September 20, 2010, 5:49 am
![Image]( "Baby P whistleblower sues NHS trust")
A senior doctor who claimed Baby P could have been saved if her warnings had been heeded is suing the NHS for compensation, it has been revealed.
Dr Kim Holt raised concerns about the child development clinic at St Ann's Hospital in Tottenham, north London, where the little boy was seen just two days before his death in 2007.
The consultant paediatrician and three colleagues warned in 2006 that the clinic - run by Haringey Primary Care Trust but with doctors employed by Great Ormond Street Hospital Trust - was understaffed and had a "chaotic" appointment system which was a risk to patients.
Dr Holt alleges she was forced out of her job and suffered a nervous breakdown, and is seeking up to £100,000 in a personal injury claim against Great Ormond Street, The Times reported.
Baby P, now named as Peter Connolly, was just 17 months old when he died in a blood-spattered cot in Tottenham, north London, on August 3 2007. He had suffered more than 50 injuries despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals over eight months.
A locum doctor at the St Ann's child development clinic allegedly failed to spot that he was suffering abuse when she examined him two days before his horrific death.
Great Ormond Street Hospital said in a statement: "As a result of issues raised by Dr Holt, the trust conducted an internal independent investigation, which was then followed by an external independent investigation by NHS London.
"The latter reported in December 2009 and concluded that Dr Holt's concerns in 2006 were taken seriously, that she was not targeted for raising those concerns, and that Great Ormond Street Hospital should organise further workplace mediation to enable Dr Holt if possible to return to her original role."
Meanwhile, two social workers sacked over the Baby P tragedy have taken their former employer to an employment tribunal. Gillie Christou and Maria Ward claim they were unfairly dismissed by Haringey Council following public outcry about the little boy's death.
The local authority insists it followed proper procedures when it dismissed the pair for "gross misconduct" in April last year. The opening day of their hearing at Watford Employment Tribunal in Hertfordshire was given over to legal arguments before being adjourned until 12pm on Tuesday.
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September 20, 2010, 5:49 am
![Image]( "Pair left toxic warning sign on car")
A man and a woman found dead in a car in an apparent suicide pact left signs on the vehicle warning of toxic chemicals inside.
The pair were found dead in a blue Vauxhall Astra parked near to industrial units in Braintree, Essex.
Crews were called to the "chemical incident" at 8.25am on Monday after a worker raised the alarm. Eye witnesses said notes were placed on the windows of the vehicle warning passers by not to open the doors.
Susan Meads, an administrator at the Braintree Enterprise Centre, where the vehicle was found, said: "The people in question have posted signs on the windows of the vehicle to say there's toxic chemicals inside and not to open the door. I believe they have been made on a computer."
Firefighters said hydrogen sulphide was thought to have been used. Dozens of police, paramedics and fire crews, many wearing protective clothing, attended the scene.
The immediate area was evacuated but fire crews said there was no wider risk to the public. Essex Police said the deaths were not being treated as suspicious.
Ms Meads said the bodies were discovered by a man who pulled up alongside the vehicle at about 7.30am.
"He thought it was suspicious so he called a colleague, who is an ex-police officer," she said. "Then they called the emergency services."
"I arrived for work just as the police were arriving," she added. "I just think it's a very tragic thing. It's a very sad world we live in."
Some of the 30 businesses on the site were forced to close for the day as police blocked entry to the area.
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September 20, 2010, 5:49 am
![Image]( "Woman charged over cat bin stunt")
A woman who was caught on CCTV dumping a cat in a wheelie bin has been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to the animal.
Mary Bale, 45, has also been charged with failing to provide the cat with a suitable environment, contrary to the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, an RSPCA spokesman said.
Bank worker Bale, of St Michael's Road, Coventry, will appear before magistrates in the city on October 19 to answer the charges.
Footage of Bale throwing the four-year-old tabby, named Lola, into the bin sparked outrage and made international headlines, with some animal lovers calling for her death on social networking site Facebook.
It also led to an investigation by the RSPCA, which interviewed Bale and sent a file on the case for review by its prosecutions department.
A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "The RSPCA has taken the case to court as two alleged offences have been committed - of causing unnecessary suffering to a cat and of not providing the animal with a suitable environment."
It is understood that the cat was trapped in the bin for approximately 15 hours, although it was not physically injured.
In a statement released to the media shortly after the incident in August, Bale said she was profoundly sorry for her actions, describing them as a split second of misjudgment.
Bale's statement read: "I want to take this opportunity to apologise profusely for the upset and distress that my actions have caused.
"I cannot explain why I did this. It is completely out of character and I certainly did not intend to cause any distress to Lola or her owners."
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September 20, 2010, 5:49 am
![Image]( "Crime helpline gets 10,000 calls")
More than 10,000 victims of crime have called a national helpline for support over the last five years.
The National Crime Victims Helpline marked its fifth anniversary this month with a plea for volunteers in the Dublin region to come forward.
Statistics show that since it was set up it had over 10,000 contacts from people all around the country over crimes or for information about other agencies.
Co-ordinator Maeve Ryan said the majority related to violent assaults and difficulties with the criminal justice system.
"People call us for all types of reasons, but most calls relate to peoples' efforts to deal with the after-effects of an assault - usually an assault in which the victim is entirely innocent and is set upon by another person or group of people," said Ms Ryan.
"This can understandably be a terrifying experience and people affected by such crimes require varying levels of independent assistance in dealing with the many issues which emerge.
"We also have quite a number of callers who experience difficulty in dealing with the criminal justice system. Many victims of crime feel that the system is unwieldy and uncaring. We realise that much has been done to address this issue, but for many people there is a feeling that the perpetrator has all the support, while they are left pretty much unsupported and isolated."
The national helpline number is 1850 211 407 or people can text 085 133 7711.
Ms Ryan said it was rewarding to offer assistance to so many people who may feel isolated, anxious, angry, sad, nervous and afraid as a result of a crime.
"They find emotional support on the phone, while others may have questions about the justice system, or ask for information on local services for victims of crime in their area," she added.
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September 20, 2010, 8:20 am
![Image]( "Stick with me, Clegg begs Lib Dems")
Nick Clegg has pleaded for Liberal Democrat activists to "stick with" him after he suffered a major rebellion over key coalition school reforms.
Delivering his first party conference speech as Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Clegg mounted an impassioned defence of his decision to do a deal with David Cameron's Tories.
He told the audience in Liverpool that voters would never have taken the Lib Dems seriously again if they had passed up the opportunity to govern in the national interest at a time of crisis.
And he insisted the "soul" of the party is alive and well in the coalition despite members' fears that they were being marginalised and suffering serious political damage.
The address - a text of which was shown to the Prime Minister before being finalised - came after a difficult day for the leadership.
Just hours before Mr Clegg took to the stage, party members overwhelmingly backed a boycott of Tory-inspired plans for a network of "free" schools.
Mr Clegg told the audience at the Arena and Convention Centre that he knew many of the coalition's plans would "provoke controversy" and some Lib Dems were "worried" about the schools plans.
"The great thing is that all Liberal Democrats share a passion for education. When it comes to lasting fairness, education is everything," he said.
Mr Clegg reiterated his reasons for forging the Tory alliance, saying the "chance for change" came, and the Lib Dems "responded with real courage and conviction". He praised the Conservatives for being willing to "embrace negotiation and compromise".
"In life, two heads are usually better than one. And in politics, too, when the country faces grave challenges - the deficit, the threat of climate change, a war in Afghanistan, millions of children trapped in disadvantage - two parties acting together can be braver, fairer and bolder than one party acting alone," he said.
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September 20, 2010, 8:20 am
![Image]( "Keep pledges on aid, urges minister")
Rich countries should follow Britain's lead by keeping their promises on aid to poorer nations, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has said.
Mr Mitchell was speaking to a United Nations summit in New York to assess progress on the Millennium Development Goals on issues like eradicating extreme poverty and achieving universal primary education.
Ten years on from the agreement of the MDGs, several of the ambitious goals look set to be missed by the target date of 2015.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the summit that the process had delivered "real results", but warned: "The clock is ticking, with much more to do."
He called on the 140-plus presidents, prime ministers and monarchs assembled in New York to "exercise political leadership" to ensure the goals are reached.
The UK is one of relatively few developed countries which are on track to deliver on their MDG promises.
Mr Mitchell told the summit it is time for the whole world to redouble its efforts to tackle poverty.
"Britain is leading the way in helping the world's poorest people, with a firm commitment to spending 0.7% of GNI (gross national income) on aid from 2013," he said.
"Now is the time for other countries to step up and keep their promises too. We will push for that - and I will push for all aid to be more transparent and more accountable."
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will also address the summit.
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September 20, 2010, 8:20 am
![Image]( "Troops did not die in vain, says PM")
British soldiers who lost their lives taking and holding Sangin "did not die in vain", Prime Minister David Cameron has said, as the Afghan town was handed over to US forces.
Control of the area was handed from 40 Commando Royal Marines to the US Marine Corps, ending a four-year presence which has cost 106 British lives - 36 this year alone.
Mr Cameron hailed the "magnificent job" done by British troops, and rejected suggestions that the transfer of control was a sign that the UK had failed to complete its mission.
The Ministry of Defence described the handover - announced in July - as the last move in the "rebalancing" of the International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf) across Helmand, which will allow 1,000 Royal Marines and other UK forces to be redeployed to the central part of the southern Afghan province.
The transfer of authority came as a soldier killed by an explosion in nearby Lashkar Gah district on Saturday was named as Trooper Andrew Howarth, 20, of the Queen's Royal Lancers.
Sangin, a key economic and transport hub in southern Afghanistan, has been the scene of the bloodiest fighting by British troops, accounting for almost a third of the 337 deaths since 2001.
Speaking in 10 Downing Street, Mr Cameron said: "We should share the burden properly with our allies, we should concentrate our forces where they can have the maximum impact.
"Our troops have performed magnificently in Sangin and I pay tribute to the thousands who have served, to the over 100 who have given their lives and the many who have been wounded.
"They did not die in vain. They have made Afghanistan a safer place and they have made Britain a safer place and they will never be forgotten."
He confirmed his intention to end Britain's combat presence within five years, saying: "I am absolutely clear that by 2015, we will not have large numbers of troops, or combat troops, in Afghanistan."
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September 20, 2010, 8:20 am
![Image]( "More time to quiz duo on fire death")
Detectives have been granted more time to question two people arrested after a toddler was killed when a blaze tore through a flat.
A murder inquiry was launched after two-year-old Siariah Letang died in hospital following the fire in Camberwell, south-east London, early on Saturday.
A 27-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were arrested at an address in south London on Saturday night and remain in custody, Scotland Yard said.
Fire crews used thermal imaging cameras and breathing apparatus as they attempted to rescue the child and four family members trapped in the building.
The group - reported to be grandmother Brenda Ricketts, 45, her daughters Shakira Jackson, 11, and Ellisha Letang, the child's 23-year-old mother, and her four-year-old son Cameron - were found with the toddler.
They were all unconscious and suffering from smoke inhalation.
Shakira was said to be in a critical condition while the other surviving relatives were in a "serious but stable" condition.
The two-bedroom, first-floor flat in Arnould Avenue, a residential area of Camberwell, was destroyed by the fire which started in the early hours of the morning.
A post-mortem examination into the toddler's death is to take place.
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September 20, 2010, 9:23 pm
![Image]( "Sarah Kennedy denies drink 'myths'")
Presenter Sarah Kennedy has hit back at rumours her departure from BBC Radio 2 was due to a drinking problem, insisting she was always "stone cold sober" on air.
The BBC announced Kennedy was leaving the station earlier this month after more than 20 years of "sterling service".
But Kennedy, who hosted the early morning Dawn Patrol show for 17 years, spoke out after senior BBC radio sources told the Daily Telegraph she was forced out of the station over concerns about her drinking.
She told the newspaper: "I have never, never, never in my life gone into the BBC other than being stone cold sober."
The veteran presenter admitted she sounded "slurred" during one show at the start of August, but said it was due to a lack of sleep.
In July, fellow Radio 2 DJ Dermot O'Leary was reprimanded by BBC bosses for an on-air jibe that drinking vodka to avoid smelling of alcohol was the "Sarah Kennedy get-out". This came after Radio 1 breakfast show host Chris Moyles mocked Kennedy at an industry event in December 2009 by doing an impression of a drunk.
Kennedy insisted she had "no quibble" with the BBC but added that she had an enemy at the broadcaster who had "got it in for her".
She said: "Chris Moyles I've never met. Dermot O'Leary I've never met. Yet they're believing these urban myths. I got up for 17 years on orange juice or water. I wish someone would stick up for me."
Kennedy first joined Radio 2 in 1976 to present request show Family Favourites, after cutting her broadcasting teeth in Singapore. She went on to find TV fame in Game For A Laugh with Matthew Kelly, Henry Kelly and Jeremy Beadle. Kennedy launched her Dawn Patrol show in January 1993.
Her tenure at Radio 2 has not been without incident, with a number of on-air gaffes. In 2007 the BBC apologised for any upset caused after she made a comment about being unable to see a black man in a dark street until he opened his mouth.
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September 20, 2010, 9:41 pm
![Image]( "Fees rise 'will influence degrees'")
A hike in tuition fees will see price becoming a factor for many students when choosing their degree subject and university, according to research.
With fees expected to hit £7,000 a year, many universities will have to charge less than this full amount allowed by the Government if they want to attract students, it is claimed.
In 2006, most universities adopted the maximum top-up fee of £3,000 a year, meaning students could not base their choice of institution and degree on price.
But if this latest rise in tuition fees goes ahead, possibly in two years, only top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge will be able to charge the full amount.
The University of Leicester also found students should be charged different prices based on the demand for the subject they want to study.
The arts will be most seriously affected with many students of subjects like English and history unable to stomach such a steep hike in fees.
But for subjects like medicine, higher charges would have little effect as most students would be prepared to fork out more for such a qualification, the research found.
The study of 730 university applicants by researchers for the University of Leicester also found students from poorer backgrounds are most likely to turn their back on university unless they are offered bursaries.
Professor Sir Bob Burgess, the university's vice-chancellor, said: "The focus of the fees debate so far has been on how much universities should charge.
"But for a true fees market to emerge, institutions need to be able to set fees at different levels for different courses."
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September 20, 2010, 9:45 pm
![Image]( "Cuts 'will hit household incomes'")
Households in some parts of the country will lose more than 5% of their income if the Government presses ahead with billions of pounds worth of spending cuts to public services, according to a new report.
The TUC said areas such as the North West, which are heavily dependent on the public sector for jobs and services, will be hardest hit by the effects of next month's comprehensive spending review.
The North West had already faced the biggest share of the £1.17 billion worth of cuts to local authority grants announced by the Government in June, losing £1 of every £6 cut across the UK, said the TUC.
In a study released ahead of a fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat conference in Liverpool, the TUC said households across the UK each benefited from public services worth the equivalent of £21,000 a year.
Departmental spending cuts could leave households in the North West £1,284 worse off on average, the research said.
Cuts already hitting areas such as the North West included the scrapping of school building improvements, cuts in business grants and reductions in help for the unemployed, said the TUC.
General secretary Brendan Barber said: "There is real concern that the Government's programme of deep spending cuts while our economy is still fragile will spark spiralling unemployment in both the public and private sectors.
"As the cuts start to bite and people see the public services they rely on every day under threat, people will begin to ask whether there is an alternative to slash and burn economics.
"The answer is that an alternative strategy - based on growth, employment and a rebalanced economy, and paid for by a fairer tax system so that those who caused the recession start to pay their share - is the best way to achieve a sustainable economic recovery."
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September 20, 2010, 9:45 pm
![Image]( "Global cost of dementia '£388bn'")
The global cost of dementia this year will be £388 billion - more than 1% of GDP, according to a report.
This includes the cost of social care, unpaid care by relatives and the medical bills for treating dementia.
The figure is expected to rise rapidly in the coming years but governments are woefully unprepared to meet the challenge, said the World Alzheimer Report 2010.
Experts at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and King's College London examined the cost of dementia care and found that, if it was a country, it would be the world's 18th biggest economy.
And if it was a company, it would be the world's biggest by annual revenue, way above Wal-Mart (US$414 billion or £265.6 billion) and Exxon Mobil (US$311 billion or £200 billion).
Campaigners have already warned that the costs of caring for people with dementia are on the rise, mostly due to people living longer.
The number of people with dementia will double by 2030, and more than triple by 2050.
An estimated 35.6 million people currently have dementia worldwide, increasing to 65.7 million by 2030 and 115.4 million by 2050.
The study said the costs will rise even faster than prevalence of the disease and, worldwide, there could be an 85% increase in costs by 2030.
In the UK, the Alzheimer's Society has estimated dementia currently costs the country £20 billion a year.
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September 20, 2010, 9:45 pm
![Image]( "Secret war spy heroine laid to rest")
Mourners will gather to pay their final respects to a British spy tortured by the Nazis in the Second World War.
Eileen Nearne MBE operated as an undercover agent called Rose and was caught and tortured by the Nazis three times.
Reclusive Miss Nearne, 89, died in her Devon home on September 2 after suffering a heart attack.
It was at first thought she had no immediate family, but a niece has since been traced in Italy.
Initial plans for her to be given a low-key council funeral changed with the publicity about her bravery in the war, and civic dignitaries and other VIPs are expected to attend the requiem at Our Lady Help of Christians and St Denis Roman Catholic Church in Torquay.
Her niece, who wants to remain anonymous, said: "I would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes and support at this very sad time.
"My aunt Eileen was a very private and modest person and without doubt she would be astounded by all the public and media attention.
"I hope that in death, she will be remembered along with other SOE Agents with pride and gratitude for the work they did both here and behind enemy lines during the Second World War.
"I have been overwhelmed by all the attention and I would be most grateful if I might be left in peace to mourn the death of my dear aunt."
Documents found in Miss Nearne's home after her death revealed she was sent to occupied France as a member of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the Second World War. A fluent French speaker, she was captured three times by the Germans and endured spells in concentration camps, managing to escape each time.
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September 20, 2010, 9:45 pm
![Image]( "Nine die in Afghan helicopter crash")
Nine service members with the international coalition in Afghanistan died when their helicopter crashed in the volatile south where troops are ramping up pressure on Taliban insurgents.
One other coalition service member, an Afghan National Army soldier and a US civilian were injured and taken to a military medical centre for treatment, Nato said.
Nato said there were no reports of enemy fire in the area. The deaths raise to 37 the number of international soldiers killed so far this month in Afghanistan, including at least 29 US troops.
Helicopters are used extensively by both Nato and the Afghan government forces to transport and supply troops spread out across a mountainous country with few roads. Losses have been relatively light, despite insurgent fire and difficult conditions, and most crashes have been accidents caused by maintenance problems or factors such as dust.
The latest crash happened in north-western Zabul province, according to a Nato official.
Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar, a spokesman for the provincial governor in Zabul, said the helicopter went down in Daychopan district. It was the deadliest helicopter crash in Afghanistan in years.
A Chinook crashed in February 2007 in Zabul, killing eight US personnel.
In May 2006, a Chinook crashed while attempting a night-time landing on a small mountaintop in eastern Kunar province, killing 10 US soldiers. That followed a crash in Kunar in 2005 which killed 16 Americans.
The most recent helicopter crash before this one occurred in southern Kandahar province in August when a Canadian Chinook was shot down, injuring eight Canadians.
In July in southern Helmand province, a chopper crash killed two US service members. The Taliban claimed it had shot it down. Nato said at the time that it was investigating.
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September 20, 2010, 9:45 pm
![Image]( "Clegg to push aid goal at UN summit")
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will fly to the United Nations to step up British pressure for rich countries to deliver on their aid promises to the developing world.
The UK is one of the few donor states to have lived up to its commitments under the Millennium Development Goals on issues like eradicating extreme poverty and cutting infant mortality, and aid agencies are worried that a failure of political will in other rich countries may mean the UN missing its 2015 deadline for delivering the ambitious targets.
On Monday, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell urged the 140-plus presidents, prime ministers and monarchs assembled in New York to redouble their efforts to tackle poverty.
The Millennium goals, agreed by 192 UN member states a decade ago, include the eradication of extreme poverty; universal primary education; promotion of gender equality; cutting child mortality by two-thirds; combating HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases; environmental sustainability; and a new global partnership for development.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the summit that the process delivered "real results", but warned: "The clock is ticking, with much more to do."
He insisted the goals are still "achievable" by 2015 and called on world leaders not to use the global economic crisis as an excuse to cut aid budgets.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy responded immediately with a 20% boost to France's 10 billion US dollar annual contribution over the next three years. "We have no right to do less than what we have decided to do," said Mr Sarkozy, who also proposed a small international tax on financial transactions to fund development.
Mr Clegg is expected to throw Britain's weight behind Mr Ban's call in his speech to the three-day summit on Wednesday - his first appearance representing the UK at a major international gathering.
Gordon Brown said he is "angry" at the failure to meet the goals Speaking in New York, the former prime minister told the BBC he was particularly concerned by the lack of progress in ensuring every child has access to primary education.
He said: "I'm angry because we made commitments that we would meet these Millennium Development Goals. I think rich countries have not done enough to honour the promises that we made."
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September 20, 2010, 9:45 pm
![Image]( "Restrictions on new drivers urged")
Banning newly qualified young motorists from driving at night, drinking alcohol and carrying passengers of a similar age would save 200 lives a year and result in 1,700 fewer injuries, research suggests.
The Cardiff University study, presented at an international road safety conference in London, backs the introduction of Graduated Licensing (GDL) for those aged 17 to 24 for up to two years after passing their driving tests.
Similar schemes are already operated in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and parts of the US.
The Cardiff team analysed road accident data in the UK from 2000 to 2007 to estimate the number of lives that could be saved by the restrictions.
One in five new motorists crashes within six months of passing their driving test and the researchers said many accidents could be prevented and costs to the NHS reduced by GDL.
Dr Sarah Jones, who led the research, said: "GDL works in other countries and there's no good reason why it wouldn't work here."
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September 20, 2010, 9:45 pm
![Image]( "Huhne warns energy firms on prices")
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has issued a stark warning to gas and electricity providers that he will step in unless they stop imposing "outrageous" hidden price hikes on customers.
Mr Huhne stressed the coalition's determination to protect consumers as the Liberal Democrat leadership battled to quell activists' discontent over the power-sharing deal with the Tories at the party's conference in Liverpool.
Party leader Nick Clegg pleaded with rank-and-file members to "stick with" him on Monday after he suffered a major rebellion over key coalition school reforms just hours before his keynote speech.
But one angry MP accused him of failing to offer the necessary reassurance to supporters amid slumping poll ratings and said he missed his chance "by a mile" to speak to the concerns of Lib Dem voters across the country.
Mike Hancock renewed his criticism after sending an open letter to Mr Clegg warning against the party being taken over by a "dictatorship" of ministers and abandoning its commitment to the welfare state.
The Deputy Prime Minister will leave the simmering dissent behind him as he cuts short his attendance to fly to the US to represent Britain at high-level talks at the United Nations in New York and then in Washington.
The warning to energy firms from Mr Huhne, who is also addressing the conference on Tuesday, comes as watchdog Ofgem prepares to consult over moves to change rules which allow price changes to be notified to customers up to 65 days after they have been imposed.
"It is outrageous that energy companies have been able to hike up prices without even bothering to tell their customers. I can't think of another example where you start paying more for something without being told about it," he said.
"The best result for consumers will be if energy companies don't block the changes that Ofgem will propose. But if they do I won't hesitate to use my powers to end for good the practice of surprise energy bill hikes if that's what consultation shows to be necessary."
The conference will also hold an emergency debate on the Pakistan floods and vote on a controversial proposal to allow gay couples to marry.
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September 20, 2010, 9:45 pm
![Image]( "Cricket fix row 'a sporting matter'")
Relations between Britain and Pakistan will not be damaged by the cricket-fixing row, Pakistan's High Commissioner has said.
Wajid Hasan said the claim and counter-claim around matches between the two teams was a sporting matter and the countries' relationship was "on solid ground".
But he risked further inflaming the row by saying that Pakistan's Cricket Board chairman, Ijaz Butt, had made "a very innocent argument" by relaying claims that England players might have deliberately thrown the third NatWest Series match at the Brit Oval in return for "enormous amounts of money".
That allegation sparked fury from the England camp with captain Andrew Strauss saying players had not ruled out legal action to clear their names.
Mr Hasan told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "Mr Butt made a very innocent argument. He said that it's very strange that, when Pakistan loses a match, people describe it as a spot-fixing or fixing of the match.
"When Pakistan win the match, the same allegations are levelled against it. While he was in India the bookies told him the matches are fixed in England. It's the responsibility of the ICC (International Cricket Council) to investigate allegations. This was an allegation made by a member of the ICC's board."
But he went on: "Will this row sour our relationship? My answer is certainly no. This is a separate matter. Our relationship with the UK was not made overnight. It has its roots in the past. It is on solid ground."
Of the claims against Pakistani players, he added: "I can tell you our boys are innocent. I still maintain (that) until proven guilty, they are innocent."
Sports Minister Hugh Robertson told Today he could understand the England players' reaction: "I can absolutely understand the emotion involved in all of this. They have had their integrity questioned in the most fundamental way."
He declined to call for Pakistan to be thrown out of world cricket, saying: "In terms of the wider British-Pakistan relationship, if we were seen to be playing a part in throwing them out of world cricket, that would have very serious consequences across the piece."
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September 21, 2010, 6:03 am
![Image]( "Bridge collapse adds to Games woe")
Concerns over the safety and quality of the athletes village for next month's Commonwealth Games in India have been compounded after a footbridge linking the main stadium to a car park collapsed.
Managers of Scotland's Commonwealth Games team have said that the accommodation originally allocated to them for next month's event in India was "unsafe and unfit for human habitation".
Team Scotland was allocated new accommodation after complaining to the Games organising committee but even the new apartments required "serious cleaning and maintenance" to bring them up to standard, officials said.
Conditions in the athletes' village in Delhi have prompted warnings the event may be called off after team leaders from England, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand, Australia and Canada expressed "grave concerns" over the accommodation for 6,500 team members.
Team Scotland is currently still planning to take part in the Games but have warned they "will not compromise on issues of health, safety and security". The event runs between October 3 and 14.
Meanwhile the Games were hit by further misfortune when a footbridge under construction near the main stadium collapsed, injuring at least 23 people.
The injured people, five of them in serious condition, were taken to hospitals, police officer HGS Dhaliwal said. Media reports said all of the victims were construction workers.
The overhead bridge was to connect a car park with the main Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which is to host opening and closing ceremonies as well as showpiece athletic events for the games.
New Zealand team manager Dave Currie told radio network newstalkZB that New Delhi organisers "are in severe difficulties," identifying problems with cleanliness, plumbing, electrical wiring, internet access and mobile phone coverage.
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September 21, 2010, 6:28 am
![Image]( "Man guilty of murdering new wife")
A cheating newlywed has been convicted of murdering his wife after just five months of marriage.
Michael Roberts, 26, strangled 25-year-old Vicky on November 29 last year but said she died during a kinky sex game which went wrong.
Roberts, who was cheating with two other women, hid her body in the garage of their home in Runcorn, Cheshire, and went on the run. He was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court after a three- week trial.
Hearing the guilty verdict, Roberts sat down and closed his eyes.
After a minute he began to cry and shake.
His dock officers asked the court to adjourn and Roberts, dressed in a suit, ran out sobbing, which could be heard through a closed door and sealed dock.
The jury took just three hours to convict the Phones4U store manager who cheated on his wife with two colleagues - Kerrie Hall, 31, and Karen Wilson, 26.
Just hours after murdering his wife on November 29last year, Roberts enjoyed four long phone calls with Ms Wilson who he had become obsessed with.
He arranged to take her shopping to Chester the next day and began sending texts from his wife's phone to pretend she was alive and well.
Despite her corpse lying in their spare room, Roberts phoned his mother-in-law from Chester to ask what his wife wanted for Christmas.
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A senior doctor who claimed Baby P could have been saved if her warnings had been heeded is suing the NHS for compensation, it has been revealed.
Dr Kim Holt raised concerns about the child development clinic at St Ann's Hospital in Tottenham, north London, where the little boy was seen just two days before his death in 2007.
The consultant paediatrician and three colleagues warned in 2006 that the clinic - run by Haringey Primary Care Trust but with doctors employed by Great Ormond Street Hospital Trust - was understaffed and had a "chaotic" appointment system which was a risk to patients.
Dr Holt alleges she was forced out of her job and suffered a nervous breakdown, and is seeking up to £100,000 in a personal injury claim against Great Ormond Street, The Times reported.
Baby P, now named as Peter Connolly, was just 17 months old when he died in a blood-spattered cot in Tottenham, north London, on August 3 2007. He had suffered more than 50 injuries despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals over eight months.
A locum doctor at the St Ann's child development clinic allegedly failed to spot that he was suffering abuse when she examined him two days before his horrific death.
Great Ormond Street Hospital said in a statement: "As a result of issues raised by Dr Holt, the trust conducted an internal independent investigation, which was then followed by an external independent investigation by NHS London.
"The latter reported in December 2009 and concluded that Dr Holt's concerns in 2006 were taken seriously, that she was not targeted for raising those concerns, and that Great Ormond Street Hospital should organise further workplace mediation to enable Dr Holt if possible to return to her original role."
Meanwhile, two social workers sacked over the Baby P tragedy have taken their former employer to an employment tribunal. Gillie Christou and Maria Ward claim they were unfairly dismissed by Haringey Council following public outcry about the little boy's death.
The local authority insists it followed proper procedures when it dismissed the pair for "gross misconduct" in April last year. The opening day of their hearing at Watford Employment Tribunal in Hertfordshire was given over to legal arguments before being adjourned until 12pm on Tuesday.
A man and a woman found dead in a car in an apparent suicide pact left signs on the vehicle warning of toxic chemicals inside.
The pair were found dead in a blue Vauxhall Astra parked near to industrial units in Braintree, Essex.
Crews were called to the "chemical incident" at 8.25am on Monday after a worker raised the alarm. Eye witnesses said notes were placed on the windows of the vehicle warning passers by not to open the doors.
Susan Meads, an administrator at the Braintree Enterprise Centre, where the vehicle was found, said: "The people in question have posted signs on the windows of the vehicle to say there's toxic chemicals inside and not to open the door. I believe they have been made on a computer."
Firefighters said hydrogen sulphide was thought to have been used. Dozens of police, paramedics and fire crews, many wearing protective clothing, attended the scene.
The immediate area was evacuated but fire crews said there was no wider risk to the public. Essex Police said the deaths were not being treated as suspicious.
Ms Meads said the bodies were discovered by a man who pulled up alongside the vehicle at about 7.30am.
"He thought it was suspicious so he called a colleague, who is an ex-police officer," she said. "Then they called the emergency services."
"I arrived for work just as the police were arriving," she added. "I just think it's a very tragic thing. It's a very sad world we live in."
Some of the 30 businesses on the site were forced to close for the day as police blocked entry to the area.
A woman who was caught on CCTV dumping a cat in a wheelie bin has been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to the animal.
Mary Bale, 45, has also been charged with failing to provide the cat with a suitable environment, contrary to the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, an RSPCA spokesman said.
Bank worker Bale, of St Michael's Road, Coventry, will appear before magistrates in the city on October 19 to answer the charges.
Footage of Bale throwing the four-year-old tabby, named Lola, into the bin sparked outrage and made international headlines, with some animal lovers calling for her death on social networking site Facebook.
It also led to an investigation by the RSPCA, which interviewed Bale and sent a file on the case for review by its prosecutions department.
A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "The RSPCA has taken the case to court as two alleged offences have been committed - of causing unnecessary suffering to a cat and of not providing the animal with a suitable environment."
It is understood that the cat was trapped in the bin for approximately 15 hours, although it was not physically injured.
In a statement released to the media shortly after the incident in August, Bale said she was profoundly sorry for her actions, describing them as a split second of misjudgment.
Bale's statement read: "I want to take this opportunity to apologise profusely for the upset and distress that my actions have caused.
"I cannot explain why I did this. It is completely out of character and I certainly did not intend to cause any distress to Lola or her owners."
More than 10,000 victims of crime have called a national helpline for support over the last five years.
The National Crime Victims Helpline marked its fifth anniversary this month with a plea for volunteers in the Dublin region to come forward.
Statistics show that since it was set up it had over 10,000 contacts from people all around the country over crimes or for information about other agencies.
Co-ordinator Maeve Ryan said the majority related to violent assaults and difficulties with the criminal justice system.
"People call us for all types of reasons, but most calls relate to peoples' efforts to deal with the after-effects of an assault - usually an assault in which the victim is entirely innocent and is set upon by another person or group of people," said Ms Ryan.
"This can understandably be a terrifying experience and people affected by such crimes require varying levels of independent assistance in dealing with the many issues which emerge.
"We also have quite a number of callers who experience difficulty in dealing with the criminal justice system. Many victims of crime feel that the system is unwieldy and uncaring. We realise that much has been done to address this issue, but for many people there is a feeling that the perpetrator has all the support, while they are left pretty much unsupported and isolated."
The national helpline number is 1850 211 407 or people can text 085 133 7711.
Ms Ryan said it was rewarding to offer assistance to so many people who may feel isolated, anxious, angry, sad, nervous and afraid as a result of a crime.
"They find emotional support on the phone, while others may have questions about the justice system, or ask for information on local services for victims of crime in their area," she added.
Nick Clegg has pleaded for Liberal Democrat activists to "stick with" him after he suffered a major rebellion over key coalition school reforms.
Delivering his first party conference speech as Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Clegg mounted an impassioned defence of his decision to do a deal with David Cameron's Tories.
He told the audience in Liverpool that voters would never have taken the Lib Dems seriously again if they had passed up the opportunity to govern in the national interest at a time of crisis.
And he insisted the "soul" of the party is alive and well in the coalition despite members' fears that they were being marginalised and suffering serious political damage.
The address - a text of which was shown to the Prime Minister before being finalised - came after a difficult day for the leadership.
Just hours before Mr Clegg took to the stage, party members overwhelmingly backed a boycott of Tory-inspired plans for a network of "free" schools.
Mr Clegg told the audience at the Arena and Convention Centre that he knew many of the coalition's plans would "provoke controversy" and some Lib Dems were "worried" about the schools plans.
"The great thing is that all Liberal Democrats share a passion for education. When it comes to lasting fairness, education is everything," he said.
Mr Clegg reiterated his reasons for forging the Tory alliance, saying the "chance for change" came, and the Lib Dems "responded with real courage and conviction". He praised the Conservatives for being willing to "embrace negotiation and compromise".
"In life, two heads are usually better than one. And in politics, too, when the country faces grave challenges - the deficit, the threat of climate change, a war in Afghanistan, millions of children trapped in disadvantage - two parties acting together can be braver, fairer and bolder than one party acting alone," he said.
Rich countries should follow Britain's lead by keeping their promises on aid to poorer nations, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has said.
Mr Mitchell was speaking to a United Nations summit in New York to assess progress on the Millennium Development Goals on issues like eradicating extreme poverty and achieving universal primary education.
Ten years on from the agreement of the MDGs, several of the ambitious goals look set to be missed by the target date of 2015.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the summit that the process had delivered "real results", but warned: "The clock is ticking, with much more to do."
He called on the 140-plus presidents, prime ministers and monarchs assembled in New York to "exercise political leadership" to ensure the goals are reached.
The UK is one of relatively few developed countries which are on track to deliver on their MDG promises.
Mr Mitchell told the summit it is time for the whole world to redouble its efforts to tackle poverty.
"Britain is leading the way in helping the world's poorest people, with a firm commitment to spending 0.7% of GNI (gross national income) on aid from 2013," he said.
"Now is the time for other countries to step up and keep their promises too. We will push for that - and I will push for all aid to be more transparent and more accountable."
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will also address the summit.
British soldiers who lost their lives taking and holding Sangin "did not die in vain", Prime Minister David Cameron has said, as the Afghan town was handed over to US forces.
Control of the area was handed from 40 Commando Royal Marines to the US Marine Corps, ending a four-year presence which has cost 106 British lives - 36 this year alone.
Mr Cameron hailed the "magnificent job" done by British troops, and rejected suggestions that the transfer of control was a sign that the UK had failed to complete its mission.
The Ministry of Defence described the handover - announced in July - as the last move in the "rebalancing" of the International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf) across Helmand, which will allow 1,000 Royal Marines and other UK forces to be redeployed to the central part of the southern Afghan province.
The transfer of authority came as a soldier killed by an explosion in nearby Lashkar Gah district on Saturday was named as Trooper Andrew Howarth, 20, of the Queen's Royal Lancers.
Sangin, a key economic and transport hub in southern Afghanistan, has been the scene of the bloodiest fighting by British troops, accounting for almost a third of the 337 deaths since 2001.
Speaking in 10 Downing Street, Mr Cameron said: "We should share the burden properly with our allies, we should concentrate our forces where they can have the maximum impact.
"Our troops have performed magnificently in Sangin and I pay tribute to the thousands who have served, to the over 100 who have given their lives and the many who have been wounded.
"They did not die in vain. They have made Afghanistan a safer place and they have made Britain a safer place and they will never be forgotten."
He confirmed his intention to end Britain's combat presence within five years, saying: "I am absolutely clear that by 2015, we will not have large numbers of troops, or combat troops, in Afghanistan."
Detectives have been granted more time to question two people arrested after a toddler was killed when a blaze tore through a flat.
A murder inquiry was launched after two-year-old Siariah Letang died in hospital following the fire in Camberwell, south-east London, early on Saturday.
A 27-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were arrested at an address in south London on Saturday night and remain in custody, Scotland Yard said.
Fire crews used thermal imaging cameras and breathing apparatus as they attempted to rescue the child and four family members trapped in the building.
The group - reported to be grandmother Brenda Ricketts, 45, her daughters Shakira Jackson, 11, and Ellisha Letang, the child's 23-year-old mother, and her four-year-old son Cameron - were found with the toddler.
They were all unconscious and suffering from smoke inhalation.
Shakira was said to be in a critical condition while the other surviving relatives were in a "serious but stable" condition.
The two-bedroom, first-floor flat in Arnould Avenue, a residential area of Camberwell, was destroyed by the fire which started in the early hours of the morning.
A post-mortem examination into the toddler's death is to take place.
Presenter Sarah Kennedy has hit back at rumours her departure from BBC Radio 2 was due to a drinking problem, insisting she was always "stone cold sober" on air.
The BBC announced Kennedy was leaving the station earlier this month after more than 20 years of "sterling service".
But Kennedy, who hosted the early morning Dawn Patrol show for 17 years, spoke out after senior BBC radio sources told the Daily Telegraph she was forced out of the station over concerns about her drinking.
She told the newspaper: "I have never, never, never in my life gone into the BBC other than being stone cold sober."
The veteran presenter admitted she sounded "slurred" during one show at the start of August, but said it was due to a lack of sleep.
In July, fellow Radio 2 DJ Dermot O'Leary was reprimanded by BBC bosses for an on-air jibe that drinking vodka to avoid smelling of alcohol was the "Sarah Kennedy get-out". This came after Radio 1 breakfast show host Chris Moyles mocked Kennedy at an industry event in December 2009 by doing an impression of a drunk.
Kennedy insisted she had "no quibble" with the BBC but added that she had an enemy at the broadcaster who had "got it in for her".
She said: "Chris Moyles I've never met. Dermot O'Leary I've never met. Yet they're believing these urban myths. I got up for 17 years on orange juice or water. I wish someone would stick up for me."
Kennedy first joined Radio 2 in 1976 to present request show Family Favourites, after cutting her broadcasting teeth in Singapore. She went on to find TV fame in Game For A Laugh with Matthew Kelly, Henry Kelly and Jeremy Beadle. Kennedy launched her Dawn Patrol show in January 1993.
Her tenure at Radio 2 has not been without incident, with a number of on-air gaffes. In 2007 the BBC apologised for any upset caused after she made a comment about being unable to see a black man in a dark street until he opened his mouth.
A hike in tuition fees will see price becoming a factor for many students when choosing their degree subject and university, according to research.
With fees expected to hit £7,000 a year, many universities will have to charge less than this full amount allowed by the Government if they want to attract students, it is claimed.
In 2006, most universities adopted the maximum top-up fee of £3,000 a year, meaning students could not base their choice of institution and degree on price.
But if this latest rise in tuition fees goes ahead, possibly in two years, only top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge will be able to charge the full amount.
The University of Leicester also found students should be charged different prices based on the demand for the subject they want to study.
The arts will be most seriously affected with many students of subjects like English and history unable to stomach such a steep hike in fees.
But for subjects like medicine, higher charges would have little effect as most students would be prepared to fork out more for such a qualification, the research found.
The study of 730 university applicants by researchers for the University of Leicester also found students from poorer backgrounds are most likely to turn their back on university unless they are offered bursaries.
Professor Sir Bob Burgess, the university's vice-chancellor, said: "The focus of the fees debate so far has been on how much universities should charge.
"But for a true fees market to emerge, institutions need to be able to set fees at different levels for different courses."
Households in some parts of the country will lose more than 5% of their income if the Government presses ahead with billions of pounds worth of spending cuts to public services, according to a new report.
The TUC said areas such as the North West, which are heavily dependent on the public sector for jobs and services, will be hardest hit by the effects of next month's comprehensive spending review.
The North West had already faced the biggest share of the £1.17 billion worth of cuts to local authority grants announced by the Government in June, losing £1 of every £6 cut across the UK, said the TUC.
In a study released ahead of a fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat conference in Liverpool, the TUC said households across the UK each benefited from public services worth the equivalent of £21,000 a year.
Departmental spending cuts could leave households in the North West £1,284 worse off on average, the research said.
Cuts already hitting areas such as the North West included the scrapping of school building improvements, cuts in business grants and reductions in help for the unemployed, said the TUC.
General secretary Brendan Barber said: "There is real concern that the Government's programme of deep spending cuts while our economy is still fragile will spark spiralling unemployment in both the public and private sectors.
"As the cuts start to bite and people see the public services they rely on every day under threat, people will begin to ask whether there is an alternative to slash and burn economics.
"The answer is that an alternative strategy - based on growth, employment and a rebalanced economy, and paid for by a fairer tax system so that those who caused the recession start to pay their share - is the best way to achieve a sustainable economic recovery."
The global cost of dementia this year will be £388 billion - more than 1% of GDP, according to a report.
This includes the cost of social care, unpaid care by relatives and the medical bills for treating dementia.
The figure is expected to rise rapidly in the coming years but governments are woefully unprepared to meet the challenge, said the World Alzheimer Report 2010.
Experts at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and King's College London examined the cost of dementia care and found that, if it was a country, it would be the world's 18th biggest economy.
And if it was a company, it would be the world's biggest by annual revenue, way above Wal-Mart (US$414 billion or £265.6 billion) and Exxon Mobil (US$311 billion or £200 billion).
Campaigners have already warned that the costs of caring for people with dementia are on the rise, mostly due to people living longer.
The number of people with dementia will double by 2030, and more than triple by 2050.
An estimated 35.6 million people currently have dementia worldwide, increasing to 65.7 million by 2030 and 115.4 million by 2050.
The study said the costs will rise even faster than prevalence of the disease and, worldwide, there could be an 85% increase in costs by 2030.
In the UK, the Alzheimer's Society has estimated dementia currently costs the country £20 billion a year.
Mourners will gather to pay their final respects to a British spy tortured by the Nazis in the Second World War.
Eileen Nearne MBE operated as an undercover agent called Rose and was caught and tortured by the Nazis three times.
Reclusive Miss Nearne, 89, died in her Devon home on September 2 after suffering a heart attack.
It was at first thought she had no immediate family, but a niece has since been traced in Italy.
Initial plans for her to be given a low-key council funeral changed with the publicity about her bravery in the war, and civic dignitaries and other VIPs are expected to attend the requiem at Our Lady Help of Christians and St Denis Roman Catholic Church in Torquay.
Her niece, who wants to remain anonymous, said: "I would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes and support at this very sad time.
"My aunt Eileen was a very private and modest person and without doubt she would be astounded by all the public and media attention.
"I hope that in death, she will be remembered along with other SOE Agents with pride and gratitude for the work they did both here and behind enemy lines during the Second World War.
"I have been overwhelmed by all the attention and I would be most grateful if I might be left in peace to mourn the death of my dear aunt."
Documents found in Miss Nearne's home after her death revealed she was sent to occupied France as a member of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the Second World War. A fluent French speaker, she was captured three times by the Germans and endured spells in concentration camps, managing to escape each time.
Nine service members with the international coalition in Afghanistan died when their helicopter crashed in the volatile south where troops are ramping up pressure on Taliban insurgents.
One other coalition service member, an Afghan National Army soldier and a US civilian were injured and taken to a military medical centre for treatment, Nato said.
Nato said there were no reports of enemy fire in the area. The deaths raise to 37 the number of international soldiers killed so far this month in Afghanistan, including at least 29 US troops.
Helicopters are used extensively by both Nato and the Afghan government forces to transport and supply troops spread out across a mountainous country with few roads. Losses have been relatively light, despite insurgent fire and difficult conditions, and most crashes have been accidents caused by maintenance problems or factors such as dust.
The latest crash happened in north-western Zabul province, according to a Nato official.
Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar, a spokesman for the provincial governor in Zabul, said the helicopter went down in Daychopan district. It was the deadliest helicopter crash in Afghanistan in years.
A Chinook crashed in February 2007 in Zabul, killing eight US personnel.
In May 2006, a Chinook crashed while attempting a night-time landing on a small mountaintop in eastern Kunar province, killing 10 US soldiers. That followed a crash in Kunar in 2005 which killed 16 Americans.
The most recent helicopter crash before this one occurred in southern Kandahar province in August when a Canadian Chinook was shot down, injuring eight Canadians.
In July in southern Helmand province, a chopper crash killed two US service members. The Taliban claimed it had shot it down. Nato said at the time that it was investigating.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will fly to the United Nations to step up British pressure for rich countries to deliver on their aid promises to the developing world.
The UK is one of the few donor states to have lived up to its commitments under the Millennium Development Goals on issues like eradicating extreme poverty and cutting infant mortality, and aid agencies are worried that a failure of political will in other rich countries may mean the UN missing its 2015 deadline for delivering the ambitious targets.
On Monday, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell urged the 140-plus presidents, prime ministers and monarchs assembled in New York to redouble their efforts to tackle poverty.
The Millennium goals, agreed by 192 UN member states a decade ago, include the eradication of extreme poverty; universal primary education; promotion of gender equality; cutting child mortality by two-thirds; combating HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases; environmental sustainability; and a new global partnership for development.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the summit that the process delivered "real results", but warned: "The clock is ticking, with much more to do."
He insisted the goals are still "achievable" by 2015 and called on world leaders not to use the global economic crisis as an excuse to cut aid budgets.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy responded immediately with a 20% boost to France's 10 billion US dollar annual contribution over the next three years. "We have no right to do less than what we have decided to do," said Mr Sarkozy, who also proposed a small international tax on financial transactions to fund development.
Mr Clegg is expected to throw Britain's weight behind Mr Ban's call in his speech to the three-day summit on Wednesday - his first appearance representing the UK at a major international gathering.
Gordon Brown said he is "angry" at the failure to meet the goals Speaking in New York, the former prime minister told the BBC he was particularly concerned by the lack of progress in ensuring every child has access to primary education.
He said: "I'm angry because we made commitments that we would meet these Millennium Development Goals. I think rich countries have not done enough to honour the promises that we made."
Banning newly qualified young motorists from driving at night, drinking alcohol and carrying passengers of a similar age would save 200 lives a year and result in 1,700 fewer injuries, research suggests.
The Cardiff University study, presented at an international road safety conference in London, backs the introduction of Graduated Licensing (GDL) for those aged 17 to 24 for up to two years after passing their driving tests.
Similar schemes are already operated in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and parts of the US.
The Cardiff team analysed road accident data in the UK from 2000 to 2007 to estimate the number of lives that could be saved by the restrictions.
One in five new motorists crashes within six months of passing their driving test and the researchers said many accidents could be prevented and costs to the NHS reduced by GDL.
Dr Sarah Jones, who led the research, said: "GDL works in other countries and there's no good reason why it wouldn't work here."
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has issued a stark warning to gas and electricity providers that he will step in unless they stop imposing "outrageous" hidden price hikes on customers.
Mr Huhne stressed the coalition's determination to protect consumers as the Liberal Democrat leadership battled to quell activists' discontent over the power-sharing deal with the Tories at the party's conference in Liverpool.
Party leader Nick Clegg pleaded with rank-and-file members to "stick with" him on Monday after he suffered a major rebellion over key coalition school reforms just hours before his keynote speech.
But one angry MP accused him of failing to offer the necessary reassurance to supporters amid slumping poll ratings and said he missed his chance "by a mile" to speak to the concerns of Lib Dem voters across the country.
Mike Hancock renewed his criticism after sending an open letter to Mr Clegg warning against the party being taken over by a "dictatorship" of ministers and abandoning its commitment to the welfare state.
The Deputy Prime Minister will leave the simmering dissent behind him as he cuts short his attendance to fly to the US to represent Britain at high-level talks at the United Nations in New York and then in Washington.
The warning to energy firms from Mr Huhne, who is also addressing the conference on Tuesday, comes as watchdog Ofgem prepares to consult over moves to change rules which allow price changes to be notified to customers up to 65 days after they have been imposed.
"It is outrageous that energy companies have been able to hike up prices without even bothering to tell their customers. I can't think of another example where you start paying more for something without being told about it," he said.
"The best result for consumers will be if energy companies don't block the changes that Ofgem will propose. But if they do I won't hesitate to use my powers to end for good the practice of surprise energy bill hikes if that's what consultation shows to be necessary."
The conference will also hold an emergency debate on the Pakistan floods and vote on a controversial proposal to allow gay couples to marry.
Relations between Britain and Pakistan will not be damaged by the cricket-fixing row, Pakistan's High Commissioner has said.
Wajid Hasan said the claim and counter-claim around matches between the two teams was a sporting matter and the countries' relationship was "on solid ground".
But he risked further inflaming the row by saying that Pakistan's Cricket Board chairman, Ijaz Butt, had made "a very innocent argument" by relaying claims that England players might have deliberately thrown the third NatWest Series match at the Brit Oval in return for "enormous amounts of money".
That allegation sparked fury from the England camp with captain Andrew Strauss saying players had not ruled out legal action to clear their names.
Mr Hasan told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "Mr Butt made a very innocent argument. He said that it's very strange that, when Pakistan loses a match, people describe it as a spot-fixing or fixing of the match.
"When Pakistan win the match, the same allegations are levelled against it. While he was in India the bookies told him the matches are fixed in England. It's the responsibility of the ICC (International Cricket Council) to investigate allegations. This was an allegation made by a member of the ICC's board."
But he went on: "Will this row sour our relationship? My answer is certainly no. This is a separate matter. Our relationship with the UK was not made overnight. It has its roots in the past. It is on solid ground."
Of the claims against Pakistani players, he added: "I can tell you our boys are innocent. I still maintain (that) until proven guilty, they are innocent."
Sports Minister Hugh Robertson told Today he could understand the England players' reaction: "I can absolutely understand the emotion involved in all of this. They have had their integrity questioned in the most fundamental way."
He declined to call for Pakistan to be thrown out of world cricket, saying: "In terms of the wider British-Pakistan relationship, if we were seen to be playing a part in throwing them out of world cricket, that would have very serious consequences across the piece."
Concerns over the safety and quality of the athletes village for next month's Commonwealth Games in India have been compounded after a footbridge linking the main stadium to a car park collapsed.
Managers of Scotland's Commonwealth Games team have said that the accommodation originally allocated to them for next month's event in India was "unsafe and unfit for human habitation".
Team Scotland was allocated new accommodation after complaining to the Games organising committee but even the new apartments required "serious cleaning and maintenance" to bring them up to standard, officials said.
Conditions in the athletes' village in Delhi have prompted warnings the event may be called off after team leaders from England, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand, Australia and Canada expressed "grave concerns" over the accommodation for 6,500 team members.
Team Scotland is currently still planning to take part in the Games but have warned they "will not compromise on issues of health, safety and security". The event runs between October 3 and 14.
Meanwhile the Games were hit by further misfortune when a footbridge under construction near the main stadium collapsed, injuring at least 23 people.
The injured people, five of them in serious condition, were taken to hospitals, police officer HGS Dhaliwal said. Media reports said all of the victims were construction workers.
The overhead bridge was to connect a car park with the main Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which is to host opening and closing ceremonies as well as showpiece athletic events for the games.
New Zealand team manager Dave Currie told radio network newstalkZB that New Delhi organisers "are in severe difficulties," identifying problems with cleanliness, plumbing, electrical wiring, internet access and mobile phone coverage.
A cheating newlywed has been convicted of murdering his wife after just five months of marriage.
Michael Roberts, 26, strangled 25-year-old Vicky on November 29 last year but said she died during a kinky sex game which went wrong.
Roberts, who was cheating with two other women, hid her body in the garage of their home in Runcorn, Cheshire, and went on the run. He was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court after a three- week trial.
Hearing the guilty verdict, Roberts sat down and closed his eyes.
After a minute he began to cry and shake.
His dock officers asked the court to adjourn and Roberts, dressed in a suit, ran out sobbing, which could be heard through a closed door and sealed dock.
The jury took just three hours to convict the Phones4U store manager who cheated on his wife with two colleagues - Kerrie Hall, 31, and Karen Wilson, 26.
Just hours after murdering his wife on November 29last year, Roberts enjoyed four long phone calls with Ms Wilson who he had become obsessed with.
He arranged to take her shopping to Chester the next day and began sending texts from his wife's phone to pretend she was alive and well.
Despite her corpse lying in their spare room, Roberts phoned his mother-in-law from Chester to ask what his wife wanted for Christmas.
