2022 February

I have tabled the following Early Day Motion ahead of this year’s World Book Day, EDM 959: “That this House congratulates World Book Day on celebrating its 25th Anniversary on 3 March 2022; commends its success in distributing 15 million book tokens annually in places of education;

I met with representatives from the GMB Union at an event in Parliament on Tuesday 22 February 2022.

The Skills and Post-16 Education Bill seeks to reform these areas of education. Measures include allowing Employer Representative Bodies for an area to create Local Skills Improvement Plans. On Monday 21 February 2022 I voted on the Bill at Report Stage.

The existing Accident and Emergency Department at Walsall Manor Hospital is not large enough for the expected growth in patient numbers in the coming years, over 10,000 extra patients a year. Pressures have been added to by the closure of Stafford hospital. On Friday, 11 February 2022, I visited the new A&E department being constructed at the Manor. 

Applications to build 57 luxury homes on the Green Belt at Great Barr Hall and Park and a HMO at a former care home on Slaney Road were both rejected by Walsall Council Planning Committee on Thursday 10 February 2022.