Following some serious examples of unacceptable behaviour by Newcastle University students in North Jesmond ward in September 2010, the Registrar was asked by ward councillors to explain the University's stance on anti-social behaviour. Here are some extracts from his statement.
Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg, has confirmed that the Government will end child detention by May next year.
I read with interest Mark Eriera-Guyer's letter (BFP 10/12/10) on Tuition Fees. Residents will not have forgotten that before he was a Green Parliamentary Candidate, he was a Labour PC supporting the party that introduced Tuition Fees so he has has undergone quite a change of view himself. He also mentioned the abolition of the Educational Maintenance Allowance. This was a typical nanny state Labour measure in which the government took tax off all of us and give it back to pupils staying on in education whether their parents needed it or not. It was one of the reasons taxpayers debt had risen to £160 billion under Labour. It has been replaced, not abolished, with the Learning Support Grant given to students from families with lower incomes to ensure they don't feel the need to leave school and get a job, but stay on to gain a better chance for themselves in the future.
Today's vote on Higher Education funding was one of the hardest things we have had to do in politics. I know that there are strong and passionately held views on all sides of the debate, which I very much respect.
This week I signed the document to confirm the launch of the 'Scores on the Doors' food outlet rating scheme in Bedford Borough. Scores on the Doors is a scheme set up by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), involving the publication of a food hygiene rating for restaurants and other food outlets in a local authority area. All inspection gradings and further information is made available online, allowing restaurant-going local residents to make an informed choice about where to go when eating out.
At this week's meeting of Essex County Council, Lib Dem Mike Mackrory asked about home to school transport for children with special needs. Mike Mackrory (Springfield county councillor) was told that the withdrawal of escorts for vulnerable children would be subject to assessment.