In Monday's BBC's Panorama programme former senior Department of Health official Bob Dredge said that NHS patients are not receiving value for money despite unprecedented investment. Bob Dredge, who was programme director for financial reform at the department, said that in terms of productivity, value for money has been reduced.
Council Tax bills in England will rise by an average of 4.5% this year - more than twice the level of inflation, according to government figures. The increase means the average council tax per home will be £1,056, up from £1,009 last year. Ministers are set to announce whether they will use powers to limit council tax rises in some parts of the country.
Sandra Terry met the Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP and told him about the Rubbish Action Zones that she and the Springvale Focus Team have carried out over the last few months. This cleared out a lot of household rubbish yet, despite her efforts, very little went for recycling. Sandra said, " Our Rubbish Action Zones show just how wasteful we all are. I was hoping that in the recent Budget the Chancellor would come forward with proposals for fiscal incentives first to see packaging and goods redesigned in ways that make them easier to reuse and recycle; and secondly to offer the financial incentives to reuse and recycle materials."
Commenting on the Prime Minister's continuing unwillingness to name a precise departure date, Sir Menzies Campbell MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "It is time for the Prime Minister to tell us his own exit strategy. "His admission in Australia has only added to the current uncertainty and sense of drift. "The issue now is not the interests of the Labour party but the good governance of Britain."
Date: Thursday, 30 March 2006
Local MP Tim Farron's question to the Prime Minister Tony Blair at Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday 8th March has helped secure a spectacular result. Tim asked the Prime Minister whether he would help to make sure that affordable housing in Cumbria remains affordable into the future by removing the mandatory right to buy (stair-casing) option.
