Issues - Hilary Benn - Member of Parliament for Leeds Central

Cladding Scandal Update

After a great deal of pressure, the Communities Secretary made an announcement at the beginning of February about more help to do something about the cladding scandal. He said that all buildings over 18 metres or six storeys in height will get the removal of their unsafe cladding paid for…

Impact of lockdown on university students – Minister for Universities’ response

My thanks to all the Leeds students who have got in touch with me about the considerable number of problems university students are facing in the current pandemic, you can read the response I’ve had from the Minister for Universities here . My comment on what she says is that…

Environment Bill Report Stage Day 1, 26th January

I have been contacted by many constituents about the Environment Bill. The Bill provides for environmental targets, environmental principles and a new environmental watchdog (the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP)), and changes and new legal requirements covering air pollution, water resources, water management and quality, waste and recycling, biodiversity, nature…

Brexit Deal

My thanks to all those constituents who got in touch with me about the Brexit trade deal that was agreed on Christmas Eve and the vote that took place in Parliament on the 30th of December. I wanted a deal because I had heard in evidence to the Brexit select…

Cut to the UK’s overseas aid budget

Watch Hilary’s question to the Foreign Secretary on this issue here. I am strongly opposed to the Government’s decision to cut the UK’s overseas aid budget by a third. I was International Development Secretary when the last Labour government committed to achieving the 0.7 percent target by 2013, and I…

Watch Hilary’s question to the Foreign Secretary on the proposed cut to the aid budget

The Ethiopia and Tigray crisis

I have been contacted by many constituents about the situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. I am deeply concerned by the ongoing hostilities between the Ethiopian military and Tigrayan forces. Reports of hundreds of causalities and tens of thousands of refugees are deeply worrying. The UN has reported that…

Gym closures

Many constituents have been in touch with me about the new Covid lockdown and gyms. I completely understand the concern and indeed anguish that the closure of gyms is causing many people for whom physical exercise is of great comfort and support, especially in current circumstances. I also know from…

Churches and places of worship during the new Covid lockdown

I have been contacted by many constituents who are concerned about the new Covid lockdown and places of worship. I completely understand the concern and anguish that the closure of churches and other places of worship is causing to many people for whom attending a service is of great comfort…

Free School Meals

I am very concerned about children in Leeds going hungry during the school holidays and that’s why I strongly supported Labour’s proposal in Parliament on 21st October to provide free school meals for this half term, Christmas and Easter. As my colleague Kate Green said, “It is the Government’s responsibility…

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