South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed comments made by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, suggesting that the government is considering fuel discounts in rural areas.
Cheques have been in use for over 300 years in the UK and in 2009 they were used to transfer £1.9 trillion. Across the country 1/3 of all people still regularly use cheques and 75% use the cheque facility with their bank accounts. In December 2009 the Payments Council - representing the major high street banks - set a target date of 2018 for the closure of central cheque clearing. Apparently the banks stand to gain £200 million a year by phasing out cheques. But I understand that cheques are a bit of a pain to bank staff; but most jobs have a task that people don't particularly enjoy doing but they just have to get on with it. As they are still a popular way of making a payment I would hate to think that one of the reasons for their abolition was just because bank staff finds them an inconvenience.
Stockton Borough Council tonight passed unanimously a motion calling on the Chief Executive to write to our MPs asking them to...
South Lakes MP Tim Farron has spent much of the last two weeks meeting with local businesses to discuss issues and challenges surrounding the national and local economies.
South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today slammed the Tory-led Cumbria County Council (CCC) for wasting public money by hiring private consultants, many of whom make a profit out of local government work.
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has welcomed government proposals to introduce a minimum price on alcohol, a move which will help local pubs fight under-pricing by the large supermarkets.