The government's tax credit scheme was branded "a shambles" yesterday after it was alleged that the cost of fraud and poor administration was likely to be more than £9bn in its first three years - 50% more than previous estimates.
http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2085124,00.html
Government moves to liberalise the planning system, from domestic conservatories to nuclear power stations, were hailed by business leaders and excoriated by environmentalists last night.
http://society.guardian.co.uk/communities/story/0,,2085174,00.html
Twenty top civil servants in the Home Office have been given top of the range iPods to provide them with lessons in leadership. In a pilot scheme the department has spent almost £9,000 on the gadgets as part of a “constant” way of finding new means to give staff training. Home Office officials were last night bracing themselves for a barrage of criticism over the purchase which was described by one source as “a wacky idea”.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1821555.ece
Metronet will request an extraordinary review of its 30-year contract to upgrade two thirds of London Underground in an attempt to gain at least an extra £600 million in public money, The Times has learnt.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article1822296.ece
David Cameron is trying to to quell the rebellion inside the Conservative Party over his decision to abandon its pledge to create more grammar schools. Some Conservative frontbenchers are threatening to resign if Mr Cameron refuses to water down his policy of endorsing Tony Blair's flagship academy schools as the best way to broaden educational opportunity. They are also gunning for David Willetts, the shadow Education Secretary, who confirmed the switch in policy last week.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2568021.ece