Treasury Minster, Liam Byrne visited the Prentice Centre with Mark on Monday of this week to meet local residents. Liam has been one of the Treasury team working on the UK Government's response to the credit crunch.

There is still a long way to go but the priority that it gave to protecting those on lowest income from recession was important and the investment in providing a guarantee of a job or training for young people looking for work was an imaginative response which should prevent a generation of young people being lost to the labour market as happened in previous recessions under the Conservatives.

Liam fielded questions on the economy and was impressed by the Centre which is a much valued community facility.