Tim Ball

 Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg comments on the Queen's speech.

Today the Government laid out its programme for the next year. They've shown yet again that they just don't understand the hard times facing millions of families across Britain. At a time of unprecedented economic crisis what people need is help. But all they're getting is more of the same tired ideas from Labour, while the Conservatives would prefer to sit back and do nothing.

The Government wasted a huge opportunity today. They have proposed 14 bills to go through Parliament next year, but not a single one will help deliver affordable homes for local people, lower fuel bills, or create new jobs.

People care about the schools their children are in and the hospitals that serve their communities. That's why we want to see more power given to local people over the decisions that affect them, rather than hoarded by central Government and unelected civil servants in Whitehall. Plus we want proper measures introduced to safeguard our natural environment and to make sure Britain plays its part in tackling dangerous climate change.

Over the next parliamentary session, I will be working hard with all of our MPs to make the changes that matter to people. We will be defending our precious freedoms, which this Government seems determined to get rid of one by one. Most of all, we'll be fighting for a fairer and greener Britain.

Over 35,000 people in the South West have been turned down for a crisis loan in the last year, Liberal Democrat research has revealed. 

Applications for the loans, aimed at low income families and pensioners unable to get credit elsewhere, have risen nationally by more than 40% in the last year to 2.5m.  The figures come at a time when the Government is encouraging banks to continue to lend money. 

The average crisis loan is for about £75.

Commenting on the figures, Bath MP Don Foster said, “The Government has got to practice what it has been preaching to the banks and give loans to desperate families who have nowhere else to turn.

“These figures are even more worrying when we learn that, in the last year, inspectors overturned 57% of decisions on crisis loans made by Job Centre staff.  This means that almost 6 of 10 decisions made were wrong.

“Ministers need to make more cash available for these loans during the recession and make sure that Jobcentre staff get their decisions right.”

Top Premiership football clubs are charging fans up to 45% more than the national average for a pint of beer, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.

The figures show that:

• 19 out of 20 clubs charge more than the national average for a pint of lager (£2.76) - Chelsea are the worst charging £4 per pint, earning £353,400 more per season than if they charged their fans a fair price
• Premier League clubs make just over £11m a season from over-inflated lager prices
• In comparison, the price of a pint at Rugby Union and Rugby League clubs is up to 15% less
• If prices were set at the national average they would bring in around £9.3m, meaning football fans are being overcharged to the tune of £1.7m a season

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said:

"Unfortunately, it comes as little surprise to me that Premier League football fans are, once again, being ripped off.

"As if extortionate ticket prices weren't bad enough, top flight football clubs are charging over the odds for a basic pint. This blatant profiteering should not continue to go unnoticed.

"It's outrageous that football fans should be charged so much more than rugby fans - 40p might not seem a lot, but over the course of a season it soon mounts up.

"When will Premier League football clubs learn to stop taking the loyalty of their fans for granted?"

Throwing a spotlight on information the Government would rather keep hidden is an essential part of our democracy. And when dealing with an administration legendary for its secrecy, you increasingly have to rely on whistle-blowers to see the full picture.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has written at length in today's  Telegraph about the treatment of Tory MP Damian Green.

Follow this link to see the full contents of Nick Clegg's letter.                  

Bath MP Don Foster is calling for real action in keeping HGVs and through traffic out of Bath, by researching a scheme that sees alternative recommended routes sent to Sat Nav mapping companies.

Earlier this month Liberal Democrat research revealed that Bath and North East Somerset Council officers had not been attending meetings of the South West Regional Freight Forum, where the scheme has been discussed and actively piloted by Somerset County Council.

Don has now written to the Chief Executive of Somerset County Council to find out more.

Don said, "This is a sensible, practical way of reducing the number of HGVs getting stuck on inappropriate routes in our city, and can also help to reduce through traffic.  It is pleasing that these companies are willing to work with local communities to improve the service they provide.

"We need to find out more about this scheme and start playing catch up so that we can work with Somerset County Council in producing effective alternative routes.  It is time that there was real action on this issue."

Liberal Democrat Councillor Ian Gilchrist asked a question on the issue at the last Full Council meeting.  He said, "The Tories have talked and talked and talked.  They keep claiming that they are working to stop HGVs using Bath as a through route, but the reality is that they are doing very little.

"If this was really a priority, as they claim it is, then they would have made sure officers were attending these meetings and that our Council was pioneering this scheme.  Instead we are sadly lagging behind."