A Message from Steve Webb MP – Liberal Democrat Minister for Pensions

This is yet another example of Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivering a truly radical reform.

The single-tier pension is a fairer way of ensuring people will get a decent pension in their old age. It will treat men and women equally for the first time and will value unpaid caring work just as much as a high-flying city job. That is why the big winners will be women, carers and some low earners who haven’t previously received much in the way of earnings-related state pension.

This new ‘single-tier’ pension has much in common with the long-cherished Liberal Democrat goal of a Citizen’s Pension. The basic idea is that someone starting work under the new rules will build up just one state pension. We are ending the fiendishly complex system of two state pensions and tax credits that Labour presided over.

Our reforms go back to William Beveridge’s original idea of the modern state pension. Beveridge had envisaged a single, simple, decent state pension, paid after a lifetime of National Insurance Contributions. It will be set above the level of the basic means-test (currently £142.70 per week) and the full rate will be payable for those who have made 35 years of National Insurance Contributions.

Successive governments tinkered with the state pension. That meant that we have had, up till now, a system that the Pensions Commission itself described as one of the most complex in the world. Worse still, the current system actually discourages some people from putting anything aside.

The plans I unveiled today show that it doesn’t have to be like that anymore.

Yet another example of Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivering a truly radical reform, and one that we can be proud of.

Best wishes,

Rt Hon Professor Steve Webb MP
Liberal Democrat Minister for Pensions

Swimming: It Makes No Sense Flitwick Having 8 Lane Swimming Pool And Houghton Regis Only Six

Houghton Regis Swimming Pool is  currently closed

Small pool now closed in Houghton Regis

Councillor Rita Egan asked a written question at this week's meeting:

Written Question for Central Bedfordshire Council Meeting January 24 thQuestion to Portfolio Holder for the Leisure Strategy –Councillors Spurr and Delgarno

Can I ask the portfolio holders responsible for the Leisure Strategy why, on page 346, Agenda Item16 of the Executive Papers, 8th January, 2012, the words, “new 6 lane 25 meter pool” appear in paragraph 24.

On numerous occasions I have questioned why Houghton Regis should be given a 6 lane pool when Flitwick is to have a proposed 8 lane pool. I was given an assurance at the last meeting I attended that an 8 lane pool would be considered for Houghton Regis. I feel as if my comments have been completely ignored, even when I have given cogent arguments for changing the number of lanes in the projected pool. I will reiterate again my reasons for seeking a larger pool:

The growth area north of Houghton Regis is much larger than any planned growth at Flitwick. It makes no sense whatsoever to build a small facility in Houghton Regis and a large one in Flitwick. Houghton Regis is an area of significant deprivation. Many residents do not lead healthy lifestyles. Providing great local facilities encourages poor families to participate in healthy activities. Houghton Regis should be provided with the best facility that can be provided on social and health grounds alone. 

It is unhelpful to suggest that swimmers should go to the Luton Inspire Pool to swim. Stopsley is hardly accessible to residents of Houghton Regis. The same could be said for the other pools that are available in Luton. It also might surprise some members to know that the bus fare to Dunstable from the top of Parkside coupled with the cost of swimming is beyond the capacity of some residents to pay. Around one quarter of Parkside residents do not own a car.

An 8 lane pool would provide much needed training time for a swimming club. At the moment, there is no club in Houghton Regis, partly due to the closure of the Houghton Regis pool and also because this pool was never suitable for competition. I think it is important that we plan for a new Swimming Club to be formed in the new facility and provide the appropriate space for members to train. Some of South Beds Masters Swimming Club’s top swimmers are ex members of the Houghton Regis Swimming Club and these  swimmers are some of the best in the UK.

My own club, the South Beds Masters, has already requested that an 8 lane pool be built to accommodate competitive swimming such is the shortage of pool time in the region. Training times in local pools are already allocated and oversubscribed. 8 lane pools afford much greater opportunity for concurrent swimming activities. It is possible to hold two or three different activities in one session. Clubs and individual swimmers can train at the same time as alternative activities such as aquasize or fun swims. More income would be generated because more activities could take place in a session.

If an 8 lane pool were provided, there would be income generating opportunities as the pool could be rented out for competition. Competitions are income generators for swimming clubs and for the facility that hosts them.

We have already heard how the Olympic legacy is struggling to deliver on its promise. This is especially so with disabled athletes. If we built an 8 lane pool we could become model for encouraging both able bodied and disabled swimmers to take up lifelong swimming both for leisure and for competition.

These are only some of the reasons I have given for in the past for proposing an 8 lane pool. I hope, this time, that my comments might be taken on board and that the figure “6” be changed to the figure “8” in the leisure strategy document.

Cllr Dr. Rita Egan. Parkside.

• Report of Central Bedfordshire Council Meeting 24th January, 2012.  by Cllr Rita Egan
• RIta Egan Blog

tags: swimming, houghton, regis, lanes, hrnd, egan, rita

Another Reason For Being A Liberal Democrat

Julia Cambridge has become the new Liberal Democrat prospective candidate for Chesterfield. She wowed party members in the hustings, in particular with her great explanation of why she is a Liberal Democrat.

She told a story of being frightened of the dark during the power cuts caused by the early ’70s miners’ strike, and her sister getting scorched on a candle. She asked her parents why they were sitting in the dark. “The government”, said one. “The unions”, said the other. “I think I decided then and there to be a Liberal Democrat”, said Julia Cambridge.

with thanks to Mark Pack

Cuts in Income Tax For 24m Ordinary Workers

Liberal Democrats in Government are working to build a stronger and a fairer society. Income Tax bills are being slashed for millions of ordinary workers.

Most taxpayers will be paying £600 less each year from next April.

The change was announced as part of the Autumn Statement and takes us within touching distance of manifesto commitment that nobody should pay income tax on the first £10,000 they earn.

This huge victory could not have happened without the work of thousands of Liberal Democrat campaigners across the country.

A new national campaign is welcomed by Liberal Democrats in Houghton Regis. The aim is to put pressure on to raise the personal allowance to £10,000 which would mean a total Income Tax cut of £700.

Get Involved - Take Part! 

www.fairertax.org/dayofaction

Influencing Europe and East of England Trains

ANDREW DUFF

In November EurActiv, the Brussels based news organisation, conducted a poll to find the 40 Brits most influential in EU affairs.

Liberal Democrat MEP for East of England, Andrew Duff, came in tenth, just one place behind David Cameron and one place in front of William Hague. See more here http://www.euractiv.com/UK40

EURO FINANCIAL CRISIS

 In his pamphlet, "on Governing Europe", Andrew writes about how the EU has managed the financial crisis and sets out an ambitious agenda of what has to be done to resolve it. Andrew identifies the lack of real economic government at the European level as the the key element in restoring stability and growth. Controversially, he argues that if the UK does not want to be part of the emerging banking and fiscal union, it should stand aside and let its partners proceed.

Copies of "On Governing Europe" can be downloaded from http://www.policy-network.net/publications_detail.aspx?ID=4257

RAILWAYS

Liberal Democrats have been arguing across the years since Dr Beeching's railway cuts for increased investment in our region. Work on the line north of Hitchin on a flyover to Cambridge and King's Lynn is advancing fast. Upgrades are taking place to stations and electrification east of Oxford, and eventually to Bicester and Bedford. This is leading to pressure supported by Lib Dem Mayor of Bedford, Dave Hodgson, for a link to be built via Sandy to the East Coast Main Line - thereby resurrecting the possibility of train travel between the two great University cities.

Further works in our region include faster trains from Norwich to Ely and Peterborough, a new loop at Ely. Hopes are raised for greener electric trains, rather than diesel. Improvements at Felixstowe, a major refurbishment at Peterborough station, Sandy and Biggleswade stations are being enlarged; frequency of services between Ipswich and Lowestoft is doubling; a new station at Chesterton; a new junction at Kings Coss to start in the spring to link trains from Cambridge and Huntingdon to Thameslink.

Concerns are that ticket pricing is over-complicated, and in some cases too high; over-crowding on trains is common place. Local action groups can influence decision making with this train friendly government. We must insist that nothing big happens at Stansted Airport, unless the railway to Liverpool Street is modernised and enhanced, and a railway towards  Braintree is built. The East of England, as ever, has to fight its corner against the rival attraction of HS2 and the worthy but incredibly costly London Cosssrail.

To contact Andrew Duff visit his web site http://andrewduff.eu/en/