2022

On 29 March 2022, the Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2022 came before the House. The Regulations apply to National Insurance Contributions for certain married women and widows, and form part of the Government’s plans to raise NICs for people from April 2022. This is the wrong approach to fix social care, implemented at the wrong time, as energy bills go up. I voted against the Regulations, which were passed, Ayes: 268 and Noes:195.

On Monday 28 March 2022 the House received a message from the Lords regarding the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. Motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 72B, and to propose amendments (a) and (b) in lieu. Lords Amendment 72B would make it an offence to harass or intimidate a person based on hostility to their sex or gender and require the Secretary of State to pass regulations within six months requiring police forces to record data on offences which fall under this section or which the victim reports as being motivated by misogyny. These measures would increase public awareness, improve victims’ confidence in reporting, and enhance the way the police respond to violence against women. The Government’s amendments proposed to replace the Lords Amendment would give the Government 12 months to respond to the Law Commission’s report, which raised concerns about that recognising misogyny in this way may complicate the prosecution of rape and sexual assault. However, the Lords Amendment has already been altered in recognition of those concerns. I voted against the motion, which passed, Ayes:243 and Noes:148.

The Skills and Post-16 Education Bill seeks to reform these areas of education. This includes the replacement of existing Level 3 vocational qualifications such as BTECs with new T-Levels. The Government had initially planned to withdraw BTECs as soon as possible, but has since delayed these plans by a year. On Monday 28 March 2022, the Commons received a message from the Lords regarding the Bill. The Government motion was to disagree with the Lords Amendment in question. As such, an ‘Aye’ vote is to remove the amendment, and a ‘No’ vote is to retain the amendment. Lords Amendment 15B would require BTECs and other Level 3 vocational qualifications to remain available for three years, and one further year unless public consultation has been undertaken and employer representative bodies have consented. The Government do not appear to fully recognise the value of existing qualifications, and the detriment to young people which may result from an inadequate transition period. I voted against the motion, which passed, Ayes: 280 and Noes: 152.

I appeared on the BBC Politics Midlands programme on Sunday 27 March 2022. On the programme we discussed the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, and the lack of support for millions struggling with the cost of living; negotiations over waste collection services in Coventry; and the thousands of houses set to be built on the Walsall Green Belt in the Black Country Plan, including next to Walsall Arboretum.  You can watch the episode here:
BBC iPlayer – Politics Midlands – 27/03/2022

On Saturday 26 March 2022, lights around the world will go out for the hour from 8.30pm, from Edinburgh Castle to Buckingham Palace, for Earth Hour 2022. Hundreds of millions of people in the UK and around the world will participate by turning off their lights.
Earth Hour is organised annually by the World Wildlife Foundation to remind us that even small changes can make a real difference for the planet when we act together. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the initiative.