West Dorset
Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrats reveals £9million extra cells bill

A parliamentary answer given to Liberal Democrat MP David Heath has revealed that the National Offender Management Service has set aside £9million for the use of police and court cells for prisoners in 2007-08, because of overcrowding in prisons. Today it was revealed that an acute shortage of judges is causing long delays in bringing criminal trials to court, putting even more pressure on overcrowded prisons and delaying justice for victims of crime.

2 Aug 2007
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Lib Dem logo bird projected on blockwork

BBC investigation highlights big problems with ID Card scheme

An investigation by BBC 'File On 4' has shown up substantial problems with the national ID cards scheme. 16 months after passing the legislation, James Hall, head of the ID cards programme, admitted that - despite spending over £72 million to date - the scheme is still not ready for tender. His department does not yet know "the precise details of how we deliver this". Further admissions by Mr Hall suggest that the final price tag will be much higher than the government's current estimate of £5.5 billion. Even more damaging is the claim of an academic expert in the field that the system, billed by ministers as infallible, will have errors as high as 1 in 1000 by the time just 10% of the UK population are enrolled, meaning there will be thousands of false matches. "For the scheme as a whole it means that it can no longer deliver the goal of one citizen, one identity," Professor John Daugman of Cambridge University said in the show broadcast last night.

2 Aug 2007
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Dundee LibDems back call to extend Tax Credits deadline

Dundee Liberal Democrats have today (Thursday 2nd August) backed calls for the Westminster Government to consider extending the recent deadline to reapply for tax credits if it is clear families have been unable to complete their applications.

2 Aug 2007
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8 million Iraqis need urgent aid

According to a report by Oxfam and the NGO Coordination Committee in Iraq, one third of the Iraqi population needs emergency aid because of the humanitarian crisis caused by war and ongoing violence. The report disclosed that around 8 million Iraqis are in urgent need of water, sanitation, food and shelter. It also warned of a humanitarian crisis that had escalated since the 2003 invasion.

1 Aug 2007
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