Barry Sheerman

Author Archives: thomascritchley

• Charities and coronavirus

  Posted at 1:58 pm by thomascritchley, on Apr 1, 2020

  

  In the past week, I have been focused on Huddersfield’s many charities and third sector organisations which provide crucial support to many vulnerable people across my constituency and the country more widely. The Covid-19 outbreak is going to have a profound impact on many sectors and industries – charities will not be exempt from the immense disruption and uncertainty that this international challenge has generated.

  I joined hundreds of colleagues in signing Stephen Doughty MP’s open letter to the Chancellor this week. Stephen stated: “Without an immediate injection of money, many charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises of all sizes will soon close. Funds are running out. Crucially, the NCVO predicts that there will be a loss in the sector of £4.3bn in income over the coming 12 weeks. The figure could be far higher.”

  From the Forget Me Not Hospice to the Welcome Centre, charities in my constituency do a huge amount to support the people of Yorkshire, often through highly challenging and distressing moments of their lives. I am proud to say that I have worked with many of them for a long time and met many exceptional people as a result. But Covid-19 is threatening these charities and putting their capacity to continue to operate in the long-term at risk.

  This week, I have asked third sector workers to write to me with their experiences of how their work is being affected by the outbreak. I also want to know how Covid-19 is impacting the fundraising, profile and general operation of these groups. If you do have any personal experience of this, please email me at barry.sheerman.office@parliament.uk.

  It is my belief that the Government has a central role to play in supporting charities and third sector workers and the financial support offered to businesses should not be at the expense of a bailout for the third sector, should the situation worsen. Many in our communities rely on the work that a third sector organisation does and the challenges that Covid-19 pose will lead to a chain reaction which will profoundly and adversely impact those who rely on them. It is our duty to mitigate the damage done to our country’s charities and I will continue to do all I can to represent the views of Huddersfield’s charities.

  

  The Welcome Centre runs a foodbank service which will be used by many individuals and families adversely affected by the coronavirus crisis in the coming weeks.

  Forget Me Not hospice does amazing work supporting children with life-shortening conditions and their families.

  The Laura Crane Trust supports children and young people with cancer, many of whom are in the ‘extremely vulnerable’ category for COVID-19.

  | 0 Comments

• Supermarkets and coronavirus

  Posted at 12:31 pm by thomascritchley, on Mar 26, 2020

  

  In the last few days, I have received many emails from constituents about the difficulties they have had in buying the food they need. I want to thank those who took the time to get in touch and assure you that I am in communication with local supermarkets, raising your concerns and working towards solutions.

  In the meantime, I have pulled together information from many of the main supermarkets about their response to the COVID19 outbreak, including set-aside hours for the vulnerable and NHS workers, product restrictions and new opening times. You can find the table below.

  I know many of you have been unable to book online delivery slots, which is particularly worrying for those who are self-isolating. If you are vulnerable, Sainsbury’s are introducing a scheme to reserve delivery slots for you – you can find out more information here or by calling 0800 328 1700, and register as vulnerable here which will place you on the supermarket’s priority list. Please pass on this information to any vulnerable people you know who may not have access to the internet.

  Vulnerable people include:

  • Organ transplant recipients
  • People with certain cancers
  • People with severe respiratory conditions
  • People on immunosuppression therapies
  • People with diseases that significantly increase the risk of infection s
  • Pregnant women with significant heart disease

  The NHS is directly contacting people with these conditions to provide further advice. Those in these group will get a phone number to ring if they need support accessing food or medicine.

  If you think you fall into one of the categories of extremely vulnerable people listed above and you have not received a letter by Sunday 29 March or been contacted by your GP, you should discuss your concerns with your GP or hospital clinician.

  I hope that the information about supermarkets below is useful, and that you and your families are all keeping well at this difficult time. As ever, please do get in touch with me at barry.sheerman.mp@parliament.uk if you need any assistance over the coming days and weeks. Together, we will weather this.  

  	Weekday opening hours	NHS workers slot?	Vulnerable & elderly people slot?	Product restrictions	Online delivery	More info
  Aldi	8am-8pm – find your local	Sun 9.30-10am	/	4 of any one item	Yes	Here
  Asda	24hr stores closed between 12am and 6am – find your local	Mon, Wed, Fri 8-9am	/	3 of any one item	Yes	Here
  Coop	Most open 7am-8pm – find your local	Mon-Sat 8-9am; Sun 10-11am	Mon-Sat 8-9am; Sun 10-11am	2 of in-demand items	Yes – max 20 products	Here
  Lidl	Mostly unchanged – find your local	/	/	4 of in-demand items	No	Here
  Morrisons	Mostly unchanged – find your local	Mon – Sat, 7-8am	Mon – Sat, 9-10am	Cleaning products restricted	Yes (app is down; use website)	Here
  Sainsbury’s	8am – 8pm – find your local	Every day 7.30-8am	Mon, Wed, Fri 8-9am	3 of any one item (2 of in-demand items)	Yes (priority slots for vulnerable customers, see here)	Here
  Tesco	6am – 10pm for large stores- find your local	One hour before usual opening time on Sunday	Mon, Wed, Fri 9-10am	3 of any one item (2 of in-demand items)	Yes	Here
  Waitrose	Varies by store – find your local	Hard to find product set aside; priority checkout	First hour of opening in each store	3 of groceries; 2 of toilet roll	Yes	Here

  | 0 Comments

• Coronavirus: information and links

  Posted at 3:04 pm by thomascritchley, on Mar 16, 2020

  

  With an increasing number of coronavirus cases being reported in West Yorkshire, I urge all my constituents to take precautions to protect themselves and the vulnerable people they interact with.

  On Thursday 12^th March, the Government announced they were moving from the contain phase to the delay phase. Whilst the contain phase focused on limiting the spread of the virus, the delay phase is focused on reducing the amount of people ill at the same time; a huge spike in cases would overstrain the NHS.

  Much of the advice from the previous phase remains relevant: wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, use a tissue for coughs and self-isolate if you experience symptoms of the virus, namely a dry cough fever and breathing difficulties. It may well be wise to avoid large gatherings and, if you are particularly at risk because of age or underlying health conditions, avoid leaving the house if you can help it.

  Do be looking out for each other and supporting your neighbours who are more at risk, perhaps by offering to go shopping for them or by phoning them if they are self-isolating and potentially lonely. I have great faith that we will pull together as a community and get through the worst of this, however long it takes.

  Whilst I have unfortunately had to postpone advice services and surgeries, I will continue to monitor my email, so do get in contact with me at barry.sheerman.mp@parliament.uk if I can be of any help at this time – or if you need simply pointing in the direction of the right services.

  I have pulled together some information and support links below.

  Diagnosis and self-isolating

  The NHS are no longer testing everyone with coronavirus symptoms. The current advice, if you suspect you have the virus, is to self-isolate (do not go to a GP surgery or a hospital). Phone the NHS helpline service (111) if you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, your condition gets worse or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days.

  NHS information on symptoms and self-isolating is available here, with a BBC guide to the practicalities of self-isolation here.

  Advice on how to protect your mental health when self-isolating can be found here.  

  Work

  If you have any of the symptoms, do not go into work. The Prime Minister has stated that workers will get statutory sick pay from the first day off work, not the fourth, to support people who have to self-isolate. Citizens Advice has more information on making claims.

  If you currently receive Universal Credit or may need to make a claim as a result of not being able to work, please see the Department for Work and Pensions information here. The page also includes information about sick pay for gig workers and the support available for businesses and employers.

  If you have travel plans, check the government guidance on foreign travel, which is here, and here is some information about travel rights.  

  Government

  Information about the current number of cases and the Government’s response can be found here.

  Help

  I know many people want to help others at this difficult time. Whilst you might not be able to visit someone who is self-isolating, you could offer to leave groceries on their doorstep, buy them medicines, post their letters or phone them to chat.

  I was impressed by this template, which you can print, fill out and drop through neighbours doors as an offer of help.

  Here is a site which allows you to set up local support groups to coordinate volunteers and a local response to coronavirus. �v

  | 0 Comments

• Fairtrade

  Posted at 11:48 am by thomascritchley, on Feb 28, 2020

  

  This week, I attended a reception in Parliament to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight, hearing the ways that about women cocoa farmers in West Africa and the ways that Fairtrade benefits them.

  Fairtrade is a movement for change that works directly with businesses, consumers and campaigners to secure a better deal for farmers and workers. It is about doing trade differently, empowering farmers and workers and challenging unfair trading practices. There are around 2 million child slaves across Ghana and the Ivory Coast who are forced to work on the cocoa plantations, while many farmers there earn less than $2 per day. This is appalling, especially given that in 2001 the world’s major chocolate manufacturers signed the Harkin-Engel Protocol which stated that child labour and trafficking would be prohibited in the cocoa industry after 2008. Across these two countries, there are 82 Fairtrade-certified organisations which pay over 130,000 workers a living wage, ensuring there is no slavery in the supply chains of their products and investing in communities to prevent children being forced into slavery by poverty. With its vision of empowerment and sustainability, Fairtrade is improving the lives of over 1.6 million farmers and workers worldwide.    

  

  The Fairtrade mark is well known; in this country, 9 out of 10 people recognise it and 26% of people frequently choose Fairtrade products. The mark is a trusted sign that the companies, farmers and workers have met certain standards, ensuring environmental, social and economic benefits for the producers and their communities. A firm supporter of co-ops and mutuals, I have long believed that companies should acknowledge their environmental and social – not just their economic – impact, ensuring they give back to all involved in producing a product. Fairtrade is a guarantee of fairness and accountability.

  From tea and coffee to chocolate and bananas, our supermarkets offer a wide range of Fairtrade products – so why not try a new one next time you’re shopping? Choosing Fairtrade is a way we can all contribute to a fairer world.

  | 0 Comments Tagged co-ops and mutuals, fairtrade, fairtrade fortnight, harkin engel protocol

• 12 years of education for every girl

  Posted at 10:47 am by thomascritchley, on Feb 21, 2020

  

  Two weeks ago, I asked the Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, for a debate on women’s right to education worldwide. 131 million girls do not go to school. This is a tragedy – not just for these girls but also for our global community. Can you imagine how much faster we will be able to eliminate global poverty if we can mobilise everyone’s ideas and talents? Educating girls is about seeing the whole world benefit from more diverse and holistic responses to the challenges we face through enabling each girl to reach her potential.

  A report by the Global Partnership for Education, which is partially funded by UK aid, draws attention to the myriad of ways in which education benefits women, their communities and the global economy. These benefits include:

  • Doubling of expected earnings in adulthood (one additional school year can increase women’s earnings by up to 20%)
  • Reducing a women’s risk of contracting HIV
  • Reducing the mortality rate of a women’s children.
  • Hugely reducing risk of child marriage
  • Addition of $28 trillion to global GDP (if women had the same role in the labour market as men)

  Ensuring all girls and boys complete 12 years of free, equitable and quality education is one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Their goals, of which there are 17 in total, form an urgent call for cooperative action by all countries to end poverty, reduce inequality and improve health, education and environmental management. Adopted by all member states in 2015, the UN annually reports the progress made towards each goal.

  There is much to be positive about; more and more girls are going to school. In the Global Partnership for Education’s target countries, 75% of girls finished primary school in 2016 compared to 57% in 2002. Additionally, 50% of girls completed lower-secondary school in 2016 compared to 35% in 2002.

  I was pleased to see the Prime Minister commit to more aid for girls’ education – in August last year, Johnson promised £90 million for education in conflict zones, with a further £515 million announced a month later to get over 12 million children into school. In January, I submitted parliamentary questions to the Department for International Development to find out more about how this money was being spent; the list of evidence-based projects it funds is certainly heartening to read.

  Yet it is not enough. In the same speech that Boris Johnson announced the extra funding, he also stated: ‘On current estimates it will take another eighty years to achieve the equality of opportunity we said we would deliver within fifteen.’ We cannot afford to wait another three generations; for the sake of these girls, their communities and the world, change must come sooner.

  The trend of girls dropping out of secondary school continues. We need to better understand the multiple barriers behind these statistics – factors range from distance from school, through cultural norms, to early marriage – before we can combat them.

  Furthermore, we must remember that access to education does not necessarily mean into quality education. The UN reports that many developing countries still lack basic infrastructure and facilities to provide effective learning environments. Investment in electricity, basic drinking water and technology is essential, as is high-quality training for the teachers themselves.

  As former chair of the Education and Skills select committee, I have witnessed first-hand the difference that high-quality, inspiring education can make to people’s lives. I will continue to call for girls’ education to be at the top of the international development agenda, because educating every single child will transform our world for the better. 

  | 0 Comments Tagged education, education for girls, women in stem

• Homelessness in the UK

  Posted at 11:12 am by thomascritchley, on Feb 7, 2020

  Last week in Parliament, there was a lot of attention paid to homelessness – and rightly so. Homelessness charity Shelter estimated that 281,000 people in the UK were homeless in 2019, which equates to 1 in every 250 of us. After a decade of austerity, the numbers of rough sleepers in England have more than doubled. This is both tragic and preventable.

  Along with Crisis, Shelter and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ending Homelessness*, I believe there are two main steps that can be taken to reduce homelessness dramatically. The first is to build more social rent properties and the second is to restore the Local Housing Allowance rates to at least the 30^th percentile of local market rates.

  Firstly, social housing. Social rent is set at around half of local market rent, making it much more affordable than typical rent in the private rented sector and providing vital stability to financially vulnerable families. Despite its importance, the delivery of social housing has plummeted in recent years. Whilst 40,000 social homes were built in 2009/10, Shelter reports that in 2018/19 only 6,287 were built (in Kirklees, it was just 58). Furthermore, including the number of social rent homes sold last year, there was actually a net loss of around 20,000 social properties across the country.

  Why is this important? Given that there are other housing schemes such as affordable rent and affordable home ownership, it doesn’t sound like the reduction in one kind of property should be an issue. Yet it is. This is because affordable rent, set at 80% of local market rent, is not actually affordable for most people. Social housing is the only form of housing to offer genuine affordability and stability that families need, which is why it has to be at the centre of any solution to the national housing crisis. To end homelessness, we must provide enough genuinely affordable homes for people on the lowest incomes by building 100 000 social homes a year in England for the next 15 years. Recently, I have been particularly impressed by the Norwich Goldsmith Street social houses, which won the Stirling Prize; social housing can and should be well-designed, of high quality and pleasant to live in.

  Secondly, the Local Housing Allowance. LHA is the way that housing benefit is calculated for people who are privately renting. Since 2011, LHA rates have been subject to several cuts and they have been frozen since 2016. Crisis’ 2018 survey of local authorities found that 91% of councils had seen homelessness rates increase in their area since the freeze, with 59% stating that this increase was ‘significant’.

  I welcomed the Government’s announcement that they will end the freeze in April 2020. However, the proposals for a 1.7% increase do not go far enough in restoring rates to a sustainable level for renters. Shelter’s research shows that current LHA rates do not cover the cheapest third of rents in the private rental sector in 97% of England. Given that Government policy states the LHA should be covering local rents up to the 30^th percentile, a major boost in benefit levels is needed so it can do its job.  

  This all matters for two reasons. Firstly, I believe access to housing for vulnerable people, such as women fleeing domestic abuse, is not a favour but a right. Secondly, it makes economic sense. Crisis states that restoring the housing benefit to cover the cheapest third of rents will lift 35,000 children out of poverty and bring financial benefits of £2.1 billion over three years from reduced costs from homelessness services and from reducing the use of temporary accommodation.

  As Parliamentarians, we have a duty and an opportunity to improve access to housing for those who need it most. That is why I will be working with Homeless Link and various other housing initiatives going forwards to ensure homelessness remains high on the Government’s agenda.

  …

  *I would like to thank Crisis and Shelter for the excellent and informative briefings they shared with me ahead of Wednesday’s homelessness debate.

  | 0 Comments Tagged crisis, homelessness, shelter, social housing, uk

• A Day in Parliament

  Posted at 4:00 pm by thomascritchley, on Jan 27, 2020

  

  What do MPs do when they are in Westminster? As with many jobs, there is no ‘typical’ day, but in this post, I’ll give an idea of what my routine in Parliament looks like.

  First thing on a Monday morning, I meet with my office team to discuss the business for the week, progress on our projects, and to table oral and written questions. Parliamentary questions are a key way to hold the Government to account, scrutinising departments’ proposals and suggesting alterations that would make life better for my constituents. Each day, business in the chamber starts with those questions and I always like to be there; here is an example of a question I asked last week about support for MPs taking maternity leave.

  After questions, I sometimes have meetings with charities to find out about their work and how I can do more to champion it. Last week, I met with representatives of Macmillan, learning about the work they do to support the 7,500 people in Huddersfield living with, and the ramifications of, cancer. We discussed applying for Westminster Hall debates about cancer care, the possibility of holding a fundraising walk event in Greenhead park, and I tabled this question about the NHS People Plan, as Macmillan’s research shows that the nursing shortage is the biggest factor affecting cancer care.

  After that, it’s back to the chamber for debates and votes. Many of you have written to me with concerns that the Government is removing protections for unaccompanied child refugees from the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. I find this unacceptable, which is why I voted last Wednesday for Lord Dub’s amendment to retain the legal protection. Sadly, we lost the vote, but I am currently drafting  an Early Day Motion (which are rarely debated but serve to raise MPs’ support and awareness for an issue) calling for greater commitment to reuniting unaccompanied refugee children with their parents in this country.

  The afternoon often brings a meeting of an All-Party Parliamentary Group. These groups, formed around topics as diverse as air pollution, manufacturing and human trafficking, bring together parliamentarians from across parties to hear speakers, hold evidence sessions and write reports. The meeting of the Woods and Trees APPG last week drew attention to the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Plan, highlighting the need to increase tree cover across the country from 13% to 19% by 2050. This would mean planting an area of trees equivalent in size to the Isle of Wight every year as part of our commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

  Later on, I often have meetings about my projects; my priorities at the moment are transforming Huddersfield into a sustainable town, writing a report about miscarriages of justice and restarting the Autism Commission. It is exciting to be able to draw on the knowledge and expertise of the incredible people who are involved with these initiatives. 

  I am very pleased to have been re-elected so I can continue working hard in Parliament to stand up for Huddersfield and bring change. I love to hear from my constituents, so if you have ideas about what I should be focusing on here in Westminster, do get in touch at barry.sheerman.mp@parliament.uk.

  | 0 Comments Tagged appg, edms, parliament, sustainable towns, westminster, what do mps do?

• Policy Connect

  Posted at 11:32 am by thomascritchley, on Jan 21, 2020

  

  This year marks the 25^th anniversary of Policy Connect, a think tank I founded in 1995 and which I now chair. I am a social scientist by training and have always believed that government policy needs to be based on research and evidence in order to be effective. Popular promises and slogans are all well and good, but can these be translated into tangible outcomes that improve people’s daily lives?

  This week, I attended several Policy Connect events in Parliament, which addressed this question. At a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Manufacturing, we discussed issues we want to take forward in the new Parliament, including diversity in the manufacturing industry and the role that manufacturing has to play in achieving net-zero by 2050. It is exciting to see a group of MPs, Lords and industry professionals so determined to prioritise fair, ethical and environmental considerations in the manufacturing sector.

  Another highlight was the round-table discussion on energy from waste. Leading on from a Policy Connect report about the UK Government’s plastic waste strategy, this meeting focused on what to do with the waste we will never be able to recycle. We discussed the possibilities of turning it into energy and using it to heat homes and fuel cars; benefiting from a range of opinions from Extinction Rebellion, Local Government and waste management representatives. I am proud of the work Policy Connect does in producing high-quality research to inform parliamentarians and sector leaders on some of the most pressing issues of the day, ranging from the environment to health, and I look forward to seeing this continue in the new Parliament. 

  | 0 Comments Tagged appg, parliament, policy connect, think tank

• Huddersfield Sustainable Towns

  Posted at 12:28 pm by thomascritchley, on Jan 13, 2020

  

  We are currently facing one of the biggest challenges of humanity: The climate crisis. It is upon us and, while government keeps delaying true and meaningful action, Local Authorities around the country have already started taking the necessary steps in the right direction. Last year, Kirklees joined more than 200 councils around the country in declaring a Climate Emergency and outlining plans for tackling some of the most pressing environmental issues at our time at the local level.

  Sustainability has been at the heart of my interests from the very beginning of my political career. It has always been my understanding that sustainability encompasses both the protection and improvement of the natural environment, with the aim to build healthy and thriving communities that make a place attractive for people to live, work and study in. It is with this conviction that I embarked on the project of turning Huddersfield into a truly Sustainable Town capable of setting an example for others in the country – and why not the world? – to follow. As your Member of Parliament I will do everything within my power to ensure our natural environment, as well as our streets, businesses and local identity will flourish into this new decade and beyond.

  There is no shortage of partners for this endeavour. Key figures from across the Council, the University, the local businesses and retail communities have manifested an interest in working together towards achieving the goal of turning Huddersfield into a sustainable town. Everybody with an interest in seeing this happen is welcome to join me on this adventure. How many trees can we plant? How can we best take care of the spectacular landscape that surrounds us? Where do we need to focus in order to improve our recycling rates, guarantee energy efficiency and improve our transport system? What will it take for our beautiful buildings to be in the best shape they could possibly be? What actions can we take to ensure our community is a strong, thriving and prosperous one?  If you have any suggestions, I want to hear from you! So please leave comments or get in touch with my office with your thoughts.

  There are no simple answers to these questions, and while the challenges ahead of us are big, so will be the rewards for our town. I am hugely grateful to have been re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Huddersfield; I will continue working on making Huddersfield a better place for all of those who live here, and I warmly invite you to join me in making Huddersfield a truly Sustainable Town.

  | 0 Comments Tagged climate crisis, Huddersfield, kirklees council, sustainability, sustainable towns

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