“United Lincolnshire were only too keen to move the work of the microbiology Laboratory in Lincoln to Scunthorpe and elsewhere away from their County Hospital and now, a short time later, they have found £100,000 for a new research Laboratory in Boston.

“Whilst I am pleased overall that this new research facility and service at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston is at least in Lincolnshire, I wish that the Trust had been more forward looking and had spent the money on building  an additional or new research laboratory alongside Lincoln’s former microbiology laboratory, perhaps with the prospect of working with the University of Lincoln in the future to fully utilise the facilities and offer a better service to patients both in Lincoln and across Lincolnshire.”

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

The Government is delivering unprecedented funding for new apprenticeships. In addition, the Prime Minister has announced that from 7 February 2012:

• Businesses and training providers can bid for a share of £6 million from the Higher Apprenticeship Fund, which will support the development of thousands of new Higher Apprenticeships in sectors including aerospace, energy and renewable technologies.
• Small and medium-sized businesses without any apprentices who hire one aged 16-24 are eligible for a £1,500 bonus, with up to 40,000 payments available.
• Businesses can bid for a share of a £250 million fund to boost skills in their workplace, giving employers rather than training providers direct access to funding for training.

Karl M^cCartney said, “National Apprenticeship Week is a great opportunity to congratulate apprentices across my constituency on the fantastic work they are doing and to highlight the huge benefits apprenticeships bring.  Apprenticeships allow people to earn and learn at the same time, while significantly increasing their potential future earnings. But the benefits go wider than that – every £1 spent on an apprenticeship returns an estimated benefit of £18 to the economy.  That’s why it is such great news that 280 more people in our City started an apprenticeships last year thanks to the Coalition’s extra investment – a 38.9% increase on the previous year.

“I would urge people of all ages to consider becoming an apprentice and seize the opportunities that this Government has opened up.”

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

The joint letter also asks for amendments to be made to the National Planning Policy Framework to help protect the rural landscape and heritage sites across the country.

It also asks for the Planning Inspectorate to be told that these factors, as well as the views of local residents, to be given more weight in their decisions to counter-balance recent decisions which have given more weight to regional, national and European renewable energy targets.

Karl said, “I’m delighted to be part of this campaign. Not only is onshore wind production inefficient and intermittent, it also increases the price of energy bills to every home and business in our City.  I am keen to see the amount of money available in subsidy for onshore wind reduced and this saving spread across other renewable energy types and also spent on local energy efficiency measures.  It is also important that the new planning regime the Government is introducing ensures that local people’s views are taken fully into account and that the system recognises the importance of the beautiful countryside and heritage assets we have.”

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

In October Karl asked a question in Parliament revealing that the average fine for driving an uninsured vehicle is just £200, approximately four times less than the average annual cost of insurance. This encouraged Karl to start a campaign calling for fines to be much higher, to provide a real deterrent from breaking the law.

People who drive uninsured are more likely to crash than other drivers and cause tragic deaths and injuries. In 2011 research from Direct Line and Brake revealed that one in 10 drivers report having been in a collision with an uninsured driver. Uninsured driving also costs the average driver, as the cost of crashes caused by uninsured people are passed on through insurance premiums.

Karl has asked several questions in Parliament and given a speech on the issue. He also organised a survey in Lincoln asking for his constituents’ views on uninsured drivers. This revealed 50% want the fine for uninsured driving to be £900 or more and 77% feel that if someone causes a serious crash while uninsured they should go to prison. Karl has written a report and a ten point plan to achieve his goals. These include:

1. An insurance sticker in every windscreen proving a car is insured, like the tax disc;
2. Far tougher sentences for those caught driving uninsured, with the minimum fine in each area being double the average insurance cost in the area for the age and gender of the person caught;
3. Automatic disqualification for people caught driving uninsured, for at least one year, and at least five years for subsequent offences.

Karl has pledged to continue campaigning until uninsured driving becomes socially unacceptable, there are far tougher penalties, and it is eradicated from our roads.

Julie Townsend, Brake campaigns director, said: “Research shows people who drive uninsured are more likely to crash and cause tragic deaths and injuries, so it’s vital we see action to remove these highly irresponsible and illegal drivers from our roads. We congratulate Karl on his campaign to tackle uninsured driving and urge government to listen to his calls for action, which make perfect sense in protecting the public from these rogue drivers.”

Karl M^cCartney MP said: “I was surprised to be honoured by the award of Brake’s Parliamentarian of the Month for my campaign to tackle uninsured drivers and am grateful for their support in this matter. For far too long, politicians have turned a blind eye towards the issue of dealing with uninsured drivers, even though it undermines confidence in the justice system and penalises the law-abiding.  Throughout this Parliament I shall continue to press for appropriate punishments for such crimes. We cannot have these people laughing at those who act responsibly and within the laws of this land anymore.”

About Brake

Brake is an independent road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the five deaths and 65 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake runs awareness-raising campaigns, community education programmes, events such asRoad Safety Week (19-25 November 2012), and a Fleet Safety Forum scheme, providing advice to companies. Brake’s support division cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line is part of RBS Insurance, the second largest general insurer in the UK¹ and is wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0845 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com

Direct Line Insurance plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered office: 3 Edridge Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 1AG.

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

Well many of you probably will not be surprised to hear that I do not believe that we will build a better economy by turning our back on the free market, we’ll do it by making sure that the market is fair as well as free. While of course there is a role for government, for regulation and intervention, the real solution is more enterprise, competition and innovation.

Open markets and free enterprise are the best imaginable force for improving human wealth and happiness. They are the engine of progress, generating the enterprise and innovation that lifts people out of poverty and gives people opportunity.  If anything, I, and all Conservatives believe that there should be no limit on an individual’s aspiration, and I further believe that that aim can best be achieved in an open and free market.

The Prime Minister has argued that we should use this crisis of capitalism to improve markets, not undermine them. As well as social responsibility we need to open up markets and ensure more people are engaged in, and with, a genuinely popular capitalism. Capitalism will never be genuinely popular unless there are genuine opportunities for everyone to participate and benefit.

In government we are taking steps to achieve this aim: we are providing new rights for public sector workers to create mutuals and own a stake in their success. And we have announced that these steps will all be brought together and simplified in a new Co-Operatives Bill that will be put before Parliament.

So, in the discussion earlier following Professor David Head’s Lecture we heard a phrase referring to the need for moral markets – we as Conservatives have referred to Responsible Capitalism – but what is ‘Responsible Capitalism’?

There is no doubt that these are difficult times. The economic challenge remains the greatest one for our Government and our Country.  We started back in May 2010 dealing with our debts and achieving growth – but it doesn’t end there. We think we should use this crisis of capitalism to improve markets, not undermine them.

We need to reconnect the principles of risk, hard work and success with reward. But that is a world away from what we’ve seen in recent years – where the bonus culture – particularly in the City – has been seen to be out of control and the link between risk, hard work and success with reward has been broken. Excessive bonuses reduce by many times over lending to small businesses. Large rewards for failure when companies are suffering means fewer rewards for customers and shareholders. The Business Secretary has recently set out our detailed plans to tackle rewards for failure including any necessary legislation to follow that will be required as some of you may know.

In these difficult economic times we need to do more than just pay down the deficit. As we recover from this crisis we must build a better economy, one in which a responsible and genuinely popular capitalism works for all of us and spreads wealth, freedom and opportunity across our Country and society.

I now want to spend just a short time as I conclude to be perhaps ‘devil’s advocate’ here in the Chapter House as I would like to take the opportunity to address some of the points, questions and issues raised in the first Q&A with David (Professor David Head) following his lecture.  Firstly there are unfortunately some individuals in the City to whom Gordon Gecko is a role model – for them, Like Lord Mandelson – greed is good.  But there are individuals, and the 120 plus Guilds and Worshipful Companies that are philanthropic to an amazing degree and long may that continue.

Earlier the Chief Executive of the Cathedral offered some potential reasons for the higher risks taken financially – that we want our pension funds to be the best they can and so for the returns to achieve this pension fund managers have along with other financiers made decisions that vastly increased the risk of the investments they make on our behalf.  The reason they had to do this is that Gordon Brown as Chancellor in 1997/98 decided to raid our pensions industry by £8billion pa.  Before 1997 our pension provision in this Country was the envy of the world, after Gordon Brown and Tony Blair we are now the laughing stock of the world with regard to pension provision and languish in the company of such 3^rd rate pension providing countries as Italy and Greece.

If Northern Rock had been Southern Rock then it would have been allowed to go to the wall – but 2500 jobs in the North East – it was a political decision to prop up the bank to keep those NE electors in work… and hence Banks saw they would be bailed out… but if NR had been allowed to fail, yes people would have lost their jobs, and I know how horrible it is to be made redundant – but no mortgagee would have lost their house because NR wasn’t bailed out– they would have found some other bank or financial institute would have taken over the ‘mortgage book’ and they would have carried on making the same payments for their mortgages.

Finally – capital is global.  Tax on bankers’ or financiers’ bonus’s is collected in this Country whilst they are here… if they up-sticks and relocate to operate on a pc screen elsewhere in the world – our Government loses that tax income and hence part of the budget that ‘the State’ as socialists like to call it, can then spend – whether that’s on nurses, Dr’s, defence or other parts of the public sector, It would be diminished.  Currently around 47% of the Inland Revenue’s yearly tax take is derived from the financial sector.  This pays for nearly half of ‘the state’ and hence those working in the Public Sector and for those workers in the NHS.  We shouldn’t shoot the ‘Golden Goose’ and so I am also pleased the Prime Minister David Cameron, and our Chancellor George Osborne have resisted some EU leaders will to spear our City by refusing to allow a financial transaction tax, beloved by our French friends.  I agree the FSA has a lot to answer for but I would advise caution in respect of the gentleman who said: ‘Markets without regulation do not function to the benefit of the people.’ And I do agree with his statement, but I feel that: ‘Markets with too much regulation will fail to function’.

The New Homes Bonus is a multi-billion pound programme that rewards communities when they accept more housebuilding in their area. The Bonus includes an extra reward for building new affordable homes, and for getting long-term empty homes back into use.

Building on the flagship Housing Strategy, the Government has today this week unveiled a range of measures to help first time buyers onto the housing ladder, provide support for millions who have been left languishing on social housing waiting lists and get construction on the move.

Mr M^cCartney said, “Labour led Britain into a housing crisis – the number of affordable homes fell, waiting lists almost doubled and first-time buyer numbers collapsed to their lowest level for a generation.

“Housebuilding is already up a quarter under the Coalition Government, but there is more to do.

“I am delighted to welcome this funding for new homes in our City. The Government’s actions will help local people onto the housing ladder, provide more affordable housing and create local jobs”.

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

The event promoted Supporters Direct’s ‘Key principles for Football Club Licensing in England’, which aim to ensure greater financial and social responsibility in the game.  Supporter’s Direct proposes a licensing system to be established in response to the recommendations in the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Report on Football Governance.  The licensing framework should be aimed at securing: the sustainable development of English football and its clubs; and supporter and community engagement in the running of football clubs.

Karl said, “I gladly attended Supporters Direct’s reception in Parliament earlier today and join them in arguing that the licensing system should protect football as a whole from the instability and lack of sustainability it has experienced and continues to experience.   The licensing system should embed the involvement of responsible, democratically elected supporters in the governance of clubs.  I am very aware of the very active role my constituents as supporters of ‘The Imps’ – Lincoln City FC – have played in our Club’s history, in both very turbulent financial times and still continue to do so today.”

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk or go to http://www.supporters-direct.org/

The website now includes incidents of crime and antisocial behaviour recorded at all train stations and railway networks. Soon incidents occurring at or near significant local sites like shopping areas, nightclubs, parks, airports, universities, car parks and hospitals will be added too.

In addition, the website now has more specific detail on the precise location of incidents – while still protecting anonymity.

From May this year police.uk will show the action taken by the police or the justice outcome after a crime.

Commenting, Karl M^cCartney, Member of Parliament for Lincoln, said, “Police.uk gives everyone in our City information on just what crime and anti-social behaviour is happening right on their street.  In the year since its launch the website has received an astonishing 453 million hits and this upgrade will make even more detail available.  I’m pleased the Home Office is listening to the public’s demand for even more information on crime in their neighbourhood ahead of the election this November of our Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire.

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

To find out more and become involved, please visit: www.chancetobechancellor.org.uk”.

The City of Lincoln Band opened the day in style at 8:30am with their rendition of the Australian National Anthem, followed by the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Concert Band from 10am till 11am, and at 11am the ever-popular folk group Ploughman’s Bunch took to the stage.  BBC Lincolnshire’s Melvin Prior compared the event, and other BBC Lincolnshire personalities were on hand to plate up the full English breakfast and meet the public.

Karl M^cCartney said: “The Great Australian Breakfast – which celebrated Australia Day and the City of Lincoln’s twinning relationship with Port Lincoln – was a great success.  I hugely enjoyed meeting with my constituents and helping to raise money for the Mayor’s Charities.”

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP atkarl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk