News In Brief
Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam will soon give indications on behind-the-scenes talks between Britain and the Irish Republic. Lists of the subjects on which "briefings have taken place in the Anglo-Irish Secretariat involving officials of the Northern Ireland Office and those of the Northern Ireland departments" are to be published regulary in the library of the House of Commons. Details of the exchanges, however, will remain confidential.
Britain's first co-operative colliery is in danger of having to close down, because no prospective bidder could be found anywhere in the world to provide financial backing. Scottish Office Minister Brian Wilson said that it was "well into the eleventh hour" for Monktonhall Colliery near Edinburgh. The mine was supposed to have been closed 18 months ago, but then half of the 300 miners at Monktonhall used their redundancy payment to keep the colliery going. However earlier this year Monktonhall run into financial trouble and receivers were appointed.
Two former MPs, Michael Jopling and Don Dixon have taken their seats in the House of Lords today. They are among 21 retiring MPs who were promoted to the Upper House in April. Lord Jopling is a former Agriculture Minister and ex-chief whip of the Conservative Pary; Lord Dixon was a deputy chief whip when Labour was in opposition.
England's Football Association is conducting random drug-testing of gifted footballers as young as nine. The unannounced spot-checks among 9-16 year olds are being carried out at 147 centres of excellence across England and Wales, at a cost of £230 for each test. Alan Hodson of the FA's Doping Control Programme said drugs could now be bought for "pocket money" and taking drugs was not a football problem but "a social problem".
Labour's promise to release five billion pounds - held by councils from the sale of housing stock - is being approved by MPs tonight. The money will allow councils and housing associations to build new homes and repair thousands of old ones.
The Tory chicken who trailed Tony Blair during the general election
campaign has put in another appearance to turn the tables on his former
employers.
The chicken - 39-year-old Noel Flanagan - arrived on the green
outside the House of Commons as the results of the second ballot for the Tory
leadership were announced, to protest about his treatment at the hands of the
party. Dressed in his fluffy yellow outfit, he carried a half empty bottle
of wine and a placard reading: "Stuffed by the Tories."
The
chicken protested: "They chucked me out after the election. I've been mistreated, and whoever wins this leadership election has got to take me back on."
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