DOCSLIB.ORG

Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) Wednesday Volume 691 24 March 2021 No. 196 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 24 March 2021 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2021 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 899 24 MARCH 2021 900 House of Commons Covid-19: Female Employment The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mims Davies): The latest Office for National Wednesday 24 March 2021 Statistics official statistics show the female employment rate at 71.8% at the end of January 2021. The Government recognise that times are hard for many women and men, The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock which is why we have extended the furlough scheme until September, alongside new measures in our plan for PRAYERS jobs, such as our £2 billion kickstart scheme and the restart programme, which launches this summer. Mr Speaker: Question 2 is withdrawn, so we now go [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] to Kirsten Oswald. Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Orders, 4 June and 30 December 2020). Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) (SNP) [V]: Covid [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] forced short-term modifications to working practices, which demonstrate that change is possible, but proactive steps are needed to secure long-term improvements in flexible working to support the work and caring Oral Answers to Questions responsibilities of women in particular. Does the Minister agree that flexibility should be available from day one of a new job rather than being a possibility six months in, will she ensure that the forthcoming employment Bill WOMEN AND EQUALITIES provides for that, and will she confirm that that Bill will be in the Queen’s Speech? The Minister for Women and Equalities was asked— Mims Davies: The hon. Lady raises something really important. At the Department for Work and Pensions Same-sex Couples: Insemination Services we have been incredibly flexible with our team, and they have been incredibly flexible as a result, so I absolutely Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) agree that flexibility is really important and will be (Ind): What assessment she has made of the ability of keenly supporting changes to make sure that more same-sex couples to access insemination services in women are part of the workforce. It is pleasing that, the UK. [913999] compared with men’s, the fall in women’s employment has been better through the covid pandemic. As the UK The Minister for Care (Helen Whately) [V]: Regulation Government, we want to do as much as we can to of fertility treatment services is UK-wide, but policy is support women to progress and thrive in the workplace devolved. In England, decisions about local fertility or, indeed, working at home more flexibly. services are determined by clinical commissioning groups, taking account of National Institute for Health and UK’s G7 Presidency: Role of Women Care Excellence guidelines, which include provision for same-sex female couples. Julie Marson (Hertford and Stortford) (Con): What steps the Government are taking to promote the role of Margaret Ferrier [V]: At present, Human Fertilisation women during the UK’s G7 presidency. [914001] and Embryology Authority guidance largely prohibits supplying sperm for insemination at home. Same-sex The Minister for Women and Equalities (Elizabeth couples who are trying to get pregnant have few options Truss): As part of the G7, we will be hosting the gender via the NHS other than to access insemination services equality advisory council. Led by Sarah Sands, it will from a registered UK clinic. That means that couples help women build back better across the world, including who live further away from such clinics face further costs on ending violence against women, women’s economic in their aspiration to start a family. Will the Minister, empowerment, and education for women and girls. working with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the HFEA, explore ways in which this Julie Marson [V]: I thank my right hon. Friend for issue could be mitigated? her response. Does she agree that flexible working is key, not just to open up more opportunities for more Helen Whately: On the question about the delivery of people but to address the UK’s perennial productivity sperm to residential addresses, that can be done across puzzle? the UK, but the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority advises against it because the origin of the Elizabeth Truss: My hon. Friend is right: flexible sample and whether it is undamaged cannot be guaranteed. working should be the standard offer from employers. Undergoing treatment at a licensed UK clinic provides Recent Government Equalities Office research shows the donor and the patient with legal certainty about that there are 30% more applicants where jobs are their parental status and their future responsibilities, advertised as flexible. That particularly brings benefits but I am very happy to take up the hon. Lady’s question to women and those who live outside the major cities, further with the Minister for Innovation, as this sits in and it can help us level up our country and make it his portfolio. more productive. 901 Oral Answers 24 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 902 Safer Streets for Women The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Vicky Ford): Science and technology will drive our Simon Fell (Barrow and Furness) (Con): What steps country’s future and women are brilliant at STEM— she is taking to ensure that good practice on making science, technology, engineering and maths. There are streets safer for women is shared. [914002] now more girls taking chemistry and biology at A-level than boys, but we need to continue to make progress in The Minister for Equalities (Kemi Badenoch): The other subjects. Initiatives such as T-levels provide an tragic death of Sarah Everard has reminded us that we excellent opportunity for girls interested in STEM. need to work together to ensure women do not feel at risk of harm on our streets. Since this senseless tragedy, Paul Howell: Could I ask the Minister to encourage we have taken immediate action by more than doubling young women to utilise options like the South Durham the safer streets fund and building on what works by University Technical College in Newton Aycliffe, where supporting measures such as better lighting and CCTV. every one of last year’s students got an outcome they The Minister for Crime and Policing will also hold a wanted, whether it was a job or further education? The summit with police, the violence against women and UTC is supported by companies such as Hitachi and girls sector,and industry representatives from the night-time Gestamp, and that can create great STEM-based career economy on preparations to protect women as pandemic opportunities. However, currently only about 20% of restrictions lift. the students are female. Does she agree with me that more should consider this educational option? The next Simon Fell [V]: I thank the Minister for her response. time she is in the north-east, will she come to see for Following that tragic case, a good number of my herself the opportunities that are being created,? constituents have been in touch with their concerns over whether their local area is safe. One of them, Courtney Vicky Ford: I thank my hon. Friend for championing Beech, who is an outreach worker for Drop Zone in women in STEM. I congratulate the UTC in Newton Barrow, is concerned about the lack of lighting in local Aycliffe for helping women to gain access to prestigious parks and the cemetery.What efforts are the Government engineering jobs and higher technical opportunities. It making to ensure that good practice is being shared is great to see more women taking up subjects such as with local authorities and other local organisations to engineering, but we would like to see more. A really keep women feeling safe and secure,especially at night time? proper and meaningful conversation with a woman role model who has already broken through STEM barriers Kemi Badenoch: I share my hon. Friend’s concern. can inspire girls and young women to enter STEM careers. No one should feel unsafe walking on the street, least of Companies, such as those he mentions, have an important all those who are doing valuable work in the community role in that. like Drop Zone. I hope he can reassure his constituents of the Government’s commitment to this issue. The safer streets fund has been more than doubled so it Peter Aldous [V]: I welcome the Minister’s reply. can support interventions such as street lighting and Participation in STEM can lead to exciting career CCTV, which will make people feel safer, and they are opportunities in such sectors as renewable energy, but the responsibility of local authorities. to ensure that young women have every opportunity to pursue their ambitions there must be a career-long Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North) pathway that enables them to realise their full potential. (Con) [V]: In order to make the streets safer for women, That should include fair recruitment processes, the we must tackle the culture underpinning male violence. promotion of alumni networks that ensure skill retention Does my hon. Friend agree with the conclusion of the and the development of retention programmes. I would February 2020 report of the Government Equalities welcome an assurance from my hon. Friend that she is Office that the use of pornography is an important liaising with her ministerial colleagues to put in place a contributing factor to harmful sexual behaviours? If so, route map that includes such staging posts.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Labour Party WHO’S WHO in the EAST
    The Labour Party WHO’S WHO IN THE EAST NOT AN OFFICIAL LABOUR PARTY DOCUMENT Stephen Thomas| 12th April 20 0 https://socialistandtradeunionism.org/ Forward The first steps into socialist politics can be a minefield. Like many organisations the membership has different views but has one socialist theme on how we should represent the people, take the Party forward and lead the Country. We have recently lost yet another General Election. Labour’s, some would say, knee jerk reaction, has led to a swing to the right after several years to the socialist left under Jeremy Corbyn. Whichever way you look at it, it is the members of the party that choose the policies and it is the Leaders responsibility to deliver on them. The choice of the leader is how to implement them and ignite the country so once again they too can believe in our socialist values. At the time of writing, the world is going through a Pandemic, with tens of thousands of people dying. The Conservative Party is in power with a massive majority and are at their most popular, mainly through implementing Labour’s socialist policies. Now collectively known as frontline staff, the country has come to recognize the worth and value of our NHS, careers and cleaning staff. Political theories have entwined with each other and some would fear it has now become more difficult to distinguish between the political Parties. Once the survivors return to a normal way of life, where we can once again visit our family and friends, go to work, walk in the countryside and visit the seaside, then please don’t let the country return to the old Conservative ways of doing things.
    [Show full text]
  • November 2020
    November 2020 Aley Green Pepperstock Slip End Woodside Greetings to all our readers. Firstly, my thanks to Editors’ Notes Matt for producing such an excellent magazine last month. It was good to be able to sit back and let someone else take over. I am sure you will all agree he did a great job. The Committee welcomes him to the Team! Since I last edited an issue of the magazine, the weather seems to have changed. We had many walks and days out on dry (sometimes warm and sunny) days over the past few months but suddenly things have changed, We welcomed Autumn with several days of pouring rain! My husband collects weather data and commented that in 2 or 3 days in early October we had significantly more rain than in the whole of September! In fact it measured over 90mm then and it has continued to be wet since! You will see that the Parish Council is reminding Central Beds Council that we have issues with flooding around the Parish. Maybe the puddles will recede one day! (see photo of me, contemplating the “river” on the road near Woodside, plus others opposite—care should be taken driving in water!) Our diary pages are still significantly empty. Many people are still resorting to technology to continue their business, Church services, fitness regimes or other clubs and groups, I know some Scouting groups have been using Zoom and social media. Clubs have met online or put pictures on facebook. The Book club keep in contact via WhatsApp and have had a few socially distanced outdoor meetings.
    [Show full text]
  • New MP Briefing: Education the Vuelio Political Team Have Put Together a Briefing on First Time Mps with a Background in Educati
    New MP Briefing: Education The Vuelio political team have put together a briefing on first time MPs with a background in education. Robin Millar Robin Millar was elected as the Conservative MP for Aberconwy in December 2019 with a majority of 2,034. Millar's professional career began in engineering, allowing him to work across the UK, Russia and America. After leaving engineering, he became a management consultant and businessman, focused on public sector reform and government. Prior to being elected, Millar was a Conservative Councillor in Suffolk. He is the former Deputy leader of Forest Heath Council and was a member of the Suffolk County Council's Cabinet until 2018. During this time, he started an assisted reading programme in local- schools and is the co-founder of a small charity investing in young people. Millar has said he will move to Aberconwy following the election result. During his campaign he highlighted key policy issues as: communities, climate change, poverty, and Brexit. Beth Winter Beth Winter was elected as the Labour MP for Cynon Valley in December 2019 with a majority of 8,822. Winter was born and raised in Cynon Valley, where she still lives with her husband and children. Prior to her election to Parliament, she worked as a communications officer for the University and College Union Wales. She is committed to the area and has served in community groups working with young people. Caroline Ansell Caroline Ansell is the Conservative MP for Eastbourne who was elected in 2019 with a majority of 4,331. She was also previously the MP for Eastbourne from 2015 to 2017 beating Stephen Lloyd, the Lib Dem.
    [Show full text]
  • Cairney UK Coronavirus Policy 25000 14.7.20
    Paul Cairney [email protected] Draft: 14.7.20 The UK Government’s COVID-19 policy: assessing evidence-informed policy analysis in real time (using 25000 words) Abstract. In March 2020, COVID-19 prompted policy change in the UK at a speed and scale only seen during wartime. Throughout, UK government ministers emphasised their reliance on science and expertise to make the right choices at the right time, while their critics argued that ministers ignored key evidence and acted too little too late. Lessons from this debate should have a profound effect on future action, but only if based on a systematic analysis of policymaking as the problem emerged in real time. We should not confuse hindsight with foresight. To that end, I combine insights from policy analysis guides, policy theories, and critical policy analysis to frame this debate. I use the classic 5-step policy analysis structure - define the problem, identify solutions, use values to identify trade-offs, predict and compare outcomes, and recommend choices - to identify the politics of policymaking in complex systems. The pandemic exposes the need to act despite high ambiguity and uncertainty and low government control, using trial-and-error strategies to adapt to new manifestations of the problem, and producing highly unequal consequences for social groups. Lessons for the future will only have value if we take these policymaking limitations and unequal socioeconomic effects into account. Introduction: how should we characterise the UK government response? On the 23rd March 2020, the UK Government’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared: ‘From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home’ (Johnson, 2020a).
    [Show full text]
  • Central Area Report Neighbourhood Governance Progress Report: February – May 2016
    Central Area Report Neighbourhood Governance Progress Report: February – May 2016 Date: 11th July 2016 Name of Chair: Cllr Mohammed Riaz Reporting Officer: Marek Lubelski This report gives an overview of progress on addressing community priorities in central Luton under the themes of ‘safer and stronger communities’, ‘health and wellbeing’ and ‘environment and economy’ as agreed by local people, councillors and council partners as part of the ‘Your Say, Your Way’ programme. Luton Clinical Commissioning Group Central Area Updates Burglary Reduction Group A sub group of Friends of High Town meets every couple of months to look at how to bring people together and encourage local residents to take more care and pride in the community, which can help to reduce crime/antisocial behaviour. Issues such as fly tipping, dangerous roads, neighbour disputes, High Town and irresponsible private landlords have Community Sports all been raised as problems that are causing significant distress and are being and Arts Centre tackled by working together with local On 20th May the centre hosted a agencies and the council. networking and ‘drop in’ coffee Emma Colclough, Community Safety morning with more than 12 local Partnership Project Officer, has recently community groups, enabling people begun to work with the group to to gain a better understanding explore the creation of ‘Neighbourhood Wardown Park of activities on offer in the Agreements’ – contracts which enable neighbourhood and providing a great local residents to decide on what issues Basketball opportunity to meet the organisers to affect their area and agree on how best A group of young people living around find out about what they do.
    [Show full text]
  • New MP Briefing: Education the Vuelio Political Team Have Put
    New MP Briefing: Education The Vuelio political team have put together a briefing on first time MPs with a background in education. Robin Millar Robin Millar was elected as the Conservative MP for Aberconwy in December 2019 with a majority of 2,034. Millar's professional career began in engineering, allowing him to work across the UK, Russia and America. After leaving engineering, he became a management consultant and businessman, focused on public sector reform and government. Prior to being elected, Millar was a Conservative Councillor in Suffolk. He is the former Deputy leader of Forest Heath Council and was a member of the Suffolk County Council's Cabinet until 2018. During this time, he started an assisted reading programme in local- schools and is the co-founder of a small charity investing in young people. Millar has said he will move to Aberconwy following the election result. During his campaign he highlighted key policy issues as: communities, climate change, poverty, and Brexit. Beth Winter Beth Winter was elected as the Labour MP for Cynon Valley in December 2019 with a majority of 8,822. Winter was born and raised in Cynon Valley, where she still lives with her husband and children. Prior to her election to Parliament, she worked as a communications officer for the University and College Union Wales. She is committed to the area and has served in community groups working with young people. Caroline Ansell Caroline Ansell is the Conservative MP for Eastbourne who was elected in 2019 with a majority of 4,331. She was also previously the MP for Eastbourne from 2015 to 2017 beating Stephen Lloyd, the Lib Dem.
    [Show full text]
  • Local Election Results 2021
    Local Election Results 2021 Andrew Teale September 3, 2021 2 ELECTION RESULTS 2021 Compilation and design © Andrew Teale, 2021. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled “GNU Free Documentation License”. This le is available for download from http://www.andrewteale.me.uk/ Please advise the author of any corrections which need to be made by email: [email protected] Change Log Contents Referendums 5 Referendums in 2021 6 Newham mayoral abolition referendum . 6 Sheeld governance referendum . 6 Tower Hamlets mayoral abolition referendum . 6 Croydon mayoral referendum . 6 By-elections 7 Parliamentary by-elections 8 By-elections to devolved assemblies, the European Parliament, and police and crime commissioner- ships 10 Greater London Authority . 10 National Assembly for Wales . 10 Scottish Parliament . 10 Northern Ireland Assembly . 10 Police and crime commissioners . 10 Local by-elections and unlled vacancies 11 North London . 11 South London . 13 Greater Manchester . 14 Merseyside . 14 South Yorkshire . 15 Tyne and Wear . 15 West Midlands . 16 West Yorkshire . 16 Bedfordshire . 17 Berkshire . 17 Bristol . 17 Buckinghamshire . 17 Cambridgeshire . 17 Cheshire . 18 Cornwall . 18 Cumbria . 18 Derbyshire . 19 Devon.................................................. 20 Dorset . 21 Durham . 21 East Sussex . 21 East Yorkshire . 22 3 4 ELECTION RESULTS 2021 Essex................................................... 22 Gloucestershire . 23 Hampshire . 24 Herefordshire . 24 Hertfordshire . 24 Isle of Wight .
    [Show full text]
  • FINAL BC Luton 20161107 with Index
    BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND PROCEEDINGS AT THE 2018 REVIEW OF PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCIES IN ENGLAND HELD AT LUTON TOWN HALL, MANCHESTER STREET, LUTON LU1 2AF ON MONDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2016 DAY ONE Before: Ms Sarah Hamilton, The Lead Assistant Commissioner ______________________________ Transcribed from audio by W B Gurney & Sons LLP 83 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0HW Telephone Number: 0203 585 4721/22 ______________________________ Time noted: 10.00 am THE LEAD ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this public hearing on the Boundary Commission for England’s initial proposals for new parliamentary constituency boundaries in the Eastern region. My name is Sarah Hamilton and I am an Assistant Commissioner of the Boundary Commission for England. I was appointed by the Commission to assist them in their task of making representations for new constituencies in the Eastern region. I am responsible for chairing the hearing today and tomorrow, and I am also responsible, with my fellow Assistant Commissioner, Laura Smallwood, for analysing all the representations received about the initial proposals for this region and then presenting recommendations to the Commission as to whether or not those initial proposals should be revised. I am assisted here today by members of the Commission staff, led by Tim Bowden, who is sitting next to me. Tim will shortly provide an explanation of the Commission’s initial proposals for new constituencies in this region. He will tell you how you can make written representations and he will deal with one or two other administrative matters. The hearing today is scheduled to run from 10 am until 8 pm and tomorrow it is scheduled to run from 9 am to 5 pm.
    [Show full text]
  • You Said - We‟Re Doing
    You Said - We‟re Doing Neighbourhood Governance programme progress report This report gives an overview of progress with addressing the top community priorities for Area Central as agreed by local people, Councillors and partners through the „Your Say, Your Way‟ programme. It also covers area updates on priorities under the keys themes of stronger & safer communities, health & wellbeing and environment & economy. Central Area Board Meeting Title 14th October 2012 Date Councillor Tahir Khan Name of Chair Marek Lubelski Reporting Officer Updates on Local Community Priorities Blundell Rd Recreation Ground - A Hidden Gem Work to support a design review for the Recreation Ground began in May at Saints Community Festival where we gathered important feedback from local people. Many didn‟t know that the recreation ground was there due to the absence of signage. Others (particularly teenagers) said that the area was perceived as unsafe. Improvements are difficult to achieve in the current financial climate, but LBC Parks Service have already responded by painting the entrance gates and fencing and filling potholes in the paths. We plan to introduce some allotment provision, and to encourage wider community use to promote fitness when funding becomes available. New play facilities will be hardest to achieve, as this will require significant external funding. The support of local people can be crucial, Improving High and we are looking to work with anyone. interested in the neighbourhood to take Town Road this forward. Local businesses, community groups Countryside Access and ward councillors have come together LBC Planning are working with local charity to champion Groundwork to develop a plan for access and improvements and improvements to the open space in, and develop High Town countryside close to, Barnfield and parts of road as a shopping Icknield wards.
    [Show full text]
  • Committee Ref
    COMMITTEE REF: EX/06/19 NOTICE OF MEETING COMMITTEE : EXECUTIVE DATE : MONDAY, 24 JUNE 2019 TIME : 18:00 PLACE : COMMITTEE ROOM 3 TOWN HALL, LUTON, LU1 2BQ COUNCILLORS : SIMMONS (CHAIR) M. HUSSAIN BURNETT A. KHAN CASTLEMAN MALCOLM HOPKINS SHAW J. HUSSAIN TIMONEY QUORUM : 3 MEMBERS Contact Officer: Matthew Hussey (01582 546032) INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSE: The Executive is the Council’s primary decision-making body dealing with a range of functions across the Council’s activities and services. This meeting is open to the public and you are welcome to attend. For further information, or to see the papers, please contact us at the Town Hall: IN PERSON, 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, or CALL the Contact Officer (shown above). An induction loop facility is available for meetings held in Committee Room 3. Arrangements can be made for access to meetings for disabled people. If you would like us to arrange this for you, please call the Contact Officer (shown above). NOTE: Members of the public are entitled to take photographs, film, audio-record and report on all public meetings in accordance with the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014. People may not however act in anyway considered to be disruptive and may be asked to leave. Notice of these rights will be given verbally at the meeting, as appropriate. Page 1 of 132 AGENDA Agenda Subject Page Item No. EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE Committee Rooms 1, 2, 4 & Council Chamber: Turn left, follow the green emergency exit signs to the main town hall entrance and proceed to the assembly point at St George's Square.
    [Show full text]
  • Decision Making in a Crisis: First Responses to the Coronavirus Pandemic
    Decision making in a crisis First responses to the coronavirus pandemic Image area Image to come to top of picture box Sarah Nickson | Alex Thomas AuthorErenie Mullens-Burgess1 | Author 2 About this report The coronavirus pandemic required the UK government to take high-stakes decisions under conditions that make good policy making hard. This report examines three key groups of decisions made by the government in its early response to the pandemic: the economic support package, the commitment to run 100,000 tests per day by 30 April, and the lockdown and school closures. @instituteforgov Find out more www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk August 2020 Contents List of figures and tables 4 Summary 5 1 Introduction 8 2 Economic support package 11 3 Committing to 100,000 Covid-19 tests per day 20 4 Lockdown and school closures 31 5 Conclusion 48 References 52 About the authors 64 CONTENTS 3 List of figures and tables Figure 1 Timeline of key government decisions during the coronavirus crisis 10 Figure 2 Value of claims for SEISS and CJRS 13 Figure 3 Testing capacity (classed by type as reported in April/May 2020) and actual tests processed per day in the UK 23 Figure 4 Daily number of new coronavirus cases, March and April 2020 31 Table 1 Timeline of SAGE advice to government in the lead up to lockdown 33 4 DECISION MAKING IN A CRISIS Summary The coronavirus pandemic required the UK government to take high-stakes decisions under conditions that make good policy making hard. This report examines decisions made by the government about three key aspects of its early response to the pandemic: the economic support package, Covid-19 testing and the commitment to run 100,000 tests per day by 30 April, and the lockdown and school closures.
    [Show full text]
  • Sarah Owen MP and Rachel Hopkins MP Members of Parliament for Luton
    Sarah Owen MP and Rachel Hopkins MP Members of Parliament for Luton Luton Labour Group Robin Porter (Chief Executive, Luton Council) Luton Town Football Club Save Our Town Luton Supporters Trust Loyal Luton 26th March 2021 Dear All, CUTENHOE ROAD We are writing to you today to share the results of a survey that we have conducted in respect of the decision of Luton Borough Council (LBC) not to grant a lease to Luton Town Football Club (LTFC) for land at Cutenhoe Road. Our role here is to represent our constituents for the benefit of the town and to enable dialogue and a working relationship between LTFC and LBC, and other interested parties who have contacted us. The land in question already has the benefit of planning consent granted by the local authority for a sports ground and training air dome, which could house a 60x40 yard 3G pitch for the football club’s player academy. Our understanding, and by way of background, is that a new air dome facility is essential for LTFC to be able to develop their academy from Category 3 to Category 2 status, which would allow them to play in the Premier League’s Under 23 development games programme. LTFC has stated that whilst the dome is a requirement for Category 2 status, and that their football academy would need to have primacy of use at any time, their usage of the dome would be somewhat minimal. Therefore, LTFC have volunteered to share the facility with local schools. The refusal of LBC to grant the lease has caused consternation not only amongst the town’s football supporters, but also the wider public, many of whom have contacted us.
    [Show full text]