By Clare Jerrom, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson.
Blair warns of tax rises to improve NHS
The prime minister hinted that taxes would be increased to pay for improvements to the health service.
Tony Blair said: "If we want sustained investment in the National Health Service over a period of time, we are going to have to pay for it and I believe we will find that money."
Asked where he would find the money on the televised debate as part of the BBC’s NHS day, he said: "We will find it out of general taxation because the alternatives, which are social insurance – which is tax on wages – and private healthcare – which you pay out of your pocket are worse."
During the BBC interview, he suggested that a priority for extra spending would be better social services provision to minimise delayed discharges.
He said when he visited accident and emergency departments, he could see that the problem was not in those departments but higher up the chain, where older people were occupying beds when they would be better served in residential care homes.
Source:- The Times Thursday 21 February page 1
Killer who preyed on elderly given record 26 life sentences
A drug addict was sentenced to 26 life sentences for murdering two older people, and attacking two dozen more in their homes.
Mr Justice Butterfield told Andrew Aston he could expect to spend the rest of his life in prison after terrorising older people in a three-month crime wave. He said the 29-year-old killer was "brutal and cowardly", and had exhibited a "gratuitous desire" to hurt his victims.
Aston was convicted of the murders of 87-year-old George Dale and Francis Hobley, aged 80, and of 20 robberies and four attempted robberies. He was given a life sentence for each of the 26 offences.
Source:- The Times Thursday 21 February page 4
Brown to help poor areas in business
Gordon Brown is planning to introduce an American-style system to tackle pockets of deprivation throughout Britain.
The Chancellor wants to help poverty and employment blackspots with a range of business incentives aimed at the communities. The measures are expected in the Budget on April 17.
Brown wants to create a network of one-stop shops where potential entrepreneurs can get low interest loans and extensive services if they keep business in their local area.
Source:- The Times Thursday 21 February page 12
Elderly lose £175m in pensions
Older people with illnesses are being stripped of £175 million in pensions and benefits each year, figures have revealed.
Thousands of older people lose allowances and pension payments if they have been in hospital for more than six weeks, according to statistics produced by the House of Commons library.
As many as 34,000 pensioners lose their attendance allowance each week. The benefit, which is for people who need help at home, is deemed unnecessary for those in hospital and 33,000 people lose out on pensions for the same reason.
Steve Webb, Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson, said: "While pensioners are in hospital, the bills continue to land on the doormat. This money is needed to help keep wolves from the door."
Source:- The Independent Thursday 21 February page 9
Bullying is linked to drug death of 6ft girl
A teenager who was bullied because she was six feet tall, died from a drug overdose, an inquest heard yesterday.
Morgan Musson was found dead after seven months of abuse from fellow pupils. She swallowed dozens of painkillers following a phonecall from a friend whose mother had banned them seeing each other, and was found dead in her bed the next morning.
The Nottingham inquest heard that pupils at the school Morgan attended, Ellis Guilford comprehensive school, started making her life a misery shortly after she started attending it.
Nottinghamshire coroner Dr Nigel Chapman recorded an open verdict.
Source:- Daily Telegraph Thursday 21 February page 5
Asylum seeker crushed to death
An asylum seeker was crushed to death yesterday as he hid under a freight train heading to Britain from France.
Four others with him were unharmed and handed to the police.
Source:- The Guardian Thursday 21 February page 11
Scottish newspapers
Children reject smacking
Over three quarters of children in Scotland believe it is wrong to hit a child under any circumstances, according to a survey carried out by Save the Children.
Of the children who participated in the survey, 94 per cent believe there are better alternatives. Many children reported that smacking left them feeling ashamed, scared and unloved.
Source:- The Herald Thursday 21 February page 1
School exclusions fall
The number of pupils permanently excluded from school has fallen by 11 per cent, according to the latest Scottish executive statistics.
However, the figures also show that 6 per cent of the 21,598 pupils excluded temporarily in the year 2000/01, were kept away from school five times or more due to bad behaviour, including violence to other pupils. The study revealed that Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire had the highest number of exclusions.
Source:- The Herald Thursday 21 February page 9
Welsh newspapers
Auditor criticises council
A district auditor's report has criticised the amount paid to social workers in Cardiff in overtime payments.
According to the report by auditor Paul Griffiths, staff in the out-of-hours duty team run by Cardiff council were paid £120 a shift to work from home, and the unit overspent its budget by £120,000 over two years.
The auditor raised his concerns in the annual management letter to the council for 2000-01, and pointed to 'significant weaknesses' in financial management and control of the team.
Following the auditor's report, a spokesperson for Cardiff council said that after a managerial review it had been decided that certain systems and processes associated with the emergency duty team required reviewing.
Source:- South Wales Echo Wednesday 20 February page 9
Tenovus executive found dead
The head of public relations for the cancer charity Tenovus, has been found dead at his home near Cardiff.
Tim Evans, aged 36, was found dead after suffering a heart attack on Monday night. He had been working with the charity for four years, but according to Marc Phillips, chief executive of Tenovus his association and support for the charity went back many years, and he had worked tirelessly to raise the profile of the organisation.
Source:- Western Mail Thursday 21 February page 5
