The current application procedure for Disability Living Allowance has been failing people with ME and other debilitating conditions.
Also:
Benefits system fails ME sufferers
Wall St firms fined $1.4bn
Ten Wall St firms have been fined a total of $1.4bn for their alleged involvement in biased performance analysis.
The BBC’s North American Business Correspondent Stephen Evans gave us the reaction from Wall St.
And the FSA’s Gay Huey Evans explained the implications for UK businesses.
Listen to the audio
OTHER NEWS
FSA warning on unauthorised firms
The FSA has warned consumers about 40 unregulated firms who are targeting people in the UK to invest or deal in shares.
Royal & Sun Alliance bonus cut
R & SA, one of the UK’s largest insurance groups, has slashed payouts to with-profits investors for the second time this year.
Withdrawal of Dickens note
Ten pound notes featuring Charles Dickens will cease to be legal tender from 1 August, the Bank of England has announced.
Extra web information:
Voluntary NI Contributions
The Revenue has decided to give people more time to make voluntary contributions if they have gaps in their record since the 1996-97 tax year.
Paul Lewis talks about Age Concern’s Sally West about who should pay extra National Insurance Contributions.
Listen to the audio
Also:
Revenue relaxes contribution rules
Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporter: Penny Haslam
Producer: Jennifer Clarke
Original article
Read another articles about .
See related site about travel locked funds insurance backpackers.
John Collins has defended his management style while admitting that he is not flawless after a delegation of players complained to his boss.
Hibs players met chairman Rod Petrie on Monday to voice their concerns while manager Collins was out the country.
“Nobody is perfect,” said Collins. “I’m a young, new manager and make mistakes just like senior managers make them.
“But one things for sure, every decision I make is thought through with care and attention.”
Interview: Hibernian manager John Collins
Interview: Hibernian captain Rob Jones
Collins has led Hibs to victory in the CIS Insurance Cup since taking charge in October and leads his side out on Sunday in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Dunfermline Athletic.
And it appears that media stories about dissent among some players were not discussed when he met with his players on Thursday.
“It’s been a different week, an interesting week, a learning process,” said Collins.
 |
What happens in the dressing-room, stays in the dressing-room
Hibernian captain Rob Jones
|
“But the most important thing, and the thing we are focussed on at the football club, is winning the cup semi-final.”
Asked whether he was disappointed to learn of the delegation of players, Collins said: “It’s done and there’s nothing I can do about it.
“The only thing you can do is move on and get the players ready for Sunday.
“Nothing surprises you in football. It is a unique business. It was our football club this week. It will be somebody else’s next week.”
Collins admits that some might not have taken to the changes he and coach Tommy Craig have made since taking over from Tony Mowbray.
“We have certainly changed a lot of things at the football club, but everybody does that,” said the renowned fitness fanatic.
“There are 30 players in the dressing-room, but only 11 can start. You can’t make everybody happy.
“We’ve only had one player out injured all season, so we must be doing something right by keeping everyone fit and healthy and able to last the season.
“We’ve already had a successful season and want to have an even more successful one.”
However, asked whether a small group was exerting influence in the player camp, Collins said: “You said it, not me.”
The Hibs manager was sure that he had the backing of Petrie and insisted that he was committed to the Edinburgh club in the long-term.
“I had a terrific chat with the chairman yesterday,” he said.
“Everything went as I thought it would go.
“He has supported me 100%.
“I will do my best every day and, if I do that, I can put my head on the pillow every night.”
Meanwhile, club captain Rob Jones refused to be drawn on whether he had been part of the player delegation and whether problems remained.
“We have had a great training session and everyone is focussed on Sunday,” said the defender.
“We all want to be going in the same direction.
“But what happens in the dressing-room, stays in the dressing-room.”
Source:
And some information of .
Opportunity
Although most companies main concern is their bottom line profit, more and more are becoming aware of their place in the community.
And many are taking up the opportunity to spend a day out of the office to work with people in the local area who could use their help.
In the case of Middle Row School in London, they needed help in creating a new wildlife area - and a company of insurance brokers stepped up to the challenge.
The wilderness was the invention of the school’s former headmaster but it fell into disrepair over time and couldn’t be used by the children in the state that it was in.
Impact
On the day, the area is a hive of activity and everyone pitches in.
But lessons are still going on while the work’s in progress, as all sorts of wildlife have crawl out of the pond.
The school children here have never seen a newt before - they’re not that common in the middle of suburbia.
The atmosphere’s a relaxed one but headmaster Jonathtan Cooper is quite sure that the project’s worth a day out of the classroom.
“Having the opportunity for business to come into schools can have a very quick and direct impact on the lives of the children and their education.
A variety of skills are used
|
“The impact of their work is huge and will have an effect on the children’s learning for the next year or so - it’s fantastic, and we’ll work hard on maintaining it.”
Benefit
For staff from Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, the largest UK supplier of insurance and employee benefits, the day’s activities come as a breath of fresh air.
Karen Maynard says: “It’s a day to come out and work in the local community, working with the school.
“The kids are lovely; they’re enjoying it so much and you can see they’re going to get a lot of benefit out of this after we’ve left.”
Halla Melcon, an account handler at the company, agrees: “At the end of the day, it’s great getting the team out here, from different departments in the company as well, all pooling together to do something that you wouldn’t ordinarily do.”
Joined up effort
This sort of project doesn’t’ t happen by accident - several bodies have to pull together to make it work.
The company provides the time, the staff, and the budget for tools and plants.
They are in touch with a group called London Cares, which is part of the Business in the Community charity - who in turn work closely with Kensington and Chelsea Volunteers Bureau.
They’re in touch with organisations, like the this school, who need help from the corporate sector.
Jo Daniels from London Cares says: “The two sort of work in synch. We get the community need - there’s obviously a need there - then there’s a need with the businesses, and it’s our role at London Cares to match those two together.”
Student Guide
Working together is key
|
On Thursday ten people employed by one of the UK’s leading insurance brokers will be working on renovating the playground at Middle Row School in North London instead of spending the day at work.
The event has been set up by London Cares, an organisation which aims to get volunteers from London business involved in projects to help the community.
All sorts of businesses support London Cares.
They include Accenture, Aviva, Bain & Co, BBC, BUPA, Boston Consulting Group, The Body Shop, the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), Diageo, EDF Energy, Eversheds, Grey Worldwide, HBOS, HSBC, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, Marks & Spencer, Pareto Partners, PKF, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Zurich Financial Services.
Just think…
Why do you think businesses encourage their staff to get involved with projects like this?
What’s in it for business?
Staff develop new skills
By going out to work in a different environment, people have to work in different ways.
they learn to work together more effectively
they learn to work with other people
they develop leadership skills
they learn new practical skills
The business’s image improves
When potential customers see a business working to help the community, they are more likely to buy its products than one of its competitors.
Businesses work hard to develop a good reputation because of the effect that is has on customers.
Working with London Cares gives these opportunities several times a year so people in the locality become increasingly aware of the business.
 |
Spring Clean 2004
Teams will be able to refurbish buildings such as community centres and schools, clear playgrounds, spruce up parks and more to brighten the local area and clear away those winter-time blues!
|
The business is more attractive to employees
People want to work for businesses which look after them.
Although pay is important people want other things from employment.
Events put on through London Cares add to working life by injecting fun and something different.
It also helps to keep staff who might not find these opportunities elsewhere.
Staff morale is always higher when they feel the business cares about individuals not just what they produce.
Just think…
Explain how each of these factors helps the business.
Why is it important to motivate staff?
Why do businesses want to maintain a good reputation?
How does the community win?
The organisations which are helped by businesses involved with London Cares receive all sorts of support which means that they can achieve their objectives more effectively.
A school with a smart new playground gives children a more exciting time.
Local schools get involved too
|
Often people from businesses use their professional skills to help voluntary organisations so a they might be able to run their finances more effectively, set up new administrative systems or create a strategic plan.
A London Cares event often has a high profile so people hear about the organisation.
It can make the voluntary organisation more efficient.
Professional help is often too expensive for small voluntary organisations so the scheme really helps them.
People who work for voluntary organisations can learn from the professionals and therefore become more effective.
It gives people who work for the voluntary organisation confidence in what they do. They often find out how to have more influence.
Just think…
Why are voluntary organisations important for the community?
Why do you think it can be difficult for people who work for these organisations to keep up to date with the skills that they need to make the organisation work effectively?
Why do links with business make an important contribution?
Win - Win - Win
The community wins because the services from the voluntary organisations improves.
The business wins because it has happy employees and a good image with customers.
The voluntary organisation wins because it can carry out its activities more effectively.
Originaly from:
, and more another.
, and more another.
Read more on site
Pensions are in crisis. Millions of people in work today have no idea just how poor they will be when they retire. But the crisis is hard to pin down as there is no single cause.
Bob is angry. Not long retired he has been taking a close look at his state pension and he reckons it is not enough.
“In percentage terms it is not good. It is well below the average wage,” said the 66-year-old from Tyneside.
Bob is not alone. He is one of a growing band of pensioners who are increasingly making their voice heard … A voice that they are determined the politicians will hear.
Bob is luckier than some in that he does also have the benefit of a company pension to top up what the government gives him.
Cyril is not so fortunate. Now 81, he has less than 100 a week to live on; his basic pension being topped up with pension credit.
Eroded pension funds have fuelled anger and resentment in the UK
|
Pension time bomb
Of course it could be claimed that Bob and Cyril and thousands like them are just the tip of what is likely to become a very large iceberg as pensions (or rather the lack of them) look set to be one of the hot political potatoes over the coming years.
This is why the parties are falling over themselves to come up with what they think is the answer to the pension time bomb. But it is not an easy problem to solve.
Not only do the politicians have to satisfy today’s pensioners but, with a growing elderly population, ensure that there is enough cash in the bank for tomorrow’s retirees too.
The snag is that we are all living longer and not saving enough. Government figures predict that a 65-year-old in 2041 will have another 21 years to live.
Today they are likely to live another 16 years.
The question is do tomorrow’s pensioners spend those 21 years at coffee mornings, the hairdressers and day trips to Whitley Bay, or behind a keyboard or on the till at a DIY store trying to earn enough money to make ends meet?
Party promises
So, with the election ever closer, what do the parties promise us?
The Liberal Democrats say they will boost the basic pension and restore pensions earning links for the over-75s.
They will also link pension to residency rather than national insurance payments and, their big carrot, offer free long-term personal care.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives say they too will restore the link between state pension and earnings, offer state-funded insurance for residential care and offer up to 500 off of council tax bills.
Labour says it will increase the basic state pension in line with price rises and offer incentives for those willing to work longer.
On top of that there will be extra help for the poorest and additional cash to pay the council tax.
Radical change?
But it could be debatable whether any or all of these materialise just yet.
The Government already had Pensions on its “To Do” list.
The Pensions Commission is due to report back its conclusions to what can be done in autumn 2005.
It is possible that whichever party gets in, no big decision will be made before then.
In fact, many believe that any really radical changes will not take place until 2010 by which time many more of us will be joining Bob and Cyril in the queue at the Post Office.
Politics Show
That is the Politics Show, Sunday 24 April, at 12.00pm with Richard Moss and Mary Askew. On the panel will be Peter Atkinson, Conservative, Hexham; Hilary Armstrong, Labour, Durham North West and Jodie Dunn, Lib Dem, Hartlepool.
Disclaimer: The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published.
, and more another.
And some information of .
Opportunity
Although most companies main concern is their bottom line profit, more and more are becoming aware of their place in the community.
And many are taking up the opportunity to spend a day out of the office to work with people in the local area who could use their help.
In the case of Middle Row School in London, they needed help in creating a new wildlife area - and a company of insurance brokers stepped up to the challenge.
The wilderness was the invention of the school’s former headmaster but it fell into disrepair over time and couldn’t be used by the children in the state that it was in.
Impact
On the day, the area is a hive of activity and everyone pitches in.
But lessons are still going on while the work’s in progress, as all sorts of wildlife have crawl out of the pond.
The school children here have never seen a newt before - they’re not that common in the middle of suburbia.
The atmosphere’s a relaxed one but headmaster Jonathtan Cooper is quite sure that the project’s worth a day out of the classroom.
“Having the opportunity for business to come into schools can have a very quick and direct impact on the lives of the children and their education.
A variety of skills are used
|
“The impact of their work is huge and will have an effect on the children’s learning for the next year or so - it’s fantastic, and we’ll work hard on maintaining it.”
Benefit
For staff from Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, the largest UK supplier of insurance and employee benefits, the day’s activities come as a breath of fresh air.
Karen Maynard says: “It’s a day to come out and work in the local community, working with the school.
“The kids are lovely; they’re enjoying it so much and you can see they’re going to get a lot of benefit out of this after we’ve left.”
Halla Melcon, an account handler at the company, agrees: “At the end of the day, it’s great getting the team out here, from different departments in the company as well, all pooling together to do something that you wouldn’t ordinarily do.”
Joined up effort
This sort of project doesn’t’ t happen by accident - several bodies have to pull together to make it work.
The company provides the time, the staff, and the budget for tools and plants.
They are in touch with a group called London Cares, which is part of the Business in the Community charity - who in turn work closely with Kensington and Chelsea Volunteers Bureau.
They’re in touch with organisations, like the this school, who need help from the corporate sector.
Jo Daniels from London Cares says: “The two sort of work in synch. We get the community need - there’s obviously a need there - then there’s a need with the businesses, and it’s our role at London Cares to match those two together.”
Student Guide
Working together is key
|
On Thursday ten people employed by one of the UK’s leading insurance brokers will be working on renovating the playground at Middle Row School in North London instead of spending the day at work.
The event has been set up by London Cares, an organisation which aims to get volunteers from London business involved in projects to help the community.
All sorts of businesses support London Cares.
They include Accenture, Aviva, Bain & Co, BBC, BUPA, Boston Consulting Group, The Body Shop, the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), Diageo, EDF Energy, Eversheds, Grey Worldwide, HBOS, HSBC, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, Marks & Spencer, Pareto Partners, PKF, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Zurich Financial Services.
Just think…
Why do you think businesses encourage their staff to get involved with projects like this?
What’s in it for business?
Staff develop new skills
By going out to work in a different environment, people have to work in different ways.
they learn to work together more effectively
they learn to work with other people
they develop leadership skills
they learn new practical skills
The business’s image improves
When potential customers see a business working to help the community, they are more likely to buy its products than one of its competitors.
Businesses work hard to develop a good reputation because of the effect that is has on customers.
Working with London Cares gives these opportunities several times a year so people in the locality become increasingly aware of the business.
 |
Spring Clean 2004
Teams will be able to refurbish buildings such as community centres and schools, clear playgrounds, spruce up parks and more to brighten the local area and clear away those winter-time blues!
|
The business is more attractive to employees
People want to work for businesses which look after them.
Although pay is important people want other things from employment.
Events put on through London Cares add to working life by injecting fun and something different.
It also helps to keep staff who might not find these opportunities elsewhere.
Staff morale is always higher when they feel the business cares about individuals not just what they produce.
Just think…
Explain how each of these factors helps the business.
Why is it important to motivate staff?
Why do businesses want to maintain a good reputation?
How does the community win?
The organisations which are helped by businesses involved with London Cares receive all sorts of support which means that they can achieve their objectives more effectively.
A school with a smart new playground gives children a more exciting time.
Local schools get involved too
|
Often people from businesses use their professional skills to help voluntary organisations so a they might be able to run their finances more effectively, set up new administrative systems or create a strategic plan.
A London Cares event often has a high profile so people hear about the organisation.
It can make the voluntary organisation more efficient.
Professional help is often too expensive for small voluntary organisations so the scheme really helps them.
People who work for voluntary organisations can learn from the professionals and therefore become more effective.
It gives people who work for the voluntary organisation confidence in what they do. They often find out how to have more influence.
Just think…
Why are voluntary organisations important for the community?
Why do you think it can be difficult for people who work for these organisations to keep up to date with the skills that they need to make the organisation work effectively?
Why do links with business make an important contribution?
Win - Win - Win
The community wins because the services from the voluntary organisations improves.
The business wins because it has happy employees and a good image with customers.
The voluntary organisation wins because it can carry out its activities more effectively.
Read http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/3756629.stm
A man has been jailed for 10 years for manslaughter by a court in northern Cyprus, after setting fire to a shop in Stoke-on-Trent in an insurance swindle.
Kemal Kemalzade, 39, denied the charge but was convicted at a trial in Nicosia after fleeing to northern Cyprus, which has no extradition treaty with the UK.
Colin Salt, who lived above the shop in Chell Heath Road, was fatally injured in the explosion in 2000.
Kemalzade was also convicted of arson, criminal damage and fraud.
 |
Colin has got justice, he deserved that
Colin Salt’s sister Liz Wilkinson
How the trail led to Cyprus
|
The 39-year-old, a Turkish Cypriot, helped to set fire to his brother’s shop on 28 December 2000 as part of an insurance scam.
The fire led to a gas explosion that destroyed the flat above, trapping 47-year-old Mr Salt in the flames.
He sustained extensive burns and died in hospital 18 days later.
Kemalzade’s brother and sister-in-law, Cinar and Sibel Kemalzade, were jailed for 11 years for manslaughter, eight years for conspiracy to commit arson, and three years for plotting insurance fraud after being convicted at Stafford Crown Court.
Colin Salt’s sister Liz Wilkinson said: “At the end of the day Colin has got justice and it wasn’t for us it was for Colin. He deserved that justice.”
‘Innocent victim’
Another sister Josie Sutton said: “I’m relieved the police haven’t given up, the system hasn’t given up.
“Taking up a case in another country lets other people in the same frame of mind know they are going to get caught.”
Colin Salt died nearly three weeks after the explosion
|
Kemal Kemalzade fled to Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus in 2001. He was detained in 2005 and brought to trial after detectives from Staffordshire Police travelled to Nicosia.
He was convicted on five charges of manslaughter, arson, criminal damage, conspiracy to commit arson and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
Det Insp Mark Hurst, of Staffordshire Police, said the determination of the police to see the investigation through to an end had never wavered.
“Colin Salt was the innocent victim of the Kemalzades’ financial scheming, his burns were appalling, and he suffered for three weeks before his death in hospital,” he said.
“Kemalzade prepared an escape route from the building, before splashing petrol around inside, re-setting the alarm and starting the fire.
“He tried to hide his own burns, and continually changed his explanation as to how he came by them. He mistakenly thought he could run off to north Cyprus and get away with it.”
Originaly from
« Previous Entries
