As well as the surgeries MPs provide to constituents ministers also offer the same for MPs in Parliament across parties so they can raise directly local issues they are working on for their own constituents. At a time when there is so much going on with devolution, local government reorganisation and council finances, it’s never a dull session.

There were the usually, and plentiful meetings with pension fund pools, other government departments, and further work on the English Devolution Bill preparations.

I was pleased to join a parliamentary reception hosted by the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA) who have been pushing for reform of the funding formula government to deliver the sustainable long-term funding required, and they have welcomed the inclusion of deprivation in the funding of councils and the move to the first multi-year settlement in a decade.

The work they do is as close to a technical college for councillors and councils you can find. Insight, evidence, and all drawn from on the ground experience. They make a strong case for reform.

And on council funding, it was on to an “Adjournment Debate” on council tax reform. This government is determined to put councils on a sure financial footing for the long term so that local people get the high-quality frontline public services they deserve.

I committed to working in partnership with local government and I’ve followed that through with regular engagement.

This week that included meetings with the County Council Network (CCN) and District Council Network (DCN) as well as the Local Government Association (LGA) Labour Group meeting with councillors and local leaders on Thursday, before addressing and taking questions from the cross-party LGA Councillors Forum.

It is very important to this government that local leaders views are heard on the reforms we are making with English devolution and local government reorganisation since they know their areas better than anyone because they have skin in the game. We will continue to keep up this engagement every step of the way.

The week was topped by a visit to Runcorn for the by-election where we had great weather matched by the reception from voters, and little wonder with a great candidate in Karen Shore.

Shockingly, 1 in 10 tradespeople can expect to have their tools stolen this year, with many of them already having been through this three times or more.

𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 £𝟖𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙊𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙖𝙢, 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚.

Over 12,600 people in Oldham are employed in skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers, and construction workers. This sector is a vital component of Oldham’s economy, contributing significantly to both employment and the development of our community’s infrastructure.

On average, stolen tools cost around £2,730, van repairs cost around £1,320, and finally a cost of £1,900 through lost work and business disruption. Tool theft clearly creates a huge cost burden for tradespeople as well as disrupting vital community work.

𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙜𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚; 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮.

Currently, those convicted of tool theft would only serve a community order opposed to a sentence that considers the impact tool theft has on the loss of trade. In April, Amanda Martin MP’s Ten Minute Rule Bill will return to Parliament raising the case for tougher sentencing and shining a light on the crime that so many tradespeople routinely face.

We need tougher action on tool theft and justice for tradespeople so they have the assurance they can get on with the job.

Today, I am proud to stand in full support of the Children’s Schools and Wellbeing Bill, a vital piece of legislation that aims to improve the educational experience and overall wellbeing of our children across the country, regardless of background or circumstance.

This Bill recognises the crucial role that schools play in shaping the future of our young people, by ensuring that schools are not only places of learning, but also places of care.

We are addressing today’s climate head on; the pressures of social media, difficulties at home, and the rise in mental health problems. We have set out clear steps to improve access to mental health services in schools, provide professional development for teachers to better support students, and give parents the resources they need to support their children’s education and wellbeing at home.

This will have positive effects for the children across our borough as it will address socio-economic factors that are currently driving gaps in educational attainment. For instance, the current percentage of children in Oldham who achieve a ‘Good Level of Development’ in the Early Years Foundation Stage is around 60-65%, slightly behind the national average of around 70%.

I believe this is due to our education system being focused too heavily on academic outcomes without giving enough attention to overall development and support of our children.

I am committed to changing that and giving our young people the best environment to succeed, regardless of the challenges they face outside the classroom. I believe by addressing external factors, providing specialist care and pushing for equal opportunities, we will drive up development and close educational attainment gaps.

I am proud to vote for this Bill as it is time we put the wellbeing of our young people at the forefront of our educational priorities.

Today, the Oldham SportsTown project officially launches. As part of the Community Regeneration Partnership, the SportsTown masterplan represents a huge investment into local sports and educational pathways centred at Boundary Park.

The £70 million masterplan, which covers a frootprint the size of the Etihad Stadium, will be a multi-sports centre of excellence from grassroots sport for all the way up to elite performance Further & Higher Education sports academies.

The existing community facilities will undertake transformational growth through the new 3,000 seat stand, university centre, wellness suite, 4,000 seat multi-sport arena, outdoor 3G sports domes, and upgraded grass pitches.

Around 25,000 residents from the northern Greater Manchester will use the SportsTown facilities once per week, with 60% being Oldham residents and the majority being young people; using a non-traditional university strategy based on community family engagement through education and sport.

At the general election, I prioritised community ownership for local people in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton. The work we have done locally to secure Boundary Park as an Asset of Community Value, has created a foundation to build upon, resulting in stable ownership for Latics, a ground sharing deal between them and Oldham RLFC to secure the future of the ground, and now the launch of SportsTown in and around the venue.

The ownership of the club by the Rothwell family and the energy and dedication they have injected into the project, aided faithfully by the leadership of CEO Darren Royle has breathed new life into the club and stadium.

In addition to this fantastic scheme there are also projects to support grassroots and community sports facilities which I am determined to see get the support and funding they need. The need and demand in the community is clear, and in both AVRO FC at Limeside and West End pitches at Coldhurst there is huge opportunity we have got to get behind.

There’s a bright future ahead!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to the Irish community across Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton and the 70 million people around the world of Irish descent.

𝙼𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚍 𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔.