Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has announced a £1 billion pound Youth Contract to tackle youth unemployment, which aims to ensure that all jobless young people are earning or learning again before long-term damage is done.

In Northampton there are 1,510 18-24 year olds are currently in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance who would stand to benefit from the Youth Contract.

In his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference, Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined his goals for the Government and the country over the coming years. He reiterated his commitment to liberal values on the environment and human rights and his determination to ensure a fair chance for every child, saying "every child can do good things, great things, if only we give them the opportunities they deserve."

The Government has announced a further 11 Enterprise Zones across the country, designed to boost local growth and create more than 30,000 new jobs by 2015. These Zones will have simplified planning rules, super-fast broadband and over £100m tax breaks for new businesses over the next four years. Northampton has been selected as one of the 11 areas chosen.

Andrew Simpson, Lib Dem parliamenatry spokesperson for Northampton North constituency has welcomed the announcement by The UK Payments Council that they are to reverse their decision to scrap cheques by 2018 and continue their use for as long as customers need them.

Commenting, Andrew Simpson said:

"I want to say a huge thank you to all the local people who supported the Lib Dem campaign to save the cheque.

The Government has announced changes to its Health Bill to address concerns raised by the public, medical professionals and the Liberal Democrats.

Liberal Democrats led the calls for changes after raising serious concerns at the party's Spring Conference in March. Nick Clegg and others have worked hard in Government to make sure the concerns have been addressed.

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Andrew Simpson, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson for Northampton North constituency has welcomed today's announcement by the Coalition Government of an extra £430 per child for schools In Northampton for children in receipt of free school meals. The 'Pupil Premium' was a key manifesto pledge by the Liberal Democrats and the total extra money for Northampton is estimated at £1, 762,570.

Following a question by Andrew Simpson at tonight's meeting of Northampton Borough Council it was confirmed by the Portfolioholder for the Environment, Cllr Trini Crake, that the Council had not only achieved the 10% carbon reduction required by the 10:10 campaign but was on course to exceed it by the end of 2010.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson for Northampton North is one of 104 Lib Dem General Election candidates to support a petition to all 57 Lib Dem MP's calling on them to vote against the Coalition Government's proposals to raise the cap on tuition fees.

"We all made a pledge at the General Election that we would as vote against any proposal to raise the tuition fee cap and our MP's must honour that pledge" said Andrew

Andrew Simpson, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson for Northampton North constituency, has expressed his disappointment in news from the Government that a bid for £100 million of funds for Thorplands and Eastfield estates will not be proceeding.

"This was a once in a generation chance to fund major regeneration of these two estates and it is a great disappointment that the Government has withdrawn funding for future schemes." said Andrew.