A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By David Callaghan, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson.

Youngsters urge children’s rights
commissioner

A group of children aged between 10-16 told the parliamentary
joint committee on human rights the government has failed to ensure
youngsters are aware of their human rights.

The six children also called for the creation of a
children’s rights commissioner in England, as in Wales. The
committee is considering whether a human rights commission is
needed in the UK.

The children are involved in projects run by the
Children’s Rights Alliance.

One of the children, James Sweeney, aged 16, who has just left
care, said the 42 weekly benefit for care leavers is
inadequate.

“Young people in care were never included in the decisions to
implement weekly benefits and the national minimum wage,” he
said.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday 11 June page 10

Paedophile’s TV appeal rejected

A high court judge has ruled that the face of a man convicted of
having child pornography can be shown in a BBC documentary.

Mr Justice Ouseley said he was not convinced the documentary,
‘The Hunt for Britain’s Paedophiles’, to be
broadcast on BBC2 on Thursday, put the man at risk of serious harm.
But an order banning any information leading to revelation of which
part of the country the man is from, will remain in place.

Source:- Daily Telegraph Tuesday 11 June page 8

Scottish newspapers

Child sex abuse trial postponed as expert is
arrested

A child sex abuse trial at the high court in Perth was postponed
yesterday because an expert witness on child sex abuse had been
arrested under suspicion of being part of a paedophile ring. The
witness, Professor William Thomson of Reading University, had been
arrested six weeks previously and accused of being part of an
international paedophile ring. He had been scheduled to appear as a
defence witness at the trial of Mark Donaghy, who faces two charges
relating to the sexual abuse of a seven-year-old girl in Crieff
between 1995 and 1996.

The court heard that Thomson had flown to Hong Kong since his
arrest and was not due back in Britain until 29 June. Lady Paton
presiding agreed to postpone the trial until July to allow another
expert witness to be appointed.

Source:- The Herald Tuesday 11 June page 7

Welsh newspapers

A radical new health strategy is needed to combat health
inequalities in Wales

Thirteen of the 20 unhealthiest areas of the UK are in south
Wales, according to research by two leading academics from Cardiff
University.

Professor Kevin Morgan and Professor Gareth Williams say that
the only answer to Wales’ health problems is a complete rethink of
the NHS in Wales.

There are currently 200,000 people in Wales on long term
disability benefit, twice the number claiming unemployment benefit.
People living in post-industrial areas of south Wales are
unhealthier and have a lower life expectancy than in other parts of
the country.

The professors say more emphasis should be placed on primary
care and supporting local health projects, and they argue that in
the past the health service in Wales has been an ‘illness service’
rather than a ‘health service’.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 11 June page 1

Public service strike threat

Thousands of public service workers in five local authorities in
Gwent are to be balloted over strike action.

Around 9,000 Unison members will be balloted following the
rejection of a three per cent pay rise. Paul Elliot, head of Unison
Cymru/Wales, said that the strike action was the only way of
getting local authority employers to improve on their pay offer. He
added that a decent increase in pay for local authorities was long
overdue.

Source:- South Wales Argus Monday 10 June page 1 and
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