Gordon Birtwistle is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Burnley.

1) Do you think Muslim faith schools improve community cohesion or have a negative impact on it?

All schools need to be committed to building stronger and more cohesive communities. Over the years faith schools generally have contributed a lot to improving educational & ethical standards.

Parents often chose a faith-based school for their children even they don’t follow that faith themselves. There are Muslim faith schools with both good and poor records in this area. Just as there are Christian and other faith schools at both ends of the spectrum.

Real problems are caused when schools choose their pupils using faith as a criteria.

That’s why we would phase out selection by faith in state funded schools over five years and ensure that schools ensure pupils aren’t compelled to attend collective worship of a faith they didn’t follow.

Of course we have little control over those faith schools run as private businesses like Stoneyhurst College and the planned girls school in Burnley.

2) What do you think is the best way to help small businesses in the present economic climate?

The most crucial thing is to get the banks lending responsibly again.

Thousands of businesses can’t get credit on fair terms, so they’re having to cut investment and jobs. That’s just not fair when it is us that own some of the banks and are propping up the rest of them.

We’d change the why business investment is supported by setting up Local Enterprise Funds to help local people invest in growing businesses in every area of the country. We’d also set up Regional Stock Exchanges so smaller business can access private capital without the risks and costs of a London listing.

Finally we’d free businesses from unnecessary red tape by introducing a ‘one in one out’ system so that for every rule introduced, another one is scrapped.

3) Why do you think your party is best suited to the needs of British Asians?

People can trust the Lib Dems to stand up when it really matters.

When the Conservative and Labour parties backed Blair & Bush’s war in Iraq we opposed it.

Locallly we’ve beaten back the threat of the BNP. Seven years ago they were threatening to take over our town.

It was the Lib Dems who beat them back in two historic by-elections in Hapton and Lanehead. Last year the BNP vote fell across Burnley.

Our plans for tax and education will make Britain fairer.

We’ll cut income tax saving the average tax payer £700 a year and cut class sizes so every child gets a fair start in life.

Plans to close the children’s ward at Burnley General really worry families with children who don’t want to face journeys to Blackburn. They are telling me they need an MP who will stand up against health cuts

4) Would you condemn the actions of Israel if the state was to repeat the bombing of Gaza (January 2009)?

Certainly if Israel were to act in a similar way as in January 2009.

I supported my colleagues Paul Rowen MP and Chris Davies MEP when they spoke out against Israel’s actions in this conflict.

There needs to be a full investigation into the use of White Phosphorous by the IDF in that conflict.

More recently Nick Clegg has called for the blockade of Gaza by Israel and Egypt to be lifted so that essential work like repairs to the water and sewerage system can be undertaken as well as for an end to arms exports to Israel.

It would be wrong to criticise Israel without also making a strong condemnation of the indiscriminate rocket attacks launched by Hamas.

5) How do you intend to tackle unemployment amongst young people in neighbourhoods in your constituency?

Young workers have been hit hardest by the recession.

We would help them keep within reach of the job market by providing paid internships for three months and increasing the number of apprenticeships, and university and vocational higher education places.

As leader of Burnley Council I’ve worked to bring jobs and prosperity to our town.

Local engineering businesses are crying out for skilled workers, If they can’t find those locally we’ll miss out.

That’s why I championed the cause of the new University centre which will give local young people real opportunities to train locally.

As leader of the Council I’ve helped them get access to funds to buy some of the specialist equipment they need to give young people those skills.

There are courses there, working with hi-tech products, which are unique in the whole country.