Archive of articles from 2008

Community order 'knowledge gap' revealed

Early research shows community order sentences are lowering re-offending

A serious knowledge gap about the management of community order sentences has been uncovered by the National Audit Office (NAO).

Darling 'should increase tax by 2p'

IFS tells Darling to raise £8 billion in tax

The chancellor has been urged to raise income tax by two pence in order to plug a £8 billion hole looming in the economy.

Conway suspended as third researcher scrutinised

Disgraced Conservative MP has been suspended from the House of Commons for ten days.

Gun murders rise despite fall in serious crime

Firearms offences fall but fatalities rise to 59

More people are being killed as a result of gun crime, despite an overall fall in both homicides and firearms offences, the latest Home Office figures show.

Call to allow parental consent in embryo research

Group calls on Lord Darzi to introduce consent amendment

Ministers and MPs are being asked to consider lifting a ban on taking cells from dying children for medical research.

Prison reform continues as 16,000 released early

More than 16,000 prisoners have been released early since the government launched the scheme designed to increase capacity in jails.

Met cautious on stop and search extension

MPA to respond to stop and search powers next week

Stop and search powers should not be extended without the support of the communities likely to be extended, the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) said today.

Self-assessment tax deadline extended

The deadline for self-assessment tax returns has been extended by 24 hours.

Deporting asylum-seeking children 'places them at risk'

Govt seeks to deport child asylum seekers immediately

The government has been accused of putting children at risk through proposals to deport failed child asylum seekers.

School PE attacked as 'inadequate'

Children's exercise is a key priority for the government

Nearly one million children are not receiving at least two hours of exercise at school a week, the government has admitted.

Clarke calls for Labour renewal

Defending Labour's achievements in power will not be enough to win a fourth term in power, former home secretary Charles Clarke has warned.

Knight jumps to defend rural schools

Jim Knight rescues rural schools in distress

Councils' alleged neglect of rural schools is to attract a rebuke from the government.

Smith 'to extend stop and search'

The police's powers to stop and search people will be extended, the home secretary is set to announce.

Darling to extend bank takeover powers

Darling launches consulation on bank rescue

Alistair Darling has unveiled proposals to make it easier for the banking authorities to take over troubled banks.

King to stay at Bank of England

King appointed for second term as BoE governor

Mervyn King will continue to serve as governor of the Bank of England, it was confirmed this morning.

Infection control figures challenged

Hospital cleanliness efforts are being stepped up at present

New statistics out today show strong progress against hospital superbugs, but opposition parties are challenging the figures.

Govt 'failed to plan for immigrant birth pressure'

Tories claim govt did not anticipate immigrant birth rate

The government failed to anticipate the increased pressure immigrant birth rates would exert on maternity services, opposition politicians have claimed.

Cameron: Brown 'physically incapable' of action

David Cameron continued to portray the prime minister as a "ditherer" today by claming he was "physically incapable" of answering a straightforward question.

Conway to stand down as MP at next election

Derek Conway to stand down as MP for Bexley and Old Sidcup

Conservative MP Derek Conway has announced he will stand down from parliament.

Railway passengers to claim 100,000 extra seats

Ruth Kelly confirms new carriages for busy routes

The government today promised to create 100,000 extra seats across England's busiest train routes.

Poor pupils to be 'mentored' into top universities

Govt wants to boost participation among poor pupils

Bright graduates will mentor potentially high-achieving pupils from poor backgrounds to apply for places at the UK's top universities, the government has announced.