Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, John  Leech  and Liberal Democrat MP for Rochdale, Paul Rowen have vowed to vote against any increases in tuition fees in the next parliament, amid growing concerns that the review of tuition fees due to be completed after the upcoming general election will lead to a further increase in fees.
Since the introduction of top-up fees four years ago, students have had to face the prospect of leaving university with an average student debt in excess of £20,000.

MP’s welcomed a group of students from the London School of Economics to Westminster this month, to discuss their concerns about the debt they are facing.

John Leech said:

“Education should be a right, not a privilege – if you’ve got the ability to go to university you should be able to irrespective of wealth. Students leaving university today are facing daunting levels of debt that they are struggling to repay at a time when finances are already overstretched. The Liberal Democrats remain the only party committed to abolishing student fees. If we want the brightest and the best to be going on to higher education we can’t afford to be frightening them off with the prospect of yet more debt.” Paul Rowen also said: “Going to university should be about students learning about topics that interest them and to develop more as a person. Education should be available to anybody and everybody irrespective of their background and wealth. We shouldn’t be burdening our youngsters with the prospect of huge debts. This will only put off some of the brightest people going to university.

“I have many constituents who go to university and raise this issue with me all the time. Given the current financial situation we’re in, students are already hard-pressed and a rise in tuition fees is only likely to create huge pressures in the future.”

In the House of Commons yesterday, Liberal Democrat MP for East Dunbartonshire, Jo Swinson called on the Government to do more to encourage businesses to allow flexible working.Questioning the Minister for Women and Equality, Jo Swinson argued that flexible working policies benefit employees with families and improve productivity for businesses. She called on the Government to encourage businesses to create more part-time positions at senior levels and to look at job sharing as a positive option.

A 2009 report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that more than half of parents said their current division of parental and work responsibilities is decided by necessity rather than choice. The survey also revealed 69% of flexible workers said they spend more time with their family, and 59% believe that it improves the quality of their lives and their children’s.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for all employees to have the right to request flexible working.

Commenting, Jo Swinson said: “Many parents find it extremely difficult to juggle a busy working life with their family responsibilities. Most families need to have two working parents for financial reasons, but a lot of jobs do not offer the kind of flexibility that would make people’s lives so much easier. Our working culture in this country puts people with caring responsibilities at a significant disadvantage, particular in getting promoted to senior positions.

“The evidence shows that being able to work flexibly not only allows parents to spend more quality time with their children, it can also make them more productive workers. Businesses could really benefit from introducing flexible working policies, but the Government must do a better job of making them aware of those benefits.”

The text of Jo Swinson’s question to the Minister for Women and Equality appears below:

Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire) (Lib Dem): Many businesses find that operating a flexible working policy brings huge productivity gains, as well as being good for those with families, although some remain either unconvinced or unsure of how to go about it. What can the Government do to promote the business benefits of flexible working too, and encourage more organisations to take it up, whether by creating part-time roles at senior levels or pursuing such policies as job sharing?

Maria Eagle: The hon. Lady is right. We do a range of such work. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions recently announced that we would bring together employers, business representatives and the TUC to look at how to improve family-friendly working practices further. That type of pragmatic three-way discussion does just that: it is successful, and it is good news for employees and employers. In other words, it is a typical, good Labour policy.

Government figures obtained by Iberal Democrat MP,Sir Menzies Campbell  show that as many as 2,000 pensioners living in North East Fife could be missing out on receiving Cold Weather Payments triggered by the recent bad weather.Cold Weather Payments of £25 a week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit. It is paid when temperatures are below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days.

Up to 1.7 million pensioners in the United Kingdom are missing payments worth an estimated £42.5 million.

Commenting, Sir Menzies said:

“During a period of extended bad weather Cold Weather Payments are a lifeline to people on low incomes who are already struggling to pay their usual heating bills. If pensioners are to heat their homes adequately during such periods, they must have the reassurance that they will be financially supported.

“In the short-term the Government must do all it can to identify those pensioners who qualify for this payment. In the long-term they must simplify the benefits system so that vulnerable people can more easily access the financial support due to them.”

There has been a decision at the December Cabinet Meeting that in 2009-10, North East Lincolnshire Council will make £150,000 available for community groups in North East Lincolnshire to deliver projects to improve the area’s appearance and build on the success of local initiatives such as ‘In Bloom’.

In particular, it will contribute to delivering the Council’s strategic aim of ‘improving the quality of the built and natural environment’ by engaging our community to work together to help ‘provide a high quality environment for all’.

Funding Available

Scheme 1 – Grants (up to £500) Available through Ward Funding Scheme.

The total amount of funding available through this scheme will be £84,000. The smaller wards of Wolds, West Marsh and Waltham will each have available a total of £4,000/ ward for allocation to projects which meet criteria for funding under this scheme. All other wards will have an allocation of £6,000.

Scheme 2 – Grants (over £500 and up to £2,000) Available from Central Pot

The total amount of funding available to fund larger projects will be £66,000.

What the funding can be used for

The money is available for area-based projects that improve neighbourhoods. It is for activities which add value to or complement current projects, initiatives or services. The money can not be used to support existing service delivery. We are particularly interested in projects that will promote sustainability and bring together communities.

Type of projects we could fund include:

• Environmental improvements to community facilities
• Environmental improvements to footpaths
• Environmental improvements to local waste ground
• Improvements to local green spaces (parks, gardens, allotments, play spaces)
• Provision of facilities for young people e.g. youth shelters
• Sustainable community planting projects
• Promoting community energy saving initiatives
• Containers for floral displays
• Tacking waste and litter problems at a local level

We expect projects to be of a permanent nature and creating a lasting legacy for the local community. We can only fund time-limited projects up to a maximum of 6 months from the project start (end date of September 2010 latest). In order to deliver within these timescales applications must be accompanied by evidence that the applicant has secured any necessary permissions to enable the work to proceed and projects should not be dependant upon receiving other grant funding which could cause delays to the start of the project. We cannot fund:-

• On-going revenue commitments
• Top-up funding for existing/continuing work
• Projects outside of North East Lincolnshire
• Projects that cannot demonstrate that the necessary permissions will be achieved within the appropriate timescales
• Labour costs – We expect labour to be provided through volunteers/ staff already working for the organisations.
• Projects that can attract funding from other funding streams already available in the area e.g. Parish Council Precepts, Fair Share Funding, Worklessness Funding, Leader Funding, Neighbourhood Engagement Activity Funding

The money is available to community groups working within North East Lincolnshire. Groups must be properly constituted voluntary, community or neighbourhood based organisations.

How much can each organisation/group bid for?

Any group/ organisation may apply for a single award up to a maximum of £500 for Scheme 1 projects and up to a maximum of £2,000 for Scheme 2 projects. A group/ organisation may submit more than one application, however no more than one award will be given to a single organisation within a specific ward area. Organisations may be awarded more than one award if submitting projects for different wards.

Assessment Process and Criteria

Applications under Scheme 1,

projects up to £500 will follow the existing application process for ward funding, i.e. applications supported and agreed by Elected Members for the Ward and administered through the Chief Executive’s office. However, applications will need to be submitted on the designated form for this Community Pride Scheme.

Applications under Scheme 2,

projects over £500 and up to £2,000, will need to provide more information about their project on a different application form and projects will be assessed on the basis of:-

• Eligibility of the organisation/ group to apply for this funding
• Eligibility of the project/ activities in line with what we have said we will fund
• Demonstration of the need for the project in your neighbourhood/ ward.
• The applicant organisations will be responsible for the project management and delivery of successful schemes, Consequently the Council will be looking for applications that demonstrate clarity of both planning and delivery of projects.
• Systems for collecting, monitoring and assessing the impacts of the project and for reporting and sharing this information
• Sustainability – what the longer term legacy of this project will be and if there are future revenue implications
• Where projects involve working with vulnerable members of society, such as children, young people or vulnerable adults, we will also consider what measures you have in place to safeguard their wellbeing.

Grant Payments under both schemes, will be available in advance, but all spend must be evidenced

Monitoring of Projects

Scheme 1 – Projects will be monitored as for the existing process for allocation of ward funding.

Scheme 2 – Before the project starts, the applicant will sign an agreement which sets out the obligations on the two parties. This is important as the way in which the money is used will be subject to inspection and audit and your monitoring plans will help us ensure that your project is progressing along the right tracks. An account of all monies spent must be provided within 30 days of completion of the project. If grant money is not spent as agreed in the project submission, then the Council will recover any monies in accordance with the agreement.

Application Process and Timescales

The money will be available to spend on projects to be delivered by the end of September 2010 at the latest.

Interested groups/ organisations should complete the appropriate application form for Scheme 1 or 2. All sections of the application forms must be fully completed as incomplete applications will not be considered.

Scheme 1 submissions, accompanied by a copy of the group/organisation’s constitution, should be forwarded to:-

The Chief Executive’s Office,
East Lincolnshire Council
Municipal Offices
Town Hall Square
Grimsby
DN31 1HU

Applications must be received by 15th March 2010 for processing within the 2009/10 financial year.
Funding may be carried over to the 2010/11 financial year, but all projects must be completed and funding released by September 2010. Applications received after the 15 March will be processed following the May 2010 elections.

Scheme 2 submissions, accompanied by a copy of your last annual accounts (audited where there is a requirement for your organisation) together with a copy of your constitution, should be sent to:-

 The Policy and Partnerships TeamNorth

East Lincolnshire Council

Municipal Offices

Town Hall Square

GrimsbyDN31 1HUThe closing date for receipt of applications is 26th February 2010 and the Council will aim to commit to projects by the 14th March 2010

“A lasting and sustainable recovery can only be achieved if we correct these fundamental imbalances,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable.

Responding to David Cameron’s comments on public spending at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Vince Cable said:

“The Tories’ confused statements about cuts show that they don’t really know what to do about the economy.

“In their desperation to sound tough on public spending, the Tories didn’t take economic reality into account.

“It is of course necessary to cut public spending but this must be done calmly and rationally when the economy is strong enough to cope with it.

“The economy remains dependent on artificial money creation and a Government running a massive deficit, but with growth of just 0.1%, immediately slashing government spending would be disastrous.
 
“Our economy is too reliant on consumer spending and debt and a failing financial services industry. 

“A lasting and sustainable recovery can only be achieved if we correct these fundamental imbalances.”

“This is an utterly extraordinary decision and represents an abject failure of the system to protect patients,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb.

Commenting on the decision by the GMC Fitness to Practice Panel not to strike Dr Jane Barton off the medical register, Norman Lamb said:
 
“This is an utterly extraordinary decision and represents an abject failure of the system to protect patients and to give justice to the families who have campaigned for 11 years.
 
“Given that the GMC itself was pressing for Dr Barton to be struck from the register it raises serious questions about how the rules operate and the decision of this panel.

“Surely it cannot be right given the deaths of many elderly people at Gosport War Memorial Hospital and the findings of failures on the part of Dr Barton that she should be permitted to continue to practice.
 
“This decision makes it clear that the only way forward is to hold a full public inquiry. At the very least, we owe it to the families of those who died in unexplained circumstances at Gosport Hospital.”

“If Gordon Brown has nothing to hide then he should have no qualms making it crystal clear to Sir Gus that the Iraq Inquiry must have what it needs,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Ed Davey.

Commenting on the Iraq Inquiry, Ed Davey said:

“Sir John Chilcot is absolutely right to demand detailed reasoning from the Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell as to why he has rejected requests to make documents public.
 
“There is clearly growing pressure on the Cabinet Secretary to justify his actions in withholding publication of documents.
 
“If Gordon Brown has nothing to hide then he should have no qualms making it crystal clear to Sir Gus that the Iraq Inquiry must have what it needs.
 
“It is welcome news that Sir John may recall Tony Blair to the inquiry. The fact that Tony Blair cannot currently be questioned directly against these vital documents is totally unsatisfactory.”

The Government is spending £10million renting office space and then leaving it unoccupied, research by the Liberal Democrats has uncovered.

The figures, released in answer to Parliamentary Questions, shows that:

• The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spent £4,717,000 on renting empty office space
• Department of Health spent £2,922,500 on renting empty office space
• The Department of Transport spent £1,095,000 on renting empty office space
• The Government in total rented 53,495 square meters of empty office space

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Sarah Teather said:

“Either this Government is incompetent if it thinks £10million is small change.  It is completely unacceptable to spend taxpayers’ cash on renting nothing more than thin air. 
 
“We are in the middle of a housing crisis, yet Gordon Brown chooses to pour millions into a big black hole.  This is an astonishing betrayal of the thousands of families across the UK without a home.
 
“This kind of shameful waste simply cannot be allowed to go on.  Government departments need to wake up and stop leaking taxpayers’ money like a sieve.”

“London is already struggling to meet the existing World Health Organisation and EU standards for both air quality and noise pollution,” said Susan Kramer.

Commenting on news the London Assembly’s Environment Committee has “grave concerns” over the environmental safeguards in place for the expansion of Heathrow Airport, Susan Kramer MP, who has led the Liberal Democrat campaign against a third runway said:

“London is already struggling to meet the existing World Health Organisation and EU standards for both air quality and noise pollution.

“Heathrow’s third runway will make this impossible, with serious consequences for the health and quality of life for people in London.

“The Government must listen to the concerns of this committee and scrap its misguided plans for a third runway.”

The People’s Park bandstand is now available to groups who wish to do musical practice sessions or performances.

Whatever the type of music, if you wish to use the bandstand please contact Sarah Wright, People’s Park manager, on (01472) 325785 or alternatively email her at sarah.wright@nelincs.gov.uk for further details.