Other News In Brief

Sinn Féin MLA Calls For Equal Support For All Pre-School Providers

Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason has called on the Education Minister to ensure equitable support for all children in pre-school and early years settings, particularly those provided by non-statutory and community childcare providers.

Mason, the party’s childcare and early years spokesperson, raised concerns about the challenges faced by these providers, stating, "All pre-school providers play an exemplary role in giving our children the best start to life, despite the range of challenges they face."

She highlighted a lack of progress in extending the Department of Education’s Pre-School Education Programme, which offers extended pre-school hours, to non-statutory providers. Mason pointed out that despite the dedication of staff, significant issues persist, including low wages, job insecurity, and limited career progression. These factors are contributing to difficulties in recruiting and retaining workers.

"Concerns have been raised with me in relation to a lack of progress in making the Department of Education’s Pre-School Education Programme – which offers extended pre-school hours to parents and families – available to non-statutory providers," she said.

Mason called on the Education Minister to take immediate action to address these issues, emphasizing the need to "ensure all families and providers are properly supported, and that every child is given the tools to thrive and reach their full potential."

Upper Bann MP Backs Bill For Fairer Prices For Farmers

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has voiced her support for the Food Products (Market Regulation and Public Procurement) Bill, a Ten Minute Rule Bill aimed at securing fairer prices for farmers and food producers in the UK. 

The bill, also known as the Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill, was presented to the House of Commons by Alistair Carmichael MP, chairman of the Westminster Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. It seeks to promote increased public procurement of locally produced food and strengthen labelling requirements.  Carla Lockhart MP, the DUP's Agriculture, Environmental and Rural Affairs spokesperson, stated: "I have been working alongside my Westminster colleagues and the farming unions, lobbying for more transparency across the agri-food supply chain. Farmers are the backbone of the agri-food sector, but they need a fair deal and fair prices for their produce at the farmgate. We need to see stronger working relationships between farmers, suppliers and retailers." 

Lockhart emphasised the bill's potential to benefit UK farmers and ensure long-term, affordable food security for consumers. She highlighted the challenges faced by farmers, including government bureaucracy, unpredictable weather, rising overheads, and volatile prices, stressing the need for stability and a competitive trading environment.

The Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill aims to improve coordination between the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator.

"The bill will provide a legislative framework which will support and protect farmers and their livelihoods, rather than undermine them," Lockhart added.

Appeal for Information After Trailer Theft From Belfast Building Site

Police are appealing for information and witnesses following the theft of a trailer from a building site in the Pottinger Street area of east Belfast.

Officers received a report at approximately 5:30 pm on Sunday, March 16th, that a vehicle had entered the site. The driver then attached a trailer belonging to the site to their car and drove off in the direction of Beersbridge Road.

Police are conducting ongoing enquiries and are urging anyone with information, CCTV footage, dash-cam footage, or mobile phone footage to come forward. They are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who saw a dark-coloured Mitsubishi Shogun, with a tyre mounted on the rear hatch, acting suspiciously in the Pottinger Street area between 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1163 16/03/25.

Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/