Tuesday 2 March 2004

By Amy Taylor, Clare Jerrom and Alex Dobson

MPs rebelled against two sections of the controversial
asylum bill in the House of Commons last night.

Around 35 Labour MPs voted against a measure in the bill which
restricts asylum seekers’ right to appeal against decisions
on their cases. A further 28 rebelled against plans to remove
welfare benefits from failed asylum seekers.

The Tories opposed the restrictions on the right to appeal while
the Liberal Democrats opposed both measures.

Despite the opposition the bill still got through the Commons, but
is expected to face strong opposition in the House of Lords.

Source:- The Financial Times Tuesday 2 March page 2

Here’s an immigration story you are unlikely to read in
other newspapers and don’t hear too often from the
government

Staff from outside the European Union are helping to keep the NHS
going and often work in the areas British professionals are
reluctant to work, according to new research.

Home Office figures show that 44,443 healthcare staff from
countries outside the European Union were given work permits last
year.

This represents a 27-fold increase from the level in 1993.

Source:- The Independent Tuesday 2 March page 1

Life for repeat offender paedophile

A serial paedophile who warned that he was a danger to children
when he was released from jail after being convicted for sex
offences against young boys was jailed for life yesterday for a
similar attack.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Thomas Titley had carried out a
series of sex attacks on two seven-year-old boys in a cellar and a
6ft deep hole he had dug under his floorboards.

The attacks took place at his flat in Walsall, West Midlands.

Source:- The Independent Tuesday 2 March page 9

Officer tells of surprise at purge of Huntley data

A policeman who put a report on Ian Huntley’s file identifying him
as a possible serial rapist in 1999 said he was surprised his
information had been deleted from police intelligence a year
later.

PC Mick Harding placed the note on the file after analysing
information on sex attacks to which Huntley had been linked but not
charged with in 1998 and 1999.

The Humberside officer, who was giving evidence to the Bichard
Inquiry into how vetting procedures did not stop Huntley getting a
job as a school caretaker, said he thought the information should
have remained on the file indefinitely.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph Tuesday 2 March page 10

Scottish newspapers

Worker cleared

A social worker suspended following the Caleb Ness case in
Edinburgh has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

David Wilkie was accused of rehearsing evidence with another member
of staff before giving testimony to an inquiry into the
baby’s death.

Edinburgh council will this week announce the outcome of its
inquiry into its social work department.

Source:- The Scotsman Tuesday 2 March

Nurseries closed as nurses start indefinite strike
action

Nursery nurses embarked on the first day of their all-out strike
yesterday calling for better pay.

Some parents of children under-five, including children with
special needs, were thrown into chaos and were forced to take time
off work or leave children with friends as nurseries were closed to
all but vulnerable children on at-risk registers.

Around 4,000 staff took part in the industrial action in pursuit of
better pay.

Source:- The Scotsman  Tuesday 2 March

Archbishop criticises Executive strategy on sexual
health

The Catholic Church has warned that plans to improve
Scotland’s record on sexual health are a threat to the
morality of society.

The Scottish executive’s strategy to reduce the number of
unwanted pregnancies and lower the incidence of sexually
transmitted disease was slammed by Archbishop Mario Conti.

Responding to the draft strategy, the Archbishop of Glasgow said
the expert group who drew up proposals “paid too much
attention to the medical treatment of symptoms and not enough to
the spiritual and social causes of the problem”.

Source:- The Scotsman  Tuesday 2 March

Doctor denies trial lies

A medical expert lied at child abuse hearings to promote his
theories, it was claimed yesterday.

Dr Colin Paterson came up with the controversial theory that
multiple fractures among children could arise through a condition
known as temporary brittle bone disease. The General Medical
Council hearing was told the syndrome was treated with suspicion by
others in the profession.

The doctor, from Longforgan near Dundee, is accused of failing in
his duty as an expert witness in a custody case in Britain and a
criminal trial in Arizona.

Richard Tyson for the GMC said Paterson was “promoting a
cause” and protecting his theory. The hearing in Manchester
continues.

Source:- Daily Record  Tuesday 2 March page 9

Welsh newspapers

Hospital shuts heart unit to rest exhausted staff

A major Welsh hospital has cancelled all routine cardiac surgery to
give staff time to ‘recharge their batteries’.

Morriston Hospital in Swansea, which is one of the principality’s
busiest heart centres, has taken the unprecedented move following
what is described as the ‘considerable’ pressure that
staff are working under, and because of the heavy reliance on
overtime to keep the service going.

Health experts have warned that the situation at Morriston is
indicative of the pressures that the whole of the NHS in Wales is
experiencing.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 2 March page 1

Accuser jealous, claims care worker

A man accused of ill-treating two vulnerable adults in his care by
practising martial arts on them has claimed his accuser was
motivated by bitterness and jealousy, a court heard
yesterday.

Darren Young, a former staff member at a Care in the Community
project at The Hollows in Llanharan, alleged fellow worker Jonathan
Evans used ju-jitsu moves on patients.

Evans denies five charges of ill-treatment of two residents at the
project. He claimed his accuser was motivated by jealousy after
missing out on promotion.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 2 March page 2

Patients who are dying to go home

The Marie Curie Cancer Care launched a campaign yesterday that
wants to see more people given the choice to decide if they want to
die in hospital or at home.

New research commissioned by the charity suggests that there is not
enough choice for terminally ill people in Wales, at this last
stage in their lives, and that more palliative care is
required.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 2 March page 10