War, what is it good for? Populating Australia apparently

NCD News: War, what is it good for? Populating Australia apparently - 17.11.09

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War, what is it good for? Populating Australia apparently: >>>> Thousands of British children who were shipped to Australia following World War 2 have received an official apology from the Australian Prime Minister. They had been part of an agreement to populate the country and subsequently suffered years of abuse and neglect in state care. The UK government is yet to have given an apology, but it is understood that Downing Street is in talks with representatives regarding the possibility in the future. Described at the time as "good white stock", the children were told they would receive a better way of life than they had in the UK where they were mostly from broken homes or from poverty. Unfortunately once in Australia they were often regarded as second class citizens and lived in over-crowded accommodation. Often parents were not aware their children had been sent to Australia and were sometimes told they had died. It is thought that the victims may now be considering compensation for the way they were treated.

>>>> It has been revealed in The Times this week that soldiers who are medically discharged from the Army due to emotional and psychological distress are being offered as little as £3000 in compensation. The MoD has been accused of washing its hands of mentally ill soldiers. There have been 155 cases since 2005 of soldiers who suffer hallucinations, flashbacks and depression and they have received an average of just £6000 each. It is thought that as many as 30% of all troops may suffer with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The MoD claim that those suffering with the disorder receive excellent care ... from the NHS. A review into MoD compensation is currently under way.

>>>> Post Office Home Insurance research has revealed that just 40% of people check their home insurance policies to ensure they are covered for all eventualities and less than 25% are sure they are fully covered. The Post Office point out that policies can be influenced by many factors such as the purchase of a new item and house renovations. It is therefore important to review policies at regular intervals to ensure it is up to date.

>>>> Young persons insurance specialist, Young Marmalade has said that many young people would rather be fined for not having insurance than pay huge insurance premiums. The insurer claims that other insurance companies need to make more of an effort to woo young drivers and to encourage them to take driving courses. They also say that some insurers have moved out of the market which has further increased prices due to a lack of competition.

>>>> The Government has begun a consultation into whether breaches of the Data Protection Act should result in penalty fines of a maximum of £500,000. The government wants to ensure that the Information Commissioners Office has the powers it needs to impose penalties where required. The Data Protection Act sets out rules about how personal information should be handled. The consultation closes on 21 December 2009.

>>>> Confused.com has issued a warning to home-owners following the bad weather around the country in recent days. They are suggesting that any objects at risk of being blown away should be moved or secured and overhanging tree branches should be cut to prevent damage. They have also offered advice on how to deal with flood damage if it occurs such as moving electrical items and using sandbags. They also claim they experienced a 114% increase in site traffic as people searched for insurance prior to the summer storms. They point out that unexpected weather conditions can strike all year round and comprehensive cover should always be in place.

>>>> Moneysupermarket.com has reported its best third quarter of the year, with general finance revenue up by 10% since the first half of the year. Insurance revenues were about 5% up since 2008 and more than 15% ahead of the first half of 2009. The comparison site has said that the increase is in line with expectations and they expect to capitalise on the growth for the future.

In further news from moneysupermarket.com, they have found that some insurers may refuse to insure a convicted drink driver if they have been banned during the previous 5 years. Those who will insure a drink driver will often charge almost twice the premium. Moneysupermarket.com warn that as the Christmas party season approaches it is important to bear in mind all the consequences of drinking and driving.

>>>> The RAC have warned that motorists could be facing petrol prices at 110p per litre by the middle of December. This is a 26% increase since this time last year. The VAT increase of 2.5% due in January is likely to add even more to the cost. The increases are blamed on worldwide oil costs combine with the falling value of the pound. The RAC have said that the increased cost may put people off visiting family and friends over Christmas. They have also pointed out that oil companies need to be more transparent with the pricing so customers can understand the reasons behind price increases.

>>>> Thomas McKenna has won compensation of nearly £4000 after he struck a mattress while he was driving on the M8 near Glasgow. It was claimed that the accident had aggravated an injury from a previous accident. The person who owned the mattress had admitted negligence.

>>>> LV= insurance has made a sponsorship deal with the British Bobsleigh Association in time for the Vancouver Winter Olympics which are to take place in February 2010. The sponsorship will be under the brand of Britannia Rescue and will also fund the ongoing training of the team. This comes on top of the recent announcement of LV= sponsorship of Anglo-Welsh rugby. †