Skelmersdale Advertiser - News - Breaking News

Balls pledges £23m for social work

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:05:18 GMT

Schools Secretary Ed Balls has pledged an extra £23 million for frontline social work as a key Government adviser raised concerns that a shortage of funding could be putting children at risk.

New figures to reveal jobless total

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:05:18 GMT

The latest unemployment figures are being published amid uncertainty over how quickly the UK job market can recover from the recession.

Call to axe thousands of NHS beds

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:05:17 GMT

The NHS should cut more than 30,000 hospital beds to save cash and improve patient care, a think-tank has said.

Brown hits back at debt criticism

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:05:17 GMT

Gordon Brown faces fresh pressure over his handling of the economy as a report from the EU Commission warns that the UK is not doing enough to tackle its spiralling deficit.

Family wait for freed boy's return

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:05:14 GMT

The family of the five-year-old boy freed by kidnappers in Pakistan are waiting for news of his return to the UK.

Civil servants' Budget day strike

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:05:22 GMT

Hundreds of thousands of civil servants are to stage their first national strike on Budget day in an escalation of a bitter dispute over cuts in redundancy pay.

Talent shows miss out at TV awards

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:05:22 GMT

The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent have been snubbed at the Royal Television Society Awards.

£1.85bn owed by benefits claimants

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:05:21 GMT

Benefit claimants owe an "immense" £1.85 billion in overpaid money but the Department for Work and Pensions is recovering less than £300 million a year, according to a parliamentary report.

Ads overstate climate change risk

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:05:21 GMT

Two Government adverts which used nursery rhymes to raise awareness of climate change have been banned for overstating the risks, a watchdog has announced.

US union backs striking BA workers

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:05:15 GMT

The war of words over the planned stoppage by British Airways cabin crew has crossed the Atlantic as it emerged a major US union has pledged to support the strikers.

Beckham 'positive' after surgery

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:05:14 GMT

David Beckham has said he is "feeling positive" after undergoing surgery on his Achilles tendon.

Brown rejects EU criticism

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:05:13 GMT

Gordon Brown has rejected criticism from the EU Commission that the UK is not doing enough to tackle its spiralling deficit.

Date set for Pope's visit to UK

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:05:15 GMT

The Pope is to meet the Queen and take part in an ecumenical service at Westminster Abbey as part of the first official Papal visit to Britain, it has been confirmed.

Battle continues over BA strike

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:05:14 GMT

The first effects of the planned strike by British Airways cabin crew emerged as time was running out to avert the action.

Boss: Rather hire cons than heroes

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:05:15 GMT

A company boss has provoked outrage after refusing a request to employ former troops, saying that he would rather recruit paedophiles.

Killer stalker jailed for life

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:05:15 GMT

A stalker who carried out a "frenzied" knife attack on his ex-girlfriend after a campaign of harassment has been jailed for life.

Boy, 12, one of youngest prisoners

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:05:14 GMT

A 12-year-old boy who has committed more than 30 crimes has become one of the UK's youngest prisoners when he was given a 10-month custodial term.

MP Kumar died from natural causes

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:05:22 GMT

Labour MP Ashok Kumar, who was found dead in his home, died from natural causes, police have said.

Home repossessions rise by 15%

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:05:22 GMT

The number of people who lost their homes leapt by 15% during 2009, new figures have shown.

Kraft sorry over UK factory u-turn

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:05:21 GMT

US food giant Kraft has issued a public apology for raising hopes that a doomed Cadbury factory could be saved and issued a two-year guarantee on jobs after facing a furious attack over its controversial takeover of the chocolate-maker.