Lorely Burt MP

A new £2m scheme has been launched by the coalition government to help boost childcare businesses and help women back into work.

From May, people who want to set up a nursery can apply for grants of up to £500 to help cover things like legal and insurance costs, training, equipment and adaptations to buildings. The scheme is aimed to launch up to 6,000 new childcare businesses across England.

Solihull Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt has welcomed news that the Marks & Spencer Simply Food Store on Stratford Road has been saved - for now.

Mrs Burt had previously written to the council to express concerns about Marks & Spencer's plans to close the store and relocate to a retail park out of town. Marks & Spencer bosses now say they expect the Stratford Road store to remain open for "the foreseeable future", though plans for a new store will go ahead as well.

Lorely Burt, Liberal Democrat MP for Solihull, has called on local schools to teach pupils about money and personal finance, as part of this year's My Money Week.

My Money Week aims to improve young people's financial skills, knowledge and confidence through special lessons, activities and debates in schools and other settings across the UK.

Ten-year-old Max Penney from Solihull Junior School was so determined to win his School's mock general election that he called on the borough's MP for her support.

Standing as the Liberal Democrat candidate on the day of the national local elections, Max came top in the poll with 89 votes after being given tips on his speech and manifesto by Lorely Burt.

Today is pay day for many people in Solihull and for nearly 80,000 Silhillians there will be a little bit extra in their payslip this month. Thanks to tax changes introduced by the Liberal Democrats, low and middle earners across Solihull will see up to £50 more in their monthly payslip than they did in 2010.

Solihull Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt is calling on parents to check for warning signs of heart problems in their children.

The Solihull MP is supporting 'Think HEART' - the Children's Heart Federation's campaign to increase early diagnosis of children's heart conditions.

Think HEART spells out five easy signs to help parents spot a heart problem early: Heart rate; Energy; Appearance; Respiration (breathing); and Temperature. Parents recognizing any of these signs in their children should contact a doctor immediately.

Solihull Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt has congratulated local residents after controversial plans for a KFC drive-through were rejected by council officers.

On Saturday 20^th April Mrs Burt joined demonstrators, organised by local resident Lynne Fisher of Snitterfield Drive, for a silent banner protest at the old Etrinsic site on Stratford Road where the fast food outlet was proposed. Local Lib Dem councillor Ian Hedley was also there.

Solihull Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt has said today's growth figures show the UK economy is on the right track.

The Office for National Statistics said its first estimate for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed the economy grew 0.3% during the first three months of 2013. This means the UK has avoided a triple-dip recession.

Thanks to Liberal Democrats, 411 of the poorest toddlers in Solihull will benefit from 15 hours free childcare a week from this September, an investment of £2,788 per child.

This is in addition to the £100m investment in capital spending for additional nursery places announced by Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minster, Nick Clegg, last year.

The Coalition Government has announced a £560,000 boost for school sports in Solihull from September. Every state primary school in Solihull is expected to receive funding for sports in 2013/14 and 2014/15, including approximately:

• £9,810 for Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Primary School
• £9,785 for Greswold Primary School
• £9,780 for Sharmans Cross School