Archive of articles from 2006

Tax credit overpayments reach £1.8bn

Lib Dems call for Dawn Primarolo to be sacked over tax credit row

The Liberal Democrats have called for the minister in charge of tax credits to resign after the government admitted £1.8 billion was overpaid in the system last year.

Teenagers facing drug testing in schools

Schools across the country could introduce random drug testing

Secondary school pupils across England and Wales could face random drug testing after a pilot scheme was found to help children resist peer pressure.

NHS patients get wider choice of hospitals

Patients to get wider choice of hospitals on the NHS

NHS patients requiring hospital treatment will be able to have it anywhere in England and Wales under new plans outlined by the government today.

Prescott defiant as PLP chair calls for calm

John Prescott says he will not resign as PLP chair calls on MPs to back him

John Prescott has insisted he is not going to "give in to the media campaign" and will remain in his job as deputy prime minister.

Police merger plans face legal challenge

Government faces first legal challenge over police merger plans

Cleveland police authority has today launched a legal challenge against the government's plans to merge it with two others in the north east.

New rights for unmarried couples mooted

Law Commission begins consultation into new rights for unmarried couples

Unmarried couples who live together could be given new rights to inherit property after a death or divide assets when they separate, under plans unveiled today.

Council leadership 'contributed to race riots'

Report finds council failures in Burnley race riots

The race riots in Burnley in 2001 were partly caused by resentment over unequal council spending, a new report finds.

Minister defends Prescott against resignation calls

Defence secretary Des Browne has insisted John Prescott plays a "very important role in government".

Tory right-wingers attack Cameron's A-list

Cornerstone group of Tory MPs criticise David Cameron's A-list of candidates

David Cameron's A-list of preferred parliamentary candidates has today come under fire from a group of right-wing Conservative MPs.

Chief judge says too many people in prison

Lord chief justice says prison should only be for the most dangerous offenders

Too many people in Britain are being sent to prison when they could be given community punishments or put in rehabilitation, the lord chief justice warned today.

EU ministers agree services deal

A new EU agreement to open up the European services market will benefit Britain by about £5 billion a year, the government has said.

Browne: Iraqis must tackle violence themselves

Des Browne says troops will stay until Iraqi troops can cope

The defence secretary has repeated his insistence that British troops will not pull out of Iraq after two more soldiers were killed at the weekend.

NHS computer system 'to cost £20bn'

Health minister Lord Warner clarifies true cost of NHS IT programme

The government's new IT system for the NHS is two years behind schedule and could cost up to £20 billion, Lord Warner has admitted.

McGuinness dismisses spy claims as rubbish

Martin McGuinness rejects claims he is a British spy

Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness has dismissed allegations that he is a British spy as a "load of rubbish".

Pensioners 'need property advice'

Pensioners need advice on property issues

The government should provide pensioners with a telephone advice service to help them decide whether to sell their homes, a report published tomorrow will claim.

Hilary Benn defends Prescott

John Prescott has been defended by government minister Hilary Benn, amid calls from MPs and commentators for him to leave the cabinet.

Prescott under pressure

Deputy prime minister John Prescott faced renewed attacks from fellow MPs and the press this weekend after <i>The Daily Mail</i> published a picture of him playing croquet on Thursday afternoon.

Foreign prisoners 'released from hospitals'

John Reid faces more foreign prisoner allegations

The Home Office faces more foreign prisoner allegations today as claims emerged that offenders were released from secure hospitals without their knowledge.

UK government offers help to earthquake victims

Hilary Benn offers "financial assistance" to earthquake victims

Hilary Benn has said the British government will offer "financial assistance" to victims of today's devastating earthquake in Indonesia.

Bush and Blair admit mistakes in Iraq

George Bush admits saying 'bring it on' in Iraq was not very sensitive

Tony Blair and George Bush have admitted they made "mistakes" in Iraq but have called on the international community to support the new Baghdad government.

Blair calls for global action 'on shared values'

Tony Blair calls reform of the UN to make it more effective

The United Nations must be reformed to allow it to "think sooner and act quicker" in defence of basic freedoms, Tony Blair said today.

Government slammed over torture agreements

Human rights committee raises concern about memoranda of understanding

A parliamentary committee has today expressed "grave concern" at the government's use of diplomatic assurances to deport people to countries where they may face torture.