East Devon Libdems at the March for Europe
East Devon libdems on the move, with thousands of other people, listening to inspirational speeches from a huge range of people of ages and various political persuasions.
24 Mar 2018
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Plans for over 11,000 Suffolk school children to lose free school meals delayed
Government loses vote on plans to restrict entitlement to free school meals. New government rules to restrict entitlement to free school meals for new recipients appear to have been delayed by six months after a defeat in the Lords.
24 Mar 2018
It is now confirmed that the European Medicines Agency will leave London and move to Amsterdam.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which approves and registers medicines and medical appliances for use and sale within the EU was originally located in London in recognition of the UK's strong position and world-wide reputation in the testing, approval, assessment and regulation of medicines. The EMA is somewhat different in structure and accountability to most other regulators. It functions as a decentralised scientific agency of the EU with its main responsibility as the protection and promotion of public and animal health within the EU, EFTA and the EEA, through the evaluation and supervision of medicines for human and veterinary use. Its operation is overseen by a management board consisting of a representative from each member state, two each from the European Commission, the Parliament and patients organisations, and one each representating doctors' and veterinarians' organisations.
24 Mar 2018
It is now confirmed that the European Medicines Agency will leave London and move to Amsterdam.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which approves and registers medicines and medical appliances for use and sale within the EU was originally located in London in recognition of the UK's strong position and world-wide reputation in the testing, approval, assessment and regulation of medicines. The EMA is somewhat different in structure and accountability to most other regulators. It functions as a decentralised scientific agency of the EU with its main responsibility as the protection and promotion of public and animal health within the EU, EFTA and the EEA, through the evaluation and supervision of medicines for human and veterinary use. Its operation is overseen by a management board consisting of a representative from each member state, two each from the European Commission, the Parliament and patients organisations, and one each representating doctors' and veterinarians' organisations.
24 Mar 2018
'Disgusting' Vandalism Forces Parking Ticket Machine Change
Bedford Borough Council is installing a cashless payment system at St Peter's Street Car Park following a string of vandalism attempts on pay and display machines.
24 Mar 2018
Staying Together Rally and March for Europe
Come and join Suffolk Liberal Democrats at University Campus Ipswich on Saturday 24th March from 12noon
23 Mar 2018
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, called on the government to provide incentives for energy providers to develop solar power in the UK.
Mrs Hobhouse slammed the government for falling behind on meeting the UK’s renewable targets for solar energy capacity. The government plans to deploy 70 GW of solar power across the country by 2035. However, as of 2022, the UK had only installed 14.3 GW of solar pv.
Following a visit to a rooftop solar system installed by Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) at Beechen Cliff School last year, Wera Hobhouse is keen to encourage the development of similar solar projects across Bath. The solar system is predicted to significantly cut the school’s fuel costs and reduce their carbon emissions by 52 tonnes a year.
In the House of Commons on the 27th February, the Bath MP noted that the UK is lagging behind the rest of the world in renewable energy investment, she urged the government to offer incentives to energy providers to improve solar capacity.
However, Andrew Bowie, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, ignored Hobhouse’s proposals, failing to describe the ways in which the government could incentivise solar energy. Instead, Bowie said that the government’s Solar Taskforce would publish recommendations for solar power and reiterated the government’s target to deploy 70 GW by 2035.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, commented:
“The Conservatives are falling dangerously behind on meeting our targets for renewable energy production. It is no good the government setting an ambitious 70 GW solar target if they are nowhere near reaching it.
“It is clear that they have no plan to get us back on track to reach Net Zero. Evidently, they are more than happy to dismiss perfectly good proposals like incentivising solar power. That is why I am so proud that Bath is home to many community energy projects like the solar system at Beechen Cliff School, so that we can lead the way in renewables.”
“It is not just our climate targets harmed by the Conservatives’ delay. Families in Bath and across the country are struggling to pay soaring energy bills which investment in renewables could curb. That is why we Liberal Democrats would build significantly more renewable energy, aiming to generate 80% of our electricity from renewables by 2030.”
Peter Capener, Managing Director of Bath & West Community Energy said:
“Our work with schools is really demonstrating the value of community energy in both addressing the climate crisis and reducing fuel bills. Rooftop solar installed last year has already saved local schools a combined total of £134,209 and has reduced carbon emissions by 224.3 tonnes, which is equivalent to 12,173 journeys from Bath to Edinburgh by train!”
