Government plans to test children as young as three years old have been criticised by Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg MP. He was visiting Tanglewood nursery school in Chelmsford with local Lib Dem candidate Stephen Robinson.
There was confusion about what relief Essex residents will get from Essex County Council, after two leading members of the Conservative ruling party gave opposite views on the subject at the same meeting. At a meeting of the full council (21 October) the leader of the council agreed with a Liberal Democrats proposal to use council tax money held in reserves to help people through the current economic slowdown. However, the cabinet member for finance said that she thought the proposals were irresponsible and that reserves should remain high.
Local MP Tim Farron met with Treasury minister Stephen Timms to discuss the future of the HM Revenue and Customs Office (HMRC) in Kendal, which is currently earmarked for closure under a government consultation.
MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, Tim Farron welcomed figures revealed by the Office of National Statistics that placed Westmorland and Lonsdale with the lowest unemployment figures in England.
Rochdale MP Paul Rowen used two Rochdale cases in Parliament this week to illustrate unfairness between parents who give birth naturally and those who adopt.
Paul Holmes Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield and a Member of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee today challenged Schools Minister Jim Knight over the disaster of Educational Maintenance Allowance.