Welcome to this week’s constituency newsletter for residents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire. There was fantastic news for the constituency this week, with the Defence Secretary confirming that as part of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government will be investing £15 billion in the nuclear warhead programme at AWE. We have also had exciting announcements on extending eligibility for free school meals, action to tackle the scourge of illegal bikes and rooftop solar. In addition, I was delighted to welcome chalk stream campaigners to Parliament and in the constituency visited a business that provides secure dog walking area as well as holding one of my regular constituency surgeries.

To keep up to date with what I am doing in Parliament and in the constituency, you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Bluesky.

Government confirms £15 billion investment at AWE

I am proud to represent a constituency that is so vital to this country’s national security, with thousands of people working in the defence sector to keep this country safe.

That’s why, earlier this week, I was delighted to be in the House of Commons to hear the Defence Secretary confirm that the Labour Government will be investing £15 billion in the nuclear warhead programme at AWE.

This investment will be transformational for Reading West and Mid Berkshire, modernising the infrastructure at the Aldermaston site and supporting over 9,000 people in skilled, well-paid jobs, apprenticeships and graduate programmes. Countless more opportunities will be delivered through supply chain businesses and for SMEs that are reliant on a thriving local economy.

The Government’s steadfast commitment to our nuclear deterrent isn’t just vital for our national security, it shows that Labour is serious about investing in jobs, opportunities and skills.

Investment in the defence sector makes us all safer – but it also makes communities like Reading West and Mid Berkshire much more prosperous.

Pincents Hill

Next Tuesday 10 June West Berkshire Council will be considering the adoption of the West Berkshire Local Plan Review for the period 2023-2041 and against local wishes the proposed plan includes an allocation for 138 properties on Pincents Hill.

There is no doubt that after years of missed targets, the country is facing a housing crisis that can only be met by building. And, when I speak with residents it is clear that there is a desperate need for more affordable housing for families in West Berkshire.

But, where that housing goes is a choice and I have been clear since before I was elected as your Member of Parliament that Pincents Hill is not a suitable site for development. We are here as a result of a bodged process where firstly under the Conservatives not enough housing was identified, and then under the Lib Dems previously disregarded sites like Pincents Hill have been added in at a late stage.

As your MP I have represented residents’ views to the Local Plan Inquiry and have worked alongside local campaigners and local councillors and will continue to do so.

Changes to West Berkshire Council bin collections

Thank you to the more than 500 residents who have responded to my survey on the decision by West Berkshire Council to move to collecting black refuse bins every three weeks.

Of those who have responded, 88% of residents are concerned that the changes that are being introduced won’t help deliver increased recycling rates. And, 92% of residents have said that they are worried that the change in frequency of black bin collections may lead to an increase in fly tipping. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to share your views, you can complete my survey at https://oliviabailey.co.uk/west-berks-bin-collections/

I will be raising the concerns that residents have highlighted about the changes to bin collections with West Berkshire Council.

Protecting the River Pang

As part of my campaign to protect our precious River Pang, it was brilliant to host The Rivers Trust, Angling Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and ARK – Action for the River Kennet in Parliament this morning to raise awareness of the need to protect our precious chalk streams with my fellow MPs.

Chalk streams like the Pang are a rare natural resource, and over 80% of the world’s chalk streams are in England. I am continuing to work closely with Government and campaigners to deliver the protections we need to see for these beautiful rivers.

Extending eligibility for free school meals

I was delighted with the news that the Government is extending free school meals to every child from a household in receipt of Universal Credit. Too many children in Reading West and Mid Berkshire have been going without, and I’m so proud that this Labour Government is making the changes necessary to stop children from being too hungry to learn.

The changes will begin from the start of the 2026 school year and will benefit half a million children across the England, including up to 3,400 in Reading West and Mid Berkshire, lifting 100,000 children out of poverty.

This is yet another win for working families. Through our Plan for Change we’ve already started rolling out free breakfast clubs, capped school uniform costs, boosted the national minimum wage, and supported hundreds of thousands of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.

Taking action on crime and anti-social behaviour

Like me, I know that residents across Reading West and Mid Berkshire are fed up with the illegal bikes, e-scooters and intimidating street racing that plagues our communities. So, I am delighted that the Government has given the police new powers to seize and destroy perpetrators vehicles within 48 hours – down from 14 days.

The measure to fast-track the disposal of vehicles comes alongside additional proposals to give police stronger powers to seize any vehicles involved in antisocial behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing them.

These new powers will help tackle the scourge of vehicle-driven antisocial behaviour by sending a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities that swift justice will be delivered and this behaviour not tolerated.

It was also great this week to be able to attend USDAW’s drop-in in Parliament this week and hear about all they are doing to highlight abuse against retail workers.

For far too long, retailers and shop workers have been putting up with unacceptable levels of anti-social behaviour and abuse, so I am really pleased that the Crime and Policing Bill which is currently going through Parliament will create a standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker to protect staff and ensure that all shop theft is treated with the seriousness it deserves

This Labour Government understands the impact of retail crime and is ending the Tories’ shoplifters’ charter which granted effective immunity for shop theft of goods below £200.

Hounds and Bounds

I was delighted this week to visit Hounds and Bounds on Pincents Hill in Tilehurst who provide secure off-lead dog walking spaces on six sites across Berkshire and Hampshire. It is a fantastic venture providing a space for families with dogs and young children or dog owners who may have limited mobility to be able to exercise their dogs safely.

If you are a dog owner, do go and check them out!

Taking action on water companies

I am delighted that the Government has taken action to ban bonuses for six water companies, including Thames Water, with immediate effect. This follows the news last week that the water regulator OFWAT had fined Thames Water £122.7m.

Under the Conservatives, water bosses awarded themselves £112 million in bonuses and incentive payments. But we have made clear that like anyone else, they should only get bonuses if they’ve performed well, certainly not if they’ve failed to tackle water pollution.

For too long, money that could have been invested in fixing our crumbling infrastructure has been paid as bonuses to water bosses who are failing customers and the environment. That’s why I am also really pleased that the government has secured a record £104 billion of private investment – the largest ever since privatisation – to cut sewage discharges by nearly half over the next five years. This money will now be ringfenced for new pipes and treatment work –not shareholder pay outs.

Rooftop solar for newbuilds to save people money

Following the Government announcement today, I am delighted that working people stand to save hundreds of pounds off their energy bills as the government confirms new build homes will have solar panels by default.

This is one of the proposed changes in the Future Homes Standard which will be published this Autumn. New homes will also have low-carbon heating, such as heat pumps and high levels of energy efficiency, cutting people’s energy bills and boosting the nation’s energy security with clean, homegrown power.

From switching on the kettle to cooking dinner and doing the weekly wash, families will now be able to seize the benefits of powering their lives with clean, renewable energy from the very first day in their new home, with cheaper energy bills that put more money back in their pockets.

Dates for your Diary

Sunday 29 June – Community Drop-in, Compton

If you live in Compton or the surrounding area and would like to come along for a chat with tea and biscuits between 3.00pm and 4.00pm, please email with the subject line “Compton Community Drop-in” and my team will confirm the venue a few days in advance of the event.

Best wishes for the week ahead

Olivia