Alistair Darling was the in the Opposition Home Affairs Team from 1988-92; Opposition Spokesman on the City and Financial Services 1992 - July 1996; Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury from July 1996 - April 1997; Secretary of State for Social Security July 1998- June 2001; Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 2001- May 2002; and Secretary of State for Transport 2002 -.
Secretary of State for Health-The Rt. Hon. Alan Milburn, MP
Born in 1958 in Birmingham, Alan Milburn grew up in County Durham and was educated at John Marlay School in Newcastle upon Tyne, at Stokesley Comprehensive School, at the University of Lancaster where he graduated in history and at the University of Newcastle. He acted as co-ordinator of the Trade Union Studies Information Unit in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and as Senior Business Development Officer for North Tyneside Council until his election to Parliament in 1992 for Darlington.
He is a former Opposition Spokesman on Treasury and Economic Affairs (1996-97). He was a Member of the Public Accounts Select Committee from 1994-1995. He had formerly been Chief Secretary to the Treasury since December 1998. Alan Milburn was appointed as Secretary of State for Health on 11 October 1999. His partner is Dr Ruth Briel and they have two children. His hobbies include cricket, football, travel, music and cinema.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland-The Rt. Hon. Dr. John Reid, MP
Born in Scotland in May 1947, John Reid went to school at Coatbridge. He read History at Stirling University, staying to take a Doctorate in Economic History. He was married (widowed).
He worked as a research officer for the Labour Party from 1979-83. He acted as political adviser to Neil Kinnock 1983-85. He organised Scottish Trade Unionists for Labour from 1986-87. Since 1987 John Reid has been MP for Motherwell North (renamed Hamilton North and Bellshill 1997-).
He has held the following posts in Parliament: Opposition Spokesman on Children 1989-90; Opposition Spokesman on Defence 1990-97; Minister of State for Defence 1997-8; Minister for Transport 1998-99; Secretary of State for Scotland May 99- Jan 2000; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Jan 2000 - Oct 2002; Minister without Portfolio and Party Chair Oct 2002 - . John Reid enjoys reading history and solving crosswords in his spare time.
Secretary of State for Wales-The Rt. Hon. Paul Murphy, MP
Born in November 1948 in Usk, Paul Murphy went to school in Monmouthshire. He read Modern History at Oxford University, graduating in 1970. From 1970-1971 he worked as a management trainee for the Co-operative Wholesale Society. From 1972 until 1987 he was a Lecturer in History and Politics at Ebbw Vale College in Gwent. Since 1987 Paul Murphy has been MP for Torfaen. He has held the following posts in Parliament: Opposition spokesperson on foreign affairs in 1995; Opposition Spokesman for Northern Ireland 1994-95; Opposition Spokesman for Wales 1988-94; Opposition Spokesman for Defence 1995-7; Minister of State for Northern Ireland 1997-9; Secretary of State for Wales 1999-2002; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 2002- .
Paul Murphy enjoys relaxing to classical music.
Secretary of State for Defence-The Rt. Hon. Geoff Hoon, MP
Born in December 1953 in Derby, Geoff Hoon went to school in Nottingham. He worked in a furniture factory before studying law at Cambridge University. He worked as a Law Lecturer at Leeds University 1976-82. He married Elaine Dumelow in 1981 and they have three children. He was a barrister in Nottingham from 1982-84. He was elected Member of the European Parliament for Derbyshire and Ashfield 1984-1994. Since 1992 Geoff Hoon has been MP for Ashfield. He has held the following posts in Parliament: Opposition Whip 1994-95; Opposition Spokesman on Trade and Industry 1995-97; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Chancellor's Office, 1997-98; Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Office 1998-99; Minister of State Foreign and Commonwealth Office May-October 1999; Secretary of State for Defence Oct 1999- .
Geoff Hoon enjoys music enormously, having been past Chairman of the 'Friends of Music Parliamentary Group'.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury-The Rt. Hon. Andrew Smith, MP
Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East, was appointed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 29 May 2002. He had formerly been Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Minister for Employment, Equal Opportunities and Welfare to Work at the Department for Education and Employment since 6 May 1997.
Educated at Reading Grammar School and St John's College Oxford, he was a member of Oxford City Council from 1976 to 1987 and contested the Oxford East seat in 1983 before winning it four years later. Before entering Government, he was opposition spokesman for education from 1989 to 1992, a shadow Treasury and economic spokesman from 1992 to 1994, shadow Chief Secretary from 1994 to 1996 and shadow Transport Secretary from 1996 to May 1997.
At DfEE he was in charge of Welfare to Work initiatives such as the New Deal, as well as having a wider role as the Government's representative on the EC's Social Affairs Council, where he was active in promoting the importance of flexibility and entrepreneurship in the employment guidelines. Aged 48 he is married with one stepson. His home in Oxford is in the Blackbird Leys estate which he represented as a Councillor before entering Parliament.
Secretary of State for Scotland-The Rt. Hon. Helen Liddell, MP
Helen Liddell was appointed as Secretary of State for Scotland on 24 January 2001.
She is MP for Airdrie and Shotts and has been a Member of Parliament since June 1994. She was educated at St Patrick's High School, Coatbridge and Strathclyde University. She was Minister for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe from July 1999. From May 1999 she was Minister of Transport. From 29 July 1998 she was Minister for Education at The Scottish Office where she also had responsibility for co-ordination and presentation of policy and for women's issues. She was Economic Secretary to the Treasury from May 1997 with responsibility for the City including financial services, banking and building society regulation. From 1995-1997 she was Opposition Spokeswoman on Scotland. Helen Liddell was economics correspondent for BBC Scotland (1976-77); General Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party (1977-88); Director, Corporate Affairs, Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail (1986) Ltd (1988-92) and, Chief Executive, Business Venture Programme (1993-94). In her spare time, Mrs Liddell enjoys cooking, hill-walking, music and writing. She is a writer and broadcaster. Her first novel "Elite" was published in 1990. Mrs Liddell is married with one son and one daughter.
Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords-The Rt. Hon. Lord Williams of Mostyn, QC
Educated at Rhyl Grammar School, and Queen's College Cambridge, Lord Williams is a Fellow of the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth, and was appointed an Honorary Professor of the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University College of North Wales in 1994. Lord Williams has been Pro-Chancellor at the University of Wales since 1995, and President of the Welsh College of Music and Drama.
He was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn in 1965, and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1978. A Recorder of the Crown Court between 1978-97, Lord Williams was also a Deputy High Court Judge between 1986-97. He was Chairman of the Bar Council from 1992-93. Lord Williams was Opposition Spokesman on Legal Affairs between 1992-97 and on Northern Ireland between 1993 and 1997. Between 1997-98 Lord Williams was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the House of Lords for the Home Office, with special responsibility for constitutional issues. He was Minister of State at the Home Office from 1998 to 1999. Lord Williams was made Attorney General in July 1999, and Deputy Leader of the Lords in 1998. He was appointed Leader of the Lords on June 8 2001.
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry-The Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt, MP
Patricia Hewitt, MP for Leicester West, was appointed Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in June 2001. Previously Minister for Small Business and e-Commerce, Ms Hewitt became a Member of Parliament in 1997. Patricia Hewitt was educated at the Canberra Girls Grammar School and Newnham College, Cambridge University. She was Press and Broadcasting Officer (1983-87) and Policy Coordinator (1987-89) to the then Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. Neil Kinnock; Deputy Director (1989-94) of the Institute for Public Policy Research, and Director of Research for Andersen Consulting (1994-97).
Ms Hewitt was Deputy Chair of the Commission for Social Justice (1992-94) and was a member of the Social Security Select Committee before taking up her first Ministerial post as Economic Secretary at the Treasury in 1997. Patricia Hewitt is Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Export Credits Guarantee Department, and Minister for Women. In her spare time, Ms Hewitt enjoys reading, theatre, music and gardening. Ms Hewitt is married with one son and one daughter.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Paul Boateng
Paul Boateng was born in Hackney in 1951. He was educated at Achimota, Accra Academy, Apsley Grammar School, Bristol University and the College of Law.
He joined Parliament as Member for Brent South in 1987. His career in Opposition included stints as spokesman for the Treasury and Economic Affairs 1989-92 and the Lord Chancellors Department 1992-97. He also served on the Select Committee for Environment 1987-89.He has held the following posts in government: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health 1997-98; Minster of State for Home Affairs 1998-2001; Financial Secretary to the Treasury 2001-02. He was appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury 2002-.Main leisure pursuits are swimming and opera. He is married and has two sons and three daughters.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport-The Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell, MP
Tessa Jowell has been the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood since 1992. She was born in London and was educated at St Margaret's School in Aberdeen and the universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Goldsmith's, London. She is a visiting fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford. Before her election to Parliament in 1992, Tessa Jowell had a career in psychiatric social work, social policy and public sector management. She is married with a daughter, a son and three stepchildren.
Prior to the General Election of 1997, Tessa Jowell was the Spokesperson on Health (1997-1999 and 1994-1995); Opposition Spokesperson for Women (1995-1996); and Opposition Whip (1994-1995). Ms Jowell's previous ministerial appointments were Minister of State for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities at the Department for Education and Employment (1999-2001) and Minister of State for Public Health at the Department of Health (1997-1999). She became a Privy Counsellor in 1998. The Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP was appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 8 June 2001.
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip-The Rt. Hon. Hilary Armstrong, MP
She was born in 1945 and educated at Monkwearmouth Comprehensive School, Sunderland, West Ham College of Technology, and the University of Birmingham. Her father, the late Ernest Armstrong, was also a Member of Parliament and was Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. A former county councillor (Durham County Council - 1985 to 1988), she previously lectured Community and Youth Work at Sunderland Polytechnic and was a community worker at Southwick Neighbourhood Action Project in Sunderland. She has been a Member of Parliament for Durham North West since June 1987 and was appointed to the Privy Council in 1999.
Ms Armstrong was appointed Opposition Spokesperson on the environment and London in 1995, with a responsibility for local government. Before that, she was a front-bench spokesperson on education between 1988 and 1992, and on Treasury affairs between 1994 and 1995. She was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, the late John Smith, from 1992 to 1994. Hilary Armstrong MP was Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, with responsibilities for Local Government and Regions. She was made Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip in June 2001.
Minister without Portfolio and Party Chair-The Rt. Hon. Charles Clarke, MP
Educated at Highgate School, London, Charles Clarke read mathematics and economics at Kings College Cambridge, graduating BA (Hons). He was President of the National Union of Students from 1975 to 1977. Born in 1950, Mr Clarke was married in 1984. He and his wife Carol have two sons.
Charles Clarke gained extensive experience of local government in the London Borough of Hackney where he was chair of the housing committee and vice chair of economic development between 1980 and 1986. He worked as a researcher and then Chief of Staff to former Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock from 1981 to 1992. From 1992 to 1997 Mr Clarke was chief executive of Quality Public Affairs, a public affairs management consultancy, before his election as a Member of Parliament. He has been MP for Norwich South since 1997.
Mr Clarke was made Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for School Standards in July 1998. He was appointed Minister of State at the Home Office on 29 July 1999 and became Minister without Portfolio and Labour Party Chair in July 2001. Mr Clarke was appointed Secretary of State for Education and Skills in October 2002.
Secretary of State for Wales
Peter Hain
Mr Hain was educated at London and Sussex Universities. He was a Parliamentary Election Observer in Nigeria in 1993 and in South Africa in 1994. He sat on the Labour Co-ordinating Committee between 1979 and 1987. He was a School Governor between 1981 and 1990, and was Health Authority member between 1981 and 1987.
Mr Hain has been a Labour Party Member since 1977, and GMB Union Member since 1973. He was elected Labour MP for Neath at the By-Election on 4 April 1991. He was Labour Foreign Affairs Whip between 1995-1997, Shadow Employment Minister between 1996 and 1997, Chairman of the Tribune Newspaper Board of Directors between 1993 and 1997. He was appointed to the Privy Council in June 2001. Mr Hain has been a strong Anti-Apartheid campaigner, having spent his childhood in South Africa until being forced to leave in, 1966 owing to his parents' opposition to the Apartheid regime. He is the author of 16 books, including 'Sing The Beloved Country: the Struggle for the New South Africa' (1996).
Mr Hain was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Welsh Office from 1997 to 1999; Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from July 1999 to January 2001; Energy Minister at the Department of Trade and Industry from January to June 2001; Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from June 2001 to Oct 2002. He was also appointed to the Privy Council in June 2001.
Mr Hain was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1950. He has two sons and lives in Resolven in the Neath Valley, South Wales.
Others that also attend the cabinet office are:
Minister of State for Work
Nicholas Hugh Brown
Born in 1950, Nick Brown went to school in Tunbridge Wells. He read History and Government at Manchester University, graduating in 1971. He first worked as an advertising executive for Proctor & Gamble during 1975-78. He then worked as personal assistant, and Legal Affairs Officer, at the General and Municipal Workers Union until 1983. Since 1983 Nick Brown has been MP for Newcastle upon Tyne East (constituency includes Wallsend since 1997). He has held the following posts in Parliament: Opposition Spokesman on Legal Affairs 1984-87; Opposition Spokesman on Treasury and Economic Affairs (Shadow Financial Secretary) 1987-92; Deputy to Margaret Beckett, Shadow Leader of the House 1992-94; Opposition Health Spokesman 1994-97; Government Chief Whip 1997-8; Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food 1998-2001; Minister of State for Work 2001-.
Nick Brown enjoys going to the opera in his spare time.
Lords Chief Whip and Captain of the Gentlemen at Arms: The Lord Grocott
Who was born on the 1st of November 1940 and Son of Reginald Grocott and late Helen Grocott. He is married to Sally Ridgway who he wedded in 1965 now have 2 sons. Lord Grocott attended Hempstead Grammer School and then later on attended Leicester University where he studied a BA in Politics in 962 and then later on attended Manchester University where he did a MA in Economics in 1966. Since then Lord Grocott has attaind many positions and professions:
Administrative officer, LCC 1963-64;
Tutor in politics, Manchester University 1964-65;
Lecturer then senior lecturer in politics, Birmingham Polytechnic 1965-72; Principal lecturer, North Staffs Polytechnic 1972-74;
Presenter then producer, Central Television 1979-87
Conservatives Shadow Cabinet
Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition & leader of the Conservative Party
Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP
Deputy leader of Her Majesty's Opposition and Shadow Foreign Secretary
Rt Hon Michael Ancram QC MP
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Rt Hon Michael Howard QC MP
Chairman of the Conservative Party
Mrs Theresa May MP
Shadow Secretary of State for the office of the Deputy Minister
Rt Hon David Davis MP
Shadow Seretary of State for the Home Department
Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP
Leader of her Majesty's Official Opposition in the House of Lords
Rt Hon Lord Strathclyde
Shadow secretary of state for Defence
Hon Bernard Jenkin MP
Shadow secretary of state for Defence
David Willetts MP
Shadow secretary of state for Health
Dr Liam Fox MP
Shadow secretary of state for Enviroment, Food and Rural Affairs
David Lidington MP
Shadow secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport
John Whittingdale OBE MP
Shadow secretary of state for Transport
Tim Collins CBE MP
Shadow secretary of state for Local Government and the Regions (ODPM)
Eric Pickles MP
Shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland
Quentin Davies MP
Shadow leader of the House of Comons
Rt Hon Eric Forth MP
Shadow secretary of state for Trade and Industry
Tim Yeo MP
Shadow secretary of state for Education and Skills
Damian Green MP
Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury
Howard Flight MP
Shadow secretary of state for Scotland
Mrs Jacqui Lait MP
Shadow secretary of state for Wales
Nigel Evans MP
Shadow secretary of state for International Development
Mrs Caroline Spelman MP
Shadow minister for the Treasury
James Clappison MP
Shadow minister for Work and Pensions
Oliver Heald MP
Shadow minister for Agriculuture
John Hayes MP
Opposition Chief Whip (Commons)
Rt Hon David Maclean MP
Opposition Chief Whip (Lords)
Rt Hon Lord Cope of Berkeley
Shadow Attorney General
Bill Cash MP **** Not a member of the Shadow Cabinet but attends at the invitation of the Leader
Liberal Democrats Shadow Cabinet
Leader
Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP
Deputy leader and shadow minister for the Cabinet Office
Rt Hon Alan Beith MP
Shadow chancellor
Matthew Taylor MP
Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury
David Laws MP
Shadow secretary of state for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs
Rt Hon Menzies Campbell QC MP
Shadow secretary of state for International Development
Dr Jenny Tonge MP shadow secretary of state for home affairs Simon Hughes MP chair of the parliamentary party Mark Oaten MP
Shadow secretary of state for Education and Skills
Phil Willis MP
Shadow secretary of state for Health
Dr Evan Harris MP
Shadow secretary of state for Transport
Don Foster MP
Shadow spokesperson for the office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Edward Davey MP
Shadow secretary of state for the Enviroment Secretary
Norman Baker MP Shadow secretary of state for rural affairs and food spokesperson Andrew George MP
Shadow secretary of state for Work and Pension
Steve Webb MP
Shadow secretary of state for Defence
Paul Keetch MP
Shadow secretary of state for Trade and Industry
Dr Vincent Cable MP
Shadow secretary of state for Scotland
John Thurso MP
Shadow secretary of state for Wales and shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland
Lembit Opik MP
Shadow secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport
Nick Harvey MP Shadow leader of the house Paul Tyler MP Chief Whip Andrew Stunell MP Spokesperson on Older People Paul Burstow MP Spokesperson for women Sandra Gidley MP Chair of Scotish Campiagns Mike Moore MP Leader in the Lords Rt Hon Baroness Williams
Cheif Whip (Lords)
Lord Roper
Party President
Lord Dholakia chair of the campaings and communications committee Lord Razzall Archy Kirkwood MP attends the Shadow Cabinet in his own capacity
Presentation
Cannabis is a big subject that people have been waiting to hear about. The Home Secretary announced that it’d be moved from Class B to Class C, the lowest class of drugs. But this doesn’t mean that you're free to smoke weed without getting into trouble, but you probably won't be arrested on the spot. Even Mo Mowlam, the Cabinet Office minister who handled drugs policy before the election, recently called for decriminalisation of cannabis - one step short of the legalisation urged by Mr Lilley. So the degrading of cannabis means-
Is it still illegal?
Yes and you will be breaking the law if...
> You smoke cannabis.
> You possess any, even a small amount.
Will I get arrested?
> Probably not. You will get a warning if you are caught smoking it or in possession, and it will be confiscated.
> However, a loophole means police can arrest people in some cases if it’s what they call ‘aggravated’. That means if you are caught smoking a spliff outside school, or blow some smoke in an officer’s face.
Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, it is an offence:
> To unlawfully possess a controlled drug
> To possess a controlled drug with intent to supply it to someone else
> To unlawfully supply, sell, give, share a controlled drug
> To allow premises you occupy or manage to be used for the smoking or use of drugs
Influences
One of the main influences was the Home Secretary who raised the maximum sentence for dealing cannabis from five years to 14 years. Apart from cannabis still being illegal, there are health issues surrounding the drug. These include getting cancer as a result of smoking it with tobacco, short-term memory loss and anxiety or panic attacks.
But former Welsh Health Minister Jon Owen Jones called for cannabis to be legalised. Mr Jones has is to introduce a bill to legalise the drug for both recreational and medicinal purposes. He envisages it being sold alongside alcohol at off licences. The call comes two weeks after Tory MP Peter Lilley called for the same legalisation in order to break the link between hard and soft drugs. There have long been calls for changes to the drug law. Peter Lilley's comments were said to reignite the debate.
Background
Official government research shows that a third of adults aged between 16-59 in England and Wales have used illegal drugs at some point in their lives. In Northern Ireland the figures stands at 40%.
- 70%: Number of arrestees testing positive
- £129: Average weekly drug spend by offender
- £308: Average weekly spend on cannabis
- £5,535: Average illegal income of offender
- £2.4bn: Value of drugs seized in 1998
- Source: Home Office
While the UK has the strictest laws on cannabis use in the European Union, it also has the highest number of regular users. In many metropolitan areas, users know that their chances of being arrested are slim. And if they are arrested, the figures show that 60% are cautioned and released. However, from the perspective of law enforcement, the problem is immense and getting worse as cheaper heroin and crack cocaine remain on sale in the UK. Seven out of 10 crimes are drugs related according to one Home Office study. The number of drug offenders has continued to rise - with nine out of 10 of them caught for cannabis possession. Less than 10% are jailed.
Social problems
Fewer young people are taking to cannabis, so the addict population is getting older and many are suffering health problems from this. The European agency predicts this will create serious social problems throughout Europe. Cannabis is the most commonly used drug in Denmark and has highest overall use of cannabis. Cocaine use is rising in Europe although Denmark tops the table for cannabis use over the past decade, the recent increase in usage in the UK means that it currently has the highest proportion of users among the EU states. The second most popular drugs after cannabis are amphetamines and ecstasy, although the decline in rave culture means fewer people take ecstasy. In some countries, notably Spain and Britain, researchers have come to find that hard drugs were getting cheaper. In the UK the price of brown, smoke able heroin has dropped significantly in the past three years. Women drug users face more social problems than men. The report says women are reluctant to admit they have a problem and seek help. The agency says EU countries should make extra efforts to help women who use drugs so that may not b alone in their problem.
The effect all this can have on a public service is that the more people that smoke this drug the more people that are going to be arrested. Although a great number of people already smoke the drug, which will not make much of a change to many people even if they choose to make the substance legal, the effects of the drug being legalised will effect peoples health in the future through using the drug. This will mean more staff and hospital equipment more as well as the future effects the abuse of the drug is not that dissimilar from the effects that alcohol can have on a person. This can mean more driving under the influence of the drug incidents where loss of life is imminent
The effect on a person/individual can be looked at in 2 ways. The drug can be harmful and cause future health risks. Or the drug can be for recreational uses thus making it a way for people to relax, as it is a form of stimulant for whoever may be using it. Either way I believe that there can be no real way to justify whether the drug will do more good or bad to the country through there being such a strong argument coming from both the for and against opinions.
The A-level results fiasco has not just highlighted the failings of a Byzantine grading system, it has reignited the debate on the best way to educate the English population. Tony Tysome listens to the alternatives. It will take a long time for the dust to settle after this year's A-level results fiasco. But academics and policy-shapers are already looking ahead to reforms that they would like to see introduced, and with the 14 to 19 white paper set to be published later this month, the debate is likely to rumble on. The verdict of former chief inspector of schools Mike Tomlinson in last week's initial report on the A-level debacle will fuel speculation that some significant reforms are on their way. He concluded that the new A levels in the fledgling Curriculum 2000 system were "an accident waiting to happen" and that there was "no clear, consistent view among awarding body officials and many examiners and teachers about the standard required at AS and A2 unit levels".
The implication is that Curriculum 2000 either needs fixing or replacing. According to Alan Smithers, professor of education at Liverpool University, the modular structure of the new system has made confusion inevitable. By making the business of monitoring standards and grading more complicated, it has also had a damaging effect on the A-level curriculum, he argues. "Because of modularisation, there is a crushing load of assessment, so the exams are really determining what is learnt rather than allowing students to engage with the subjects," he says. Smithers says that although it might be politically impossible for the government to turn back the clock, the best remedy is for A levels to revert to their traditional mode, but with tougher standards in place - more challenging coursework and more searching questions - so that manipulation of results to combat grade inflation is not necessary. "It could be done through an extra exam," he says, "but it would be better to build it into the A-level exam itself."
Tony Higgins, chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, says the grading system and its relation to the A-level points tariff are so complex that his organisation was forced to write a sophisticated computer program to deal with it. He wants to see a protocol devised with all the awarding bodies to get round the current problems whereby "they are all using different formulae for expressing the grades". Although there has been talk of introducing a single exam board, some educationists believe this would only make the situation worse. Smithers says the current fiasco may only have come to light because the different boards were doing things in different ways. Several organisations and key individuals are calling for an overhaul of the Curriculum 2000 assessment system and the introduction of an overarching diploma or baccalaureate-style qualification - one argument being the fact that these would have more elements, including non-academic ones, making it harder for accusations of political interference to undermine the system. The Association of Colleges, representing further education and sixth-form colleges, says its preferred model for a "learning and skills diploma" would be more flexible than either the matriculation diploma proposed in the government's 14 to 19 green paper or the International Baccalaureate supported by independent schools. It would award credits for all A-level and equivalent qualifications, key skills and work experience.
Judith Norrington, the AoC's director of curriculum and quality, says: "It is more than just an academic model. It is based on the principle that education must offer opportunity to students of all abilities. Currently less than half of all 16 to 17-year-olds still in education study A levels." David Robertson, professor of public policy and education at Liverpool John Moores University, would like to see a more radical overhaul. His preference is to import the French Baccalaureat "lock, stock and barrel". "The French Baccalaureat is tried and tested and it is hugely successful. It is scrupulously objective, and there is no tinkering with it." Robertson argues that Curriculum 2000 should be replaced quickly, rather than over five to ten years as suggested by some government officials. "If you drag it out, the uncertainty over A levels will continue and it will be a mess. Everyone knows the government really wants a baccalaureate. What they have done is a typical British compromise of edging towards it. We need to stop cobbling things together: we don't want a kind of baccalaureate, we want a real one." Talk of sweeping changes has had others urging caution. Cath Orange, chair of the admissions practitioners group for the academic registrars council, says it is too early to pass judgement on Curriculum 2000.
Roderick Floud, president of Universities UK, calls Curriculum 2000 and the government's proposals for an overarching diploma "a move in the right direction". But he adds: "One would have to think very hard before dismantling the system in favour of something like the International Baccalaureate." And Chris Hughes, chief executive of the Learning and Skills Development Agency, says: "We need to be clear about what A levels are for. If the problem with them is that there is no longer a rationing basis for higher education entry, then we need to base arguments for change on that, rather than suggesting that the problem is one of grade inflation." Some have suggested turning the clock back further, and reverting to university entrance exams. In fact, A levels derive from such exams, which is why the boards are located in higher education. London University set up a school-leaving examination in 1905, and in 1917 the government followed suit by introducing the school certificate. This was actually a kind of baccalaureate qualification. It proved too inflexible since too many otherwise good students failed the compulsory Latin part of the exam. A levels replaced it in 1951. For most, the idea of students travelling the country to take a variety of university entrance exams is impractical. A more forward-looking approach, supported by Ucas, would be to change the examinations timetable so that students know their results before applying to higher education, argues Chris Price, chair of an independent commission on the organisation of the school year.
He says: "The modularisation of qualifications has tended to concentrate minds on curricular details and the balance between coursework and exams, rather than on the realities of the admissions process for which the qualifications are mostly used. "This whole mess might not have happened if the kids had got their results in early July. It would have been sorted out by now."
Alternatives to A levels
Matriculation Diploma
This award proposed in the government's 14 to 19 green paper, would place an "umbrella" over A levels, along with GCSEs, vocational qualifications, and modern apprenticeships. It would be made up of a common strand of literacy, numeracy and ICT to level 2; main qualifications such as A levels and GCSEs; and participation in activities such as citizenship and work-based learning.
The diploma would be awarded at three levels: intermediate, for those whose main qualifications are achieved at level 2; advanced, for those reaching level 3; and a higher award, based on broader, more advanced achievement.
International Baccalaureate
Students have to study six subjects, which must include English, maths, a foreign language, a science, a humanities subject and one other subject. IB students must study the theory of knowledge and complete 150 hours of sport, artistic activities and community service.
English Baccalaureate
Institute of Education academics have proposed a version of the baccalaureate, starting at age 14. It would consist of a series of interlocking diplomas from entry through to advanced level and would cover work-based learning. Students taking the advanced version would be able to do a general bac or a specialist bac. All the bacs would contain a compulsory core of critical thinking, theory of knowledge and research study, and each student would get a record of other activities such as community service.
French Baccalauréat
This is a broad-based qualification that is taken by 62 per cent of French 18 year-olds who achieve a pass rate of about 80 per cent. It covers subjects ranging from the liberal arts through to industrial technology. But there is flexibility between vocational and academic channels of study. Students take ten subjects, six of which are core subjects, including literature, languages, science and maths, weighted according to the other subjects they want to study.
"To pay decent wages and not treat people like scum" is what a group of former Liverpool dockers have been said to be out to achieve in creating the Initiative Factory, a new resource centre. Their working lives on the docks and the 28-month strike that concluded them have already given them plenty of experience of the opposite. Jane Lawson reported
The Liverpool dockers’ lockout began in September 1995, but the roots of the strike go back much further than this. Dockers have always had to fight for decent working conditions but saw many of their gains lost when the National Dock Labour Scheme was abolished in 1989. In the ensuing strike, 600 jobs were lost in the Mersey ports, but Liverpool alone among British ports successfully resisted the introduction of part-time casual work.
During the early 1990s, the company Torside Limited took on 80 men on different terms to other dockers. In September 1995 Torside broke an agreement, sacking five men. The rest of the dockers refused to cross the picket line and were locked out.
Casualisation was "a change that we knew had to come to us one day," says Mike Harden, a former docker. "They used the younger workforce as a catalyst, and imposed annualised hours with the union - if you're busy, bring the workers in, if not send them home. You can't plan anything, not even a social life. The managers were incompetent; their demands became more extreme, even the most conscientious workers were balking. Productivity was high, and there was no need."
The idea for the resource centre came just before the end of the strike, when the dockers had to face the possibility that they wouldn't get their jobs back. "There were political groups who wanted to do projects with us, interviewing workers about who do you blame, but do you want to continue forever prolonging people's misery?" asked Jimmy Davies jr., a former member of the strike committee. "We wanted something positive to come out of the dispute."
"Initially we set up a co-operative for training people under 50 - everyone over 50 got a pension. But since then the labour supply side has taken a back seat, and we've started running courses like training 25 ex-dockers in computer skills. We’re making a film as well - it’s a beg, steal or borrow job, which we’re going to fund by selling 300 shares at £10 a share, a dark moody thriller called ‘A Shot in the Dark’."
There's also Arts Fusion, where ten local unemployed people are learning the ins and outs of the music industry. And about to start is Trans-Needs, a forklift truck-driving course.
The council has sold the Initiative Factory a former nightclub building, which they'll be moving into in April. Now all they need is £250,000 to refurbish it. Jimmy’s experience organising benefits and fundraising during the strike serves him well in his role as promotions manager. There will be a live music venue which will show unsigned artists, drama, poetry, community groups and schools - there'll also be a bar, cafe and recording studio in the basement.
As well as the training, the aim of the Initiative Factory is to be a campaigning resource. "We want to work with groups like Earth First! - They’re involved in a campaign at the moment in Sefton Park. If there’s another strike, we want to be a resource. It’s all ideas at the moment, and the proof of everything is in doing it. We want to be a political and campaigning movement but we’ve got to make money - people can’t live on fresh air. The world of work has changed unbelievably over the past thirty years, and we want to create socially useful work."
"Nobody will give us any funding - we think it’s a lot to do with having taken on the establishment. We couldn’t prove any of that and they’d never admit to it." There is a positive side to this. "Part of getting the money is that they can get political control over you, so not getting any does leave us free to do what we want politically."
Invaluable support during the strike came from abroad: "The international links kept us going financially. The rank and file membership of the West Coast Dockers union in America donated half a million dollars." There was much cross-fertilisation with the direct action movement in this country: "The groups we never had a problem with were the environmental groups. They actually physically did something. They had 55-year-old dockers climbing up the cranes. They taught us not to be sitting around waiting for other people to make decisions. That’s why we’re not waiting around for people to give us money. We had a lot in common - being independent, freethinking, having compassion. It gave me a completely new lease of life, the sense of pride at taking over a crane - you go into something like that with the full knowledge that you'll get nicked. Most of it was dead exciting, some of it was a little bit frightening."
So now it’s on to the next phase, renovating the building and running all the projects with minimal funding and only two paid workers. 180 of the former dockers are members of the Initiative Factory, and about 50 are involved on a day-to-day basis. In their own words: "What is clear is that the Initiative Factory will act to mobilise talent, to combat uncertainties, to reduce material and spiritual poverty and help to build a caring, compassionate society. Resistance, human spirit, creativity, energy, resources and organisation are the watchwords which will guide our activities."
The effect this issue has on public services such as custom and excise varies due to there being many key problems. One of these are that due to this strike people who are fetching goods from other countries etc will be able to take advantage of the matter. This can be achieved due to the fact that there will be nobody or minimal staff to check everyone who comes into this country through the docks or on frats in imported cargo holders.
The effect this will have on the individual are that the person whom is fetching the merchandise into the country will profit greatly due to that person getting the product for less than what it costs in the shops. But due to this it will become inevitable that there will be higher taxation introduced so that the government doesn’t start to lose money in effect to the problem.
There are many areas in which the monitoring procedures and checks and balances operates within the UK government and their roles vary. The Scrutiny Role are decisions of the cabinet which are subject to scrutiny by all the councillors who are involved in the scrutiny process. This process then enables councillors to ‘call in’ cabinet decisions before they are implemented, so that they can be examined by an all committee which can refer decisions either back to cabinet for reconsideration or to full council.
The Select Committee is a group which consists of six all-party committees that have been established to examine council services and to measure their performance.
The Review and Audit select committee is responsible for the monitoring of performance management and financial systems that exist within the authority.
The Best Value select committee is committed to providing best value by delivering services which are efficient and economical. In line with central government policy, the council is undertaking best value reviews of all its key services. The best Value select committee is responsible for ensuring that the Best Value Review programme is working effectively.
The Policy Review select committee is made up of four policy review select committees who examine in depth how specific Council policies are working in practice and make recommendations for change. Each has a themed area of work built around the objective of the community plan:
- Housing and community safety
- Health and social care
- Education, Leisure and Cultural services
- Environment and Regeneration
There are a collection of other smaller additional committees and panels which are of a statutory nature and which deal with specific areas of the council’s work. These include the Planning Committee and Licensing Committee. An independently chaired standards committee has also been formed to encourage and promote high standards of conduct within the authority.
Dear Mr. Smith
I am writing to you to tell you about how my party ‘the Student Welfare Party’ relates to the government in power ‘New Labour’. Now from the information I have about my campaigns ideologies, which are to redistribute the money that students give back into the college through bus passes and internet cards, are not that dissimilar from the ideas that the current government has. This is proven through the fact that the current government used the money taken from taxation of companies and firms and put it back into the countries economy so that it may be used to help people who are in a poor financial position to afford or rent out those basic goods that they need to survive e.g. a washing machine or a cooker.
This idea is mostly socialist due to the fact that the key factors that socialist try to work on improving are education, health, employment. And if there is something that the person can’t afford then the government will give it to you rather than refuse you it like a capitalist government would. A current party which relates mostly to the ‘refusing of goods ideology’ are the liberal democrats who believes in making profit for yourself is a better way for a person to live. But if you have no money then you are on you’re own. A country that best relates to this ideology is America.
Bibliography
Websites:
http://www.britannia.com/gov/gov3.html
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/labour_cabinet_2001.htm
http://www.studentcentral.co.uk/coursework/essays/1025.html
www.coursework.info
http://www.politicallinks.co.uk/politics2/bulletin/archives/wales/newplcshadowcabinet.asp
http://www.history-ontheweb.co.uk/histtheory/histtheory_4.htmBooks/leaflets/newspapers:
http://www.thes.co.uk/search/story.asp?state_value=Archive&y=10&ispopup=1&id=87174&x=17(web site for the initial bib and ref)
http://www.parliament.uk/hermajesty'sopposition
http://www.conservatives.co.uk/shadowcabinet
02:00:05
