Birmingham Post

School Head 'Spent Budget in Caribbean'

The former head teacher of a special school has been accused of spending thousands of pounds of school money on private holidays to the Caribbean. Susan Duncan, who worked at The Meadows School, in Dudley Road East, Oldbury, also filed expenses claims for items such as handbags, table lamps and scuba diving equipment, a committee for the General Teaching Council heard yesterday.

We Need More Creative Learning and Less Teaching to the Tests

Independent thinking squeezed out of A-Levels page 16 You could almost be forgiven for saying 'I told you so'.

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High-Speed Rail Move Is Behind Schedule ; Comment

National network for high speed link - page 15 The prospect of a new high speed rail network looks even more enticing following comments by Sir David Rowlands, the man in charge of drawing up detailed proposals.

Key Figure Thesize, Inacres, Ofaproposedbusinesspark Indarlastonwhichhasbecomea [...]

09.07.2009

BUSINESS NEWS 4-13 Banks plan ahead British banks will have to hold more capital and keep more liquid funds on hand to staunch a run like that which grounded Northern Rock, under plans spelled out by Chancellor Alistair Darling yesterday. Page 4 Project halted A Black Country regeneration project launched to global acclaim in March has become a victim of the recession after regional development agency AWM pulled its funding. Page 5 MG workers suffering Many MG Rover workers hit by the closure...

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Darling Unveils Plans to Prevent Bank Crisis ; Banking

British banks will have to hold more capital and keep more liquid funds on hand to staunch a run like that which grounded Northern Rock, under plans spelled out by Chancellor Alistair Darling yesterday. Those deemed by the Financial Services Authority to be running the greatest risks will be required have to have more capital than others.

Two-Year Cut in Funding Hits Walsall Scheme ; Regeneration

A Black Country regeneration project launched to global acclaim in March has become a victim of the recession after regional development agency AWM pulled its funding. The Darlaston Strategic Development Area (SDA), a proposed 54- acre business park which could have brought an estimated 2,500- 4,500 jobs into the area, has seen its funding cut for the next two years The SDA was part of a huge scheme intended to transform Walsall, including the pounds 400m Gigaport project. Darlaston is the on...

Rates Revaluation Boost ; West Midlands

Businesses across the West Midlands on average will see falls in their rate bills next year as a result of a Government exercise to refresh business rate values every five years. The region's total rates bill will fall by three per cent or pounds 55 million as a result of the revaluation after transitional relief.

Human Toll of Mg Rover Closure Revealed in Report

Many MG Rover workers hit by the closure of Longbridge had no idea how to write a CV or behave at a job interview, a new report reveals. The report, drawn up by academics from institutions including the University of Birmingham and Birmingham Business School, reveals the human toll of the closure of the car firm in April 2005.

Sfo Needed to Examine Rover Report Findings ; Business Minister and Wolverhampton Mp Pat Mcfadden Explains Why the Government Cannot Publish the Rover Report Immediately - and Pledges to Release It As Soon As Possible.

I have been reading the views of Ken Clarke in the Birmingham Post on the MG Rover inquiry. He seems to be forwarding two directly contradictory arguments at the same time. On the one hand he says it is right "allegations of wrongdoing are investigated". But on the other he accuses the Government of "kicking the issue into the long grass".

Banalities of Social Media

Facebook... OK, I admit it, I have dabbled in this social networking phenomenon. Quite why, I can't tell you. But dangers lie therein. Shelley Sawers erred by posting twaddle about her husband to a potential Facebook audience of 200 million worldwide. Which wouldn't have mattered had he been the vicar of Lower Slocum on the Puddle or a postman in suburbia.

Worst May Be Over but No Recovery yet, Suggests New Business Survey ; Manufacturing

There are signs that some crumb of confidence is returning for businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire according to a leading survey - but they are not yet convinced that the economic recovery is under way. The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce's Quarterly Economic Survey is seen as one of the definitive barometers for the way businesses are performing in the region.

Wise to Be Wary of the Geese!

Name: Simon Hall. Age: 29. Job title: Graphic designer at Brindleyplacebased agency Core.

Market Stabilising As 'Price Decline Easing' ; Housing

Halifax, Britain's biggest mortgage lender, took the occasion of a 0.5 per cent fall in its measure of house prices to highlight evidence that the housing market is stabilising. Last month's dip contrasted with a rise of 2.6 per cent in May and a 0.9 per cent increase reported by Nationwide, whose index has risen three times in the past four months.

Staff Demo As Cadbury Deal Leaves a Bad Taste

Cadbury workers, who claim they are being paid "Willy Wonka wages", are due to stage a high profile protest today. They plan demonstrating outside the confectionery group's European Forum at a hotel near Heathrow Airport amid warnings of industrial action.

Opec Income Soars 35pc in Year When Oil Hit $147 a Barrel ; Energy

Opec's income from oil and gas exports jumped by 35 per cent to more than $1 trillion last year as world oil prices hit record highs of almost $150 per barrel, the group said in its Annual Statistical Bulletin yesterday. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries saw the total value of its petroleum sales abroad reach almost $1,007 billion in 2008, up from $746 billion in 2007, which was itself a record.