News
feel right’.” announcement on the outcome of She said: “The regulated fares
NEWS IN BRIEF
Responding to the comments, this review later this year.” are what they are, and the rest of
a Transport Scotland spokesman Grant also said that the our fares, we’re looking at a com-
Europe’s largest economy contracted
said: “The Scottish Government increase in unregulated fare prices bination of where we can actually
by 0.5 per cent in the third quar-
has a vision to develop a world- in the New Year – which will be introduce further opportunities of
ter. This is the second consecutive
class railway in Scotland within the announced soon - would have to value advance [fares], and we were
quarter that the economy has shrunk
next 20 years, which maximises the take account of the increased costs the first operator to bring in kids go
after a 0.4 per cent contraction in the
opportunities for economic growth of fuel and electricity. free, off peak, all the time. second quarter.
and provides faster and high qual- While a large proportion of “Clearly, we’re having to juggle
The fall in economic output,
ity passenger services into major fares, such as season tickets and the whole basket, because you can-
driven by falls in exports, was greater
areas of employment, education all off-peak returns season tickets not forget that where there have
than many analysts had expected.
The think tank the OECD has also
and leisure. and all off-peak returns, are regu- been some increasing costs for the
forecast a fall in euro-area economic
“Scottish ministers are cur- lated in the franchise contract to customers, at the fuel pumps, or
activity of 0.5 per cent next year.
rently considering a number of maximum increases of the Retail some increases in utility – and two-
transport interventions under the Prices Index inflation measure, thirds of our trains are electric –
CoNSERvatIvE MEP to BE
Strategic Transport Projects Review plus 1 per cent, there are some those costs come to us also, so we’re ExPELLEd
(STPR) to ensure our road and rail fares that are unregulated, such trying to ensure we’ve got a reason-
A Conservative MEP is being expelled
networks will best meet the needs as off-peak day returns, anytime able basket of fares, and they will
from the party after the EU Parliament
of the economy and communities returns, and advance tickets, and be announced in due course.” HM
told him to repay £500,000 in expenses
paid to his family for office work.
of Scotland for years to come. It Grant said, “we’re looking at the
Den Dover, a former chief whip
is expected ministers will make an mix of that”. For full interview, see p46
who has denied any wrongdoing, was
stripped of the party whip after an EU
probe found him guilty of a conflict of
Aberdeen chastised for child protection failures
interest. The decision was taken after
consultation with leader David Cameron.
Dover, who represents the North
Aberdeen City Council has been times left at home because no safe said it would be closely monitor-
West in the European Parliament and
is a former MP for Chorley, has said
struck another blow after signifi- places were available. Some young- ing implementation of the action
he will repay all the money and has
cant weaknesses were found in its sters were placed with relatives and plan that must now be drawn up
denied breaking any parliamentary
child protection procedures. friends without proper background by senior officers.
rules. He quit his position as chief
The report, from HM Inspec- checks having taken place. However, there are indica-
whip this summer amid allegations
torate of Education, paints a bleak The inspection, which was car- tions that the council has begun about his conduct.
picture of child protection at the ried out between April and May, to turn the corner under interim
north-east council at a time of highlights major weaknesses in chief executive Robert Coomber,
CzECh LEadER IN RoW ovER
widespread anger over the death three areas: immediate response to who said he had been “greatly
Eu PaCt
Czech President Vaclav Klaus has
of Baby P in Haringey. concerns, assessment of risks, and impressed” with the achievements
angered the Irish Government after
It found children were often left planning to meet needs. A further of social work programme direc-
holding a news conference with the
in high-risk situations without ade- ten areas were deemed weak, while tor Philip Cotterill.
leader of a pressure group campaign-
quate protection, and that children at just four were satisfactory. “Clearly, there is still work
ing against the EU’s Lisbon Treaty.
significant risk of harm were some- The Scottish Government to be done and I am confi- >> Klaus, who is on a state visit to
| www.holyrood.com | Holyrood magazine | 17 November 2008 |
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