Statistics from the National Drug Treatment Agency released at the beginning of the month showed that more than twice as many people seeking drug treatment drop out of programmes than complete them drug free. They reveal that only 11% of individuals were drug free after completing their treatment. 28% dropped out or left, 6% were imprisoned and 1% of those seeking treatment died before they could complete the programme.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics tell a grim tale. The number of people dying from drug misuse is higher than in 1997.
The proportion of adults saying they used Class A drugs in the previous year is slightly higher than in 1997. In 2007-08, 3% of adults used Class A drugs last year, in 1997 it was 2.7% of adults. [Crime in England and Wales 2007-08, table 2.06] This is the equivalent of around
1 million people. The Home Office estimates that there are approximately 332,000 problem drug misusers in England.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said:
"The Government is losing the fight against drugs. There needs to be a National Audit Office investigation into the cost effectiveness of current treatment.
"The current record of failure is disastrous both for those in treatment and the wider community who are placed at risk because of the close links between drug addiction and crime."
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Saturday, October 25, 2008
Time called on Timeshare Touts
A key European Parliament legislative report is set to benefit those who use time shares and holiday clubs. Two thirds of time-share owners in Europe are from the UK, and the new legislation will strengthen UK consumers' rights.
LibDem MEP Graham Watson commented;
"For far too long time share touts have been conning British holiday makers. They will no longer be able to charge fees and deposits upfront and then disappear off the face of the earth. Now money won't be changing hands until after a 2 week cooling off period.
"It's going to be much easier for consumers to pull out of any contracts in the first two weeks if they change their minds.
"Companies will also have to provide contracts in the language of the customer's choosing. There will be no more dodgy contracts in foreign languages that some British tourists don't fully understand."
What rights do consumers currently have with regard to timeshare contracts?
According to the 1994 Timeshare Directive, all Member States must give buyers of timeshare the following protection and rights:
A right to a 10-day cooling-off period counted from the day buyers sign the timeshare contract. During the cooling off period, buyers have the right to cancel the contract without giving any reason and at no cost, apart from possible legal costs where Member States allow for this in their legislation.
What is the impact of the timeshare sector on the European economy?
Some figures indicating the impact of this sector on the European economy can give an idea of the importance of the timeshare industry for the EU. According to recent industry data, there are approximately 1,500 timeshare resorts, creating 85,000 timeshare units annually. The number of EU timeshare units is increasing by about 2 % annually based on 2005 estimates.
This activity yields a total economic output of EUR 10.5 billion, of which EUR 4.2 billion in Spain alone. It creates 40,000 jobs across the Union. With the corrective action taken by the EU in this legislative proposal, these numbers will become even more significant in coming years.
What is the problem with some new products that have come onto the market since the 1994 Directive was adopted?
Since 1994, a number of new products have come onto the market that fall outside the scope of the current Directive. Therefore consumers who buy them do not enjoy the same rights and protection as outlined above. For instance, they do not have a right of withdrawal and there is no ban on deposits.
Which are the products?
The new products include timeshare-like products and discount holiday clubs. Other transactions which are linked to timeshare, but that are not covered by the Directive, are resale and exchange.
What is meant by timeshare-like products?
"Timeshare-like products" are economically equivalent to timeshare, but are crafted in a way that falls outside the legal definition of the directive. Examples of new timeshare-like products are contracts that provide for repeated stays in a holiday accommodation, but the contracts
are for less than 3 years or for stays of less than one week, or contracts relating to boats or caravans (i.e. moveable property) rather than fixed location property.
What are holiday discount clubs?
Consumers signing up to become member of a holiday discount clubs, pay a substantial initial fee to join the club. The benefit of the membership is access to a booking service where they can book discounted accommodation, flights, rental cars and other services. In the marketing
of these clubs, consumers are often promised discounts of 70% or more in luxury hotels and cheap flights. However, many people end up being disappointed, as the discounts are not what they expected and the best destinations are heavily oversubscribed.
The new Directive will regulate "long-term holiday products". This is a legal term which includes many different types of contracts which are currently offered in the market place. These are known for instance as holiday discount clubs, international travel clubs, vacation exchange
clubs and sometimes have names like "Luxury Dream Holiday Exchange".
Whatever they are called, consumers who sign up for "long-term holiday products" will be granted the same rights.
The proposal would cover these products, so that consumers would for instance be able to benefit from the right to withdraw from the contract within 14 days.
Why do the new proposals also cover resale?
Resale mediation is not covered by the 1994 Directive, but there are many consumer complaints about these contracts. People who own timeshare are often approached by agents offering to re-sell their timeshare at a good price. If the consumer is interested in selling, the agent may
request a fee (either a percentage or a flat fee of EUR 500-3000). Many consumers have complained that after they have paid the fee, the agent either disappears or fails to make the sale. In either case, the consumer has no way of getting their money back.
The new proposal will deal with the mediation contract, i.e. the contract between the consumer selling his timeshare and the resale agent. Resale agents will be obliged to provide good pre-contractual information in the consumer's language, deposits will be prohibited and consumers will be entitled to a cooling-off period.
Why is there a need to regulate exchange of timeshare?
If the timeshare resort is affiliated to an exchange scheme, timeshare owners have the option of paying a fee to join the scheme. Members "deposit" their week into an exchange pool, and request exchange from the pool of weeks deposited by other members worldwide. At present these schemes are not covered by the basic rules on information, the ban on deposits or the cooling-off period.
There are fewer complaints related to exchange than to resale. Nevertheless, the complaints focus on the "overselling" of exchange schemes. Consumers are disappointed when they find out that the options are more limited than they expected. Given that almost 80% of consumers
purchasing timeshare quote the range of destinations available through exchange schemes as a "reason to purchase", it is crucial to ensure that consumers are adequately informed before making a decision. Ensuring that consumers also have a right of withdrawal from these schemes is also essential.
LibDem MEP Graham Watson commented;
"For far too long time share touts have been conning British holiday makers. They will no longer be able to charge fees and deposits upfront and then disappear off the face of the earth. Now money won't be changing hands until after a 2 week cooling off period.
"It's going to be much easier for consumers to pull out of any contracts in the first two weeks if they change their minds.
"Companies will also have to provide contracts in the language of the customer's choosing. There will be no more dodgy contracts in foreign languages that some British tourists don't fully understand."
What rights do consumers currently have with regard to timeshare contracts?
According to the 1994 Timeshare Directive, all Member States must give buyers of timeshare the following protection and rights:
A right to a 10-day cooling-off period counted from the day buyers sign the timeshare contract. During the cooling off period, buyers have the right to cancel the contract without giving any reason and at no cost, apart from possible legal costs where Member States allow for this in their legislation.
- Sellers are strictly prohibited from taking deposits from buyers during the cooling off period.
- Sellers have to provide purchasers with a brochure if requested. The brochure must contain information about the timeshare property. The consumer can choose between the language of the country where the property is, or the country of which he is a national.
- The consumer can also choose in which language he/she would like the contract. Sellers must provide consumers with a contract in writing.
- If the timeshare seller provides or arranges for a credit agreement for the consumer to buy the timeshare, this agreement must be cancelled automatically if the buyer exercises his/her right to cancel the timeshare contract within the cooling-off period.
What is the impact of the timeshare sector on the European economy?
Some figures indicating the impact of this sector on the European economy can give an idea of the importance of the timeshare industry for the EU. According to recent industry data, there are approximately 1,500 timeshare resorts, creating 85,000 timeshare units annually. The number of EU timeshare units is increasing by about 2 % annually based on 2005 estimates.
This activity yields a total economic output of EUR 10.5 billion, of which EUR 4.2 billion in Spain alone. It creates 40,000 jobs across the Union. With the corrective action taken by the EU in this legislative proposal, these numbers will become even more significant in coming years.
What is the problem with some new products that have come onto the market since the 1994 Directive was adopted?
Since 1994, a number of new products have come onto the market that fall outside the scope of the current Directive. Therefore consumers who buy them do not enjoy the same rights and protection as outlined above. For instance, they do not have a right of withdrawal and there is no ban on deposits.
Which are the products?
The new products include timeshare-like products and discount holiday clubs. Other transactions which are linked to timeshare, but that are not covered by the Directive, are resale and exchange.
What is meant by timeshare-like products?
"Timeshare-like products" are economically equivalent to timeshare, but are crafted in a way that falls outside the legal definition of the directive. Examples of new timeshare-like products are contracts that provide for repeated stays in a holiday accommodation, but the contracts
are for less than 3 years or for stays of less than one week, or contracts relating to boats or caravans (i.e. moveable property) rather than fixed location property.
What are holiday discount clubs?
Consumers signing up to become member of a holiday discount clubs, pay a substantial initial fee to join the club. The benefit of the membership is access to a booking service where they can book discounted accommodation, flights, rental cars and other services. In the marketing
of these clubs, consumers are often promised discounts of 70% or more in luxury hotels and cheap flights. However, many people end up being disappointed, as the discounts are not what they expected and the best destinations are heavily oversubscribed.
The new Directive will regulate "long-term holiday products". This is a legal term which includes many different types of contracts which are currently offered in the market place. These are known for instance as holiday discount clubs, international travel clubs, vacation exchange
clubs and sometimes have names like "Luxury Dream Holiday Exchange".
Whatever they are called, consumers who sign up for "long-term holiday products" will be granted the same rights.
The proposal would cover these products, so that consumers would for instance be able to benefit from the right to withdraw from the contract within 14 days.
Why do the new proposals also cover resale?
Resale mediation is not covered by the 1994 Directive, but there are many consumer complaints about these contracts. People who own timeshare are often approached by agents offering to re-sell their timeshare at a good price. If the consumer is interested in selling, the agent may
request a fee (either a percentage or a flat fee of EUR 500-3000). Many consumers have complained that after they have paid the fee, the agent either disappears or fails to make the sale. In either case, the consumer has no way of getting their money back.
The new proposal will deal with the mediation contract, i.e. the contract between the consumer selling his timeshare and the resale agent. Resale agents will be obliged to provide good pre-contractual information in the consumer's language, deposits will be prohibited and consumers will be entitled to a cooling-off period.
Why is there a need to regulate exchange of timeshare?
If the timeshare resort is affiliated to an exchange scheme, timeshare owners have the option of paying a fee to join the scheme. Members "deposit" their week into an exchange pool, and request exchange from the pool of weeks deposited by other members worldwide. At present these schemes are not covered by the basic rules on information, the ban on deposits or the cooling-off period.
There are fewer complaints related to exchange than to resale. Nevertheless, the complaints focus on the "overselling" of exchange schemes. Consumers are disappointed when they find out that the options are more limited than they expected. Given that almost 80% of consumers
purchasing timeshare quote the range of destinations available through exchange schemes as a "reason to purchase", it is crucial to ensure that consumers are adequately informed before making a decision. Ensuring that consumers also have a right of withdrawal from these schemes is also essential.
Friday, October 24, 2008
"Not in our name": statement by Liberal Democrat councillors
Liberal Democrat members of Neath Port Talbot Council responded to an article in the South Wales Evening Post with the following statement:
We understand that Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council has applied to the High Court for a number of injunctions in the case of a child said to have been taken from its parents, Neath Port Talbot residents, while the family was visiting the United States.
As at the close of official business on the day before the council went to court, only one elected member had any knowledge of the injunctions.
We would wish to make it clear that no committee of council has ever discussed or passed any resolution in connection with these injunctions. As elected members, we do not wish to be associated with them.
They were not done in our name.
[signed]
Councillor Keith Davies (Coedffranc North)
Councillor Des Sparkes (Cimla)
Councillor Frank Little (Cadoxton)
(Councillor John Warman is abroad on holiday and could not be contacted)
We understand that Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council has applied to the High Court for a number of injunctions in the case of a child said to have been taken from its parents, Neath Port Talbot residents, while the family was visiting the United States.
As at the close of official business on the day before the council went to court, only one elected member had any knowledge of the injunctions.
We would wish to make it clear that no committee of council has ever discussed or passed any resolution in connection with these injunctions. As elected members, we do not wish to be associated with them.
They were not done in our name.
[signed]
Councillor Keith Davies (Coedffranc North)
Councillor Des Sparkes (Cimla)
Councillor Frank Little (Cadoxton)
(Councillor John Warman is abroad on holiday and could not be contacted)
Europe for Obama?
If the content of this link is to be believed Europe is standing "shoulder to shoulder" with Barack Obama.
Interesting Poll.
Green energy revolution needed to help the poorest - Clegg
In a speech to the British Wind Energy Association conference last Wednesday, Nick Clegg called for the way people are charged for energy to change, arguing social tariffs are essential to cutting fuel bills.
He set out his vision for radically rewriting the rules on how energy is used and created, calling for a massive expansion in renewable electricity to create a post-fossil fuel economy, protecting the poorest from the volatility of the oil and gas markets.
Developing a ‘supergrid’ in the North Sea to massively upgrade the National Grid and connect it to continental Europe is an example of the ambitious green plans needed to create jobs and make energy cheaper.
Nick Clegg said:
"The green agenda is a social justice agenda.
"We need to tackle energy use in a way that helps the worst off and rewards energy efficiency.
"Helping people on low incomes to insulate their homes is one way of doing that. Another way is through social tariffs.
"Customers should pay more the more energy they use, with protection for vulnerable households that need a lot of energy."
Setting out how investment in renewable energy will spur growth and
create jobs, he went on:
"For many of the people who are struggling to make ends meet, climate change will seem a secondary concern.
"So it is up to us to show that fighting for prosperity and fighting for the planet are part of the same battle.
"It is madness to see some sort of trade off between fixing the economy and protecting the environment.
"The road to economic recovery has got to be green."
Speaking about a ‘supergrid’ in the North Sea, he said:
"The existing grid is old fashioned and inefficient. We need to create the infrastructure for a supergrid across the North Sea.
"Building interconnectors down from Scotland to the South of England and then across to the Dogger Bank. Which - through partnerships with our neighbours - could then be developed into a Europe-wide supergrid.
"These are ambitious plans, I don’t deny it. But ambition is precisely what we need. The new grid would meet future demands in a way that is more efficient, more reliable, less harmful and ultimately cheaper.
"It would also increase the demand for wind turbines built in UK docks, creating jobs in some of the UK’s most deprived communities - such as parts of Hull and Newcastle."
He set out his vision for radically rewriting the rules on how energy is used and created, calling for a massive expansion in renewable electricity to create a post-fossil fuel economy, protecting the poorest from the volatility of the oil and gas markets.
Developing a ‘supergrid’ in the North Sea to massively upgrade the National Grid and connect it to continental Europe is an example of the ambitious green plans needed to create jobs and make energy cheaper.
Nick Clegg said:
"The green agenda is a social justice agenda.
"We need to tackle energy use in a way that helps the worst off and rewards energy efficiency.
"Helping people on low incomes to insulate their homes is one way of doing that. Another way is through social tariffs.
"Customers should pay more the more energy they use, with protection for vulnerable households that need a lot of energy."
Setting out how investment in renewable energy will spur growth and
create jobs, he went on:
"For many of the people who are struggling to make ends meet, climate change will seem a secondary concern.
"So it is up to us to show that fighting for prosperity and fighting for the planet are part of the same battle.
"It is madness to see some sort of trade off between fixing the economy and protecting the environment.
"The road to economic recovery has got to be green."
Speaking about a ‘supergrid’ in the North Sea, he said:
"The existing grid is old fashioned and inefficient. We need to create the infrastructure for a supergrid across the North Sea.
"Building interconnectors down from Scotland to the South of England and then across to the Dogger Bank. Which - through partnerships with our neighbours - could then be developed into a Europe-wide supergrid.
"These are ambitious plans, I don’t deny it. But ambition is precisely what we need. The new grid would meet future demands in a way that is more efficient, more reliable, less harmful and ultimately cheaper.
"It would also increase the demand for wind turbines built in UK docks, creating jobs in some of the UK’s most deprived communities - such as parts of Hull and Newcastle."
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Law Lords' verdict devastating for Chagossians and UK reputation
Commenting on the Law Lords’ ruling against allowing the Chagos Islanders to return home, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said:
"This is a devastating verdict for both the Chagos Islanders and Britain’s reputation around the world.
"Removing the Chagossians in the 1960s was a scandalous decision. Yet this Government has continued to mistreat these people in the face of opposition from the UN.
"Regardless of the legal arguments, the Government has a moral responsibility to allow these people to at last return home.
"They must also come clean about the rendition activity that has taken place on these islands. Only by doing so can they hope to salvage Britain’s damaged global reputation."
(In the 1960s, the UK government did a deal with the United States to provide a secure air force base on Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Archipelago, in a strategically important area of the Indian Ocean. Part of the security insisted upon by the United States was removal of inhabitants from the rest of the islands, with which Westminster was happy to comply. Both the Macmillan and Wilson administrations seem to have been complicit. More details here.)
"This is a devastating verdict for both the Chagos Islanders and Britain’s reputation around the world.
"Removing the Chagossians in the 1960s was a scandalous decision. Yet this Government has continued to mistreat these people in the face of opposition from the UN.
"Regardless of the legal arguments, the Government has a moral responsibility to allow these people to at last return home.
"They must also come clean about the rendition activity that has taken place on these islands. Only by doing so can they hope to salvage Britain’s damaged global reputation."
(In the 1960s, the UK government did a deal with the United States to provide a secure air force base on Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Archipelago, in a strategically important area of the Indian Ocean. Part of the security insisted upon by the United States was removal of inhabitants from the rest of the islands, with which Westminster was happy to comply. Both the Macmillan and Wilson administrations seem to have been complicit. More details here.)
LibDem MEP fights against virtual strip-CCTV
Tories attempt to delay vote on key resolution - Watson
Members of the European Parliament were expected to secure a resolution today demanding that body scanners which reveal passengers' naked bodies at security check points must not get an EU go-ahead without a full public debate on the implications for privacy and human rights.
Graham Watson MEP Liberal Democrat for the South West and Gibraltar said:
"Travellers need to know exactly what the images display, their right to opt for an alternative search, and how they can have confidence that intrusive and sensitive images will not be misused. Although claims are made that the images are not of photographic quality, they seem to be quite explicit about portrayal of genitalia and intimate medical details like breast implants and colostomy bags. I'm sure Commissioner Tajani would not like it if pictures of his body scan were circling the internet.
"So the introduction of 'virtual strip search' cannot be treated as a purely technical matter as these body scanners pose serious issues of civil liberties and personal dignity. Fears arise about the images finding their way into the press and onto the internet, maybe through payment to employees, unless bans on storage are strictly policed.
"The fact that the European Commission proposes to authorise their use without advice from data protection watchdogs on necessary safeguards is a disgrace. The European Parliament would be neglecting its duty if it failed to insist on a transparent and open debate on an issue affecting the fundamental rights of millions of citizens.
"Furthermore, the attempt by the Conservatives to put off a vote on this matter shows up the hollowness of their claim to care about privacy threats."
Members of the European Parliament were expected to secure a resolution today demanding that body scanners which reveal passengers' naked bodies at security check points must not get an EU go-ahead without a full public debate on the implications for privacy and human rights.
Graham Watson MEP Liberal Democrat for the South West and Gibraltar said:
"Travellers need to know exactly what the images display, their right to opt for an alternative search, and how they can have confidence that intrusive and sensitive images will not be misused. Although claims are made that the images are not of photographic quality, they seem to be quite explicit about portrayal of genitalia and intimate medical details like breast implants and colostomy bags. I'm sure Commissioner Tajani would not like it if pictures of his body scan were circling the internet.
"So the introduction of 'virtual strip search' cannot be treated as a purely technical matter as these body scanners pose serious issues of civil liberties and personal dignity. Fears arise about the images finding their way into the press and onto the internet, maybe through payment to employees, unless bans on storage are strictly policed.
"The fact that the European Commission proposes to authorise their use without advice from data protection watchdogs on necessary safeguards is a disgrace. The European Parliament would be neglecting its duty if it failed to insist on a transparent and open debate on an issue affecting the fundamental rights of millions of citizens.
"Furthermore, the attempt by the Conservatives to put off a vote on this matter shows up the hollowness of their claim to care about privacy threats."
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Only in America: drive-through voting
You would think that automobile-orientated voting might have originated in California, but this report from Orange County suggests that there are states in the eastern US which also make life easier for the four-wheeled voter.
Hopefully, the voting mechanism is more sound than these in Charleston.
Thanks to Richie for the OC tip.
Hopefully, the voting mechanism is more sound than these in Charleston.
Thanks to Richie for the OC tip.
Grave concerns remain over new disabled benefit
This coming Monday, the Employment and Support Allowance will replace the existing Incapacity Benefit and Income Support for people unable to work because of impaired health. All new claimants will have to complete an assessment considering their capability to work. Current
incapacity benefit claimants will have to take this test as from April 2010.
Back in March this year, charities expressed concern about the test. The then Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Danny Alexander said:
“Disabled people are understandably cynical about proposals from a government that continually emphasises tough measures against benefit claimants, when what is needed is targeted support to get the millions of disabled people who want to work into jobs.
“Undergoing the assessment could deliver benefits but it will not change the fact that many claimants need specialist help to overcome mental health problems and disabilities, which is still severely lacking.
“The Government should focus on providing more personalised support for claimants to get them back into long-term work.”
None of these concerns have been addressed, and the voluntary sector, especially mental health charity MIND, is very worried.
incapacity benefit claimants will have to take this test as from April 2010.
Back in March this year, charities expressed concern about the test. The then Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Danny Alexander said:
“Disabled people are understandably cynical about proposals from a government that continually emphasises tough measures against benefit claimants, when what is needed is targeted support to get the millions of disabled people who want to work into jobs.
“Undergoing the assessment could deliver benefits but it will not change the fact that many claimants need specialist help to overcome mental health problems and disabilities, which is still severely lacking.
“The Government should focus on providing more personalised support for claimants to get them back into long-term work.”
None of these concerns have been addressed, and the voluntary sector, especially mental health charity MIND, is very worried.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
MoD wasting money on 9,000 empty properties
Over 9,000 MoD properties which could have been used to house service personnel and their families were left vacant last year, according to new figures revealed by the Liberal Democrats.
In response to a Parliamentary Question by Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson, Willie Rennie, Defence Minister Kevan Jones revealed that:
· A total of 9,046 units of Service Family Accomodation
(SFA) are currently vacant (October 2008)
· Of these properties, 2,270 have been vacant for between
one and five years
· The majority of these properties are currently being
leased from Annington Homes by the MoD
Commenting, Willie Rennie said:
"It is outrageous that the MoD is wasting millions of pounds renting empty properties while the men and women of our armed forces are still faced with a lack of decent homes.
"Our service men and women are putting their lives on the line overseas. The Government has a responsibility to look after their families and provide them with a proper standard of accommodation.
"Instead, the MoD’s incompetence means that money is being wasted on empty houses when there is a desperate need for it elsewhere.
"If these homes aren’t needed for defence personnel they should be released to the local authority to help meet the huge demand for affordable housing.
"The current lack of housing is nothing short of scandalous. We need more joined-up working between sectors if are to correct this worrying trend."
In response to a Parliamentary Question by Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson, Willie Rennie, Defence Minister Kevan Jones revealed that:
· A total of 9,046 units of Service Family Accomodation
(SFA) are currently vacant (October 2008)
· Of these properties, 2,270 have been vacant for between
one and five years
· The majority of these properties are currently being
leased from Annington Homes by the MoD
Commenting, Willie Rennie said:
"It is outrageous that the MoD is wasting millions of pounds renting empty properties while the men and women of our armed forces are still faced with a lack of decent homes.
"Our service men and women are putting their lives on the line overseas. The Government has a responsibility to look after their families and provide them with a proper standard of accommodation.
"Instead, the MoD’s incompetence means that money is being wasted on empty houses when there is a desperate need for it elsewhere.
"If these homes aren’t needed for defence personnel they should be released to the local authority to help meet the huge demand for affordable housing.
"The current lack of housing is nothing short of scandalous. We need more joined-up working between sectors if are to correct this worrying trend."
Government shouldn’t be making it harder for parents to work
Lord Mandelson's decision to delay the introduction of flexible working by means of a review has incensed women MPs. Liberal Democrat Small Business Spokesperson, Lorely Burt said:
"At a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet, the last thing they need is the Government making it harder for them to go out and earn money.
"During a recession we need as many people as possible taking an active role in the economy.
"Women, young people and ethnic minorities are often the first to suffer when a recession hits.
"In its panic, the Government is in danger of backing out of important policies for the long-term health of the UK economy. First the green agenda drops off the radar, and now flexible working. What next?
"Now is not the time for ministers to back away from their modest steps forward on flexible working."
Labour MPs have also objected. This report is typical.
"At a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet, the last thing they need is the Government making it harder for them to go out and earn money.
"During a recession we need as many people as possible taking an active role in the economy.
"Women, young people and ethnic minorities are often the first to suffer when a recession hits.
"In its panic, the Government is in danger of backing out of important policies for the long-term health of the UK economy. First the green agenda drops off the radar, and now flexible working. What next?
"Now is not the time for ministers to back away from their modest steps forward on flexible working."
Labour MPs have also objected. This report is typical.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Peter Black advice surgery Briton Ferry
South Wales West AM, Peter Black, will hold an advice surgery in the Briton Ferry Library on Friday 24th October from 3pm to 4pm.
No appointment is necessary.
No appointment is necessary.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Gwyn Hall rebuilding
The Neath Port Talbot press release says that "this will be funded through various sources including insurance, grants and funds which were already earmarked for the initial project".
It is to be hoped that the call on funds has not increased as a result of the mysterious fire which ripped through the part-completed building a year ago yesterday. If the earmarked funds are in a frozen Icelandic bank account, then the council should exercise patience while they are unblocked and not switch money from more deserving projects.
It is to be hoped that the call on funds has not increased as a result of the mysterious fire which ripped through the part-completed building a year ago yesterday. If the earmarked funds are in a frozen Icelandic bank account, then the council should exercise patience while they are unblocked and not switch money from more deserving projects.
Coroner’s criticism shattering blow to MoD credibility
Commenting on the criticism of the MoD by the coroner in the inquest into the death of British solider Corporal Mark Wright in an Afghan minefield in 2006, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said:
"The catalogue of failures recorded by the coroner is another shattering blow to the credibility of the MoD.
"Coroner Andrew Walker is absolutely right to describe these shortages of basic equipment and helicopter support as shameful.
"Lives are being lost because of the shortage of appropriate helicopter support in Afghanistan, yet the Government’s plans for more helicopters are in confusion and disarray.
"John Hutton could make a useful start as Defence Secretary by withdrawing the remaining British troops from Iraq, which would go some way towards easing the terrible overstretch our forces are suffering operating on two fronts.
"There is an urgent need for a new defence review to reassess spending priorities."
"The catalogue of failures recorded by the coroner is another shattering blow to the credibility of the MoD.
"Coroner Andrew Walker is absolutely right to describe these shortages of basic equipment and helicopter support as shameful.
"Lives are being lost because of the shortage of appropriate helicopter support in Afghanistan, yet the Government’s plans for more helicopters are in confusion and disarray.
"John Hutton could make a useful start as Defence Secretary by withdrawing the remaining British troops from Iraq, which would go some way towards easing the terrible overstretch our forces are suffering operating on two fronts.
"There is an urgent need for a new defence review to reassess spending priorities."
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Olympic budget swollen by consultants and bean-counters
New research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed the enormous number of staff currently being employed across Government to administer the Olympic project.
Answers to Parliamentary Questions by Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster show that 11 Whitehall departments and 14 Government agencies employ staff dedicated to the Games, resulting in almost 1,000 people overseeing the Olympic project.
The research revealed:
· 800 dedicated 2012 workers paid for out of public funds, including 126 from Whitehall departments, 237 from government agencies and a further 212 employed by the Olympic Delivery Authority
· The Government Olympic Executive has now grown to 72 members of staff with an annual budget of £4.7m
· The Olympic Security Directorate has grown to 111 members of staff
· The London Development Agency has 88 staff working on the Olympic legacy
· The self-funding organising committee, Locog, has 175 staff, bringing the total to nearly 1,000
Commenting, Don Foster said:
"These numbers are staggering. To have so many overseeing preparations for the Games seems totally over the top. This is before we’ve taken into account the work contracted out to private consultants.
"With parliamentarians, the London Assembly, DCMS, Select Committees and other independent bodies already keeping a very close eye on the Olympic project, I struggle to believe it’s really necessary for eleven other Government departments to have full-time staff working exclusively on the Olympics.
"I dread to think what the collective cost of all these employees is to the taxpayer. With staffing levels expected to rise even further between now and 2012, we must urgently reassess whether these costs are justified."
Answers to Parliamentary Questions by Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster show that 11 Whitehall departments and 14 Government agencies employ staff dedicated to the Games, resulting in almost 1,000 people overseeing the Olympic project.
The research revealed:
· 800 dedicated 2012 workers paid for out of public funds, including 126 from Whitehall departments, 237 from government agencies and a further 212 employed by the Olympic Delivery Authority
· The Government Olympic Executive has now grown to 72 members of staff with an annual budget of £4.7m
· The Olympic Security Directorate has grown to 111 members of staff
· The London Development Agency has 88 staff working on the Olympic legacy
· The self-funding organising committee, Locog, has 175 staff, bringing the total to nearly 1,000
Commenting, Don Foster said:
"These numbers are staggering. To have so many overseeing preparations for the Games seems totally over the top. This is before we’ve taken into account the work contracted out to private consultants.
"With parliamentarians, the London Assembly, DCMS, Select Committees and other independent bodies already keeping a very close eye on the Olympic project, I struggle to believe it’s really necessary for eleven other Government departments to have full-time staff working exclusively on the Olympics.
"I dread to think what the collective cost of all these employees is to the taxpayer. With staffing levels expected to rise even further between now and 2012, we must urgently reassess whether these costs are justified."
Friday, October 17, 2008
80% of single pensioners will be in fuel poverty this winter - Webb
Figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats show that 80% of single pensioners are likely to be living in fuel poverty this winter.
The statistics, available from the House of Commons library, were prepared by the Office of National Statistics following a request by Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Steve Webb.
Commenting, Steve Webb said:
"The soaring cost of keeping warm this winter is going to cause misery for millions of pensioners.
"These figures show that the vast majority of pensioners living on their own are going to be living in fuel poverty this winter. This is nothing short of a scandal.
"The Government must act quickly to get prices down for vulnerable customers and must greatly accelerate the pace of getting homes insulated.
"It is criminal that there are millions of draughty homes in need of insulation and thousands of unemployed construction workers, yet the Government has not put the two together on the scale that is needed."
Neath and Port Talbot have some of the poorest pensioners in Wales and therefore (as Mike German has pointed out) some of the poorest in the UK. The much-trumpeted increase in the Winter Allowance did not cover the cost of fuel steadily rising until 2007, let alone the big hike which occurred this year. Let us hope and pray for another mild winter.
The statistics, available from the House of Commons library, were prepared by the Office of National Statistics following a request by Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Steve Webb.
Commenting, Steve Webb said:
"The soaring cost of keeping warm this winter is going to cause misery for millions of pensioners.
"These figures show that the vast majority of pensioners living on their own are going to be living in fuel poverty this winter. This is nothing short of a scandal.
"The Government must act quickly to get prices down for vulnerable customers and must greatly accelerate the pace of getting homes insulated.
"It is criminal that there are millions of draughty homes in need of insulation and thousands of unemployed construction workers, yet the Government has not put the two together on the scale that is needed."
Neath and Port Talbot have some of the poorest pensioners in Wales and therefore (as Mike German has pointed out) some of the poorest in the UK. The much-trumpeted increase in the Winter Allowance did not cover the cost of fuel steadily rising until 2007, let alone the big hike which occurred this year. Let us hope and pray for another mild winter.
Still questions to be answered over council's treasury management
There will hopefully be a more detailed report of yesterday's council proceedings in the Neath/Port Talbot Guardian next week, but a few outcomes should be stated right away.
Firstly, there was no direct answer to the question tabled by Cllr Keith Davies, about the whereabouts of the council investments not placed with Icelandic banks already named. The council has something over £80m on deposit, £20m of which we now know to be frozen in Icelandic bank deposits, either off-shore or in UK subsidiaries. Where is the other £60m+ deposited? There was no direct refusal to answer the question, just an evasion each time it was put. It was implied, but not directly stated, that Cllr. Davies will receive an answer in writing. We are not holding our breath.
At least the question enabled a vigorous debate about council finance, for which we should be grateful.
Secondly, members of the cabinet, and of the policy and resources committee, rely totally on the decisions of officers, who are in turn expected to follow the guidance of firms of treasury management advisers. Neath Port Talbot retains the services of two of these: Sector Treasury Services and another (unnamed by Derek Vaughan, the council leader, yesterday, but presumably one of Arlingclose**, Butler or Sterling). Since the first official notification to the leader that there was any doubt about the Icelandic banks was September 30th last, one must doubt the advisability of the future use of these firms*.
The alarm bells should have been ringing in April at the latest, when the best-known of the international credit-rating agencies, Standard & Poor's, downgraded the only Icelandic bank to which it did assign a rating to BBB+. There had been warnings months in advance that this was going to happen.
Cllr. Peter Rees made much of the fact that treasury management had functioned for twelve-and-a-half years up until now, without questions being raised. One wonders, though, whether independent treasury advisers were employed in 1996, or whether the director of finance then used his common sense and his own view of HM Treasury's ratings in deciding where to deposit the council's balances. Moreover, there was not so much pressure to achieve the maximum rate of interest then as in recent years, when the increases in the support grant (80% of council income) from the Assembly Government have been consistently less than inflation.
The leader was dismissive of Wrexham's decision to switch out of Icelandic banks. (Fellow Liberal Democrats have informed us that Northampton, as well as Brighton and Telford, took a similar course of action.) They were able to do this because their deposit's fixed term had come to an end, he said. Of course. We didn't say anything different; to have withdrawn the money before the end would obviously have involved financial penalties. The point is that the council was offered the opportunity to start another contract, but declined. We have still to hear whether Neath Port Talbot made new deposits with Icelandic banks between February and October this year.
The Icelandic deposits are not lost, thank goodness, but they are frozen. There is a glimmer of light in that the leader had received information that one of the UK banks in question had assets exceeeding its liabilities. One trusts that the book value of these assets is genuine, and that they are not in the form of Northern Rock style mortgages. and that all or most of the other deposits can be repatriated.
Finally, the local authority's bankers are Alliance & Leicester. This bank had its tricky times when the credit crunch hit, but it is shortly to be acquired, subject to the usual formalities, by Banco Santander. Because Spanish banks have been more tightly regulated than American, British or even most other European nations' banks, they did not become dependent on dubious securities, nor lend extravagantly. They have therefore become a safe haven in the raging sea of unreliable deposit-takers. That is another fact over which citizens of Neath Port Talbot can heave a sigh of relief.
*Private Eye reports that, though STS warned in its September credit-ratings bulletin that Landsbanki had a "negative outlook" for long-term deposits, it was still recommending the bank for "short-term maturities".
** Update at 2008/11/19: Arlingclose has confirmed that the company is not the second advisor
Firstly, there was no direct answer to the question tabled by Cllr Keith Davies, about the whereabouts of the council investments not placed with Icelandic banks already named. The council has something over £80m on deposit, £20m of which we now know to be frozen in Icelandic bank deposits, either off-shore or in UK subsidiaries. Where is the other £60m+ deposited? There was no direct refusal to answer the question, just an evasion each time it was put. It was implied, but not directly stated, that Cllr. Davies will receive an answer in writing. We are not holding our breath.
At least the question enabled a vigorous debate about council finance, for which we should be grateful.
Secondly, members of the cabinet, and of the policy and resources committee, rely totally on the decisions of officers, who are in turn expected to follow the guidance of firms of treasury management advisers. Neath Port Talbot retains the services of two of these: Sector Treasury Services and another (unnamed by Derek Vaughan, the council leader, yesterday, but presumably one of Arlingclose**, Butler or Sterling). Since the first official notification to the leader that there was any doubt about the Icelandic banks was September 30th last, one must doubt the advisability of the future use of these firms*.
The alarm bells should have been ringing in April at the latest, when the best-known of the international credit-rating agencies, Standard & Poor's, downgraded the only Icelandic bank to which it did assign a rating to BBB+. There had been warnings months in advance that this was going to happen.
Cllr. Peter Rees made much of the fact that treasury management had functioned for twelve-and-a-half years up until now, without questions being raised. One wonders, though, whether independent treasury advisers were employed in 1996, or whether the director of finance then used his common sense and his own view of HM Treasury's ratings in deciding where to deposit the council's balances. Moreover, there was not so much pressure to achieve the maximum rate of interest then as in recent years, when the increases in the support grant (80% of council income) from the Assembly Government have been consistently less than inflation.
The leader was dismissive of Wrexham's decision to switch out of Icelandic banks. (Fellow Liberal Democrats have informed us that Northampton, as well as Brighton and Telford, took a similar course of action.) They were able to do this because their deposit's fixed term had come to an end, he said. Of course. We didn't say anything different; to have withdrawn the money before the end would obviously have involved financial penalties. The point is that the council was offered the opportunity to start another contract, but declined. We have still to hear whether Neath Port Talbot made new deposits with Icelandic banks between February and October this year.
The Icelandic deposits are not lost, thank goodness, but they are frozen. There is a glimmer of light in that the leader had received information that one of the UK banks in question had assets exceeeding its liabilities. One trusts that the book value of these assets is genuine, and that they are not in the form of Northern Rock style mortgages. and that all or most of the other deposits can be repatriated.
Finally, the local authority's bankers are Alliance & Leicester. This bank had its tricky times when the credit crunch hit, but it is shortly to be acquired, subject to the usual formalities, by Banco Santander. Because Spanish banks have been more tightly regulated than American, British or even most other European nations' banks, they did not become dependent on dubious securities, nor lend extravagantly. They have therefore become a safe haven in the raging sea of unreliable deposit-takers. That is another fact over which citizens of Neath Port Talbot can heave a sigh of relief.
*Private Eye reports that, though STS warned in its September credit-ratings bulletin that Landsbanki had a "negative outlook" for long-term deposits, it was still recommending the bank for "short-term maturities".
** Update at 2008/11/19: Arlingclose has confirmed that the company is not the second advisor
Thursday, October 16, 2008
New protections against identity fraud needed - Clegg
People should have the right to ‘security freeze’ their credit records to stop bank accounts and new credit cards being fraudulently opened in their name, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg says.
On a visit to Cambridge University where he will meet credit card fraud expert Professor Ross Anderson, Nick Clegg will set out how giving individuals control over who can access their financial history would vastly reduce identity fraud.
The system, which is working successfully across the United States, would be a much more effective way of tackling identity theft than the hugely expensive and unworkable ID cards project.
Commenting, Nick Clegg said:
"People currently have no control over who accesses their credit history. Sloppy credit-granting practices have made life easy for identity thieves, who can get credit and open fake bank accounts in other people’s names.
"The Government’s preferred solution is ID cards. These are an intrusive, costly and ineffective way of attempting to curb identity fraud, with no guarantees that they will work.
"Giving people the right to ‘security freeze’ their credit records is both effective and inexpensive, and already working in the United States. Big financial companies and the State should answer to individuals, not the other way around.
"Ministers have this week announced plans for another huge Orwellian database logging emails, phone calls and websites visited. Rather than hoarding ever more information in Whitehall, they should be giving individuals extra rights to protect their information."
On a visit to Cambridge University where he will meet credit card fraud expert Professor Ross Anderson, Nick Clegg will set out how giving individuals control over who can access their financial history would vastly reduce identity fraud.
The system, which is working successfully across the United States, would be a much more effective way of tackling identity theft than the hugely expensive and unworkable ID cards project.
Commenting, Nick Clegg said:
"People currently have no control over who accesses their credit history. Sloppy credit-granting practices have made life easy for identity thieves, who can get credit and open fake bank accounts in other people’s names.
"The Government’s preferred solution is ID cards. These are an intrusive, costly and ineffective way of attempting to curb identity fraud, with no guarantees that they will work.
"Giving people the right to ‘security freeze’ their credit records is both effective and inexpensive, and already working in the United States. Big financial companies and the State should answer to individuals, not the other way around.
"Ministers have this week announced plans for another huge Orwellian database logging emails, phone calls and websites visited. Rather than hoarding ever more information in Whitehall, they should be giving individuals extra rights to protect their information."
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Unemployment spike no surprise
Commenting on today’s Government figures that show unemployment has risen by 164,000 between June and August to 1.79 million, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Cardiff Central MP Jenny Willott said:
"These figures come as no surprise and are only likely to get worse over the coming months. The effects of the banking crisis have filtered down to the real economy and are affecting people across the county.
"Now the banking rescue package has been agreed, the Government must turn its attention to unemployment and inflation. Real families across Britain are suffering, not just those working in the Square Mile.
"As the number of vacancies shrink, it will be harder and harder to get people back into work. It will not simply be a case of retraining the unemployed if there are no jobs for them to return to."
"These figures come as no surprise and are only likely to get worse over the coming months. The effects of the banking crisis have filtered down to the real economy and are affecting people across the county.
"Now the banking rescue package has been agreed, the Government must turn its attention to unemployment and inflation. Real families across Britain are suffering, not just those working in the Square Mile.
"As the number of vacancies shrink, it will be harder and harder to get people back into work. It will not simply be a case of retraining the unemployed if there are no jobs for them to return to."
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Now the banks are bailed out, what about the people?
The Liberal Democrats today called for Government action to shift from bailing out banks towards helping people struggling as a result of the financial crisis.
Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg and Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable set out proposals to assist families by avoiding repossessions, tackling the social housing backlog and lowering bills through competitive energy prices.
Nick Clegg said:
"Families are facing a difficult winter. Rising mortgage bills, the fear of unemployment and high heating costs mean that the shockwaves of the financial crisis are felt in households across Britain.
"When the banks were in trouble, they got rescued. Millions of families who are about to find themselves in trouble must be helped too."
Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg and Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable set out proposals to assist families by avoiding repossessions, tackling the social housing backlog and lowering bills through competitive energy prices.
Nick Clegg said:
"Families are facing a difficult winter. Rising mortgage bills, the fear of unemployment and high heating costs mean that the shockwaves of the financial crisis are felt in households across Britain.
"When the banks were in trouble, they got rescued. Millions of families who are about to find themselves in trouble must be helped too."
NPT council leader bound for Europe?
BBC-2 Wales' "AM:PM" programme has reported rumours (well-founded, according to Vaughan Roderick) that Eluned Morgan is standing down as MEP in 2009. Unless Welsh Labour reruns its selection process (any Labourites willing to comment on their rules?), that would automatically put Derek Vaughan, councillor for Neath North and leader of the county borough council, at number one on the party's euro list.
Government building the world’s biggest DNA database by stealth
Commenting on the announcement that 722,000 people were added to the DNA database last year - the largest amount ever in any one year - Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:
"The Government is rapidly building the world’s biggest DNA database, by stealth.
"Guilt or innocence and the negative effect the database has on children and ethnic minorities are of no concern to ministers. There are also large numbers of people who were convicted of crimes before DNA began to be collected who are not on the database.
"Rarely has so much effort been made to collect so much intrusive and irrelevant data.
"Innocent people should be removed from the database before our more courageous European counterparts force us to do so through the courts."
One wonders whether fingerprints are also being garnered for a de facto national identity register. The experience of our previous secretary, Gary Lewis, is worrying:
I'm looking to do voluntary work with a view that if you are engaged in such activity, more opportunities will present themselves in addition to showing to prospective employers that you want to work and giving your life some purpose.
"The Government is rapidly building the world’s biggest DNA database, by stealth.
"Guilt or innocence and the negative effect the database has on children and ethnic minorities are of no concern to ministers. There are also large numbers of people who were convicted of crimes before DNA began to be collected who are not on the database.
"Rarely has so much effort been made to collect so much intrusive and irrelevant data.
"Innocent people should be removed from the database before our more courageous European counterparts force us to do so through the courts."
One wonders whether fingerprints are also being garnered for a de facto national identity register. The experience of our previous secretary, Gary Lewis, is worrying:
I'm looking to do voluntary work with a view that if you are engaged in such activity, more opportunities will present themselves in addition to showing to prospective employers that you want to work and giving your life some purpose.
Had a phone call yesterday from the Bridge Mentoring Scheme Plus (BMSP) in Bridgend. The CRB agency says that there is another Gary Lewis with a similar identity to myself (no-one else on the planet can be as good looking as myself) and would I be prepared to go to the police station and have my fingerprints taken and to bring my identification with me.
[Queried the electoral register] how many Gary Lewis's there were in Ogmore, answer was four.
What's worrying:
I've been doing Family Link, respite fostering for the past eight years, the usual identification used for proof of identity has been Birth Cert., Driving Licence and Passport. This has never happened before.
Driving Licence and Passport was used this time with BMSP, so why question my identity credentials this time? Don't the CRB agency keep records?
Monday, October 13, 2008
Cannabis announcement will criminalise thousands of people
Commenting on the announcement that cannabis users will face new penalties when the drug is upgraded to Class B in January, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:
"Today’s announcement is more about titillating tabloid newspaper editors than tackling drug abuse.
"Increasing penalties for possession will criminalise thousands of people, particularly young people, at a time when cannabis use is falling.
"Ministers should heed the advice of their own expert advisory council on drug misuse. Public education works better than flagellation."
"Today’s announcement is more about titillating tabloid newspaper editors than tackling drug abuse.
"Increasing penalties for possession will criminalise thousands of people, particularly young people, at a time when cannabis use is falling.
"Ministers should heed the advice of their own expert advisory council on drug misuse. Public education works better than flagellation."
Nick Clegg and Liberal Democrats behind Gurkhas
Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg will meet retired Gurkhas shortly to pledge to support the Immigration (Discharged Gurkhas) Bill through the House of Commons.
The Bill was due to receive its Third Reading in the House of Lords earlier today.
In a meeting room in Portcullis House, Nick will join Bahadur Pun and Lachhiman Gurung, retired Victoria Cross holders, Joanna Lumley, campaigner for Gurkha Justice and Lord Lee of Trafford, author of the Bill. He will then sign a pledge to support the Immigration (Discharged Gurkhas) Bill
Joanna Lumley and the Gurkha Justice Team will also be writing to all MPs enclosing a pledge card for them to sign and return to the Gurkha Justice campaign.
The Bill was due to receive its Third Reading in the House of Lords earlier today.
In a meeting room in Portcullis House, Nick will join Bahadur Pun and Lachhiman Gurung, retired Victoria Cross holders, Joanna Lumley, campaigner for Gurkha Justice and Lord Lee of Trafford, author of the Bill. He will then sign a pledge to support the Immigration (Discharged Gurkhas) Bill
Joanna Lumley and the Gurkha Justice Team will also be writing to all MPs enclosing a pledge card for them to sign and return to the Gurkha Justice campaign.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Hot day, cool conference
Temperatures in Clydach reached levels not experienced since spring. Inside the Forge Fach centre, business was dominated by constitutional amendments which only occasionally caused the pulse to race.
However, we passed a motion today which might draw some comment in the prints as we get closer to an election:
Conference notes:
1. The unfair settlement caused by the decades-old Barnett formula.
2. That the National Assembly for Wales is unable to borrow money or levy taxes.
3. That Labour and Plaid have ruled out using the Private Finance Initiative in the
health sector, meaning available money is not being used.
Conference believes that:
1. Private sector finance can make an important contribution to improving public
services in Wales.
2. The existing PFI model is outdated, poorly-conceived and not suitable to the current financial climate.
3. The investment of private sector finance in public services needs to be carefully
managed and regulated to protect the interests of taxpayers, service users and
local communities.
4. New more effective models for harnessing private sector finance can and should be
developed to deliver greater value of money for the taxpayer.
Conference calls on:
The Welsh Assembly Government to drop its politically-driven opposition to private sector finance and find effective ways of harnessing private sector finance to deliver much needed improvements to public services in Wales.
As far as traditional PFI goes, as introduced by the Conservatives and renamed by New Labour, the resolution is largely academic in the present financial situation. One of the arguments in favour of PFI was its ability to attract funds which were not available from government sources. One would suppose that any finance which was obtainable - and a public sector project, with its guaranteed income stream, might be the exception to the current credit drought - would be at prohibitive interest rates.
However, as Jenny Randerson made clear in proposing the motion, the intention is to be much more flexible. Third sector and community mutual societies would also come within its ambit. The important thing was not to be ruled by dogma: neither that which used dodgy arithmetic to justify dubious contracts in the anti-state cause, nor that which ruled out anything but state funding for public projects.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Labour-Plaid budget a hammer-blow for struggling families
Commenting on the draft budget published this week by the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government, Welsh Liberal Democrat Finance spokesperson Jenny Randerson said:
"This draft budget presents a raw deal for local authorities once again. When keeping council tax low is the one way that the WAG can help families during the credit crunch, it's disappointing to see local authorities getting a settlement which is 2% below inflation.
"The danger is that local authorities will once again face the impossible choice between cutting services or raising council tax - as a direct result of this Labour-Plaid government's neglect of local authorities.
"Far from the fair deal for Welsh taxpayers we were hoping to see, this budget could be a hammer blow to many families and individuals in Wales."
Friday, October 10, 2008
Central Government must recover local authority deposits in Icelandic banks
Commenting on the situation facing councils that have money invested in Icelandic banks, Liberal Democrat Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, Julia Goldsworthy said:
"The first priority has to be that the Government supports councils to recover as much of their money as possible. It must also look at the potential for the capitalisation of any remaining debts to avoid service cuts or immediate Council Tax rises at all costs.
"We need to know the extent of the risk and under what circumstance councils made these commitments. Some councils that deliberately avoided taking these risks should have their prudence acknowledged.
"The real issue here is making sure that front line services like fire and policing, social care and transport are protected.
"The answer isn’t for the Government to guarantee these loans. That would simply pass the buck from local taxpayers to income taxpayers, which would not be much comfort to those already struggling to pay their bills.
"It is ridiculous for the Government to try to wash its hands of this, given that in many cases it is revenues councils were collecting for the Government, such as business rates, which are now at risk. These councils were operating within Treasury guidance.
"The next question is how far the problem will spread. PFI schemes for new schools and hospitals could be under threat."
Westminster must not dump the problem on the Welsh Assembly Government, as it has done for Scotland. That was one inference which could be drawn from TV interviews with the Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, last night. He gave no commitments, but gave the impression that it was enough for him to represent Wales in talks about the crisis.
Update: Neath Port Talbot CBC has issued a statement.
"The first priority has to be that the Government supports councils to recover as much of their money as possible. It must also look at the potential for the capitalisation of any remaining debts to avoid service cuts or immediate Council Tax rises at all costs.
"We need to know the extent of the risk and under what circumstance councils made these commitments. Some councils that deliberately avoided taking these risks should have their prudence acknowledged.
"The real issue here is making sure that front line services like fire and policing, social care and transport are protected.
"The answer isn’t for the Government to guarantee these loans. That would simply pass the buck from local taxpayers to income taxpayers, which would not be much comfort to those already struggling to pay their bills.
"It is ridiculous for the Government to try to wash its hands of this, given that in many cases it is revenues councils were collecting for the Government, such as business rates, which are now at risk. These councils were operating within Treasury guidance.
"The next question is how far the problem will spread. PFI schemes for new schools and hospitals could be under threat."
Westminster must not dump the problem on the Welsh Assembly Government, as it has done for Scotland. That was one inference which could be drawn from TV interviews with the Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, last night. He gave no commitments, but gave the impression that it was enough for him to represent Wales in talks about the crisis.
Update: Neath Port Talbot CBC has issued a statement.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Baglan: ex-Ratepayers respond
A recent leaflet issued by the two Labour councillors in Baglan concluded:
We want you to know what really went on.
After the elections, the Baglan 2 would have formed 40% of the Ratepayer representation on the council and would hardly need to change allegiance. They would surely have been able to influence the way the party was run.
We want you to know what really went on.
- Opposition parties have been implying that Baglan has been disenfranchised, up until now we haven't put anything in writing about what happened prior to the closing nominations on the 4"" of April 2008.
- When we first joined the Ratepayers the focus of the group was, 'People Come First, your local needs and issues. We have never professed to be political animals, we go about the job from day to day because we care and are passionate about our children, environment and community. We have worked extremely hard and attended all meetings in order to gain an all-round knowledge of our duties as councillors and to gain more insight into the function of the council. We have made strong representation on issues affecting the community of Baglan along with issues of concern throughout the County Borough; and will continue to do so but subsequently we suffered lack of support and commitment from the Ratepayers on too many occasions.
After Cllr Paul Evans passed away the Ratepayers changed and after three years of trying to work with the new regime, we couldn't continue to do so because of the constant bullying from within the party which was solely directed at Juliet. Also, a member of the Conservative party attended Ratepayers meetings and dictated a pact between the Ratepayers/Tories/Plaid and Liberal Democrats so they could create safe seats for themselves and deny the voters a right to democracy. If we had stayed with the Ratepayers we would have been unopposed, therefore, you must ask the question, would the opposition parties have then stated in their leaflet that we were unwanted? Surely if the other parties were so worried about Baglan and how it was being represented, why then, didn't they submit candidates in the last election?
Yes, we did change to Labour just before the end of the nominations and it was a massive personal decision to make. But with very little time to make this decision we feel that it would have had greater consequences had it been made after the elections. We are still 100% committed to Baglan, 'our community, regardless of our status, and, as far as we are concerned, the People of Baglan still come first.
Our reply:.
We didn't imply that Baglan was disenfranchised. In our Baglan leaflet we boldly stated it right out.
We have never been dictated to by Conservatives or by any outside body.
If the then-Ratepayers in Baglan were unhappy about the way the party was run, why didn't they move to change it? Clearly it was in need of fresh leadership, something we had pointed out in our comments on council attendance before the election.
Frank Little says: “As leader of a small party, I make no apologies for placing our select group of candidates where they stood most chance of winning. I was entitled to assume that Ratepayers, who had once formed a minority group on the council along with independents and ourselves, had more similar views to Liberal Democrats than to Labour. I was therefore not going to undermine them by running candidates of our own. I have been involved in county council elections in the Neath Port Talbot area since the early 1990s. Every time, I have been fed information from various sources on the council about where opposition candidates would be standing and 2008 was the first year in which the information was genuine. There was no talk of Conservative plots in the years when we turned out to have been deceived."
- Yes, we did change to Labour just before the end of the nominations
- It would have been more honest to change earlier than 15 minutes before the close.
After the elections, the Baglan 2 would have formed 40% of the Ratepayer representation on the council and would hardly need to change allegiance. They would surely have been able to influence the way the party was run.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Secret plan to close all post offices
It seems that the government is only waiting to get the Glenrothes by-election out of the way before unveiling plans which will make all post offices unviable.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Good news, bad news, on the Irish government's bank guarantee
Good news: Allied Irish Bank, which is one of those institutions backed by the guarantee of the government of the Republic, provides financial products through UK post offices.
Bad news: the government is shutting post offices as fast as it can get away with it.
Bad news: the government is shutting post offices as fast as it can get away with it.
Bobby's back
Commenting on Gordon Brown’s cabinet reshuffle, in which Peter Mandelson is to return to a senior post, Chief of Staff to Nick Clegg, Danny Alexander said:
"Gordon Brown is deluded if he thinks that Peter Mandelson can help him convince the British people that his party still has what it takes to govern this country.
"Resurrecting ex-ministers from the political graveyard is not going to breathe new life into Gordon Brown’s zombie government."
"Gordon Brown is deluded if he thinks that Peter Mandelson can help him convince the British people that his party still has what it takes to govern this country.
"Resurrecting ex-ministers from the political graveyard is not going to breathe new life into Gordon Brown’s zombie government."
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Party gives qualified support to housing stock transfer ballot
At the special meeting of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council this morning, Liberal Democrat councillors went along with the rest of the council in accepting the cabinet's decision to comply with the Welsh Housing Quality Standard in respect of its council housing. On the recommendation to ballot tenants on the establishment of a community mutual body to take over council housing, we gave our support subject to scrutiny of the details as they were rolled out.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Nadine Dorries
Lest people accuse us of a vendetta against Labour in drawing attention to their misuse of their parliamentary positions, (see posting about Keith Vaz and Bridget Prentice), we should point out that Conservatives are at it too.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Gordon Brown's speech
Most of the comment has been on the style of the speech. Would it reveal the private man, the warm jester, who we were assured by people close to Number 10, lurked behind the dour, vindictive, public face?
Would it be a tour de force which would put an end to the speculation in the media about his future? Well, we now have much opinion - most of it surprisingly favourable - to draw on.
Few have commented on the substance of the speech. For instance, who contrasted Brown's understanding of the word fairness, with that of Nick Clegg? What sense was there of Brown addressing the widening gap between the richest and poorest in Britain? (See an economist's analysis of negative wages here.)
Or how about his misunderstanding of the metaphor of mending the roof when the sun was shining? The point was not about spending on public services, necessary though that may have been, but about building up reserves.
Finally (for now - I'm sure we'll come back to this), one of his trumpeted initiatives seems to be flawed. I refer to the provision of broadband.
He said:
Most of us know that the major factor limiting broadband take-up in the UK is the provision of high-capacity cable. Wales suffers more than England in this respect.
It has been estimated that it will cost almost £30bn to optically-cable every home. There is a cheaper option, of carrying the optical fibre just to the street cabinets, leaving a short length of existing metal to complete the connection. That would cost just over £5bn. BT has committed to a £1.5bn upgrade which will bring the total of homes with access to high band-width to ten million, but there is no indication that they will provide universal access from their own resources.
Look at the official briefing which followed Gordon Brown's speech, and you will see that only £300m is to be allocated to the government initiative (and what's the betting it has been pared from some other programme?). This is enough only to favour a few, unless there has been a surprising change of heart on the part of the telecomms companies.
Frank Little
Would it be a tour de force which would put an end to the speculation in the media about his future? Well, we now have much opinion - most of it surprisingly favourable - to draw on.
Few have commented on the substance of the speech. For instance, who contrasted Brown's understanding of the word fairness, with that of Nick Clegg? What sense was there of Brown addressing the widening gap between the richest and poorest in Britain? (See an economist's analysis of negative wages here.)
Or how about his misunderstanding of the metaphor of mending the roof when the sun was shining? The point was not about spending on public services, necessary though that may have been, but about building up reserves.
Finally (for now - I'm sure we'll come back to this), one of his trumpeted initiatives seems to be flawed. I refer to the provision of broadband.
He said:
Jim Knight is announcing that we will fund over a million extra families to get online, on the way to our ambition of Britain leading the world with more of our people than any other major economy able to actively participate in our broadband and internet future.
Most of us know that the major factor limiting broadband take-up in the UK is the provision of high-capacity cable. Wales suffers more than England in this respect.
It has been estimated that it will cost almost £30bn to optically-cable every home. There is a cheaper option, of carrying the optical fibre just to the street cabinets, leaving a short length of existing metal to complete the connection. That would cost just over £5bn. BT has committed to a £1.5bn upgrade which will bring the total of homes with access to high band-width to ten million, but there is no indication that they will provide universal access from their own resources.
Look at the official briefing which followed Gordon Brown's speech, and you will see that only £300m is to be allocated to the government initiative (and what's the betting it has been pared from some other programme?). This is enough only to favour a few, unless there has been a surprising change of heart on the part of the telecomms companies.
Frank Little
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Commonwealth citizens joining British Army direct
No apologies for returning to the Gurkhas' case (see Monday posting).
The Gurkhas' legal team urgently (by end of Wednesday 24th September) need to find an example case of a soldier recruited directly to the British Army from a Commonwealth country to disprove statements being made by the Home Office.
Peter Carroll says:
“We need to find a person who joined the British Army between 1962 and 1997 who was a citizen of a Commonwealth Country and joined the Army directly from his own country - that is, they had not entered and settled in the UK before applying to join the Army.
“The reasons behind this requirement are complex. However, our legal team say that the finding of even one such instance would fundamentally improve the chance of victory in this case.”
If you can help, visit Peter’s site for details of how to get in touch.
We are grateful to Mark Pack and Liberal Democrat Voice for bringing this to our attention.Monday, September 22, 2008
Gurkha ex-soldiers' citizenship
Dave Simpson of City of Chester Liberal Democrats asks:
"Please sign this petition.
"The current situation is a joke - the Gurkhas (who are some of our best, most loyal and bravest soldiers) are being turned away from British Citizenship.
"It's a disgrace and I feel quite strongly about it, having worked with some superb Officers whilst
with P&O.
"If you too feel strongly, please add your signature to this official Number 10 petition."
"Please sign this petition.
"The current situation is a joke - the Gurkhas (who are some of our best, most loyal and bravest soldiers) are being turned away from British Citizenship.
"It's a disgrace and I feel quite strongly about it, having worked with some superb Officers whilst
with P&O.
"If you too feel strongly, please add your signature to this official Number 10 petition."
Sunday, September 21, 2008
More Labour MPs accused of misusing their position
Following the revelations in the Daily Mail about Keith Vaz, Labour MP for Leicester East, there is news that the Labour MP for Lewisham, Bridget Prentice, may have misused part of her parliamentary allowance. The accusation concerns funds made available for constituency work, which Ms Prentice has used to promote herself to people living elsewhere.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Hard facts
You can read all the press releases there are about the housing crisis, but it's not until you come up against hard facts that the message sinks in. Hard facts like work being stopped on new builds or a statistic like this: that brick production in the UK is set to drop to its lowest levels since the 1940s.
Back in the Assembly next week, Welsh Liberal Democrats have chosen as a motion for debate: "To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Notes the current lack of affordable housing in Wales.
Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to:
1. Develop the HomeBuy scheme into a fully funded key workers' scheme.
2. Begin a limited trial of urban housing enablers"
Back in the Assembly next week, Welsh Liberal Democrats have chosen as a motion for debate: "To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Notes the current lack of affordable housing in Wales.
Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to:
1. Develop the HomeBuy scheme into a fully funded key workers' scheme.
2. Begin a limited trial of urban housing enablers"
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Nick Clegg speech
Tremendous - his best performance yet. BBC Parliament will be repeating it this afternoon and evening.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Labour's Glenda Jackson misuse of expenses
The MP for Hampstead has been forced to repay part of her parliamentary allowance used to gather canvassing data for the Labour Party.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Nick Clegg's great repeal
In 2006, Nick Clegg inaugurated the Great Repeal Act campaign. He sought a: "single act to roll back a generation of illiberal legislation and illiberal regulations". He went on:
"Over the coming weeks, we will consult the public to help draw up a comprehensive list of the laws that should be repealed. Today I am launching a website where anyone can submit the details of a law they think should be scrapped – greatrepealact.com
" And then we will bring forward the most comprehensive set of proposals to pare back unnecessary laws and regulations a political party has ever produced. "
The web site is no longer active, but suggestions may still be posted as questions to the leader.
"Over the coming weeks, we will consult the public to help draw up a comprehensive list of the laws that should be repealed. Today I am launching a website where anyone can submit the details of a law they think should be scrapped – greatrepealact.com
" And then we will bring forward the most comprehensive set of proposals to pare back unnecessary laws and regulations a political party has ever produced. "
The web site is no longer active, but suggestions may still be posted as questions to the leader.
How to tackle crime
Crime hurts some of the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society, who are least able to withstand its effects. All the political parties want to cut crime. The only question is how.
Our approach, as Liberal Democrats, is fundamentally different from that of Labour and the Conservatives. We favour what works. Criminal justice policy has been buffeted by red-top opinion for too long. It is time for hard evidence in cutting crime.
Chris Huhne is leading the debate at our federal conference in Bournemouth next week.
Our approach, as Liberal Democrats, is fundamentally different from that of Labour and the Conservatives. We favour what works. Criminal justice policy has been buffeted by red-top opinion for too long. It is time for hard evidence in cutting crime.
Chris Huhne is leading the debate at our federal conference in Bournemouth next week.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Sir Samuel Thomas Evans
There will be a short commemoration of the 90th anniversary of Sir Sam Evans' death on 13th September. It will take place at the grave-side in the churchyard of St John the Baptist church at 11 a.m. this coming Saturday.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Goldsworthy knifes the PM
Not Welsh LibDems Ali, but Julia of that ilk in a Q-and-A session in the Independent:
Do you feel sorry for Gordon Brown? NEIL CATTERMOLE, Ayr
Yes. But nobody wants their country to be run by someone they pity.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
When is local not local?
Answer: when the term is used by Nationalists. The Scottish Nationalist government is even more centrist than Labour.
Step 1 of central control: every local council in Scotland was "persuaded" not to increase council tax last April. This had an impact on education budgets across Scotland, and in places like Highland have particularly affected rural schools. This makes nonsense of their proposed Rural Schools Bill.
Step 2: introduce an extension to income tax to replace council tax (one cheer from us), but fix the rate centrally, thus denying local authorities the power to set it according to their individual needs. Call it "Local" Income Tax, in the hope of attracting naive Liberal Democrat votes.
Step 1 of central control: every local council in Scotland was "persuaded" not to increase council tax last April. This had an impact on education budgets across Scotland, and in places like Highland have particularly affected rural schools. This makes nonsense of their proposed Rural Schools Bill.
Step 2: introduce an extension to income tax to replace council tax (one cheer from us), but fix the rate centrally, thus denying local authorities the power to set it according to their individual needs. Call it "Local" Income Tax, in the hope of attracting naive Liberal Democrat votes.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Ros Scott calls in
After photos on Cimla Common and a courtesy call on mayor Mal Gunter (picture left), Baroness Scott was entertained by Annette and Councillor Des Sparkes at their house in Tonmawr.There was a lively discussion between local activists and Ros and her husband Mark. Ros praised the work of the local party, stressing the important place which the many smaller parties held within the Liberal Democrats. She also outlined her platform for the presidential contest, which opens officially on 1st September.
Party finances - read the small print
Liberal Democrat Voice explains why you should not only mistrust the media, but also the spin which quangos put on their press releases.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Baroness Scott Neath itinerary
Baroness Scott will arrive at Neath rail station at 13:29 tomorrow (provided First Great Western keep to timetable!). She will then accompany Councillors John Warman and Des Sparkes to Cimla, to discuss local problems. This will be followed at 14:30 by a visit to Neath Port Talbot council at the civic centre, where she will sign the Mayor's visitors' book.
The afternoon will be completed at around 17:00 by refreshments at Brynhyfryd House in Tonmawr, where the Baroness will meet local activists. From there, she will travel to Bridgend, completing the day with a function at the "Haywain".
Members, local and from other parts of the region, are welcome.
The afternoon will be completed at around 17:00 by refreshments at Brynhyfryd House in Tonmawr, where the Baroness will meet local activists. From there, she will travel to Bridgend, completing the day with a function at the "Haywain".
Members, local and from other parts of the region, are welcome.
Scottish Leadership Election result
Tavish Scott MSP has been elected as new Scottish LibDem leader.
Comfortable win on first preferences giving him a strong mandate.
Tavish Scott 1450 (59.0%)
Ross Finnie 568 (23.1%)
Mike Rumbles 439 (17.9%)
(Turnout 61%)
Comfortable win on first preferences giving him a strong mandate.
Tavish Scott 1450 (59.0%)
Ross Finnie 568 (23.1%)
Mike Rumbles 439 (17.9%)
(Turnout 61%)
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Baroness Scott to visit Neath and Port Talbot
Rosalind Scott (Baroness Scott of Needham Market) will meet members in Cimla, Port Talbot and Tonmawr this coming Wednesday, 27th August.
Details to follow.
Details to follow.
Clegg unveils super powers?
We are grateful to Jonathan Calder's "Liberal England" for this pointer.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
The Cabin must be more than a political football
Nine months ago we stressed the need to keep a youth activity centre in Cwmgwrach and later to publish the report which was the ostensible reason for keeping the Cabin closed.
Labour was largely helped to its capture of Blaengwrach by harnessing the grievances of local families. It should not be left to legal action by the Friends of the Cabin to ensure the restoration of facilities.
The leader of Neath Port Talbot Council has recently publicly subscribed to an extension of the scrutiny facility of the council. Maybe the first subject should be an examination of provision for young people out-of-hours, throughout the borough.
Labour was largely helped to its capture of Blaengwrach by harnessing the grievances of local families. It should not be left to legal action by the Friends of the Cabin to ensure the restoration of facilities.
The leader of Neath Port Talbot Council has recently publicly subscribed to an extension of the scrutiny facility of the council. Maybe the first subject should be an examination of provision for young people out-of-hours, throughout the borough.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Local taxation
It is the twentieth anniversary of the Local Government Finance Act which saw the introduction of the community charge ("poll tax") to the whole of the United Kingdom.
The poll tax has gone, repealed by a later Conservative government, to be replaced with the council tax, only slightly more fair.
What hasn't gone is the uniform non-domestic rate, under which central government takes taxes in from local businesses and doles it out to local authorities again according to a formula. Thus Neath Port Talbot does not gain from the operations of amazon.co.uk directly, but only from the increase in jobs, with the consequent indirect effect on council tax. Stall-holders in Neath Market complain about the increase in business rates.
Local government should be given more control over business rates, or at least more flexibility.
The poll tax has gone, repealed by a later Conservative government, to be replaced with the council tax, only slightly more fair.
What hasn't gone is the uniform non-domestic rate, under which central government takes taxes in from local businesses and doles it out to local authorities again according to a formula. Thus Neath Port Talbot does not gain from the operations of amazon.co.uk directly, but only from the increase in jobs, with the consequent indirect effect on council tax. Stall-holders in Neath Market complain about the increase in business rates.
Local government should be given more control over business rates, or at least more flexibility.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Baglan Energy Park - nearly full?
The leader of Neath Port Talbot in a barnstorming speech to council last week, announced that the Energy Park was nearly full. This claim is notably missing from the report of the speech on the council's web site.
Let us recap. BP at its peak employed over 2,300 people in Baglan Bay. In 1999, the then Secretary of State announced that the Energy Park would provide 10,000 johs. Between then and 2004, this target was scaled down to 6,000.
The actual figure in 2006 was 280. Since then, according to the county borough's own press releases, no more than five hundred new commercial jobs have been created: Intertissue 300, Halford (say) 25, Shield Medical 120. (Mardon's 480 are only potential jobs.)
Then there are the council's own people at The Quays. 1300 staff would have transferred from Penllergaer to Baglan, and it was also announced that 300 depot staff would be based there. These are not new jobs, but they were previously located outside the borough. This gives a grand total of 2045 extra since 2006, which just about brings us up to BP levels.
Mycouncillor websites - temporary problem
ALDC (the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors) apologises for mycouncillor web sites, including that for Cadoxton, being unavailable since Thursday last.
They say: "This is a problem with the Webspace company, NativeSpace, who have apprently experienced a major problem with one of their servers which has affected a wide variety of sites which they host.
"We understand the server has been reloaded at NativeSpace, and we will be seeing a return to normal service this morning.
"Apologies from us, and we will be taking this up with the NativeSpace when its all finished."
They say: "This is a problem with the Webspace company, NativeSpace, who have apprently experienced a major problem with one of their servers which has affected a wide variety of sites which they host.
"We understand the server has been reloaded at NativeSpace, and we will be seeing a return to normal service this morning.
"Apologies from us, and we will be taking this up with the NativeSpace when its all finished."
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Standards Committee - a lack of transparency
The choice of a community councils representative on the Neath Port Talbot standards committee came before full council on Thursday. But there was no real choice: it was pushed through without discussion on the council leader's say-so.
(Regular readers will remember that the standards committee has not actually met since last October, when the last external member left. The failure to recruit replacement external members since then has meant that a backlog of cases has built up. External volunteers have now been found, leaving the choice of a CC representative as the last piece in the jigsaw.)
There were three candidates for two posts: committee member, plus one reserve. The candidates were the town mayor for Neath (Labour); a nomination from Dyffryn Clydach CC (Plaid); and one from Coedffranc (Independent).
At the end of a session on possibly the hottest morning of the year so far, prolonged by a slide-show of a (mostly) positive review of the borough's social services followed by mutually laudatory speeches, members were understandably keen to get away for a spot of lunch.
So when council leader Derek Vaughan said that he knew all three candidates, but that clearly the mayor had to be the best, and that he thought that the Plaid community councillor should be reserve (not for the first time, apparently), Labour and Plaid members muttered "aye" and started putting their papers together.
It was left to Liberal Democrats to call "no" and vainly request a vote.
Three questions arise:
- why, when one Labour councillor declared an interest in knowing the unsuccessful candidate, did not the leader excuse himself? His recommended candidate was the mayor of his own community council;
- why should a man with no party affiliation (and, we are told, a respected former officer of both Port Talbot and Neath Port Talbot councils with 30 years of public service) be rejected out-of-hand for standards committee membership, where a non-party attitude is surely welcome?;
- why did not Plaid and the Independent group join the Liberal Democrats in calling for at least a vote on the matter?
It may be that the two successful candidates were genuinely the best. However, the manner in which they were chosen, without discussion or even the merest show of hands, must cast a slight shadow over their selection.
(Regular readers will remember that the standards committee has not actually met since last October, when the last external member left. The failure to recruit replacement external members since then has meant that a backlog of cases has built up. External volunteers have now been found, leaving the choice of a CC representative as the last piece in the jigsaw.)
There were three candidates for two posts: committee member, plus one reserve. The candidates were the town mayor for Neath (Labour); a nomination from Dyffryn Clydach CC (Plaid); and one from Coedffranc (Independent).
At the end of a session on possibly the hottest morning of the year so far, prolonged by a slide-show of a (mostly) positive review of the borough's social services followed by mutually laudatory speeches, members were understandably keen to get away for a spot of lunch.
So when council leader Derek Vaughan said that he knew all three candidates, but that clearly the mayor had to be the best, and that he thought that the Plaid community councillor should be reserve (not for the first time, apparently), Labour and Plaid members muttered "aye" and started putting their papers together.
It was left to Liberal Democrats to call "no" and vainly request a vote.
Three questions arise:
- why, when one Labour councillor declared an interest in knowing the unsuccessful candidate, did not the leader excuse himself? His recommended candidate was the mayor of his own community council;
- why should a man with no party affiliation (and, we are told, a respected former officer of both Port Talbot and Neath Port Talbot councils with 30 years of public service) be rejected out-of-hand for standards committee membership, where a non-party attitude is surely welcome?;
- why did not Plaid and the Independent group join the Liberal Democrats in calling for at least a vote on the matter?
It may be that the two successful candidates were genuinely the best. However, the manner in which they were chosen, without discussion or even the merest show of hands, must cast a slight shadow over their selection.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Tory knife plans would add penny on income tax - Huhne
The Conservatives’ plans to lock up young knife carriers would put a penny on the basic rate of income tax, according to Liberal Democrat research.
The Tories would have to lock up over 330,000 young people at a cost of £4.9 billion a year - a penny on the basic rate of income tax- if they want to follow through their pledge to imprison all young people carrying knives.
Tory leader David Cameron recently said: "If you are carrying a knife and you are caught, you should expect to go to prison. Plain, simple, clear."
The huge cost of the pledge is based on the £40,992 annual price of keeping a prisoner behind bars, on top of the cost of building the 100,000 thousand additional prison places that would be needed to house them all.
The Home Office’s 2006 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey reveal that 3% of 10 to 25 year olds admitted to carrying a knife in the past year, equivalent to 334,167 people.
The average sentence currently given to under 18s caught carrying a knife is 3.4 months. Based on this sentence, nearly 100,000 10 to 25 year olds would be behind bars at any one time. Housing these people alone would cost £3.8 billion.
The capital cost of building the 100,000 additional prison places (equivalent to 40 titan prisons) would mean an annual cost of £1.1 billion paying interest on the debt.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:
"These figures demonstrate just how little grip on reality David Cameron has. The Tories have been just as irresponsible in threatening prison as Labour has been in pledging hospital visits for offenders.
"By promising to imprison everyone who carries a knife, David Cameron appears to want to double the prison population which is already at record levels and the highest in Europe.
"These figures for knife-carrying also demonstrate the total failure of the Government to get a grip on the knife culture that exists in parts of this country.
"Instead of chasing headlines, Labour and the Tories need to come down to earth and forge a consensus on what works, such as hot-spot policing, intelligence-led stop and search, and restorative justice that brings offenders face to face with their own victims.
"The evidence shows the best way to cut crime is not by posturing on penalties but by increasing detection."
While knife crime is not as significant in South Wales as in English cities, the Cameron policy has implications for us. Over-filling English prisons would put pressure on Welsh gaols, leading to unchecked early releases and use of open prisons for inappropriate convicts.
Notes:
1. Using the survey figures given by the Home Office and the Government’s own population figures, it was estimated that 334,167 young people (10 to 25 year olds) carried a knife in the last year;
2. Young people and crime: findings from the 2006 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey;
3. Population figures taken from the Office for National Statistics;
4. Prison costs based on Howard League for Penal Reform estimate, based on a parliamentary answer;
5. If everyone who was caught carrying a knife was sentenced to prison for a year, then the cost to the public purse would be £13.6 billion. This figure comes from multiplying the total number (334,167) by the average cost of a prison place (£40,992). This is £13,698,173,664. This, however, assumes they are sentenced to an average of one year and does not take into account the cost of building extra prison places. The average sentence for possession of a knife or sharp instrument in a public place was 3.4 months for under-18s in 2006. 3.4 months is 28.33% of a year. On average, 28.33% of all 334,167 people would be in prison at any one time. That is 94,670 people. To house them would cost 94,670 x 40,992 = 3,880,712,640 (£3.9 billion).
6. The prison population is already at breaking point. There are not enough spaces available. The Government is already embarking on a huge building project. To house all the knife carriers the Tories want to, extra places would have to be built for them all. This would cost: a) 10,500 new places are going to cost £2.3 billion, Straw admitted to the Justice Select Committee. At that rate, 100,000 would cost 9.5238 times more. This is a total building cost: £21,904,761,904.76 (£22 billion);
7. The cost to the Government of borrowing the £22 billion required at the standard ten year bond rate of 4.9% would be £1.1 billion per annum.
8. As outlined above, the annual cost of keeping these people in prison would be £3.8 billion plus £1.1billion annual cost of the capital programme, totalling £4.9 billion.
The Tories would have to lock up over 330,000 young people at a cost of £4.9 billion a year - a penny on the basic rate of income tax- if they want to follow through their pledge to imprison all young people carrying knives.
Tory leader David Cameron recently said: "If you are carrying a knife and you are caught, you should expect to go to prison. Plain, simple, clear."
The huge cost of the pledge is based on the £40,992 annual price of keeping a prisoner behind bars, on top of the cost of building the 100,000 thousand additional prison places that would be needed to house them all.
The Home Office’s 2006 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey reveal that 3% of 10 to 25 year olds admitted to carrying a knife in the past year, equivalent to 334,167 people.
The average sentence currently given to under 18s caught carrying a knife is 3.4 months. Based on this sentence, nearly 100,000 10 to 25 year olds would be behind bars at any one time. Housing these people alone would cost £3.8 billion.
The capital cost of building the 100,000 additional prison places (equivalent to 40 titan prisons) would mean an annual cost of £1.1 billion paying interest on the debt.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:
"These figures demonstrate just how little grip on reality David Cameron has. The Tories have been just as irresponsible in threatening prison as Labour has been in pledging hospital visits for offenders.
"By promising to imprison everyone who carries a knife, David Cameron appears to want to double the prison population which is already at record levels and the highest in Europe.
"These figures for knife-carrying also demonstrate the total failure of the Government to get a grip on the knife culture that exists in parts of this country.
"Instead of chasing headlines, Labour and the Tories need to come down to earth and forge a consensus on what works, such as hot-spot policing, intelligence-led stop and search, and restorative justice that brings offenders face to face with their own victims.
"The evidence shows the best way to cut crime is not by posturing on penalties but by increasing detection."
While knife crime is not as significant in South Wales as in English cities, the Cameron policy has implications for us. Over-filling English prisons would put pressure on Welsh gaols, leading to unchecked early releases and use of open prisons for inappropriate convicts.
Notes:
1. Using the survey figures given by the Home Office and the Government’s own population figures, it was estimated that 334,167 young people (10 to 25 year olds) carried a knife in the last year;
2. Young people and crime: findings from the 2006 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey;
3. Population figures taken from the Office for National Statistics;
4. Prison costs based on Howard League for Penal Reform estimate, based on a parliamentary answer;
5. If everyone who was caught carrying a knife was sentenced to prison for a year, then the cost to the public purse would be £13.6 billion. This figure comes from multiplying the total number (334,167) by the average cost of a prison place (£40,992). This is £13,698,173,664. This, however, assumes they are sentenced to an average of one year and does not take into account the cost of building extra prison places. The average sentence for possession of a knife or sharp instrument in a public place was 3.4 months for under-18s in 2006. 3.4 months is 28.33% of a year. On average, 28.33% of all 334,167 people would be in prison at any one time. That is 94,670 people. To house them would cost 94,670 x 40,992 = 3,880,712,640 (£3.9 billion).
6. The prison population is already at breaking point. There are not enough spaces available. The Government is already embarking on a huge building project. To house all the knife carriers the Tories want to, extra places would have to be built for them all. This would cost: a) 10,500 new places are going to cost £2.3 billion, Straw admitted to the Justice Select Committee. At that rate, 100,000 would cost 9.5238 times more. This is a total building cost: £21,904,761,904.76 (£22 billion);
7. The cost to the Government of borrowing the £22 billion required at the standard ten year bond rate of 4.9% would be £1.1 billion per annum.
8. As outlined above, the annual cost of keeping these people in prison would be £3.8 billion plus £1.1billion annual cost of the capital programme, totalling £4.9 billion.
Police in too many fatal accidents - Baker
Commenting on the annual report of the Indpendent Police Complaints Commission, which revealed that 23 people were killed in collisions involving police vehicles last year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said:
"The IPCC is right to be concerned. Police vehicles are involved in too many fatal accidents, but it is not just a problem for the police.
"We need a thorough review of procedures for all emergency vehicles to ensure that other road users are not put in danger."
The report comes out just as a crash, which took the life of a Neath taxi driver, is reported to have involved a stolen car hotly pursued by a police vehicle.
"The IPCC is right to be concerned. Police vehicles are involved in too many fatal accidents, but it is not just a problem for the police.
"We need a thorough review of procedures for all emergency vehicles to ensure that other road users are not put in danger."
The report comes out just as a crash, which took the life of a Neath taxi driver, is reported to have involved a stolen car hotly pursued by a police vehicle.
Monday, July 21, 2008
The half-mill. hunt for missing HMRC discs
silicon.com reports that the taxpayer has been landed with a £473,544 bill for the hunt for the missing HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) data discs.
The Metropolitan Police Service mounted a months-long search for the data discs containing 25 million child benefit records after they went missing in October 2007.
The Metropolitan Police Service mounted a months-long search for the data discs containing 25 million child benefit records after they went missing in October 2007.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Ministers must implement Soham recommendations
Commenting on the news that recommendations made after the official inquiry into the Soham murders remain unimplemented, Liberal Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:
"Serious crime can only be tackled by cooperating with our EU neighbours.
"Ministers continually trumpet their record on deporting foreign criminals but no one can be sure how many have slipped through the net because of their failure to implement basic safeguards.
"Four years is an awfully long time in which to have made no progress on a number of Bichard’s recommendations, including a much needed common IT system."
"Serious crime can only be tackled by cooperating with our EU neighbours.
"Ministers continually trumpet their record on deporting foreign criminals but no one can be sure how many have slipped through the net because of their failure to implement basic safeguards.
"Four years is an awfully long time in which to have made no progress on a number of Bichard’s recommendations, including a much needed common IT system."
£14bn lost in tax credits
Almost £14bn has been lost though overpayments, fraud and error in tax credits since their introduction in 2003, analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.
Tax Credits fraud and error statistics released last week show that over
£4bn was lost in the last two years, taking the total lost through overpayments, fraud and error to £14bn.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Jenny Willott, MP for Cardiff Central, said:
"The tax credits system is so complex that it is abused by fraudsters, misunderstood by claimants and mismanaged by officials.
"The amount lost through overpayments, fraud and error is now over £13bn and likely to keep on rising if changes are not made.
"Not only are costs spiralling, but families are riding a financial rollercoaster when they are forced to pay for mistakes made by officials who can’t understand the system themselves.
"Tax credits must be made simpler - we need to return to fixed awards which are easy to administer and ensure families aren’t burdened with overpayments."
Tax Credits fraud and error statistics released last week show that over
£4bn was lost in the last two years, taking the total lost through overpayments, fraud and error to £14bn.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Jenny Willott, MP for Cardiff Central, said:
"The tax credits system is so complex that it is abused by fraudsters, misunderstood by claimants and mismanaged by officials.
"The amount lost through overpayments, fraud and error is now over £13bn and likely to keep on rising if changes are not made.
"Not only are costs spiralling, but families are riding a financial rollercoaster when they are forced to pay for mistakes made by officials who can’t understand the system themselves.
"Tax credits must be made simpler - we need to return to fixed awards which are easy to administer and ensure families aren’t burdened with overpayments."
Friday, July 18, 2008
Yet more revelations of confidential data leaks
On top of their admission that their staff had over the last four years had lost 347 laptops, containing official information, the Ministry of Defence has now revealed that over 100 flash memory devices have been taken off MoD premises and mislaid. The story and Sarah Teather's response are here.
It is all very well to say that commercial organisations have been just as careless with data (which they were - see previous stories on this blog), but government servants have an extra duty of care towards personal data. The MoD, which has sensitive data relating to our security, and that of our forces, has even more responsibility.
It is all very well to say that commercial organisations have been just as careless with data (which they were - see previous stories on this blog), but government servants have an extra duty of care towards personal data. The MoD, which has sensitive data relating to our security, and that of our forces, has even more responsibility.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Welsh NHS has leaked confidential data
There is a summary on the BBC news site.
What is particularly disturbing is the carelessness with which information about children at risk has been treated.
What is particularly disturbing is the carelessness with which information about children at risk has been treated.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Fuel poverty - the PM still hasn't got the message
Nick Clegg unapologetically returned to the question of fuel poverty at Prime Minister's Questions today. The only thing that seems to have changed since he quizzed the PM in June, is that Gordon Brown announced he was meeting a Saudi prince this afternoon.
[Later] The interchanges are here. One should note that Gordon Brown actually doubled the income tax rate for the poorest tax-payers, while Liberal Democrat policy has long been to take the 10% taxpayers out of taxation altogether.
[Later] The interchanges are here. One should note that Gordon Brown actually doubled the income tax rate for the poorest tax-payers, while Liberal Democrat policy has long been to take the 10% taxpayers out of taxation altogether.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Liberal Democrats launch proposals to tackle youth crime
The main proposals contained in Chris Huhne's paper, "A Life Away From Crime", launched yesterday, include:
* The creation of a Youth Volunteer Force, to engage with young people, involve them in community projects and give them skills to benefit them in later life
* Establish Community Justice Panels across the country, where offenders admit their guilt to the community and agree on a Positive Behaviour Order as a course of action
* Create a dedicated PCSO youth officer within every Safer Neighbourhood Team to identify and work with teenagers most at risk of offending
* 10,000 more police on the streets by scrapping the ID cards scheme
* Intelligence-led stop and search and ‘hot spot policing’ targeted at gun and knife crime
* Restorative justice programs to be run in every community, specifically targeted at early intervention with widespread use in schools and care homes
More details, and a link to the full paper, can be obtained by clicking the heading to this post.
* The creation of a Youth Volunteer Force, to engage with young people, involve them in community projects and give them skills to benefit them in later life
* Establish Community Justice Panels across the country, where offenders admit their guilt to the community and agree on a Positive Behaviour Order as a course of action
* Create a dedicated PCSO youth officer within every Safer Neighbourhood Team to identify and work with teenagers most at risk of offending
* 10,000 more police on the streets by scrapping the ID cards scheme
* Intelligence-led stop and search and ‘hot spot policing’ targeted at gun and knife crime
* Restorative justice programs to be run in every community, specifically targeted at early intervention with widespread use in schools and care homes
More details, and a link to the full paper, can be obtained by clicking the heading to this post.
£200m tenant tax is scandalous
Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister Lembit Opik has obtained figures which show that the Government is planning to keep nearly £200m of council tenants’ rent this year.
Every year, the Treasury decides how much local authorities need to spend on new homes and maintaining council houses. Those it deems to take more in rent than they need to spend pay a ‘negative subsidy’ to the Treasury, which is then redistributed to authorities in greater need.
However, this year the Treasury is collecting £195,816,938 more than it is redistributing. This extra money will remain with the exchequer and will not be spent on council housing.
Yesterday, Lembit said:
"It is scandalous that when council tenants are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet, the Government is pocketing £200m of their rent.
"After the 10p tax debacle, higher road tax on older cars and now a massive tenant tax, it’s clear that this is a Government that is prepared to take from those who can least afford it just to balance its own books.
"The tax on tenants is preventing councils from investing in their housing stock, and crucially, building new homes for the 1.67 million families on social housing waiting lists. It’s time to scrap the tenant tax."
The predicted surplus of nearly £200m was revealed in a Parliamentary
answer, which is available here.
This negative subsidy reduces the amount of investment that local
authorities can make in their housing, both on repairs and on building
new social homes to rent. Local authorities have been forced to sell
houses in order to raise the funds for vital improvements because of this
negative subsidy.
2008/09 is the first year since 2000/01 that the Treasury has made a
surplus from negative subisidies, as revealed here.
2008/09 figures for negative subsidies broken down by local authority
are available here.
The above figures are for England only, but the same thing has been happening in Wales. Neath Port Talbot council, for instance, has been the "beneficiary" of negative subsidy. This all makes the forthcoming Neath Port Talbot councillors' seminar on the Welsh Housing Quality Standard even more interesting.
Every year, the Treasury decides how much local authorities need to spend on new homes and maintaining council houses. Those it deems to take more in rent than they need to spend pay a ‘negative subsidy’ to the Treasury, which is then redistributed to authorities in greater need.
However, this year the Treasury is collecting £195,816,938 more than it is redistributing. This extra money will remain with the exchequer and will not be spent on council housing.
Yesterday, Lembit said:
"It is scandalous that when council tenants are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet, the Government is pocketing £200m of their rent.
"After the 10p tax debacle, higher road tax on older cars and now a massive tenant tax, it’s clear that this is a Government that is prepared to take from those who can least afford it just to balance its own books.
"The tax on tenants is preventing councils from investing in their housing stock, and crucially, building new homes for the 1.67 million families on social housing waiting lists. It’s time to scrap the tenant tax."
The predicted surplus of nearly £200m was revealed in a Parliamentary
answer, which is available here.
This negative subsidy reduces the amount of investment that local
authorities can make in their housing, both on repairs and on building
new social homes to rent. Local authorities have been forced to sell
houses in order to raise the funds for vital improvements because of this
negative subsidy.
2008/09 is the first year since 2000/01 that the Treasury has made a
surplus from negative subisidies, as revealed here.
2008/09 figures for negative subsidies broken down by local authority
are available here.
The above figures are for England only, but the same thing has been happening in Wales. Neath Port Talbot council, for instance, has been the "beneficiary" of negative subsidy. This all makes the forthcoming Neath Port Talbot councillors' seminar on the Welsh Housing Quality Standard even more interesting.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sentences must be set by judges not accountants
That was Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson David Howarth's response to the report last week by theSentencing Commission Working group.
He went on: "The commission is right to reject rigid US-style sentencing grids in favour of improving the current system of guidelines.
"There are better ways of co-ordinating the resources going into prisons and community sentences than the government simply telling judges how to decide individual cases.
"Britain needs an independent agency to assess what works, and which feeds its results both into Government spending decisions and the sentencing guidelines.
"This will lead to automatic co-ordination without each side telling the other how to do its job."
He went on: "The commission is right to reject rigid US-style sentencing grids in favour of improving the current system of guidelines.
"There are better ways of co-ordinating the resources going into prisons and community sentences than the government simply telling judges how to decide individual cases.
"Britain needs an independent agency to assess what works, and which feeds its results both into Government spending decisions and the sentencing guidelines.
"This will lead to automatic co-ordination without each side telling the other how to do its job."
Local authorities left defenceless by Government - Goldsworthy
Commenting on Hazel Blears’ announcement that new guidelines will be introduced to curb out-of-town superstores, Liberal Democrat Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, Julia Goldsworthy said:
"With centralised public services and widespread post office closures, this is a Government that has presided over the death of the high street and the degradation of village and town centres.
"Local authorities need back-up from the Government to support their fight to save their town centres.
"But this Government’s poor track record means it has a lot of work to do before anyone will believe that this will not just leave local authorities defenceless."
"With centralised public services and widespread post office closures, this is a Government that has presided over the death of the high street and the degradation of village and town centres.
"Local authorities need back-up from the Government to support their fight to save their town centres.
"But this Government’s poor track record means it has a lot of work to do before anyone will believe that this will not just leave local authorities defenceless."
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Flood insurance must cover those at most risk - Webb
Commenting on the announcement that insurers have agreed to cover households with a flood risk of up to one-in-75 years, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Steve Webb said:
"It is all very well making insurance available, but it must be affordable to people living in the most vulnerable homes.
"Even when people can get insurance they may be asked to pay large chunks of the cost of claims themselves.
"Every year, more and more people move up the flood risk scale. When only those whose homes are up to a one in 75 year flood risk can get cover, what happens to the growing number of households at a higher risk?"
"It is all very well making insurance available, but it must be affordable to people living in the most vulnerable homes.
"Even when people can get insurance they may be asked to pay large chunks of the cost of claims themselves.
"Every year, more and more people move up the flood risk scale. When only those whose homes are up to a one in 75 year flood risk can get cover, what happens to the growing number of households at a higher risk?"
Friday, July 11, 2008
Peter Black slams unrealistic housing targets
The letter in today's Western Mail by South Wales West AM, Liberal Democrat Peter Black, not only exposes divisions in Plaid, but also criticises the Plaid/Labour coalition plan for 6,500 new affordable homes by 2011 as unrealistic.
He concludes: "It demonstrates the danger of setting arbitrary targets when a measurable and precise action plan would be far more efficacious."
He concludes: "It demonstrates the danger of setting arbitrary targets when a measurable and precise action plan would be far more efficacious."
Olympic legacy - even English tourism will suffer
Last Thursday, the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport reported on tourism.
Our shadow minister, Don Foster, said:
"This is a damning indictment of the Government’s approach to tourism since 1997.
"Lack of investment in the industry has led to Britain’s share of the global tourism market falling.
"Ministers have got to support the industry with more than just words if they are serious about making tourism a key part of the 2012 Olympic legacy."
Wales has its own tourist organisation, which is now an arm of government after the "bonfire of the quangos". There was already minimal potential spin-off from the Olympics for us, but there are things that central government can do to encourage visitors to extend their stay into Wales (and the regions of England, for that matter) - for instance, maintaining transport links and the post office network.
Our shadow minister, Don Foster, said:
"This is a damning indictment of the Government’s approach to tourism since 1997.
"Lack of investment in the industry has led to Britain’s share of the global tourism market falling.
"Ministers have got to support the industry with more than just words if they are serious about making tourism a key part of the 2012 Olympic legacy."
Wales has its own tourist organisation, which is now an arm of government after the "bonfire of the quangos". There was already minimal potential spin-off from the Olympics for us, but there are things that central government can do to encourage visitors to extend their stay into Wales (and the regions of England, for that matter) - for instance, maintaining transport links and the post office network.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Nuclear clean-up bill massive and still rising
Responding to the Public Accounts Committee report into the cost of nuclear decommissioning, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Steve Webb said:
"The cost of nuclear clean-up is massive and still rapidly rising. It is extraordinary that estimates of the cost of clean-up seem to increase by billions of pounds with almost no public scrutiny or comment.
"The biggest single cost of the Department for Business is not supporting British business, but cleaning up nuclear waste.
"The Government must urgently provide certainty about the costs of cleaning up yesterday’s waste, and guarantees that the taxpayer will not end up footing the bill for new nuclear waste."
"The cost of nuclear clean-up is massive and still rapidly rising. It is extraordinary that estimates of the cost of clean-up seem to increase by billions of pounds with almost no public scrutiny or comment.
"The biggest single cost of the Department for Business is not supporting British business, but cleaning up nuclear waste.
"The Government must urgently provide certainty about the costs of cleaning up yesterday’s waste, and guarantees that the taxpayer will not end up footing the bill for new nuclear waste."
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Climate change is bigger than any one political party - Webb
Commenting on the growing Labour rebellion over the Climate Change Bill, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Steve Webb said:
"Climate change is bigger than any one political party, so support for the Liberal Democrat campaign for an 80% cut by 2050 is welcomed wherever it comes from.
"The Government has got the emissions target wrong and once again it looks like its own backbench MPs will have to rebel to get ministers to do the right thing.
"Both Gordon Brown and David Cameron must come off the fence on this issue. By allowing his Tories to constantly abstain David Cameron is showing how hollow his green credentials really are.
"The Climate Change Bill is too important to be watered down. The Liberal Democrats will be tabling an amendment today to make sure there will be a vote on the 80% target."
Coincidentally, figures released this week by the RAC, show that the cost of motoring has fallen in real terms in the UK since 1988. This puts David Cameron's call for a reduction in fuel duty into perspective.
"Climate change is bigger than any one political party, so support for the Liberal Democrat campaign for an 80% cut by 2050 is welcomed wherever it comes from.
"The Government has got the emissions target wrong and once again it looks like its own backbench MPs will have to rebel to get ministers to do the right thing.
"Both Gordon Brown and David Cameron must come off the fence on this issue. By allowing his Tories to constantly abstain David Cameron is showing how hollow his green credentials really are.
"The Climate Change Bill is too important to be watered down. The Liberal Democrats will be tabling an amendment today to make sure there will be a vote on the 80% target."
Coincidentally, figures released this week by the RAC, show that the cost of motoring has fallen in real terms in the UK since 1988. This puts David Cameron's call for a reduction in fuel duty into perspective.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Imprisonment of children for breaching ASBOs must stop - Huhne
Nearly half of children who breach their ASBO are sent to prison, with the average sentence they receive being significantly longer than adults who break their ASBO, according to figures revealed by the Liberal Democrats.
The figures, contained in a Parliamentary Answer, showed how:
· Nearly 1,000 (986) children were sent to prison for breaching an ASBO between 2000 and 2006
· 42% of all children who breached an ASBO were sent to prison
· The average sentence given to them was 6.4 months
· The average sentence given to adults who breached an ASBO was just 4.9 months
· The number of children in prison in July 1997 was 2,643. By July 2007, this figure was 3,013 (in April 2008 that figure was 3,012). This is a 14% increase since Labour came to power
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:
"Huge amounts of money have been thrown at the system but youth crime remains stable, re-offending rates ludicrously high and fear of crime higher still.
"The last decade has seen an ever increasing criminalisation of our young people. More and more of them are being dragged through the system and being locked up.
"The demonisation of young people by politicians and the media has fuelled the fear of crime, and ASBOs have played a massive part. It has got to stop.
"It is totally unacceptable to send a single child to prison for breaching an ASBO, let alone the 1,000 children who have been sent to prison. Children are being sent to jail for longer than adults who breach ASBOs."
Notes:
1. Statistics taken from Crime Reduction Website
2. Children in custody figures from 2007/08
3. Children in custody figures from 1997
The figures, contained in a Parliamentary Answer, showed how:
· Nearly 1,000 (986) children were sent to prison for breaching an ASBO between 2000 and 2006
· 42% of all children who breached an ASBO were sent to prison
· The average sentence given to them was 6.4 months
· The average sentence given to adults who breached an ASBO was just 4.9 months
· The number of children in prison in July 1997 was 2,643. By July 2007, this figure was 3,013 (in April 2008 that figure was 3,012). This is a 14% increase since Labour came to power
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:
"Huge amounts of money have been thrown at the system but youth crime remains stable, re-offending rates ludicrously high and fear of crime higher still.
"The last decade has seen an ever increasing criminalisation of our young people. More and more of them are being dragged through the system and being locked up.
"The demonisation of young people by politicians and the media has fuelled the fear of crime, and ASBOs have played a massive part. It has got to stop.
"It is totally unacceptable to send a single child to prison for breaching an ASBO, let alone the 1,000 children who have been sent to prison. Children are being sent to jail for longer than adults who breach ASBOs."
Notes:
1. Statistics taken from Crime Reduction Website
2. Children in custody figures from 2007/08
3. Children in custody figures from 1997
Clegg to implement MEC proposals on MPs expenses
Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg, has today committed to unilaterally introduce the recommendations of the Members Estimates Committee for independent spot checks of MPs expenses.
Despite Labour and Conservative MPs defeating the MEC’s recommendations last Thursday, the Liberal Democrats will go ahead with implementing those that are relevant in order to further improve accountability.
Nick Clegg said:
"The Liberal Democrats will now implement as many of the recommendations as we can to tighten up the rules on MPs expenses - particularly those relating to spot checks of MPs expense claims.
"My Shadow Cabinet will shortly be publishing quarterly breakdowns of their expenses and I expect this to be the first of several measures to greatly improve how we account for ourselves.
"I hope that Gordon Brown and David Cameron will join me in implementing these measures so that together we can begin to restore public confidence in politicians after what has been a very damaging week."
The steps will include:
· Working with the Institute of Chartered Accountants to draw up detailed proposals to implement spot checks of expenses for Liberal Democrat MPs. The Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, Paul Burstow, will be meeting with the Institute of Chartered Accountants shortly to discuss these issues.
· Establishing an independently chaired Audit Board for the Party to oversee issues of probity and integrity.
· Publishing a detailed breakdown of expenses of all Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet members.
Despite Labour and Conservative MPs defeating the MEC’s recommendations last Thursday, the Liberal Democrats will go ahead with implementing those that are relevant in order to further improve accountability.
Nick Clegg said:
"The Liberal Democrats will now implement as many of the recommendations as we can to tighten up the rules on MPs expenses - particularly those relating to spot checks of MPs expense claims.
"My Shadow Cabinet will shortly be publishing quarterly breakdowns of their expenses and I expect this to be the first of several measures to greatly improve how we account for ourselves.
"I hope that Gordon Brown and David Cameron will join me in implementing these measures so that together we can begin to restore public confidence in politicians after what has been a very damaging week."
The steps will include:
· Working with the Institute of Chartered Accountants to draw up detailed proposals to implement spot checks of expenses for Liberal Democrat MPs. The Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, Paul Burstow, will be meeting with the Institute of Chartered Accountants shortly to discuss these issues.
· Establishing an independently chaired Audit Board for the Party to oversee issues of probity and integrity.
· Publishing a detailed breakdown of expenses of all Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet members.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Government facing fines for delayed battery boxes
Battery collection boxes due for every home have been delayed by the Government, leaving Britain facing fines of millions of pounds.
Britain signed up to the EU Batteries Directive in 2006 in a bid to boost recycling and halt the leaching of acid from old batteries into soil and water.
The UK will have to collect a minimum of 7,500 tonnes of portable batteries for recycling by 2012 to meet its European targets - but last year collected just 600 tonnes.
Britain recycles just three per cent of batteries, compared with 14 per cent in Spain and 59 per cent in Belgium. Battery collection boxes are a familiar sight in offices across Brussels but are almost entirely absent in Britain. Only industrial and vehicles batteries are recycled in the UK at present because they have a significant commercial value.
By September next year the law requires that batteries handed in for recycling must be treated and processed using the most up-to-date technology. By 2012, some 25 per cent of all batteries are due to be recycled. Although there are a handful of plants capable of processing the steel cases of batteries there are none here that can deal with the hazardous chemicals they contain.
So far the government has carried out only pilot studies, and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has cast doubt on whether the final regulations will be in place by the deadline later this year.
If ministers fail to meet the 2012 targets Britain could face daily fines - and a repetition of the 2002 fiasco when fridge recycling facilities were not set up in time to meet the legal requirements.
Chris Davies, the Liberal Democrat environment spokesman in the European Parliament, said there was no excuse for the delays.
He said: "The government does not have to reinvent the wheel. Best practice in countries such as Belgium can provide a model of how to implement battery recycling in the UK."
"Batteries are full of toxic and carcinogenic materials. There are few other household products that, if left in appliances for too long, decay before our eyes and weep acid that can burn severely.
"Britain is being forced at long last to catch up with best European recycling practice and put an end to the mentality of 'out of sight, out of mind' when it comes to waste materials."
Iron, nickel and silver can all be recovered from recycled household batteries which might otherwise contaminate soil and groundwater. Incineration of incinerated batteries can release toxins and heavy metals into the atmosphere.
The "best refuse-collection service in Britain" doesn't make things easy to recycle batteries, either. Neath Port Talbot collects batteries, but only in a few centres to which the batteries have to be taken, and the council does not advertise the facility.
Britain signed up to the EU Batteries Directive in 2006 in a bid to boost recycling and halt the leaching of acid from old batteries into soil and water.
The UK will have to collect a minimum of 7,500 tonnes of portable batteries for recycling by 2012 to meet its European targets - but last year collected just 600 tonnes.
Britain recycles just three per cent of batteries, compared with 14 per cent in Spain and 59 per cent in Belgium. Battery collection boxes are a familiar sight in offices across Brussels but are almost entirely absent in Britain. Only industrial and vehicles batteries are recycled in the UK at present because they have a significant commercial value.
By September next year the law requires that batteries handed in for recycling must be treated and processed using the most up-to-date technology. By 2012, some 25 per cent of all batteries are due to be recycled. Although there are a handful of plants capable of processing the steel cases of batteries there are none here that can deal with the hazardous chemicals they contain.
So far the government has carried out only pilot studies, and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has cast doubt on whether the final regulations will be in place by the deadline later this year.
If ministers fail to meet the 2012 targets Britain could face daily fines - and a repetition of the 2002 fiasco when fridge recycling facilities were not set up in time to meet the legal requirements.
Chris Davies, the Liberal Democrat environment spokesman in the European Parliament, said there was no excuse for the delays.
He said: "The government does not have to reinvent the wheel. Best practice in countries such as Belgium can provide a model of how to implement battery recycling in the UK."
"Batteries are full of toxic and carcinogenic materials. There are few other household products that, if left in appliances for too long, decay before our eyes and weep acid that can burn severely.
"Britain is being forced at long last to catch up with best European recycling practice and put an end to the mentality of 'out of sight, out of mind' when it comes to waste materials."
Iron, nickel and silver can all be recovered from recycled household batteries which might otherwise contaminate soil and groundwater. Incineration of incinerated batteries can release toxins and heavy metals into the atmosphere.
The "best refuse-collection service in Britain" doesn't make things easy to recycle batteries, either. Neath Port Talbot collects batteries, but only in a few centres to which the batteries have to be taken, and the council does not advertise the facility.
Cell phone masts
On 25th June, Liberal Democrat MP Andrew Stunell moved an amendment to the Planning Bill which, if passed, would have required full planning permission for the erection of phone masts up to 15 metres in height. The amendment was rejected by Labour and therefore defeated. The Conservatives have a manifesto commitment to introduce this planning requirement but despite this, they abstained.
Safety fears have been scientifically debunked, but there is no doubt that phone masts are visually obtrusive. As such, they should be brought within the legislation. We condemn Labour intransigence and Tory hypocrisy over this issue.
Safety fears have been scientifically debunked, but there is no doubt that phone masts are visually obtrusive. As such, they should be brought within the legislation. We condemn Labour intransigence and Tory hypocrisy over this issue.
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