News in Brief

The independent care home sector last week accused the government
of double standards for introducing a new NHS minimum wage of
£5.16 per hour while paying fees for state-funded patients
that forced nursing homes to keep pay rates close to the £4.20
minimum wage. 

Labour National Executive Council member Shahid Malik has accused
“spineless” council leaders of allowing false perceptions about
area-based initiative funding to flourish. Malik said that
resentment between white and ethnic minority areas was based on
ignorance about how much money was going into those areas, and that
council leaders had a responsibility to “correct the
problem”.

Between 15 and 20 vulnerable young offenders are being placed in
prison service accommodation every week due to overcrowding in
local authority secure units and secure training centres,
chairperson of the Youth Justice Board Lord Warner told the Home
Affairs select committee this week.

Campaigners took to the streets of London and Edinburgh last week
to raise awareness of debts faced by the less well off. Supporters
called on MPs to support the early day motion “Debt on our
doorstep”, sponsored by John Battle MP.

Crimes against people with learning difficulties still do not
attract the same penalties as racist and homophobic attacks, says a
report from charity, Values Into Action. “Opening the Gateways?”
from 020 7729 5436.