| Britain's immigration laws 'favour footballers over scientists', Nobel prize group say New Immigration laws appear to suggest that Britain values footballers more than scientists, a group of Nobel prize-winning experts have said. telegraph.co.uk |
Child maintenance workers sacked for accessing pornography Four members of staff at Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission dismissed and three others disciplined, FOI request revealsFour members of staff at the UK's child maintenance body were sacked after accessing internet pornography, doing online shopping and carrying out unauthorised downloading on work computers, it was revealed today.The employees worked for the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC), which is soon to be axed. Three other staff members were disciplined for similar offences.The details emerged following a Freedom of Information request.CMEC took over from the Child Support Agency in 2008, and it emerged today that it is one of the quangos to close under government plans.Gary Steele, the CEO of Proofpoint, the internet security company which made the FOI request, said: "The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission deals with extremely sensitive issues and data about family issues, and it is worrying that staff have been able to access unauthorised sites."Apart from the fact they should be doing their work and not logging on to completely inappropriate sites, these employees are risking the integrity of their office computer network."Responding to the FOI request, CMEC said: "Commissions' employees are regularly reminded of the rules regarding access to the internet sites."Every time an individual logs on to their computer system, he or she is prompted to read and accept the terms of the commission's electronic media policy."A CMEC spokesman added: "We employ almost 9,000 people, and the disciplinary record speaks for itself."guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Concern at health capital budget The chairman of the health committee, has described the impact of the Spending Review cuts on NI's health's capital budget as "disastrous". bbc.co.uk |
Burning ship's 100-strong crew saved by rescuers Nearly 100 people have been saved from a blazing ship in a dramatic rescue operation. telegraph.co.uk |
Sombre mood at UN climate talks This year's round of UN climate talks has opened, with little expectation of significant progress. bbc.co.uk |