Cruel cut
It's not a group we hear much about but The National Housing Federation, which represents England’s housing associations, is making ripples. They anticipate harsh results of one planned cut.
They say that the “Supporting People” budget, which aims to allow the disadvantaged to lead independent lives and is paid through local authorities, is likely to face substantial cuts in the upcoming spending review.
The cash, which had previously been ring fenced, could see a range of the country’s poorest groups affected by shelters closing and caring support services shutdown. The federation says this would be ultimately self-defeating as some of the most needy people in society – those with learning difficulties and ex-offenders with a range of social issues – would simply be thrust into the NHS, social services and the criminal justice system.
That's a convincing argument. It's the mark of a cowardly Government to hit the weak who have silent voices. In New Zealand in 1985, the Government cut farming subsidies to deal with a farming crisis. Here the farmers are a powerful lobby. Not a chance that farmers' handouts will be touched.
Growing worries
Vaccines have saved millions of lives. They are one of the near miracle developments of medical science. But they have dangers. I have soft pedalled this element in the Swine Flu scandal, but the new vaccines were never fully trialled. Now there are two worrying reports.
The Sweden Health Authorities started an official investigation after six cases of a secondary effect of nacrolepsy, 1-2 month after vaccination with the H1N1 vaccin Pandemrix. Young people of 12-16 years old are primarily involved. They are in contact now with other European countries to see if these problems are registered there as well. In Finland they've noticed similar problems.
In Australia GPs have been told not to use a particular flu jab on 110,000 children under five after it was linked with a tenfold increase in fits. Straws in the wind?
Deceit rewarded
Those who recall my blogs in Autumn 2008 my remember a campaign I ran about the subisdies planned for nuclear's clean-up at Sellafield. Now we learn that the chief American honcho at Sellafield will pick up a cool £1m pay package, while his US-led consortium has no liabilities for running Sellafield, which reside with the poor British taxpayer.
What was it again Chris Huhne keeps saying about no subsidies for nuclear? Maybe something he has missed.?