Local Campaigner, Mark Jewell has welcomed plans for every child in infant school in England to receive a free school lunch. From September 2014 all pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 including 40,200 children in Lancashire will benefit from a free and healthy hot meal at lunchtime. Commenting, Mark Jewell said; “This is […]

LANCASHIRE County Council is currently holding a consultation over proposed changes to its home to school transport. Proposals include an increase in the contribution parents already make towards transport to faith schools, a rise in school bus fares and a reduction in the number of people who qualify for free transport. However, those on low […]

Local Liberal Democrats have welcomed Nick Cleggs’ announcement that infants will be getting free school meals from next September. With thousands of parents across Lancashire feeling the pinch on their household finances this could save them over £400 a year per child at infants. Mark Jewell commented, “This will also benefit those infants who are in poverty, but do […]

As the new school year begins, pupils in our local schools here in Preston will benefit from an extra £705,510 on top of the school budget received last year thanks to the Liberal Democrat Pupil Premium. The amount Preston schools receive from the pupil premium for the 2013/2014 school year will be £2,351,700 The Pupil Premium helps […]

Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government have given schools in Lancashire a £33,439,000 Christmas present. The cash is an increase in the pupil premium funding. The Pupil Premium covers any primary or secondary school pupil that has been registered for Free School Meals in the past six years. For 2013/2014, the Premium will increase from […]

Results showing a fall in accidents in the Larches area of Preston have been welcomed by residents. Following strong campaigning from Cllr Mark Jewell, Larches was one of three pilot areas across Lancashire. The results show casualties on the Larches estate have reduced since the 20mph signed scheme was established in September 2010. For the […]

The IFS has today released initial findings from a report into the changes in Higher Education finance, saying the new system introduced by the Coalition is ‘substantially more progressive’. The report says: “The average student will also be better off while at university, enjoying an increase in cash support of some 12 per cent.” “The […]

Liberal Democrats on Lancashire County Council have angrily criticised proposals to charge disabled students for transport. Leader of the Lib Dem Group, County Councillor Bill Winlow, described the proposals as “outrageous”. The Conservative Council are currently consulting on plans to introduce a means tested contribution towards the cost of transport support for students with special […]

Liberal Democrats on Lancashire County Council are supporting the Local Government Associations campaign for a Judicial Review of a cut to the Education Formula Grant. LibDem education spokesman at LCC, Allan Knox said, “This cut is not part of the austerity budget, but was a last minute move to fund academies in Lancashire. We believe […]