Many of us will have seen the news coverage of the concerning events in Birmingham at the weekend, where three people were attacked by an out-of-control XL Bully dog. This sadly follows a rise in attacks on people, pets, and livestock.
The Government has banned specific breeds of dog in this country since the Dangerous Dog Act 1991 came into force and one such dog is the Pit Bull Terrier. Given that the Bully XL was originally bred from the Pit Bull Terrier, it is right that the Government adds this breed to the banned list alongside its parent breed. This is not about size. This is about a specific breed which, in recent years, has caused dog-related injuries and deaths to rise in prevalence.
Polling shows that a majority of the public, and a majority of dog owners, support a ban and following the attack at the weekend, I called on the Government to act urgently and ban this breed. I am glad that following my call, the Home Secretary has agreed to commission urgent advice on banning the Bully XL dog and I will continue to push hard for this to happen.
I had a really inspirational morning back at Westlea Primary School on Friday with the Head Teacher and the Head of the Brunel Multi Academy Trust, to talk about a brand-new provision that has been funded by the Government through the Trust, to expand the number of places for children with special education needs. This is a real issue here in Swindon as in many other places, but Westlea Primary School is very inclusive, and it has always had youngsters with those additional needs. And now, as a result of the conversion of a building at the school into another class, Apple Class, there will be a total of twenty-eight places at the school, including special provision resources as well.
This will bring those children into the mainstream in a way that they are happy with, and families are happy with, which is very much in the tradition of Westlea Primary School, which also continues to produce excellent results in Maths and English. At the same time bringing together children from all backgrounds, in a way that I think is truly inspirational. I am delighted to support the work of the Brunel Multi Academy Trust, it is one of the great forces for good here in Swindon, and a national example of how special education needs provision can be developed, with inspirational leadership. I am delighted to support this welcome initiative with Government support.
It was great to see so many people enjoying Swindon’s Heritage Open Days at the weekend, and I would like to thank all of those volunteers and organisers who worked tirelessly to put on an excellent variety of events here in Swindon, which truly showcased our town’s heritage and were enjoyed by families all over the town and beyond. I especially enjoyed seeing the archaeological dig at GWR Park in Faringdon Road which helped to reveal WWII air raid shelters.
It has been a busy time here in Parliament following the Summer Recess and I continue to work hard to support and raise awareness around important charities and events. I am marking Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Parliament, which has been organised by the brilliant charity Young Lives V Cancer. I also joined the Samaritans on Sunday to raise awareness of World Suicide Prevention Day. I welcome the launch of the Government’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy, which has over one hundred actions, we must do more to reduce the number of suicides here in England.
Finally, my local charity of the week is Disability Experts CIC who have supported thousands of people with disabilities across the town since first forming in 2015. Disability Experts CIC provide opportunities for people with disabilities and/or mental health issues, empowering them so that they can live as independently as possible. As well as having a disability himself, CEO and Founder of Disability Experts CIC, Martin Kelly, has a wealth of knowledge and experience and has worked tirelessly over the years, providing support, advice, and a wide range of training courses for those with a disability. Unfortunately, due to some issues he has himself, Martin is planning to wind down Disability Experts CIC. Those registered on courses with Disability Experts have been reassured that they will still receive their course, and Disability Experts CIC has said that they will be in touch with all of those registered with them to make a plan for the future. Whilst this is disappointing news, I am sure that you will join me in thanking Martin and Disability Experts CIC for working tirelessly to support and improve the lives of those with disabilities in Swindon over the years. Thank you, Martin, and the team, at Disability Experts CIC.
