Following last week's call to delay the introduction of 14-19 Diplomas, six more witnesses gave pessimistic evidence to the Education and Skills Select Committee yesterday evening. Paul Holmes MP, Liberal Democrat member of the Committee, commented:
Conservatives at Essex County Council have announced an above inflation hike in council tax paid to the county council for financial year 2007/08. Residents in Essex will see an increase of 4.5% combined with whatever increase their borough/district council and Essex police and fire authorities propose.
"I welcome the opportunity to debate the important issues that are under discussion. Disability is a big issue for all Members and our constituents. As we have heard, many issues affect the life chances of disabled children, and they cut across the work of a number of Departments, which is why joined-up government, to which the Minister referred at the end of her speech, is so important, even though it might not always be as successfully delivered as we would hope.
Today the Liberal Democrats have launched a nationwide campaign to cut crime. At the centre of the campaign are the party's Five Steps to a Safer Britain. This campaign has been launched because public fears and concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour remain very high. Even in low crime areas, many people are worried about their safety, often thanks to sensationalist reporting in the media and breathless rhetoric from government ministers.
Liberal Democrats on Suffolk County Council today called in the decision of the Conservative Cabinet to buy in older people's day care services from the independent and private sector to Full Council for proper debate.
Marking the start of their "We Can Cut Crime" campaign, Devon and Cornwall's Liberal Democrat MPs have tabled a Parliamentary motion, criticising the Government for its lack of support given to the region's police force.
