Phil Willis MP - Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough

Speech at the Westminster Education Forum – 04/02/2010

‘Spend, spend, spend - the mismanagement of the Learning and Skills Council's capital programme in further education colleges’

The Building Colleges for the Future programme was a launched in a blaze of glory in 2008 as a flagship endeavour for the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (as it was then) and the Learning and Skills Council.

For FE this was the biggest investment EVER made in the sector.

Adjournment Debate - 03/02/2010 - Available to watch at: http://is.gd/7CAol

Allocation of places at Universities in England

Mr Deputy Speaker – I begin this short debate by putting on record my belief that we have a higher education system in the UK that is truly world class.

A system that over decades – since the Robbins Report in 1963 – has expanded from a small relatively elite one serving some 8% of young people to a mass, semi market driven system serving in England alone 42% of today’s school leavers.

Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Phil Willis has hit out at North Yorkshire County Council’s plans to add what has been dubbed a ‘snow levy’ on council tax payers.

“People in Harrogate and Knaresborough were trapped in their homes for weeks because pavements and minor roads were blocked. Businesses lost millions in sales. Now local residents are expected to pay an increase in tax to pay for road repairs.” said Phil Willis.

Speech to The Liberal Democrat Christian Forum – 01/02/10

Faith, Science and Politics

May I first of all thank you for the honour of allowing me to give the Annual Gladstone Lecture this evening and trust that we can create a hearty discussion on what is without doubt a hugely topical area of discussion - Faith, Science and Politics .

I feel hopelessly inadequate in making this presentation, given the illustrious parliamentarians and others you have invited so hopefully you will forgive me if I raise more questions than I give answers.

27 January 2010

SKATE PARK DESIGN MUST INVOLVE USERS

"Skateboarders, BMX and scooter riders must be fully involved in the design of a skate park in the Valley Gardens" says Lib Dem PPC for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Claire Kelley.

Next week Harrogate Borough Council's Cabinet will decide whether to proceed with a park, but the report to the Cabinet proposes that only a small group of users will be involved in the design.

Up to 1.7m pensioners will miss out on Cold Weather Payments triggered by the recent weather, according to analysis of Government figures by the Liberal Democrats.

Cold Weather Payments of £25 a week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit, which goes unclaimed by as many as 1.7m pensioners.

Commenting, Phil Willis MP (LibDem, Harrogate & Knaresborough) said,

“There could be as many as 1,760 pensioners in my constituency who are missing out on these payments. This is scandalous.