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.
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Thursday, July 17, 2008
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.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Assembly Member to hold surgery in Port Talbot
The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black, will be holding two of his regular advice surgeries in the first week of July.
Mr. Black will be in Port Talbot Central Library on Friday 4th July from 3pm to 4pm. He will then be available at Porthcawl Library from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.
No appointment is necessary.
Mr. Black will be in Port Talbot Central Library on Friday 4th July from 3pm to 4pm. He will then be available at Porthcawl Library from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.
No appointment is necessary.
Welsh sport loses lottery money to Olympics
Just over a year ago, Peter Black wrote of a possible slicing of £24 million from lottery funding for sport and good causes in Wales.
Now it looks as if the shortfall on Welsh sport alone is going to be more like £60 million. Likely to suffer are such charitable sporting funds as the Community Chest. This is administered in Neath Port Talbot by the county borough council on behalf of the Sports Council for Wales.
In the past, the Community Chest has provided grants up to £1000 each to organisations fro activities which encourage more people to be more active, more often. The council has yet to find out how it can budget for the scheme for the next three years.
Now it looks as if the shortfall on Welsh sport alone is going to be more like £60 million. Likely to suffer are such charitable sporting funds as the Community Chest. This is administered in Neath Port Talbot by the county borough council on behalf of the Sports Council for Wales.
In the past, the Community Chest has provided grants up to £1000 each to organisations fro activities which encourage more people to be more active, more often. The council has yet to find out how it can budget for the scheme for the next three years.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Darling faces £5bn stamp duty hangover - Oakeshott
The Treasury is heading for a £5bn Stamp Duty shortfall due to falling property prices, new research by the Liberal Democrats has found.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson, Lord Oakeshott said:
"Gordon Brown let Britain’s house party get out of control. Now Alistair Darling has been left with a £5bn Stamp Duty hangover.
"The Chancellor had hardly sat down on Budget Day before the housing market fell off a cliff in early April.
"Britain’s mortgage famine, after the wild feast led by Northern Rock, means most house sales are now forced and at knock-down prices. In this horrible market you only sell if you have to.
"Commercial property transactions have halved this year and prices are down 15%."
Today, there was further confirmation of a fall in house sales and news that the average price of a home in Wales had fallen to £137,000.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson, Lord Oakeshott said:
"Gordon Brown let Britain’s house party get out of control. Now Alistair Darling has been left with a £5bn Stamp Duty hangover.
"The Chancellor had hardly sat down on Budget Day before the housing market fell off a cliff in early April.
"Britain’s mortgage famine, after the wild feast led by Northern Rock, means most house sales are now forced and at knock-down prices. In this horrible market you only sell if you have to.
"Commercial property transactions have halved this year and prices are down 15%."
Today, there was further confirmation of a fall in house sales and news that the average price of a home in Wales had fallen to £137,000.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Less tough talk and more delivery needed in justice system
Last Wednesday (18 June), Louise Casey (an adviser to former Prime Minister Tony Blair) delivered to the present PM a review of the criminal justice system. She also went public on it here.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:
"Louise Casey’s tough-talking policies on anti-social behaviour have failed, so why should we take her seriously again?
"If public humiliation worked, we would never have abolished the village stocks.
"We need fewer gimmicks and more delivery: the probation service is over-loaded and unable to properly supervise community sentences.
"Community courts, which would give local people control over punishments, and restorative justice to confront criminals with the consequences of their crimes and with victims. Above all, we need to do what works, and not just posture on penalties."
A day before, at First Minister's Questions, Jenny Randerson (LibDem AM for Cardiff Central) had asked: "Are you aware, First Minister, that, since August 2006, the ASBO process has been used over 1154 times in Cardiff, and will you join me and the Chief Constable, who has commended the way the ASBO process has been used in Cardiff involving close cooperation between the council and the police. Following your party's disastrous local election results, do you regret the way you and your party chose to insult the intelligence of the people of Cardiff by trying to claim that the Liberal Democrats had refused to tackle anti-social behaviour?"
Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:
"Louise Casey’s tough-talking policies on anti-social behaviour have failed, so why should we take her seriously again?
"If public humiliation worked, we would never have abolished the village stocks.
"We need fewer gimmicks and more delivery: the probation service is over-loaded and unable to properly supervise community sentences.
"Community courts, which would give local people control over punishments, and restorative justice to confront criminals with the consequences of their crimes and with victims. Above all, we need to do what works, and not just posture on penalties."
A day before, at First Minister's Questions, Jenny Randerson (LibDem AM for Cardiff Central) had asked: "Are you aware, First Minister, that, since August 2006, the ASBO process has been used over 1154 times in Cardiff, and will you join me and the Chief Constable, who has commended the way the ASBO process has been used in Cardiff involving close cooperation between the council and the police. Following your party's disastrous local election results, do you regret the way you and your party chose to insult the intelligence of the people of Cardiff by trying to claim that the Liberal Democrats had refused to tackle anti-social behaviour?"
Belated Rock investigation welcome - Cable
Commenting on Northern Rock’s confirmation that its new management has launched an investigation into the possibility of taking legal action against the bank’s former board, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said:
"Though belated, this investigation is very welcome. The Liberal Democrats have long argued that the previous board must be held to account, particularly former chief executive Adam Applegarth.
"It is ridiculous that Mr Applegarth has been able to spend the last six months whiling away the hours on his £63,000 a month redundancy package, without any investigation into how he got Northern Rock into this mess.
"It is essential that this investigation is also extended to Northern Rock’s auditors, who must be held to account for their gross oversights.
"Northern Rock Chairman Ron Sandler must ensure no one from the previous administration is allowed to duck the responsibility they hold for the run on Northern Rock."
"Though belated, this investigation is very welcome. The Liberal Democrats have long argued that the previous board must be held to account, particularly former chief executive Adam Applegarth.
"It is ridiculous that Mr Applegarth has been able to spend the last six months whiling away the hours on his £63,000 a month redundancy package, without any investigation into how he got Northern Rock into this mess.
"It is essential that this investigation is also extended to Northern Rock’s auditors, who must be held to account for their gross oversights.
"Northern Rock Chairman Ron Sandler must ensure no one from the previous administration is allowed to duck the responsibility they hold for the run on Northern Rock."
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