Olivant quits NRock race to leave 2 rescue bids
Investment firm Olivant quit the race to rescue ailing British bank Northern Rock Plc on Monday to leave just two suitors in the running -- Richard Branson's Virgin Group and an "in-house" management team.
In a dramatic one-hour period after a government-set deadline late on Monday, Olivant exited the high-profile battle, Virgin said it would stay in, and Northern Rock pitched its proposal to be considered alongside the external bidder.
Straw says Ministers didn't authorise bugging
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said on Monday the government would investigate claims that anti-terrorist police had bugged conversations between an MP and a constituent held on remand.
Straw told the House of Commons that Chief Surveillance Commissioner Sir Christopher Rose would carry out an inquiry and report back to ministers within about two weeks.
Senior MPs launch expenses probe
A root-and-branch review of Parliamentary expenses is to be conducted by senior MPs in the wake of the Derek Conway affair. The Members Estimate Committee resolved to consider all aspects of the controversial allowances regime brought into question over the last week.
The review is expected to be so detailed it will not report back to the House of Commons until MPs return from the summer recess in October.
Police get go-ahead to challenge pay decision
Police officers were given permission to take their case against a government decision not to backdate their pay increase to the High Court on Monday. Mr Justice Andrew Collins said he had "no hesitation" in giving the go-ahead for the test case, to be heard between April 15 and 16.
Johnson writes to all GPs over longer opening hours
The health secretary has called on GPs to adopt longer opening hours in a bid to improve patient access. Alan Johnson has written to every GP in England asking them to accept government proposals for practices to open in the evening and at weekends. The British Medical Association (BMA) has been resisting the reforms but ministers have warned they are willing to impose the changes on family doctors.
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Investment firm Olivant quit the race to rescue ailing British bank Northern Rock Plc on Monday to leave just two suitors in the running -- Richard Branson's Virgin Group and an "in-house" management team.
In a dramatic one-hour period after a government-set deadline late on Monday, Olivant exited the high-profile battle, Virgin said it would stay in, and Northern Rock pitched its proposal to be considered alongside the external bidder.
Straw says Ministers didn't authorise bugging
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said on Monday the government would investigate claims that anti-terrorist police had bugged conversations between an MP and a constituent held on remand.
Straw told the House of Commons that Chief Surveillance Commissioner Sir Christopher Rose would carry out an inquiry and report back to ministers within about two weeks.
Senior MPs launch expenses probe
A root-and-branch review of Parliamentary expenses is to be conducted by senior MPs in the wake of the Derek Conway affair. The Members Estimate Committee resolved to consider all aspects of the controversial allowances regime brought into question over the last week.
The review is expected to be so detailed it will not report back to the House of Commons until MPs return from the summer recess in October.
Police get go-ahead to challenge pay decision
Police officers were given permission to take their case against a government decision not to backdate their pay increase to the High Court on Monday. Mr Justice Andrew Collins said he had "no hesitation" in giving the go-ahead for the test case, to be heard between April 15 and 16.
Johnson writes to all GPs over longer opening hours
The health secretary has called on GPs to adopt longer opening hours in a bid to improve patient access. Alan Johnson has written to every GP in England asking them to accept government proposals for practices to open in the evening and at weekends. The British Medical Association (BMA) has been resisting the reforms but ministers have warned they are willing to impose the changes on family doctors.
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