1) YORK Central MP Hugh Bayley has called for a change in the law to prevent ministers making misleading use of statistics. The Labour MP claims there has been a catalogue of cases in which the independent UK Statistics Authority has had to correct false or misleading statements made by ministers and also the Mayor of London on important matters including the growth of the national debt, flood protection spending, passports and crime. In the Commons he asked Rob Wilson, Minister for Civil Society, in the Commons whether the government will change the law to give the UK Statistics Authority, rather than the government, the power to decide what information should be published as official statistics.

 

2) A VARIETY Night is being held at the City Screen Basement in aid of Mitochondria Research on November 25. The organiser, Ian Wood, is a local stand up comic, who is visually impaired and a wheelchair user who suffers from the condition. He said he hoped the event would raise as much as possible to help fund further research into the condition, to aid further treatments and cures: “It would also help towards awareness as many people aren’t aware of the Mitochondrial disease.” Also in the line-up are stand up comedian Micky Buns and music from Nathan O’Grady and York’s Sunshine Ukulele Revival. Tickets £5.

 

3) A GOVERNMENT ‘‘champion’’ will address delegates at a York education conference aimed at reducing the gap between the most disadvantaged pupils and their peers. Sir John Dunford, the national Pupil Premium Champion, will lead City of York Council’s conference at its West Offices HQ on December 9. He will update school leaders and governors about the use of pupil premium, the extra £900 funding schools receive per disadvantaged pupil, as well as looking at examples of excellent practice at Millthorpe School and Westfield Primary School in York.

 

4) A LOCAL health education group has won a national award. Health Education Yorkshire and the Humber won the Workforce award at the 2014 Health Service Journal Awards in London on Wednesday. The award was granted for the group’s Advance Training Practice Scheme for student nurses, which places 200 student nurses each year with teams for their training.

 

York Press:

5) TWO North Yorkshire pubs are flushed with success after won awards for the quality of their toilets. The Postern Gate in York’s Piccadilly, and The Giant Bellflower in Gowthorpe, Selby, were both awarded the platinum star rating – the highest rating possible – at the Loo Of The Year Awards. The awards are aimed at highlighting and improving standards of “away from home” toilet provision across the UK, with authorised inspectors making unannounced visits to hundreds of toilets at sites across the UK, in order to judge them.

 

6) THE Christmas Fair at Scarcroft Primary School will be held on Saturday, December 6. The fair runs between 2.30pm and 5.30pm, and has been organised by the Friends of Scarcroft School with profits going towards equipment and trips for the children. Three school choirs will perform, alongside a parents singing group, a children’s piano group, and the Railway Institute Golden Rail. There will also be 44 stalls including local crafts, children’s activities, and hot refreshments.

 

7)POLICE have confirmed no further action will be taken against a man who was arrested at a York swimming pool. The 23-year-old man, who was 22-years-old at the time of his arrest in January, was arrested on suspicion of voyeurism at Waterworld in Monks Cross.

 

8)HOSPITAL staff will go on strike across the region on Monday as part of an ongoing pay dispute. Staff, including nurses and midwives, are to stage a new four-hour strike nationally over pay between 7am and 11am linked to the Government’s decision not to implement a recommended one per cent rise.

 

9) OLDER residents in York have been urged to ensure their homes are properly maintained to avoid wasting money this winter. Age UK York is supporting National Maintenance Week, and recommends residents ensure any problems to the exterior of homes - including blocked gutters, drains or problems with patios - are corrected as soon as possible.

 

10) A FORMAL consultation on the Copmanthorpe Neighbourhood Plan is under way. The plan, which looks at the future of the area, is open for public comment, and closes in the first week of January. Then, the parish council will view the plan with City of York Council and the independent examiner. Comment on the plan at: plan4copmanthorpe.org.uk