Thursday September 27

Blogs

2.00pm, Campaign: Kent County Council's "coherence" spending - spending more than a million pounds on self-promotion.  Write and complain.

10.45am, Economics 101:  The right way to harmonise taxes, if you must do it - if you're going to harmonise the corporate tax system do so in a way that facilitates, rather than limits tax competition.

10.15am, Better Government:  NHS fails the elderly - institutional carelessness reaches brutal levels.

10.05am, Economics 101:  A lesson in why corporate tax should be reduced - the CATO Institute are looking for feedback on a video they've made setting out why corporation tax needs to be cut.

9.50am, Economics 101:  French budget:  tax cuts; public spending frozen in real terms - why can't we do the same here?

News Round-Up

The NHS hospitals that deny old folk even the basic decencies

"Large areas of the NHS are failing to treat elderly people with even basic dignity and respect, a damning watchdog report reveals.

The independent Healthcare Commission says the indignity of mixed- sex wards, toilets and washing facilities are still a reality for many older patients.

Non-existent or broken locks on toilet doors and inadequate curtains lead to a shocking lack of privacy.

Too many patients are at risk of malnutrition as barely one in six of those who need help with eating and drinking are receiving it, while the report says patients are sometimes left for hours in soiled clothing." - Mail

Middle class 'should choose worse schools'

"Better-off parents should consider sending their children to struggling state schools, an education minister said yesterday.

Jim Knight said the children's privileged and supportive background meant that they could succeed whatever school they went to." - Telegraph