Tuesday 18 October 2005

By Maria Ahmed, Simeon Brody and Derren Hayes

Blunkett admits failure on child poverty aims
David Blunkett admitted yesterday the government was failing to meet key anti-poverty objectives.
At a conference he claimed progress on 41 measurements of deprivation but admitted the figures were moving in the wrong direction on seven, including the education achievement of children in care.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday 18 October 2005 page 8

Charities furious as lottery lets £2.4 billion sit in the bank

More than £2.4 billion lies idle in National Lottery coffers while thousands of community projects remain unfunded, according to a damning report by the Public Accounts Committee.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 18 October 2005 page 1

Council tax rise fears after report is held back

Town hall chiefs last night denied bowing to government pressure after they postponed a report spelling out the risk of high council tax bills next year.
The Local Government Association (LGA) had been planning to publish a survey of more than 2000 authorities showing that councils were facing a blackhole of at least £1 billion.
But yesterday a spokesperson said the publication had been postponed for two weeks “because more work had to be done on the figures”.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 18 October 2005 page 25

Crackdown on internet traps more paedophiles

The numbers of registered sex offenders rose by 18 per cent last year as police mounted large-scale operations against internet paedophiles and the sex trade.

Source:- The Times, Tuesday 18 October 2005, page 26

Jail warning for child-sex teacher

A teacher is facing jail for seducing a 15-year-old girl pupil by casting her in a film he was making and taking her to luxury hotels.
Cfyn Markwick-Day, 45, of Chichester, West Sussex, was convicted of under-age sex with the girl.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 18 October 2005 page 31

Children to ‘bus’ poor children to schools in wealthy areas

Children from council estates may be “bussed” to wealthier middle-class suburbs under government plans to give their parents more choice of schools.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 18 October 2005 page 19

Excluded former pupils sue school for damages

Two men who say their education was ruined by a London school’s decision to exclude them are claiming damages, alleging they were victims of racial discrimination.
Bishop Douglass Roman Catholic school in Finchley is vigorously contesting the claims.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday 18 October 2005 page 8

Ball-bearing gun boy arrested

A 13-year-old boy was arrested after a ball-bearing gun was fired into the air during a struggle between two pupils at a school in Somerset.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph Tuesday 18 October 2005 page 2

Man who ran off with girl may never be freed

A grandfather who ran off with a 15-year-old girl and got her pregnant was given a new type of jail sentence which means he may never be freed.
Moses Smith, 45, of Bar Hill, Cambridge, received a three-year “public protection” sentence at Cambridge Crown Court but will not be released until he persuades a parole board that he is not a danger.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph Tuesday 18 October 2005 page 10

All out war

Ministers will risk the biggest strike since 1926 by threatening to impose a new retirement age of 65 for public sector workers.
Trade and Industry secretary Alan Johnson will hold crunch talks with union bosses.

Source:- Daily Mirror Tuesday 18 October 2005 page 10

Scottish news

McConnell is pressed on asylum raids row

First minister Jack McConnell has been urged to appear before MSPs to explain his position on deporting asylum.
Last month, after a dawn raid on the Vucaj family in Glasgow, McConnell claimed to have won the backing of Charles Clarke, home secretary, for a new protocol for humane handling of cases involving children.
However, details of the protocol have remained vague, and on Sunday, Tony McNulty, UK immigration minister, made a robust defence of dawn raids.

Source:- The Herald Tuesday 18 October

Children without someone to care

Marion Crangle has provided a home for 54 children over two decades as a foster carer.
But she has warned that urgent action is needed to encourage more people to become involved.
It follows the publication of the most comprehensive review of foster care in Scotland suggested that many foster carers are struggling to cope with current demands and that services are being overwhelmed.

Source:- The Herald Tuesday 18 October