Education
Court
threat for pupils' parents
- 28 June
Parents of unruly pupils could be taken to court by teachers under
plans to be announced by ministers. The initiative will be used to
support existing home-school agreements which set out what is
expected of parents and their children in the education system.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls says the move is aimed at a small number
of parents who disregard the agreements. The proposal will be
included in the wide-ranging schools white paper to be unveiled on
Tuesday. - BBC
News
website
Freedom of
Religion
Sharia
courts : are their rulings breaching British law?
- 30 June
Sharia courts operate in Britain in the shadows. Little is known
about them or their rulings or how extensive their network is or
the reach of their jurisdiction. A report this week sheds some
light. It reveals that there are not just the main five generally
acknowledged to exist - in London, Manchester, Bradford,
Birmingham and Nuneaton - there are another 85 operating largely
out of mosques. - Times
Online
website
Doctors
want right to talk faith
- 28 June
Doctors are demanding that NHS staff be given a right to discuss
spiritual issues with patients as well as being allowed to offer
to pray for them. - BBC
News
website
Government
Reforms
'could harm MPs' rights' - 30 June
Measures to reform Parliament after the expenses scandal could
violate MPs' human rights, it has been claimed. The right of MPs
to a fair hearing if accused of misconduct could be violated under
a planned new system of external regulation, MPs and peers have
warned. The Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights urged
greater safeguards. MPs are debating reform plans for a second day
as ministers seek to get new laws passed before Parliament breaks
up for its summer recess on 21 July. - BBC
News
website
Labour Issues
Banning
age discrimination : consultation launched
- 30 June
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) today outlined further
proposals for a new legal ban on harmful age discrimination, which
will make sure older people do not face unfair or substandard
treatment when they are buying goods or using services, such as in
shops, hospitals, or when accessing car and holiday insurance. The
consultation published today "Equality Bill : making it work
– ending age discrimination in services and public
functions" sets out how the legislation will enable things
that are beneficial to continue such as age-based holidays and
discounts for pensioners. - eGov
Monitor
website
Land Affairs
Local
homes pledge 'is unlawful' - 1 July
Equality legislation would torpedo plans to give local people
greater priority on waiting lists for council housing, the
Conservatives have warned. The prime minister has told MPs he
wants to allow councils in England to give additional preference
to locals. But Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps said the
measure was a "sham" as it would be illegal under
existing law and the forthcoming Equality
Bill. But
this was denied by the Department for Communities and Local
Government. - BBC
News
website