UK NEWS

UK NEWS: LAST WEEK OF MAY 2004

Case closed: Later the same year, the Employment Appeal Tribunal found that, although it was discrimination, it was not unlawful because the woman was legally a male and could not be asked to carry out searches on women. But the Court of Appeal held that Miss A's willingness to disclose her transsexuality to colleagues or members of the public with whom she had to deal destroyed the chief constable's defence that she would be unable to comply with rules governing body searches. After the hearing, chief constable Colin Cramphorn said in a statement that he was pleased the judgement had finally brought the matter to a close. "The Gender Recognition Bill, which becomes law this summer, will finally, directly rectify the law West Yorkshire Police was constrained by, when A applied to join in 1997," he said. "West Yorkshire Police remains committed to equal opportunities for all potential employees. "We employ non-police transgender staff, as we did at the time of A's application."

Bank ups interest rates to 4.25%

The Bank of England has raised UK interest rates by a quarter percentage point to 4.25%.

The move had been widely expected by economists and comes as the Bank tries to cool soaring property prices and consumer debt. The increase is the third quarter-point rise the Bank has made in the past seven months. It will leave homeowners repaying £15 a month more on a £100,000 mortgage with a previous interest rate of 5.75%. Many analysts now believe the cost of borrowing could reach 5% by the end of the year.

Housing market: Recent figures have shown that consumers are still borrowing and spending enthusiastically.And the housing market is still charging ahead. On Wednesday, the Halifax, the UK's biggest mortgage lender, said house prices rose by 1.8% in April - with prices up 19.1% on last year. Manufacturing is also showing signs of picking up, despite the strength of sterling. The Engineering Employers' Federation accepted that the rise could bring long-term benefits.

'Gradual approach': EEF chief economist Steve Radley said: "While higher rates are not particularly welcome at such an early stage in recovery, manufacturers understand that this rise may help to preserve economic stability in the longer run." And business group, the CBI, broadly welcomed the Bank's decision. Its chief economic adviser, Ian McCafferty, said: "Business recognises that interest rates will need to rise to a more neutral level over the next 12 months, so this rise is no surprise. "Companies will be pleased that the Bank has continued its well-signalled, gradual approach." However, he added: "With inflation well under control, firms would have serious concerns if this move were to herald the start of a series of more rapid rises." UK inflation - which currently stands at 1.1% - is expected to rise above the Treasury's 2% target over the next two years.

BLAIR ENVOY'S ABUSE CLAIMS

Cynon Valley MP Ann Clwyd Tony Blair's human rights envoy to Iraq has made fresh allegations about prisoner brutality by US troops.

Photo: Clwyd was one of the few left wing MPs in favour of war

Labour MP Ann Clwyd said she has been pursuing the case of an elderly Iraqi woman who alleges she was maltreated whilst in a Baghdad detention centre. A series of photos of US troops humiliating inmates at Abu Ghraib jail were broadcast in America last week. British military police are probing separate claims about UK troops published in the Daily Mirror.

Condemnation: Ms Clwyd says she has been pursuing the case of the Iraqi woman for months. The MP told BBC News 24: "The case involves allegations of mistreatment, such as making her go on the floor and be told she was a donkey and a man getting on her back." he said the woman had apparently been told in the last few days that the two people she described as her abusers were now in custody. Ms Clwyd said she had not had that information confirmed but US generals had been "shocked" when she gave them details of the case on a visit to the White House. The alleged abuse happened at a detention centre at Baghdad airport, she said, although that centre was under the same command as the Abu Ghraib jail at the time. Responding to Ms Clwyd's claims, Tony Blair's spokesman said: "The prime minister and the US president have both made it clear they in no way condone - and indeed they condemn - mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners. Individual cases should be investigated and the truth established." Her comments come on the same day as lawyers for 12 Iraqi families who claim relatives were killed by British troops in Iraq lodged papers at the High Court in a battle for compensation.

'Horrified': In the Commons, Mr Blair used prime minister's questions to say any "human rights abuses, torture or degradation" of prisoners were "wholly unacceptable". "That is what we went to Iraq to get rid of, not to perpetuate," he told MPs. He added: "I want to point out ... that the vast bulk of British troops out there would also be horrified if any such incidents have taken place." The pictures published by the Mirror apparently showed British troops beating an Iraqi detainee. Mr Blair said it would also be "extremely serious" if the photos turned out to be fakes. That was a message echoed by Conservative leader Michael Howard who said editor Piers Morgan would have to take "full responsibility".

New resolution? Later, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he did not believe British and American forces would be replaced in Iraq - except by Iraqi forces over time. No other country had the military resources or political will to do the job, he told the Commons foreign affairs committee. But he hoped a new United Nations Security Council resolution on Iraq could be agreed by the end of the month to endorse the handover of power to Iraqis due on 30 June. Mr Straw told the MPs a new resolution was not legally necessary but would give the new arrangements international legitimacy. BBCWorldNews-London.