A summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By Clare Jerrom and Reg McKay.

Union fires warning to Blair on jobs

Tony Blair’s determination to privatise public service
provision could face huge costs, as Britain’s largest union
voted to carry out a sweeping review of its multi million pound
support for the Labour Party.

Delegates at the annual conference of the public services union
Unison defied their leaders and backed a motion protesting at the
funding of “a party attacking our jobs, wages and conditions”.

Downing Street reacted to the vote saying it would not change
the prime minister’s resolve to continue with public services
reform.

Source:- The Guardian Friday 22 June page 1

Race relations high on list of UK concerns

Almost a fifth of Britain’s population see immigration and
race relations as one of the most serious problems facing the
country, according to a poll yesterday.

People cited race relations, poverty and education among those
issues they thought were the most important in the UK.

Chris Myant, a spokesperson for the Commission for Racial
Equality, said the concern over race relations could be a positive
development.

Myant said: “It would be wrong to assume that one in five people
is terrified of illegal immigrants flooding Britain and people
rowing across the Channel to get here.”

“Given that racial discrimination and violence have been high
profile matters in the media, it’s no surprise that the
public should feel this is something to feel concerned about. It
doesn’t mean that it’s getting worse, but that we
cannot deal with it unless we bring it into the open,” he
added.

Myant continued to criticise the media for using emotive
language in its coverage of asylum issues,

The survey, commissioned by the United National Population Fund
from Mori, compared attitudes across Europe with those held in
1996.

Source:- The Guardian Friday 22 June page 5

‘Neglect’ verdict on teenager’s jail
suicide

The treatment of young prisoners was criticised by campaigners
last night, following the death of a teenager in a youth jail, one
of four to have died there in just over 12 months.

David Henderson died five days after hanging himself at
Brinsford Young Offenders’ Institution, near Wolverhampton,
last March.

The teenager was serving a five-month sentence for driving
offences and had complained of bullying from other inmates, but
said nothing was done to prevent it.

After hearing four days of evidence at the inquest at Stafford,
the jury returned a verdict of accidental death aggravated by
neglect.

Co-ordinator of campaign group Inquest Deborah Coles said the
youngster’s death highlighted shortcomings in the prison
system.

Source:- The Guardian Friday 22 June page 9

Cut-price drink offer to homeless
alcoholics

A council’s proposals to provide cheap drink in welfare
centres to keep addicts off the streets, has raised concerns among
alcohol awareness groups.

Camden council in London could break new ground by allowing “wet
centres” to sell discounted beer and lager to alcoholics as opposed
to letting them bring drink in. They are to discuss possible
sponsorship deals with breweries.

According to research, many street drinkers are not homeless,
but choose to meet in the open air as they cannot afford pub
prices, and do not want to drink alone.

Campaigners fear that discounts would encourage the users to
drink more, and would represent a disturbing link between
commercial considerations and the needs of addicts, although the
council says the alcohol will be no cheaper than in shops.

Source:- The Guardian Friday 22 June page 11

Smuggled migrant’s lips sealed with
glue

An illegal immigrant has been found with his lips sealed with
glue, in a bid to prevent him from informing on his smugglers.

The 17-year-old Iraqi is believed to have been bundled off a
ship in Southampton within the past week.

The teenager was found slumped in a doorway at Eastleigh on
Monday, and was given medical attention. He is being questioned at
an immigrant detention centre.

The Immigration Service said that no decision had been made on
the youth’s future.

Source:- Daily Telegraph Friday 22 June page 13

Parole ruling on Bulger case today

It is expected that the future of James Bulger’s killers will be
announced today by the parole board.

Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, who are now 18, will find out
today if they are to be freed having served eight years and seven
months.

Source:- The Times Friday 22 June 2001 page 2

Scottish newspapers

£21 million bill expected for refugees in
Glasgow

The bill for providing homes and support services to refugees
and asylum seekers in Glasgow is expected to total £21 million
according to a council report issued to members yesterday.

The breakdown of costs from April this year includes £5
million for accommodation, £3.65 million for education,
£658,000 for social work and £8.8 million for rent and
council tax. The costs include the care of the 3,5000 asylum
seekers already in the city, and the expected rise to 7,000 by the
end of the year. All costs are met by the National Asylum Support
Service.

Refugee groups hit out that while the spending seemed a lot it
was still not enough as the families were dumped in areas with few
facilities. Faten Hameed, of the Middle Eastern Network, said: “The
youngsters are just left with nothing and are mainly just stuck in
high-rise flats.”

Source:- The Scotsman Friday 22 June page 8

Sheltered homes shortage

Glasgow Council is a facing a major shortage in housing for its
most vulnerable citizens according to its housing plan to 2009
published today. In that period the number of people over
80-years-old who need most care will rise by 1,100 or 6 per cent.
In addition housing department officials have said that there will
be an increased need for housing or people with mental health
problems and disabilities. The cost of providing an additional
2,000 very sheltered homes will come from the Scottish Homes’
development budget for the city – currently £70 million
per annum – which the city is due to take over later this year.

Source:- The Scotsman Friday 22 June page 7