Plans to give asylum seekers the legal right to work have been put on ice by the Scottish Executive. Present UK laws ban asylum seekers from taking paid jobs but allow them to carry out voluntary work.
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More than 60 public organisations including fire services, local councils, colleges and probation boards have been “named and shamed” for failing to produce a scheme to improve services and job opportunities for disabled people.
{mosimage}The Disability Rights Commission warned that it could take legal action against the organisations after accusing them of breaking the law. The Commission said 65 public bodies had missed a deadline of last December for producing a disability equality scheme.
Under the scheme organisations were supposed to show what measures they were taking to help disabled people get better access to education, facilities such as sports centres, training and jobs.
Among the organisations named were a number of Government services including UK Trade and Investment and the Forensic Science Service. Sir Bert Massie, the Commission’s chairman, said: “The disability equality duty is a real opportunity to transform disabled people’s experiences of the society we live in.
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West Mercia Police has admitted giving 100 sex offenders cautions in the last five years instead of bringing charges. No charges were brought against 93 sex offenders in Worcestershire, including eight rapists, from April, 2001 to the end of March last year. Instead of going to court, they accepted a caution.
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Surgeons battle to repair facial slash wounds on knife victims on average every six hours in Glasgow, according to shocking new figures. More than 1000 patients a year are sent for maxillofacial surgery in city hospitals after being attacked. But detectives believe fewer than one in three assaults is reported to the police.
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Seven in 10 people arrested or charged for escaping police or prison custody over the past five years were never convicted for the offence, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal. A total of 131 people were either arrested or charged with escaping lawful custody from 2002 to the end of 2006, but only 39 of those resulted in a conviction.
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The cost to patients of making telephone calls from their hospital bed is to increase by 160% from Wednesday. Patientline, which charges people to make phone calls and watch television in hospital, is to increase its call charge from 10p a minute to 26p.
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Depression during pregnancy may increase the risk of giving birth early, a UK study suggests. Mothers who were severely depressed gave birth earlier than those without depression, a small study shows.
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Union officials in Dumfries and Galloway have received “a lot” of complaints after about 1,000 council staff got letters outlining wage cuts. The cuts are part of “single status” plans to address equal pay issues.
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Further operation cancellations and delays are expected in hospitals around the country as the work-to-rule by nurses enters its third day. The unions are threatening work stoppages in one week’s time if their demands for a 35-hour working week and a 10% pay increase are not met.
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IVF clinics could see their multiple birth rates capped under plans being considered by the fertility watchdog. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is considering sanctions for clinics that produce too many multiple births as part of its drive to cut the number of twin pregnancies.
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