PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN JUSTICE SYSTEM SHATTERED BY GOVERNMENT - HOWARTH

Commenting on the results of a MORI poll for the Ministry of Justice, which shows that 70% of people lack confidence in the justice system, Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, David Howarth said: “Public confidence in the justice system has been shattered by the Government promoting what sounds tough rather than what works to make us safer."

"It is refreshing to see ministers focusing on community penalties, which we know work to reduce crime, as opposed to piling ever more people into prisons. But more than just talk is needed.

"We have yet to see much evidence that the Government is genuinely committed to the principles of restorative justice. That means putting victims at the heart of the criminal justice system and making sure that offenders pay back to them personally."

NICK CLEGG SEEKS URGENT MEETING WITH BROWN AND CAMERON TO OVERHAUL MPS’ EXPENSES

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has today written to Gordon Brown and David Cameron seeking an urgent meeting to reform the system of MPs’ expenses.
The full text of the letter is below:

I am writing to you to propose that our parties work together to agree an urgent overhaul of MPs' expenses. The recent scandals make it clear we cannot continue with the current system any longer.

The upcoming inquiry by the Committee on Standards in Public Life will not report this side of a general election. This is far too long to wait. We owe it to the citizens of this country to ensure a fair deal for taxpayers before then.

The move to a principles-based expenses system is welcome but I believe several further reforms are needed to rebuild public confidence. Two in particular would be achievable immediately. First, in the name of transparency, every penny of public money claimed by MPs should only be reimbursed on production of a receipt: taxpayers have the right to know how their money is being spent. Second, the present rules on second homes are incomprehensible to millions of people who have to commute each day: no London MP should be able to claim for a second home.

I know that, by tradition and convention, these matters are dealt with by the House independently of party leaders. I believe passionately in the rights of the Commons, but our fellow citizens' faith in politics is more important still. For the sake of restoring trust, we need to show political leadership, and act as party leaders to clean up the expenses regime once and for all. This is not a matter for party political point scoring: we must act together or all politicians will find themselves condemned by public opinion.

I therefore propose that we meet at your earliest convenience to agree a way forward. I have laid out my proposals, but I would of course welcome your ideas of other ways in which we can improve the system. I look forward to hearing from you.

MENTAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS SAME GUARANTEES AS OTHER NHS SERVICES - LAMB

Commenting on two Healthcare Commission reports published today [Tuesday], which find failings in the provision of adult mental health care, and that older people are often excluded from services available to younger people, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said: “Mental health care continues to be a Cinderella service. It suffers from being denied the same guarantees of access that other health services enjoy."

"The failings in mental health treatment for young adults are bad enough. But it is absolutely intolerable that age discrimination is allowed to exist in the NHS.

"

Liberal Democrats would address the current failings in the provision of mental health services, and ensure that patients are entitled to treatment within 13 weeks."

EAST MARSH INVOLVE – MARCH MEETING

Today, I have been out and about in East Marsh delivering leaflets ready for Tuesday night’s East Marsh Involve, and North East Lincolnshire Council’s Consultation event. I actually started delivering the leaflets yesterday, and even though I had 1,000 leaflets to deliver I had hoped to get them all delivered on Saturday morning. Unfortunately it was blowing a gale, and that was not all the wind was cold and I had to put up with those dreaded east coast “blustery showers”.

Fortunately, today the weather was much improved and the mop up didn’t take long at all. The leaflet I was delivering advertised the Community Consultation Event; and can be seen on my earlier post from yesterday my other website, to read the article please CLICK HERE >>>>> “EAST MARSH INVOLVE; AND COMMUNITY CONSULTATION“. The Community Consultation is being held on Tuesday 31 at the Grimsby Neighbourhood Centre and will start at 4 pm.

While I was out over the weekend, I noticed the Community Wardens delivering copies of the East Marsh Express which gives full details of some of the proposals for the regeneration of the East Marsh – the Council is making available £210,000 to local residents to be spent on environmental and they want to hear your views on how the money should be spent. To find out more about the council’s plans CLICK HERE >>>>> east-marsh-express.pdf

Immediately following the Consultation Event the East Marsh Involve Community Meeting will be held and this will commence at 6 pm in the same venue; the agenda for this meeting will be as follows.

AGENDA FOR EAST MARSH INVOLVE:

• East Marsh Community Consultation – Environmental Priorities
• Councillors Ward Funding
• Other Funding Requests
• Neighbourhood Working Arrangements – Rian Crombie and Katie Thomas
• Priority Action Team Meeting
• Ward Councillor’s Update
• Neighbourhood Development Worker’s Update
• Any Other Business

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS HAVE CALLED FOR THE SERIOUS FRAUD OFFICE TO LAUNCH CRIMINAL PROBE INTO RBS

Both the Liberal Democrats Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable and the Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Tavish Scott have called for the Serious Fraud Office to launch a full-scale inquiry that would also look into the company's tax avoidance operations.

It has been alleged that RBS tied up at least £25bn in complex international tax-avoidance schemes during its boom years, costing the British and US treasuries more than £500million in lost revenue.

With the bank now 70 per cent owned by the taxpayer, it has put an end to the practice, which is not necessarily illegal but exploits gaps in other countries' tax laws.

However, there are allegations that RBS traders invested billions in so-called toxic debt, or sub-prime loans, as part of the schemes.

Vince Cable argued that an SFO inquiry "would be both prudent and proper given what we now know".

Tavish Scott, said: he has received e-mails from former RBS staff who allege that the bank had been "sailing close to the wind".

"We need to know more about what happened at RBS in the run-up to disaster, and to establish whether there has been a breach of the law," he said.

"As far as tax avoidance is concerned, it seems wrong that wealthy individuals and companies are allowed to cut corners while the Revenue comes after ordinary people for an extra 15p."

The SFO said there was no formal criminal investigation "at the moment", but it had been in contact with the Financial Services Authority to determine whether events at RBS were regulatory or criminal matters.

YOU CAN HELP MAKE THE REGION A NICER PLACE TO BE

Today, the Grimsby Evening Telegraph has reported that fly-tipping is costing council taxpayers £140,000 a year. North East Lincolnshire Council regularly removes tonnes of illegal waste from all across the Borough; and items often include: prams, fridges and mattresses to rotting food and dirty packaging.

A few months ago the newspaper started Grot Spot campaign with the support of North East Lincolnshire Council with the aim of giving the area a spring clean, and on a number of occasions I have been out and about in East Marsh carrying out Community Clean Ups.

The next East Marsh Community Clean Up will be held next Saturday (4 April); yes it will be the return of a “Blitz on the East Marsh”. Keep an eye on this website for further details – they will be published on or before Wednesday.

The latest figures released by the Government show there were 1,870 incidents of fly-tipping in North East Lincolnshire in 2007/8 – and only 66 successful prosecutions for the offence.

And with up to seven-tonnes of fly-tipped waste removed from the streets of North East Lincolnshire each month, today the Telegraph along with the support of the Council appealed to everyone to become part of a crackdown on thoughtless people blighting our landscape.

By shopping fly-tippers and reporting eyesores, North East Lincolnshire Council’s environmental enforcement manager, John Waite, says YOU can help make the region a nicer place to be.

“I would encourage anybody to report any negative activities or places where waste is building up to us as soon as possible,” he said.

“By giving us as many details as you can you will help us to take action as soon as possible and bring these people to justice.

“We now liaise with the Environment Agency, Humberside Police and neighbouring authorities to make sure we are doing as much as possible to make North East Lincolnshire an even better place to live.”

Tony Neul, Acting Deputy Director of Neighbourhood Services at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “I would like to commend both the public and the Telegraph for working with us to cleanse and regenerate the area.

“It is down to the hard work of our staff, the Community Wardens and Police Community Support Officers that so many Grot Spots have been transformed.”

To report fly-tipping call NELC on (01472) 313131 and ask to speak to Environmental Services.

RESIDENTS GET A NEW SAY ON THE REGENERATION OF THE EAST MARSH

THE call has gone out for residents of Guildford Street and the East Marsh to have their say over its future development - by attending an event on Tuesday, March 31.

North East Lincolnshire Council and community group East Marsh Involve will co-host the consultation event at the Grimsby Neighbourhood Centre, at the corner of Wellington Street and Weelsby Street, between 4pm and 7pm.

Residents will be able to meet their local councillors, members of the East Marsh project team and representatives from Halcrow, who are putting together a development brief for the area.

The development brief will consult residents on what they want to see in the area, set to undergo a 10-year transformation worth nearly £8m.

The first phase of the work involves substantial work on Guildford Street which will see properties renovated or removed.

Madeleine Bell, the council's deputy director for strategic housing, said: "The residents of the East Marsh are the main players in this exciting regeneration opportunity. We want them to decide what the area should look like in the future.

"With this in mind, I would urge them to attend the consultation event to find out more about the opportunities available as the development brief moves forward."

To find out more, contact Mike Haynes at mike.haynes@nelincs.gov.uk or on (01472) 325067.

BINGE DRINKING IS NOW A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR TEENAGE GIRLS

The number of young women treated for alcohol poisoning has increased by a staggering 90 per cent in the past five years, according to the Department of Health statistics – yet the government is failing to act upon the problem.

Teenage girls treated for alcohol poisoning now outnumber boys by three to one.

Increasing numbers of young children have also become victims of 'binge drinking' as 98 girls under the age of 14 were admitted to hospital last year.

The disparity between genders appears to be particularly acute among teenagers. A total of 4,439 girls aged 14 to 17 were seen by doctors for alcohol poisoning over the past five years, compared with 1,776 boys.

Women and girls now represent more than half – 54 per cent- of all admissions for alcohol poisoning.

Females who drink excessively are more at risk of cancer, digestive problems and strokes.

The figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show 13,074 women in England were treated in 2008 compared with 6,691 in 2003, a rise of 95 per cent.

Over the same period, the number of men admitted to hospital for a similar complaint rose from 6,329 in 2003 to 10,904 last year, a 72 per cent increase.

Opposition MPs said the figures showed that the Government must do more to tackle alcohol abuse, described as one of the gravest public health problems facing the country.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said: "Such dramatic increases raise serious concerns that the health messages on alcohol simply aren't getting through.

"Local communities, police officers and hospital staff are being forced to bear the binge drinking burden while ministers continue to do little more than pay lip-service to the issue.

"These figures make clear we need to do a lot more to educate women about the health consequences of drinking too much.

"Unless we put an end to alcohol being sold at pocket-money prices, and start educating our children, these figures are only set to get worse."

The affects of binge drinking adds an increasing pressure on the National Health Service. It is estimated the NHS has a bill of £2.7billion a year for alcohol abuse.

Last week Sir Liam Donaldson, the Government's top medical adviser, warned that "cheap alcohol is killing us as never before".

In his annual report on the state of the nation's health, he wrote: "Quite simply, England is drinking far too much. England has an alcohol problem."

LIGHTS OUT FOR EARTH HOUR!

Simon Hughes is pressing for the Houses of Parliament to be plunged into darkness in support of the WWF's global Earth Hour campaign.

On 28 March at 8.30pm (GMT) individuals, communities, businesses are being asked to turn off their lights for one hour in support of taking action against climate change. The campaign is hoping that over a billion people will sign up. WWF is encouraging councils throughout the UK to join the big switch off by dimming and switching off lights of civic buildings and iconic landmarks. Restaurants and bars are asked to get involved by holding candlelit dinners on the night and members of the public can also hold their own events such as lights out parties. People can sign up to support WWF's Earth Hour by visiting

wwf.org.uk/earthhour or by texting Earth to 84880.

Mr Hughes has written to the Speaker of the House of Commons requesting that the Palace of Westminster participates in the global act. In his letter, Mr Hughes said, "I believe that this single act will make a very important statement that through small individual and collective actions we can make a difference to help protect our environment."

So far many iconic landmarks from around the world will switch off their lights. This includes the Forth Bridge, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Table Mountain in Cape Town and Sydney Opera House.

The Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly have both announced their participation and it is now time for the UK parliament to follow suit.

Commenting Simon Hughes said: "I am very supportive of the WWF Earth Hour campaign. In this vital year for our economy and our environment, we all need to be part of the solution to the difficulties we face. I believe that this single act - switching off our lights for one hour - will make a very important statement that through small individual and collective actions we can make a difference to help protect our environment. I hope you will join me and a billion other people around the world on 28th March.

Colin Butfield, head of campaigns at WWF UK, said: "We are delighted that Simon Hughes is backing WWF's Earth Hour. Negotiations for a global deal to tackle climate change are going on right now and it is essential that politicians demand the UK Government takes a strong leadership position.

In the year of the critical Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, parliament as well as people need to show their firm commitment to take action. Participation in Earth Hour would be a symbolic gesture of our determination to do so."

EAST MARSH EXPRESS – “INSPIRING CHANGE, INVOLVING COMMUNITIES”

On July 7 last year, North East Lincolnshire Council made a commitment to the East Marsh which will help shape its future over the next 10 years. The first three years will focus on Guildford Street and the council is well under way in its purchase of properties in Guildford Street for the intention of regenerating the area through a programme of rebuilding and renovation.

Properties in the East Marsh could be set to benefit from a facelift worth thousands of pounds each.

Interim project manager Mike Haynes has launched discussions with residents and community groups including East Marsh Involve about accessing a Full Street Facelift cash pot over the next two years.

It would mean properties could benefit from brick cleaning, repointing of rendering, replacement of guttering fascia and fall pipes, replacement of timber windows and boundary walls.

Mr Haynes recently visited a similar scheme in Goole, East Yorkshire, and said that the works had made a huge difference to the area.

The council will be consulting members of the public for their views on which areas should be focused on. To find out more email Mike Haynes at mike.haynes@nelincs.gov.uk

A meeting on Grimsby’s East Marsh has prompted a community action plan which will prove important in the development of the neighbourhood renewal scheme.

Last November, more than 60 residents of all ages attended an East Marsh Involve meeting, highlighting graffiti, the environment and boarded up properties as their main concerns for the area.
Councillor Steve Beasant (Liberal Democrat, East Marsh) has now agreed to draw up an action plan to deal with the issues raised.

Councillor Beasant will be working with all agencies necessary to bring about an action plan for the ward as soon as possible.

To find out more about East Marsh Involve and its role in the development of East Marsh, contact Cllr Steve Beasant on 07900 328976 or email him at steve.beasant@nelincs.gov.uk

To read the latest edition of edition of the East Marsh Express, click on the following link >>>>>east-marsh-express.pdf