Weekly Round-Up

This week, the Government brought forward Motions to the House in relation to the Coronavirus Act 2020, with the aim to extend the current, temporary provisions of that Act. Whilst the Labour Party proposed an amendment to the main Motion, to highlight the Government’s poor handling of the economy and to call for a monthly review of the impact of the virus on individuals and groups especially BAME communities, I did vote to extend the Act for a further 6 months.

There are many reasons why an extension of the Act was needed, including the assurance that the ban on evictions was maintained, so that people will not be made homeless, and to continue the practice of statutory sick pay commencing from day one. And some measures had to stay ‘live’ so that the Government could act quickly should a rise in cases emerge from covid-19 variants arriving from Europe. But the Act must be used by Ministers to safely bring us out of restrictions, support the NHS to recover from the crisis and ensure there are the measures in place to effectively re-start the economy and enable those who will need to self-isolate in future to do so.

I’ve had a lot of emails this week from constituents who are concerned about the genocide amendment to the Trade Bill that has come from the Lords’ deliberations. Sadly, I was unable to take part in the debate as I was not called to speak, but I share many of my constituents’ concerns about the lack of engagement from the Government on this important issue. The growing evidence that is coming from China about the appalling and genocidal treatment of the Uighur people has shocked and horrified the world. The UK should not be trading with a country that is committing such awful crimes, but the UK Government consistently argues that it is a legal matter and it must be determined by an international court. Without a case being brought before a court however, the behaviour of China cannot be termed a genocide.

The Alton Amendment would have allowed for UK judicial experts to be involved in assessments of trade deals that would ensure the Government takes their judgement into account before proceeding with a deal. This is the very least that the UK Government should have agreed to, but their callous pursuing of a trade deal with China despite these significant concerns is shameful.

I was pleased to meet with representatives from Sport England this week to discuss potential opportunities for Sport England to support community organisations and grassroots clubs in Enfield North. We have seen during the Covid pandemic that health inequalities are significant in Enfield and present serious risks during health crises. Encouraging people to take part in sports is important, but even more so is providing the opportunities that will enable people to participate in sports. Sports England could help improve the take-up of sports activities in areas where take-up is low.

We discussed the importance of sports for improving physical health and wellbeing, and the role Sport England could play in supporting grass-roots initiatives in Enfield North. I will continue my dialogue with them and ensure local organisations are able to benefit from any funding opportunities.

I am delighted to have joined the board of governors at Bush Hill Park school. I joined the governors and the school team for my first meeting this week and I was reminded just how hard our schools across Enfield are working despite all the challenges they continue to face during this pandemic. It’s incredible to see the amount of work that the schools have put into making the return to in-person teaching safe for all involved and the ways that they have continued with teaching throughout the year.

Last but not least, I am excited to be holding my first Online Careers Fair on Zoom on Friday, 9 April between 10am and 3.30pm. I am delighted to partner with Garry Kousoulou from Loving Social Media, a local business in Enfield North, to reach out to young people seeking careers advice and opportunities. The event will provide a much-needed platform for the young people of Enfield North to receive careers advice, find out about graduate schemes and apprenticeships, and raise any questions they may have directly with employers. They can even ask for tips with the application process!

Young people have been hit really hard by lockdown with the interruption to education as well as loss of employment. I want to do my part to provide some support to local young people in Enfield North. Please do let any young person who may be interested in attending, it’s sure to be an interesting and productive day. For more information and to sign up click here.

My telephone surgery sessions are continuing, and if you would like to book an appointment, please do contact my office to arrange this. Although my office is closed to the public in line with Government guidelines, my team and I are working hard from home so please do get in touch on feryal.clark.mp@parliament.uk if there is anything we can help you with. Remember –stay safe, save lives – maintain social distancing and keep washing your hands!