The government has lost a House of Lords vote on its controversial plans to overhaul the NHS in England. Peers backed an amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill - demanding mental health is made a higher priority - by a margin of four votes. Several other amendments will be debated on Wednesday.
At least 35,000 people applying for sickness benefit are waiting longer than 13 weeks, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has admitted. DWP officials are privately blaming the backlog of employment and support allowance claims on French firm Atos, which carries out medical assessments. Atos Healthcare said it had recruited additional staff and extended opening hours in response to the situation. One member of DWP staff described the situation as "in meltdown".
South Lakes MP Tim Farron has applauded the achievement of Riverside Bed & Breakfast in Ambleside in gaining 3rd place in TripAdvisor's best Bed & Breakfast in the world and has petitioned Parliament to recognise the exceptional standard of U.K B & B accommodation ahead of the Olypmics.
Residents in the Tile Kiln / Moulsham Lodge neighbourhood are working with their local Lib Dem Councillors to back plans for a pedestrian crossing. County Councillor Jude Deakin will be taking their concerns to Essex County Council. You can back the campaign by joining the Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/groups/341238239242015/ or signing the online petition: http://ourcampaign.org.uk/schoolcrossings
The Tory Secretary of State for Local Government, Eric Pickles, has criticised Councils for increases in Council tax for the coming year. He spoke of the Councils having a "moral duty" to freeze the levy.
Bedford Borough Council has secured an extra £124,500 funding to ensure vulnerable people stay warm throughout life-threatening spells of cold weather. The outcomes of the Warm Homes, Healthy People project will reduce the level of cold related illness and winter deaths in Bedford Borough due to cold housing.
