In recent weeks, we have concentrated on the efficacy of criminal justice interventions, such as policing and robust sentencing, in reducing crime. There are, however, broader social interventions that can also play an important role. For example, a recent discussion paper suggests that workfare programmes have been a significant contributor to tackling crime in Denmark.… [Read More]
Aoife O’Donnell, a Debate Mate mentor, writes about the value of debating for all.
Interscholastic debate programs have been common throughout the nation’s more affluent public and private schools for many decades
In an attempt to curb its growing illegal immigration crisis, Greece has revealed plans to erect a 128 mile wall along its Turkish border. The Ministry of Public Order has stated that Greece “has reached its limits in taking in illegal immigrants”, with over 100,000 entering the country in 2010.
Years since he first proposed the idea, Sunder Katwala, General Secretary of the Fabian Sociey, still has the same solution to Britain’s educational woes: big government should pick up its clunking fists and pummel the most successful independent school system in the world, preferably with a VAT on fees. This, somehow, will atone for all… [Read More]
Today the top-rate of VAT has risen from 17.5% to 20%. The Government argues that the move is necessary to increase tax revenues and tackle the deficit, suggesting that once economic conditions improve the rate may be reduced. However, the increase has attracted criticism from an array of different sources, Ed Miliband has stated that… [Read More]
Last week Civitas released a report detailing the successes of the German and Swiss banking systems. In particular the success of the German savings banks and the Swiss cantonal banks allowed German and Swiss businesses to continue to access credit throughout the recession. The benefits of this have been evident in 2010 as both countries… [Read More]
Hands up who thinks BAA stands for British Aviation Authority? Well put them down, you’re all wrong. The acronym has meant nothing after BAA was privatised in 1986 and since 2006, it has been owned by the Spanish consortium Ferrovial. The arctic chaos of this week has clearly shown that there are some infrastructures too… [Read More]
Hungary is readying itself for its chance at the EU helm as Belgium’s six-month rotating EU Presidency draws to a close. One of the newer EU member states (Hungary joined in 2004), this is their first opportunity to take on the EU Presidency role (member state take it in turns to hold the position for… [Read More]
Trawling through the 167 pages of the Coalition Government’s response to the consultation on the NHS White Paper ‘Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS’, one cannot help but agree with Phil Collins’ recent comment piece in The Times… just why is the Secretary of State making NHS reform so hard for himself?
In 1981, the then Governor of HMP Wormwood Scrubs, John McCarthy, composed a damning letter in The Times bemoaning the inadequacies of the prison system: “From my personal point of view I did not join the Prison Service…to be a member of a service where the staff that I admire are forced to run a… [Read More]