Three people in court over mustard gas probe

Question Time, the BBC’s topical debate show which invites the audience to ask politicians questions, is coming to Lincoln.

It will air at 10.45pm on BBC One, as well as BBC Radio 5 Live and on demand on iPlayer, and Lincoln residents are being invited to be part of the virtual debate.

On the panel will be Donald Trump’s former communications director Anthony Scaramucci, as well as Rupert Soames, CEO of public service company Serco.

The other panelists are yet to be announced.

The political panel programme has been arranging public questions via virtual links on Zoom due to the coronavirus pandemic, and will now offer people from Lincoln the chance to have their say.

Host of the show Fiona Bruce has explained the socially distanced Question Time layout, as well as how to apply, in a promotional video.

The programme comes just a week after footballer Marcus Rashford’s appeals to extend the free school meal scheme to Easter next year, plans which were rejected by government.

To apply to ask a question on Question Time, fill in the form here.

Police have discovered a cannabis farm that was growing thousands of plants on three floors of a house in Grimsby.

Officers raided the house on the junction of Freeman Street and Garibaldi Street in the town on Friday, October 23.

Thousands of cannabis plants were found at the property, spread across three floors of the building, as well as growing equipment.

Evidence is being gathered while the farm is being dismantled and the electricity supply is made safe again.

There have currently been no arrests in connection with the farm, and police are appealing for information about the premises.

If you can help, call 101 and quote log 265 of October 23, or anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Lincolnshire County Council won’t directly subsidise free school meals during half term, but it also has “no intention of leaving vulnerable children hungry” after opposition leaders challenged them.

Labour Party leader at the authority Councillor Rob Parker has written to Conservative leader Martin Hill urging him to “do the right thing and commit funds so that Lincolnshire children do not go hungry”.

“There is great concern across England about the absence of provision of free school meals to low income families over the half term  holidays, and Lincolnshire is no exception,” he said.

He pointed to the fact a number of English councils of all parties had “stepped into the gap” and pledged to fund schemes.

“To date Lincolnshire County Council has remained silent on the matter and as far as I can tell has made no arrangements to ensure that children in low income families do not go hungry during the holidays through no fault of their own,” he said.

Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill (left) and leader of the opposition Rob Parker.

According to council officers, the cost for providing free school meals to about 20,000 eligible Lincolnshire children will be about £300,000 for each week of holiday – around £3 per meal.

Councillor Martin Hill responded: “We have no intention of leaving vulnerable children or anyone else to go hungry over holiday periods.

“The government has made substantial additional financial support to low income families to further help them in these difficult times.”

He said £835,000 already received from government to support vulnerable had been allocated, including £400,000 to the Lincolnshire Food Partnership to support local food banks, and £215,000 to the Community Lincs Programme run by the YMCA.

The council has also responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by giving the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum £217,000 to bulk purchase food stock to support vulnerable residents.

“As always we will respond to requests for support positively and if there are children in need we will of course act immediately to keep them safe,” he said.

He said people who need help can contact the authority by visiting www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/childrenshealth or calling 01522 782030.

Additionally, to find details of local food banks visit www.lincolnfoodpartnership.org/

Other schemes can be found at www.maphub.net/LincsGNS/lincs-gns

A list of businesses providing free school meals in Lincolnshire can be found here.