By Amy Taylor and Alex Dobson.
L-test plan for electric wheelchairs
Electric wheelchair users could soon have to take a driving test before being allowed on the streets in the vehicles, and may be subjected to speed restrictions, under a government review of legislation.
The 145,000 users could also be required to take out third-party insurance as a result of the department of transport commissioned review that comes in response to concerns that the greater use of the vehicles may result in more accidents from reckless driving and congestion on pavements.
Source:- The Times Thursday 2 January page 3
Thousands 'losing out' on tax credits
A tax credit aimed at helping new parents in the first year of their child's life was condemned yesterday for failing to reach hundreds of thousands of families.
The Conservatives said the credit had the lowest take up rate ever recorded with fewer than one in five families who could benefit putting in an application.
The baby tax credit was announced by Gordon Brown in his 2001 budget, offering up to £1,000 to "around 500,000" parents of newborn children every year. However, figures released yesterday show only 85,000 families had applied for the credit since it was introduced last April.
Source:- The Independent Thursday 2 January page 2
Teenager remanded over fatal attack on bus
Brian McCormack, a 19-year-old from Fallowfields, Manchester, was remanded in custody yesterday charged with murdering a man who was attacked on a bus in Manchester city centre.
Jolyon Griffin, an IT worker from Stockport, Greater Manchester, died on Christmas Day, eleven days after being attacked.
Source:-The Independent Thursday 2 January page 4
Racism 'stops black staff getting top college jobs'
Institutional racism is stopping black lecturers from reaching senior positions in further education colleges, and threatening to undermine the educational achievements of ethnic minority students, according to a three-year study.
Despite being better educated than their white colleagues, ethnic minority staff were found to be less likely to hold prestigious posts, the study by the Commission for Black Staff in Further Education found.
Source:-The Independent Thursday 2 January page 5
Civil servant squares up to anti-social behaviour
Louise Casey, Whitehall's least conventional civil servant, takes over today as director of a home office unit dealing with bad behaviour.
Casey, a civil servant for barely three years, becomes head of a new anti-social behaviour unit. Its first task will be to produce the anti-social behaviour bill promised in the Queen's speech.
Casey was formerly deputy director of the housing charity Shelter, and joined Whitehall to launch the rough sleepers' unit.
Source:- The Guardian Thursday 2 January page 8
Welsh newspapers
Neglect case couple bailed
A man and a woman have been arrested after two young children were found in a street in a north Wales town.
A four-week-old boy and a three-year-old girl were found in Betws-y-Coed, and were taken to a local hospital where the boy was treated for suspected hypothermia. The girl also received treatment for cuts and bruises.
Police have been questioning the man and woman after allegations of child neglect and assault, and the children are now the subject of a protection order.
Source:- Western Mail Thursday 2 January page 3
