A new year brings new change, and there’s a big one on the horizon- devolution. It’s something that has been spoken about for more than a decade but never delivered within our region. I’m pleased that under this new Labour Government, it could finally become a reality. Everyone talks about Southampton’s huge potential, and this will offer a really exciting opportunity to help deliver it. It’s why I’ve been backing this throughout, both when I was in local government and now in Westminster, speaking to Ministers about how Southampton can benefit from it. In a nutshell it means more powers and more money for our city and region.
I believe that more decisions about our area should be made more locally, by communities that they will impact, rather than always coming from Whitehall, which can often have a top down, one size fits all approach. This government believes that local people, whether you live or work here, better understand the unique challenges and aspirations of our communities.
This will be the biggest local government reorganisation in a generation, and local councils in the Solent region, including Southampton, have now submitted a formal request to be included in the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme. This is now being reviewed, and we will hopefully have further updates soon.
There are over 2 million residents represented by the Solent councils and more than 90,000 businesses. As a region we truly are a national, and international economic powerhouse, and so much of that power is generated right here in our city. We are at the forefront of driving innovation and productivity, and this process will mean we get more decision-making powers and extra funding which can go towards infrastructure, housing, and employment initiatives. We want to let the world know that Southampton is a fantastic place for investment and that the opportunities for those who live and work here are huge. There’s still a way to go, but we believe our regions potential can be unlocked through this Government’s devolution programme.
Speaking of the power of grass roots action, I recently had the absolute pleasure of visiting Bevois Town Primary School, where I spent the morning with the fantastic pupils hearing about the incredible work being done by the school. The school’s Pupil Parliament is already taking an active role in advocating for important initiatives, things that can have a real impact on their school, their wider community, and of course, their friends. One initiative they are championing is the introduction of Labour’s free breakfast club scheme. A huge well done to those pupils for getting stuck in! As someone that grew up in the same area as the children I spoke to, which happens to be one of the most deprived areas not only in Southampton, but the UK, I know the difference a breakfast club would make to schools like Bevois Town Primary.
It’s great to see this Labour government putting families in Southampton first. This new pilot will be rolled out from April 2025, and will include 750 schools from across the country. The programme is hoping to help ensure children start each school day ready to learn. Providing a healthy breakfast has been proven to improve attendance, behaviour, and attainment, setting children up for success both academically and socially. But it goes further than that, as this is a scheme that helps support parents and carers too.
These breakfast clubs will provide food to children before school, giving them a great start to the day. But the benefits go beyond just academic success. Breakfast clubs provide a safe space for children to socialise and engage with their peers before class, while offering parents and carers greater flexibility in their childcare arrangements. Most importantly, they help families struggling with the cost of living by providing one less expense.
We’re also doing more to support families who are at the beginning of their journey, helping parents to give their children the best start in life. I was delighted to see that Southampton has received nearly £1.3million from the government through the family hubs and the Start for Life programme.
The funding is part of a £126 million boost for families, aiming to provide support from pregnancy and beyond. We know that the first 2 years of a child’s life lay the building blocks for their physical and emotional wellbeing into adulthood. That’s why we are investing in early years, as part of our Plan for Change, to improve access to services in deprived areas to ensure no one is left behind.
In Westminster the Renters’ Rights Bill will now head to the House of Lords after being voted through this week. We’re making amazing progress with this crucial Bill and it’s well on the way to becoming law giving greater rights to renters. I’m particularly excited because it will ban no-fault evictions, which is the number one cause of homelessness in our city, it will protect tenants from dangerous damp and mould, and it will limit the amount of rent landlords can demand in advance. This Bill was one of the first things I spoke on in Parliament, and making sure everyone has a safe, secure, affordable home in Southampton remains a top priority for me.
Finally, I would love to hear from you. I’m holding weekly surgeries and please do keep a look out for an invitation to come along to a coffee morning, I’m holding these regularly across the constituency. In the meantime, if you have any questions or if there is an issue that I can help with then please do not hesitate to contact me on satvir.Kaur.mp@parliament.uk or call me on 02382 546 357.
