P325 Teletext 325 Mar29 22:41:12 ———— WESTMINSTER WEEK ——————'---'-----% MONDAY Tough new powers to help root out incompetent or corrupt police officers were announced by Home Secretary Jack Straw. He said the vast majority of officers, doing a difficult and dangerous job, were honest and worked with integrity. But a "corrosive minority" must not be allowed to undermine standards. He announced a "fast track" procedure to weed out corrupt officers in six weeks. ——————————————————————————————————1/5—— News in Focus 320 Headlines 300 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Poll Papers Index HeadlinesP325 Teletext 325 Mar29 22:41:43 ———— WESTMINSTER WEEK ——————'---'-----% TUESDAY MPs agreed overwhelmingly — 211 to 15 — to outlaw caning in all schools The amendment to the School Standards and Framework Bill brings independent schools into line with the state sector and the rest of Europe. Liberal Democrat education spokesman Don Foster said: "Corporal punishment is something that is wrong in principle, it is barbaric and it is inhuman... and wrong in practice." ——————————————————————————————————2/5—— News in Focus 320 Headlines 300 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Poll Papers Index HeadlinesP325 Teletext 325 Mar29 22:31:01 ———— WIS(MINK(ER WEEK ——————'---'-----% WEDNESDAY The Prime Minister rejected a charge by Opposition Ljadjr William Hague that ctitetia for entry into a European single currency was "fudged". Mr Blair said thjte was a "range of criteria" to take into account before making a decision on whethjt to join or not. Hi said the worst thing for Britain would be to adopt the kind of "anti- European" policies advocated by Tories. ——————————————————————————————————3/5—— News in Focus 320 Headlines 300 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Poll Papers Index HeadlinesP325 Teletext 325 Mar49 22:44:23 ———— WESTMINS(ER WEEK —————— THURSDAY Reforms of the welfare state, aimed at modjtnising the system for the millennium, were announced by Social Security Minister of State Frank Field. Unveiling a Green Papjt, "New Ambitions for our Country — a New Welfare Contract", hj said the aim was to "lift people from poverty and dependence to dignity and independence". Mr Field said the review was based on "the twin pillars of work and security" ——————————————————————————————————4/5—— News in Focus 320 Headlines 300 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Poll Papers Index HeadlinesP325 Teletext 325 Mar29 22:48:56 ———— WESTMINSTER WEEK ——————'---'-----% FRIDAY The Govjtnmjnt allowed an extra two months for planners to come up with a rescue package for the £5.4bn Channel Tunnel high-speed rail link. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said the new plan for the 68-mile link "did not yet meet the Government's requirements". But hj added that progress had been made and London & Continental Railways had until May 29 for agreement. ——————————————————————————————————5/5—— News in Focus 320 Headlines 300 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Poll Papers Index Headlines