It was a manifesto pledge to reform the UK’s immigration system and this week the second reading of the Nationality and Borders Bill took place.
I was pleased to support this proposed legislation as we need to break up the people smuggling networks that are endangering vulnerable people’s lives. We also need to put a fairer and better system for those who need asylum.
The UK has a magnificent record of giving refuge to those who are escaping danger going back many years. For example, we have directly taken in 25,000 people in the last six years from danger areas, more than any other European country.
A major priority has to be stopping the increasing processions of small boats crossing the Channel and it gives powers to the Government to stop and divert vessels carrying illegal migrants to the UK and return them to where their sea journey began.
It also proposes life imprisonment for those who people smuggle.
The Building Safety Bill’s second reading also went through establishing a new Building Safety Regulator for a more stringent regime for higher-risk buildings and I hope will prevent further disasters like Grenfell from happening.
In a busy Westminster diary, I attended three other debates in my Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) role outside the main chamber. Two were concerned with child poverty, one in Wales and the other in Scotland. Although most policies are devolved, my department - the DWP - is responsible for child benefits and welfare throughout the UK. Not surprisingly, the debate on Scotland led by an SNP MP largely focused on independence for Scotland.
Finally, I was able to ask a question of the health minister and you can see it here.
I am pleased the Government will be giving a 3% pay rise to NHS workers. With inflation running at 2.5%, this is a reasonable deal especially as other public servants are not getting a pay rise this year.
I hope that the economy picks up quickly so we can give all our hard-working public servants a decent pay rise next year.
I had another meeting to discuss assessment in primary schools. I will be spending the summer working on some more articles and ideas about changing our education system following my paper last year. As I have said before, I do not believe the current system of GCSEs exams at 16 is fit for purpose.
I hope that you have managed to stay cool and have a good holiday planned. I will now be working in the constituency and then taking a break.
