Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Beith MP

The Justice Committee, chaired by Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith, has decided to hold a short inquiry, following its earlier report on the proposed abolition of the Youth Justice Board. The Inquiry aims to examine the extent to which the youth justice system in England and Wales is fulfilling its principal aim of preventing offending by young people. Specifically, the inquiry will explore:

Berwick's Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith has welcomed news that the campaign to protect the BBC's regional broadcasting in the north east has been successful.

Yesterday BBC Trust Chairman Lord Patten announced that he had asked BBC bosses to look again at their cuts to BBC local radio and regional shows like Inside Out. This comes after lobbying by Sir Alan to protect the BBC in the north east.

The issue of dualling the A1 has been raised by both Sir Alan Beith MP in the House of Commons and his wife Diana in the House of Lords this week.

In the House of Lords on Monday, independent peer Lord Walton of Detchant asked whether the Government had considered the upgrading of the A1 when identifying infrastructure projects fo0r funding announced in the Autumn Statement. Diana Beith, who sits in the House of Lords as Baroness Maddock, also raised the issue of safety on the A1 and the need for dualling, following a BBC report last week which identified driving in Northumberland as 50% more dangerous than driving in London.

Post Offices in Northumberland have been saved by Liberal Democrat Business Minister, Ed Davey.

After ending Labour's shameful Post Office closure programme, which saw more than 7100 Post Offices disappear in their 13 years in office, Ed Davey has announced that a ten-year deal between the Post Office and the Royal Mail has been reached.

A Newcastle pensioner has been left with a £600 bill after a neighbourly mistake led to police smashing down his door.

When neighbours raised concerns about Nicolas Hunter's whereabouts, police forcibly entered his property, only to discover he was away on holiday. Upon his return Mr Hunter faced the double shock of having to replace his front door and being told the police would not help with the cost.

Berwick's Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith has challenged the Government to use money allocated to "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects to dual stretches of the A1 at Mousen Bends near Belford, and between Felton and Morpeth.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday 12 January, Sir Alan asked the Minister:

Local MEP Fiona Hall has secured an assurance from the European Commission that it is prepared to take legal action against Members States that do not comply with the ban on battery hens.

While UK farmers have invested in ensuring their facilities meet new standards which came into force this month, they fear their business being undermined by cheap imports from countries flouting the rules.

Nearly £1 million extra funding for social care in Northumberland will mean people can leave hospital earlier and receive better care at home.

This comes from an extra £150m announced by the Coalition Government this week to be spent on shortening hospital stays across the country during the busy winter period.

Business leaders have backed the £1bn Youth Contract, announced by Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg in November, which aims to ensure that all jobless young people are earning or learning again before long-term damage is done.

Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick upon Tweed Sir Alan Beith has welcomed the Youth Contract which could benefit the 2580 18 to 24-year-olds in Northumberland who are currently in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance.

MP for Berwick upon Tweed Sir Alan Beith starts his 2012 programme of regular surgeries on Friday.

This week's surgery will be held at the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), Tweed Street, Berwick between 2.30 and 3.30pm. If residents have any concerns, they are invited to go along to the surgery and Sir Alan will offer advice and help.