g. are the individual units fully contained with no gaps through which fire can spread; what other fire containment measures are present; are sprinklers installed throughout the facility?
• Are security staff on-site 24/7, and if not how is the site monitored when it is not staffed?
• What checks are made to ensure that customers do not store flammable materials on site?
• Are all entry points to the site (including loading bays) fully secured or monitored at all times to prevent accessed to unauthorised persons?
• Are all insurance services you offer to customers fully regulated by UK regulatory authorities or are they structured in ways that subject them to regulation by other jurisdictions?
• Are all staff giving advice to customers on buying insurance, insurance risk and levels of cover fully trained, and how are untrained staff prevented from giving advice?

I am confident that if we can identify any risks and manage them accordingly, we can mitigate the possibility that the events of Croydon will be unnecessarily repeated and further property destroyed.