Andrew Mitchell row: Police log details 'plebs' comment

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Official police records of the confrontation between the Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell and officials in Downing Street last week has been released in its entirety for the first time.

The Daily Telegraph printed a document will strengthen Mr Mitchell called the officers "Plebs", something he has not been.

It comes as the Met says, to probe how the media got hold of the records.

The Government has ordered a study on the line.

Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood, confirmed the decision on Monday to explain to Mr Mitchell had apologized and the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan Howe had said involved an officer wanted to take the matter forward.

Visibly shocked by the

Log, shortly after the incident on Wednesday, written information on Mitchell's outburst, when he was asked to use a small pedestrian gate as the main gate.

It suggests that he used several expletives, telling police, "you do not run this Government," "learn your place," and requires officials to "Tribune of the Plebs".

According to the note, the members of the public in the operation were "visibly upset" and Mitchell were arrested under the public order law, if he continued to swear.

"Mr Mitchell was then and left, saying," you have not heard of in the past, "as he cycled off," the document says.

Announcement follows Mitchell's apology on Monday, where he said he was sorry is not good enough, with respect for the police.

However, he maintained that he "does not use the words".

He said the case had become a "long and very frustrating time" at the end and he wanted to "draw a line" line.

At the same time, David Cameron has supported the Minister in the Cabinet Office and the Met have agreed not to take it forward.

But police and labour, and called for a parliamentary inquiry, even though some of the Lib-Dems were unimpressed by the Mitchell's statement.

The shadow Police Minister David Hanson said: "If the number 10 did not believe the testimony of a number of police officers, which Downing Street is very serious.

"If the Prime Minister does not have a chief whip and, Alternatively, tell the whole story, which is just as serious.

"What it is now, without doubt, (David Cameron) is a weak Prime Minister, may establish the truth about what goes on-even just a few metres away from the immediate vicinity of their own."

John Tully, Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, also stressed his concern: "clearly against Mitchell's claim is to prohibit using certain words effectively now for those police integrity.

"I think this is a very serious matter."

Welsh Secretary David Jones' Labour good relations hope

Parliamentary Information Office - Welsh Secretary David Jones' Labour good relations hope

New Conservative Welsh Secretary David Jones says he wants a "good business-like relationship" with the Labour Welsh government.

He spoke after being promoted from Wales Office junior minister by David Cameron in place of Cheryl Gillan, who returns to the back benches.

The Clwyd West MP has spoken to First Minister Carwyn Jones and said there was no need for them to be competitive.

But there are potential areas of friction between the two governments.

They include a Supreme Court challenge by the UK government to legislation passed in the assembly about local byelaws.
Continue reading the main story   
“Start Quote

    I think it's important that Wales should be represented by people from Wales”

David Jones MP Welsh secretary

The Welsh government also objects to a Wales Office consultation on changing the boundaries of assembly constituencies, saying the matter should be decided in Cardiff Bay, not Westminster.

Mr Jones said he made clear to Carwyn Jones that "we in the Wales Office want to have a very good business-like working relationship with him".

"There's no need really for the Wales Office and the Welsh government to be in any sense competitive and I'm glad to say that he agreed fully with me," he told BBC Radio Wales.

The Welsh secretary said both he and Carwyn Jones were lawyers who understood that "legal action doesn't necessarily mean that you need to have personal animosity".

Carwyn Jones urged the new Welsh secretary to make good on the prime minister's promise that relations between the two administration would be characterised by respect.
'Serious business'

"We are in the serious business of delivering for the people of Wales during these extremely difficult economic times," the Welsh Labour leader said.
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“Start Quote

    I can think of no better person to take on the mantle of Wales in the Cabinet and I wish him well”

Cheryl Gillan

"Nothing should deflect either government from this important task."

David Jones's appointment appears to be a victory for Welsh Tories, who made clear they wanted the next incumbent to have a Welsh seat.

Mrs Gillan's constituency is in Buckinghamshire and she had previously threatened to resign over the proposed route of the High Speed 2 railway through her Chesham and Amersham constituency.

Asked if his Welsh seat had helped him get the appointment, Mr Jones said: "I would hope it did.

"I think it's important that Wales should be represented by people from Wales."

As a former member of the Welsh assembly and the MP for Clwyd West since 2005 he said he knew the political landscape in Wales.

He paid tribute to the "tremendous" job Mrs Gillan had done, citing a UK government commitment to electrify railways in south Wales.
'No better person'

Mrs Gillan in return gave a warm welcome to Mr Jones' appointment, saying he was "an excellent constituency MP" who had been "a great support" during her time in office and while in opposition.

"I can think of no better person to take on the mantle of Wales in the Cabinet and I wish him well," said Mrs Gillan.

"I am confident he will carry out his new responsibilities and be a strong voice for Wales, challenging the decisions made in the assembly and standing up for the people of Wales in Westminster and elsewhere."

Mr Jones' deputy at the Wales Office has not been appointed but an announcement is expected on Wednesday.

Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb, a Conservative whip, is among those thought likely to get the job.

Liberal Democrat MP Roger Williams said he always argued for his party to have a presence in the department, but "from what I hear there will be no changes in the number of ministerial posts for the Liberal Democrats and so I'm not hopeful."
Baroness Randerson

However, Mr Williams wrote on Twitter later that there was a rumour that the former Cardiff Central Lib Dem AM Jenny - now Baroness - Randerson could be appointed to the Wales Office.

He tweeted: "Hearing rumours that Baroness Jenny Randerson might be minister of state in the Wales Office. Wonderful news if true!"

The leader of the Conservatives in the assembly, Andrew RT Davies, will meet David Jones in London on Wednesday.

Meanwhile the Wales Office special adviser to Cheryl Gillan, Richard Hazlewood, has confirmed he is also leaving his post.

Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-19483140

Green groups' concern over Owen Paterson record

Parliamentary Information Office - Green groups' concern over Owen Paterson record

Environmentalists have expressed fears that the reshuffle makes the government more likely to take decisions against the environment.

Former Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson has taken over the environment brief from Caroline Spelman.

Green groups are concerned about Mr Paterson's track record on shale gas and energy subsidies.

They also say the removal of Justine Greening could signal a U-turn on building a third runway at Heathrow.

The reshuffle is the first major restructuring since the Conservative-Lib Dem government came to power.

Ms Spelman, Conservative MP for Meriden, was made Environment Secretary when the Coalition took office in 2010.

Mr Paterson takes over a portfolio - the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) - with a £2.2bn budget.

But it was reported in Conservative Home that he wants to end all energy subsidies and fast-track exploitation of shale gas.

This would shatter any ambition for the UK of keeping to targets for renewables or greenhouse gases.

As MP for North Shropshire, he has also campaigned against plans to expand output from Welsh wind farms because of the impact of pylons on the landscape.

And he is in favour of culling badgers. But Mr Paterson was widely praised by environmentalists for his conservation-minded policy paper on fishing whilst shadow fisheries minister from 2003-2005.

The North Shropshire MP is the brother-in-law of the leading climate change sceptic Matt Ridley.

He wants to expand airport capacity, which would also threaten climate targets.

This, together with the removal of Justine Greening and Theresa Villiers from the Department for Transport, has raised fears among environmentalists.

They believe Mr Cameron is clearing the way for a Conservative U-turn on its opposition to a third runway at Heathrow before the next election.

London Mayor Boris Johnson expressed anger over the move: "There can be only one reason to move her (Ms Greening) - and that is to expand Heathrow Airport," he explained.

Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, tweeted: "Greening's appointment 11 months ago indicated the PM's position on Heathrow was solid. Yielding so easily suggests panic, not principle."

But Jean Leston, senior transport policy adviser at WWF-UK, signalled a more relaxed tone: "Justine Greening has been an impressive minister, who has dared to stand up to the aviation lobby and question the need for Southeast airport expansion.

"Patrick McLoughlin's return to the Department for Transport is a welcome move and will surely continue Justine Greening's robust defence of Government and party policy on aviation."

Some groups hope Mr Paterson will be a strong champion of the countryside.

James Cooper, head of government affairs at the Woodland Trust, said: "Owen Paterson comes with strong rural credentials. He lists trees among his interests and, naturally, we welcome that.

"One of the most important issues in his in-tray is the Government response to the Independent Panel on Forestry's report on the future of England's forests. This provides an excellent early opportunity for him to be bold."

Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19476970

Boris Johnson's Heathrow warning after Justine Greening's move

Parliamentary Information Office - Boris Johnson's Heathrow warning after Justine Greening's move

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, says the reshuffle shows the government wants to "ditch its promises and send yet more planes over central London".

Justine Greening, who is opposed to a third runway at Heathrow, has been replaced as transport secretary by Patrick McLoughlin.

"There can be only one reason to move her - and that is to expand Heathrow Airport," Mr Johnson said.

The idea was "mad" and he would fight it all the way, he added.

In a statement, the mayor said: "The third runway would mean more traffic, more noise, more pollution - and a serious reduction in the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people.

"We will fight this all the way. Even if a third runway was built, it would not do the job of meeting Britain's needs.

"If we are to remain Europe's premier business hub we need a new four-runway airport, preferably to the east of London, that addresses the problem of aviation capacity before it is too late, and business is driven into the arms of our European competitors.

"It is time for Patrick McLoughlin to look at all the options, including bolder solutions that would deliver massive benefits in jobs and growth.

"And it is time for the government to level with Londoners. Are they in favour of a third runway at Heathrow or not?"

Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith, an opponent of Heathrow expansion, tweeted that "Greening's appointment 11 months ago indicated the PM's position on Heathrow was solid. Yielding so easily suggests panic, not principle".

Friends of the Earth also criticised the replacement of Miss Greening, saying she had been "shunted out" and become a "victim of intense aviation lobbying over airport expansion".

Downing Street insists the Government's position is unchanged since the coalition agreement of 2010, which committed ministers to scrapping extra runway plans drawn up under Labour.

But it has launched a consultation process on future airport capacity and Chancellor George Osborne sparked speculation over a possible U-turn by saying he believed more runway capacity was needed in the south-east of England and all options should be examined.

Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19475249

David Cameron's new-look cabinet to hold first meeting

Parliamentary Information Office - David Cameron's new-look cabinet to hold first meeting

David Cameron's cabinet is to meet for the first time since the prime minister carried out a major reshuffle.

Among the changes, Jeremy Hunt became health secretary and Chris Grayling was promoted to justice secretary.

The new team will also appear beside Mr Cameron as he faces his first question-and-answer session in the Commons since MPs returned from their summer break.

Meanwhile, the prime minister is continuing to finalise the appointment of junior government ministers.

Tuesday's reshuffle was the first large-scale restructuring of the coalition since it took power in 2010.

Among those moved were chief whip Patrick McLoughlin, who took over as transport secretary, and Ken Clarke, who went from justice secretary to a roaming role within government, focusing particularly on economic policy.
Commons bow

Liberal Democrat David Laws returned to government as an education minister, more than two years after quitting over his parliamentary expenses.

The reshuffle came amid criticism from many Conservative MPs that the coalition was not doing enough to restore economic growth in the face of the ongoing recession.

Some expressed delight that Mr Cameron had promoted some on the right of the party, including Mr Grayling and Mr McLoughlin.

But London Mayor Boris Johnson launched an outspoken attack over the removal of Transport Secretary Justine Greening to the international development brief.

He argued that the "only possible reason" was a planned U-turn on the Conservatives' election promise not to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport, to which Ms Greening has said she would be opposed.

Senior Liberal Democrat sources have told the BBC that they will not allow the changes in personnel to lead to a rightwards shift in policy and that they will prevent a third runway from being built.
'Strong reformers'

Altogether, there are six new figures in Mr Cameron's cabinet: Mr Grayling, Mr McLoughlin, Conservative chairman Grant Shapps, Culture Secretary Maria Miller, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers and Welsh Secretary David Jones.
Continue reading the main story   
MOVING JOBS

    Jeremy Hunt to Health Secretary
    Patrick McLoughlin to Transport Secretary
    Andrew Mitchell to Chief Whip
    Andrew Lansley to leader of the House of Commons
    Justine Greening to International Development Secretary
    Owen Paterson to Environment Secretary
    Ken Clarke to Minister without Portfolio
    Baroness Warsi to Foreign Office minister
    Damian Green to police minister. Mark Harper to immigration minister
    Mark Hoban to employment minister. Michael Fallon to business minister
    Mark Prisk to housing minister. Lib Dem Norman Lamb to care services minister

    Who's who: Cameron's new cabinet

They will expect a rumbustious reception from Labour MPs when prime minister's questions - the first session since July - begins at midday.

The cabinet will meet later in the afternoon.

The changes in personnel have not affected key figures such as Chancellor George Osborne, Home Secretary Theresa May or Foreign Secretary William Hague - who will all remain in their posts.

Education Secretary Michael Gove and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith will also stay in their jobs, with Downing Street saying it wanted these "strong reformers" to continue their work.

The BBC understands Mr Duncan Smith was offered the job of justice secretary but turned it down.

Those leaving the government in the shake-up include Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman, Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan and Commons leader Sir George Young.

Below cabinet level, Solicitor General Edward Garnier, defence minister Gerald Howarth, prisons minister Crispin Blunt and children's minister Tim Loughton have all been axed, while policing minister Nick Herbert has resigned after reportedly turning down a move to the Department for the Environment, Food and Regional Affairs.

But Paul Deighton, chief executive of the London 2012 organising committee, will be given a peerage and become a Treasury minister. Treasury minister Chloe Smith moves to the Cabinet Office.
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NEW FACES AND DEPARTURES

    Chris Grayling to Justice Secretary
    Theresa Villiers to Northern Ireland Secretary
    Maria Miller to Culture Secretary (also brief for women's' and equalities issues)
    David Jones to Welsh Secretary
    Grant Shapps to Conservative Party chairman
    Oliver Heald to Solicitor General
    Caroline Spelman, Cheryl Gillan, Sir George Young, Edward Garnier, Gerald Howarth, Crispin Blunt, Nick Herbert and Tim Loughton are all leaving office
    Lib Dem David Laws back as education minister
    Lib Dem ministers Sarah Teather, Paul Burstow and Nick Harvey are standing down

All five Liberal Democrat cabinet ministers, including Business Secretary Vince Cable, will remain in their posts.

David Laws replaces Sarah Teather, who is leaving the government - along with Lib Dem care services minister Paul Burstow and defence minister Nick Harvey.

But there are promotions for Norman Lamb and Jo Swinson, who are both close to Mr Clegg.

But Labour said there would be no change in economic policy with George Osborne remaining in place.

"This is the no-change reshuffle," said shadow Cabinet Office minister Michael Dugher.

He added: "This reshuffle isn't a fresh start - it's more of the same from an out-of-touch and failing government that stands up for the wrong people."

Other Conservative appointments so far include:

Hugo Swire - Foreign Office minister

Damian Green - policing minister

Matthew Hancock - business and education minister

Michael Fallon - business minister

Daniel Poulter - health minister

Anna Soubry - health minister

Philip Dunne - defence minister

Helen Grant - justice minister

Jeremy Wright - justice minister

Stephen Hammond - transport minister

John Hayes - education minister

Elizabeth Truss - education minister

Esther McVey - work and pensions minister

Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19484126

Sir Peter Bazalgette appointed Arts Council chairman

Parliamentary Information Office - Sir Peter Bazalgette appointed Arts Council chairman

TV executive Sir Peter Bazalgette has been appointed chairman of the Arts Council England, the Department of Culture has said.

His Endemol production company is behind high-profile hits including Big Brother and Deal Or No Deal.

Sir Peter is also chair of English National Opera and president of the Royal Television Society and served as a non-executive director of Channel 4.

He will succeed Dame Liz Forgan, whose four-year tenure ends on 31 January.

The appointment, approved by Prime Minister David Cameron, was one of the last decisions taken by outgoing Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who has become health secretary in the government reshuffle.
'Amazing work'

Sir Peter is also currently a non-executive director on the board of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

He will serve a four-year term at the Arts Council, on an annual salary of £40,000, working up to two days per week.

The government-backed council promotes and funds arts across England and as part of its remit is involved in investing National Lottery money. Similar bodies take on the role in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Sir Peter said: "Sustaining our vigorous arts and cultural sector is admittedly a challenge but one I greatly look forward to."

Arts Council England chief executive Alan Davey said: "This is an excellent appointment.

"Peter is a great philanthropic contributor to the arts; an enthusiast who has done amazing work with English National Opera and has helped the Arts Council over the years to develop our digital thinking. We look forward to working with him."


Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19479788

Save the Children urges action for poorest UK children

Parliamentary Information Office - Save the Children urges action for poorest UK children

The charity Save the Children, best known for helping some of the world's poorest families, has launched its first appeal to help UK children.

The charity says the UK's poorest children are bearing the brunt of the recession, with some missing out on regular hot meals or new shoes.

The campaign urges the government to focus on benefits for low-paid families and ask employers to pay a living wage.

The government said it was committed to eradicating child poverty.

Researchers for Save the Children surveyed more than 1,500 children aged eight to 16 and more than 5,000 parents, focusing on the lowest income groups.

The study draws on Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) figures which estimate that there are 3.5 million children living in poverty in the UK and predict a steep rise in the numbers in coming years.

The charity defines living in poverty as having a family income of less than £17,000 a year.

More than half the parents in poverty surveyed (61%) said they had cut back on what they ate and more than a quarter (26%) had skipped meals in the past year.

Just under a fifth (19%) said their children sometimes had to go without new shoes when they needed them.
Financial strain

Some 19% of children in poverty said they had missed out on school trips and 14% said they did not have a warm coat to wear in the winter.

The report, It Shouldn't Happen Here, also reveals the extent to which children are aware of how much financial strain their parents are under with more than half (58%) saying they thought it was getting harder for their parents to pay for everything.

Some 52% of the poorest children agreed that not having enough money made their parents unhappy or stressed and 43% 'strongly agreed' that their parents were cutting back on things for themselves such as clothes or food.

Parents on the lowest incomes agreed they were more likely to snap at their children (23%) because of money worries compared with better off parents (10%).

The report quotes last month's Department for Work and Pensions figures which showed 61% of children in poverty had working parents. It urges the government to encourage more employers to pay above the minimum wage so that workers can provide for their families.

It says the new Universal Credit system should let working parents keep more of their earnings before benefits are withdrawn and urges the government to pay 80% of childcare costs for the poorest families.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "Despite £150bn being poured into benefits and tax credits over the last decade, the previous government's approach to tackling child poverty has failed with the UK missing its own 2010 child poverty targets.

"The government remains committed to eradicating child poverty, but we want to take a new approach by tackling the root causes including worklessness, educational failure and family breakdown.

"And our welfare reforms will improve the lives of some of the poorest families in our communities, with the Universal Credit simplifying the complex myriad of benefits and lifting 350,000 children and 550,000 adults out of poverty."

Save the Children aims to raise £500,000 from the charity appeal to help boost low income children's school careers and provide basic essentials such as cookers, furniture or toys for their families.

Are you in the UK? Does your family have an income of less than £17,000 a year? How has the recession affected you? Get in touch using the form below.


Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19478083

Theresa Villiers to be new NI Secretary

Parliamentary Information Office - Theresa Villiers to be new NI Secretary

Former transport minister Theresa Villiers has been appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

The MP for Chipping Barnet replaces Owen Paterson in the first major restructuring since the coalition government came to power in 2010.

Mike Penning will be a minister in the Northern Ireland Office.

Ms Villiers said she would "relish the opportunity to build a peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland".

Mr Paterson is taking over as environment minister.

Ms Villiers was an MEP before becoming an MP and is a former barrister and lecturer.

In a statement, she said being the Northern Ireland secretary was a "really important job in government".
Continue reading the main story   
“Start Quote

    We still have some way to go if we are to overcome the divisions in society and build a genuinely shared future”

Theresa Villiers NI Secretary

"Huge progress has been made in Northern Ireland over recent years," she said.

"As the headlines in the past few days demonstrate, however, we still have some way to go if we are to overcome the divisions in society and build a genuinely shared future.

"I look forward to working with the executive, political parties and people from right across the community to build a stable, peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland for everyone."

Mike Penning is MP for Hemel Hempstead. He was first elected in May 2005. After the May 2010 election, he was appointed as parliamentary under secretary of state for transport.

He has previously served on the Health Select Committee and as executive member of the Conservative 1922 Committee. He was a shadow minister for health from 2007 to 2010.

In his previous career in the Army, he served with the Grenadier Guards in Northern Ireland, Kenya and Germany. He also worked as a fireman and, later, as a political journalist.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt: "In welcoming Theresa Villiers, I would like to pay tribute to Owen Paterson who was not only a hard-working secretary of state but possibly the most diligent shadow secretary of state we have ever had. I hope his successor will show the same enthusiasm and commitment," he said.

"I urge her to clarify whether she will be as supportive of the devolution of the powers to vary Corporation Tax to Northern Ireland as Owen Paterson was," he added.

Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19476126

Student visa 'chaos' claim by Public Accounts Committee

Parliamentary Information Office - Student visa 'chaos' claim by Public Accounts Committee

Attempts to tighten the student visa system have been strongly attacked by a committee of MPs as "poorly planned and ill thought-out", and creating "chaos".

The report from the Public Accounts Committee criticised the points-based visa system introduced in 2009.

It came as London Metropolitan University launched legal action over a ban on recruiting overseas students.

The UK Border Agency issued the ban after finding many overseas students did not have the right to be in the UK.

The government agency said the decision to revoke the university's licence to sponsor non-EU students was the "correct course of action" and it would "strongly contest" any legal action.

It had found that more than a quarter of a sample of students studying at the university did not have permission to stay in the country and there were "systemic failings" in the system.

But the institution said there was no evidence of this and it challenged the evidence gathered by the UKBA in the "strongest possible terms".

"London Met appreciates that as the first UK university to be placed in this position it has a duty to the sector to try and bring an end to the damage arising from UKBA's decision," it said in a statement on Monday evening.

Malcolm Gillies, vice-chancellor of the university, told the BBC much of the UKBA's case is "wrong".

"It is 22 pages of very detailed statistical argument and we are able to prove through working night and day over the last five days with some of the best immigration lawyers in the country, that in so many areas it is highly flawed.

"It has to be audited against what the exact rules were of the UKBA at the time, and they have changed 14 times substantially in the last three years," he added.

Up to 2,600 foreign students are affected and have until 1 December to find an alternative course or arrange to leave the UK.

The university said it was taking action so its overseas students could return to study "as a matter of urgency".
'Playing catch-up'

The committee's report was written before London Met became the first UK university to be stripped of its right to recruit overseas students.

The report said that, rather than cutting illegal migration, the points-based system had created a surge of as many as 50,000 more bogus students.

It concluded that overseas students should be considered separately from net migration figures.

The MPs claimed that an unsuccessful introduction of the points-based system was followed by years of "playing catch-up" - with complex regulations and uncertainty about the reliability of migration figures.

The report highlighted a tension between efforts to clamp down on misuse of the student visa system and a recruitment drive to recruit higher numbers of overseas students.

According to the report, there was a flawed introduction for the "Tier 4 points-based system", under which approved educational institutions were allowed to sponsor overseas students.

"It is extraordinary that the UK Border Agency introduced its new points-based system for students before proper controls were in place to replace the old ones," said committee chairwoman Margaret Hodge.

"The result of the agency's poorly planned and ill thought-out course of action was chaos: an immediate high level of abuse of the new system and a surge in the number of student visas.

"In 2009 the number of migrants who abused the student route to work rather than study went up by as much as 40,000 to 50,000.

"Since then, the agency has been playing catch-up, continually adjusting the rules and procedures in order to try and tackle abuse.
"A bad situation has been made worse by the poor customer support being provided by the agency."
'Hard hitting'

The report set out a series of failings.

It said that, when the points-based system was implemented three years ago, it remained too easy for bogus students to cheat the system, such as by using forged documents.

And for those students who had broken visa rules, the report claimed the border agency had not taken enough action to pursue them.

It also argued that the underlying data for debating migration, including overseas students, was "highly inaccurate", and would remain so until an electronic border system was in place.

As such the report said it might be "more informative" to exclude overseas students from net migration figures.

Universities UK backed such a call.

"It is clear that genuine international students, who come and then go, must be taken out of the definition of the net migration equation. Then we can really work with the government on any students who should not be here," said chief executive Nicola Dandridge.

In response, Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "Our hard-hitting new measures are beginning to bite - we have already seen the number of student visas issued drop by 30% in the 12 months to June 2012, compared with the same period in 2011, and recent enforcement action has seen 400 student overstayers leave the London area and return home.

"Tough new rules have seen 500 fewer colleges being able to sponsor international students and last week London Metropolitan University's licence to teach non-EU students was revoked after it failed to address serious systemic failings.

"So the message to students and education providers is clear: Britain will welcome the best and the brightest students who meet our immigration rules but we will not tolerate any abuse."


Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19465854

Referendum and same-sex marriage bills announced in SNP plans

Parliamentary Information Office - Referendum and same-sex marriage bills announced in SNP plans

An independence referendum bill and another to legalise same-sex marriage form part of the Scottish government's new legislative programme.

First Minister Alex Salmond announced details of his 2012/13 plans in the Holyrood chamber.

The government will bring forward 15 bills in all.

The SNP administration wants a referendum on independence to be held in autumn 2014. However, much of the detail has still to be worked out.

Negotiations on the process surrounding the vote are continuing between the Scottish and UK governments. The bill is expected to make its way through parliament and gain Royal Assent in November next year.

At this stage it is not known how many questions voters will be asked.

Among the 14 other bills being put forward are the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill, which could introduce same-sex marriage to Scotland.

Mr Salmond says there will be a "conscience" vote in the parliament, where MSPs will be able to vote freely, and he insisted no part of the religious community would be forced to hold same-sex weddings in churches.

The announcement was made in the wake of a government consultation on the issue, which produced a record 77,508 responses.

Also included in the programme are measures to make more free early learning and childcare available.

The first minister said the Children and Young People Bill would include a promise of 600 hours "free early learning and childcare provision".

This guaranteed pre-school nursery care is for all three and four-year-olds, and looked-after two-year-olds. It represents a 125-hour increase on current provision.

Mr Salmond also announced that £18m will be spent on "high-quality, co-ordinated and accessible" support for families.

The Criminal Justice Bill will reform the system for investigating and prosecuting crime in Scotland, following Lord Carloway's review of Scots Law which recommended the abolition of the requirement for corroboration.

The legislative programme, announced in the week MSPs returned from their summer recess, includes two bills setting out the Scottish government's proposed replacements for stamp duty and landfill tax - the Scotland Act handed powers over these to Holyrood from 2015.

Other legislation is being focused on the integration of health and social care; improving support available for victims and witnesses; reforming post-16 education and to bringing bankruptcy law into the 21st Century.

Mr Salmond said: "The new parliamentary session promises to be a pivotal one in the history of this country.

"Work will get underway in earnest on the Referendum Bill, laying the groundwork for Scotland's most important decision in 300 years.

"With the powers we do have, we have managed to secure free university education, offer the best free early learning and childcare package in the UK and guarantee a training opportunity to every 16-19 year old who is not already in education, employment or training.

"We are also investing in creating jobs and strengthening the economy - bringing forward more than £300m of capital spending between 2008-2010, supporting 5,000 jobs, and announcing just a few weeks ago a further £105m.

"Any plan to support growth should focus on immediate public sector capital investment and over this year and the next two, we will switch over £700m of spending from resource to capital."

Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said Mr Salmond no longer had anything to offer Scotland, other than "a referendum he continues to dither over".

'Out of ideas'

She said: "The first minister has an overall majority, what an opportunity to change Scotland for a generation - to radically overhaul education, to set our NHS on a new footing.

"If he'd been prepared to be radical, we'd have been prepared to work with him. But when it comes to the big issues, which actually affect peoples' lives, the poverty of his ambition borders on destitution.

"This legislative programme was largely an uninspired mix of re-announcements and technical bills which show a government out of ideas."

Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said the legislative programme was from a government that had "run out of steam, run out of ideas and which fails to live up to the ambitions of Scotland's people".

She added: "It is a programme that seeks to create the illusion of activity through a plethora of policies but which somehow contrives to be somewhat less than the some of its parts.

"It is the programme of a government that has been reduced to a single overriding goal - to break Scotland away from the rest of the United Kingdom."

The leader of the Scottish Lib Dems, Willie Rennie, said: "The big missed opportunity today is that of Scottish Water. By changing Scottish Water into a public benefit corporation, which firmly remains in the public sector, there is the potential to release a £1.5bn windfall.

"This money could be used to finance the shovel-ready projects the SNP never tire of shouting about. This would create jobs the length and breadth of Scotland."

And Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said he welcomed the first minister announcing plans for a Referendum Bill.

He added: "It is high time we sorted out the referendum process and got on to the real debate about Scotland's future."

Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19469440

First-time buyer shared equity scheme extended

Parliamentary Information Office - First-time buyer shared equity scheme extended

A scheme to help people get on the housing ladder is being extended to all first-time buyers, following a cash boost from the Scottish government.

Funding of the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme has been doubled to more than £20m.

Until now, only priority groups such as people who rent from a council or housing association and war veterans have been eligible.

The extra cash means applications will be accepted from all first-time buyers.

The scheme lets people pay for between 60% and 80% of their home.

The government funds the rest by taking an interest-free equity stake.

Mr Neil said: "Many first-time buyers may not be able to afford a large deposit to help them buy their first home.

"That is why we are doing all we can to help people on low to moderate incomes across Scotland get on the property ladder where it is affordable for them.

"It is good news for households and families wishing to purchase their first home and also helps second-steppers who wish to move home."

Lift initiatives

The Scottish government operates two other related initiatives - the New Supply Shared Equity Scheme and the New Supply Shared Equity with Developers Scheme.

They all form part of the government's Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (Lift)

Link Housing Association chief executive Craig Sanderson said the move would help many families get a home of their choice.

"I welcome the Scottish government's extension of this initiative which will have a 'knock-on' effect of releasing much-needed housing available at rents affordable to people in low-paid employment or on limited fixed incomes," he added.


Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-19481949

Mournes national park opposition voiced

Parliamentary Information Office - Mournes national park opposition voiced

Individuals and groups have voiced their opposition to proposals to designate the Mournes as a national park during a public meeting in Newcastle, County Down.

It is one of a number of areas under consideration by the Environment Minister Alex Attwood.

More than 1,000 people attended the event at the Slieve Donard Hotel.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without a national park and the minister wants two to be created.

There are 15 national parks in Great Britain and six in the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Attwood has identified the Mournes, the Causeway coast, the Antrim Glens and Fermanagh Lakelands as likely areas.

A spokesman for the Department of Environment (DoE) said Mr Attwood was unable to attend the meeting on Tuesday as he did not have enough notice, but was very much committed to explaining to key groups the benefits of national parks.

The DoE is organising a series of meetings with groups for and against national parks.

Mr Attwood's SDLP colleague, South Down MP Margaret Ritchie, said: "We want, along with the people of south Down, to see the best outcome in terms of economic prosperity for all the people of the Mournes.

"We must try to achieve that and that means everybody getting around the table and finding a solution."

Jason Rankin of the Ulster Farmers' Union said: "Farmers are here from all over Northern Ireland who are passionately opposed to these proposals.

"Farmers in England are restricted in so many ways which we can ill afford at a time when we're looking to the agri-food industry to take us out of recession in Northern Ireland."

Valerie Hanna of the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty residents group, which is opposed to the plan, said: "Large companies do not locate to national parks."

"House prices rise and rates will rise too because people look at national parks as a status symbol where they can buy a second home."

National parks are areas of protected countryside. England has 10 national parks, Wales has three and Scotland has two.

Each park is administered by its own independent government-funded body which looks after its conservation and promotes its benefits to the public.


Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19483423

Student visa 'chaos' claim by Public Accounts Committee

Parliamentary Information Office - Student visa 'chaos' claim by Public Accounts Committee

Attempts to tighten the student visa system have been strongly attacked by a committee of MPs as "poorly planned and ill thought-out", and creating "chaos".

The report from the Public Accounts Committee criticised the points-based visa system introduced in 2009.

It came as London Metropolitan University launched legal action over a ban on recruiting overseas students.

The UK Border Agency issued the ban after finding many overseas students did not have the right to be in the UK.

The government agency said the decision to revoke the university's licence to sponsor non-EU students was the "correct course of action" and it would "strongly contest" any legal action.

It had found that more than a quarter of a sample of students studying at the university did not have permission to stay in the country and there were "systemic failings" in the system.

But the institution said there was no evidence of this and it challenged the evidence gathered by the UKBA in the "strongest possible terms".

"London Met appreciates that as the first UK university to be placed in this position it has a duty to the sector to try and bring an end to the damage arising from UKBA's decision," it said in a statement on Monday evening.

Malcolm Gillies, vice-chancellor of the university, told the BBC much of the UKBA's case is "wrong".

"It is 22 pages of very detailed statistical argument and we are able to prove through working night and day over the last five days with some of the best immigration lawyers in the country, that in so many areas it is highly flawed.

"It has to be audited against what the exact rules were of the UKBA at the time, and they have changed 14 times substantially in the last three years," he added.

Up to 2,600 foreign students are affected and have until 1 December to find an alternative course or arrange to leave the UK.

The university said it was taking action so its overseas students could return to study "as a matter of urgency".
'Playing catch-up'

The committee's report was written before London Met became the first UK university to be stripped of its right to recruit overseas students.

The report said that, rather than cutting illegal migration, the points-based system had created a surge of as many as 50,000 more bogus students.

It concluded that overseas students should be considered separately from net migration figures.

The MPs claimed that an unsuccessful introduction of the points-based system was followed by years of "playing catch-up" - with complex regulations and uncertainty about the reliability of migration figures.

The report highlighted a tension between efforts to clamp down on misuse of the student visa system and a recruitment drive to recruit higher numbers of overseas students.

According to the report, there was a flawed introduction for the "Tier 4 points-based system", under which approved educational institutions were allowed to sponsor overseas students.

"It is extraordinary that the UK Border Agency introduced its new points-based system for students before proper controls were in place to replace the old ones," said committee chairwoman Margaret Hodge.

"The result of the agency's poorly planned and ill thought-out course of action was chaos: an immediate high level of abuse of the new system and a surge in the number of student visas.

"In 2009 the number of migrants who abused the student route to work rather than study went up by as much as 40,000 to 50,000.

"Since then, the agency has been playing catch-up, continually adjusting the rules and procedures in order to try and tackle abuse.

"A bad situation has been made worse by the poor customer support being provided by the agency."
'Hard hitting'

The report set out a series of failings.

It said that, when the points-based system was implemented three years ago, it remained too easy for bogus students to cheat the system, such as by using forged documents.

And for those students who had broken visa rules, the report claimed the border agency had not taken enough action to pursue them.

It also argued that the underlying data for debating migration, including overseas students, was "highly inaccurate", and would remain so until an electronic border system was in place.

As such the report said it might be "more informative" to exclude overseas students from net migration figures.

Universities UK backed such a call.

"It is clear that genuine international students, who come and then go, must be taken out of the definition of the net migration equation. Then we can really work with the government on any students who should not be here," said chief executive Nicola Dandridge.

In response, Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "Our hard-hitting new measures are beginning to bite - we have already seen the number of student visas issued drop by 30% in the 12 months to June 2012, compared with the same period in 2011, and recent enforcement action has seen 400 student overstayers leave the London area and return home.

"Tough new rules have seen 500 fewer colleges being able to sponsor international students and last week London Metropolitan University's licence to teach non-EU students was revoked after it failed to address serious systemic failings.

"So the message to students and education providers is clear: Britain will welcome the best and the brightest students who meet our immigration rules but we will not tolerate any abuse."


Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19465854

Parliamentary Information Office - Free school numbers to rise by 55, government reveals

Parliamentary Information Office - Free school numbers to rise by 55, government reveals

Fifty-five new independent schools in England this month, Ministers say that number tripling, to open in place.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said he managed schools as people hoped the current 24.

Schools-a major public policy-State-funded, free but subject to local authority control and have more control over the budget and education.

Labour has suffered delays in public projects or the amount of money spent on the left have criticized.

Free schools parents, teachers, charities, businesses, universities, religious groups or voluntary groups, trusts can be set up.

First opened in September last year, and a further 111 this month, announcing the opening of more people in the Education Department to open next year was approved.

Mr Gove said: "for every child to go to an excellent local school. these new idealistic people who only rich parents that are currently set to the option to purchase are committed to school.

"First 24 free schools are very popular and I think this second wave is expected to be equally successful."

Mr Gove argues that such schools options parents, but for policy problems encountered.

Before school students failed because this day money back to the start of the term in one instance was taken to attract enough, Bradford is a free school founded by more than 200,000 pounds invested in, but still.

This project, one million, the charity behind it hoped the school will open next September instead.

Stephen Twigg, Education Secretary last week, Mr Gove was 79 for shadow free schools of many to do so due to open in September in asking.

Mr Twigg said that at £ 2.3 m alone two abandoned and one of which is spent on three projects half-empty.

He suggested that the true figure spent on such schemes "lack of transparency" because they are funded on a lot more being called.
Primary locations

Sky News Murnaghan programme on Sunday speaking, Mr Twigg said that independent schools, but where they area contains only supported the idea.

"We have all the problem is that when the Government says free schools, fail, your egg basket is a waste of public money is" he said.

"In addition to those parts of the nation program that most places don't need being tailored to school."

Meanwhile, figures released by more than 3000 children in England failed to get any earlier this year of 2010 with their choice of primary schools shows that labor.

18 local authorities-freedom of information requests to 12 the number of responses produced% party.

Labour said that if the number of affected children in 2010 to figures from across the country increased 22787 19535 repeated.

Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19460927

Parliamentary Information Office - UK 'fails to freeze' Mubarak-era assets

Parliamentary Information Office - UK 'fails to freeze' Mubarak-era assets

Egypt's former leader Hosni Mubarak regime assets freeze in the UK Government's commitment to a BBC investigation found, failing.

Publicly available documents, property and companies in important data via the restrictions that have been added to joy circle unaffected by.

Egypt officials hiding stolen assets in the UK and international anti-corruption agreement violation charges.

Britain says, as much as it can to locate the money.

Reports that helped President Hosni Mubarak and his inner circle fuel revolution which it tens of billions of stolen $ 11 February last year overthrew.
Continue reading the main story
"To quote
El-Gohary, Egypt's illegal profits Assembly heads

The British Government is bound by law to help us "

Egypt's Al-Gohary head Assembly of illegal gains

Three days after British Foreign Secretary William Hague told the British Parliament, that an official request to cooperate with Egypt's many former officers of the asset freeze.

But a further 37 before Britain and other EU States ban implemented-when Egypt accused the authorities say were their money over a period transferred somewhere else.

About £ 85 m ($ 135 m) to Mr Mubarak, his wife, and two sons of the other 15 Egyptians associated property in the UK were now stable.
More information

The BBC's investigation of property that has been missed but apparently.

Restrictions on the companies House register publicly accessible, the former Housing Minister, Naglaa El-Ghazaerly, a list of the names shows a company, one that, seven months after its assets frozen in London to register its name in 2011 for his wife had ordered.
2012 February company Medinvest Medinvest office operations continued

Mr. happy younger son Gamal, a London investment company, set up by other similar documents how Medinvest Associates suggests, and as it is this year, still a Cypriot firm helped run, he related, released after 11 months of voluntary breaking-in February was banned.

Meanwhile £ 10m £ 8 m large home value and Wilton place, London for many years, Egypt revolution, Gamal Mubarak UK land registry documents at any stop Knightsbridge home between.

Home as his address as of 2010 ... When her daughter, listed as the birth certificate on Farida.

Although a different name in the title of any property restrictions should apply to a company in Panama, home of thieves of paradise, but they get the benefit of international practice is one of the individuals-a "beneficial owner" in person.

Britain and Egypt, but Egypt to freeze assets from legal aid to help further public request is accepted, it's more forward before moving to Britain-Egypt says asking the call information.
Legal process

El-Gohary, illegal Assembly authority of Egypt said: "British Government is obliged by law to help us, but also of course to try to recover the money it just says: ' give us evidence. this fair? We seek funds in Egypt, Britain ".

Foreign Office says it has received all relevant authorities from the BBC, but also information on individual cases could not comment.

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said: "we feel at this point in Egypt's power and steal his identity and as closely to your authorities identified the courts dealing with the control property."

But he added: "it is important that the recovery of stolen property and its legal to just return a person of property and denied a criminal conviction and return to Britain in a foreign country is not possible confiscation."

He said that the UK more quickly, because such steady order can be made based on suspicion alone, and it's a time to work as agreed, all 27 EU States was necessary.

Britain's approach to hide once money is an easy-to-place Switzerland-happy and his associates as property within half an hour of his resignation last year know that frozen conflict.

The Swiss Federal Prosecutor and police investigators suspect Michael Lauber is a team of more than 20 illegal Egypt property told the BBC by tracing.

Total amount frozen is CHF410m (£ 270 m) in February 2011 (£ 470 m) is no longer in the amount of about CHF700m in the UK has risen from frozen since last year.

Egypt's new legal Affairs Minister Mohammed Mahsoub said: "when it comes to tracing and freezing of the assets of the UK most countries in Egypt."

But he said that Egypt itself, where the old regime elements still impressive

Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19459177

Parliamentary Information Office - George Osborne in £50bn private sector building vow

Parliamentary Information Office - George Osborne in £50bn private sector building vow

The Government up to £ 50bn personal finance in an effort to promote the growth of the construction sector to underwrite projects.

If certain conditions are met is also planning up to speed decision making and the green belt land, will be to encourage the development of the law.

Chancellor George Osborne also said a third Heathrow runway was constructed on an option.

Labour said Mr Osborne had "no new ideas" and tax breaks for businesses and the VAT cut.

Treasury infrastructure (financial support) Bill which introduced a plan in July, the green light to sign £ 40bn Government construction projects to make them low interest rates will be using said.

To qualify, projects must be "nationally important", in 12 months, economically ready to start building trust within and "good value for the taxpayer".
' Do more '

MPs return from their summer recess, Ministers set out this week are expected to build up to as £ 10bn worth new homes housing associations and private developers to underwrite the loan guarantees, including.

It's easy to secure planning permission to appeal and judicial review by reducing the time allowed for making an economy focused on Bill will follow.

Mr Osborne also if the country field is equal to by Ministers and green belt land is brought into the green belt to enabling them to use existing powers to local authorities will be encouraged.

He warned the country years when the economy was struggling at the same time can't wait for new developments that.

"We have more to do and we do it fast," he told the Andrew Marr show on BBC one.

"They are hard times for the British economy, but the world is tough times for our economy, creating jobs, it's taking time, but there is no easy way to recover a magical."

Chuka Umunna, labour's shadow business Secretary, however, said that the new infrastructure investment was being held back.

"One of the problems that we have at the moment is that major infrastructure investment projects are falling backwards," he told the Andrew Marr show on BBC one.

"There has been delay and indecision with all the way."

He said the Government's decision would create uncertainty for re-write rules only after six months it plans to launch a new framework, and deter investment.

Labour Chancellor was not new ideas and to take on more workers and money into the economy to get back to the Government's VAT rise to reverse a national insurance break will kickstart growth by firm said.
Runway capacity

In his interview, Mr Osborne denied Marr to Downing Street and senior cabinet colleague who appeared frequently on the Coalition will have a third Heathrow runway insisted not to stick to their pledge.

He said that in addition to the runway capacity needed in South East England and the so-called "new air, airport, Heathrow, Stansted-Gatwick estuary should people have lots of different options.

"What I would say, let's examine all options – so let's make sure we do it, political consensus."

He said: "I understand about all the local pressure, but you, as a nation, to overcome them and where the additional runway capacity in the South-East should be able to decide about a sensible."

A consultation on the future of South-East England airspace capacity twice Coalition reported divisions between delay and conservative ranks.

On Sunday, the Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson of Scottish economic interests in the Heathrow debate, but a third runway is built to support the added his voice.

But the Lib Dems at the airport – which is clearly both NDA partners had any extension in manifestos rejected.

Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19455195

Parliamentary Information Office - Desmond Tutu calls for Blair and Bush to be tried over Iraq

Parliamentary Information Office - Desmond Tutu calls for Blair and Bush to be tried over Iraq

Tony Blair and George Bush in the Iraq war to the International Criminal Court at the Hague should be greater than the w, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said.

Britain's Observer newspaper, writing about weapons of mass destruction, the former leader of weapons lying.

Iraq military conflict the world more than any other campaign in history "in unstable, he said.

Prime Minister Blair, saying "we have so many times, the same logic to write with nothing new to say," responded.
"Playground bullies"

Earlier this week, Archbishop Tutu, a veteran peace campaigner who led her 1984 campaign a Johannesburg pulled out of the Summit because he refused to share a platform with Prime Minister Blair, won the Nobel Peace Prize is valid against apartheid.

The former Archbishop of Cape Town, said that Syria's conditions for Saddam's regime in 2003, the civil war against the US and UK and a possible Middle East conflict brought about Iran.

"[Bush] United States of America and Great Britain [Mr Blair] politicians like us other than land, where we now stand by Syria and Iran US-made with the edge of a precipice by ghost playground bullies to drive," he said.

He said: "Saddam Hussein is a good or bad question or how many of those killed had been that Mr. Bush and Blair. issue itself should not be used for unethical levels."
Continue reading the main story

Tony Blair

Archbishop Tutu results death toll in Iraq since 2003 Deputy Prime Minister Blair as Bush's military action, to be tried in the Hague and is based in.

But he said Western leaders have different standard be applied.

He said: "in an analog world, let alone in some African and Asian partners, the answer was to the Hague as a way to be responsible for their actions."

In response to Sunday's article, not harsh words to Prime Minister Blair issued its decision.

He said: "[the weapons of mass destruction] old rumor that we completely wrong as proof to the intelligence of every independent analysis showed lied about.
' Chemical weapons '

"And the fact that hundreds of thousands of its own citizens Saddam murdered her is irrelevant to deletion of ethics is absurd.

"Halabja massacre, where we use both thousands of people a day, Iran-Iraq war, Saddam's chemical weapons killed, and where many millions of casualties numbered, including monuments by chemical weapons.

In addition, he arranged his political opponents, harassment and Marsh Arabs, but deleting "his people's case stated that at the time. As morally strong killing action

He said: "it's up to us to say that with a little time in a healthy democracy, but certainly nothing new for the same type of reasoning can agree to disagree.

"I also have problems, Iraq today is an economy that has tripled or more, with the cut child mortality. the third issue is hugely out of Basra."
Continue reading the main story

Sir Geoffrey Bindman human rights lawyer

Human rights lawyer Geoffrey Bindman is an illegal aggressive war Iraq war BBC Radio 4 said.

He said a war crimes trial "and based on a crime of aggression and war crimes should be held.

"Now that the war was illegal, because it says that the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations or the United Nations or the political independence of the State of all members to refrain from any use of force in violation of the integrity is almost certain."

Former Lord Chancellor Lord Charles Falconer, said he disagreed with Sir Geoffrey and Desmond Tutu.

Other reasons to "force the United Nations authorized, and when it is authorized by UN resolution 1441.

Resolution 1441 "and we, not war or Geoffrey and the authorized.

"Even the dissent does not give rise to the possibility of war crimes, the world over the past two decades is very impressive and well identified what they mean by war crimes; Genocide, ethnic cleansing, torture and for people in a variety of ways that brought "


Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19454562

Parliamentary Information Office - Teachers reject 'pointless' new phonics check

Parliamentary Information Office - Teachers reject 'pointless' new phonics check

New primary Phonics "long term risk of damage due to reading to children," says examination of English teachers.

Dr Mary Bousted of the Association of teachers who think and Test-Manager, fluent readers can fail said words misprints.

As a result of new information, it's 90% of the students reading skills about 1 in 500 years, a teacher with the study plan.

The Government says it can be confused with Phonics, reading is very important.

ATL, teachers and educators, who said he feared that students who test subjects teachers fail to comply with a set of the formation of the National Association.
Nonsense words

Nearly nine of 10 teachers said, they run to test the word fuck.

Thazz, spron and features, purposes, fape to disable encryption named students-Phonics.

«Business 10 Phonics, in the first week of the trial of four.

The teacher said: "some readers, and some soft, and passed at readers! That is what?

"Synthetic phonics to learn in a different part of the proven strategies, read-only."

Another teacher, said: "I had kids and I assisted in planning and evaluation.

"This time (I did) over a specific period of their children's classroom teachers to cover the negative effects, and it is my money to enter."

Year one teacher said, "children of pseudo-correct errors trying to change many words"-"strom" "Storm". "

Magazine about 86% will continue to check the check box should be avoided.

Russell hobby, General Secretary, national air traffic by kids, read most of the synthetic phonics Teachers Association (NAHT), said read.

"Test, however, is another matter. misinformation and it distorts the measurement of education and reading is a lifelong love of reading unnecessary. I'm encoding is based as much as possible.

"This is something which the French study, at an early stage is a big story in the back out of the store."

Christine blower, nut General Secretary, said: "it is the study of Phonics check boxes in progress the school money squander. stark evidence results" report must have been aware of "incredible."

Department of education, international, these facts that the most effective way of teaching Phonics in the early stages.

Nick Gibb in the past, in such a way that they are children, as soon as possible to develop important criteria Ministers are real love of reading schools said.

Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19438535

Parliamentary Information Office - Squatting set to become a criminal offence

Parliamentary Information Office - Squatting set to become a criminal offence

Construction of a building for residential buildings in England and Wales, the offence on Saturday, will face jail or a fine for the squatters.

The Ministers said that it offers better protection for homeowners and "slam shut the door, the squatters at a time".

The maximum penalty is six months in jail or a £ 5,000 fine.

But the new law could criminalize a rough breakdown of the replica's vulnerable and warned the increase.

At this time, it has taken note of the owners of the building, including the civil courts, housing companies and individuals must go to the councils and, in order to demonstrate the squatters is trespassed before it can be deleted.
' Squatters ' rights

Criminal proceedings only the homeowner and the police on 1 September, which can operate in conjunction with the squatters and the arrest warrant, if the request is genuine.

In addition, the law protects the free housing properties, such as the constructors, local authorities and the owners of second home owners.

The Ministry of Justice has issued instructions to the police and other law enforcement services of the new offence.

The police must prove that the person knowingly entered the building and the trespasser "food or live" in it.

A person who is part of an agreement with their rent or property, or the lease agreement rental law for the offence of terrorism is, in the end, the remains of the new legislation.

Leslie Morphy crisis

But the law applies to stop managing the residential buildings, the squatters before criminal trespassers have entered into force ".

Housing Minister Grant Shapps said: "for too long, the legal battles to get for a long time, patience, and the people are squatters at home and fix the number of invoices when they are in the thousands separator separator syringes will be permanently deleted.

"The Longer there is the so-called squatters rights. On the other hand, for the benefit of the right back to the tipping the scales and the week following the law of Crystal Clear: homeowner property, type the name of the building the marketing view as a criminal offence. "

He returned the Homeowner-Hugh-Whittle, said the squatters had been transferred to the hospital, his possessions, the residence of the BBC in London.

"It was kauhistuttavat. Just going through, they lasted for three or four months was the cost of stress.

"And pay the money to the property, of course ... and the pahentuvat, which actually meant that we had to pay builders, fitness."
"The most

Some of the new law has been criticised for its it.

A group of Squatters in the actions of the protected housing campaign, told the BBC: Catherine Brogan, "what we need is a housing crisis and does not criminalize some of our most disadvantaged."

And Leslie Morphy said crisis homeless charity-the Director-General of the new measures "to resolve the underlying reasons why the none, in the first place, and their homelessness, the lack of affordable housing, vulnerable to the squat-a".

Crispin Blunt said, however, the Minister of Justice is at the lowest level in 28 years of homelessness and homelessness, the Government was spending £ 400 m and £ 164 m empty homes back to around 10000.

The Chief Constable Phil Gormley of the Association of Chief Police officers ' actions, saying the police could lead to consistent, "now must act quickly and directly to the properties, to remove the squatters" move.

Squatting is already illegal in Scotland, where the owner has the right to delete the property, with or without prior notice to serving eviction orders applicable to the law of the Court of Justice, the squatters.

The Squatters may face fines of up to $ 200.

The new law was the loan, with the Labour Party.

Shadow Justice Minister Andy slaughter said: "homeowners throughout the country rightly concerned about the squatters, and you want to protect the Government naturally Tory led to guarantees.

"In the event of emergency, the squatters can lead to families, so it is impossible to accept the financial damage."

Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19429936

Parliamentary Information Office - Atos protest: Disability rights groups target firm

Parliamentary Information Office - Atos protest: Disability rights groups target firm

Up to 150, which regulates the right to protest have been stable and a replica of the Atos, which carries the "Fit for work" outside of the Government's assessments.

People, that is to say, the credits are is in the replica, the "harmful and reduce the painful" and led to the suicides.

Atos, sponsor of the Paralympic Games, said, it is necessary to ensure the service is "professional" and "compassionate".

Department for Work and Pensions, where one person was arrested in Westminster has been applied to Dams Continue.

A small group, of which two wheelchair drive blocked office "surprise secret", doors, UK Uncut said.

Dams, which has since been removed from the .DWP Continue within the building. The Metropolitan Police said one person was arrested in breach of the peace.

Demonstrations have been held throughout the week, the company was the company's head office in France, culminates in the Triton Square, Marylebone, run.

In earlier versions of the Paralympic Games, the Chief Lord Coe said the company had to defend the Atos and helped the London-2012, the accreditation process, the results of the recruitment of volunteers and proxy service.

"They are partners, and they help us deliver this ... Their work goes beyond one of the visibility. "

The capacity of managers who work for Atos estimates are based on decisions of the Administrative Council has said it is trying to control the cost of the compensation, which must be regulated.

It says more than £ 600 m a year, has been used for too many people who are no longer eligible for the level of benefits.

It is important to make sure that the checks have been said that the people and trapping them in the system performance.

Claire Glasman, maternity and invalidity benefit is, campaigner is Winvisible.

He said his group has campaigned in favour of a mother, who was the damage to the vertebral column, and found it to get hurt at work with his assessment, but scored zero in the maahantulolleen shall apply for the benefit, find work or the compensation for the relatives to rely on the relevant asetekniikan.

Atos, Claire Glasman of the Central London, such as Dams, Continue, that is to say, a replica of the assessments for disabled people, the headquarters of the suffering,

MS Glasman said: "we do not know how people are.

"Women are particularly at risk because we are likely to have to do the work, and the unwaged caring, serious health problems."

John Williams, who has Crohn's disease, epilepsy, and certain other conditions had approximately 200 replica.

They said the £ 500 a month, he is to live in and food to rely on benefits, still liquid drinks.

They said: "do not want to be fair. It is essential when you arrive. The Government is working to get the numbers, it seems like with "Atos.

Roger Lewis-disabilities, BBC five Live cuts, and said, the cause of the huge environmental damage assessments were "and the suffering of people with disabilities".

They said: "we now have a situation where we know that people have experienced the Atos assessments, which are, unfortunately, died as a result. Some committed suicide. Some had heart attacks. "

They said MPs parliamentary group of cases, looking at the financing of the work of the evaluation capacity of the judgment, if will be reported according to the coroners '.

DWP said, it was still in the evaluation of the information and links on the study of the impacts of mental health are made can be verified of suicides.

They said: "we have significantly improved the capacity of the evaluation process of the work of the year 2010.

"We see This as a result, in the long term, the increase in the number of people must be absolute."

The spokesman of the French multinational Atos said: "We fully respecting the right of peaceful Protest and we have to understand that this is a very emotive issue.

"We will not make decisions on the welfare policy in the interest of the general good, but we are still in production, in order to ensure that we provide you with a professional and personal service as well as it can be.

"We have consistently outlined for health-care professionals, the hotel staff on the action programme in the field of education and vocational training, and are transferred to the ground through a strict recruitment will take place."

Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19437785

Parliamentary Information Office - Conservatives pick Christine Emmett as Corby candidate

Parliamentary Information Office - Conservatives pick Christine Emmett as Corby candidate

The Conservative Party selected Christine Corby and East Northamptonshire Emmett the by-election.

The election was called, when Louise Mensch, who is also the author, decided in August to settle in a Conservative-MP constituency.

Ms. Mensch, who is moving to New York, won the largest number of the 2010 edge 1,951.

Andy Sawford is a by-election, labour and the Liberal Democrats candidate, Jill Hope to represent.
As A Result Of A

MS Emmett said: "it seems to me really meet Corby and East Northants on the future of Europe, and to respond to each of the selected by Conservative election relish.

"The local people to local candidate who listens to them and know how to get things done. Experience in many different areas, with love, health services, and run your own business.

"I want to use the understanding and knowledge to represent the Corby and East Northants."

Ms. Mensch goes to her with her husband in New York City, Peter Mensch, which is the rock band Metallica Manager three children.

Before you can add the name of the policy, he made the best-selling chick lit author in accordance with his or her maiden name Bagshawe.

He said he was still difficult to juggle family responsibilities with his political career.
The campaign views

Mr Sawford, former Labour MP Phil Sawford, Kettering, for the boy, said: "I, the local communities, which are the Corby and East Northamptonshire, unfairly hitting voluntary organisations, to take away the main things pahoinvoivia and the police authorities of Tory cuts, cutting against the courts and street lighting.

"I look forward to working with the team, including the US's large locally and, in the case we are talking about labour's local authority representatives, that we have the best ideas on the future of the economy and the provision of local services in the Microsoft."

MS Hope said: "the impact of the Liberal Democrat Government has made this much better than local people, if the Tories had as I can to ensure that the products alone and MP, with more ordinary people and the millionaires tax cuts.

"The Corby and East Northamptonshire MP-the people you want to block them, and is a full-time, that things that are important to them."Is attached to the service order line, if they vote for me is the new MP. "

Source By : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-19430110