By Clare Jerrom, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson.
MPs call for childminders to be banned from smoking and smacking
Childminders should not be allowed to smack the children they look after, nor should they smoke in front of children, an all-party committee of MPs will demand today.
The committee adds that education standards watchdog Ofsted should launch a study to determine the extent of physical punishment of children.
It rejects controversial guidelines drawn up by ministers allowing childminders to smack or smoke in front of children if parents agree.
The House of Commons select committee on education and skills says: "We would expect good quality childcare to exclude the physical chastisement of small children. We recommend that Ofsted should report by December 2003 on the extent of the use of physical punishment by childminders."
Source:- The Independent Thursday 14 February page 8
Blunkett must decide fate of Algiers suspect
The home secretary must decide by tomorrow whether an asylum seeker sentenced to death in his absence should be extradited to Algeria.
Abdelghani Ait Haddad is wanted by the Algerian authorities in connection with a bombing at Algiers airport in 1992, which killed nine people and wounded 123.
The evidence against him is a confession extracted from an alleged witness, who was executed after being tortured.
The extradition cannot go ahead without David Blunkett’s authority. A home office spokesperson said he had not come to a decision yesterday, but the case was under "active consideration".
Source:- The Guardian Thursday 14 February page 8
Teenage witness in Damilola case ‘fears revenge as a grass’
The teenager believed to be the only witness to the attack on Damilola Taylor said yesterday she "lived in fear" of the youths accused of the schoolboy’s murder.
The 14-year-old girl said she knew there was the chance she could be beaten up for being a grass. She added the attack on Damilola had changed her life: "I have not really got an outside life anymore. Most of the time I stay at my house. I cannot walk down the street."
The girl is thought to be the only witness to the attack in Peckham, south London, where Damilola was stabbed in the leg.
She finished giving evidence to the Old Bailey after five-and-a-half days of cross examination where she was repeatedly accused of lying.
The trial continues.
Source:- The Guardian Thursday 14 February page 13
Parents letting children down, says Morris
Parents were accused by Estelle Morris yesterday of abdicating responsibility for their children’s education.
The education and skills secretary said she was shocked by inspectors’ discovery that eight out of 10 cases of unwarranted absences were condoned by parents.
Morris added that rich parents as well as poor were failing to live up to their responsibilities.
Speaking at a London conference on nursery and primary education, Morris said with so much being demanded of teachers and other professionals working with children, that parents had to be reminded of their responsibilities.
Source:- The Times Thursday 14 February page 6
Scottish newspapers
Action on care dispute postponed
Independent care home owners have decided to postpone planned action against local authorities for 10 days to allow the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to consult member councils over fees for this year.
The decision was made last night at an executive meeting of Scottish Care, the umbrella organisation for residential and nursing home owners. After a meeting with the Scottish executive on Monday, Cosla agreed to consult members on a contribution to the demanded increase of £50 per resident per week.
So far, the executive has contributed £24 million, the equivalent of £24 per resident per week, and expects local authorities to find the additional funds. Scottish Care has threatened to ban all new referrals from local authorities if the new fees are not agreed.
Source:- The Scotsman Thursday 14 February page 9
Welsh newspapers
High court to decide on Oliver DNA test
Police will go to the high court in London tomorrow in an attempt to establish the identity of a three-month-old baby boy abandoned in south Wales last month.
Detectives are hoping that the court will allow them to take a DNA sample from the baby, who was named Oliver by the detectives who found him, so that they can move a step closer to finding his parents.
The court must act in accordance with the 1989 Children Act in deciding whether or not to give the go-ahead for the procedure. Legal experts say that it is generally considered to be in the best interests of the child to know who his parents are, and that his long term interests will be taken into account by the court.
Source:- Western Mail Thursday February 14 page 5
Homes watchdog 'too late for Hazelcroft'
The Care Standards Inspectorate which begins work in April could have prevented the problems that have occurred at the troubled Hazelcroft Residential Home in Cardiff.
Members of the Welsh Assembly were told by Jonathan Morgan, South Wales Central AM, that the inspectorate, which will regulate care for vulnerable adults and children, would have provided a valuable safeguard against the difficulties that the home has experienced.
Council-funded inspectors accused staff of neglecting and insulting residents of the home in Fairwater, Cardiff, and Mr Morgan has called for a full public inquiry into the allegations.
Cardiff council says that all the allegations have been investigated, and that the home is currently closed for refurbishment.
Source:- South Wales Echo Wednesday 13 February page 5
