http://www.johnthurso.org/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from John Thurso en-GB John Thurso http://www.johnthurso.org/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 John Thurso 2010-03-10T10:20+00:00 United Kingdom http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000211/government_must_get_banks_lending_for_firms_to_invest_in_recovery_says_thurso.html "Banks are failing to meet their lending commitments, starving businesses of capital needed for investment," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Business Secretary. 2010-02-25T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000212/mp_slams_high_handed_actions_of_lloyds_banking_group_as_it_ends_charities_deal.html Local MP John Thurso accused Lloyds Banking Group of "intimidation on a grand scale" today as the bank announced it intends to end the funding deal with the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland which has distributed millions of pounds to Scottish charities over the years. 2010-02-24T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000210/government_agrees_to_investigate_fuel_rebate_schemes_abroad.html Campaigners for a fuel rebate scheme in the Highlands and Islands had reason for optimism today as a Treasury Minister agreed to investigate similar schemes that are already in place abroad. 2010-02-10T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000209/rural_drivers_not_getting_a_fair_deal__john_thurso_and_george_lyon_mep.html George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, and local MP John Thurso have called on the UK and Scottish Governments to work together to secure a fuel price derogation for Scotland's most rural and remote areas. 2010-02-02T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000208/cold_weather_payments__local_mp_seeks_new_links_to_cassley_weather_station.html Local MP John Thurso is seeking to have additional areas of the Far North linked to the Cassley weather station for the purpose of triggering cold weather payments in recognition of the more extreme winter weather condition which they experience. 2010-02-01T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000206/thurso_calls_for_lloyds_to_meet_with_foundation.html Local MP John Thurso, at a hearing of the Treasury Select Committee, pressed Lloyds Banking Group Chief Executive, Eric Daniels, to continue to fund the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland. 2010-01-26T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000207/dounreay__mp_meets_with_major_projects_review_group.html Local MP, John Thurso has given evidence to the Major Project Review Group (MPRG) who are advising the Treasury in respect of the Dounreay contract. Set up by the Office of Government Commerce within the Treasury, MPRG is tasked with assessing the value to the taxpayer of major projects and advising the Treasury on funding awards. 2010-01-25T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000205/days_when_financial_services_dictated_how_economy_is_run_over_thurso.html Local MP reiterated his conviction today that a rebalanced economy must have manufacturing at its very heart - both in an outside of recession. 2010-01-19T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000204/chancellor_noncommittal_over_request_to_guarantee_cash_for_dounreay.html Local MP John Thurso has called for Chancellor Alasdair Darling to guarantee funding for the decommissioning of Dounreay before the announcement of expected deep cuts in the New Year. 2009-12-27T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000201/treasury_committee_to_quiz_crown_estates_over_tidal_energy_delays_after_questions_raised_by_local_mp.html The Treasury Select Committee has announced it going to initiate an inquiry into the Crown Estate's development of tidal energy after delays in pushing forward the industry in the Pentland Firth. 2009-12-10T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000200/manufacturing_must_be_at_very_core_of_british_economy_thurso.html Manufacturing not financial services is the critical bedrock of a mixed and stable economy according to John Thurso MP. The Lib Dem Business spokesman and member of the influential Treasury Select Committee was speaking today at Westminster in a debate on the future of British manufacturing. 2009-12-02T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000199/mp_renews_calls_for_hbos__lloyds_split_amid_revelations_of_secret_government_loans.html The Bank of England today admitted it had secretly lent massive sums to RBS and HBOS while HBOS was still in talks with Lloyds over their merger. 2009-11-25T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000198/local_mp_warns_dont_write_off_people_with_autism.html John Thurso MP is backing a National Autistic Society (NAS) campaign to stop adults with autism being written-off by the employment and benefits system. A new report by the NAS reveals a third of people with the condition currently live without a job and without benefits; many are forced to rely on family and friends for help. 2009-11-18T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000197/teenagers_urged_to_make_views_known_on_bankers_pay_and_bonuses.html Following the launch of the annual ifs Young Business Writer of the Year competition local MP, John Thurso, has urged teenagers living in the constituency to enter the national writing competition to make their views about bankers pay and bonuses known. 2009-11-14T00:00+00:00 http://www.johnthurso.org/news/000196/sham_consultation_steamrolled_views_of_local_people_on_po_closures__thurso.html The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has released a scathing report on the Government's consultation on its PO closure programme 2007/8 - suggesting the consultation was mere window dressing. John Thurso MP, Lib Dem business spokesman condemned the consultation as a sham and suggested the report made a mockery of the Government's claims "to be listening" 2009-11-13T00:00+00:00