Obesity Levels Could Be Cut With 20% Fat Tax
9:13am UK, Wednesday May 16, 2012
A 20% “fat tax” on unhealthy food and drink could help cut the number of people suffering from obesity and heart disease.
Such a move should be combined with subsidies on healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables, academics from bmj.com said.
The group released their findings ahead of the 65th World Health Assembly in Geneva where prevention and control of non-communicable diseases will be key issues for discussion.
Experts Say Landmark Judgement Will Stop Benefit System Discriminating Against Disabled
Leading Lawyer Says Court of Appeal Ruling Confirms Government Has to Give Special Provision To Disabled People So That Human Rights Are Not Breached
Press release
Experts at Irwin Mitchell have welcomed a landmark judgement handed down at the Court of Appeal today which they say sets out clear guidance to ensure that disabled people are not discriminated against by the Government’s benefit system.
Three families challenged the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (DWP) which stated that local authorities could not provide housing benefit for extra bedrooms needed by four young disabled people who were living in private rented accommodation.
Special needs budgets to be controlled by parents
The plans aim to create a more integrated and less bureaucratic system for children with special needs
By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent
Parents are to be given more financial control over support for children with special educational needs, in a major shake-up of the system in England.
The government says it wants to push ahead with proposals announced last year that parents should have a “personal budget” for their children.
The changes could also see fewer children in the special needs category.
Children’s minister Sarah Teather said the current system was “outdated and not fit for purpose”.
The government is setting out its response to last year’s green paper on special educational needs – which warned that too many parents felt frustrated with having to “battle” against the system.
