This Week in Westminster - Friday 11 June 2021

Most of the country will be looking towards Monday 14 June when the Government are due to give an indication whether the last of the Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted as planned on June 21. 

With cases surging, it is looking more and more likely that the Government will choose to delay the relaxations for a further fortnight in order for more people to receive vaccinations. Earlier this week, over 25s were permitted to book their vaccinations which saw the highest number of vaccine bookings in a 24-hour period.

The Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill continues to go through the Committee Stage in the House of Commons. We have added our voice to opposing part of this Bill, which proposes new offences which could result in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities being subjected to continual eviction and potential prosecution. 

As this Bill moves into its Report Stage in a few weeks time, we will be considering how we can best influence parliamentarians about the regressive nature of the Bill and how this specific part will likely increase homelessness, poverty and involvement of social services in GRT communities.

On Wednesday there was an Opposition Day Debate in the House of Commons on investing in children and young people. Opposition day debates are non-binding debates that enable key issues to be brought to the floor of the House of Commons to debate key issues that MPs have identified. You can read the transcript of the debate here.

On Thursday a debate took place in Westminster Hall led by Barbara Keeley MP on the 10th anniversary of the Winterbourne View hospital scandal.

We also added our voice to the call for Government to place tackling child poverty at the heart of Covid-19 recovery.

Westminster politics continues to move at a fast pace; BASW is committed to raising the voice of social workers at every opportunity.