Other News In Brief

Attorney's Ex-Housekeeper Held

A housekeeper whose 'illegal' employment has thrown a shadow over the Attorney General Baroness Scotland's position has been arrested, police have said. Tongan national, Loloahi Tapui, 27, and a man aged 40 thought to be her husband, were arrested by UK Border Agency staff at their home in West London on Wednesday. Police said they were arrested over alleged immigration offences and both bailed until next month. See: Scotland Fined Over Illegal Employee

Petting Farm Cases Rise

The number of E.coli cases linked to a petting farm in Surrey rose yesterday to 79. The Health Protection Agency said three more people had reported symptoms of the O157 infection, which has been linked to Godstone Farm. Four children who caught the vomiting bug are still in hospital and in a stable condition. Tests have shown the bug was present in animal droppings collected at the farm. Four farms across England have closed since the outbreak at Godstone.

Hart To Be New Leader?

With an expectation that Welsh First Minister Mr Morgan could announce he is to stand down at the Labour Party conference this weekend, the current Health Minister Edwina Hart is lloking like a hot contendor to take over. She said on Thursday that she is "flattered" that a senior colleague has strongly backed her to succeed Rhodri Morgan as Labour's Welsh leader. Finance Minister Andrew Davies backed her, and ruled himself out of the race.

Housing Associations To 'Raise Their Game'

The UK Housing Minister John Healey has called on housing associations to do better. He said they need to "raise their game" and do more to create new apprenticeship opportunities and help people get on the housing ladder and stay in their homes during the downturn. He confirmed that any housing association bidding for a share of the £7.5bn available for affordable housing will for the first time now be required to offer apprenticeship and local job opportunities. This is set to create 1,500 apprenticeship places over the next two years, on top of the 1,300 places expected through the Prime Minister's £1.5bn Housing Pledge.

(BMcC/GK)