Two Men Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

Two men have been convicted for claiming benefits they were not entitled to at Belfast Magistrates’ Court.

Francis McNally claimed Pension Credit totalling £7,011 while failing to declare excess capital. He was fined £500.

Matthew Hawkins claimed Income Support, Carer's Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance totalling £2,810 while failing to declare employment. He was fined £500.

Both are also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.

Executive Supports Proposal To Block Water Charges In NI

A joint proposal has been put forward to Stormont to ensure water charges are blocked in Northern Ireland.

Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy welcomed the move.

He said: "I am pleased that the Executive backed this proposal and that homeowners in the North will not be charged for water.

"Access to water is a basic right and we will ensure that water charges will continue to be blocked."

Education Minister Called To Answer Questions About Academic Selection

Stormont's Education Committee has backed Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle's proposal to question the Education Minister on his decision to endorse the status quo on academic selection.

Mr Lyttle has also proposed an Education Committee Inquiry into post-primary transfer, after Minister Peter Weir issued new guidance meaning schools can prepare pupils for the unregulated AQE and GL assessments during regular class time.

He said: "I appreciate some parents and teachers feel the Education Minister's announcement will help improve the unacceptable status quo around academic selection, but is the formalisation of two sets of unregulated tests set by private companies to transfer our 10 and 11-year-old children into post-primary education the best we can hope for from this Minister?

"This is a failure of political leadership and I am glad a majority of my Education Committee colleagues agreed to request the Minister attend our committee to answer questions on this important matter."

(CD/MH)