The Government Spin Doctors thought that they could bury unwelcome news on the MSBP case reviews by announcing it to the BBC Radio 4 programme "Woman's Hour" who broadcast it on Monday last, whilst the media were obsessed with the Commons Debate on Tuition Fees and Publication of the Kelly / Hutton Inquiry. I almost missed it myself as I was driving my son David to his art class at the Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute (a wonderful institution currently under threat because of the actions of David Blunkett when he was at Education). Thankfully my 76-year-old mother, Dorothy Seager of Aston, Sheffield, alerted me by mobile phone as she realised the significance of the broadcast.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE OFFICE OF THE CHILDREN'S MINISTER MARGARET HODGE HAS ATTEMPTED TO BACKTRACK ON THE REVIEW OF THE CIVIL CASES. THEY ARE SAYING THAT THE WIDESPREAD REPORTING OF A PROPOSED REVIEW IS MISTAKEN AND THEY NOW GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CIVIL CASES MAY NOT BE REVIEWED.

THE CONSERVATIVE SHADOW ATTORNEY GENERAL DOMINIC GREIVE SPOKE WELL AND TRIED TO HOLD THE GOVERNMENT TO THE COMITTMENTS MADE BY HARRIET HARMAN THE SOLICITOR GENERAL IN THE COMMONS.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/26_01_04/monday/info1.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3423777.stm

On behalf of "Parents, Professionals and Politicians Protecting Children with Illness and/or Disabilities" I attempted to direct key journalists and opposition politicians to the Woman's Hour item but nobody picked it up until a journalist for the Newcastle Sunday Sun took the trouble to listen again online and asked very specific questions to Government for which he had to receive very specific answers under public information codes of conduct.

I don't think it will be very sunny for Ms Harman or Mrs Hodge in Newcastle on Sunday.

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/sundaysun/

Jan Loxley Blount for Parents-Protecting-Children.org.uk 31 01 04