Latest news with #AliceMacdonald
Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Use foreign exchange reserves to maintain overseas aid, Starmer urged
The government is being urged to consider leaning on Britain's £150 billion foreign exchange reserves to prevent deep cuts in overseas aid to low-income countries threatened by the withdrawal of US funding. A group of Labour MPs wants the government to maintain its commitment of nearly £2 billion to the World Bank's International Development Association, a facility for poor countries, which is in the line of fire as the UK cuts its foreign aid budget. The MPs, who include Alice Macdonald and Joe Powell, will write to Sir Keir Starmer asking the government to use the UK's Exchange Equalisation Account, a vast stock of foreign exchange reserves worth £150 billion, to offer low-interest loans to the world's poorest and most vulnerable countries. The exchange, which
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Tesco sorry after Dereham and Sprowston mobile cancer unit error
Tesco has apologised after a procedural error prevented a mobile cancer care unit using its supermarket car Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) had been using Tesco car parks in Dereham and Sprowston, near Norwich, to offer chemotherapy to patients in the the hospital said Tesco had given it just a day's notice to find new locations when it reapplied to continue using the said an "internal process was not followed for the initial request" and it would be "happy to welcome them back". "We were sorry to hear about this," a Tesco spokesperson added."Unfortunately, the correct internal process was not followed for the initial request."The mobile cancer unit, named Amira, contains four chairs and helps to treat patients closer to recently, it was based at Tesco in Sprowston on Tuesdays and Tesco in Dereham on supermarket did not charge for the use of its car parks. Alice Macdonald, the Labour MP for Norwich North, said she had written to Tesco to demand an explanation."What was particularly concerning... it was very short notice in terms of the change in where treatment could be accessed," she said."I just think one day's notice isn't acceptable."We just want [the treatment units] to resume as quickly as possible."She later welcomed Tesco's "swift response" to the situation. Charities regularly use supermarket grounds to deliver services, such as food banks and screening centres, due to their large car parks and key mobile cancer unit, run in partnership with the charity Hope for Tomorrow, was launched in Norfolk during the Covid-19 NNUH said it was "working tirelessly" to resume the service and was awaiting a decision from Tesco regarding its re-application."We are also actively exploring alternative locations in these areas to ensure we can continue this valued and vital community service for our patients," a spokesperson told the BBC."We are very sorry for any inconvenience and disruption caused to our patients - unfortunately, we received a day's notice regarding the use of these car parks and changes to the way these are managed." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anti-social behaviour 'will not be tolerated'
An MP said anti-social behaviour "cannot and will not be tolerated" after more than 900 incidents were recorded in her constituency in 2023. Alice Macdonald, Labour MP for Norwich North, held a debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday regarding anti-social behaviour in the East of England, while welcoming the government's Police and Crime Bill. During 2023, she said, about 8,800 incidents of anti-social behaviour were recorded across Norfolk, with 948 of these in her own constituency. She said: "Nothing has the power to disturb our experiences like anti-social behaviour; it can make people's lives a living hell." Ms Macdonald said anti-social behaviour could come in many forms, including fly-tipping, nuisance neighbours, loud music and off-road bikes. During her speech, she said Norwich City Council had started to lock gates again in parks and cemeteries after receiving reports of drug use and vandalism. One of the parks affected, Waterloo Park in Norwich, is home to The Feed, a social enterprise cafe that has experienced issues including broken glass and its benches being thrown in fountains. While the charity is unable to fund CCTV, Ms Macdonald said she would be backing a call for this. She said where derelict sites had not been secured properly, they had become "hotspots". In January, 17 fire appliances were called to a fire at the derelict Van-Dal shoe factory on Dibden Road, Norwich. It took firefighters up to four hours to get the blaze under control. Ms Macdonald said: "Norwich is a great place to live, and indeed we have seen communities rally round to support each other after anti-social behaviour, but a small minority can cause misery for many." She said Norfolk Police was expected to receive about £235m in funding this year, but that with more resources, would be able to tackle such issues. "Anti-social behaviour is a blight on all our communities. It cannot and will not be tolerated," she said. "I applaud the government's actions in taking efforts and action to tackle it and put more police on our streets, but there is, of course a long way to go." Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said the government was working with the National Police Chiefs' Council on a rural crime strategy. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Shoppers welcome new anti-social behaviour powers Cafe 'will not back down' despite damage and abuse Parks to be locked at night in council U-turn Parliament UK
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Norwich MP says anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated
An MP said anti-social behaviour "cannot and will not be tolerated" after more than 900 incidents were recorded in her constituency in 2023. Alice Macdonald, Labour MP for Norwich North, held a debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday regarding anti-social behaviour in the East of England, while welcoming the government's Police and Crime Bill. During 2023, she said, about 8,800 incidents of anti-social behaviour were recorded across Norfolk, with 948 of these in her own constituency. She said: "Nothing has the power to disturb our experiences like anti-social behaviour; it can make people's lives a living hell." Ms Macdonald said anti-social behaviour could come in many forms, including fly-tipping, nuisance neighbours, loud music and off-road bikes. During her speech, she said Norwich City Council had started to lock gates again in parks and cemeteries after receiving reports of drug use and vandalism. One of the parks affected, Waterloo Park in Norwich, is home to The Feed, a social enterprise cafe that has experienced issues including broken glass and its benches being thrown in fountains. While the charity is unable to fund CCTV, Ms Macdonald said she would be backing a call for this. She said where derelict sites had not been secured properly, they had become "hotspots". In January, 17 fire appliances were called to a fire at the derelict Van-Dal shoe factory on Dibden Road, took firefighters up to four hours to get the blaze under Macdonald said: "Norwich is a great place to live, and indeed we have seen communities rally round to support each other after anti-social behaviour, but a small minority can cause misery for many."She said Norfolk Police was expected to receive about £235m in funding this year, but that with more resources, would be able to tackle such issues. "Anti-social behaviour is a blight on all our communities. It cannot and will not be tolerated," she said."I applaud the government's actions in taking efforts and action to tackle it and put more police on our streets, but there is, of course a long way to go."Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said the government was working with the National Police Chiefs' Council on a rural crime strategy. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
