Cameron reshuffles the Conservative Shadow Cabinet

David Cameron this week announced the following changes to his Shadow Cabinet:

 

New to the Shadow Cabinet:

 

Ken Clarke as Shadow Business Secretary

 

Mark Francois as Shadow Minister for Europe attending Cabinet

 

Moving within the Front Bench Team:

 

Eric Pickles now Party Chairman (Previously Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary)

 

Caroline Spelman now Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary (Previously Party Chairman)

 

Alan Duncan now Shadow Leader of the House of Commons (Previously Shadow Business Secretary)

 

Theresa May now Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, and Shadow Minister for Women (Previously Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and shadow Minister for Women)

 

Chris Grayling now Shadow Home Secretary (Previously Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary)

 

Dominic Grieve now Shadow Justice Secretary (Previously Shadow Home Secretary)

 

Nick Herbert now Shadow Environment Food and Rural Affairs Secretary (Previously Shadow Justice Secretary)

 

Leaving the Shadow Cabinet:

 

Peter Ainsworth leaves his post as Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, replaced by Nick Herbert

Pregnant mums urged to apply now for £190 cash boost

Mums-to-be, with babies due on or after 6 April 2009, are being urged to apply now for the new £190 Health in Pregnancy Grant.  The one-off payment is intended to help pregnant mums stay fit and healthy in the run up to the birth, and help meet some of the costs as the big day approaches.

The money can be claimed from the 25th week of pregnancy, after receiving health advice from a midwife or other health professional. You’ll be given a claim form to sign and send off, which you must do within 31 days. When your claim is approved, the money is paid directly into your bank or building society account. Women who apply in the first three months of the year will get the cash in April.

The grant is a universal, one-off payment available to expectant mothers in the UK from the 25th week of pregnancy and will be payable from April 2009. Payment of the grant does not depend on the amount of household income. It will not affect payments of other benefits and tax credits and is payable for each pregnancy, not each baby. 

More information can be found at direct.gov.uk/money4mum2be.

Study finds premature babies exposed to toxins in liquid medicines

A study published by the British Medical Journal this week said that liquid medicines commonly given to premature babies and infants contain potentially harmful substances – and sometimes at levels above those recommended for adults.

 

The study says that babies born early have a much higher risk of a range of diseases and complications associated with their prematurity than babies born after a normal length pregnancy. Liquid medicines are the usual formulation used to treat them as babies cannot swallow pills and many contain agents, known as “excipients.” These are used to ease the administration, absorption or preservation of the active substances or improve the taste and appearance of the medicine.

 

Rigorous checks are carried out on prescription medicines to ensure their quality, safety, and effectiveness, but most of these checks are carried out in adults, and there are few data on the safety of specific excipients, especially in such young patients, say the authors.

 

They assessed the type and content of liquid medicines given to 38 babies for whom all drug records were available. All the babies weighed under 1500 g at birth, and had been born after 30 or fewer weeks of pregnancy. They were all admitted between June 2005 and July 2006 to a neonatal intensive care unit at one English hospital. The babies were treated for between 2.5 and 9 weeks, and given a range of treatments, from iron and vitamin drops to Furosemide and Dexamethasone.  During this time, they were regularly exposed to 20 different excipients, including ethanol (found in iron and Furosemide) and propylene glycol (found in Dexamethasone), chemicals that have the potential to cause nerve damage.

 

Seven of them had severe lung disease as a result of their prematurity, and these babies were exposed to higher levels of excipients than the babies without this problem. Exposure to ethanol ranged from 0.2 ml to 1.8 ml per week, equivalent to 1 to 7 units of alcohol, while exposure to sorbitol (Dexamethasone and iron) ranged from 0.1 to 3.5 g/kg/week.  The recommended maximum intake of sorbitol for adults is 20 g/day. When calculated according to the baby’s weight, this level was exceeded in 18 babies for at least one week.  All babies given Dexamethasone exceeded the recommended levels of propylene glycol, which is about two thirds as strong as ethanol.

 

The UK Food Standards Agency has recommended the removal of the colourant Ponceau 4R, because of concerns about its effect on neurodevelopment and behaviour. This agent was found in the iron formulation given to the infants.

 

The authors point out that children’s medicines have to cater for a wide age range, making it difficult for manufacturers to tailor their products for each age group. The inclusion of some excipients is also a necessity.

 

But they conclude: “We feel it is important that the [medicines regulators] not only ensure that all manufacturers provide detailed labelling of the excipient content of their products but all lead action to determine whether existing practice constitutes a risk, and if so, how this might be dealt with.”

Department of Work and Pensions questioned about child poverty

In response to a question about definitions of child poverty, Kitty Usher, Parliamentary Under Secretary, noted that the Department uses three indicators to monitor levels of child poverty which were established in 2003 following a lengthy period of consultation.  She noted that since 1998 progress has been made against all of the indicators. 600,000 children have been lifted out of relative low income between 1998-99 and 2006-07, a shift from 3.4 million children to 2.9 million children. The number of children living in absolute low income has halved from 3.4 million to 1.7 million. Between 2004-05, the first year data was available, and 2006-07 the number of children in the UK defined as poor using the combined indicator of relative low income and material deprivation fell by 200,000 from 2.2 million to 2.0 million on the particular material deprivation threshold that was chosen.

 

Absolute low income measures whether the poorest families are seeing their income rise in real terms. The threshold is fixed as equal to the relative low income threshold for the baseline year of 1998-99 expressed in today’s prices. Relative low income measures whether the incomes of the poorest families are keeping pace with the growth of incomes in the economy as a whole. This indicator measures the number of children living in households below 60 per cent of contemporary median equivalised income. She noted that this is the indicator which is used to measure performance against the public service agreement target to halve child poverty by 2010-11.

 

Material deprivation and low income combined provides a wider measure of people’s living standards. This indicator measures the number of children living in households that are both materially deprived and have an income below 70 per cent of contemporary equivalised median income.  

 

She also said that low income is not the only dimension to poverty and a child’s quality of life, including access to health care, education and a safe environment, are critical. The three indicators are therefore underpinned by the broader Opportunity for all indicators. Opportunity for all is the Government’s report on poverty and social exclusion which includes a wide range of poverty and social exclusion indicators for children and young people (as well as working age adults, older people and communities) including health, education and housing.

Department of Health questioned about promised £330million for Maternity Services

Andrew Lansley, Shadow Secretary of Health, this week asked the Department of Health about what mechanisms were in place, with reference to the NHS Operating Framework, to ensure that primary care trusts spend an additional £330 million on maternity services over the specified period.  Ann Keen responded noting that the announcement covers three years, 2008-09 to 2010-11 and is being included within primary care trust (PCT) revenue allocations.

 

She also said that increases in the maternity services tariff in 2008-09 and planned for 2009-10 will increase the flow of funds for each episode of maternity care. PCTs will also be developing and investing in local plans to deliver the improvements set out in the NHS Operating Framework.

More NHS staff on the frontline with SNP government

Dr Ian McKee, SNP MSP for Lothians, has welcomed official figures showing that there are more frontline staff working in the NHS than ever before including doctors, nurses, midwives and dentists.

Dr McKee, a former GP, said “These figures show real and effective investment in NHS services under the SNP Government with a record number of frontline staff. Putting more workers on the frontline is the key to delivering better standards of healthcare.

“Today’s figures demonstrate that the SNP is investing more in the NHS than ever before and is working with the NHS to ensure a healthier Scotland.”

• The total number of medical staff including GPs and medical support was 16,195, an increase of 726 (4.7 per cent)from September 30, 2007.
• The whole-time equivalent number of nurses and midwives was 57,749.6, an increase of 699.2 (1.2 per cent). The equivalent headcount figure was 67,965, an increase of 620 (0.9 per cent). The vacancy rate for nursing and midwifery fell from 3.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent.
• The number of consultants was 4,581, an increase of 546 (13.5 per cent) on the previous year. Over the same period, the consultant vacancy rate fell from 6.7 per cent to 4.0 per cent.
• The number of GPs in Scotland has risen by 4.1 per cent to 4,916 as at end of September 2008, from 4,721 in 2007.
• The number of General Dental Service (GDS) dentists in NHS Scotland at September 30, 2008 was 2,703, an increase of 157 (6.2 per cent) from 2007.

Best practices sought to tackle child poverty

The Government’s new Take Up Taskforce is asking local authorities and their partners to show how they are tackling child poverty by supporting parents to take up tax credits and benefits. The Taskforce is currently looking for examples of good practice from across the UK, which demonstrate how local services have supported families at risk of poverty to take up the financial support they are entitled to. Local authorities and their partners are invited to share their best practices with the Taskforce by 20 February 2009. The Government says that it has redesigned the tax and benefit system to provide help for all, and extra help for those who need it most, whilst still maintaining incentives to work. It notes that this has been critical in lifting 600,000 children out of poverty over the last decade. However, many families are still not taking up the tax credits and benefits that they are entitled to, and remain in poverty as a result.

Children in poverty experience the realities of disadvantage and deprivation, suffering not only from poverty of income, but poverty of aspiration and opportunity. Whilst child poverty exists, our children, our society, and our economy will not reach their full potential.

The Government has set up the Taskforce of experts from local authorities and the voluntary sector to develop ways to help local services improve the take up of benefits and tax credits. The Taskforce is looking specifically for work done in the last three years, which:

• looks to increase take up of a range of tax credits and benefits, and support families to manage their claims;
• aligns increasing take up with wider efforts to increase parents’ aspirations and help them to understand the benefits of work;
• demonstrates good value for money, and can be replicated within mainstream budgets;
• reach families in innovative ways through different local services;
• focus on families with children who are at risk of poverty.

UK babies are born with £17,000 of debt, says Cameron

A Conservative publicity campaign launched this week suggests that every child born into Britain begins life owing £17,000. The message will be featured on 260 billboards across the country.

The campaign features a photograph of a baby, accompanied by the message: “Dad’s nose, mum’s eyes, Gordon Brown’s debt – Labour debt crisis: Every child in Britain is born owing £17,000. They deserve better.” The Opposition is arguing that interest payments on national debt will cost more than the amount of money spent on educating children in Britain and that national debt is on course to exceed £1 trillion in several years’ time.

Conservative leader David Cameron claimed that the advertising campaign was a “responsible” message designed to highlight Labour’s “debt crisis”.

Independent Social Mobility Commission report on social mobility finds children’s life chances still tied to the circumstances of their birth

The Independent Social Mobility Commission, set up by Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg and chaired by Barnardo’s Chief Executive Martin Narey, has found that a child’s life chances are ‘dependent on the background and earnings of its parents’.

The commission’s report also found that increased education funding has failed to reach those children most in need.

Commenting, Nick Clegg said:

“This expert analysis shatters the idea that Britain in 2009 is a free and fair society. Martin Narey and his colleagues deserve enormous credit for a report that cannot be ignored by anyone who wants a fairer Britain. It is an outrage and a tragedy that two children born at the same time in the same hospital should have wildly different life chances based simply on the income of their parents. We agree with the overwhelming majority of the reports’ recommendations, especially targeting resources in schools to those children who need most help, boosting vocational education for teenagers, and radically altering the tax credit system so it is focused on helping those families most in need.

 

“Whilst we do not agree with some other recommendations, such as the abolition of the 10p rescue package or the use of admissions ballots in schools, the report will considerably strengthen the commitment by Liberal Democrats to providing equality of opportunity to every child to succeed in Britain. This damning report shows that a child’s prospects are still tied to the circumstances of their birth. That is why we will make improving the prospects for all our children a key part of our election manifesto.”

New anti-poverty campaign launched in Scotland

West of Scotland SNP MSP Bill Wilson, launched the Getfair Scotland campaign this week. Getfair Scotland is a new campaign group aimed at raising awareness of poverty issues in Scotland and across the UK. It was launched in the Scottish Parliament with the signing of a Poverty Pledge by senior representatives from Scotland’s parties. More than 50 organisations across the UK have joined the coalition. In Scotland, the campaign is being led by the Poverty Alliance, SCVO, the Scottish Churches Social Inclusion Network, Faith in Community Scotland, Citizens Advice Scotland and others.

Commenting on the aims of the campaign Bill Wilson said: “It is my hope that this campaign will help the UK Government work towards addressing the issues identified by Getfair Scotland to reverse the possible impact of the economic crisis, particularly for those on low incomes. I am pleased that the SNP Government is taking the action within its powers to tackle poverty with steps to increase affordable housing with 5,700 new starts over the last year and a £25 million fund to help those struggling with mortgage costs at this time.”

SNP MSP John Wilson, who has previously worked for Poverty Alliance and as a Director of the Scottish Low Pay Unit, also welcomed the campaign. He said

“It is my hope that the UK Government will work towards addressing the issues identified by Getfair Scotland to reverse the possible impact of the economic crisis, particularly for those on low incomes. It is a disgrace that we are in a situation where people in Scotland, particularly children, still live in poverty.  Poverty in Scotland has increased during Labour’s time in office.  It must not be allowed to get worse as we fight Labour’s recession.”

“I have serious concerns over the impact of UK Government actions to push single parents into work by threatening to reduce benefit payments and measures put in place last year that reduce the time over which benefits can be reclaimed from 12 months to 3 months will have on addressing poverty in Scotland.  For as long as the UK Government controls our welfare system we must make sure it works for the best interests of Scots not the bank balance of the Treasury.”

The pledge reads:

The Poverty Pledge

Get Fair Scotland 2009

As the Leaders of the political parties represented in the Scottish Parliament and other elected representatives in Scotland:

•       We hold that the current number of people in Scotland living in poverty, 950,000 or nearly 1 in 5 of the population, is wholly unacceptable.
•       We believe that the reduction of poverty must be a shared key objective of Governments in London and Edinburgh.
•       We recognise that the current economic crisis threatens to push more Scots into poverty and acknowledge that Government responses must include specific measures to protect those most at risk
•       We endorse the aims of Get Fair and believe that an increase in income adequacy will be an essential part of the package of measures necessary to achieve a major reduction in poverty.
•       We undertake to use, or support the use of, all policy powers available to the Governments of Scotland and the UK to meet poverty reduction targets.
•       We reaffirm our commitment to end child poverty by 2020 and to end Fuel Poverty for all households by 2016.