In Today's Papers

By Clare Jerrom, Amy Taylor and Derren Hayes

Three arrested over new Damilola DNA evidence

Three teenagers were arrested yesterday in connection with the murder of Damilola Taylor, who was killed more than four years ago.

The three were arrested in November 2000 but released without charge. However they have been arrested again after what police described as a series of “significant” breakthroughs including DNA evidence.

Source:- The Times  Thursday 6 January page 2

First random drugs test at state school

A comprehensive school in Kent became the first to administer random drug tests to pupils.

Ten students were given mouth swabs yesterday as they arrived at The Abbey School in Faversham for the start of the new school term.

Source:- The Times  Thursday 6 January page 14

Life gets harder for the very early babies

Almost half the babies born early suffer from physical or learning disabilities by the age of six, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The research indicates that 46 per cent of children born between 20 and 25 weeks gestation suffered from moderate to severe learning disabilities including blindness, deafness and low intelligence.

Source:- The Times  Thursday 6 January page 24

Mentally ill man killed friends

A 25-year-old man was detained indefinitely at Rampton hospital yesterday after he slashed the throat of a friend and stabbed another to death at his home in October 2003.

Sean Crone, a paranoid schizophrenic, admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility at Sheffield Crown Court.

Source:- The Times  Thursday 6 January page 31

Home visits from matron for long-term sick

Health secretary John Reid yesterday announced that by March 2007, 3,000 community matrons will be employed by the NHS to care for people with long term health problems in their own homes.

Source:- Daily Mail  Thursday 6 January page 15

NHS rethinks elderly care plan

The prime minister’s former health policy adviser appeared yesterday to have missed out on the NHS contracts he was expected to bring to his NHS employer.

Simon Stevens left Downing Street in May to become vice president of United Health, a corporation based in Minneapolis, that has pioneered a new way of keeping the most vulnerable older people out of hospital by giving them extra care at home.

A month later, the government pledged to adopt this model throughout England, but yesterday health secretary John Reid said his plan for improving care for people with chronic medical conditions would not require US involvement.

Source:- The Guardian  Thursday 6 January page 10

Tory pledge of child tax credits

Shadow work and pensions secretary David Willetts will today promise that a Tory government would allows hundreds of families on low-incomes to keep excessive child tax credits paid by the Treasury.


He will also vow to reduce the number of people living on less than 60 per cent of median income.

Source:- The Guardian  Thursday 6 January page 12

Drugs companies in pledge to reveal more trials data

Pharmaceutical companies across the world will pledge to publish more data obtained from clinical trials of their drugs today.

The move aims to prevent the creation of legislation requiring them to do so.

The information will be published on the internet. The scheme is voluntary but drug companies will be under heavy pressure to take part.

Source:- Financial Times Thursday 6 January

Scottish news

Plan B to avert huge rises in council tax

The Scottish executive is reconsidering its level of funding for councils over the next three years because of fears the existing settlement will result in service cuts or double digit council tax rises over the next few years.

Source:- The Herald Thursday 6 January

More pensioners die after leaving hospital

The number of Scottish older people dying after being discharged from hospital is rising, new government figures reveal. Since 1999, the number of over-65s who died within 28 days of leaving medical wards has risen by more than 200, raising concerns that pressure to free up hospital beds is leading to patients being sent home before they are ready.

Source:- The Herald Thursday 6 January

Jack calls summit on bigots

First minister Jack McConnell has called a summit next month to tackle sectarianism in Scotland. He has also called leaders of the Celtic and Rangers supporters' associations to a meeting ahead of Sunday's Old Firm Scottish Cup clash in a bid to prevent trouble.

Source:- The Daily Record Thursday 6 January

Welsh newspapers

Accused GP: More exhumations

Post-mortem examinations took place yesterday on the exhumed bodies of two men believed to have been patients of a GP accused of murdering another of his patients.

Dr Howard Martin is awaiting trial for the murder of 74-year-old Harry Gittins who died in January 2004. Martin, of Penmaenmawr Gwynedd, has denied the killing.

A third body is also due to be exhumed.

Source:- Western Mail Thursday 6 January page 12