Andrew Mitchell, the Secretary of State for International Development, today thanked the British public for their magnificent donations to the Disaster Emergency Committee Pakistan Floods Appeal, which have now topped £47m.

Having outlined the Coalition Government's response to the disaster he set out how the UK will intensify efforts this week.

Speaking in the House of Commons this afternoon, Andrew Mitchell said:

"The British people have once again demonstrated their compassion and generosity. I am sure the House will wish to join me in commending the magnificent response from the British public who have committed more than £47 million to the Disaster Emergency Committee Appeal. We continue to urge people to give, and to give generously, to that appeal."

And he added:

"The UK and Pakistan are bound together by bonds of history and family which underline our support for Pakistan in good times and bad. This bond will remain strong over the coming months and years, as we work together to help Pakistan recover from this unprecedented catastrophe."

A proposal for a Greater Cambridge-Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been submitted to Government – the proposed area covers Cambridgeshire, Peterborough City, Rutland, Cambridge, East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Huntingdonshire, South Cambridgeshire, and the neighbouring market towns.

Beyond the administrative boundaries above, the real economic geography extends into parts of North Hertfordshire, Uttlesford, St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath; King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.

John Bridge, Chairman of Opportunity Peterborough and Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce who has chaired a project group drawn from businesses, local authorities, universities and social enterprise to develop the proposal said: “As the deadline for the submission of LEP proposals has drawn closer, there has been a perilous tendancy across the UK to allow discussions to be constrained by county boundaries.

“Businesses and local authorities across the local area have recognised that the most positive economic benefits will result from a partnership that looks beyond administrative boundaries and focuses on our significant and distinctive economic geography that makes such a positive net contribution to the UK economy. The proposed local enterprise partnership area boasts some of the country’s most globally competitive clusters which, if fostered, can help to lead the UK’s economic recovery over the coming years.”


The Greater Cambridge-Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership proposal outlines a mission to lead the area’s growth to 100,000 significant businesses and create 160,000 new jobs by 2025 in an internationally renowned low carbon, knowledge-based economy.

To achieve this mission, the proposed Local Enterprise Partnership will provide economic leadership across the area and work with partners to support much needed investment in skills, business growth, transport, broadband and homes. Meeting the needs and ambitions of this growing area will require a step change in business success, unlocking the ability of the private sector to create jobs, wealth and offset the impact of public sector job losses.

For further details of the proposal, go to: http://www.yourlocalenterprisepartnership.co.uk/

Immigration minister Damian Green confirmed last night that the government will look at all immigration routes into the UK and set new rules. 

He explained that the previous Labour Government's points-based system for immigration is not yet properly controlling the numbers of people coming into the UK and that an effective system needs to be found. It follows Home Office commissioned research showing a fifth of foreign students granted visas in 2004 were still in the UK five years later.

Speaking at the Royal Commonwealth Club yesterday, Damian Green said:

"We need steady downward pressure on many routes to long-term immigration in order to hit our net migration commitment.  We are looking at all routes, and will need to set rules for each of them that give us the immigrants we need.  In an increasingly globalised world it is ever more important that proper immigration controls are not only in place but are seen to be in place."

After thirteen years of a Labour Government, the public had lost confidence in the immigration system. Net immigration had more than tripled since 1997, adding pressure on our public services. The sheer scale of immigration under Labour was too high and the points-based system introduced by Labour was still not delivering proper control of numbers of migrants coming into the country.

Forthcoming Government reviews will therefore:

• look at who is qualifying, both in the work and study categories, to make sure that brightest and best are being attracted to the UK 
• study why those who come here on routes that do not lead to settlement find it easy to change routes and permanently settle 
• ensure a steady downward trend on every route to long-term immigration

Read Damian's speech in full.

A New fund has been launched to help rural communities in Fenland that need a big injection of cash for projects such as new community centres, playgrounds or other facilities.

The Rural Capital Fund was launched last month at a presentation made by Fenland District Council Cabinet member Chris Seaton to parish councils.

It has £600,000 to hand out to groups in Fenland over the next three years and is aimed specifically at rural communities outside the four market towns.

Groups can apply for up to £100,000 of capital funding for special projects. To obtain money from the fund they must match half the total cost of the project, prove that they are a properly constituted group and demonstrate that they have consulted widely with their local community about their proposal.

Successful projects will support one or more of the five key strands of FDC’s Sustainable Community Strategy – health and wellbeing, safer and stronger communities, economic and sustainable communities, building a sustainable environment and children and young people.

Cllr Seaton, the portfolio holder responsible for community development, said: "Fenland is a largely rural area and it is vital that we support the smaller communities within it in every way we can."

"At a time when many other authorities are reducing their support to local groups, I’m delighted to be announcing this new fund, which will help to ensure that rural communities get the sort of facilities they need to survive and prosper."

To get more details about the fund and an application form, call Ross McGivern, FDC's community development officer, on 01354 654321 or email rmcgivern@fenland.gov.uk