Wednesday 10 September 2003

By Amy Taylor, Clare Jerrom and Alex Dobson.
A disability to remember
Forgetful children may not just be absent minded they may be
suffering from a hidden learning disability, scientists have
said.
Researchers at the University of Essex said that around 6 per cent
of children have “developmental amnesia”.
They said that due to learning difficulties usually being
identified as problems with reading, writing or numeracy, chances
are they will not have been diagnosed.
Source:- Daily Mail Wednesday 10 September page 17
Free care for under-5s ‘would boost economy’
Universal state-subsidised childcare for the under-fives would
produce millions of pounds a year for the economy, far outweighing
the cost, according to a new study from the accountancy firm
PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
In the first detailed analysis of universal pre-school care the
firm found that the childcare places would cost £3 billion a
year.
It argues that higher female employment and earnings, as a result
of more mothers being free to find paid work, over the years would
generate more than enough tax revenue to pay for the
provision.
It predicts that over the first 20 years the overall economic
benefits to society would match the overall costs of provision and
go on to make profits after this stage.
Source:- The Times Wednesday 10 September page 7
Ministers order secret check on social
disorder
A secret one-day census of antisocial behaviour in England and
Wales is to be carried out by the Home Office today.
The number of incidents is being recorded over the 24 hours up
until midnight tonight by police, local authorities and other
agencies.
The plans came to light after a list of behaviours to be counted
was circulated by the Housing Corporation to chief executives of
housing associations.
Source:- The Times Wednesday 10 September page 6
Families angry as council takes on young
‘dealers’
The families of four boys who have received four of the 66
antisocial behaviour orders issued to residents of the Little
London area of Leeds, the largest number ever issued in one go, are
furious.
They claim that the kids have received the orders, part of a
crackdown on drugs, despite doing nothing wrong. “Our kids are
doing nothing. They have not got the big guys who are doing the
drugs so they have gone for the little kids,” said one family
member, who did not wish to be named.
Leeds Council has been granted the orders and the Home Office met
the legal costs and paid for the extra police time involved.
Yesterday, David Blunkett claimed that they would make Leeds a
safer city.
Source:- The Guardian Wednesday 10 September page 6
Guardian Society
The influence 100
Power Pack
Where do Tony Blair’s social policies come from? Who shapes them?
This week, SocietyGuardian names the 100 most influential people in
public services and, below, David Walker examines the rise of this
eclectic group.
Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 10 September page 2
What else can I do?
Jack’s stuck in a rut. He’s a thirtysomething probation officer and
would love a change and a new challenge. Debbie Andelo checks out
his options.
Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 10 September page 160
Scottish newspapers
McConnell can take Dungavel action, say legal
experts
Scottish ministers could use powers in the devolution settlement to
seek responsibility for the welfare of asylum seekers in Dungavel,
according to legal experts last night.
The first minister Jack McConnell said that because asylum is
reserved to Westminster he cannot comment on the issue.
However, the experts’ view will put increasing pressure on
him to intervene to prevent the children of asylum seekers being
detained at Dungavel immigration centre near Strathaven.
Source:- The Herald Wednesday 10 September
SNP step up Dungavel attack
The Scottish National Party stepped up its attempt to force Jack
McConnell to break his silence on the issue of child detention at
Dungavel immigration centre.
A motion by party leader John Swinney is designed to win
cross-party support and embarrass the first minister.
The motion, to be debated tomorrow, calls for an end to detention
of children at the centre near Strathaven, Lanarkshire.
Source:- Daily Record Wednesday 10 September page 2
Union rejects £18,000 deal for nursery
nurses
A leaked letter sent to MSPs yesterday claimed that
Scotland’s nursery nurses have been offered up to
£18,000 a year.
But trade unions have formally rejected the offer ahead of a
meeting with council employers on Friday.
The letter from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities said
the offer is “fair and reasonable”, and would give
nurses up to £9.33 per hour.
Source:- The Herald  Wednesday 10 September
Jodi’s boyfriend asks for transfer from school after
being suspended
The boyfriend of Jodi Jones has asked if he can be moved from the
school he attended with his girlfriend, who was murdered earlier
this year and buried last week.
Luke Mitchell’s family have told staff at St David’s RC
High School that he will not be returning to classes following a
row with the headteacher that led to his suspension.
Their solicitor confirmed they had made an official request for him
to be transferred to another school following “unacceptable
treatment” at the school.
Source:- The Herald Wednesday 10 September
Record brings judge to his senses
The high court judge under fire for his sentencing policy
yesterday gave a paedophile a life sentence for abusing a
seven-year-old girl.
Neil Robertson had conned his way into a family’s friendship,
seduced the mother and molested her daughter. The young
victim’s family welcomed the tough stance from Lord Reed at
the high court in Dunfermline.
It was also a victory for the ‘Daily Record’ which
called for sentencing that the public can have faith in.
Source:- Daily Record Wednesday 10 September page 7
You’ll cop it
Antisocial neighbours are to be hit with a double whammy, it was
announced yesterday.
Problem tenants in one of Scotland’s toughest areas will be
targeted by a joint squad of police and housing investigators under
a pilot scheme.
Police will also co-ordinate intelligence between the police and
housing departments to ensure information about antisocial tenants
is kept up to date.
The scheme will target the Edinburgh estates of Muirhouse and
Pilton, and the scheme could be extended if successful.
Source:- Daily Record Wednesday 10 September page 17
Homeless shame
Ministers have been accused of  “total failure” to
tackle homelessness after the number of homeless Scots hit 50,000
for the first time.
Around 51,000 people were registered as homeless at the end of
March, according to statistics yesterday. More than 3,000 children
did not have a permanent home, and 186 children were living in bed
and breakfast accommodation.
The SNP said Labour had failed to keep to its pledge of beating the
problem.
Source:- Daily Record  Wednesday 10 September page 23
Welsh newspapers
Appeal lodged on suspension
A Monmouthshire councillor has lodged an appeal against his
one-month suspension for allegedly threatening and attempting to
intimidate a social worker.
The incident was said to have occurred during a meeting between
councillor Graham Powell and social services staff.
The complaint led to a report to the local government ombudsman,
and the council’s standards committee later decided to
suspend Powell. The suspension will now be put on hold until an
appeals tribunal at the Welsh Assembly has considered the
matter.
Source:- South Wales Argus Tuesday 9 September page 6
Boy behind bars after terrorising teachers
A 14-year-old boy has been given a custodial sentence by Cardiff
youth court following an attack on two teachers in a school
playground.
The court heard that the boy had already been excluded when the
incidents occurred. But he returned to the school six weeks after
being excluded, and punched a female support teacher unconscious
with a single blow and subsequently attacked a male maths
teacher.
Youth court chairperson Lenna-Pritchard-Jones said that the boy was
a danger to the public and sentenced him to four months’
training and detention.
Source:- Western Mail Wednesday 10 September page 1
Mum-of-two leads help for stressed-out rural
vicars
A radical new support project aims to help rural vicars who have
been overwhelmed by the effects of the foot-and-mouth
disaster.
Caroline Davies took up her post as director of the Church in
Wales, rural recovery support project yesterday, and said that she
wants to work with the clergy to help them develop services to the
community.
The project aims to enhance the role of rural vicars, who are often
involved in the battle to support hard-pressed communities.
Source:- Western Mail Wednesday 10 September page 3