FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER

Sharp rise in number of jobless youths
Long-term youth unemployment has returned to about the level it was when the government’s flagship New Deal was introduced in 1998, casting doubt over the value of the £5bn benefits-to-jobs programme.
Source:- The Financial Times, Friday 16 December 2005, page 1
 
Alcohol-related deaths add to drink law fears
Deaths related to alcohol have increased by more than a third, reaching a record high, according to official figures released yesterday.
Source:- The Times, Friday 16 December 2005, page 15

Dyslexic novelist wins book gold medal
Sally Gardner, a dyslexic woman who could not read until the age of 14, has won the Nestle children’s book prize, which has helped to launch the careers of many best-loved British writers, including JK Rowling.
Source:- The Times, Friday 16 December 2005, page 23

Killer of girl, 10, faces life term
Kieron Smith, 18, from Leigh, Greater Manchester, whose only friendships were with younger children, will be jailed for life after battering a ten year-old girl to death hours after playing cricket with her.
Source:- The Guardian, Friday 16 December 2005, page 13 

Parents live apart “to cash in on benefits system”
Thousands of couples with children may be choosing to live apart because they can cash in on benefits, according to an official report.
Source:- The Daily Telegraph, Friday 16 December 2005, page 4

Police chief questions verdict on “slap” killing
A police chief said he was disappointed that a jury returned verdicts of manslaughter rather than murder in the trial of a gang of youths who killed a man in a “happy slapping” attack in the South Bank, London.
Source:- The Daily Telegraph, Friday 16 December 2005, page 11

Jobs priority for ex-prisoners
Job centres will be encouraged to give priority to former prisoners when finding jobs, under proposals published in a green paper yesterday.
Source:- The Daily Telegraph, Friday 16 December 2005, page 14

Child abuse study
There is no link between looking at child pornography and committing sexual abuse, according to a study by Lancashire police.
Source:- The Times, Friday 16 December 2005, page 23

Pension benefit stops a third saving for old age
The introduction of pension credit has discouraged nearly a third of the population from saving for their retirement, a report by the National Institute for Social and Economic research said.
Source:- Daily Mail, Friday 16 December 2005, page 13

Welsh news

Cleared GP “surprised” at new investigation
A doctor cleared of murdering three of his patients is to be investigated over 12 deaths, police said yesterday. Dr Howard Martin said that he was confident that no further charges would be brought against him as a result of the inquiries.
The 71-year-old, of Gwynedd, walked free from court this week after being cleared of murdering Frank Moss, 59, Stanley Weldon and Harry Gittens, both 74.
Source:- Western Mail, Friday 16 December 2005

Scottish news

Taxpayers fuming as council offers staff £50 to quit smoking
A Scottish council could pay out up to £150,000 to help its employees stop smoking, after the authority offered smokers £50 each to help them kick the habit.  With an estimated 3,000 smokers on the 12,000-strong payroll of Highland Council, taxpayers in the region could end up funding the massive bill. However, councillors have given the plan their backing.
Source:- The Scotsman, Friday 16 December 2005

Council houses chaos
Edinburgh tenants have rejected plans to transfer their homes to a housing association. Council tenants voted by a narrow majority of 748 against the scheme, which would have seen a £2billion investment in the city’s housing stock. The decision stunned council leaders, who are now left with no clear way of improving 23,000 crumbling homes.
Source:- The Record, Friday 16 December

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