Darlington and Sedgefield Liberal Democrats

Reacting to Thames Water's latest response to the public's views on the plans for a London 'super sewer' Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP Simon Hughes said:

"I am disappointed that Chambers Wharf in Bermondsey remains Thames Water's preferred option to drill the proposed main Thames tunnel to Abbey Mills Pumping Station (Newham), remains the preferred eastern end of the proposed main tunnel from Kirtling Street (Wandsworth), and remains the preferred site at the end of the Greenwich connection tunnel.

£10m to boost literacy - Clegg

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced on Monday that there will be up to £10m additional support for Pupil Premium children who leave primary school without Level 4 literacy - the expected level.

In a keynote speech to teachers and school leaders, he said that the Education Endowment Foundation will be awarding the money to pilot projects to help disadvantaged pupils make the transition from primary to secondary school. The money will be targeted at struggling Year 7s from deprived homes.

"How can a child start secondary school unable to read with confidence?" declared Nick. "That is a basic building block of a good education and no child should begin the race so far behind the starting line. We need to do everything we can to help these children through this transition to get them up to speed.
"That is a responsibility the government takes extremely seriously. And I can confirm that the Education Endowment Foundation will shortly be inviting groups of local schools, in the areas that suffer most with this problem, to bid for extra funds for struggling Year 7s from deprived homes to help them get their reading and writing up to scratch. Extra 'catch up cash', if you like.
"We envisage that schools will want to use it for small catch up classes, or one-to-one tuition, or vouchers for literacy tuition that parents can spend. We will run a proper evaluation, sharing what works with all schools not just those areas taking part in these pilots. It's likely this kind of targeted support is the best way to crack this problem - next year we'll know.
"Of course, we hope as few pupils as possible need it, thanks to the Pupil Premium. And I know primary and secondary schools up and down the country are determined to make this work.
"Some are using the money for breakfast clubs; homework clubs; or to provide one-to-one-tuition. Some are funding counselling services, so troubled kids are in the right place, emotionally, to learn. Some are using it for educational visits to places like museums: the sort of experiences middle class children take for granted but poorer child might rarely enjoy."

Nick also announced that he wants to "strike a deal between the Coalition government and our schools and teachers. Teachers who help these children unlock the doors that otherwise hold them back ... they are the key to an open and fair society ... the key to the opportunity Britain I am determined we build."

The best teachers will be offered incentives to work in schools that have large numbers of disadvantaged pupils. The government will ask the School Teachers Review Body to look at giving other schools the same flexibility Academies currently have to use pay to hold on to the best teachers.

Also, from next year, there will be Pupil Premium Awards for the 50 schools that do the best to boost the performance of their poorest pupils and narrow the gap - with cash prizes of up to £10,000 for the best of the best.

All EU Member States will finally be compliant with the ban on battery farm eggs by the end of the year, Health Commissioner John Dalli has announced.

Speaking at a meeting of the European Agriculture Committee, Dalli also said that 16 Member States are now expected to be compliant with the ban on sow stalls by the end of this year.

Simon Hughes, local MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, has welcomed news that unemployment and in particular youth unemployment has begun to drop in the three parliamentary constituencies in Southwark over the last three months.

The figures show that in Simon's constituency the number of unemployed fell by 178 from 4,542 in February to 4,368 in April, broadly reflecting the wider trend in London which saw the number of unemployed fall from 57,095 to 53,410 over the same period. In the constituencies of Camberwell and Peckham, and Dulwich and West Norwood the numbers fell by 97 and 100 respectively.

Local Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather has welcomed reports that Labour-run Brent Council have temporarily put a halt to the ransacking of Kensal Rise library, but added that the situation should never have got this far.

Earlier on Wednesday, removal men turned up to empty the building of its books and its equipment. They were soon met by over 50 local campaigners, including Councillor Paul Lorber, the leader of the Liberal Democrats on Brent Council and a long standing library campaigner.

Sarah Teather, Member of Parliament for Brent Central, has expressed her disappointment at Brent Council's decision to clear Kensal Rise Library building of books and IT equipment today.

Commenting, Ms Teather said:

"This is another sad day for Brent's libraries. Campaigners have tried to work with officials to keep Kensal Rise library open, but have been ignored at every turn.

Commenting, Stephen Williams said:

"This is a very popular idea which would give the public something back for bailing out the banks.

"I welcome the Treasury Select Committee's review into what to do with the Government's holding in RBS and Lloyds and hope that it furthers the case for giving the public their share."

Sarah Teather announced today that the Coalition Government are extending the system of support for young people with special educational needs up to the age of 25, so that young people will get the support they need wherever they are taught. You can find more info in the next steps document, which you can find here.

In response to Southwark council's Draft Open Spaces Strategy consultation, Simon Hughes MP has called on council officers to develop and nurture working relationships with interested individuals and groups in order to ensure the best possible day-to-day care of Southwark's open spaces.

The consultation asked for people's views on what the vision and objectives for the borough should be and to identify key needs and priorities for the different types of open space throughout Southwark.

Today (Saturday, 13th May) Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark received the Honorary Freedom of Southwark, along with actor Sir Michael Caine and six others at a Civic Awards Ceremony at St George's Cathedral. Speaking after the event, Simon said:

"It was a great honour for me to be one of those who received the honorary freedom of our borough at the splendid ceremony in St George's Cathedral today. I am very grateful to Southwark council for agreeing to give me this honour.