Gordon Birtwistle & Burnley Liberal Democrats

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Next year, more than half a million additional children will qualify for the Pupil Premium. In Burnley and Padiham 4,170 are expected to be eligible, meaning that our schools are set to benefit from an extra £2,495,000 to support disadvantaged pupils.

The Pupil Premium will be extending its reach to cover any child that has been registered for Free School Meals (FSM) in the past six years. For 2012-13, the Premium will be worth £1.25 billion in total.

These are England’s most disadvantaged pupils, including looked after children, and they are set to benefit from £600 each after the Department for Education announced next year’s Pupil Premium will increase by £112 for each pupil.

Commenting, Gordon Birtwistle, MP for Burnley and Padiham said:

“For too long, social background has been a deciding factor in a child’s chances for the future. As a Liberal Democrat, I believe that in a fair society, a Government should work to overcome this disadvantage and help children reach their full potential.

“Children who have been eligible for Free School Meals at any point in their school career have consistently lower educational attainment than those who have never been eligible. Of students gaining three As at A-level in 2008, 30 per cent were privately educated, whereas only 0.5 per cent were eligible for Free School Meals. 

“That is why thanks to Liberal Democrats, the Coalition Government is doing the right thing by supporting schools with additional money to support children from less well-off backgrounds. This will help whole classes work better together and move forward faster.”

 Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Children’s Minister, Sarah Teather said:

“As we come to the end of the second term of the Pupil Premium we are seeing across the country how these extra funds are making a difference. Additional tuition, better IT resources and closer work with parents are all examples of how the Pupil Premium is being used to support the most disadvantaged pupils.

“That’s why I’m so pleased that, next year, we’ll be extending the Pupil Premium to another half a million children, and increasing the money that schools get to £600 per pupil. This means that, as a result of Liberal Democrats in government, more children will get a better start in life”.

Notes to Editors:

1. The latest increase sees Burnley schools’ collective entitlement increase from £1.6m to £2.5m – an increase of over 50%.
2. The latest figures available show that:

1. only 56% of 11-year-olds known to be eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) achieved the expected level in both English and mathematics compared with 77% for non-FSM pupils

2. just 31% of pupils eligible for FSM achieved five A*-C GCSEs or equivalent, including English and mathematics, compared with 59% for pupils not eligible for FSM

3. The final figures for eligible pupils, those children registered for FSM, will be based on the annual school census, held on 19 January 2012 and the Pupil Premium will be allocated accordingly.

4. Up to £50m of the £1.25bn will be used to support a Summer School programme to help the most disadvantaged pupils make the transition from primary to secondary school.

5. It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium is spent since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility.

 Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has announced a £1 billion pound Youth Contract to tackle youth unemployment, which aims to ensure that all jobless young people are earning or learning again before long-term damage is done.

In Burnley, 875 18-24 year olds are currently in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance and would stand to benefit from the Youth Contract.

Starting next April, the Youth Contract will provide at least 410,000 new work places for 18 to 24 year olds into work over the next three years. This includes 160,000 wage subsidies and 250,000 new work experience placements.

A new programme to will help 16 and 17 year olds who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs). This will help the most disengaged of the 27,000 in North West get back to school or college, onto an apprenticeship or into a job with training.

In addition, there will be at least 20,000 more incentive payments to encourage employers to take on young apprentices in England.

Commenting, Gordon Birtwistle MP said:

“In these difficult times Liberal Democrats are doing the right thing and making sure we help those who need it most. If young people are out of work, the consequences of that will be felt for decades afterwards. We need to ensure that the young people of today do not have a false start.”

 “The Youth Contract will help those who need it most through advice, support, training and by giving people in Burnley and Padiham the experience necessary to be successful in the work place. While we’re clearing up the economic mess that Labour left behind, the Coalition Government is ensuring that our children do not bear the consequences of Labour’s mistakes.”

 “As a Liberal Democrat, I am proud that the Coalition Government is doing the right thing to prevent another lost generation.”

 Commenting further, Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said:

 “Youth unemployment is an economic waste and a slow-burn social disaster.

 “We can’t lose the skills and talent of our young people – right when we need them most. We can’t afford to leave our young men and women on the scrap heap. We need the next generation to help us build a new economy.

 “The aim of the Youth Contract is to get every unemployed young person working or learning again before long-term damage is done.

 “This is a £1bn package and what’s different about it is that it gets young people into proper, lasting jobs in the private sector.”

Gordon Birtwistle, MP for Burnley and Padiham, is today celebrating the success of his apprenticeship campaign for companies to take on 100 apprentices in 100 days. On the back of this success, Gordon has also announced that he intends to take on an apprentice in his own office.

The ’100 in 100′ apprenticeships campaign was launched by Gordon Birtwistle MP whilst hosting the North West Manufacturing Conference at Burnley College earlier this year. Gordon challenged the manufacturing and engineering companies present to take on 100 new apprentices between them, and extended this challenge to other companies in Burnley. Within 100 days, participating organisations had taken on a total of 103 apprentices, and many others have indicated that they have plans to take on apprentices within the next year. Gordon will be keeping in touch with the companies involved, and will continue to do all that he can to promote the benefits of apprenticeships at every opportunity

Commenting, Gordon Birtwistle MP said:

“It is fantastic to see the enthusiasm with which these companies have leapt up to meet the challenge I laid before them at the Conference. Burnley has so many opportunities for those with the skills to take them up and apprenticeships are the best way for young people to gain those skills – first hand and on the job.”

“With youth unemployment so high it is crucial that we continue to encourage more apprenticeships, not only for today but to help build the skills Burnley needs for the future. Recent figures show a fantastic increase in apprenticeships in Burnley and Padiham this year– an increase of 73% on the previous year – and we need to continue building on this success.”

“We owe it to the next generation to provide them with the tools they need to succeed; between the Pupil Premium for schools, the coming University Technical College and our drive for apprenticeships I think that we are making excellent progress in doing so.”

“As a further show of my commitment to apprenticeships and to do my own part towards directly helping a young person find work, I will also be taking on an apprentice in my own office in the near future.”

With the costs of food, clothing, and energy all on the increase, local MP Gordon Birtwistle is calling on constituents to winter proof their homes and their finances to keep energy costs down.

Currently, around £1 of every £4 spent on heating our homes is wasted because of a lack of adequate insulation. And with over 6 million cavity walls unfilled, and 10 million lofts left unlagged, huge amounts of money is being wasted.  

 Gordon Birtwisle MP says:

 “If people in Burnley take action and get the free energy efficiency that they are entitled to, then they can save themselves hundreds of pounds every year. If they act now they can be ready long before winter.”

 Customers of British Gas can take advantage of the company’s offer to insulate their homes free if they apply before 22^nd December 2011. Customers on lower incomes, whoever their supplier is, can also call a special helpline to see if they are eligible for free insulation or discounted bills (the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 980 8177).

 As well as winter-proofing their homes, Gordon is also urging constituents to winter-proof their finances by applying for all the benefits they are entitled to. £1 in every £4 of the benefits available go unclaimed – a staggering £12.7 billion a year. The largest pots available are income support; pension credit; housing benefit; council tax benefit and Jobseeker’s Allowance. However, there are a host of other benefits, including a new Warm Homes Discount, which will give every person on pension credit an energy bill rebate of £120.

 “With more than 50 government benefits available, it can be an absolute minefield for anyone trying to claim what is actually legally their’s”, the MP warns. “Charities such as Citizen’s Advice and Age UK are able to talk you through what you may be eligible for and even apply on your behalf – I would urge people to give them a call or drop in to a centre.”    Gordon Birtwistle MP recently met with these charities at an Open Day at the House of Commons, where he discussed what support was available for stretched household budgets during the winter months.

“There are a number of ways you can cut bills and claim benefits if you speak to the experts” He argues. The local MP also recommends an online Benefit Check tool from the charity Turn2Us: http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

  Notes

All British Gas energy or services customers can call 0800 980 8177 to request free loft or cavity wall insulation if they apply before 22^nd December. Customers of all energy suppliers can call 0800 33 66 99 to check if they are eligible for energy bill discounts or free insulation

Research from the Centre for Economic and Business Research (Cebr) has shown that energy efficiency can have a significant impact. The research, conducted earlier this year, analysed over 40 million meter readings over a five year period and showed that customers of British Gas are using 22% less gas on average. Some customers were saving as much as £322 a year on their energy bills. More details on the Cebr research can be found here: http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/BG_Home_Energy_Report_110202.pdf

According to a Written Parliamentary Question on the 20^th October 2011, “For the six income-related benefits for which estimates are available there was between £6,930 million and £12,700 million left unclaimed in 2008-09; this compared to £38,110 million that was claimed and represents take-up by expenditure of between about 75% and 85%”

The news of the Olympic Torch’s route through Burnley on June 23^rd 2012 was announced on Monday and has been celebrated by the local MP Gordon Birtwistle.

As one of just over a thousand villages, towns and cities that will host the iconic flame, Burnley is honoured to be involved in the celebrations that will take place across the country.

The Liberal Democrat Mr Birtwistle praised the spirit of the town and believes that it was instrumental to the win. “It will undoubtedly be an extremely memorable occasion; probably the first and maybe only time that many local residents will have seen the torch and to see it come through our streets will be truly remarkable. I am thrilled that the organisers have recognised what a special place Burnley is and that we will be a part of this historic process.”

The flame which will pass within 10 miles of 95% of the UK population will enter the country on May 18^th following its ignition in Olympia, Greece. The torch will then travel the length and breadth of the country, covering 8,000 miles and featuring 8,000 torchbearers before reaching the Olympic Park in London on July 27^th.

 Local MP Gordon Birtwistle has expressed his delight at the announcement of a trio of successes for the Burnley area.

 The £4 million European grant that will fund the development of the Burnley Bridge Industrial Estate and bring 1500 jobs to the area was the first in a series of achievements for the district. But more good news was soon to follow for the prospects of the local economy.

The state of the art 800 place Burnley Visions Trust University Technical College, the first to be built in Lancashire and only one of fifteen in the country, will arrive at Weaver’s Triangle under a pioneering new scheme. The Victoria Mill site has been chosen to kick-start the regeneration of Burnley’s historic mills and the college will train young people aged between 14 and 19 in construction and engineering as well as more traditional subjects such as Maths and English. The college is expected to open in September 2012.

Within the last few days Burnley has received a further boost with the news that £9 million has been allocated by the Government to restore the Todmorden Curve which has been awarded funding through the second round of the Regional Growth Fund. Mr Birtwistle hailed the announcement that the service would cut the times of train journeys between Burnley and Manchester by half as “fantastic”. “This will open the town up for major investment” he said, adding that “it will create hundreds of jobs and link Burnley to the economic powerhouse of Manchester”.

The Liberal Democrat was keen to display his admiration for the work of Burnley Council in securing these key investments and praised their “dedication and commitment to building a better Burnley. I believe that we should all be proud of the progress that has been made and I am certain that these wins will provide Burnley with an even brighter future. It has been a pleasure to be involved in the process”.

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle met with the Burnley branch of Parkinson’s UK last week to discuss the lack of specialist Parkinson’s care in the East Lancashire area. 

The group, backed by Mr Birtwistle, would like to see the introduction of a dedicated Parkinson’s Nurse by the East Lancashire Primary Care Trust, able to support people by providing valuable advice in helping people comes to terms with their Parkinson’s diagnosis and offer guidance over medication (Parkinson’s medication regimes can be very complex and can be difficult to manage for people without specialist training).

Mr Birtwistle stated, “With over 800 people in East Lancashire diagnosed with Parkinson’s, including 200 in Burnley alone, there is a real and pressing need for a dedicated service to ensure that those who suffer from this condition are provided with the full level of support and care that they require”

Whilst the East Lancashire Primary Care Trust, are in the process of redesigning the current Community Nursing Service to increase access to medical provision for sufferers of long term neurological condition such as Parkinson’s, there are no current plans to introduce a specialist service.  Whilst acknowledging that this is an improvement on current provision, both MR Birtwistle and the Burnley Parkinson’s group have concerns over the continued lack of fully trained, specialist Parkinson’s nurses in the area, a policy recommended by Parkinson’s UK.

Gordon Birtwistle, Member of Parliament for Burnley and Padiham, is fighting hard to ensure that you pay no more than what is fair for your gas and electricity. This is following the actions of yet more energy companies posting price hikes averaging a 19% increase a year after many reported record profits.

 Having written to industry regulator Ofgem demanding action, they have responded with assurances that the issue is being pursued with demands that energy providers provide clearer and simpler price tariffs which are transparent and understandable to consumers. Further action is also being taken to break the stranglehold of the ‘Big Six’ companies which currently dominate the market and clear the way for further competition to help keep prices down.

 Gordon has further supported plans which will keep energy bills affordable for local families, calling for social tariffs to be implemented to help provide those on lower incomes the energy they need to heat their homes. Gordon has also strongly stated his support for the British Gas initiative to provide more efficient boilers and free insulation to the homes of their customers to keep bills and energy usage down. As a part of this he has written to the other major energy providers demanding they introduce similar schemes to help residents of Burnley and Padiham.

 Commenting, Gordon Birtwistle said: “As the weather is starting to turn colder as we head back towards winter, it is important that both the government and Ofgem as regulator continue to work closely together to ensure that energy companies put people before profit. These companies have a moral obligation to protect the wellbeing of their customers.”

 “I recently had a meeting with British Gas at which they explained the steps they have been taking to help their customers save money and reduce their energy bills. I have since written to the other major energy suppliers asking them to follow their lead. It is indefensible for these companies to not help their customers in difficult times such as these, whilst posting record price hikes alongside record profits.”

 “I am doing everything in my power to work with the government and the industry regulator to get the best deal for the people of Burnley and Padiham.”

This week Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle met with the Royal National Institute of Blind People at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Birmingham, where he learned that at least 50% of victims of sight loss could be avoided with earlier detection and treatment.

Sight loss currently costs the UK £6bn a year and that this figure could drastically decrease if we ensure that people receive treatments earlier.

Mr Birtwistle was keen to speak out on the issue following this meeting and said: “Sight loss affects two million people in the UK, which means there are likely to be over 3,000 people in my constituency, Burnley, that are living with sight loss. I urge everyone to get their eyes tested regularly”.

Head of Policy and Campaigns at RNIB Steve Winyard expressed his support to Gordon’s comments and thanked him for visiting their conference stand adding that “regular sight tests are vital as they pick up early signs of eye disease and save sight. Reducing unnecessary sight loss makes financial sense for both national and local government”.

RNIB is calling for Eye Health to be recognised as a public health need in Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and in Health & Wellbeing Strategies, in addition to a specific Indicator around Eye Health in the New NHS performance framework. Gordon has vowed to support this issue in parliament.

Gordon Birtwistle, MP for Burnley and Padiham, will be holding his weekly drop in advice surgery this week on  Friday 16th September at Burnley Library between 4 and 5pm – no appointment needed.

The Friday after, the 23rd September, he will be at Padiham Leisure Centre between 4 and 5pm.
 
Gordon is as an accessible an MP as possible, and holds regular ‘drop in’ advice surgeries every Friday across Burnley and Padiham. Come along if you’d like to raise any issues with your MP.
 
Furthermore, most Saturday mornings, (weather permitting), Gordon holds an open advice surgery in Burnley town centre between 10-12 outside Marks and Spencer.
 
Commenting, Gordon said:
 
‘It’s really important that people are able to speak with their MP and seek their intervention – about local or national issues of concern. Doing my very best to serve my constituents is the most important part of my job – come along if you would like to speak with me about any issue.’
 
Alternative appointments are also available by contacting Gordon’s office on 01282 704430. Gordon’s constituency office at 23 St James Row, Burnley, BB11 1EY is also open for callers to drop in for advice and assistance from a caseworker every weekday between 11am and 3pm.
 
Gordon Birtwistle’s regular ‘drop in’ advice surgery timetable
First Friday of the month:4pm-5pm Burnley Sainsbury’s
Second Friday of the month:4pm-5pm Burnley Asda
Third Friday of the month:4pm-5pm Burnley Library
Fourth Friday of the month: 4pm-5pm Padiham Leisure Centre
 
When there is a fifth Friday in the month, Gordon holds an additional special surgery elsewhere in the constituency