Review of the Papers, Friday 27 April

Government

Home inspectors could make up to £250 million a year on producing packs that never get used, causing huge waste for home owners trying to sell their homes, according to the Law Society. The prediction comes as leading professionals continue to call for a delay in introducing the controversial home selling scheme, which is due to start in June.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/27/nhips27.xml

The number of people working in the NHS fell by more than 17,000 between 2005 and 2006, according to figures released yesterday. The Information Centre for Health and Social Care (ICHSC) said the figures represented its "best estimate" between September 2005 and September 2006. The Tories said a 27,000 drop "was the biggest since records began in 1980".

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health-medical/article2488857.ece

Police investigating the fatal west coast train crash have uncovered a catalogue of failings which casts doubt on the safety standards on Britain's railways. An official investigation into the crash that derailed a Virgin train, killing one person and injuring dozens, has found a culture of shortcuts and deficiencies in the track maintenance regime. Despite repeated warnings after a series of rail disasters in the past decade, campaigners say the evidence renews fears that lessons have not been learned.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/transport/Story/0,,2066784,00.html

The Government was accused yesterday of undertaking a council tax revaluation by "stealth" in England, despite claiming that it had been shelved. The Conservatives said that information given in answers to Parliamentary questions showed that valuation officers were compiling an electronic database logging details of every home in the country.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/27/ntax27.xml