In Today's Papers

By Maria Ahmed, Simeon Brody, Derren Hayes and Amy Taylor

Tories plan HIV tests for migrants

The Conservative party raised the political heat on immigration yesterday by demanding that anyone seeking to come to Britain for more than a year should undergo compulsory health tests including screening for HIV and TB.

Potential migrants from outside the EU except asylum seekers would be subject to the compulsory tests.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday February 15 2005 page 1

Bad neighbours taught a lesson

Intensive parenting courses ‘better than eviction’

More than 1,000 problems families across the country are to be targeted by the government’s neighbourhood nuisance programme over the next twelve months.

They will be offered a last chance to accept support and turn around their behaviour, or be told they will have to face the consequences.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday February 15 2005 page 4

Prisoner found hanged in cell

Lee Crisp, awaiting sentence after being convicted of theft by a Birmingham court, was found hanged in his cell in Brinsford prison, Wolverhampton, on Saturday night.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday February 15 2005 page 4

Jodi’s killer to appeal

Luke Mitchell, 16, serving a minimum of 20 years for murdering his girlfriend Jodi Jones, 14, is to appeal against his conviction.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday February 15 2005 page 4

Teachers’ union has no time for Kelly

The National Union of Teachers has announced it will not be inviting the education secretary Ruth Kelly nor any other senior politicians to speak at its annual conference this year.

The NUT said the delegates wanted to spent less time listening to political speakers and more time on policy debates.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday February 15 2005 page 8

Blunkett takes rehabilitation fight to Keighley

David Blunkett, former home secretary and Sheffield Brightside MP, is campaigning in Keighley to keep out the British National Party and defend Ann Cryer’s 4,000-strong majority against the Tories.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday February 15 2005 page 10

28 deaths probed

An investigation into the deaths of 28 elderly patients at the Gosport War Memorial hospital, Hampshire, has been handed to the Crown Prosecution Service. The CPS will decide whether allegations, which are believed to involve the over-prescription of diamorphine in the 1990s, can be brought to court.

Source:- The Times Tuesday February 15 2005 page 2

Cell death inquiry

Police considered corporate manslaughter charges against the Prison Service after Zahid Mubarek was beaten to death by his racist cellmate Robert Stewart in March 2000. A public inquiry was told how the Prison Service had failed to address problems at Feltham Young Offender Institution. The inquiry continues.

Source:- The Times Tuesday February 15 2005 page 4

Don’t pick a fight or spin a line

As Sir Michael Bichard prepares to review the progress on his recommendations for child protection, he reveals his tips on how to conduct a public inquiry

Source:- The Times Public Agenda Tuesday February 15 2005 page 5

Super heroes to the rescue?

If you have no fear the options are endless, says the founder of Fathers 4 Justice, but is direct action an option for charities to publicise their cause?

Source:- The Times Public Agenda Tuesday February 15 2005 page 8

A voluntary arrangement

Will voluntary organisations lose their independence if they increase their reliance on government funding? The sector’s leaders express their hopes and fears for the future direction of charities in Britain

Source:- The Times Public Agenda Tuesday February 15 2005 page 9

Kilroy: Foreigners steal British jobs

“Mass immigration” leads to foreign workers forcing British people out of work and should be stopped, Robert Kilroy-Silk said at the launch of his party, Veritas.

He said only the rich benefited and it was a “matter of numbers” not race.

Source:- The Independent Thursday 15 February page 18

Clarke: We want more refugees

Charles Clarke told a meeting of Labour activists in Gateshead it was a “moral and legal duty” to encourage asylum seekers and economic migrants.

He told the meeting the economy of London, in particular, “utterly depends” on migration and he wanted Britain to be a place of refuge for those fleeing tyranny.


Source:- Daily Mail Thursday 15 February page 1

Is a passport photo of a baby with a bare chest offensive to Muslims? The Home Office thinks so.

A mother who sent two passport photographs of her baby to the Home Office was told the pictures were “unacceptable” because Muslims might find them offensive.

The reason given by the UK Passport Service was that the seven-month old was not wearing a top.

Source:- Daily Mail Thursday 15 February page 5

Teacher faces prison over her year-long fling with boy of 14

A teacher is facing jail after admitting having sex with a pupil at a special needs school. The mother of four seduced the 14-year-old after giving him maths lessons.

Source:- Daily Mail Thursday 15 February page 12

How out of hours system for GPs could cost lives

Doctors’ groups said GP services need more cash to deal with thousands of calls on evenings and weekends.

They warned the crisis could lead to the collapse of GP co-operatives, which provide services across half the country.

Source:- Daily Mail Thursday 15 February page 18

We’re a soft touch for travellers

Around 200 more travellers have moved onto an illegal camp in Cottenham, Cambridgeshire after winning a two-year stay of execution last month following a planning appeal.

Villagers say the problem worsened after an advocacy service was set up for travellers wanting to settle in the area.

Source:- Daily Mail Thursday 15 February page 20

Scottish news

Jail for mother who lied over benefit for her autistic son

A mother who fraudulently claimed £18,000 in housing benefit to pay for her disabled son to go to a special-needs school has been jailed for 12 months.

Elaine Ovens used the money to pay the mortgage so her autistic 13-year-old boy would not have to leave the area and change schools when her husband moved out of the family home.

Source:- The Scotsman Tuesday 15 February

Assaults soar among children in care

Hundreds of Scotland's most vulnerable children have been assaulted by other young people in residential care, according to figures published today in The Herald Society.

Assaults ranged from using weapons and throwing objects to shouting and swearing.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, figures obtained from more than half of Scotland's 32 councils show there were more than 1191 incidents of children assaulting staff and 403 incidents of assaults on other young people last year.

Many of the local authorities have seen significant increases in assaults between children.

Source:- The Herald Tuesday 15 February

Welsh newspapers

Plight of asylum seekers roaming our cities

The plight of asylum seekers whose claims have failed living in South Wales is to be revealed in a documentary on tonight.

The S4C programme claims women are forced to live rough when their asylum applications fail.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 15 February

‘Golden goodbyes’ cost taxpayers £1.6m

A policy designed to encourage older councillors to retire after 16 years introduced in 2003 has cost the taxpayer more than £1.6 million it has been revealed.

The Past Service Award enabled councillors to claim up to £20,000, or £1,000 for each year of service, in a single lump sum.

The Assembly made the disclosure following a request by the Western Mail under the Freedom of Information Act.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 15 February

Your children with the best start

At least one early years children’s centre will be created in each county Labour pledged in an election pamphlet for Wales released yesterday.

The party also said that it has created more than 11, 000 childcare places in Wales.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 15 February