October 17, 2011, 7:43 am
![Further legal bid over Dale Farm]()
Residents of the UK's largest illegal travellers' site are due back in court for the latest round of their long-running battle against eviction.
Last Wednesday their bid to stay at Dale Farm in Essex was dismissed by the High Court, but they immediately vowed to take their fight to the Court of Appeal.
A hearing has now been listed before Lord Justice Sullivan at 11am.
Part of Monday's hearing is expected to be an application for a "stay" on moves by Basildon Council to remove them from the site.
At the High Court, the travellers failed in attempts to block their removal from the controversial site in three linked applications for judicial review.
Mr Justice Ouseley ruled they had delayed too long in challenging the council's decision to take direct action against them. He also ruled that Basildon Council's actions were not "disproportionate".
The judge said the travellers were breaking criminal law on a daily basis by remaining and their removal was necessary to avoid "the criminal law and the planning system being brought into serious disrepute". The ruling was a victory for council chiefs, who have fought a costly 10-year campaign to clear the site.
Traveller lawyers had argued the council's decision earlier this year to take direct action to clear the green belt site of 400 residents, including about 100 children, was in breach of their human rights and unreasonable.
They also argued there had been a failure to offer residents suitable alternative accommodation and to take account of vulnerable residents, including the sick in need of regular medication and children whose schooling would be disrupted if families were evicted.
Basildon Council has pledged that no steps will be taken to clear the site before Monday.
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October 17, 2011, 7:43 am
![G20 Pc denies killing Ian Tomlinson]()
A Scotland Yard officer has denied killing newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests when he appeared in court charged with manslaughter.
Mr Tomlinson, a homeless 47-year-old, collapsed and died on the fringes of demonstrations in central London on April 1 2009.
Pc Simon Harwood, a father of two, showed no emotion as he stood in the dock at Southwark Crown Court in south London to enter his "not guilty" plea.
Relatives of Mr Tomlinson gasped from the public gallery as Harwood, 40, denied the allegation against him.
Harwood, who appeared in the dock wearing a dark suit, white shirt and tie, spoke clearly and confidently to confirm his name before he was told: "You are charged on this indictment with manslaughter, that on April 1 2009, you unlawfully killed Ian Tomlinson. How do you plead: guilty or not guilty?"
He answered boldly: "My Lord, not guilty."
Mr Tomlinson's wife Julia wiped tears from her eyes, while his stepson Paul King hung his head and muttered "No". Harwood's wife Helen showed no emotion during the 20-minute hearing.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) charged the officer over Mr Tomlinson's death after reviewing an inquest jury's unlawful killing verdict.
DPP Keir Starmer QC previously said new medical evidence at the inquest and the opinions of experts during the hearing helped change his mind over launching proceedings.
Harwood is due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court on June 13.
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October 17, 2011, 7:43 am
![Forecaster cuts UK growth estimate]()
A key forecaster has slashed its growth estimates for the UK and warned the economy has stalled at a "dangerous junction".
The Ernst & Young ITEM Club cut its gross domestic product (GDP) forecast to just 0.9% this year, down from the 1.4% it predicted three months ago, and 1.5% in 2012, down from 2.2%.
Uncertainty across the eurozone, which is predicted to grow by 1.6% this year, and a slowing world economy is undermining business confidence and investment decisions, the ITEM Club added.
Furthermore, the ITEM Club warned the Bank of England's injection of an additional £75 billion of quantitative easing (QE) is unlikely to put the recovery back on track.
The report comes amid a raft of surveys, such as soft manufacturing and services data, which all point toward the UK heading towards a double-dip recession.
Peter Spencer, chief economic advisor to the Ernst & Young ITEM Club, said: "It's worse than we thought. The bright spots in our forecast three months ago - business investment and exports - have dimmed to a flicker as uncertainty around Greece and the stability of the Eurozone increases.
"With the UK recovery grinding to a halt, new measures are now needed to help stimulate growth. We think there is scope for targeted tax relief and spending measures to help put us back on track."
The report predicts that business investment will be flat this year and exports will increase by just 6%, much less than looked likely three months ago.
The ITEM Club warned that increased QE would not be the silver bullet to the country's economic woes. Mr Spencer said the Bank should instead consider cutting already record low interest rates from 0.5. "It would provide a boost to borrowers and potentially help to stimulate consumer spending during the difficult months ahead," he said.
Elsewhere, the ITEM Club forecasts that the UK's unemployment rate will increase to 2.7 million by the spring of 2013 and called on Chancellor George Osborne to cut employer National Insurance contributions for under-21s. The ITEM Club also called for a cut to stamp duty in a bid to stimulate the housing market.
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October 17, 2011, 7:43 am
![Fox facing probe over donor claims]()
Liam Fox and his close ally Adam Werritty are facing the threat of investigations into whether their fund-raising activities broke the law.
Police and the Electoral Commission have been asked to probe allegations that the former Defence Secretary and Mr Werritty committed offences by misleading donors and failing to declare funding.
Meanwhile, the Government has signalled that it will look at wider problems with the lobbying system in the wake of the scandal.
An inquiry by the Cabinet Secretary will reportedly recommend that ministers publicly disclose all meetings with lobbyists and business figures in future.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Sir Gus O'Donnell will warn that a "grey area" in the rules allowed Dr Fox to hide the closeness of his relationship with Mr Werritty by insisting he was not on official business. A new statutory register of lobbyists could also be introduced within months.
The results of Sir Gus' report are due to be published on Tuesday, but could be delayed if police launch a probe.
Newly-installed Defence Secretary Philip Hammond attended his first official engagement alongside David Cameron at Wootton Bassett on Sunday. Mr Hammond is already fending off efforts to embroil him in the controversy, with claims that he also received hospitality from Michael Hintze - a prominent backer of Dr Fox.
Businessman Mr Hintze hosted Mr Hammond at several dinners before and after the election, which were openly declared.
Venture capitalist Jon Moulton is understood to have approached the Cabinet Secretary to complain at being "misled" by Dr Fox. Mr Moulton said the Cabinet minister asked him to donate to Pargav, a not-for-profit company set up by Mr Werritty. He was apparently told the firm helped provide "security and analysis" and was unaware it was funding Mr Werritty's travel to meet Dr Fox on official trips.
There are reports that those giving money to Pargav had been promised anonymity, which could breach tough laws on declaring donations.
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October 17, 2011, 11:39 am
![Party lecturer admits drug offences]()
A university lecturer has admitted drug possession after a schoolgirl collapsed during a party at his house and died.
Isobel Jones-Reilly, 15, died after taking ecstasy at an unsupervised party at Brian Dodgeon's west London home in April.
Dodgeon, 61, pleaded guilty to four counts of possession, including the party drugs ecstasy, LSD and ketamine, when he appeared at West London Magistrates' Court. The University of London research fellow also admitted keeping psychedelic drug 5-MeO-DIPT - better known as Foxy Methoxy.
Around 30 teenagers attended the party, at Dodgeon's home in Barlby Road, north Kensington, on April 22 this year and were drinking cider, wine and spirits and smoking marijuana, Magistrates were told. Dodgeon and his partner Angela Hadjipateras were away at a party in Hastings at the time.
In "the most dramatic exhibition of remorse" Dodgeon leapt from a bridge in a suicide attempt a week after the incident, said Rhona Friedman, mitigating.
He required brain surgery, broke numerous bones - including a femur, an elbow and a heel - and fractured his skull after he jumped off a flyover on the North Circular Road in Walthamstow, east London.
In court, he used a crutch to make his way to the dock and was wearing a navy suit and a white shirt.
Magistrates heard that he did not supply the drugs to anyone and they were stored in his bedroom, which was off-limits to party guests - who were invited to the event through Facebook.
An inquest into the death of the teenager, who lived in Ramsay Road, South Acton, was opened and adjourned in May. The cause of her death was listed as MDMA - more commonly known as ecstasy - ingestion.
Dodgeon will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on November 18
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October 17, 2011, 11:47 am
![Hospital poisoner 'hit 16 victims']()
Police now believe 16 people were poisoned by the contamination of saline solution at Stepping Hill Hospital.
Following the release of nurse Rebecca Leighton last month, Greater Manchester Police said they were looking at around 42 potential victims who may have been harmed by the contaminated solution.
Detectives and medical experts have been reviewing those cases and have now concluded of the 42 in total, 16 people were poisoned, 16 other cases have been eliminated from the inquiry and 10 others are still being investigated.
Amongst the 16 confirmed poisoned are the cases of Tracey Arden, 44, Arnold Lancaster, 71, and Alfred Derek Weaver, 83, who all died at Stepping Hill in Stockport. All three were unlawfully administered insulin but it has not yet been established whether that was a significant contributing factor to their deaths, police say.
Miss Leighton, 27, spent more than six weeks in custody but was dramatically freed on September 2 after proceedings against her were discontinued due to insufficient evidence.
Charges that she tampered with saline solution with intent to endanger life were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Miss Leighton has since been cleared to return to work by the Nursing and Midwifery Council subject to conditions, despite hearing claims that she had admitted to the theft of opiate-based drugs.
The alarm was first raised by hospital staff on July 12 when a higher than normal number of patients were reported to have "unexplained" low blood sugar levels amid fears that saline solution had been contaminated with insulin.
Heightened security measures remain in place at Stepping Hill and will continue for the foreseeable future. No-one is allowed to administer intravenous drips alone and all keys to medicine cabinets have to be signed for.
Detectives have drafted in a Cracker-style criminal profiler to help identify the poisoner.
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October 17, 2011, 12:06 pm
![Lobbyists register bid 'in 2012/13']()
Legislation to create a register of Westminster lobbyists is not likely to be tabled in Parliament before next year, Downing Street has said.
Constitutional reform minister Mark Harper has already announced that there will be a consultation on the proposal, which forms part of the coalition agreement, and a new law is likely to be debated by MPs during the 2012/13 session.
A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters that the process was not being accelerated in response to the furore surrounding Liam Fox, who quit as Defence Secretary last week after his close links with lobbyist Adam Werritty became public.
Mr Cameron is expected to receive a report into the Werritty affair from Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell later on Monday, with publication pencilled in for Tuesday. The PM's spokesman said it had not yet been decided whether any parts of the O'Donnell report would be redacted, or whether the document would be published in full.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said in a speech in November 2010 that a Bill on political and constitutional law, including a statutory register of lobbyists, would be introduced "next year" - 2011.
But Mr Harper told the House of Commons on October 11 that legislation would be introduced in the second session, which begins after the Queen's Speech in May 2012, following a consultation exercise over the coming months.
The PM's spokesman said: "It has always been our policy to move to a statutory register. It was in the coalition agreement. That work is ongoing, as Mark Harper has said, and the next stage is a consultation. If there is anything in the Gus O'Donnell report which is relevant, then obviously that will be taken into account."
Labour leader Ed Miliband backed moves to greater transparency in dealings between politicians and lobbyists.
"I think we do need a register and we do need transparency," he told Boulton and Co on Sky News. "We need to be transparent about our contacts with lobbyists. You don't want to create a bureaucratic nightmare, of course, and that would be the concern of civil servants. But there does need to be greater transparency. People have a right to know who we meet and how we meet them, and I'm happy to do that going forward."
Mr Miliband added that Dr Fox was right to resign because he had broken the ministerial code. "You can't have one rule for Government ministers and another rule for the rest of the country, and I'm afraid that's the position Liam Fox got himself into."
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October 17, 2011, 12:06 pm
![Dale Farm families set for ruling]()
Families occupying the UK's biggest illegal traveller site are likely to discover later whether they can continue a legal fight against eviction.
A senior judge indicated that he would rule this afternoon on whether travellers on the Dale Farm site near Basildon, Essex, could make further arguments against a local authority's decision to enforce eviction notices.
Last week, a High Court judge refused to rule that Basildon Council's decision to enforce eviction notices had been unfair - and cleared the way for evictions to begin.
Travellers want the Court of Appeal to give them permission to appeal against that decision by Mr Justice Ouseley.
Lawyers representing travellers began outlining their case to appeal judge Lord Justice Sullivan at a hearing in London.
Lord Justice Sullivan said a decision on whether to grant permission to appeal, and allow travellers to remain pending a full appeal hearing, had to be made - and said barristers would have until about 4pm to outline arguments.
"It is quite obvious we have to decide, one way or the other, whether to grant a stay (an order allowing travellers to temporarily remain). In order to do that I have to decide whether to give ... permission to appeal," said Lord Justice Sullivan.
"It is obviously necessary I decide one way or the other this afternoon."
The hearing continues.
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October 17, 2011, 12:06 pm
![Tabak 'strangled Jo to stop scream']()
Vincent Tabak claims he strangled Joanna Yeates for 20 seconds after she screamed when he put his arm around her, a court has been told.
Brief extracts from Tabak's defence statement were read out to a jury for the first time as the pathologist who inspected her body was re-examined by the prosecution.
Tabak, who admits manslaughter but denies murder, claims he initially put his hand over her mouth to stop the screams, Nigel Lickley QC told Bristol Crown Court.
The defendant claims to have used "no more than moderate force", Mr Lickley added.
Referring to Tabak's statement, Mr Lickley said: "He removed the hand from the mouth and the screaming continued and then he put the hand around the throat. He believes it was the one from around her back and held it there for about 20 seconds."
In the statement, Tabak claims he "didn't intend death or serious injury", Mr Lickley added.
Mr Lickley asked pathologist Russell Delaney about Tabak's statement that he held Miss Yeates's throat "for about 20 seconds".
Dr Delaney replied: "That period of time would be sufficient to cause the signs of venous obstruction and would be long enough to result in her death."
The statement was referred to after Tabak's QC William Clegg suggested his client used just one hand to strangle her. Dr Delaney said he "cannot exclude the use of one hand" as the claim was made.
Miss Yeates suffered 43 injuries at the hands of Tabak at her flat in Clifton, Bristol, on December 17, Bristol Crown Court has heard.
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October 17, 2011, 12:06 pm
![Inflation could hit three-year high]()
Inflation is expected to hit a three-year high on Tuesday, landing the Government with a bumper bill for increased state benefits and underlining the squeeze on household incomes.
September's consumer prices index (CPI) will be used to determine next April's rise in the basic state pension, piling pressure on the public purse but bringing some relief for hard-pressed pensioners.
Based on City forecasts for CPI of 4.9%, the basic single state pension will increase by £5 to £107.15 a week, while the joint state pension will increase by £8 to £171.35.
Employment benefits, such as Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) and income support are also calculated using the September CPI rate, meaning the JSA could increase by £3.31 to £70.81 a week.
Next year's benefit rates are not formally unveiled until later this year and will be the first to be calculated using CPI rather than retail prices index (RPI) rate of inflation, which is expected to rise from 5.2 in September.
If the calculation was still based on RPI at 5.4%, the single state pension would have been £107.67 and the joint one would have been £172.17.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said: "The move from RPI to CPI to calculate pensions inflation will take millions out of pensioners' pockets - just as we need people to be spending to kick-start our flagging economic recovery."
The increase in state benefits will put more pressure on Chancellor George Osborne, who is battling to slash the nation's budget deficit, as unemployment hits a 17-year high of 2.57 million in the three months to August.
Some economists believe that inflation could spike at 5.1 in August - after price hikes from major energy providers, including Scottish & Southern Energy, E.ON, British Gas and Scottish Power.
The figures are unlikely to overly concern the Bank of England, which has already forecast inflation to rise to 5% this year and recently increased its quantitative easing programme in a sign that growth problems outweighed the threat inflation poses to the economy.
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October 17, 2011, 12:06 pm
![Killed Gurkha had followed father]()
A soldier killed in Afghanistan at the weekend had followed in his father and brother's footsteps by becoming a Gurkha, his family said.
Rifleman Vijay Rai, from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, died after the checkpoint he was guarding in the Nahr-e Saraj region of Helmand province was attacked with small arms fire on Saturday.
The 21-year-old was the youngest of five and had followed his father and brother as they both served as Indian Gurkhas, while his middle brother is still serving with Indian Gurkhas as a sergeant, his family said.
In a statement issued through the Ministry of Defence, his family revealed he had phoned them the day before he died.
It said: "He followed his father's and brother's footsteps as his father and elder brother served as Indian Gurkhas and his middle brother is serving with Indian Gurkhas as a sergeant.
"He rang his family a day before he was taken away from us. He was very proud to be a Gurkha, and died doing his chosen job. His father and family members are very proud of him."
A gifted sportsman, Rifleman Rai was born in Bhojpur District, Deaurali in the East of Nepal. After his education, he wanted to continue his family history of military service and after passing Gurkha Selection was enlisted into the British Army in December 2008, aged 18.
Colleagues paid tribute to the 21-year-old, speaking of his desire to follow his family military tradition.
Lieutenant Colonel Fraser Rea, Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, said: "Rifleman Vijay was tough, loyal, uncomplaining and utterly professional. He had a ready smile, a big heart and loved his sport and music.
"He was a talented young man with vast amounts of promise. Although only two years into his own military career, he had established himself as a leader amongst his own peer group and on the sports pitch, where he excelled."
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October 17, 2011, 1:47 pm
![Tabak 'strangled Jo for 20 seconds']()
Vincent Tabak claims he throttled Joanna Yeates in just 20 seconds after failing to stop her screams, a court has heard.
Part of the killer's account was heard for the first time as her boyfriend described his panic after she went missing.
Greg Reardon told how annoyance at returning to a messy flat turned to "buzzing stress" as he realised she had disappeared.
Mr Reardon appeared in the witness box after prosecutor Nigel Lickley QC read an extract from Tabak's defence statement on September 22.
Mr Lickley said Tabak was facing his 25-year-old victim when the attack took place.
"He put one arm around her back with his hand in the middle of her back," Mr Lickley said.
As Miss Yeates screamed, Tabak - who admits manslaughter but denies murder - says he initially put his other hand over her mouth.
Mr Lickley said: "He removed his hand from her mouth and the screaming continued. He then put his hand around her throat.
"He believes it was the one that had been from behind her back and held it there for about 20 seconds."
As evidence continued into a second week at Bristol Crown Court, the victim's best friend, Rebecca Scott, told how Miss Yeates and Mr Reardon were "the perfect couple".
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October 17, 2011, 2:46 pm
![Body found after harbour alert]()
A body has been found on a beach after reports that a man had fallen off a ferry.
At 6.40pm on Sunday, Hampshire police received reports from witnesses who had seen someone in difficulties in the water in Portsmouth Harbour.
A spokeswoman said that investigations revealed that a person had come off the Wightlink ferry St Clare as it travelled into Portsmouth from Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight.
A search was co-ordinated by the Coastguard, supported by the RNLI and police but was stood down at 10.47pm after no-one was found.
At 2.45pm, a body was discovered by a dog walker on the beach at Hayling Island.
The police spokeswoman said: "Police are now working to identify the man and the circumstances surrounding his death.
"The death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage."
Officers are hoping to trace a couple who may have seen the man fall into the water.
Detective Constable Allison Fraser said: "Our investigations have revealed that at the time the person came off the ferry, there was a young couple on the Hot Walls with a video camera.
"We are extremely keen to get in touch with this couple as they may have seen and filmed what happened."
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October 17, 2011, 2:46 pm
![British driver 'a true champion']()
The father of British racing driver Dan Wheldon, who was killed in a high-speed crash in America on Sunday, has paid tribute to his son, describing him as a "true champion" and a "gentleman on and off the track".
Wheldon died after a 15-vehicle pile-up while competing in the Las Vegas Indy 300 when his car was sent flying over another and burst into flames. The 33-year-old, who was competing for a five million US dollar prize, was taken to hospital by helicopter but died of his injuries.
His father Clive, speaking outside the family home in Emberton, Buckinghamshire, said: "The family would like to thank everyone for their overwhelming outpouring of sympathy. Daniel was born to be a racer and yesterday left us doing what he loved to do. He was a true champion and a gentleman on and off the track."
The grieving father, who was being comforted by his sons Austen, 26, and Ashley, 30, added: "He was a proud brother to Austen, Ashley, Elliott and Holly. He was a devoted son to Sue and myself and a loving husband to his wife."
His voice wavering with emotion, Mr Wheldon concluded his brief statement by saying: "Words cannot describe how much our family will miss him. He touched so many and the world is a better place because of Dan."
Earlier, former IndyCar driver Mark Blundell said the crash that killed Wheldon was "inevitable". Drivers reached speeds of up to 220mph, and the large number of cars - 34 - made racing on the 1.5-mile circuit even more treacherous with such narrow margins for error.
Mr Blundell told the BBC: "When things go wrong they go wrong in a big way." He added: "It was inevitable in many ways. It was a recipe for disaster when you look at what was going on."
Motorsport legend Jackie Stewart questioned whether the race should have gone ahead at all, because the Las Vegas circuit was not designed for races with so many cars capable of such speeds.
He told Sky News: "In Las Vegas it is a 1.5-mile oval, and there were 34 cars in the field. I think that was too many for such a short track. There were too many cars locked up together.
"Getting through that traffic, for a driver like Dan Wheldon for example, which he was surely wanting to do, was a very precarious business."
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October 17, 2011, 2:46 pm
![17 poisoned by contaminated saline]()
Police now believe 17 people were poisoned by the contamination of saline solution at Stepping Hill Hospital.
Following the release of nurse Rebecca Leighton last month, Greater Manchester Police said they were looking at around 42 potential victims who may have been harmed by the contaminated solution.
Detectives and medical experts have been reviewing those cases and have now concluded of the 42 in total, 17 people were poisoned, 16 other cases have been eliminated from the inquiry and nine others are still being investigated.
Amongst the 17 confirmed poisoned are the cases of Tracey Arden, 44, Arnold Lancaster, 71, and Alfred Derek Weaver, 83, who all died at Stepping Hill, Stockport.
All three were unlawfully administered insulin but it has not yet been established whether that was a significant contributing factor to their deaths, police say.
Nurse Miss Leighton, 27, spent more than six weeks in custody but was freed on September 2 after proceedings against her were discontinued due to insufficient evidence. Charges that she tampered with saline solution with intent to endanger life were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Miss Leighton has since been cleared to return to work by the Nursing and Midwifery Council subject to conditions, despite hearing claims that she had admitted to the theft of opiate-based drugs.
The alarm was first raised by hospital staff on July 12 when a higher than normal number of patients were reported to have "unexplained" low blood sugar levels amid fears that saline solution had been contaminated with insulin.
Heightened security measures remain in place at Stepping Hill and will continue for the foreseeable future.
No-one is allowed to administer intravenous drips alone and all keys to medicine cabinets have to be signed for. Detectives have drafted in a Cracker-style criminal profiler to help identify the mystery poisoner.
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October 17, 2011, 2:46 pm
![Travellers defiant after court loss]()
Families fighting eviction from the UK's biggest illegal traveller site were manning "barricades" after an appeal court ruling left them at the "end of the road".
Residents of the Dale Farm site near Basildon, Essex, said they had gone into "lockdown" and were preparing to "fight off the bailiffs".
A Court of Appeal judge refused travellers permission to continue their legal fight against Basildon Council.
Lord Justice Sullivan said there was no evidence likely to persuade appeal judges that the council's decision to enforce eviction notices was "unlawful". Lawyers representing the council said officials were making preparations to take action at the site, said to contain more than 80 families on 50 plots.
A spokeswoman for support group Dale Farm Solidarity said residents and supporters had gone into "lockdown" in "anticipation of an eviction".
"Today the Dale Farm community were rejected the right to appeal," said the spokeswoman. "In response to this news, residents of Dale Farm and their supporters reinforced the perimeter of the 50 plots, which house 83 families, and placed the entire site into lockdown in order to resist eviction."
Dale Farm resident Kathleen McCarthy added: "The barricades are all that stand between us and homelessness now... We'll have to fight off the bailiffs."
Candy Sheridan, vice-chair of the Gypsy Council and an adviser to the Dale Farm travellers, said of Lord Justice Sullivan's ruling: "It seems like the end of the road."
Basildon Council's Conservative leader Tony Ball said Dale Farm residents had been "living on borrowed time" and urged them to leave "peacefully and in a safe and orderly fashion".
He said evictions would take place as a "at a time of (the council's) choosing" and added: "Our job is now to clear this site in a safe and dignified manner and this is what we intend to do."
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October 17, 2011, 2:46 pm
![Energy chiefs agree bills cut bid]()
Energy firm bosses have agreed a number of measures aimed at reducing household energy bills after a summit meeting at which David Cameron told them action was "absolutely vital".
Millions of customers will receive letters offering advice on how to reduce costs by switching to different payment methods and taking advantage of free or subsidised insulation.
Suppliers have also agreed to put a message on bills this winter encouraging people to check whether rivals offer a better deal and to provide better information to help them switch.
Chief executives of the "Big Six" suppliers were brought together with consumer groups and watchdog Ofgem to discuss concerns over price rises with ministers.
The Prime Minister told them it was "absolutely vital" that consumers struggling already with rising food and petrol prices were not also hit by higher fuel bills.
Ministers were determined to be seen taking action on the issue after Labour leader Ed Miliband made tackling the "rigged" energy market one of his key policies.
Mr Miliband said at the weekend that firms should use soaring profits to cut "crippling" bills after figures suggested annual profits per customer had risen to £125 - from just £15 in June.
Those figures, produced by Ofgem, were disputed by suppliers.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Cameron said: "We are making energy companies be competitive.
"They're permanently being watched by Ofgem to make sure it is a competitive market, and we are making them make their energy available so that others can come in and provide customers with a good service."
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October 17, 2011, 4:34 pm
![Ex-detective held in murder probe]()
A former detective has been arrested in connection with the murder of a policewoman.
The body of the woman, in her 30s, was found on Sunday in woodland in West Sussex.
Officers were called shortly before 11.30pm to a report of a concern for safety and went to an address in West Street, Haslemere, Surrey, where it is believed the woman lived.
They then went to Blackdown Woods near Lurgashall, West Sussex, where a search of the woodland led to the discovery of the body.
Police have cordoned off an area of woodland while forensic officers carry out their investigations.
The house in Haslemere was also cordoned off as police forensic teams examine the property.
The woman has not yet been formally identified and officers have not said what her relationship was to the detained man, although they were not married.
A post-mortem examination is expected to take place on Tuesday afternoon at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, police said.
The 35-year-old man from Haslemere has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.
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October 17, 2011, 4:34 pm
![May vows Hillsborough facts in full]()
Home Secretary Theresa May insisted the Government was committed to disclosing the full facts surrounding the 1989 Hillsborough stadium football disaster.
Addressing a sombre House of Commons, Mrs May said she was "sorry" for the anxiety caused to the victims of the families by the way the Government responded to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request seeking the release of official papers.
She said all government documents - including cabinet minutes - had now been handed over to the independent panel set up by the former Labour government to review the papers for public release.
Once the panel had completed its work, all the documents would be made public, she said, with only "minimal redactions" covering details such as the names of junior officials and private information relating to the victims.
"As Home Secretary, I will do everything in my power to ensure that the families and the public get the truth," she said.
"No government papers will be withheld from the panel, no attempts to suppress publication will be made, no stone will be left unturned. The principle underlying the process is that of maximum possible disclosure and disclosure to the families first and then to the wider public."
Ninety-six Liverpool football fans died in the crush as supporters tried to enter the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield for an FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989.
Mrs May was responding in the first debate in the Commons chamber to be triggered as a result of an e-petition on the Downing Street website collecting more than 100,000 signatures.
The petition - calling for the release all government-related papers concerning the disaster - was launched after the Cabinet Office turned down a request under the FoI Act for the documents to be made public.
Mrs May said: "The Government is not seeking to avoid publication of cabinet minutes or any other papers from Hillsborough. The cabinet papers on Hillsborough can be published, the Government will do nothing to prevent the panel publishing them, or indeed publishing whatever they so decide."
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October 17, 2011, 4:34 pm
![Britons killed in Botswana crash]()
A light aircraft has crashed after take-off in Botswana, killing the British pilot and seven tourists from Britain, France and Sweden, a Botswana official said.
The crash occurred on Friday in the southern African nation's Okavango Delta, Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Modipe Nkwe said. He said that two French tourists and two Botswana citizens survived.
The chartered Cessna 208 was operated by local company Moremi Air. It crashed shortly after take-off from the Xakanaka airfield in northern Botswana. It was heading for Pom Pom, a camp site in the delta that is famous for its wildlife.
Nkwe said the British pilot died along with seven tourists - another British man, three French women and three Swedes - two women and a man.
Britain's Foreign Office confirmed that two British nationals had died in the crash. It said that next of kin had been informed and provided with consular assistance, but declined to give further details.
The survivors were airlifted on Friday for medical care to Johannesburg in neighbouring South Africa, Nkwe said, adding that the Ministry of Transport is investigating the accident.
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Residents of the UK's largest illegal travellers' site are due back in court for the latest round of their long-running battle against eviction.
Last Wednesday their bid to stay at Dale Farm in Essex was dismissed by the High Court, but they immediately vowed to take their fight to the Court of Appeal.
A hearing has now been listed before Lord Justice Sullivan at 11am.
Part of Monday's hearing is expected to be an application for a "stay" on moves by Basildon Council to remove them from the site.
At the High Court, the travellers failed in attempts to block their removal from the controversial site in three linked applications for judicial review.
Mr Justice Ouseley ruled they had delayed too long in challenging the council's decision to take direct action against them. He also ruled that Basildon Council's actions were not "disproportionate".
The judge said the travellers were breaking criminal law on a daily basis by remaining and their removal was necessary to avoid "the criminal law and the planning system being brought into serious disrepute". The ruling was a victory for council chiefs, who have fought a costly 10-year campaign to clear the site.
Traveller lawyers had argued the council's decision earlier this year to take direct action to clear the green belt site of 400 residents, including about 100 children, was in breach of their human rights and unreasonable.
They also argued there had been a failure to offer residents suitable alternative accommodation and to take account of vulnerable residents, including the sick in need of regular medication and children whose schooling would be disrupted if families were evicted.
Basildon Council has pledged that no steps will be taken to clear the site before Monday.
A Scotland Yard officer has denied killing newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests when he appeared in court charged with manslaughter.
Mr Tomlinson, a homeless 47-year-old, collapsed and died on the fringes of demonstrations in central London on April 1 2009.
Pc Simon Harwood, a father of two, showed no emotion as he stood in the dock at Southwark Crown Court in south London to enter his "not guilty" plea.
Relatives of Mr Tomlinson gasped from the public gallery as Harwood, 40, denied the allegation against him.
Harwood, who appeared in the dock wearing a dark suit, white shirt and tie, spoke clearly and confidently to confirm his name before he was told: "You are charged on this indictment with manslaughter, that on April 1 2009, you unlawfully killed Ian Tomlinson. How do you plead: guilty or not guilty?"
He answered boldly: "My Lord, not guilty."
Mr Tomlinson's wife Julia wiped tears from her eyes, while his stepson Paul King hung his head and muttered "No". Harwood's wife Helen showed no emotion during the 20-minute hearing.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) charged the officer over Mr Tomlinson's death after reviewing an inquest jury's unlawful killing verdict.
DPP Keir Starmer QC previously said new medical evidence at the inquest and the opinions of experts during the hearing helped change his mind over launching proceedings.
Harwood is due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court on June 13.
A key forecaster has slashed its growth estimates for the UK and warned the economy has stalled at a "dangerous junction".
The Ernst & Young ITEM Club cut its gross domestic product (GDP) forecast to just 0.9% this year, down from the 1.4% it predicted three months ago, and 1.5% in 2012, down from 2.2%.
Uncertainty across the eurozone, which is predicted to grow by 1.6% this year, and a slowing world economy is undermining business confidence and investment decisions, the ITEM Club added.
Furthermore, the ITEM Club warned the Bank of England's injection of an additional £75 billion of quantitative easing (QE) is unlikely to put the recovery back on track.
The report comes amid a raft of surveys, such as soft manufacturing and services data, which all point toward the UK heading towards a double-dip recession.
Peter Spencer, chief economic advisor to the Ernst & Young ITEM Club, said: "It's worse than we thought. The bright spots in our forecast three months ago - business investment and exports - have dimmed to a flicker as uncertainty around Greece and the stability of the Eurozone increases.
"With the UK recovery grinding to a halt, new measures are now needed to help stimulate growth. We think there is scope for targeted tax relief and spending measures to help put us back on track."
The report predicts that business investment will be flat this year and exports will increase by just 6%, much less than looked likely three months ago.
The ITEM Club warned that increased QE would not be the silver bullet to the country's economic woes. Mr Spencer said the Bank should instead consider cutting already record low interest rates from 0.5. "It would provide a boost to borrowers and potentially help to stimulate consumer spending during the difficult months ahead," he said.
Elsewhere, the ITEM Club forecasts that the UK's unemployment rate will increase to 2.7 million by the spring of 2013 and called on Chancellor George Osborne to cut employer National Insurance contributions for under-21s. The ITEM Club also called for a cut to stamp duty in a bid to stimulate the housing market.
Liam Fox and his close ally Adam Werritty are facing the threat of investigations into whether their fund-raising activities broke the law.
Police and the Electoral Commission have been asked to probe allegations that the former Defence Secretary and Mr Werritty committed offences by misleading donors and failing to declare funding.
Meanwhile, the Government has signalled that it will look at wider problems with the lobbying system in the wake of the scandal.
An inquiry by the Cabinet Secretary will reportedly recommend that ministers publicly disclose all meetings with lobbyists and business figures in future.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Sir Gus O'Donnell will warn that a "grey area" in the rules allowed Dr Fox to hide the closeness of his relationship with Mr Werritty by insisting he was not on official business. A new statutory register of lobbyists could also be introduced within months.
The results of Sir Gus' report are due to be published on Tuesday, but could be delayed if police launch a probe.
Newly-installed Defence Secretary Philip Hammond attended his first official engagement alongside David Cameron at Wootton Bassett on Sunday. Mr Hammond is already fending off efforts to embroil him in the controversy, with claims that he also received hospitality from Michael Hintze - a prominent backer of Dr Fox.
Businessman Mr Hintze hosted Mr Hammond at several dinners before and after the election, which were openly declared.
Venture capitalist Jon Moulton is understood to have approached the Cabinet Secretary to complain at being "misled" by Dr Fox. Mr Moulton said the Cabinet minister asked him to donate to Pargav, a not-for-profit company set up by Mr Werritty. He was apparently told the firm helped provide "security and analysis" and was unaware it was funding Mr Werritty's travel to meet Dr Fox on official trips.
There are reports that those giving money to Pargav had been promised anonymity, which could breach tough laws on declaring donations.
A university lecturer has admitted drug possession after a schoolgirl collapsed during a party at his house and died.
Isobel Jones-Reilly, 15, died after taking ecstasy at an unsupervised party at Brian Dodgeon's west London home in April.
Dodgeon, 61, pleaded guilty to four counts of possession, including the party drugs ecstasy, LSD and ketamine, when he appeared at West London Magistrates' Court. The University of London research fellow also admitted keeping psychedelic drug 5-MeO-DIPT - better known as Foxy Methoxy.
Around 30 teenagers attended the party, at Dodgeon's home in Barlby Road, north Kensington, on April 22 this year and were drinking cider, wine and spirits and smoking marijuana, Magistrates were told. Dodgeon and his partner Angela Hadjipateras were away at a party in Hastings at the time.
In "the most dramatic exhibition of remorse" Dodgeon leapt from a bridge in a suicide attempt a week after the incident, said Rhona Friedman, mitigating.
He required brain surgery, broke numerous bones - including a femur, an elbow and a heel - and fractured his skull after he jumped off a flyover on the North Circular Road in Walthamstow, east London.
In court, he used a crutch to make his way to the dock and was wearing a navy suit and a white shirt.
Magistrates heard that he did not supply the drugs to anyone and they were stored in his bedroom, which was off-limits to party guests - who were invited to the event through Facebook.
An inquest into the death of the teenager, who lived in Ramsay Road, South Acton, was opened and adjourned in May. The cause of her death was listed as MDMA - more commonly known as ecstasy - ingestion.
Dodgeon will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on November 18
Police now believe 16 people were poisoned by the contamination of saline solution at Stepping Hill Hospital.
Following the release of nurse Rebecca Leighton last month, Greater Manchester Police said they were looking at around 42 potential victims who may have been harmed by the contaminated solution.
Detectives and medical experts have been reviewing those cases and have now concluded of the 42 in total, 16 people were poisoned, 16 other cases have been eliminated from the inquiry and 10 others are still being investigated.
Amongst the 16 confirmed poisoned are the cases of Tracey Arden, 44, Arnold Lancaster, 71, and Alfred Derek Weaver, 83, who all died at Stepping Hill in Stockport. All three were unlawfully administered insulin but it has not yet been established whether that was a significant contributing factor to their deaths, police say.
Miss Leighton, 27, spent more than six weeks in custody but was dramatically freed on September 2 after proceedings against her were discontinued due to insufficient evidence.
Charges that she tampered with saline solution with intent to endanger life were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Miss Leighton has since been cleared to return to work by the Nursing and Midwifery Council subject to conditions, despite hearing claims that she had admitted to the theft of opiate-based drugs.
The alarm was first raised by hospital staff on July 12 when a higher than normal number of patients were reported to have "unexplained" low blood sugar levels amid fears that saline solution had been contaminated with insulin.
Heightened security measures remain in place at Stepping Hill and will continue for the foreseeable future. No-one is allowed to administer intravenous drips alone and all keys to medicine cabinets have to be signed for.
Detectives have drafted in a Cracker-style criminal profiler to help identify the poisoner.
Legislation to create a register of Westminster lobbyists is not likely to be tabled in Parliament before next year, Downing Street has said.
Constitutional reform minister Mark Harper has already announced that there will be a consultation on the proposal, which forms part of the coalition agreement, and a new law is likely to be debated by MPs during the 2012/13 session.
A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters that the process was not being accelerated in response to the furore surrounding Liam Fox, who quit as Defence Secretary last week after his close links with lobbyist Adam Werritty became public.
Mr Cameron is expected to receive a report into the Werritty affair from Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell later on Monday, with publication pencilled in for Tuesday. The PM's spokesman said it had not yet been decided whether any parts of the O'Donnell report would be redacted, or whether the document would be published in full.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said in a speech in November 2010 that a Bill on political and constitutional law, including a statutory register of lobbyists, would be introduced "next year" - 2011.
But Mr Harper told the House of Commons on October 11 that legislation would be introduced in the second session, which begins after the Queen's Speech in May 2012, following a consultation exercise over the coming months.
The PM's spokesman said: "It has always been our policy to move to a statutory register. It was in the coalition agreement. That work is ongoing, as Mark Harper has said, and the next stage is a consultation. If there is anything in the Gus O'Donnell report which is relevant, then obviously that will be taken into account."
Labour leader Ed Miliband backed moves to greater transparency in dealings between politicians and lobbyists.
"I think we do need a register and we do need transparency," he told Boulton and Co on Sky News. "We need to be transparent about our contacts with lobbyists. You don't want to create a bureaucratic nightmare, of course, and that would be the concern of civil servants. But there does need to be greater transparency. People have a right to know who we meet and how we meet them, and I'm happy to do that going forward."
Mr Miliband added that Dr Fox was right to resign because he had broken the ministerial code. "You can't have one rule for Government ministers and another rule for the rest of the country, and I'm afraid that's the position Liam Fox got himself into."
Vincent Tabak claims he strangled Joanna Yeates for 20 seconds after she screamed when he put his arm around her, a court has been told.
Brief extracts from Tabak's defence statement were read out to a jury for the first time as the pathologist who inspected her body was re-examined by the prosecution.
Tabak, who admits manslaughter but denies murder, claims he initially put his hand over her mouth to stop the screams, Nigel Lickley QC told Bristol Crown Court.
The defendant claims to have used "no more than moderate force", Mr Lickley added.
Referring to Tabak's statement, Mr Lickley said: "He removed the hand from the mouth and the screaming continued and then he put the hand around the throat. He believes it was the one from around her back and held it there for about 20 seconds."
In the statement, Tabak claims he "didn't intend death or serious injury", Mr Lickley added.
Mr Lickley asked pathologist Russell Delaney about Tabak's statement that he held Miss Yeates's throat "for about 20 seconds".
Dr Delaney replied: "That period of time would be sufficient to cause the signs of venous obstruction and would be long enough to result in her death."
The statement was referred to after Tabak's QC William Clegg suggested his client used just one hand to strangle her. Dr Delaney said he "cannot exclude the use of one hand" as the claim was made.
Miss Yeates suffered 43 injuries at the hands of Tabak at her flat in Clifton, Bristol, on December 17, Bristol Crown Court has heard.
Inflation is expected to hit a three-year high on Tuesday, landing the Government with a bumper bill for increased state benefits and underlining the squeeze on household incomes.
September's consumer prices index (CPI) will be used to determine next April's rise in the basic state pension, piling pressure on the public purse but bringing some relief for hard-pressed pensioners.
Based on City forecasts for CPI of 4.9%, the basic single state pension will increase by £5 to £107.15 a week, while the joint state pension will increase by £8 to £171.35.
Employment benefits, such as Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) and income support are also calculated using the September CPI rate, meaning the JSA could increase by £3.31 to £70.81 a week.
Next year's benefit rates are not formally unveiled until later this year and will be the first to be calculated using CPI rather than retail prices index (RPI) rate of inflation, which is expected to rise from 5.2 in September.
If the calculation was still based on RPI at 5.4%, the single state pension would have been £107.67 and the joint one would have been £172.17.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said: "The move from RPI to CPI to calculate pensions inflation will take millions out of pensioners' pockets - just as we need people to be spending to kick-start our flagging economic recovery."
The increase in state benefits will put more pressure on Chancellor George Osborne, who is battling to slash the nation's budget deficit, as unemployment hits a 17-year high of 2.57 million in the three months to August.
Some economists believe that inflation could spike at 5.1 in August - after price hikes from major energy providers, including Scottish & Southern Energy, E.ON, British Gas and Scottish Power.
The figures are unlikely to overly concern the Bank of England, which has already forecast inflation to rise to 5% this year and recently increased its quantitative easing programme in a sign that growth problems outweighed the threat inflation poses to the economy.
A soldier killed in Afghanistan at the weekend had followed in his father and brother's footsteps by becoming a Gurkha, his family said.
Rifleman Vijay Rai, from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, died after the checkpoint he was guarding in the Nahr-e Saraj region of Helmand province was attacked with small arms fire on Saturday.
The 21-year-old was the youngest of five and had followed his father and brother as they both served as Indian Gurkhas, while his middle brother is still serving with Indian Gurkhas as a sergeant, his family said.
In a statement issued through the Ministry of Defence, his family revealed he had phoned them the day before he died.
It said: "He followed his father's and brother's footsteps as his father and elder brother served as Indian Gurkhas and his middle brother is serving with Indian Gurkhas as a sergeant.
"He rang his family a day before he was taken away from us. He was very proud to be a Gurkha, and died doing his chosen job. His father and family members are very proud of him."
A gifted sportsman, Rifleman Rai was born in Bhojpur District, Deaurali in the East of Nepal. After his education, he wanted to continue his family history of military service and after passing Gurkha Selection was enlisted into the British Army in December 2008, aged 18.
Colleagues paid tribute to the 21-year-old, speaking of his desire to follow his family military tradition.
Lieutenant Colonel Fraser Rea, Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, said: "Rifleman Vijay was tough, loyal, uncomplaining and utterly professional. He had a ready smile, a big heart and loved his sport and music.
"He was a talented young man with vast amounts of promise. Although only two years into his own military career, he had established himself as a leader amongst his own peer group and on the sports pitch, where he excelled."
A body has been found on a beach after reports that a man had fallen off a ferry.
At 6.40pm on Sunday, Hampshire police received reports from witnesses who had seen someone in difficulties in the water in Portsmouth Harbour.
A spokeswoman said that investigations revealed that a person had come off the Wightlink ferry St Clare as it travelled into Portsmouth from Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight.
A search was co-ordinated by the Coastguard, supported by the RNLI and police but was stood down at 10.47pm after no-one was found.
At 2.45pm, a body was discovered by a dog walker on the beach at Hayling Island.
The police spokeswoman said: "Police are now working to identify the man and the circumstances surrounding his death.
"The death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage."
Officers are hoping to trace a couple who may have seen the man fall into the water.
Detective Constable Allison Fraser said: "Our investigations have revealed that at the time the person came off the ferry, there was a young couple on the Hot Walls with a video camera.
"We are extremely keen to get in touch with this couple as they may have seen and filmed what happened."
The father of British racing driver Dan Wheldon, who was killed in a high-speed crash in America on Sunday, has paid tribute to his son, describing him as a "true champion" and a "gentleman on and off the track".
Wheldon died after a 15-vehicle pile-up while competing in the Las Vegas Indy 300 when his car was sent flying over another and burst into flames. The 33-year-old, who was competing for a five million US dollar prize, was taken to hospital by helicopter but died of his injuries.
His father Clive, speaking outside the family home in Emberton, Buckinghamshire, said: "The family would like to thank everyone for their overwhelming outpouring of sympathy. Daniel was born to be a racer and yesterday left us doing what he loved to do. He was a true champion and a gentleman on and off the track."
The grieving father, who was being comforted by his sons Austen, 26, and Ashley, 30, added: "He was a proud brother to Austen, Ashley, Elliott and Holly. He was a devoted son to Sue and myself and a loving husband to his wife."
His voice wavering with emotion, Mr Wheldon concluded his brief statement by saying: "Words cannot describe how much our family will miss him. He touched so many and the world is a better place because of Dan."
Earlier, former IndyCar driver Mark Blundell said the crash that killed Wheldon was "inevitable". Drivers reached speeds of up to 220mph, and the large number of cars - 34 - made racing on the 1.5-mile circuit even more treacherous with such narrow margins for error.
Mr Blundell told the BBC: "When things go wrong they go wrong in a big way." He added: "It was inevitable in many ways. It was a recipe for disaster when you look at what was going on."
Motorsport legend Jackie Stewart questioned whether the race should have gone ahead at all, because the Las Vegas circuit was not designed for races with so many cars capable of such speeds.
He told Sky News: "In Las Vegas it is a 1.5-mile oval, and there were 34 cars in the field. I think that was too many for such a short track. There were too many cars locked up together.
"Getting through that traffic, for a driver like Dan Wheldon for example, which he was surely wanting to do, was a very precarious business."
Energy firm bosses have agreed a number of measures aimed at reducing household energy bills after a summit meeting at which David Cameron told them action was "absolutely vital".
Millions of customers will receive letters offering advice on how to reduce costs by switching to different payment methods and taking advantage of free or subsidised insulation.
Suppliers have also agreed to put a message on bills this winter encouraging people to check whether rivals offer a better deal and to provide better information to help them switch.
Chief executives of the "Big Six" suppliers were brought together with consumer groups and watchdog Ofgem to discuss concerns over price rises with ministers.
The Prime Minister told them it was "absolutely vital" that consumers struggling already with rising food and petrol prices were not also hit by higher fuel bills.
Ministers were determined to be seen taking action on the issue after Labour leader Ed Miliband made tackling the "rigged" energy market one of his key policies.
Mr Miliband said at the weekend that firms should use soaring profits to cut "crippling" bills after figures suggested annual profits per customer had risen to £125 - from just £15 in June.
Those figures, produced by Ofgem, were disputed by suppliers.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Cameron said: "We are making energy companies be competitive.
"They're permanently being watched by Ofgem to make sure it is a competitive market, and we are making them make their energy available so that others can come in and provide customers with a good service."
A former detective has been arrested in connection with the murder of a policewoman.
The body of the woman, in her 30s, was found on Sunday in woodland in West Sussex.
Officers were called shortly before 11.30pm to a report of a concern for safety and went to an address in West Street, Haslemere, Surrey, where it is believed the woman lived.
They then went to Blackdown Woods near Lurgashall, West Sussex, where a search of the woodland led to the discovery of the body.
Police have cordoned off an area of woodland while forensic officers carry out their investigations.
The house in Haslemere was also cordoned off as police forensic teams examine the property.
The woman has not yet been formally identified and officers have not said what her relationship was to the detained man, although they were not married.
A post-mortem examination is expected to take place on Tuesday afternoon at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, police said.
The 35-year-old man from Haslemere has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.
Home Secretary Theresa May insisted the Government was committed to disclosing the full facts surrounding the 1989 Hillsborough stadium football disaster.
Addressing a sombre House of Commons, Mrs May said she was "sorry" for the anxiety caused to the victims of the families by the way the Government responded to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request seeking the release of official papers.
She said all government documents - including cabinet minutes - had now been handed over to the independent panel set up by the former Labour government to review the papers for public release.
Once the panel had completed its work, all the documents would be made public, she said, with only "minimal redactions" covering details such as the names of junior officials and private information relating to the victims.
"As Home Secretary, I will do everything in my power to ensure that the families and the public get the truth," she said.
"No government papers will be withheld from the panel, no attempts to suppress publication will be made, no stone will be left unturned. The principle underlying the process is that of maximum possible disclosure and disclosure to the families first and then to the wider public."
Ninety-six Liverpool football fans died in the crush as supporters tried to enter the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield for an FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989.
Mrs May was responding in the first debate in the Commons chamber to be triggered as a result of an e-petition on the Downing Street website collecting more than 100,000 signatures.
The petition - calling for the release all government-related papers concerning the disaster - was launched after the Cabinet Office turned down a request under the FoI Act for the documents to be made public.
Mrs May said: "The Government is not seeking to avoid publication of cabinet minutes or any other papers from Hillsborough. The cabinet papers on Hillsborough can be published, the Government will do nothing to prevent the panel publishing them, or indeed publishing whatever they so decide."
A light aircraft has crashed after take-off in Botswana, killing the British pilot and seven tourists from Britain, France and Sweden, a Botswana official said.
The crash occurred on Friday in the southern African nation's Okavango Delta, Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Modipe Nkwe said. He said that two French tourists and two Botswana citizens survived.
The chartered Cessna 208 was operated by local company Moremi Air. It crashed shortly after take-off from the Xakanaka airfield in northern Botswana. It was heading for Pom Pom, a camp site in the delta that is famous for its wildlife.
Nkwe said the British pilot died along with seven tourists - another British man, three French women and three Swedes - two women and a man.
Britain's Foreign Office confirmed that two British nationals had died in the crash. It said that next of kin had been informed and provided with consular assistance, but declined to give further details.
The survivors were airlifted on Friday for medical care to Johannesburg in neighbouring South Africa, Nkwe said, adding that the Ministry of Transport is investigating the accident.
