Teresa made her last speech in Parliament today. Here it is:

After years of hard campaigning by cross party MPs, families of people with cystic fibrosis and charities,  NHS England have finally come to a funding agreement with the drug company Vertex re access to lifesaving drugs Orkambi and Symkevi.

For too long people with Cystic Fibrosis, suffered whilst NHS England and Vertex Pharmaceuticals worked to negotiate a deal. There have been petitions, lobbies, meetings with ministers and the drug company and Teresa even raised it during Prime Minister’s Question time in May 2018.

Teresa said on hearing news of the agreement:

“I am so pleased to have played a part in this campaign but the most credit should go to the families and to the charities who have worked tirelessly on a campaign that will save lives”

This was my submission

• Teresa Pearce MP dresses in pink to support Breast Cancer Now’s flagship fundraiser wear it pink
• Wear it pink helps Breast Cancer Now fund vital breast cancer research and support

Teresa Pearce, MP for Erith and Thamesmead added a dash of pink to her usual attire to support Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink fundraiser, which takes place on Friday 18 October.

Since launching in 2002, wear it pink has raised over £33 million to date. Teresa Pearce MP is calling for her constituents to join her, by signing up for wear it pink and helping to make possible life-saving breast cancer research and life changing support for those affected by the disease.

Joining Teresa Pearce on the day were four Breast Cancer Now supporters who have been affected by breast cancer, including

Kate, from Worthing, was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2015. She said:

“When I was diagnosed my world turned up-side down. Secondary breast cancer means that it has spread to other parts of the body, making it incurable ― but for me it’s treatable for some time. It’s truly incredible how breast cancer treatments have advanced over the years and it really gives me hope for the future.

“It is so important that we continue to raise money, so that nobody will lose their lives to this devastating disease in the future. This is why I’m calling for everyone to take a stand against breast cancer by taking part in Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink on Friday 18 October. It’s a great way of raising vital funds for breast cancer research for the future, and care for those affected by the disease now.”

Teresa Pearce MP, said:

 

“Every year in the UK, around 55,000 women and around 350 men are given the devastating news that they have breast cancer. Between 2014-2016 an average of 198 women a year in Bexley CCG developed breast cancer and 177 were diagnosed in the same time frame in Greenwich CCG.

 

During this time, sadly 41 women lost their lives to Breast Cancer in Bexley CGG whilst in Greenwich CCG 33 women lost their lives. From 2014 -2016 screening uptake in NHS Bexley was 78.9%, whilst in NHS Greenwich CCG screening uptake was 64.2%, falling short of the 71.7% national average.  That’s why I’m encouraging my constituents to take part in Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink day on Friday 18 October.  

 

“The money raised by this wonderful event has such a huge impact, allowing Breast Cancer Now to fund vital research and support for those living with a diagnosis. I hope that everybody will wear it pink this October and support this very important cause.”

For care, support and information from day one, call Breast Cancer Care free on 0808 800 6000 or visit breastcancercare.org.uk.  Follow them on twitter, facebook or Instagram

For more information on Breast Cancer Now’s work, visit breastcancernow.org or follow them on Twitter or on Facebook.

Teresa Pearce MP wants filmmakers and scriptwriters across Erith and Thamesmead to enter the prestigious FILM THE HOUSE Competition. The competition is sponsored by RT Hon Sir Kevin Barron MP, Lord Tim Clement-Jones and RT Hon John Whittingdale OBE MP.

Film the House is a competition which showcases the work of the next generation of writers and directors from across the country. The competition is open to UK based student or independent filmmakers and this year heralds the addition of the Directors UK award for Best Film Direction for under and over 16s, as well as prizes for Best Film Script and Best Short Film.

In 2018, prizes included mentoring from professionals in the film industry, a private screening of the winners’ films for friends and family and classification of the winning films and scripts by BBFC.

Speaking about the competition, Teresa Pearce MP said:

“I am very much looking forward to receiving entries from Erith and Thamesmead’s most creative and innovative filmmakers and scriptwriters. The Film the House Competition is a fantastic opportunity for young people in my constituency to show the UK, the very best they, as constituents of Erith and Thamesmead have to offer.”

 Dates for the 2019 competition are:

• 9 September 2019: Competition launch date
• 19 December 2019: Closing date for entries
• 3 February 2020: Shortlist announced
• 3 March 2020: Awards Ceremony, House of Commons, London

Categories for entry:

• Best Film Script– under 16
• Best Film Script – 16 and over
• Directors UK Best Film Direction – under 16
• Directors UK Best Film Direction – 16 and over
• Best Short Film – under 16
• Best Short Film – 16 and over

For the competition details please click here: https://filmthehouse.co.uk/competition-details

To enter the competition please visit the website: https://filmthehouse.co.uk/enter

I am pleased to say that some lobbying of the Rail Minister has resulted in an allocation of £30,000 being made available for improvements at Abbey Wood station.

The allocation comes from a national £15million fund Govia Thameslink was instructed to set up as a result of unacceptable performance following the May 2018 timetable introduction.

Previously Abbey Wood station was not going to benefit from the funding, because it is not managed by Govia Thameslink. However the Government has listened to the arguments and £30,000 is now being made available for Abbey Wood.

It is now for stakeholders to prepare bids to make use of the £30,000 funding, and I hope that in due course passengers will feel that benefit.

I would like to thank the people using the station at Abbey Wood for their tolerance of the long term disruption during the station rebuild. There are still some ongoing issues, and I recently met the Deputy Chair of Crossrail at the station to press for these to be resolved as soon as possible.

Teresa Pearce has co-sponsored a Ten Minute Bill to regulate ground rents charged on Leasehold properties. The Bill was presented to Parliament on Tuesday 25 June by Eddie Hughes MP . The purpose of the Bill is to cap ground rents to 0.1 per cent of the present value of the property (up to a maximum of £250 per year) and it also ensures that property developers would be liable to cover the legal costs of leaseholders seeking to vary certain ground rent contracts.

 You can read Eddies speech here https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2019-06-25/debates/4480173C-D8DC-430F-A16B-5AFAA2F129FA/GroundRents(LeaseholdProperties)#contribution-7E094287-47BE-416E-9C76-CE64EA030F89

Teresa said:

 

Although 10 Minute Rule Bills are unlikely to become law, Eddie’s Bill builds on the campaign to outlaw exorbitant ground rents. It also keeps the pressure on the Government to act after the Housing, Communities and Local Government report which made the same recommendation.

Teresa is supporting the charity Guide Dogs campaign to tackle discrimination against guide dog owners.

Last week, more than a hundred guide dog owners came to Parliament to share their experiences. It is against the law to refuse access to a disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog except in the most exceptional circumstances. Despite this, a new Guide Dogs survey found that three out of four (76%) assistance dog owners had been turned away because of their dog.

Taxis and minicabs were the worst offenders at 73%.  Refusals at restaurants were 54%, newsagents 42% and high street shops 36%.

The  campaign calls for all taxi and minicab drivers to be required to take disability equality training. Guide Dogs also supports changes to equality legislation to make action against businesses who refuse access easier.

After the event Teresa said:

“It’s shocking to hear how common these incidents of discrimination are for assistance dog owners. No one should be turned away on their local high street because of their assistance dog. I support Guide Dogs’ Access All Areas campaign to tackle the ignorance that causes access refusals, and make sure businesses are held accountable when they occur.”

Teresa Pearce MP is one of the signatories on a letter delivered this week to the Home Secretary alongside Members of Parliament, civil society organisations and public figures, urging the Government to take concrete and immediate action to support the health and wellbeing of young asylum seekers in the UK.

Teresa said

“Bearing in mind the grave atrocities young adult asylum seekers have fled from, it is unfathomable that they should arrive in the UK and not receive the support they need to thrive in this society.

I am happy to support the call for government to provide asylum seeking minors with similar support as care leavers, from the moment they leave care until they reach their 25^th birthday”.