Barry Sheerman

Category: Uncategorised

• 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.

  Posted in Uncategorised | 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. 

  Posted in Uncategorised | 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.

  Posted in Uncategorised | 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.

  Posted in Uncategorised | 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. 

  Posted in Uncategorised | 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.

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

• Eating Disorder Awareness Week

  Posted at 10:45 am by eviehallitt, on Mar 1, 2019

  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.

  Posted in Uncategorised | 0 Comments

• Me & the Miscarriages of Justice APPG

  Posted at 12:15 pm by eviehallitt, on Feb 25, 2019

  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.

  Posted in Uncategorised | 0 Comments

• Opportunity for Local Businesses

  Posted at 12:34 pm by eviehallitt, on Feb 5, 2019

  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.

  Posted in Uncategorised | 0 Comments

• Safer Internet Day

  Posted at 9:00 am by eviehallitt, on Feb 5, 2019

  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

  Posted in Uncategorised | 0 Comments

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