Mar282017

Green Party calls for inquiry into death of schoolboy as ‘Hillsborough Law’ Bill reaches Parliament

Green Party
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28 March 2017

The Green Party has joined calls for an independent panel inquiry into the death of seven-year-old Zane Gbangbola, who died in 2014 after his home in Surrey was flooded.

Zane’s family believes he was killed by hydrogen cyanide carried by floodwater from a nearby landfill site, despite the coroner ruling his death was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

The family was denied legal aid and is now supporting the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill, dubbed the ‘Hillsborough Law’ [1], which will be presented to parliament tomorrow, on March 29.

Caroline Lucas MP, Green Party co-leader, is co-sponsoring the bill.

Zane’s parents Kye Gbangbola and Nicole Lawler are requesting an independent panel of inquiry, as in the Hillsborough inquest, to review all documentation around Zane’s death. More than 30,000 people have signed a petition [2] to support their call.

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, met Kye and Nicole earlier this month.

Bartley said:

“I was struck by Kye and Nicole’s determination and resilience in terrible circumstances. They’ve shown enormous courage to continue fighting for justice in the face of a huge bureaucratic machine and vested interests weighted against them.

“I fully support their call for an inquiry and tomorrow we’ll take an important step forward with this bill reaching parliament. It’s crucial there’s a level playing field for families seeking answers about their loved ones’ deaths.

“The implications of Zane’s death are enormous, not just for his family, but potentially for everyone who lives near a landfill site, particularly as many of these sites are unrecorded. The authorities involved in the investigation must be accountable so we can make sure the truth emerges and that a tragedy like this never happens again.”

Notes:

  1. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/sep/08/hillsborough-law-launched-to-ensure-officials-act-with-candour
  2. https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/call-for-a-public-debate-into-the-death-of-7-year-old-zane?bucket=+via+%4038_degrees
  3. More information about the campaigns are available at http://www.truthaboutzane.com/ and http://www.thehillsboroughlaw.com/.

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Mar282017

News story: Public sector pay awards for 2017-18

HM Government
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Pay awards for armed forces, NHS staff and doctors and dentists set out by government.

The government has today (28 March 2017) set out the pay awards for armed forces, NHS Agenda for Change staff and doctors and dentists in line with the policy of an average 1% pay rise in 2016-17.

The government asked the following Pay Review Bodies to examine how an increase to base pay could be applied in line with the government’s policy of an average of 1% across the workforces:

  • Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body (AFPRB)
  • NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB)
  • Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB)

The government has accepted the recommendations for the armed forces, NHS Agenda for Change staff and doctors and dentists to receive an average of a 1% pay increase.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, said:

It is always important to recognise the amazing work undertaken every day by our armed forces, doctors and dentists and NHS staff. The settlement for these key workforces protects jobs and helps repair the public finances. The OBR has forecast that the current pay policy will protect approximately 200,000 jobs across the UK.

I am pleased that we are able to accept the recommendations of the independent pay review bodies, and I thank them for their work.

Mar282017

News story: Cancer innovation challenge in Scotland: apply for funding

HM Government
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Organisations can apply for a share of £325,000 to find new ways of recording and integrating data on patient outcomes and experiences.

Up to £325,000 is available to fund the development of innovative technologies that find new ways of integrating data into Scotland-wide healthcare processes. The aim is to improve patient care.

These technologies should record and integrate cancer patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient reported experience measures (PREMs). This will:

  • improve experiences of treatment, care, and personal outcomes
  • explore the clinical and psychosocial impact of new and established cancer treatment
  • make better use of NHS resources by reducing waste and inefficient practices
  • speed up the adoption of new technologies into the NHS through efficient evaluation mechanisms
  • create high value research infrastructure with global reach

This competition has 2 phases. Up to £125,000 (including VAT) is available for phase 1, and up to £200,000 (including VAT) for Phase 2:

  • Phase 1: technical feasibility. Projects should last up to 3 months and range in size up to a total cost of £25,000
  • Phase 2: development and evaluation. Projects should last up to 6 months and range in size up to a total cost of £100,000
  • this competition opens on 31 March 2017
  • you must register before 15 May 2017
  • you must apply by 29 May 2017
  • there will be an information session for potential applicants on 19 April 2017 in Edinburgh (register by 10 April)
  • organisations can carry out the project on their own or work with others

This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition. The Data Lab – funded by the Scottish Funding Council – DHI Scotland and Stratified Medicine Scotland will fund this competition.

Mar282017

Ajmer Ratlam Express Extended up to Indore via newly Constructed Q-Track Jointly by Smt Sumitra Mahajan Speaker Lok Sabha and Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu Minister of Railways

India
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In the august presence of Smt Sumitra Mahajan, Speaker, Lok Sabha and Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Extension of Train No 19653 / 19654 Ajmer Ratlam Express up to Indore via newly constructed Broad Gauge Q-Track was flagged off through Video Conferencing from Rail Bhavan, New Delhi today.