At the 2019 Labour Party Conference in Brighton, Sharon spoke on a panel at a fringe event titled “Meals for the Many: The Continuing Case for Extending Universal Infant Free School Meals”.

The event was co-hosted by the New Statesman, ISER and LACA. Also on the panel was: Steve Reed MP, Shadow Minister for Children and Families; Michael Hales, Immediate Past Chair of LACA; Dr Angus Holford, Research Fellow at ISER and Alison Garnham, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group.

During the event, Sharon set out why school food was a lifeline to so many families up and down the country and the benefits it has to the health, wellbeing and development of children.

As the Shadow Minister for Public Health and the Chair of the APPG on School Food, Sharon believes that Universal Infant Free School Meals should be extended.

The Labour Party are committed to extending Universal Infant Free School Meals to all Primary Pupils and ensuring that all children in families receiving Universal Credit to be eligible for Free School Meals.

Sharon also said there is the case to look at extending Free School Meals to secondary school pupils, although this is not a Labour Party commitment.

If you would like to find out any further information about Sharon’s work on school food, please email: [email protected]

Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Aug-Sep 2019 number 120

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News from Westminster

The proposed gasification plant at Hillthorn Farm in Washington is at the next stage of the planning process. On 19^th July 2019 at 4:30pm, the application will be referred to the Planning and Highways Committee at The Stadium of Light.

I share the concerns of my constituents about this plant and have applied to speak at the Committee hearing. If you are one of my constituents and would like to share your concerns with me please email me at [email protected]

To view the letter in full and find out how to apply to speak at the meeting, please click the image above

Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Jun-Jul 2019 number 119

Click on the picture above to read Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Jun-Jul 2019 number 119

Today, Sharon submitted a letter to Heather Wheeler MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, to pass on evidence received from constituents who are owners of leasehold properties as part of a constituency-wide consultation.

You can read Sharon's letter by clicking the picture above

In November 2018, Sharon launched a consultation in the constituency and received 58 detailed responses highlighting the frustrations and problems that residents of Washington and Sunderland West have experienced.

It is estimated that 19% of sales in 2017 in Washington and Sunderland West involved leasehold property.

The letter provides and outline of numerous injustices surrounding the leasehold market that constituents detailed:

• Lack of consumer knowledge about leaseholds and lack of information provided by estate agents and solicitors on the implications of buying leasehold properties;
• A lack of transparency from the freeholder on the use of service charges;
• Constituents feeling stuck, being left without the option or financially unable to purchase the lease, at the point of sale or later when wanting to move homes, or extend the lease so that they can sell;
• Leases being sold on by the freeholder to third party companies without giving any notice given to the leaseholder

Sharon said:

"I’m grateful to my constituents who got in touch with me about their experiences and concerns about leasehold properties.

“From the responses that I have received it is clear that more steps should be taken towards preventing further injustices with leasehold properties, and that the Government should commit to immediate measures to right these wrongs.

“I look forward to the Government’s response to this letter, and will share this with my constituents who have written to me about leasehold too.”

ENDS

Sharon Hodgson MP's report - News from Westminster - May-Jun 2019 number 118

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Sharon Hodgson MP's report - News from Westminster - Apr-May 2019 number 117

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Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Mar-Apr 2019 number 116 Brexit update

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Sharon Hodgson MP's report - News from Westminster - Mar-Apr 2019 number 115

Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Feb-Mar 2019 number 114

Click on the picture above to read Sharon Hodgson MP's report - News from Westminster - Feb-Mar 2019 number 114