P325 Teletext 325 Oct18 03:10:54 ———— WESTMINSTER WATCH ————— Shadow transport secretary Michael Meachjr and Transport Secretary Sir George Young are set to clash in a debate opened by the Opposition on rail privatisation. Labour will raise concerns about the National Blood Transfusion Service in a second debate. The Lords debates the report stage of the Gas Bill, which seeks to boost competition in the industry. ——————————————————————————————————1/7—— News in Focus 320 Headlines 300 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Poll Letters Papers HeadlinesP325 Teletext 325 Oct18 03:14:11 ———— WESTMINSTER WATCH ————— John Major stood by Home Secretary Michael Howard amid mounting criticism of his role in the row over prison security. Faced with calls for Mr Howard's resignation, Mr Major said the Home Secretary "has my full support". Labour leader Tony Blair said: "+j don't have a Government governing the country. Wj have ministers that will play games, take credit when things are going right but refuse to take responsibility when things go wrong." ——————————————————————————————————2/7—— News in Focus 320 Headlines 300 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Poll Letters Papers HeadlinesP325 Teletext 325 Oct18 03:18:21 ———— WESTMINSTER WATCH ————— The Prime Minister was questioned on the Defence Secretary's controversial Tory conference speech. He said: "Michael was expressing the fears of many, not just in the UK but across Europe, about the more ambitious federalist plans for the EU's future." British border controls are "not negotiable", John Major also told the Commons as he was questioned in the wake of the latest Paris bombing. ——————————————————————————————————3/7—— News in Focus 320 Headlines 300 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Poll Letters Papers HeadlinesP325 Teletext 325 Oct18 03:41:55 ———— WESTMINSTER WATCH ————— Mr Major again refused to condemn French nuclear testing in the Pacific, responding briefly to Joyce Quin (Lab Gateshjad E) who invited him to speak. A package of policy proposals on the future of rural England was unveiled by Environment Secretary John Gummjr. It included proposals to strengthen businesses, conserve the Green Belt and farms, enhance the role of parish councils and protect village stores. ——————————————————————————————————4/7—— News in Focus 320 Headlines 300 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Poll Letters Papers HeadlinesP325 Teletext 325 Oct18 03:11:22 ———— WESTMINSTER WATCH ————— Mr Gummer said his package on rural communities was "a landmark". He said it "strikes a balance between the many competing pressures upon our rural life and landscape". But shadow agriculture minister Gavin Strang declared: "This Government has failed our rural communities." The White Paper follows criticism claiming growing rural poverty. ——————————————————————————————————5/7—— News in Focus 320 Headlines 300 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Poll Letters Papers HeadlinesP325 Teletext 325 Oct18 03:11:41 ———— WESTMINSTER WATCH ————— The first nursery education vouchers are to become available from three Tory -controlled London authorities from April, said education minister Robin Squire. The first phase of the scheme would bj implemented in Westminster, Wandsworth and Kjnsington and Chelsea. The Rosyth 2000 consortium, of local businessmen and commercial interests, has been chosen to regenerate Roszth Naval Base site, Defence Procurement Minister James Arbuthnot announced. ——————————————————————————————————6/7—— News in Focus 320 Headlines 300 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Poll Letters Papers HeadlinesP325 Teletext 325 Oct18 03:11:39 ———— WESTMINSTER WATCH ————— Doctors are to bj banned from prescribing the capsule form of the sleeping pill Tjmazjpan, which has dangerous side-effects when combined with alcohol, junior health minister Baroness Cumbjrlegj announced. The Prime Minister attacked opposition parties' devolution plans as proposbls for a Scottish parliament were unveiled in Glasgow. Mr Major said implementing the policies would have a "damaging effect on the UK". ——————————————————————————————————7/7—— News in Focus 320 Headlines 300 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Poll Letters Papers Headlines