Thursday 21 October 2004

By Shirley Kumar, Clare Jerrom and Amy
Taylor

Doctors helping patients to die

A survey designed to influence the right-to-die debate suggests
nearly half of doctors believe colleagues help patients to commit
suicide by providing drugs or are more directly involved in their
death. The online survey for the Voluntary Euthanasia Society found
45 per cent of doctors thought other health professionals were
helping patients to die.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 21 October 2004 page
2

You can’t claw back powers Clarke tells local
councils

Local councils are to increasingly lose their role in providing
services to schools and should not seek to regain control allowing
them to tell headteachers what to do, Charles Clarke said
yesterday. The education secretary made it clear the government
would continue to reform councils, ensuring they pursue better
services rather than running services directly.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 21 October 2004 page
12

Council chiefs warn of cuts to services

The Local Government Association warned councils there was a
£1 billion shortfall in the amount Whitehall was prepared to
give councils for 2005-06. LGA chair Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart said
the pressure to keep council tax increases to a minimum will lead
to cuts in services.

Source:- The Financial Times Thursday 21 October 2004
page 4

Asylum spending doubles

Spending on asylum seekers has more than doubled under Labour
costing £3 billion over the last seven years. Asylum
applications are almost 60 per cent higher than they were in
1997.

Source:- The Daily Mail Thursday 21 October 2004 page
2

Refugees to be diverted from unsafe Swansea

Asylum seekers are being diverted from Swansea after an Iraqi
Kurd was killed. The family of Kalan Karim who died after being
attacked outside a pub last month claimed every one of the
city’s estimated 180 Iraqi Kurds had suffered abuse.

Source:- The Independent Thursday 21 October 2004 page
20

Children’s main fear is knife culture

A survey of 550 children aged 11-16 found most felt threatened
by antisocial behaviour, although the majority did not understand
the term. The study conducted by Crime Concern and Norwich Union
found half of respondents had been a victim of some form of verbal
or physical abuse before the age of 16.

Source:- The Times Thursday 21 October 2004 page 6

Midwives to ask all pregnant women: Does your husband
beat you up?

Doctors and midwives are to ask all pregnant women if they have
been beaten by their partners as part of the crackdown on domestic
violence. Mothers-to-be will be discreetly questioned by health
care staff during ante-natal check ups.

Source:- The Times Thursday 21 October 2004 page 22

Website offers solace for victims of
bullying

The charity beatbullying has opened a new interactive active
website to give hope and support to children. The website www.bbcclic.com will also offer
advice for teachers and for bullies.

Source:- The Times Thursday 21 October 2004 page 22

Town halls put in their place

Town halls are to lose a lot of their control over the way
schools, social care and other local services are run, education
secretary Charles Clarke said yesterday. Clarke told delegates at
the National Social Service conference he wanted a new relationship
with councils in which they become the agents of central
government.

Source:- The Times Thursday 21 October 2004 page 2

Scottish newspapers

Childminder faces £100,000 claim by parents after
baby’s death

A former childminder who was acquitted of murdering a child in
her care is being sued for £100,000 by the child’s
parents. Tina McLeod was cleared of repeatedly and violently
shaking Alexander Graham at her home in Edinburgh. Stephen and
Kirstie Graham are each claiming £50,000 damages alleging
their son died as a result of the “deliberate infliction of the
injury upon him”.

Source:- The Scotsman Thursday 21 October

Capital looks to Glasgow over drink
restraints

Edinburgh may follow Glasgow’s example of controlling
irresponsible drinks promotion. A report to the licensing board
suggests that consideration should be given to whether a similar
approach to heavy discounting of alcohol could be developed in
Edinburgh.

Source:- The Herald Thursday 21 October

Welsh newspapers

Judge to decide baby Luke’s fate

A top judge will decide whether a seriously ill baby should be
resuscitated if his condition deteriorates. Doctors want to leave
nine-month-old Luke Winston-Jones to die naturally if he worsens
but his mother wants them to do all in their power to save her
son.

Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, president of the High Court Family
Division, is set to rule on the case.

Source:- Western Mail Thursday 21 October

Don’t demonise young says police
chief

A Welsh police officer has urged adults to stop demonising
children on the street. Terry Grange, chief constable of Dyfed
police, called on adults to remember their own youth before calling
for tough penalties for young people.

Source:- Western Mail Thursday 21 October