Blackburn with Darwen Council Budget - no Council Tax Increase
The Labour Group on Blackburn with Darwen Group pushed through their budget last night with only the Liberal Democrats oppsoing them.
8 Mar 2011
National News
Benefits payments could be put on 'library card'
Thousands of benefits recipients currently paid by cheque could receive their money on a token "like a library card", the government has said. Only 250,000 out of 18 million benefits claimants receive money by cheques cashed at post offices - often as they do not have a bank account. However, the system is to be run through PayPoint outlets instead, and cheques will be phased out over a year. There are 22,000 PayPoint outlets in UK supermarkets and convenience stores.
7 Mar 2011
Concerns about controversial MS treatment
Serious concerns have been raised about a controversial vein-widening treatment being offered to people with multiple sclerosis. An investigation by BBC Inside Out discovered that one doctor carrying out the procedure in Egypt is not licensed to practice medicine in that country. The BBC understands that in the UK, an NHS GP has been reported to the doctors' watchdog, the General Medical Council, for organising the treatment through his private company at a cost of nearly £8,000.
7 Mar 2011
New system uses brain scans to spot early Alzheimer's
A new method using brain scans to spot the early signs of Alzheimer's Disease is being tested in NHS memory clinics. An advanced computer programme compares a patient's brain scan with a database of 1,200 existing images of brains already affected by the disease.
7 Mar 2011
Dissability Essex gets two training bursary awards.
The Jerome Booth Charitable Fund and Essex County Council Millennium Fund have awarded Disability Essex funding for two Training Bursaries.
7 Mar 2011
MP calls on county council to stop bus route axe plans
Local MP Tim Farron has today called on the Conservative-led county council to stop plans to axe local bus services and instead put their plans out to consultation with local residents.
7 Mar 2011