UK MP Ed Vaizey Denied Access to Game Systems in Office

Tory Minister of Parliament and Culture minister Ed Vaizey has long been an influence on the policy of the UK government when it comes to the video game industry, so it's interesting to read this Daily Mail story about him being denied access to video games in his office for the sake of "research."

Vaizey had requested access to a games console in his office at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, but was told that it would not happen because his request was "frivolous." Despite the denial of his request, the Tory culture minister said he would ‘renew’ his campaign to get access to game systems in his office because it was connected with his "day job."

"I was encouraged not to, in case it looked frivolous," he told The Independent. He said that his request was turned down by "the powers that be."

"But I think I will renew my campaign," he continued. "I have a television so why can't I have a games console?"

Indeed. And how many MP's can claim it's for research? Not many, i'd imagine... In the meantime he is doing his "research" by playing iOS games...


Source: http://www.gamepolitics.com/2012/09/28/uk-mp-ed-vaizey-denied-access-game-systems-office

European Parliament to tackle bank union split fears

Reuters) - The European Parliament debates plans for a euro zone banking union on Wednesday, with members likely to raise concerns that the project designed to ease the currency bloc's crisis could sow divisions within the wider EU.

Earlier this month, Brussels proposed that the European Central Bank should supervise all euro zone banks as a first step towards creating the union, under which the 17 member nations would form a united front to back their lenders.



However, the plan has aroused worries in the 10 other European Union states, with their own currencies, that they will be indirectly affected.


They are free to join the scheme but many may not. Britain, home to Europe's biggest financial centre in London, will not participate but avoids openly criticising the project. Other governments have publicly expressed their reservations.


"The European Commission banking union proposal has the problem that it makes it very difficult for countries outside the euro," said Sven Giegold, a German member of the parliament.


"We have a big interest that countries outside have voting rights to stop a split between countries such as Poland and Germany," said Giegold, who will play a leading role in talks with European countries about the plan. "The same goes for Sweden."


Legally the European Parliament will have no say in writing much of the legislation to underpin a banking union. But it has powers to amend other important financial regulations and is likely to exert its influence in changing the new regime. Wednesday's debate starts at 08:00 British time.


Banking union, which aims to restore confidence in an industry that has been battered by crisis, has three major steps: the ECB takes over monitoring euro zone banks - and others that sign up - from national regulators; a fund is created to close down and settle the debts of failed banks; and a comprehensive scheme to protect savers' deposits is established.


Giegold underscored a central problem of the union - that it will drive a wedge between those countries inside the scheme and those outside, whose banks may suffer as a result.


Earlier this Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg said he would not accept ECB oversight of Nordea, the Nordic region's biggest bank, as long as his country remained outside the banking union. Nordea has its headquarters outside the euro zone in Stockholm but has major operations in Finland, the sole Nordic country to use the common currency.


While Britain will stay outside the scheme, many international banks in London have operations in the euro zone that will be affected by the ECB's new supervisory reach.


London is worried that the ECB, emboldened by its new powers, will demand regulation that could undermine the city's position as Europe's financial capital.


Some believe that the European Banking Authority, set up to coordinate the supervision of banks in response to the financial crisis and which is run by regulators from across the European Union, could act as a counterbalance.


The European Commission has already suggested a special voting mechanism among EU regulators as a counterweight to the power of those in the euro zone.


The close ties between some troubled governments and the banks they supervise - and on which they also rely to buy their debt - have dragged both ever deeper into crisis.


A banking union would break this link by making the policing of banks supranational and establishing central schemes paid into collectively to cover the costs of closing failed lenders and protecting savers' deposits.


Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/26/uk-eu-banks-idUKBRE88P00O20120926

Campaign group's caused raised in parliament

A locally-based campaign group hoping to put a stop to issues thrown-up by noisy freight trains rumbling along the Stirling to Kincardine railway line were in the spotlight at Holyrood this week.

On Wednesday, Mid Scotland and Fife list MSP Dr Richard Simpson asked Transport Minister Keith Brown – the MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane – if there were any plans in place to mitigate the noise that’s said to be blighting the lives of families.

Dr Simpson specifically mentioned Causewayhead resident Archie McIver – chair of the Noise and Vibration Action Group (NVAG) – and said his family had regularly had to put up with a high level of noise pollution.

Following the debate, called by Labour to discuss the future of the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme, Mr McIver said: “Myself and other members of the group are grateful to Dr Simpson for taking up this issue on our behalf in the Scottish Parliament and hope this will go some way towards resolution.

“The impact this has had on our lives has made the past few years nothing short of unbearable. It will take more than a Parliamentary debate to resolve this but we are satisfied that the issue is being addressed and we will continue to campaign until we are finally able to live our lives peacefully and without unnecessary disruption from freight noise and vibrations.”

Following a series of meetings, legal firm Thomsons Scotland is in the process of contacting residents who feel the Scottish Government should have done more to combat both the noise and health issues that have come to light since a portion of the line was reopened in 2008.

Patrick McGuire, a partner with Thompsons, added: “The debate was an important step forward for the families who have been made to suffer disruption for far too long.

“Transport Scotland has continually failed to meet European standards on noise and vibration and I welcome recognition of this in Parliament.”

Thompsons have also indicated that the line, as it is being run, may be in breach of human rights.

Mr McIver’s wife, Chris, sent an open letter to First Minister Alex Salmond on the issue earlier this week.

An extract of the letter – published on campaign website www.nvag.org.uk – states: “I am writing this to you as a last attempt to appeal that the promises which were made to Parliament for the protection of your citizens be upheld in full.

“Is this really 21st century Scotland as you want it under your government? If so, then may God help us.”

Transport Scotland said: “The environmental impact of any transport project is always an important consideration and concerns raised about noise levels around the service have been taken seriously – with Clackmannanshire Council, Transport Scotland and Network Rail working together to provide acoustic barriers at all properties that met the mitigation criteria.

“To ensure the matter has been fully resolved, Transport Scotland and Clackmannanshire Council are to undertake additional noise monitoring to confirm the effectiveness of the mitigation measures provided.”

Source: http://www.stirlingobserver.co.uk/stirling-news/local-news-stirling/news-stirling/2012/09/21/campaign-group-s-caused-raised-in-parliament-51226-31876796/

Uganda: Locals in UK Convention Discusses Economy

London — Uganda must speed up decision making in the economic sector and make manpower development a priority if its to take advantage of the many opportunities.

These were some of the remarks by participants at the 2nd Ugandan UK Convention at the Proxy Arena in London over the weekend.

The Ugandan delegation to the convention was led by First Lady and Minister in charge of Karamoja affairs Janet Museveni, Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka, and agriculture minister Tress Bucyanayandi among others.

One of the highlights of the convention was a presentation by the First Lady on developments in Karamoja, where she concluded explained government programmes in the region.

"Uganda's development cannot be complete without the development of Karamoja," she stressed.

Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga promised to create a desk on the Foreign affairs committee to address complaints of Ugandans in the diaspora.

These included US$300 fee for Ugandan national Identity cards, whose processing has never taken off.

Others included allegations of harassment of the people in diaspora when they return to Uganda.

Independent politician Gerald Karuhanga stirred the convention by lashing out at the cancer of corruption.

"We have a massive problem with corruption in Uganda," Karuhanga charged. "How do we develop when we have all this corruption? We must address it ourselves and implore our government to change the situation," he said.

"We should not just remain spectators but demand accountability. Our country can only develop if we ask for accountability," he added. The day was crowned by a show by Ugandan musicians.

Former US State Secretary for Africa Baroness Lynda Chalker, expressed the view that the discovery of oil, a good climate, tourism and agriculture are areas that will give Uganda a huge advantage over many African countries. She however noted that success will only be achieved if barriers to investment in the country, and marketing, are stepped up.

"I would like to see a little more focus put on reform in Uganda Investment Authority practices, which should include strengthen its staffing in areas of information technology, areas of agriculture and also preparation for oil, power and gas developments."

"Agriculture is critical not just for Africa, but the rest of the world. Unless we add value, and are ingenious, we will not keep up with Uganda's own needs," she warned.

Chalker challenged government to task the Uganda Investment Authority and Ugandan embassies and High Commissions across the world to play a leading role in marketing the country.

"People around the world still have a very warm and positive attitude to Uganda. You have to keep that going and don't let up on making the positive news well known."

"The Uganda Government should act fast as several neighboring countries offer the same products to the world. So take the crucial decisions quickly and get on with it. Uganda must not delay to take the opportunities you have."

Chalker has been a regular visitor to Uganda since she served as Minister of State for Overseas Development at the Foreign Office.

The UK convention was organized by William Mutenza. It is supposed to be a forum to interest Ugandans in the diaspora to invest at home and also show UK-based investors the opportunities available in the East African country.

Senior immigration officer Alenyo Marshall created a stir when he told Ugandans who hold British passports that they are not Ugandans.

Alenyo outlined the benefits of dual citizenship and announced that Ugandans in diaspora seeking citizenship will from next month be able to register in London and also get national IDs at US$300.


Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201209160394.html

British Prime Minister Answers Parliament Questions

British Prime Minister David Cameron went before the House of Commons to answer questions during his weekly meeting with members from that body of the government.

Questions focused on the economy, which includes new jobless numbers down by 7,000.  There was no mention of U.S. ambassador attack in Libya. There were also questions on trade union strikes, expanding trade relations with Europe and encouraging Chinese investments in the UK.

Source: http://www.c-span.org/Events/British-Prime-Minister-Answers-Parliament-Questions/10737434003/

Sturgeon praises Holyrood impact

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has hailed the achievements of the Scottish Parliament 15 years on from the "historic" vote which established it.

Ms Sturgeon highlighted the ban on smoking in public places, "world-leading" climate change legislation and the restoration of free higher education as some of Holyrood's successes.

She also contrasted some of those achievements with the situation south of the border to show how devolution had made Scotland "much better".

With a referendum on independence likely to take place in two years' time, she argued Scots could "only make sure we are governed well in all areas by completing our home rule journey and voting Yes to independence in autumn 2014".

Ms Sturgeon, who is also SNP deputy leader, spoke out 15 years after Scots went to the polls and voted in favour of the establishment of a Scottish Parliament with tax-raising powers.

The referendum, held some four months after Tony Blair's Labour government came to power at Westminster, saw almost three-quarters of those who voted back the creation of the new Parliament, with nearly two-thirds of voters in favour of it having tax-varying powers.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Fifteen years ago today, the people of Scotland made the historic decision to reconvene the Scottish Parliament, meaning that some key decisions affecting our daily lives would be made in Scotland for the first time in three hundred years.

"With this degree of independence, Scotland has achieved so much that we can all be proud of - right across the parliament and across the country.

"Scotland has led the way in the UK by introducing the smoking ban, we passed world-leading climate change legislation, we reintroduced free higher education in Scotland and have a record number of Scottish students at Scottish universities for the coming year, we have delivered 1,000 additional police officers and our National Health Service is being protected and promoted.

"If Scotland had voted No in 1997, none of these things would have been achieved."

Source: http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/scottish-headlines/sturgeon-praises-holyrood-impact-1-2518114

UK parliament votes to limit population to 70m

UK MPs debated immigration in the House of Commons yesterday. A backbench debate was triggered by a petition from the Migrationwatch UK pressure group, which campaigns for a reduction in the level of immigration into the UK. The debate was followed by a vote on the motion which called on the government to take all necessary steps to keep the population as close to current levels as possible, and in any event to keep it well below 70m. The motion was passed by the House. However, speaking earlier in the day in front of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Home Secretary Theresa May said that she did not think it was the role of the government to 'be setting a figure for the overall population'.

The immigration debate was sponsored by Nicholas Soames, a Conservative grandee and grandson of Sir Winston Churchill and Labour's Frank Field, the MP for Birkenhead. The two are co-chairs of the Cross-Party Group on Balanced Migration and jointly proposed the motion. The Cross-Party Group has 33 MPs as members as well as 17 members of the House of Lords. Its website states that its aim is to see the UK's population stabilized at around 65m which is very close to the current level.

The motion called on the government to 'take all necessary steps to reduce immigration to stabilize the UK's population as close to present levels as possible. The debate was listed for hearing after Migrationwatch UK launched a petition on the government's e-Petitions website last October. The petition was worded 'Over the past ten years the government has permitted mass immigration despite very strong public opposition reflected in numerous opinion polls….So we call on the government to take all necessary steps to get immigration down to a level that will stabilise our population as close to the present level as possible and, certainly, well below 70 million.' If a petition on the e-Petitions site achieves 100,000 signatures within a year, it will be considered for a Commons debate by the House of Commons' Backbench Business Committee. The Migrationwatch UK petition reached 100,000 signatures in under a week and so was listed for a Commons debate.

Mr Soames opened the debate. He said that the UK was currently undergoing the greatest wave of immigration for 1,000 years and that 3.5m migrants had settled in the UK during the last Labour regime (1997-2010). This had changed the country, he said, and there was growing public concern. If trends continued, the population of the country would reach 70m in 15 years. That would be a rise of 7.7m from the current level. 5m of this growth would comprise immigrants. This, would require massive government outlay. It would require building houses, roads, schools and other infrastructure which would be equivalent to building again the eight biggest cities in the UK outside London.

He said that immigrants enriched the UK in many ways and that the problem was merely one of scale. He said that the immigration system was 'shambolic' and immensely bureaucratic; singling out student immigration for special attention, he said that there were over 800 pages of guidance for universities for accepting foreign students and enormously long and complex forms for prospective immigrants to complete.

He said that the 'points-based system for awarding visas should be abolished and that immigration decisions should, instead, rely on 'the common sense of experienced immigration officers'. He said that the attempt to create a list of objective criteria was futile. 'Common sense has gone out of the window, bureaucracy has taken over,' he said.

Mr Field, too, expressed concerns about the number of students coming to the UK. He also said that no one knows how many students leave the UK having finished their studies. It is known that 21% remain legally, perhaps having taken up a job and obtained a tier 2 skilled worker visa, but no one knew where the other 79% were.

The debate was thinly attended. Most speakers spoke in favour of the motion; Andrew Turner, the Conservative MP for the Isle of Wight, said that the Labour Party had deliberately allowed immigration to create an electoral advantage for the left. He said in 1953, Britain had accepted 3,000 immigrants. It now took 200,000 a year which created 'a new Birmingham every five years'.

Roger Godsiff, Labour MP for Hither Green, Birmingham, said that he was a keen advocate of multiculturalism but feared that mass immigration put it under threat. He said that the wages of the low paid were kept lower by immigration while the bosses paid themselves bigger bonuses. He said that many of his constituents came to the UK as immigrants and they feared immigration as much as anyone. He said that untrammelled immigration could put race relations at risk.

Several MPs said that this was an important debate. They said that the failure of the main political parties to address immigration had driven people who were not racists into the hands of racist parties. They urged the government to act.

Paul Blomfield, Labour MP for Sheffield Central said that international students brought a great deal of income to the country. There were many such students in Sheffield and 2,000 jobs there depended on export education. He said that foreign students brought £7.9bn a year into the UK economy and, because of the demand for education from the developing economies, this figure could double. And yet, the UK was losing market share because of the Home Office's policies. He said that the Home Office's own figures suggested its plans would cost £2.9bn a year.

Several speakers called on the new Immigration Minister, Mark Harper, who attended the debate, to show compassion to the 2,600 students at London Metropolitan University who are facing deportation from the country. Last week, the United Kingdom Border Agency revoked the university's licence to sponsor international students after the university's systems for checking that they were genuine were found to be inadequate. Frank Field said that to deport these students would be to 'punish the innocent'.

Speaking at the end of the debate, Mr Harper said that he would not overrule the UKBA's decision to prevent the students from finishing their courses at LMU but said that a government taskforce would help genuine students find alternative courses. He said that the Home Office policies would continue unchanged.

The motion was carried without a division with a clear majority in favour of the motion. However, parliament has no power to compel the government to legislate. As the Home Secretary had already signalled her opposition to setting targets for the UK's population, it was clear that the vote will not affect government policy.

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Source: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2012-09-07/uk-parliament-votes-to-limit-population-to-70m

British health chief dubbed 'Minister for Magic'

LONDON - He supports homeopathy, a practice that many experts liken to snake oil. He opposes late-term abortion, falling afoul of this mostly pro-choice nation. During the London Olympics, he offended many Britons with a jab at the cherished National Health Service.

This is Mr Jeremy Hunt - Britain's new health minister. He has only been in his job since Tuesday, but already some experts fret that his controversial views and general knack for inviting scandal could sow confusion in an already fragile health system.

Mr Hunt's personal beliefs should not influence policy because his job will mostly be to implement reforms that have already been agreed. Still, British media slammed Mr Hunt's appointment, mainly basing their criticism on his support of homeopathy. The Telegraph newspaper headline read: "Jeremy Hunt as Health Secretary: Are you kidding?" The magazine New Scientist labelled him "the new minister for magic".

And medical views aside, the 45-year-old Conservative ally of Prime Minister David Cameron has already developed an image as a magnet for controversy - notably during his just-completed stint as minister for media, culture and sport.

In that job, he was criticised for maintaining close ties to Mr Rupert Murdoch even as a phone hacking scandal engulfed the media tycoon. Opposition lawmakers said Mr Hunt, whose office had jurisdiction over Mr Murdoch's ambitions to take over a TV station, should face a government inquiry. Mr Hunt's adviser Mr Adam Smith resigned after the contacts between Mr Murdoch's News Corp and the minister's office were disclosed.

Some had expected Mr Hunt to be demoted after the scandal. But in his first major Cabinet shakeup, Mr Cameron gave Mr Hunt another high-profile job instead.

In announcing the Cabinet changes, Mr Cameron said ministers would be expected to focus on implementing policies that have already been approved in Parliament, meaning that Mr Hunt will likely be on a short leash.

Mr Hunt allies defended the selection.

"Jeremy Hunt is perfectly well-qualified to do the job," said Mr Stephen Dorrell, a Conservative Party member of Parliament and chair of Parliament's Health Select Committee. "He understands the concerns people have, he's an excellent communicator and he will focus on making sure the government delivers on its objectives."

Mr Dorrell, who was health secretary between 1995 and 1997, said it was unfair to criticise Mr Hunt for signing a Parliamentary motion five years ago in support of homeopathy. "I think if you dig far back enough into everybody's history, you can always find something like that," he said, rejecting fears that government policy on homeopathy would change.

Mr Hunt joined Parliament in 2005 after setting up an educational publishing company and a charity helping AIDS orphans in Africa. He inherits the health portfolio at a time of radical restructuring in the National Health Service. His predecessor introduced a new health bill opposed by every major medical group but was ultimately approved by Parliament. The changes will axe about 20,000 jobs while transferring greater powers to clinics.

Mr Hunt's most recent gaffe was questioning whether the country's health service, the NHS, deserved to get a tribute in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Mr Cameron reportedly overruled him.

In 2005, Mr Hunt co-authored a book that concluded that the NHS was no longer relevant and it should no longer be run by the government.

Scientists are more worried about his backing for homeopathy.

"This is a jump back into the last century," said Dr Edzard Ernst, an emeritus professor at Exeter University. "We need someone who believes in science and evidence for a health secretary, and that is not compatible with believing in homeopathy.

"This is a bad omen for things to come."

Many scientists view homeopathy as modern day quack medicine. It relies on highly diluted drugs made from natural ingredients. The United States government has stopped paying for studies of homeopathic treatments, saying there is little evidence any of them work. A government website notes homeopathy is based on concepts that are inconsistent with the fundamentals of chemistry and physics.

In 2007, Mr Hunt signed a motion welcoming the "positive contribution made to the health of the nation" by homeopathy and called for the government to actively support it. In response to a constituent who pointed out that homeopathy does not work, Mr Hunt replied it should be available because thousands of people use it and the government insists health care should be "patient-led".

Sir Paul Nurse, president of the Royal Society, Britain's leading independent scientific academy, said he was hopeful Mr Hunt might change his mind about homeopathy. "It could be that in his new position he will read more thoroughly," he said. "If we are to make the case for evidence-based medicine, then there shouldn't be any homeopathy."

A 2010 report from a House of Commons science committee recommended the government stop paying for homeopathy. But the department of health leaves decisions on treatments to hospitals, meaning the government continues to pay for some homeopathic remedies. Homeopathic treatments account for less than 1 per cent of Britain's drug costs.

Experts say that homeopathic remedies are mostly prescribed for people with chronic problems like pain or fatigue, where the treatments may seem to work because of the placebo effect. Practitioners who use alternative remedies often spend more time listening to patients, which can help them feel better.

The questionable treatments are backed by celebrities including Paul McCartney, David Beckham and Jude Law. In 2005, Prince Charles commissioned a report on homeopathy which said treating patients with homeopathy could cut the nation's drugs bill in half. Experts said that would put patients' lives in danger.

Women's groups are concerned about Mr Hunt's track record on abortion. In 2008, Mr Hunt voted for the limit to be halved to 12 weeks from the current 24. The motion was thrown out, but experts say Mr Hunt's position was troubling.

"About 80 per cent of the country is pro-choice but unfortunately Jeremy Hunt is not one of those people," Ms Kate Smurthwaite, vice-chair of Abortion Rights, an advocacy group. "We hold out hope he's going to take the job seriously and put his personal views aside to get on with the job, but to have him as health minister is incredibly worrying." AP

Source: http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC120907-0000128/British-health-chief-dubbed-Minister-for-Magic