22 February 2002
Leader of the Commons Robin Cook has backed what he called the most fundamental overhaul ever of select committees. The modernisation committee, which Cook chairs, recommends limiting party influence over the selection of committee members and paying chairs a wage on top of their MPs' salary.
Applications for university places have risen by almost 4%, or in excess of 12,000 – more than double last year's increase. Ucas, the university admissions service, reported 335,312 applications this year compared with 322,621 at the same stage last year. The largest rise in one subject is a 316% increase – to 58,894 – in applicants for management studies courses.
The new general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union, Bob Crow has warned the government that the union could withdraw funding from MPs because of what it terms its 'disastrous' policies. Crow, elected to succeed the late Jimmy Knapp, said: 'I can't see how you can have sponsored MPs who actually support the privatisation of London Underground and refuse to support the renationalisation of the railway network.'
Edinburgh City Council has been accused by its Tory opposition of 'dumbing down' the Scottish capital's traditions after deciding to scrap the Lord Provost's black limousine in favour of a modern 'people carrier'. But council leader Donald Anderson defended the move, saying that the new red Mercedes was a 'more practical' vehicle for transporting dignitaries. The people carrier will cost £6,500 a year to hire, compared with £700 for the limousine.
The latest figures show that the number of people waiting for inpatient hospital treatment rose by 1.8% in December to 1,050,200. Waiting times for both inpatient and outpatient care have fallen, but ministers are still some way short of meeting their targets. The government has pledged that no patient should have to wait longer than 15 months for NHS inpatient treatment or six months for an outpatient appointment by the end of March 2002.
Four complaints against trade and industry minister Nigel Griffiths have been upheld by Elizabeth Filkin, the retiring Parliamentary commissioner for standards. Griffiths, MP for Edinburgh South, claimed £10,000 a year since 1997 in allowances for an office in Edinburgh which he owned outright. The money was paid into a trust fund set up by Griffiths to help his older sister.
The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), the largest exam board in England, has been ordered to recruit more examiners to ensure that school exams run efficiently in the summer. Inspectors from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) said the board was relying too heavily on the goodwill of existing examiners.
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