Happy New Year and welcome to my first constituency newsletter for residents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire Constituency, which will be sent out every week. I hope that you find it useful.
I know that some residents across Reading West and Mid Berkshire will have been affected by flooding in the past few days as a result of the heavy rainfall that we have experienced. I have been keeping in touch with the local councils about the potential impacts and while the immediate risk has reduced, I would urge anyone who is concerned to check the Government’s flood risk website.
To keep up to date with what I am doing in Parliament and across the constituency, please do follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Bluesky
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
From the emails that come into my office and from hearing from parents at my surgeries, I know that people also want to see support for schools to help raise standards, help with cutting the cost of sending children to school, and real lasting change to stop children from falling through cracks.
That’s why this week, I was proud to support the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – the single biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation. Children growing up in Reading West and Mid Berkshire and right across the country deserve the best start in life, nothing less. This legislation will stop children falling through the cracks through landmark reforms to safeguarding and children’s social care – no more empty words or ‘lessons learned’, but real action to keep children safe. It will drive high and rising standards in schools through common-sense reform to put more qualified, expert teachers in classrooms, teaching a cutting-edge curriculum. And, it will cut the cost of sending children to school to make life easier for families, with free breakfast clubs and a cap on the number of branded school uniform items.
Help build a health service fit for the future
Before Christmas the Government launched a consultation on the NHS ten-year plan, so that we can do everything possible to ensure our NHS is fit for the future. Whether you use the NHS or work in it, you see first-hand what’s great, but also what isn’t working. That’s why as your MP I’m inviting you to have your say. On 6 February, I’ll be holding an event for residents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire to feed into this consultation. Please email my office to book a place.
But, as well as planning for the long-term we are already taking action on the residents’ priorities for the NHS. At the General Election, I promised our community that we would end the 8am scramble for appointments and bring back the family doctor. So, I’m delighted that this week the Government have announced plans to do just that – by slashing red tape and delivering the biggest boost to GP funding in years.
And, on Monday the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting announced an independent commission on building a National Care Service – there is no solution for the crisis in the NHS that doesn’t involve a solution for social care. The commission will be chaired by Louise Casey, a trusted, independent figure, who will involve all political parties and the public in the process of building a national consensus around what our country wants from social care, and how a National Care Service can best meet our needs.
Around the constituency
It’s been a busy week around the constituency. I went to the Ilsleys to meet with fantastic local farmers and hear about their experiences first-hand. I also met with a local councillor and the Police and Crime Commissioner to discuss how to tackle problems with ongoing anti-social behaviour in West Berkshire.
This week I also met with the Leader and Chief Executive at Reading Borough Council and visited IKEA who are a major employer in the constituency. I met with Berkshire Youth to discuss how we can support young people in the constituency and I was delighted to be able to visit the fantastic grade one listed St Bartholomew’s Church in Lower Basildon, which is cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust along with a group of wonderful local volunteers. The church roof is currently in a very poor state of repair, and I was pleased last autumn to be able to support a successful bid to West Berkshire Council for funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy. However, more funding is needed to complete the project, so if you are able to make a contribution, you can do so here.
I’m hiring
I’m recruiting for two paid interns to be based in my constituency office. These roles are being offered on one month contracts. You or anyone you know would like to apply for these roles you can do so here. The closing date for applications is 5.00pm on Monday 20th January.
New constituency office
Finally, just before Christmas we got the keys for our new constituency office in Theale! My team and I are excited to be in our new office so that we can continue to work hard to stand up for local people. Do have a look on my website – www.oliviabailey.co.uk – to see how I and my team may be able to help you.
Best wishes for the week ahead
Olivia