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Green Party calls for investigation following claims of child inmates kept in solitary confinement

22 February 2017

The Green Party has demanded the Government investigates allegations of young offenders being held in solitary confinement in British prisons [1].

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, said:

“It was already clear our prison system was reaching crisis point but these stories reveal a new level of callous disregard for the human rights of some of the youngest and most vulnerable offenders.

“Being kept in solitary confinement for even just short periods of time causes severe distress and has lasting impact. I fail to see how the Ministry of Justice can possibly think this treatment will result in positive outcomes. These young offenders need to be rehabilitated, not punished further using one of the most cruel and unhelpful methods possible. We urgently need an investigation into these allegations.”

Notes:

  1. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-prisons-child-inmates-solitary-confinement-un-torture-rules-young-offenders-institutes-break-jail-a7591781.html

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Green Party • • •

Debbie Abrahams comments on CAB report on workplace pension schemes

Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on the findings of the Citizens Advice Bureau report, said:

“It is shocking to see that hundreds of thousands of low income workers, most of whom are women, are being blocked from these workplace pension schemes by the Tory Government.

“This month Labour demanded the Government look at how people working multiple jobs could be allowed to save. They refused.”

“While the Tories abandon older people, Labour wants to ensure that everyone can have the secure, dignified retirement that they deserve.”

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Labour • • •

The Government needs to concentrate on increasing capacity and improving schools in the areas that need it the most – Angela Rayner

Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Education, commenting on an NAO report on capital funding for schools, said:

“Hundreds of secondary schools in England are already full to capacity, while thousands more are crumbling and in desperate need of repair. Yet the Tories continue to waste millions opening free schools in areas that do not need them.

“The Government needs to concentrate on increasing capacity and improving schools in the areas that need it the most.”

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Labour • • •

It is crucial that the criminal justice system works in the interests of all victims – Carolyn Harris

Responding to the Victims’ Commissioner’s review into the treatment of child victims of sexual and violent offences, Labour’s shadow home office minister, Carolyn Harris, said:

“It is crucial that the criminal justice system works in the interests of all victims. 


“But it is clear from this review that young victims of some of the most serious offences feel they are still being let down.

“Rather than trying to downplay the findings, the Government should accept there is a problem and get on with producing the Victims’ Law they promised to address it.”

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Labour • • •

Lotte World Tower may be abandoned by Chinese tycoons

Since the Lotte Group is expected to sign a land-swap deal with the South Korean government to deploy the THAAD missile defense system, the future of its Lotte World Tower looks bleak. The share price of affiliates of the Lotte Group plunged on February 21, as the stock market is worried about possible sanctions from the Chinese government.

According to Edaily, a financial news website from South Korea, the Lotte World Tower is a 123-floor, 556-metre skyscraper currently under construction in the second-generation Lotte World complex in Seoul. Once completed, it will be the tallest building on the Korean Peninsula as well as the fifth-tallest building in the world. Its observation deck is expected to be the world’s tallest. Chinese tycoons are its main potential clients, and it is expected that at least half of the clients will be from China.

The Lotte Group promoted the Lotte World Tower in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing from last October to last December. Hundreds of Chinese tycoons were interested in the Lotte World Tower project during the promotion. However, with growing tension between China and South Korea due to the THAAD issue, many potential Chinese buyers have decided to abandon their purchases. “We will start the sales from the middle of March officially, and Chinese buyers will make up no more than 30% of buyers according to our expectations,” said by a salesman from Lotte World Tower.

Chinese media has criticized the Lotte Group for its expected land-swap deal with the South Korean government recently. According to a survey from the Chinese media, 95% of Chinese netizens will boycott the Lotte Group. The Lotte Group is confronted with a dilemma between its business and the South Korean government.

Lotte Group is not the only one facing pressure. The amount of Chinese investment and Chinese tourists to Jeju Island has reduced sharply. According to statistics from Jeju Island local government, the property area purchased by foreigners in Jeju Island dropped 24% in 2016.

According to Edaily, the Chinese IT giant Baidu has stopped a cooperation negotiation with the South Korean banking industry because of the THAAD deployment issue.

It is estimated that the Chinese government will pose comprehensive sanctions to South Korea once the THAAD missile defense system is deployed.

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East Asia • •