Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson Lynne Featherstone today joined party leader Charles Kennedy MP at the launch of new plans to help working mothers after the birth of their first child. They also visited the Gower School, a nursery school in Islington, to discuss the new policy with local parents.

The Liberal Democrat ‘Maternity Income Guarantee’ will mean that hundreds of working mothers in Haringey would be paid at least £4,420 for the 26 weeks of statutory maternity leave when they are starting a family. This equates to £170 per week, the equivalent of the gross income of the minimum wage for a 35-hour week.

Around 200,000 working women nationwide have their first baby every year. Under the Maternity Income Guarantee, the majority would be significantly better off – and not one would lose out.

Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:

“Today we put in place a new policy which is an important part of the childcare jigsaw – helping working mothers in the first months after the birth. We are proposing a radical reform of maternity pay provision for the first-born child:a reform which will particularly benefit women on low incomes.

“Our Maternity Income Guarantee forms a solid base for working women to plan their first baby’s first months. It will help to prevent this most exciting of times for new parents being marred by the financial worry that can so often accompany it.

“For single mothers, for low-income families, for all working women who want the best for their new family, the choice of our Maternity Income Guarantee will reward them with a working wage for the first 6 months of their first child’s life.”

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat candidate in Hornsey and Wood Green said:

“There are very substantial costs involved in having your first child, and the Liberal Democrats are guaranteeing real financial security for a full six months.

“We recognise that bringing up your first child is a tough job and this needs to be reflected in a proper maternity pay package. Tens of thousands of working mothers would benefit from our proposals every year, particularly those with lower incomes.

“We are committed to giving mothers the choice to spend more time at home in their child’s early months, without feeling financially pressurised to return to work.”

Notes:

Liberal Democrats would give working families having their first child the option to have the mother stay at home for 6 months with an income equivalent to minimum wage. Becoming a parent for the first time is a daunting task and giving new working parents more support has benefits for them, their babies, their employers and the economy.

The Liberal Democrat ‘Maternity Income Guarantee’ will guarantee all working mothers will be paid at least £4,420 for the 26 weeks of statutory maternity leave when they are starting a family.This equates to £170 per week, the equivalent of the gross income of the minimum wage for a 35-hour week.

At present, statutory maternity pay is 90% of salary for six weeks and £102 for another 20 weeks. For those working women on higher salaries, for whom the current system provides more than the Maternity Income Guarantee, the Statutory Maternity Pay system would still be available.They could continue with the current system, if it suits them.

But the Maternity Income Guarantee would mean for every woman who earns less than £22,000, this would mean more money when her first child is born. For example a woman on a salary of £14,000 will receive more than £900 extra over the 26-week period.

Around 200,000 working women have their first baby every year.Under the Maternity Income Guarantee, the majority would be significantly better off – and not one would lose out.

Highgate Lib Dem councillors have welcomed some progress on the dangerous zebra crossing on North Hill, N6.

At a site meeting with the Highgate Society, local residents and Haringey Council officers, Haringey Council agreed to implement immediate safety measures including the removal of some on-street parking and better street lighting to improve visibility. They also agreed to a speed survey at the dangerous site.

Neil Williams, Highgate councillor and Leader of the Opposition, comments:

“I am pleased that some immediate measures will be taken but it concerns me that it may take another serious accident before wholesale improvements are introduced.

“I will continue to work with Lynne Featherstone to press for everything possible to be done to tackle the speeding problem in North Hill.”

Lib Dem Fortis Green councillor Martin Newton is calling for Labour councillor George Meehan not to take up his chair on the “independent” Schools Organisation Committee when the body discusses the possible expansion of Coldfall School.

The call comes following an education meeting at Coldfall School last night where concern was raised over the objectivity of Cllr Meehan who has been heavily involved in the Coldfall School expansion debate.

The proposal to expand the school, aimed at addressing the school place shortage in the area, has split parents in the area. Many parents with pupils currently at the school believe the expansion will disrupt and over-stretch the school. But many prospective parents believe that with a new housing development planned for the old Lynx depot, the existing places problem will be further exacerbated.

The Council has referred the issue to the Schools Organisational Committee for the final decision.

Cllr Newton comments:

“Haringey Council has a poor record over consultation in Haringey and it is important that this contentious issue is not brought into disrepute.

“It is clear that Cllr Meehan is heavily involved in this issue and it would be foolish of him to jeopardise the perceived objectivity of the committee by chairing the meeting. I will be requesting that he steps down for this particular meeting. It is particularly important that parents on all sides feel that the many issues are dealt with fully and properly.”

Lib Dem Leader and Highgate councillor Neil Williams has welcomed agreement by Haringey Council to look at ways of improving pedestrian safety on two dangerous roads in Highgate.

Cllr Williams was speaking after meeting council officers and concerned parents at Hampstead Lane near Highgate Junior school last week, where safety improvements for pupils crossing the road are sorely needed. However, he also expressed concern over the safety of the zebra crossing on nearby North Hill, where there was another extremely serious accident before Christmas.

Council officials agreed to improve signage on the Bishopswood Road traffic calming scheme, and to explore with the school the possibility of a school crossing patrol on Hampstead Lane. On the question of the dangerous North Hill zebra crossing, the Council said they would look into possible safety measures, which could include the introduction of a raised crossing on the site, where speeding drivers are a major problem.

Cllr Williams comments:

“I am pleased that these safety measures are being considered, as we urgently need to improve the safety of these crossings in Highgate. The North Hill zebra crossing, in particular is very unsafe, and we cannot wait for another accident to happen.While small changes were carried out in recent months through extending the zigzags, the accident at Christmas shows that these changes were in no way adequate. Action needs to be taken, either through a raised crossing or a pelican crossing to improve safety before the next serious accident occurs.”

Liberal Democrat councillors have welcomed the news that a new permanent after-school play-centre is to be built at Rhodes Avenue Primary School after Haringey Council’s planning committee gave it the all clear on Monday, 10th January.

The planning application went through with no objections following a question and answer session with the planning committee and Education Service representative.

The news has delighted Lib Dems who are concerned by information from their own recent education survey data carried out in Fortis Green ward, which found that there is much parental concern over the shortage of after-school playgroups and clubs in the area.

Alexandra ward councillor and Lib Dem Deputy Leader Wayne Hoban welcomed the news. He has been working closely with The Grove, another after-school playgroup in the area who are hoping to secure permanent facilities later this year.

Cllr Hoban comments:

“It is good news that valuable services like this are now being provided.

“Hopefully this will be the catalyst for other after-school groups in the borough as it is clear that currently there is a great demand for this important service.”

Local Liberal Democrats have criticised the Government’s plans for new child trust funds and have said that in boroughs like Haringey, the millions due to be spent on the scheme would be far better usedin cutting class sizes to 20 for five to seven year olds. They have welcomed an initiative by their party nationally that would do just that.

Gail Engert, Lib Dem Education spokesperson, has said that with many class sizes of around 30 pupils, reducing Haringey’s typically large class sizes should be the Labour Government’s priority.

Furthermore, Ms Engert says that smaller class sizes would particularly benefit Haringey, where cultural diversity means there are often many languages spoken in the classroom. She says the Labour government is letting Haringey down by not prioritising the reduction in class sizes.

Gail Engert comments:

“It would be far better to invest this substantial amount of money in the classroom rather than establish these trust funds, as investment is needed now.”

Lynne Featherstone Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson for Hornsey and Wood Green, adds:

“These funds are an empty gesture from the Government. In places like Haringey we cannot afford to delay investment in education. Only the Lib Dems nationally are making class sizes a priority, and this is good news as it would particularly benefit places like Haringey.”

Lib Dem councillor for Stroud Green, Laura Edge is calling on Transport for London (TfL) to reverse its decision to fill in the bus stop lay-by on the busy Stroud Green Road, N4.

The lay-by was removed earlier this month to enable the widening of the pavement. However, traffic is now held up when passengers are boarding and leaving the bus at the stop. Local residents and motorists are complaining that the move has added to the congestion of this already busy bus route and main road.

Cllr Edge, along with local councillor and GLA member Lynne Featherstone, is urging TfL to reconsider its decision.

Cllr Laura Edge (Stroud Green) comments:

“This is a very busy commuter road and to remove the bus lay-by simply adds unnecessary time and stress to journeys.”

Cllr Featherstone adds:

“This seemingly good initiative is now causing unforeseen problems. We will bring the issue to the attention of TfL in the hope that they will review this decision.”

Stroud Green Lib Dem councillor Laura Edge has congratulated Haringey Parks Service and the Friends of Stationer’s Park for achieving Green Flag status for Hornsey Vale’s extremely pretty and popular local park.

Attending the flag-raising ceremony in the park on Monday (17th January), Councillor Edge commented:

“I am delighted that this lovely local park has gained the recognition it deserves and would like to congratulate the Parks Service, the Friends of Stationer’s Park and the local community as a whole on this achievement.

“When I accompanied officers and local people on a tour of the park with the Green Flag judges last May, they were clearly extremely impressed, not only by how pretty and well-kept it is but also by the level of community involvement and the range of community events which take place in the park throughout the year.

“There is every reason to hope that with this award the park will go from strength to strength as a wonderful asset for the local community.”

Commenting on the decision to open a new primary school at the TUC Centre site in Crouch End, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson Cllr Lynne Featherstone says:

“This is a wonderful result, and we are delighted that the efforts of the local community and local Lib Dem councillors will now result in a much-needed new school for Crouch End. It will help hugely the pressure on places in the area, and the Council should press ahead with detailed plans as soon as possible.”

Crouch End councillor David Winskill has been pressing Haringey Council hard to open a school on the site. There has been a desperate need for a new primary school for several years, and he has been lobbying Haringey’s education and property services department, as well as writing directly to TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber in recent months.

Cllr David Winskill adds:

“This is superb news, and it is a great result for all of those who have worked so hard for this. I hope that Haringey will engage fully with local people at an early stage on the design process for the site, and I will be pressing to ensure that they do. This is a brilliant opportunity to enhance the immediate area in so many ways.”

There was some progress made at a meeting between Tube bosses, local representatives and campaigners over the controversial issue of the Highgate Tube Station fence – although no agreement was reached on what should happen to the structure in future.

The meeting at London Underground’s central London offices, attended by local residents, Lib Dem Highgate councillor Bob Hare and Lib Dem Greater London Authority Member Lynne Featherstone, agreed a planting scheme for the steep embankment at the station, with laurels at the top of the now exposed slope and mixed planting of native trees further down. The mixed planting will include around 20 half-standard trees which are already three years old. Lib Dem councillor Bob Hare believes this will significantly improve the environment for residents on both sides of the Archway Road.

While there was no agreement on the issue of the height of the existing motorway-style fence, a compromise solution was put forward (although not agreed) of reducing its height by half and adding noise-absorbing materials to it to safeguard residents in Wood Lane and Priory Gardens.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“It is a very difficult situation and London Underground will now look again at the possibilities. We will keep trying to find a solution that is acceptable to all and that is beneficial to the environment in the area around the station.”

Cllr Bob Hare Adds:

“We are pleased that a good planting scheme has been agreed, which I believe will significantly improve the environment around the station in a relatively short period of time. The planting will be good for wildlife and good for the look and feel of the area.”