PM MUST CLARIFY UK GOVERNMENT POSITION ON AL-MEGRAHI

The Prime Minister has been urged to clarify the UK Government’s position on the Scottish Justice Secretary’s decision to reject the Prisoner Transfer application and release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds, after Children’s Secretary Ed Balls contradicted previous statements made by UK Ministers, including the Foreign Secretary.

SNP Westminster leader and Foreign Affairs spokesperson Angus Robertson MP called on Gordon Brown to clarify his position after Mr Balls – speaking on the BBC Today Programme – said: “none of us [the UK Government] wanted to see the release of Al-Megrahi.”

Mr Balls remarks conflict with previous statements by the Prime Minister who said that he ‘respects’ the Scottish Government’s decision, and the Today interview by the Foreign Secretary last Wednesday confirming the position communicated to the Libyans by Bill Rammell, that UK Ministers “did not want him to die in prison”.

Commenting, Mr Robertson said:

“The Prime Minister must make a clear statement setting out exactly where his government actually stands. Ed Balls’ comments contradict previous statements by the Foreign Secretary, and add to the confusion that has engulfed Downing Street .

“Ed Balls’ comments are totally at odds with Bill Rammell’s claim that neither Gordon Brown nor David Miliband wanted Megrahi to die in a Scottish jail – since confirmed by the Foreign Secretary.

“In rejecting the Prisoner Transfer application and granting compassionate release to send al-Megrahi back to Libya to die, Scotland’s Justice Secretary made the right decision for the right reasons - and one which is attracting widespread and growing support, as this weekend’s YouGov poll which puts the SNP 8 points ahead of Labour demonstrates.”

Long term government commitment will turnaround achievements of young black men - Denham

Turning around underachievement of young Black men is a generational challenge that will be met by a long term commitment from Government, Communities Secretary John Denham, said today.

Recommendations from an independent REACH report made to Government two years ago identified the specific and unique barriers that are still holding back too many Black boys and young Black men.

Targeted Government measures to tackle inequality in criminal justice and education are improving the opportunities and life chances for Black boys and young Black men. But there is more to do.

The REACH programme of work, led by representatives from the Black community, set out clearly what further work is needed to tackle specific challenges and ensure no Black boys or young Black men face a penalty for being Black.

Responding to those specific challenges has been the focus of Government’s work in partnership with the community. A report published today shows the progress that has already been made and what further work is needed in three key areas:

More action in communities
Many organisations rooted in communities do an outstanding job of helping young Black boys and are able to support them far more effectively than any national initiative or external group. But they are often small in scale and resources. Guidance being published today will help these organisations to work together, access funding and have greater effect.

Tackling underachievement in schools
Achievement in schools is rising and attainment of Black boys is improving but there is still a gap that must be closed. REACH called for practical action to make stronger links between Black parents and schools and ensure that schools are responding to this challenge. Immediate actions taken by the Government have included getting more dads involved in education through new “Parent Support Advisor” roles, recruiting more Black school governors and as of September every school will be inspected on how well they are promoting equal opportunity and tackling discrimination as part of a normal Ofsted inspection.

Raising aims and aspirations
REACH concluded that when Black boys and Black young men looked around they felt there were few inspirational options available to them and called on Government to establish a national role modelling programme to address this. In 2008, 20 national role models were named who are working with hundreds of young Black boys and men across the country to broaden their horizons by showing them what they can aspire to.

Speaking at a REACH conference in London, John Denham said:

“Barack Obama taking office as America’s first ever African-American president was a turning point in racial equality. And, here in Britain, we can see examples of successful black men from all walks of life.

“However, it is unacceptable that young Black boys are still paying a price for simply being black. Turning around underachievement amongst young Black men is a generational challenge but one that none of us will shy away from. There are no quick fix solutions to what are long standing and complex problems.

“We have developed a good understanding of what the challenges are. Now, we in Government, schools, and crucially, communities need to step up our efforts to work together to deliver the solutions that will ensure young Black boys and men have the confidence, skills, opportunities and determination to succeed.”

Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls said:

"We are committed to helping all children to raise their aspirations, fulfil their potential and make Britain the best place to grow up in the world. Our efforts over the last five years have seen considerable improvements in the educational attainment of Black pupils leaving our schools and we have started to narrow the achievement gap.

“Black boys are closing the gap faster than other groups at GCSE - five years ago less than 30 percent got five good GCSEs, last year it was over 50 percent. However, I am determined that we must do more and cannot be complacent. That is why we have set out further reforms for our schools in our recent 21st Century Schools White Paper and welcome the REACH programme and the challenge provided by it to improve the outcomes and aspirations of Black boys."

The Department for Communities and Local Government will be publishing a broader strategy to promote race equality; and learning the lessons from REACH will be a big part of that. This forms part of wider measures that Government is taking forward to tackle race equality.

Entrepreneur, 'Apprentice' Winner and REACH Role Model Tim Campbell said:

"The REACH role modelling project has carried out great work in changing the way that our community addresses some of the issues around young Black men's underachievement. I'm confident REACH will continue to provide a real opportunity to get voluntary organisations, the Government and individuals working together to tackle these issues head on."

Gove condemns Labour's "sham" education plans

Michael Gove has attacked the education plans outlined by Labour yesterday, pointing out that they are a combination of unfunded commitments, re-announcements, and policies that aren’t even supported by their own Ministers.

Legally enforceable home-school contracts were called ‘totally wrong’ by the Schools Minister, Sarah McCarthy-Fry, just three months ago.

Parenting orders have existed since 1998, but not a single one has been applied for in the last five years - and pilots of the one-to-one tuition policy have proved disastrous.

Michael stressed that Ed Balls, Labour’s Schools Secretary, has not given teachers the powers they need to deal with violence and disruption:

“He rejected our plan to give teachers the power to search for banned items. He rejected our plan to let schools make parent contracts compulsory. His new gimmicks will not solve the deep problems we have with bad behaviour in schools.”

Michael, the Shadow Children’s Secretary, also attacked Mr. Balls for rejecting Conservative proposals for radical school reform to create thousands more good school places and raise standards across the board.

“Instead, he has opted for a one-to-one tuition programme that was ineffective - and over budget - when piloted, and a 'September Guarantee' for which the funding doesn't stack up.”

YWCA'S RESPONSE TO ED BALLS' ALCOHOL CRACKDOWN

Whilst broadly welcoming the importance placed on early intervention measures as part of Ed Balls’ plan to tackle alcohol related antisocial behaviour, YWCA is concerned that a ‘get tough’ approach could produce a rebellious reaction among teenagers, and leave young women dangerously exposed to risk.

We know through our research that the current dispersal orders can lead to vulnerable young women ending up in unlit areas, such as parks, and expose them to risky situations. Until the wider issue of tackling the risible lack of facilities and root causes of young women’s drinking is addressed , there will be an over-reliance on punitive measures that label young people and won’t act as a deterrent.

(DFID) Young people to advise Ministers and world leaders on fight against global poverty

Fifty young people from across the UK have been invited by the Department for International Development (DFID) to help shape government policy to eliminate world poverty and share their views with world leaders ahead of the London Summit next month.

The DFID Youth Summit on Friday, 20 March will see 16-24 year olds from youth boards of charities and government departments gather in London to discuss how conflict, climate change and the economic crisis can be tackled to reduce global poverty. Their views will be presented to the Government and help inform the contents of DFID's new policy on the future of international development. The views of the young people will also form part of a global Youth Communique for the London Summit on 2 April which will be shared with every G20 country delegation present.

Douglas Alexander, International Development Secretary, said:

"We live in an interconnected world. What happens here in the UK has an effect on the developing world and vice versa. Tackling climate change, reducing conflict, rebuilding the global economy - all are global problems that need global solutions.

"Young people are part of these solutions. I want to hear young people's views about what world leaders should do at the G20 London Summit, and what our priorities should be for our new White Paper that lays out our strategy for fighting world poverty."

The global economic downturn is hitting the poorest hardest. By the end of this year, the effects of the global downturn could force as many as 46 million people into extreme poverty.

The Summit, organised by the DFID Civil Society Children and Youth Network, will provide young representatives from international leading charities, such as Plan International and UNICEF, and government Youth Boards the chance to ask questions and debate each of these topics.

Ed Balls, Education Secretary, said:
"I know from visiting schools and colleges up and down the country that young people are passionate about preventing global warming, tackling poverty and preventing diseases like HIV and malaria, both in this country and all over the world.

"There are very real issues facing world leaders right now and I want young people - the future generation - to able to contribute their ideas and really make a difference. I'm delighted that this event will help them do that and I look forward to hearing what they have to say."