http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Somerton and Frome Liberal Democrats en-GB Somerton and Frome Liberal Democrats http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Somerton and Frome Liberal Democrats 2010-03-10T09:35+00:00 United Kingdom http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000190/david_heath_given_all_clear_on_expenses.html Somerton & Frome MP David Heath has been given the all clear by Sir Thomas Legg after his review of MPs expenses. In the report published today, Sir Thomas records that "Mr Heath has no issues". 2010-02-04T18:01+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000182/mendip_was_weak_five_years_ago_now_its_one_of_the_worst_councils_in_the_south_west.html Speaking on behalf of Mendip's Liberal Democrat group, Cllr Claire Hudson, the Leader of the Opposition said: 2009-12-09T17:47+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000196/frome_mp_welcomes_frome_college_funding_breakthrough.html Frome MP David Heath has welcomed the long awaited announcement of funding of £1.1 million for a new tertiary block at Frome Community College. The funding, to be provided by the Learning & Skills Council (LSC), has been delayed since last year, provoking Mr Heath to ask questions in Parliament and write to Ministers. That has now produced a positive outcome. 2010-02-10T11:40+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000194/mps_facing_criminal_charges_must_not_be_allowed_to_hide_behind_parliamentary_privilege__heath.html Commenting on reports that Parliamentary privilege may be used by the lawyers of parliamentarians facing criminal charges, Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House, David Heath said: 2010-02-08T18:14+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000193/meeting_with_minister_on_flood_school.html Officials from Somerset County Council will join local MP David Heath to meet the Minister for Schools, Vernon Coaker MP on Tuesday 9th (next week) to discuss the future of a school which has suffered regular flood damage. The meeting will take place at the Department for Children Schools and Families in Whitehall. 2010-02-04T18:04+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000192/retail_crime_costs_over_a_billion.html Somerton and Frome MP David Heath called for urgent action today to combat retail crime, which is estimated to have cost shops across the country £1.1 billion last year. The figures come from the Retail Crimes Survey, which estimates that crimes such as shop lifting and driving away from petrol stations has gone up by 10% in the last year, and cost businesses the equivalent of 72 thousand retail jobs. 2010-02-04T18:04+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000191/somerset_mp_calls_for_action_on_chinese_lanterns.html Somerset MP, David Heath today called in Parliament for action to make Chinese Lanterns safe to livestock and wildlife. Speaking at Questions to DEFRA ministers, David drew attention to the growing trend to set off Chinese lanterns, which are carried by convection currents across the countryside. The lanterns contain a metal wire in their construction which, if it is chopped up into hay or silage can cause harm to cattle and other livestock. 2010-02-04T18:02+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000189/david_heath_says_gordon_brown_must_face_the_iraq_inquiry_before_the_election.html David Heath, MP for Somerton and Frome, yesterday urged Gordon Brown to face the Chilcot Inquiry before the next general election. 2010-01-18T11:03+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000188/david_heath_backs_veterans_welfare_bill.html Somerton and Frome MP, David Heath, has backed the 'Veterans Welfare Bill' introduced in Parliament by Michael Moore MP on Wednesday. Mr Moore is proposing legislation, under the '10 Minute Rule' procedure, that would introduce a 'Veterans Covenant' setting out a duty of care for veterans in the same way that the Military Covenant does for serving members of the armed forces and their families. 2010-01-18T10:59+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000187/david_heath_underlines_somerset_flooding_concerns_to_minister.html Somerton and Frome MP, David Heath, yesterday (15th December)raised his concerns over flooding during a debate on the Flood and Water Management Bill. Mr Heath explained that flooding is an aspect of life that is faced routinely by some people in the Somerton and Frome constituency. 2009-12-18T11:23+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000186/david_heath_brings_new_bill_to_parliament.html Local MP David Heath, will today (16th December) introduce his new bill to Parliament on transport for school children. Mr Heath was drawn in the ballot for the second time in November this year. Last year David took on the Fuel Poverty Bill which received wide-cross party support. 2009-12-18T11:22+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000185/radical_new_move_from_south_somerset_council__liberal_democrats_dont_stand_still.html Councillors at South Somerset and East Devon district councils have agreed to explore the possibility of joint management and shared services between the two authorities. Both councils will now work together to develop a joint strategy that will look at options for a productive partnership, which would include a joint management team under a shared Chief Executive. 2009-12-11T17:51+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000184/liberal_democrat_south_somerset__best_district_in_the_south_west.html Liberal Democrat run South Somerset District Council has emerged as the best performing district council in the entire South West region following inspection results published this week. 2009-12-11T17:47+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000183/south_somerset_scores_high_in_tougher_test_of_council_performance.html Liberal Democrat run South Somerset District Council has scored highly in the first of the Audit Commission's tougher inspections, being described as an authority 'exceeding its requirements and performing well.' 2009-12-10T17:41+00:00 http://www.somertonandfromelibdems.org.uk/news/000181/david_heath_welcomes_new_thales_contract.html Somerset MP, David Heath, today welcomed the announcement that Thales has secured a £100m contract for sonar systems for the Italian Navy's mine-hunting fleet. The majority of the work will be undertaken at the Templecombe site and this contract represents the largest order for Thales at Templecombe this year. 2009-12-01T14:11+00:00