Newsletter- January 2025

Dear Friend,
I hope this finds you well and that you had a good Christmas and a great start to 2025! I’ve been back in Westminster after the holidays, and it’s been a busy start to the year with some important work underway. I wanted to share a few key updates about what’s been happening locally and nationally, and how it’s all benefiting our community.

Water Quality and Special Measures Bill

As you may have heard, I’ve been the lead Minister in the Committee Stage of the Water (Special Measures) Bill. This Bill will improve water quality and ensure that water companies are held accountable for cleaning up our rivers, lakes, and seas. It’s meant some long days, but it is an important Bill that will improve water quality and services for everyone and sends a clear message to water bosses: fail to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas, fail to get your bonus. Obstruct investigations into water pollution, end up with a criminal record.

Water Priority Services Register

I’d like to highlight Yorkshire Water’s Priority Services Register, which could make a real difference for some people in our community. If you, or someone you know, would struggle if the water supply was interrupted (for example, due to mobility issues, sight or hearing problems, or using home dialysis), you can sign up for this free service. It ensures that if there’s a problem, priority support is given, including emergency water deliveries. You can find more details and sign up here.
Extra Financial Support for Local Councils
I’m pleased to share that Hull City Council and the East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) are receiving much-needed additional government funding to improve services and infrastructure.
• Hull City Council is receiving an extra £1.375 million for its Start for Life services, which support families from pregnancy to age 2. This funding will go towards family hubs that offer essential support to new parents and children in their early years.
• Hull City Council has been granted £3,038,293 through the Household Support Scheme to assist families struggling with essentials like food, energy bills, and more. Similarly, East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) will receive an additional £2,061,832 through the same scheme to support residents facing hardship.
• Pothole Repair Funds: The condition of our roads is something many of you have raised with me. To tackle the growing problem of potholes, both Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council have been allocated significant funding from the government’s Pothole Fund:
o Hull City Council will receive £4,482,000 to fix potholes.
o East Riding of Yorkshire Council will receive £22,015,000.
This additional £33.9 million in local funding is just part of our ongoing commitment to support local communities and improve everyday life for our residents.

Potholes Survey

I know potholes are a big issue in our area, and I want to make sure the extra money our councils have received goes where it’s most needed. That’s why I’ve set up an online potholes survey to gather your feedback. If you’ve noticed potholes in your area that need fixing, please take a moment to fill out the form so I can pass this information directly to the relevant council. You can submit your feedback here. I’ll make sure the councils take action and keep you updated.

Homelessness Funding Boost

This winter, Hull City Council will benefit from additional government funding to support those sleeping rough. The Labour government is tripling emergency funds for rough sleepers, with an extra £20 million allocated across more than 280 councils to provide emergency accommodation and support. Hull City Council will receive a portion of this funding to help those who need it most, including a focus on vulnerable groups like veterans, care leavers, and victims of domestic abuse. This funding is part of a wider £1 billion package to tackle homelessness and prevent people from falling into it in the first place.

Local Business of the Week

I’ve been overwhelmed by the fantastic local businesses that were nominated for my Small Business Saturday competition, and I’m excited to announce that I’m now introducing a Business of the Week award to continue celebrating our incredible local entrepreneurs.
This week’s winner is The Black Cat – Tea & Coffee Room in Hessle. They’ve recently expanded into a larger space and offer a great range of sweet treats, coffee, tea, and meals. It’s a wonderful local spot for breakfast, lunch, or a catch-up with friends. If you’re in the area, I highly recommend paying them a visit!

A reminder of our winners and runners up from 2024
Food and Drink
Winner Cafe Two-O-One
Runner up The Milk Well
Hair and Beauty
Winner Von-Rose Hair and Cosmetics
Runner up Paige Lauren Bridal
Retail
Winner Tea & Bisque-it
Runner up Lila & Mila
Fitness and Wellness
Winner NKH_Performing Arts
Runner up Gymophobics Hessle
Services
Winner Pink Banana Marketing
Runner up Andy Winter Plastering Ltd

NHS Elective Reform and Local Health Services

So many of you have raised concerns about accessing NHS treatment and services. Your Labour government is committed to rebuilding the NHS with the launch of its Elective Reform Plan. This ambitious initiative aims to meet the 18-week referral to treatment target by the end of this Parliament, a goal abandoned by the previous government. With 7.5 million people currently on the waiting list, including 85,275 in the North Yorkshire and Humber ICB area, this plan addresses the urgent need for change.
Key actions include the opening of Community Diagnostic Centres in the evenings and weekends to make tests more accessible, and expanding surgical hubs to protect planned care. The plan also promises the biggest investment in General Practice in years, focusing on restoring the family doctor relationship that improves care standards. These measures are set to provide 2 million extra appointments in 2025, ensuring 40,000 additional appointments each week.

Renter’s Rights Bill

It’s time for real change in the rental market, and the Renter’s Rights Bill is making its way through Parliament. The Bill will end no-fault evictions, limit rent increases to once a year, and restrict how much rent can be demanded upfront. It will also give renters more security, including the ability to request to keep a pet in their home, and extend protections to tenants who face losing their homes due to the death of a relative. These are important steps toward making renting fairer and more secure for millions of people.

Ticket Touting Reform

I’ve heard from many of you about the frustrations of ticket touting – when tickets for sold-out events appear on resale sites for inflated prices. Labour is now taking action to tackle this issue. We’ve launched a public consultation on introducing stronger protections against ticket touts, including setting a cap on resale prices and improving accountability for ticket resale websites. This is an important step towards ensuring fans are treated fairly.

Buses and Local Transport

Reliable public transport is crucial for many in our community, and I’m committed to addressing concerns from residents and businesses.
I’ve been in touch with EYMS regarding the issues with Services 26 and 54. In response to feedback, EYMS has explained that the restructuring of Service 26 aims to improve punctuality by splitting the route at Beverley, and adjustments to the timetable will be made in February 2025. They also acknowledged concerns with Service 54, particularly regarding cancellations, and are working to enhance reliability through investments in data analytics, driver recruitment, and training.
Having spoken to businesses and residents around the Marina I have written to Hull City Council to ask that they support local bus companies to fund a service which includes the Marina, similar to what they’ve done with the service to the Deep. The Marina is a huge asset to our city but the lack of public transport and lengthy roadworks means some businesses and residents are struggling. We must do all we can to make this bustling area of our city accessible for all.
I will continue to monitor the situation and advocate for improvements, ensuring that our local transport services meet the needs of our community. Thank you for your ongoing feedback.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schooling Bill

You may have recently heard false claims suggesting that Labour MPs, including myself, voted against an inquiry into grooming gangs. I want to set the record straight: these claims are simply not true.

The amendment put forward by the Opposition, if passed, would have resulted in the defeat of the entire Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This would have blocked essential child protection reforms and prevented the bill from being reintroduced due to parliamentary procedure.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is a landmark piece of legislation designed to introduce major reforms, including free breakfast clubs for primary school children, more affordable school uniforms, and enhanced child protection measures. These reforms are vital for the wellbeing and safety of our children, and I remain committed to supporting them.
The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has ordered an urgent national review of the scale of grooming, intended to be completed in three months, as well providing an extra £10m in funding for councils to run local inquiries and support the victims.

We must never forget that at the heart of these horrific crimes are real victims who have to cope with the trauma of what happened to them.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

Legacy Funeral Directors Investigation

I welcome the news that Humberside Police have submitted evidence to the CPS for the investigation regarding Legacy Funeral Directors. It’s been a long wait for progress for those affected by these horrific crimes, so I’m sure this news will provide relief.
I want to thank the Humberside Police staff involved in this investigation for their meticulous work.
Most importantly, I want to pay tribute to those who have been affected. You have shown us all the true meaning of resilience and community in the most difficult circumstances. The fight for justice continues, and I will do all I can to support you.

As always, I’m here to support you. If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas about how I can help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can email me at emma.hardy.mp@parliament.uk or call my office at 01482 219211. Leave a message if I’m unavailable, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Best wishes,

Emma Hardy MP
Hull West and Haltemprice

P.S I’m delighted to announce that Margaret Pinder is the successful candidate to stand as the official Labour Party candidate for the Hull and East Riding Combined Authority Mayoral election in May. Her FaceBook page is here, and if you’d like to get in contact with her email campaign@margaretpinder.com

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Let’s work together for a better community.

© 2024 Emma Hardy MP. All Rights Reserved.