I hope you had a peaceful Easter and enjoyed a break if you were fortunate enough to have some time off from your busy schedules. As Parliament returned this week, this week, I’m glad to have this opportunity to update you on the work I’ve been carrying out over the past month on behalf of my residents.
A key priority for me continues to be working to limit the impact of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East for my residents. Many of us are seeing the effect of rising fuel prices at the petrol pump, and I’ve been supporting calls for changes to energy policy, including expanding North Sea energy production to help reduce the impact of global shocks on households across Kingswinford and South Staffordshire in the long term.
I’ve also continued to raise concerns in Parliament on behalf of our local hospitality businesses, which are once again facing rising costs, including higher business rates and increases to the National Minimum Wage this April. At the dispatch box, I also recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what more can be done to support the sector and address the loss of hospitality jobs over the past year.
Elsewhere in Westminster, I’m delighted to once again be co-sponsoring this year’s Vaisakhi celebrations alongside my neighbouring MP for Dudley, Sonia Kumar MP. It’s an honour to be able to host these celebrations with the British Sikh Consultative Forum, and I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in the Sikh community a very Happy Vaisakhi.
I’ve also been continuing my work to promote high-quality jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities for local young people, including hosting my recent Jobs, Skills & Apprenticeship Fair in Wombourne, kindly supported by The Tipton and Coseley Building Society. There were lots of jobs and training opportunities on offer from organisations such as Dudley Council, local NHS trusts as well as engineering opportunities through National Infrastructure Solutions, Balfour Beatty, Taylor Woodrow and other top regional employers.
For anyone who was unable to attend this event, I’ve launched my digital Kingswinford & South Staffordshire Jobs Portal, where many of the vacancies from the fair are now available to view. If you’re a local business and would like to promote your opportunities to residents free of charge, please feel free to get in touch by email. You can visit the page on my website: www.mike4kss.com /jobsfair
Finally, as always, I am here to help, so please do not hesitate to get in touch with me by email mike.wood.mp@parliament.uk or telephone 01384 913123 if you feel that I could be of assistance.
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