Review of the Papers, Wednesday 31 August

Changes to out-of-hours NHS care could mean that serious illnesses in children are being missed, an expert says today.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life-and-style/health/child-health/article2357795.ece

One of Britain’s leading environmental researchers has been chosen by Gordon Brown as the Government’s new chief scientist, The Times has learnt.

John Beddington, Professor of Applied Population Biology at Imperial College, London, will succeed Professor Sir David King as the Chief Scientific Adviser when he steps down at the end of the year.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article2358045.ece

Gordon Brown issued a stark warning on pay to public sector unions yesterday, saying that some awards must be paid in stages and that his 2 per cent ceiling on rises would not be breached. His remarks, his toughest on pay since he became Prime Minister, came as prison officers’ leaders prepared to resume talks with the Government after their wildcat strike over a staged pay deal.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2358409.ece

More strikes by prison officers look inevitable in the wake of the government's response to this week's wildcat action. The justice secretary, Jack Straw, is due to meet union leaders today for "meaningful talks", but both sides appeared headed for a confrontation which could spread to other public sector unions.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/unions/story/0,,2159560,00.html

Keith Vaz urged Prime Minister Gordon Brown to allow a vote on the treaty, feared to be simply a rehash of the EU Constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/31/neu231.xml

A senior police officer hit back today at David Cameron's description of "anarchy" on Britain's streets.

Mr Cameron, the Conservative party leader, has highlighted high-profile gun and knife crimes as part of his attack on the government over social breakdown.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2159953,00.html

The government was accused of complacency yesterday after revealing that writing standards among seven-year-olds had fallen for the second year in a row. The statistics, released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, also showed no improvements in other core areas, such as maths and science.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/publicservices/story/0,,2159617,00.html

The NHS will underspend by a record-breaking £1bn this year, according to government projections released yesterday.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/publicservices/story/0,,2159623,00.html

Labour has warned that millions of childless and unmarried people would face higher taxes under a Tory government under plans floated by David Cameron.

The Tory leader, who has promised to reward marriage through the tax system, pledged that "every pound" of new green taxes to combat climate change would be spent on cutting "family taxes". He said: "I think people will have faith in green taxes if we say every pound on a green tax will come off a family tax."

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2914380.ece