Gill Furniss MP JUNE COMMUNITY UPDATE

Visit to Watercliffe Meadows School
It was great to visit Watercliffe Meadows School last month to speak to pupils about how they can help their local environment.

I was impressed by the keen interest the students had in doing their bit to keep local parks clean and tidy. We spoke about the
importance of litter picking and better facilities as well as my role as a Member of Parliament.

Casework Corner
Over the last month, my team and I have opened 350 new cases, helping people with their issues and concerns.

The most common issues raised with me were:
European Union
Business and consumers
Local Government

Visit to Astrea Academy
I was delighted to visit Astrea Academy Sheffield to tour the school and meet staff and students.

Astrea are among the first schools in the country to receive a defibrillator under a new national scheme. I commend the hard working staff who made this potentially life-saving addition happen.

Owen’s Law on food allergies
Last month I spoke in a Westminster Hall debate calling for new legislation to help those with food allergies. Owen’s Law would ensure that restaurants display allergen information on their menus in a similar fashion to vegetarian and vegan
symbols.

Tragically, Owen died after consuming a chicken burger marinated in butter milk despite informing staff of his dairy allergy. His family have since campaigned tirelessly for new regulations to prevent more families losing loved ones.

Local bus services
I attended a community meeting about issues facing our local transport links and bus routes under threat of being cancelled or reduced. I am acutely aware of the importance of maintaining these routes and will continue to do all I can to protect them. I am making regular representations to the relevant transport bodies and will keep constituents updated.

Save new animal welfare laws
Last month I attended an event organised by Dogs Trust about the importance of the Kept Animals Bill to crackdown on live exports, puppy farming and keeping primates as pets.

The Tories have since ditched this new legislation, giving a green light to puppy farms. This is yet another broken Tory promise, this time on animal welfare.

You can sign Labour’s petition to stop the Tories turning a blind eye to puppy smuggling here:
https://action.labour.org.uk/page/129025/petition/1

Labour’s Shadow Roads Minister

In my frontbench position as Labour’s Shadow Minister for Roads, I regularly respond to debates on behalf of the Opposition and put forward Labour’s views on the topic of the debate.

Last month included a debate on the use of autonomous delivery robots, which are being trialled in areas across the country. I highlighted the Government’s repeated delays in regulating this industry. Shockingly this state-of-the-art technology is operating under legislation introduced over 40 years before the invention of the lightbulb!