Gordon Birtwistle & Burnley Liberal Democrats

Business leaders have backed the £1bn Youth Contract, announced by Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg in November, which aims to ensure that all jobless young people are earning or learning again before long-term damage is done.

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

Britain’s four biggest employer organisations, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), have formally backed the Youth Contract and will also urge their members to back the initiative.

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 these 26,000 in the 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:

“Youth unemployment is an economic waste and a slow-burn social disaster. If young people are out of work, the consequences of that will be felt for decades afterwards. We need to ensure young people do not have a false start.

“That is why it is excellent news that Britain’s four biggest employer organisations are backing the scheme. I look forward to working with local employers to make sure the Youth Contract is a success so that we won’t lose the skills and talent of our young people – right when we need them most.

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

Commenting further, Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said:

“Supporting people into work is my priority for 2012 and helping young people get proper lasting jobs is especially important.

“The Youth Contract will make sure every unemployed young person starts earning or learning again before long term damage is done.

“But government can’t do this alone, we need businesses to play their part too. That’s why the support of the Confederation of British
Industry, British Chambers of Commerce, British Retail Consortium and Federation of Small Businesses is such good news.”

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%”

In Burnley and Padiham, 870 learners took on an apprenticeship in 2010/11, an increase of 73%.

Apprenticeships give people the skills and experience needed to succeed on the job market and create the skills necessary in the workforce for sustainable growth.

Liberal Democrats have long called for a significant increase in apprenticeships and Lib Dem Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has made this a priority.

To support more employers, especially small businesses, to take on apprentices, the Coalition Government this week announced a number of measures, including:

1. Offering employers with up to 50 employees an incentive payment of £1,500 to take on apprentices aged 16-24. This will encourage small employers to take on up to 20,000 apprentices.
2. Streamlining processes so that it takes just a month for an employer to advertise for an apprentice.
3. Ensuring that the National Apprenticeship Service better supports the needs of small employers – through more effectively targeted advice and guidance and helping training providers work more effectively with local SMEs.

Commenting, Burnley and Padiham MP Gordon Birtwistle said:

“Apprenticeships make companies more productive and give young people the experience and skills they need.

“Liberal Democrats are determined to tackle youth unemployment and get our economy back on track. Apprenticeships are a huge part of that.

“Apprenticeships are beneficial to all involved and the record rise in learners taking them up is great news for Burnley and the economy as a whole.

“Small businesses form the backbone of our economy and the announcements by Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, Vince Cable, are very welcome. They show the Coalition Government is determined to do the right thing and create sustainable growth, driven by our local employers.”

Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, Vince Cable said:

“The apprenticeships programme is a success story, with record numbers of learners starting an apprenticeship this year. But I have listened to employers, and will go further to ensure that investment is targeted where impact is greatest, delivering the specific skills businesses need to drive growth.

“Apprenticeships are proven to boost the life chances of young people, and are a sound investment in our future competitiveness. So when times are tough, it’s right that we provide additional support to help the smallest firms meet training costs.

“We’ll cut no corners on quality. Apprenticeships will remain the gold standard for excellence in vocational training – but where red tape serves no purpose, we’ll strip it away.”

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”.

Liberal Democrat Children and Families Minister, Sarah Teather has announced the extra money each school will receive through the Pupil Premium this year – more than originally expected.

In Burnley, schools will get a total of over £1.5m to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The original plans for an extra £430 per pupil have been boosted by £100m, meaning that that every school in Burnley will now get nearly £500 for every child on Free School Meals.

News of the extra money comes after Sarah Teather recently announced that the total Pupil Premium funding for next year will rise to £1.25bn, double the amount in 2011-12.

Thanks to Liberal Democrats, it will rise again each year until 2014-15 when it will be worth £2.5bn.

Commenting, Gordon Birtwistle MP said:

“It is a shocking fact that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are three times less likely to achieve five good GSCEs than their more well-off classmates.

“Education is the best way to end the underachievement of disadvantaged pupils through supporting children comprehensively from early years straight through to secondary school.

“That is why Liberal Democrats have ensured that in Burnley, schools will receive over £1.5m as part of the Pupil Premium.

“This is more than expected and will make an even bigger difference for our children. I look forward to working with schools and teachers to make the Pupil Premium the success our children deserve it to be.”

Commenting further, Sarah Teather said:

“The Pupil Premium will benefit poorer pupils, providing extra money directly for those pupils who need it the most.

“This extra funding will help tackle inequality and enable schools to provide the extra support their pupils need to reach their full potential.”

Gordon Birtwistle MP has welcomed the new influx of funding for schools in Burnley and Padiham following the implementation of the ‘Pupil Premium’ policy. The Pupil Premium provides each school with an additional £430 for each pupil the school takes in who is on free school meals. This adds up to total funding of over £1.3m for schools across the Borough area.

Headteachers will have the power to spend this money as they see fit in order to improve the education of pupils in their school. This additional money goes straight into the schools budget and headteachers will be free to spend it in the best interests of children. Headteachers may wish to reduce class sizes, offer extra one-to-one tuition or provide for after school support.

“Within the Liberal Democrat election manifesto we pledged to invest £2.5 billion into a pupil premium to boost education opportunities for every child. We are now delivering on this promise in government. Labour left behind many schools that were failing our children – especially those from less well off families in Burnley.”

“Thanks to our actions in implementing the Pupil Premium, there is an extra £10.7m coming into Lancashire this year alone and over £1.3m coming into Burnley and Padiham schools. This figure will increase further still next year, giving a much needed boost to our schools and our children.”