General News
Newswire – TUC: TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber has responded to the Frank Field review into poverty - The Foundation Years - published last week.
Press release ~ Frank Field review into poverty, The Foundation Years ~ www.endchildpoverty.org.uk ~ Unicef’s response ~ ippr’s reponse
MoD: With just one week left for families to send Christmas cards & presents to their loved ones in Afghanistan, members of the general public are once again being urged to donate to charities & keep the postal system clear. The deadline to send post to arrive in Afghanistan for Christmas is Friday 3 December 2010.
The kindness & generosity of individuals & groups who send boxes of treats out to operational theatres is greatly appreciated. However, the sheer volume of such mail delays the mail sent by family members and loved ones. In addition, the unintentional inclusion of inappropriate items causes serious difficulties for those charged with distributing all supplies, including post.
ScotGov: Recent wintry conditions mean outdoor enthusiasts are being reminded to take care on the hills. Skiers, mountaineers & hill walkers are expected to flock to the nation's mountains & countryside to make the most of the early snow. However, anyone heading out this season is being advised to check the weather forecast before they set off and remember that conditions can change quickly.
Press release ~ Mountaineering Council of Scotland ~ Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service ~ Mountain Weather Information Service
DirectGov: If you're offered cut-price energy for a pre-payment meter, watch out - it's a scam. Only buy credit for your pre-pay electricity meter from official outlets such as the Post Office, PayPoint or Payzone, or you'll end up paying twice.
The fraud involves only electricity, not gas, pre-payment meters. It's believed that the criminals have cloned the keys for these meters, allowing them to top them up illegally. However, energy companies can identify homes using electricity, but not paying for it.
If you're offered cut-price electricity top-ups, say no and report it to Action Fraud by following the link below or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Press release ~ Report a fraud - Action Fraud ~ Saving energy at home (environment and greener living section) ~ Energy grants (environment and greener living section) ~ Generating and using greener energy (environment and greener living section) ~ Overdue utility bills (money, tax and benefits section)
IPCC: IPCC Deputy Chair & Commissioner for London, Deborah Glass, has announced the detail of the misconduct allegations to be put to Police Constable Simon Harwood, the officer who struck Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests. The officer has been served with the papers requiring him to attend a hearing.
Deborah Glass said ….. “Because of the gravity and exceptional circumstances of this case I consider that it may be in the public interest for me to direct that the hearing be held in public. I have therefore begun the required process of consulting the necessary parties. These include the Tomlinson family, the officer himself, and any witnesses, before I make a decision. I am also consulting the Coroner and the Director of Public Prosecutions, who I know also have an interest in this matter.”
Monitor: Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts, has found that Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is in significant breach of the terms of its Authorisation. This decision is based on concerns in relation to the Trust’s financial position and its governance arising from:
* failure to meet its financial plan at Quarter 1 2010/11
* failure to meet its financial plan at Quarter 1 2010/11
* not ensuring appropriate resources & governance arrangements were in place to deliver the annual plan
* signing a contract which left the Trust with an unacceptably high level of financial risk
Having considered the available evidence, Monitor’ board decided not to use its formal intervention powers at this stage. However, the Trust’s performance going forward will be reviewed against specific milestones & actions. If it fails to demonstrate timely & sustainable progress towards full compliance with its terms of authorisation, Monitor is likely to consider formal intervention.
MO: Met Office scientist Dr Doug Smith, has been awarded the inaugural Lloyd’s Science of Risk Prize for his team’s work on long range hurricane predictions that will help tackle the largest single cause of insured loss.
NA: The National Archives’ education service has been voted the Best Content Provider at the Schools Videoconference User Awards 2010. The judges reported that The NA 'showed an excellent variety of workshops covering all age groups and a true commitment to remote learning through the numbers of students who have been taught through your videoconferencing workshops'.
DfT: Designated drivers will be rewarded in thousands of pubs across the country as part of the THINK! Christmas drink drive campaign, launched last week by Road Safety Minister, Mike Penning. THINK! has teamed up with Coca-Cola’s Designated Driver campaign to offer drivers free soft drinks in more than 8,000 participating venues across Britain as part of the Driver Friendly campaign.
If venues are interested in getting involved in the Driver Friendly campaign, they should contact us at: think@23red.com .
If venues are interested in getting involved in the Driver Friendly campaign, they should contact us at: think@23red.com .
MoD: A £180m contract to build 200 Foxhounds, the Armed Forces' next generation of light protected patrol vehicle, has now been signed with Force Protection Europe (FPE). Light & agile, the vehicle will allow troops to carry out a wide range of tasks in environments that may restrict larger, heavier vehicles - for example, moving with ease through narrow alleyways or crossing bridges – while providing ‘unprecedented levels of blast protection for its size & weight’.
Press release ~ Photos and related links (includes video)
CRUK: Failure to get moles & skin changes checked out by a doctor has contributed to a steep rise in deaths from malignant melanoma among pensioners, experts have warned. The mortality rate in over 65s dying from the most dangerous kind of skin cancer has almost tripled in the last 30 years according to Cancer Research UK.
PCS: An influential parliamentary committee has criticised the government's plans to cut civil service redundancy pay as being in breach of human rights legislation, after evidence submitted by the PCS union. The Human Rights joint committee said the government had not made the case for imposing caps on payments under the civil service redundancy scheme, which governs the terms available to civil servants who are made redundant either by compulsion or agreement.
Press release ~ Human Rights committee's report ~ ‘Broken’ pledge ~ Read a timeline of the negotiations
Demos: Lord Falconer has announced the formation of the Commission on Assisted Dying, which will review evidence from experts & the public and consider what system, if any, should exist to allow people to be assisted to die and whether any changes in the law should be introduced. The Commission will seek clarity on current legal ambiguities.
It is issuing a public call for evidence and will publish all evidence submitted on the commission’s website. The commission will publish a final report by December 2011.
MoD: The uk4u Thanks! 2010 Christmas Box campaign was launched at St John's Wood Barracks in London, home of the famous King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery on Wednesday 1 December 2010. The campaign sees some 22,500 boxes full of festive cheer being sent to servicemen & women right across the world who are working away from their families this Christmas.
uk4u Thanks! works with the Armed Forces to send the boxes, containing some 20 items, out to locations such as Afghanistan, the Falklands, and to ships & submarines across the world in time for Christmas Day. They do not use the British Forces Post Office system, so do not delay parcels from family & friends getting through.
WAG: The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Dr. Christianne Glossop, has warned of the danger Chinese lanterns pose to livestock and other animals. The Welsh Assembly Government has received reports that the release of the lanterns are causing stress & injury to farm animals , whilst the flame produced by the lantern is a very real threat to buildings, structures and machinery, especially in rural areas.
ScotGov: A number of Scottish local authorities have been praised for using innovative teaching methods - despite their schools being closed. Aberdeenshire Council has arranged a number of learning activities through GLOW - the schools intranet - and West Lothian has also posted a wide range of work for pupils.
CO: A competition to create a new city to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubileein 2012 has been launched. Details of the Civic Honours Competition were unveiled by Mark Harper, Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform, who is inviting local authorities across the United Kingdom to apply.
Existing cities are also invited to bid for the award of a Lord Mayoralty or, in Scotland, a Lord Provostship. The awards are a rare mark of distinction which are sparingly granted and will be made in honour of the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s accession to the throne. Closing date for both is 27 May 2011.
MO: The Met Office is the principal contributor to a new climate science exhibition at the ScienceMuseum in London that opened last weekend. Titled atmosphere: exploring climate science, it aims to deepen museum visitors’ understanding of climate science in an enjoyable, engaging and memorable way.
VSO: VSO is recruiting for 2 specialist short-term overseas volunteer placements:
* Resource Center Co-ordinator: 6 months - To train library staff so the library serving young people can better serve its users.
* Investment Climate Advisor: 2 months - To attract & manage international investment for a Free Economic Zone in Tajikistan.
Press release ~ Details of above & other specialist roles ~ Short Term Volunteering
Press release ~ Details of above & other specialist roles ~ Short Term Volunteering
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