Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was wrong to "shave off" three months' worth of the police pay rise to comply with a "Treasury dictat", lawyers have argued. Police Federation QC Gavin Millar at the High Court challenged the government's decision not to back-date their 2.5% pay rise to September. The "morale-hitting" move sparked fury and a huge protest march among police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Up to 66,000 armed forces personnel will be worse off from this week as a result of the abolition of the 10p income tax rate, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.
Over 40,000 children were not entered in GCSE exams for maths and English last year, and over 60,000 children were entered for fewer than five GCSEs, according to figures revealed by the Liberal Democrats. The figures, contained in a parliamentary answer, show that the Government's target that all children should achieve at least five good passes at GCSE is currently unachievable.
The Hythe Annual Town Meeting will take place at The Town Hall, Hythe High Street, Hythe on Thursday the 24th April 2008 at 7.00pm. The meeting will hear reports from the Council, Kent County Council, Shepway District Council, the Association of Local Councils and voluntary organisations from Hythe, and to consider any resolutions for which notice has been given.
A pioneering hospital treating people with complex mental health problems is to close next week. NHS bosses in charge of the Henderson Hospital in south west London said the closure was temporary and a public consultation will still take place.
Nearly 100,000 patients with Alzheimer's a year will be refused drugs that could delay the onset of the disease, the Court of Appeal has heard. The manufacturer of one drug - Aricept - has been fighting a decision to restrict access to patients in the later stages of the disease. NHS drugs advisers said the therapy along with others in its class are not cost effective for early Alzheimer's.
