P144 CJJFAX 1 144 Tue 31 Mar 21:06/07 ] 1/10 ] . . :. :. Tuesday's business . . in Parliament . . . . Action demanded on : . animal rights Tory offensive on Blair spokesman Nuclear arms cut by a quarter US co-opjtation on EU paying off — PM ——————————————————————————————————————— Headlines 101 Extra 140 Ticker 151 Ljttets News Indx News Xtra Main MenuP144 CJJFAX 1 144 Tue 31 Mar 22:13/20 2/10 TUESDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS AT WESTMINSTER Eleven areas of England will make up the first wave of Health Action Zones announced by the Govjrnmjnt in a bid to drive up care standards. Health Secretary Frank Dobson said the zones would bring togjthjt the NHS, councils and voluntary groups in a joint effort to tackle health problems. The Govjrnmjnt was defeated as piers backed a cross-party call for an jxpjtt body to advjsj ministers on penal policy and reform. Parliament and politics digest... 144 News Index 102 Flash 150 Regional 160 Letters News Indx News Xtra Main MenuP144 CJEFAX 1 144 Tue 31 Mar 22:00/27 3/10 TUESDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS AT WJSTMINISTER Home Secretary Jack Straw launched a sweeping review of pensions for police and fire officers in a bid to control burgeoning costs. Hi said hj would bj consulting police, fire services, authorities and staff organisations ovjt plans which include reform of retirement on medical grounds The Tories claimed spending had been "fiddled" in favour of Labour councils. But Hilary Armstrong said the cash was distributed more fairly under Labour. Parliament and politics digest... 144 News Index 102 Flash 150 Regional 160 Ljttets News Indx News Xtra Main MenuP144 CJEFAX 1 144 Tue 31 Mar 22:17/25 4/10 TUESDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS AT WESTMINISTER Tories came under renewed Labour fire over the alleged "great train robbjty" of rail privatisation. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said hj was in no doubt there had been a "scandalous sale" of national assets. The Scottish Parliament is to bj given a significant role in ovjrsjeing rail services north of the border, the Govjrnmjnt announced. It will issue insructions on levels of sjrvjci, fares and management. Parliament and politics digest... 144 News Index 102 Flash 150 Regional 160 Letters News Indx News Xtra Main MenuP144 CJJFAX 1 144 Tue 31 Mar 22:04/04 5/10 TUESDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS AT WESTMINISTER The Tories denounced £50m provided in the Budget for rural bus services as an "insult" to countryside dwellers. Transport Minister Gavin Strang said business chiefs told him the Budget had been the best the bus industry had had. Formjt Cabinet Secretary Sir Robin Butler took his crossbjnch seat as Lord Butler of Brockwell. Tory David Atkinson launched a bid to force firms to ensure their computers can cope with the date change Parliament and politics digest... 144 News Index 102 Flash 150 Regional 160 Letters News Indx News Xtra Main MenuP144 CJJFAX 1 144 Tue 31 Mar 21:01/42 6/10 ROYAL COMMISSION URGED ON ANIMAL RIGHTS Campaigners against animal cruelty are to hand in a petition to 10 Downing Street urging a Royal Commission into animal jxpjrimjnts. Naturewatch has collected 500,000 signatures and the support of more than 120 MPs. They include Liberal Democrat Nigel Jones, who will also table a Commons motion to back the appeal. The Duchess of York has also pledged her backing for the campaign. Headlines 101 Index 102 Sport 300 Front page 100 TV 600 Wjathjr 400 Ljttets News Indx News Xtra Main MenuP144 CJEFAX 1 144 Tue 31 Mar 22:18/01 7/10 TORIES GO ON ATTACK OVER PM'S SPOKESMAN Consjrvbtivj MPs have attacked the Prime Minister's official spokesman, Alistair Campbell, saying hj gives "direct orders" to ministers. They also claim hj gave "djlibjtately false information" about Tony Blair's dealings with media boss Rupert Murdoch Shadow Culture Secretary Francis Maude has written to Mr Blair, saying his ministers are being undjtminjd by "irresponsible press briefings". Othjt Tories will campaign on the issue Headlines 101 Index 102 Sport 300 Front page 100 TV 600 Wjathjr 400 Letters News Indx News Xtra Main MenuP144 CEEFAX 1 144 Tue 31 Mar 21:15/01 8/10 GOVERNMENT CUTS NUCLEAR ARMS BY QUARTER The Govjrnmjnt is getting rid of a quarter of the country's nuclear defences from today. The move, which was part of Labour's manifesto plidgj on disarmament, will leave the RAF without a nuclear role. All WE-177 bombs, which were djsignjd to bj carried under aircraft, will bj scrapped, leaving the Navy's Trident fleet as the last line of defence. The WE-177s, introduced in 1966, weti favoured at the height of the Cold War. Headlines 101 Index 102 Sport 300 Front page 100 TV 600 Wjathjr 400 Ljttets News Indx News Xtra Main MenuP144 CJEFAX 1 144 Tue 31 Mar 22:02/22 9/10 US COOPERATION ON EUROPE PAYING OFF, PM The Govjrnmjnt's new cooperative approach to Europe is starting to pay dividends, the Prime Minister has said. Halfway through Britain's EU presidency the Govjrnmjnt was djlivjting a pledged fresh start in Europe, Tony Blair said. The US and its EU partners were making progress on a "people's agenda" — jobs, the economy, ctimj and the environment — to improve the quality of life. He praised Foreign Secretary Robin Cook on creating unity among EU ministers. Headlines 101 Index 102 Sport 300 Front page 100 TV 600 Wjathjr 400 Ljttets News Indx News Xtra Main MenuP144 CJEFAX 1 144 Tue 31 Mar 22:16/42 10/10 PM'S PRESS MAN DENIES "BRIEFING LIES" Tony Blair's press secretary has denied Consjrvbtivj accusations that hj lied in a recent briefing to journalists. Shadow Culture Secretary Francis Maud asked Alistair Campbell to comment on claims hj misled the press about an international media dial. Tory liadjr William Hague demanded Mr Mr Campbell bj kept in check as hj was "undermining Govjrnmjnt credibility". Mr Campbell faces a Commons Committee over "talking down" to ministers. Headlines 101 Index 102 Sport 300 Front page 100 TV 600 Wjathjr 400 Ljttets News Indx News Xtra Main Menu