Yes, it’s been another weekend looking after the grandchildren, and there lovely! Last night was a nightmare, because I did not get two minutes to myself. Young Nathan who’s nearly 5 just wanted to be on the computer all night, and he was straight onto the CBeebies Website: he loves it!  Within a few minutes we were into a Nathan’s ‘world of make believe’, playing on the BBC games, such as: Tommy Zoom; Underground Ernie; Bob the Builder; Brum and Lazy Town.

Then, I had to explore YouTube for clips of: Thomas the Tank Engine for both Nathan and James who is the younger of the two grandchildren at 3 years of age. 

I believe we watched every video clip of Thomas and his Friends about ten times last night. We even had to have a look at video clips of the Cleethorpes Parade, and the Cleethorpes Light Railway.  

Computers are marvellous for young children, and it just shows how things have changed over the years. However, we still talk about the good old days when we use to play with jigsaws, black boars and other toys. Perhaps they were good old days; in some respects. However, we cannot turn back the clock, and now at our fingertips we have unbelievable learning experiences: we are able to find out what’s going on, educate our children and grandchildren (if used correctly), keep in touch with friends and family, and through my online blog I am able to communicate through the World Wide Web.   

Families now spend £470 on packaging each year, 1/6th of their food budget. Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson is leading the campaign to tackle excess packaging and cut families’ bills.We are paying three times over for excess packaging:

Ø       The cost of the unnecessary packaging at the checkout

Ø       The increased council taxes and landfill taxes

Ø       The environmental cost of more waste going to landfill for years to come

Action in Parliament: In the 2006-7 session of parliament Jo Swinson tabled a parliamentary motion that attracted cross-party support from 179 MPs.  The motion has been re-tabled for the new session.

In October 2007 she presented a Private Members Bill, entitled Packaging (Reduction) Bill, to Parliament. The Government did not allocate the Bill sufficient Parliamentary time before the end of the 2006-07 session for it to proceed further than the presentation stage. 

What you can do about excess packaging:

Ø       Contact Jo with your worst examples of excess packaging: swinsonj@parliament.uk 

Ø       Lobby your MP to add their name to EDM 188. You can contact your MP via www.writetothem.com

Ø       Write direct to DEFRA at Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR

Ø       Raise the issue with your local supermarket - ask if they will recycle your packaging for you

Key Facts and Figures

Ø       Consumers are paying three times over for excess packaging:

Most days when I am walking around the ward I take a short cut through Grant Thorold Park, and today was no exception. It’s a beautiful park; however like many parks it as possibly changed over the years.

The story behind Grant Thorold Park began in 1798 when the Thorold family arrived in Grimsby. Rev. William Thorold was the Rector of Cuxwold & Ravendale and had married Frances Hildyard (Hildyard Street is just five streets away from the park, which is obviously named after Frances).

The Reverend purchased a large area of land in Clee & Weelsby, and when he died in 1814 the estate was inherited by his son Richard Thorold who consequently added Thorold to his name to become Grant-Thorold.  

Upon the death of Richard Grant-Thorold, in 1864, the estate passed to his nephew Alex Grant. Alex added Thorold to his name upon inheriting the estate.

In 1900, Alex Grant-Thorold gave nine acres of land to the town on condition it was called ‘The Grant-Thorold Park’. The park, with its pentagonal shape, was designed by the borough surveyor Mr. Gilbert Wyatt - the cost to the town was a little over £4,870.

The park was officially opened to the public by Capt. H. Grant-Thorold on the 30^th of June 1904.

Crowds came to see the opening of the park which was decorated with brightly coloured flags and bunting.

The story goes that on the opening day, with all the dignitaries assembled, the large marquee which had been erected for their luncheon -blew down!

Fortunately in the next field where Fiveways roundabout is today, the famous Col. Cody was with his international travelling ‘Wild West Show’. Learning of what had happened; members of the travelling show came and helped with putting the marquee to rights. Who needs a celebrity like David Beckham to open an event when you have a star like Buffalo Bill turning up on your door-step? I just wonder what they talked about at the next council meeting.

The noise from ‘Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show’ drowned out the opening speeches so not much was heard by the crowd gathered in the newly opened Grant-Thorold Park. 

Downing Street and the Treasury launched a desperate damage limitation exercise after Alistair Darling’s earlier interview with the Guardian on Saturday in which he said we was facing “arguably the worst” slump in 60 years. As Treasury aides claimed that he had been misrepresented, Darling took to the airwaves to clarify his remarks.

Instead of reassuring voters, the chancellor risked compounding the crisis by failing to modify his dire assessment. Darling insisted it was his duty to be “straight” with people; unfortunately for Mr. Darling a little too straight for his boss Mr. Brown. His warning that the slump will be “more profound and long-lasting than people thought” comes at the worst time for Gordon Brown as he struggles to shore up his leadership.

The Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears hinted that economy was sound and government has control of the situation, said: “We know things are tough and understand that people are worried. But Britain’s economy is fundamentally strong.”

Darling however vaguely hints that there are rifts at the heart of government and cabinet rivals are “actively trying” to do his job. One wonders how much longer he will be in post? Are we going to get a new look Cabinet before their party conference or just before parliament returns.

Last night some Labour MPs were openly questioning the chancellor’s judgment, while others labelled his comments “astonishing” and accused him of jeopardising attempts to turn around Labour’s disastrous poll ratings.

Just days ago, Brown himself had insisted that the economy was “resilient”.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable, said this latest confusion was “yet another example” of Labour’s inability to explain what it was doing.

On Wednesday 17^th September at 1.30 pm – 6 pm, the Councils new Chief Executive, Tony Hunter will arrive in East Marsh Ward for the first time. He will be meeting and greeting local residents, and will be visiting the Grimsby Neighbourhood Centre which is in the heart of the East Marsh Ward situated on the corner of Wellington Street and Weelsby Street. 

Other officers of North East Lincolnshire Council will be present along with the three Liberal Democrat Councillors Steve Beasant, Jon-Paul Howarth and Tony McCabe. In the Grimsby Neighbourhood Centre there will be a number of display stands along with stalls and various charities, voluntary groups and organisations will there to promote the good work that is going on within the East Marsh Ward. 

The council’s youth bus will also be present; so don’t forget to bring along your young children, and they are sure to have a good time. Free goodies will also be available from the council’s Double Decker which is also touring other wards throughout the Borough during the Community Engagement Week. 

On the Wednesday evening at 7 pm there will be Local Policing Team Meeting at St Christopher’s Church Hall, which is just outside the ward in Convamore Road starting at 7 pm. All residents are welcome to attend and I am sure many residents will have questions for Inspector Andy Biggs our Local Policing Inspector.

While working on my computer I just happened to be listening to BBC News 24, and low behold the ‘man of the hour’, was being interviewed. In some ways I felt sorry him; it was like an old 78 vinyl record repeating itself. Poor, Mr Darling must have repeated himself about 10 times. However, his key message was that the government is already taking action they have dealt with Northern Rock, but unfortunately the problem is still not yet resolved. 

He then kept repeating the fact: “We along with every other country in the world are going through an Economic Downturn”, and he must have said that about 5 times during the interview. I just wonder were he gets his definition of an Economic Downturn from; wasn’t it announced just recently that the USA economy has grown by 3.3% in the last quarter. And, apparantly Asia is doing rather well in this economic climate.

Come on let’s get our facts clear!   

The recent post on the Liberal Democrat website relating to the ONS statistics which shows a fall in the number of working households while the number of single parents has risen in the last year, which comes has no surprise.

However, it means that we we’ll have an even greater challenge in North East Lincolnshire over the coming months and years ahead.

In the ward that Councillors Tony McCabe, Jon-Paul Howarth and myself represent, East Marsh it as some of the highest levels of deprivation in the whole of the UK. Nonetheless, according to the recent survey we are some of the happiest people in the UK; possibly this government is looking after us - I think not!

Commenting on the ONS Statistics which was released recently, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Jenny Willott said: “These figures paint a sobering picture of the mounting unemployment problem that will put extreme pressure on our welfare system.

“The number of working households has slumped for the first time under this Government and the number where at least one adult is out of work is at a ten year high.

“We need a simple, fair and effective welfare system that provides tailored support to help people get back into work. But the Government’s new welfare reform proposals could stifle the innovation and flexibility needed to achieve this.

“What’s more, these proposals do little to reduce complexities of the benefit and tax credit systems which leave millions missing out on the support they are entitled to.” 

A GRIMSBY shop owner has been ordered to pay nearly £4,000 for stocking chicken breasts that were nearly a week out-of-date.

The owner, of Gilbey Wines and Stores, in Gilbey Road, West Marsh, was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £836.68 costs and a £15 victim surcharge after a prosecution by North East Lincolnshire Council’s trading standards team.

The limited company which Gilbey Wines and Stores trades under was also held liable and fined £1,000 plus £836.68 costs and a surcharge - making a total of £3703.36.

Trading standards officials are warning other food retailers they will take action if necessary after the conclusion of the court case, where the owner was found to have two packets of chicken breast fillets on sale seven days past their use by date.

Trading standards manager said: “The high fine imposed reflects the seriousness of this offence and the fact that the owner was also prosecuted for the same offence back in 2006.”

“This case demonstrates that we will take action against those flouting the law and that we monitor local shops where problems are found.”

The Food Labelling Regulations 1996 outlined the offence of “selling or exposing for sale” products beyond their use by date, punishable by a fine of up to £5,000.  

Councillor Steve Beasant, the council’s portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “This business was given every opportunity to work with the trading standards team but has failed the address the problem.

“Most food businesses co-operate with trading standards officers following inspections to ensure that acceptable standards are maintained for the public.

“Prosecution is the last option for dealing with serious and persistent offenders and this case demonstrates that the council is prepared to take such action to safeguard public health and to ensure a level playing field.” 

The BBC have just announced some breaking news, and it comes has no surprise! The UK is facing its worst economic crisis in 60 years, but the news has not been announced by the CBI, the Tories or the Liberal Democrats. The ‘cat is now out the bag’ it was announced by the Chancellor Alistair Darling has admitted.  

He told the Guardian newspaper that the economic downturn would be more “profound and long-lasting” than most people had feared.  

He also acknowledged government failings in its attempt to deal with the worsening situation. Ministers are expected to announce a package of measures next week to kick-start the moribund housing market. But don’t get too excited! 

SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE 

Following these overnight revelations from the Chancellor you can imagine our Daily Newspapers are full of this one news story about the recession. You would think it’s a new story, but don’t forget Mr Darling was told by many economists and in particular Vince Cable (just visit the Liberal Democrat Website).  On today’s BBC website, the BBC write: Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said the government had been inconsistent with its message.  

“I worry about the government lurching from one extreme to the other,” he said.  

“Until very recently there was no problem, there was a state of denial, and Britain was the strongest country in the western world, any problems we had where from overseas.  

“Now suddenly we’ve lurched into Apocalypse Now, the return of the Great Depression.”  

TIME is running out to nominate your community champions in a special “OSCA” ceremony.

Safer Communities will be holding another Outstanding Safer Community Awards (OSCAs) on Tuesday December 2 at Grimsby Town Hall. But the closing date for nominations is Friday, September 19, so if a member of your organisation deserves praise for their exceptional work in the community - this is your chance to provide it.

The OSCAs is a prestigious occasion that aims to recognise, give honour and praise to those individuals, groups and organisations that work hard to make North East Lincolnshire a better and safer place to live.

As many of you know, this isn’t an easy task, but the event highlight’s a myriad of groups and individuals that rally are making a huge contribution to community safety.

The awards night was last held in November 2006 and was a great success. It really illustrated just how much good work is going on in the local community. The Grimsby Town Hall was packed to the rafters with people doing their bit for Community Safety.  It was fantastic to hear so many positive initiatives all geared towards making the area a better place to live and work.

Our host for the evening will be local star of stage and screen, Julie Peasgood. This will be the third time Julie has hosted the awards and she is looking forward to see what has been happening within North East Lincolnshire. 

There are ten categories to nominate for and they are:

Ø       Working with Young People

Ø       Community Safety Initiative Involving Young People

Ø       Private Sector Community Safety Scheme

Ø       Public Sector Community Safety Scheme

Ø       Community led Community Safety Scheme

Ø       Working with Difficult to Engage Groups

Ø       Encouraging Engagement and Community Participation

Ø       Standing up against Anti-Social Behaviour

Ø       Award to an Individual who has contributed to Community safety in North East   Lincolnshire

Nomination forms should be sent to: Safer Communities, 1 Burwell Drive, Grimsby, DN33 1PH

Please, Download a Copy of the Nomination Form; the form is on Page 8 of the Safer Communities Newsletter (CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW)

safer_communities_oscas_newsletter.pdf

Commenting on the recent announcement from Office of Rail Regulation, which calls for Network Rail to dramatically reduce disruption for passengers, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said:

“This damning report shows that Network Rail’s attempts at cost-cutting have turned a fifth of all weekend journeys into a marathon of cancelled trains, delays and rail replacement buses for many passengers.

“Whatever happened to the 24-hour railway promised by ministers? Network Rail must get its priorities straight and ensure that, where possible, routes are kept open while repairs and improvements are being made.

“If people are to be persuaded out of their cars and onto the railways, Network Rail must put passengers first.”

For further information about Norman Baker visit: http://www.normanbaker.org.uk/

When British Gas and the old Electricity Generating Boards were replaced by the new privatised utilised utilities we were told by the Tories that it would be better for the consumer. The new companies would be free from the shackles of the state, efficient, cost-effective and competitive – I just wonder has gone wrong? It just proves you cannot trust the Tories!  

But now only year after the old companies were privatised, we have an ever increasing number of ‘fat cats’ running the businesses, excessive profits, and massive price increases.

It’s ironic that we hear yet again two more energy firms will be increasing their gas and electricity prices, blaming higher wholesale costs.

Scottish Power said it would raise gas prices by an average of 34% and electricity prices by 9%, effective from Monday 1 September.  

Npower the company which replaced Yorkshire Electricity said domestic customers would see an average rise of 14% for electricity and 26% for gas, effective immediately.  

This latest news follows on from recent announcements from E.On, British Gas, EdF and Scottish and Southern Energy who have all raised prices.  

Commenting ahead of the Government’s announcement on the funding of school sports tomorrow, Liberal Democrat Olympic Spokesperson, Tom Brake said:

“An even bigger medal tally in London 2012 and a healthier nation will only be achieved by increasing participation in all sports.

“The Government must boost links between sports clubs and schools to increase the range of sports on offer and reduce the drop-out rate.

“Ministers should consider cutting the cost of junior membership of sports clubs through gift aid and plug the loopholes which still allow the sale of playing fields.”

NOTE: this post appeared today. It started me to think how many playing fields have been sold off in recent decades, since the Conservatives introduced this policy? Possibly there is some correlation between the sale of playing fields and obesity; unfortunately New Labour has not reversed the policy.

Elton John was obviously right when he was singing on the song, titled ‘Grimsby’ which is a track on the LP Caribou (1974); he sang two particular lines:

Oh oh Grimsby, a thousand delights
Couldn’t match the sweet sights

He no doubt realised Grimsby was a great place to live and still is; and the people are friendly, happy, and cheerful.

Perhaps that’s why we have been voted the eleventh happiest place to live in Great Britain along with our neighbours Cleethorpes. It really is a great place to live! Tonight, I was at a meeting of the Yarborough Forward, and one of the residents was saying that she had just moved into the area. She has lived all over the UK as well as America, and she said that this area is the best place she as ever lived.

The survey found that the happiest place in Britain is in Wales. It is blessed with some of the UK’s most beautiful scenery, the County of Powys stretches from the Brecons in the south to the borders of Snowdonia in the north.

According to the survey, its inhabitants are happier than all other Britons. Powys came top, followed by Manchester and West Lothian. Factors that can boost happiness include strong community spirit, plenty of green spaces, beautiful countryside, climate, low crime rates and little air and noise pollution.

Powys ticks many of the happiness boxes. It is the UK’s second least densely-populated county and has no cities or motorways.

I was interested to read today’s posting on the Liberal Democrat website that walking may become a minority pursuit; in some respect I tend to agree with the article. However, it is definitely not the case for Councillors Jon-Paul Howarth, Tony McCabe and myself – we all walk everywhere!  

As well as being the youngest Ward Councillors on average in the area; thanks to Jon-Paul who is only 19 we are also the fittest. We walk everywhere, meetings, surgeries, events, visits you name; we are a lean; green; ‘fighting team’! 

However now back to the politics, this article appeared on today’s Lib Dem website: 

Commenting on DfT statistics that show car ownership is increasing while fewer people are walking long distances, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: 

“With services being taken away from villages and town centres and local public transport often poor and unreliable, the car is becoming a necessity rather than a choice in many rural areas.  

“Unless our streets and town centres are designed for the needs of pedestrians and cyclists, rather than motorists, walking to the shops, work or school may become a minority pursuit. 

“Ministers need to discourage those car journeys where there is a viable alternative, while not penalising those with no other option.  

“This is why the Liberal Democrats have advocated investing in public transport and introducing revenue neutral motorway and trunk road pricing. This will save rural drivers money but cost more for people who drive on long inter-city routes where there is a decent rail alternative.” 

      BANKSY – is it art or graffiti?

It appears that in many parts of the UK there has been a sudden increase in level graffiti appearing across our neighbourhoods. In North East Lincolnshire we are determined to tackle the problem once and for all!

Anybody caught daubing graffiti on buildings in North East Lincolnshire now has the option to clean it off themselves, rather than pay a fine.

These three 14-year-old girls - all from Grimsby’s Nunsthorpe estate - were caught out, and opted to clean up their act.

They spent yesterday scrubbing their scribblings off walls around Grimsby as punishment.

The young people concerned cannot be identified for legal reasons, but one told the Grimsby Evening Telegraph, and said: “It’s something to do because there’s nothing to do around here. I don’t think I’ll do it again though, it does look scruffy.

“It’s put me off, with having to clean it off. It’s not going to be easy work.”

Each year the council sets a budget of £50,000 just for the removal of graffiti. The money collected from the fines will go towards this total, in particular the chemicals to clean it off, which are costly.

Councillor Steve Beasant, portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “I am pleased that the people who seem intent on making a mess on our streets are the ones being told to clean it up.

“Hopefully this will act as a deterrent to other like-minded vandals - we are watching and we will take strong action to rid the community of unsightly daubs and scribbles.”    

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Andrew De Freitas, said: “Graffiti blights our communities and is an example of anti-social behaviour at its worst.

“I am fully in support of this action by the neighbourhood community wardens, and hope it teaches the perpetrators a valuable lesson about respecting property that belongs to others.”

Graffiti has become even more popular over recent years, with the rise of rebel artists such as Banksy, who sold a wall daubed with his artwork for £200,000 earlier this year. He and other artists recently launched the Cans Festival in a tunnel near Waterloo, London, depicting their work.

The daily news is getting worse for Mr. Brown; the figures on the economy are just not going in the right direction. And, with a General Election less than two years away it’s difficult to see how he turns around his political fortunes.

The latest news comes from the Nationwide who have said that there is evidence that the slide in the housing market is deepening as the Nationwide building society reported that prices were falling at their fastest annual rate in almost 18 years.

The Nationwide, the UK’s largest building society, said house prices falls were now reaching double digit levels and falling at a rate not seen since the fourth quarter of 1990. In its latest monthly assessment of the market the society said the price of a typical house had fallen by 10.5 per cent over the last 12 months to £164,654.

The monthly drop in house prices accelerated to 1.9 per cent in August, Nationwide said. The society reckoned that prices fell by 1.5 per cent the previous month.

With house prices having fallen steadily since last October, according to the lender, it means that the housing market has been in steady decline for almost a year.

Today’s figures from Nationwide, traditionally among the least conservative of house price monitors, comes after Halifax, a rival, said house prices fell 1.7 per cent in July and at an annual rate of 8.8 per cent.

Commenting on today’s speech by Andrew Lansley, No Excuses, No Nannying, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said:

“Everyone has a responsibility to look after their own health, but the prescription the Tories are offering has failed in the past and will fail in the future.

“Andrew Lansley’s speech exposes the confusion at the heart of the Conservative’s strategy.

“He lectures people about their responsibility. He blames people for being overweight and says they lack self-discipline and self-esteem. Yet when it comes to junk food he’s much more sensitive about the problem of ‘stigmatising’ it.

“This is the same old nasty party moralising and lecturing whilst remaining silent on the causes of increasing obesity.

“Central to tackling obesity must be policies reduce inequality, deprivation and poor education.”

 North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) has once again organised this family fun run (formally the Norbrit Fun Run) which this year is sponsored by Grimsby Institute, NELC, ABP and Compass FM.

The fun run will be taking place on Sunday 21^st September and will work its way through the streets of Grimsby, starting at the Town Hall and going along Pasture Street, Hainton Avenue, Freeman Street, Railway Street, around the docks and back again, starting at 9.30am and finishing approximately midday.

The majority of the fun run will be around the streets of the East Marsh, and I can remember some 16 years ago taking part in the race. And, like a fool I decided to push my then ten year old son around the 4 mile course in a hospital wheelchair; however it was all in the name of charity. Hopefully, there will be many more people making a fool of themselves like myself on the day like I did, and it will be well worth it! 

It is expected that this event will once again attract approximately 1500 runners of all ages and abilities who aim to raise vital money for local charities, sports clubs and community groups through individual sponsorship.  The course is approximately 4 miles and all finishers receive a unique commemorative medal. 

Entry forms and runner numbers can be obtained from NELC libraries, Cleethorpes Tourist Information Centre and from the Sports Development Team. The entry fee is £3.50 or £4 on the day. For further information please contact Hannah Philips, Sports Development Officer on 01472 323366.

The NHS in England is heading for an estimated surplus of £1.75bn in the current financial year, official estimates predict (based on data from the first three months of the financial year).  

In the last financial year, the NHS in England recorded a surplus of £1.658bn, following a deficit of £547m in 2006-07. The department said the money would stay in the NHS, and be used to fund patient care.

However, Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman has questioned whether taxpayers’ money was being used effectively.  

Mr Lamb, said: “This forecast surplus begs the question whether taxpayers’ money is being used effectively.  

“What evidence is there that trusts are using their surpluses to prepare for fluctuations in demand and investment in new services? Is this the NHS preparing for a period of slower growth in funding? Or is this individual trusts building up a surplus so that they can survive in a more competitive environment?”  

Mr Lamb said that many areas of patient care, such as public health, alcohol treatment and mental health services, were being starved of funds.  

“Several reports have shown that the current funding system risks damaging quality in the NHS but has done nothing to improve efficiency.  

“Ministers should focus on sorting this out rather than patting themselves on the back for allowing the NHS to bank more and more cash.”

    Smartwater glows under ultra violet light

Today I visited Your Place in Wellington Street; were local Police was present along with a Community Warden had a street stall. The aim of the day was to highlight the sudden increase burglaries within North East Lincolnshire. Last year across the Borough there were about 3 burglaries per day but now the figure has increased to 4 per day, but not every ward is experiencing the same problems. 

We obviously realise that in areas of deprivation there is a higher level of crime, but still this is not acceptable. However, when you look at the figures closely many of the burglaries are ‘sneak burglaries’; the thief will either climb in through a window or simply open an unlocked door.  

In my role of Portfolio Holder of Communities and Neighbourhoods, I have taken part in a number of radio interviews and my message is loud and clear, “These burglaries are in the main, ‘sneak burglaries. They are carried out by opportunists, and if you take sensible precautions such as, locking all doors and windows they will not happen: you have to be careful because there is a ‘SNEAK’ about”!   

The purpose of the street stall was to give advice crime reduction, make referrals for target hardening (such as window locks), and also to give out smartwarter kits. The kits have been handed out free in North East Lincolnshire for the last two years, and they contain a colourless liquid, which is known has smartwater. Each bottle contains a unique chemical ‘code’ which is registered to you – conclusively proving ownership.  

The Conservatives have accused the Labour government of creating a “teenage timebomb”, presiding over a deterioration of teenage health that has seen the number of young people admitted to hospital annually rise by 23% since 2000.

Using government statistics, the Tories issued a dossier showing that on six counts teenage health had got “steadily worse” since 2000, with the deterioration even more marked among early teens.

Rehearsing the party’s central theme that the fabric of British society needs fundamental reform, the shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, said the figures were a “sad indictment of our broken society”.

The Tories also say that admission to hospitals for alcohol abuse had increased by 51% to nearly 12,700 a year and admission to hospitals on smoking related illnesses had increased by 41% to 16,200 a year, though this had increased by 63% among 11- to 15-year-olds.

They also made other claims; however we have to be careful of this latest spin from the Cameron Spin Doctors. We must remember that is was the Tories who also failed us for 13 disastrous years. They failed with the NHS, closed post offices, sold off school playing fields, failed with our education system, squeezed local government, and public services. 

The Liberal Democrats have accused the Government of trying to bury a report revealing how high quality NHS cancer services are being undermined by the internal market’s funding system.

The report commissioned by the Department of Health was finalised in May 2008 but not published until Friday 8 August, the opening day of the Beijing Olympics.

The report finds that system of Payment by Results (PbR), effectively the currency of the NHS, causes hospitals who treat patients requiring complex operations and treatment to lose money as a result.

 The report finds that:

Ø     The internal market as it currently operates is undermining high quality cancer services.

Ø     Patients with complex needs are losing specialist hospitals (like the Royal  Marsden) vast sums of money

Ø     The system actively discourages investment in new technology and in new treatments known to improve patient outcomes

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said:

“This is a devastating criticism of the problems Payment by Results is causing for the parts of the NHS we should be most proud of.

“This report reveals the very serious unintended consequences of how treatments are paid for. The Government is effectively penalising hospitals for providing specialist care.

“Ministers claim that PbR is rewarding efficiency, but this report shows that it risks distorting clinical decisions about who to treat and whether to invest in new and improved technologies.

“The Government must act on this report now. Its own cancer strategy is being fatally undermined by this flawed funding system.

“The Health Secretary is probably too busy worrying about the leadership of the Labour party to pay proper attention to the warnings in the report about the damage being wrought in the NHS. What other explanation could there be for sitting on the report for three months and only publishing it on a quiet Friday when most people are on holiday?

 “I am writing today to the Secretary of State calling for an urgent review of Payment by Results. There is a clear need for reform of this system.” 

Commenting on today’s [26^th August] U-Switch report which shows that household disposable income has fallen by a sixth in the last year alone, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said:

“The credit crunch and soaring consumer prices are clearly having a massive impact on British families.

“This is extremely worrying news for Gordon Brown, whose claims that all is well with UK PLC are now looking well wide of the mark.

“The Government cannot possibly continue to play down the severity of the economic crisis the UK faces, when millions of people can barely make ends meet.

“One in seven adults are now trapped below the poverty line, leaving the Government’s poverty strategy in tatters.

“Gordon Brown needs to wake up to the reality that we are now teetering on the brink of recession. He must act to help the millions of families struggling against high taxes, rising bills and falling disposable income.”

More than 80 Labour MPs, including several ministerial aides have signed a petition calling for a one-off windfall tax to be imposed on energy firms who have recently recorded huge profits.  

Pressure group Compass, which organised the petition, said it expected more MPs to sign after the summer recess. However, the government says it is “looking at” all options to help problems of families being able to pay their fuel bills this winter.  

While a windfall tax has not been ruled out, it is understood the prime minister is looking at an alternative levy on carbon emissions.  

Earlier this month, Business Secretary John Hutton said the Chancellor Alastair Darling had some “very difficult calls” to make.  

But he said the UK must be wary of any “fiscal” or “regulatory” changes to the energy sector that could prompt investors to go elsewhere.  

The “big three” energy firms - Shell, BP and British Gas - have recently posted substantial profits.   The government have used windfall tax option before on the profits before in 1997; when the utility companies were recently privatised.  

On Sunday, a YouGov poll for The Observer newspaper of just over 2,000 people found that 67% supported a windfall tax. 

The Liberal Democrats have for a long time called for a windfall tax, and recently Nick Clegg said: 

“When the winter comes, price rises will hit the elderly and the vulnerable hardest. The Government cannot sit idly by and allow them to suffer. 

“Ministers should be clawing back the money from the energy companies’ £9bn European windfall to help protect struggling households from the effects of fuel poverty.  

“This huge amount of unearned income should be used to insulate homes and make sure that households are paying less for their energy bills.