Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 by aldcadmin
At the launch of the new Draft Bill on energy, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey, writes:
Over the next decade, around a fifth of existing power plants are due to close, against a background of increased energy demand and increasing prices. We need new investment simply to keep the lights on.
But more than that, we need a clean energy revolution to meet our ambitious climate change goals and make this the greenest government ever.
That’s why I am bringing forward a new Energy Bill today.
You can read more about our clean energy revolution here.
We also need to transform our energy market to reduce the risk and cost of low carbon technologies.
That’s what our Bill does.
The UK is fast becoming a world leader in renewable energy, especially in off shore wind. I want us to lead the world in Carbon Capture and Storage too.
And we are also tackling rising energy bills. Without reforming the energy market bills will rise by around £200 in the coming years. Our reforms will mean bills are around 4% lower than they otherwise would have been.
Going green is good for the economy, good for Britain and good for you.
Yours,
Ed Davey MP
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
(Image licensed under Creative Commons from DECC)
May 18th, 2012 by sadiesmith
Comment?
Tomorrow is the third Saturday in the month. So Sadie will be at Great Barr Library in the morning between 10.30 and 11.30. In the adult library.
Available for advice, discussion.
May 17th, 2012 by sadiesmith
Comment?
Sadie Smith and her colleague David Fisher will continue to hold a ‘surgery’ at Great Barr Library.
Initially we will continue with the third Saturday and run them from 10.30-11.30.
Residents from both Great Barr and Newton wards are very welcome. And, as always, we will work with Cllr colleagues in the adjacent area of Birmingham.
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 by aldcadmin
For me, nothing better illustrates the Liberal Democrat mission to make Britain a fairer place than our Pupil Premium: extra money for the most disadvantaged children in our schools.
We are letting schools decide the best way to spend this money. I want to strike a deal with our schools and teachers: we’ll give you the cash, the freedom, and we’ll reward and celebrate your success. But in return, we want you to redouble your efforts to close the gap between your poorer pupils and everyone else. We won’t be telling you what to do; but we will be watching what you achieve.
(Click picture to play video)
It is shameful that, despite all the promise on a four or five year old’s first day at school, or the passion of their teachers, you can all too often plot that child’s path just by asking how much their parents earn.
The £2.5billion Pupil Premium was one of the four pledges on the front page of our manifesto. And now, with Liberal Democrats in government, schools are using the money for things like breakfast clubs; homework clubs; or to provide one-to-one-tuition. These are the sort of experiences many middle class children take for granted but a poorer child might rarely enjoy.
Yesterday I visited a fantastic primary school to see how they are spending their Pupil Premium, highlight our new Summer Schools to ease the transition from primary to secondary, and to set out our plans to reward teachers and hold schools to account.
The Pupil Premium shows that, in tough times, we are implementing Liberal Democrat values and prioritising help for those pupils who need it most.
Best wishes,
Nick Clegg MP
Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister
PS Click here to find out how much money your local school will receive from the Liberal Democrats’ Pupil Premium.
May 10th, 2012 by sadiesmith
Comment?
I suppose I should not be surprised that Serco know nothing about the alleys linking the Grove, Birminghan Rd and Chapel Lane.
They are rights of way. Done by Aldridge, not West Bromwich, so the system was not screwed up years ago.
Declining to do repairs or clean up the alleys.
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 by aldcadmin
This week, Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat minister at the Department of Health) has launched a national £4 million lung cancer awareness campaign. The campaign, the first of its kind, will use TV, radio and press adverts, and advertising on pharmacist bags and inside GP surgeries, to raise awareness of the disease.
One of its aims is to persuade anyone who has had a cough for more than three weeks to see their doctor.
You can find more information about coughing and lung cancer at the Department of Health website, here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/05/coughing-could-be-a-sign-of-lung-cancer-2/
With 33,000 new cases diagnosed each year, lung cancer is a blight on the lives of far too many of our families and an early diagnosis can make all the difference. Please take the opportunity of the Be Clear on Cancer campaign to find out more about prevention and diagnosis, and to visit your local doctor if you’ve had a persistent cough – it is always better to be safe than sorry!
http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/tag/be-clear-on-cancer/
