No 10 'Covered Up Aide Child Abuse Pic Claims'

Prime Minister David Cameron's office has been accused of a cover-up after a senior aide was arrested over child sex abuse images allegations.

Patrick Rock resigned from his role as deputy head of Downing Street's policy unit almost three weeks ago, after officials were made aware of a potential offence.

This was revealed by the Daily Mail on Monday evening and confirmed by Number 10.

Backbench Labour MP John Mann said it was "mysterious" this had not emerged earlier.

"There has been a bodged attempt at media manipulation which is wholly unacceptable from 10 Downing Street," he said.

"Of course they should have revealed it proactively."

Mr Cameron said on Tuesday he had been "profoundly shocked" by the allegations against Mr Rock, who resigned on February 12, the day before he was arrested.

"I don't think it would be right to pre-emptively brief out a criminal investigation and that's why we did not do that.

"But as soon as questions were asked, as questions would inevitably be asked, we have given very full and straightforward answers, which is absolutely the right way to answer this.

"I've been clear right along and I was told about this issue pretty much as soon as it was discovered and I have been very clear we must handle this in an absolutely correct way and I am satisfied that is what number 10 Downing Street has done."

Mr Rock, who is not married and is from west London, was involved in drawing up the Government's policy on internet pornography filters.

The 62-year-old was brought back into Downing Street in 2011 by Mr Cameron after working with him at the Home Office under Michael Howard in the 1990s.

He is reported to have been in line for a peerage.

Mr Rock was the subject of an unrelated complaint of "inappropriate behaviour" towards a female civil servant 18 months ago.

Downing Street said this was "appropriately resolved with the consent of and in consultation with the individual who raised the issue".

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GPs To Trial Skype And Email Appointments

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

Experimental plans to make family doctors more accessible using Skype appointments and email consultations are due to be announced within the next few weeks.

At least 40,000 patients will be covered by pilot schemes in England designed to improve access to GPs through extending opening hours, weekend opening and better use of technology.

GPs in West Yorkshire have been using video conferencing to assess patients for the past eight years through a pioneering scheme at Airedale General Hospital.

First used with patients in prisons, more recent use with elderly people in care homes has shown it can cut the number of A&E appointments by 69% and hospital admissions by 45%.

Dr Colin Renwick, a GP from Settle in North Yorkshire, has been involved with the project since 2006 and says video conferencing could easily be extended to a patient's home.

"There's no reason why you couldn't do (that)," he said.

"A lot of what you base a diagnosis on is actually what the patient is telling you on the history, and if you're listening to the patient the actual physical hands-on examination often doesn't add a lot to what they've told you."

The pilot scheme areas are due to announced later this month, with a commitment to rapid implementation and to delivering what the government calls "tangible patient benefits".

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Being Overweight 'Normalised', Health Chief Says

Being overweight has become "normal" and a "sugar tax" may be needed to tackle the problem, the chief medical officer for England has warned.

Professor Dame Sally Davies said the Government should intervene to tackle child and adult obesity by regulating the food and drinks industry to protect against the dangers of excess calorie consumption.

She told the House of Commons Health Select Committee: "We need to be both strong and prepared to regulate. I think that the science is going such that that we will find sugar is addictive.

"We haven't managed to get over to the public how calorie packed fruit juices are, smoothies are, colas and carbonated drinks. We need to have a big education to know one is fine, but not lots of them.

"We may need to move to some sort of sugar tax, but I hope we don't have to."

Dame Sally said being overweight has been "normalised"

A "generation" of overweight children are in danger of not living as long as their parents, Dame Sally said.

"I worry that we have re-sized a women's dress size so that a size 14 now was a size 12 when I was a student," she said.

"We have normalised being overweight.

"We have to find a new way - not of ostracising people who are obese and making them feel bad about themselves - but somehow of helping them to understand this is pathological and will cause them harm."

She also warned promoting physical education alone would not solve the problem.

In January, health experts set up the Action on Sugar campaign group, which works to reduce the amount of sugar added to food and soft drinks, and inform the public about "hidden sugars".

The group identified flavoured water, sports drinks, yoghurts, ketchup, ready meals and even bread as everyday foods that contain large amounts of sugar.

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Warm Weather For Weekend After Floods Misery

Temperatures could peak at 17C (62.6F) this weekend as spring conditions give many people a welcome break from months of miserable weather.

Sunday is likely to be the warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures in much of southern England set to hit the mid-teens.

The average high for March is 8.9C (48F).

"This week is set to turn milder as a large area of high pressure builds giving lots of sunshine through the coming week, as well as dry weather - especially in the south," Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said.

Predictably perhaps, not all areas will enjoy the pleasant conditions.

"There will still be some rain sweeping across Scotland at times and it will be chilly at night with localised frost and fog patches," she added.

England and Wales have suffered the wettest winter for 250 years

There will also be some wet weather for northern parts of the UK and Ireland.

Winter has been a weather nightmare for many, with large parts of the country hit by devastating floods, and fierce winds cutting power and disrupting travel.

Weeks of rain have made it the wettest winter for England and Wales for nearly 250 years

It has also been the wettest for the UK as a whole since records began in 1910.

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Asteroid To Fly Between Earth And Moon

By Joe Tidy, Sky News Reporter

Scientists say a 30m-wide (100ft) asteroid will pass between the moon and Earth later, providing spectacular views for anyone with a good telescope.

The space rock called 2014 DX110 is the length of three double-decker buses and will come within 214,745 miles (346,599km) of the planet at around 9pm UK time.

It will be moving at 33,000mph (53,108kph).

Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has been monitoring its flight and classifies it as one of a number of Apollo-class asteroids, which cross the Earth's orbit.

The Chelyabinsk asteroid which exploded over the Russian region last year was also Apollo-class.

It will be travelling at 33,000mph (artist impression of an asteroid)

Professor Tim O'Brien, from the University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank Observatory, said: "There is an incredibly tiny chance of 2014 DX110 getting closer to Earth but everything indicates that it's nothing to worry about.

"This asteroid was only spotted last month and we now know there are many more like it that are, as yet, undetected.

"The Chelyabinsk meteor event was a reminder of the damage these things can do so it's important to keep monitoring and looking for them.

"On a comforting note though, it's good to remember that there are many more smaller, and harmless objects, than large ones out there."

Scientists say the rock will be too faint to see with the naked eye but should be visible with a reasonably sized telescope.

Astronomers will also need to work out exactly where it will cross the night sky, so more experienced stargazers might have a better chance of spotting it.

The Virtual Telescope Project and Slooh will be sharing real-time images in a live, online event.

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Ukraine: Document Reveals UK Stance On Crisis

A document detailing the UK's position on the Ukraine crisis has been seen being taken into Downing Street.

It was photographed as an official went into Downing Street for a meeting of the National Security Council as the crisis deepened.

It makes clear the Government is not considering curbing trade with Russia - or closing London's financial centre to Moscow as part of any possible package of sanctions against the country.

The papers also suggest the UK will lobby to exclude any talk of a military response to the deepening crisis.

Sky's Jason Farrell said: "It looks like some kind of a briefing document that's being taken into the meeting.

"It does give away some of Britain's position towards Russia.

The unknown official with the document in Downing Street

"It does suggest there may be suspension of contracts with Russia. There is talk about suspending Russia from the G8 and putting in visa restrictions.

"But it says the UK should not support, for now, trade sanctions or close London's financial centre to Russia.

"It also talks of what the UK can do for Ukraine - technical assistance packages - ideally jointly with Germany and about the EU working to provide some kind of alternative gas supply if Russia cuts them off."

The document also talks of pushing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "to take the lead in calling and creating a forum for engaging Russia on Ukraine", and accepting "a special European Council" for leaders to meet and discuss the crisis.

It also says the UK should "discourage any discussion" of any "contingency military preparations".

Farrell added: "It is extremely embarrassing that the points of discussion have come out in this way."

Prime Minister David Cameron said after the meeting Russia would face "diplomatic, political, economic" pressure in response to "violating the sovereignty" of Ukraine.

"What we want to see is a de-escalation rather than a continuation down the path that the Russian government has taken, violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of another country.

"So we shall have to bring to bear diplomatic, political, economic and other pressures in order to make this point.

"That is the very clear message the whole world needs to send to the Russian government."

EU leaders are to hold an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

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Top Rugby Player May Lose Eye In Street Attack

Police have released CCTV images of three men they want to speak to over an attack on a Super League rugby player who may now lose an eye.

Sean Gleeson was punched in the face a number of times outside a nightclub in Wigan, Greater Manchester, around 4am on Sunday.

Following a row with three men, Gleeson was involved in a fight with one of them near Ibiza Bar in King Street, police said.

The others joined in before they left the Hull KR centre in the road and ran away.

He suffered serious injuries to his eye and eye socket and was taken to hospital where he is still being treated.

The three men that police want to trace

Wigan-born Gleeson, 26, signed for Hull KR last year but has had a string of injury problems.

He previously played for Salford City Reds, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Widnes Vikings and Wigan Warriors. He has represented Ireland at international level.

Detective Chief Inspector Howard Millington, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "We are now in a position to release images of three people we are very keen to speak to.

"If you recognise these men I would urge you to get in contact. A young man has been left with serious, potentially life changing, injuries as he could lose his eye.

"Imagine if this was your son, brother, cousin, or close friend who was ill in hospital, you would want answers.

"In addition, if anyone was there that night and saw the assault or if you know something that might be relevant to our investigation I would urge them to get in contact with police.

"You might not have seen the actual attack but you may have seen a group of white men running away. I would urge anyone who thinks they may know who is responsible to come forward and speak to us."

Anyone with information should call Wigan police on 0161 856 7259 / 7967 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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No 10 Aide Quits Over Abuse Images Claims

A government aide has been arrested over child abuse imagery allegations.

Patrick Rock was arrested at his home in the early hours of February 13 - hours after Downing Street reported the matter to police.

The 62-year-old, who was the deputy head of Downing Street's policy unit and a key aide of David Cameron's, had resigned the previous day.

Mr Rock, who is not married and is from west London, was one of a number of advisers and officials involved in drawing up the Government's policy on internet porn filters.

The search engine companies Google and Microsoft agreed last year to introduce changes to make it harder to find child abuse images online.

A spokesperson for Number 10 said: "Subsequently, we arranged for officers to come into Number 10 have access to all IT systems and offices they considered relevant.

"This is an ongoing investigation so it would not be appropriate to comment further, but the Prime Minister believes that child abuse imagery is abhorrent and that anyone involved with it should be properly dealt with under the law."

The spokesperson stressed the work was "led by somebody else, and decisions were taken by ministers".

According to the Daily Mail, which broke the news of the arrest, Mr Rock had particular responsibility for home affairs issues in the policy unit.

Mr Cameron brought Mr Rock back into Downing Street in 2011 after working with him at the Home Office under Michael Howard in the 1990s.

He was a protege of Margaret Thatcher and is credited with coining the phrase "cows moo, dogs bark. Labour puts up taxes".

Mr Rock stood for MP in 1984 for the Tory safeseat of Portsmouth South but after a disastrous by-election campaign he suffered a crashing defeat losing out to the then Liberal SDP Alliance candidate, Mike Hancock.

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Childcare 'Costs Families More Than Mortgage'

The cost to families for part-time childcare is more than the monthly mortgage repayment, figures show.

According to the Family and Childcare Trust study, parents are spending more than £7,500 a year on part-time childcare for two children - around 4.7% more than the average mortgage bill.

Those with two children in full-time childcare are hit with an annual bill of £11,700 - 62% higher than the average yearly mortgage bill.

Its also says some families may be spending more on childcare than they do on their weekly shopping.

Information for the report came from family or children's information services at councils in England, Wales and Scotland.

Each local authority was asked to give the cost of 25 hours and 50 hours of childcare as provided by nurseries and childminders.

They were also asked to give figures on the average cost of 15 hours childcare in an after-school club, or for a childminder picking youngsters up from school.

It found a family with one two-year-old child attending nursery part-time and a five-year-old in an after-school club will be forced to spend £7,549 a year on average.

This is higher than the UK average annual UK mortgage, which the report puts at £7,207.

Education and childcare minister Elizabeth Truss insisted the cost of childcare in England had stabilised for the first time in 12 years.

"In fact, once inflation is taken into account costs for the majority have actually fallen," she said.

"This means more parents are able to access affordable childcare and support their families.

"These reductions contrast with rising costs in Scotland and Wales, highlighting the difference this Government's reforms are making."

The Department for Education said that the survey shows that the cost of nursery for a child over two was now £106.19, compared to £106.52 per week last year, which it said was a 2% reduction in real terms.

Dr Steven Toole, head of policy at 4Children, said: "The cost of childcare remains a major challenge for too many families, resulting in some parents getting into debt and others having to give up or being prevented from taking up work.

"Recent 4Children research shows the scale of the struggle parents face with childcare, with one in four saying that affordable, flexible and accessible childcare would make the most real, positive difference to their family life."

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Girl Found In Grave: Cause Of Death Revealed

A teenager found dead in a freshly disturbed grave died from "pressure to the neck", police have said.

The body of 17-year-old Jayden Parkinson was discovered in the Great Western Cemetery in Didcot, Oxfordshire, in December.

Her ex-boyfriend Ben Blakeley, 22, has been charged with murder and perverting the course of justice.

Toxicology tests were ordered after an initial post-mortem examination was inconclusive.

Jayden was last spotted alive on CCTV

"Those results have now been received and Thames Valley Police can confirm that the cause of death is consistent with pressure to the neck," a police spokesman said.

The Oxford teen was last seen leaving Didcot railway station on December 3.

Police were led to the graveyard by "significant" information. Some 100 officers searched for her body.

Blakeley, of Christchurch Road in Reading, is due to appear at Oxford Crown Court for a plea hearing on March 17.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with perverting the course of justice by allegedly helping to dispose of Jayden's body and other evidence.

A third person, a 48-year-old woman from Didcot, was also arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and has been bailed.

Meanwhile, the Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating whether Thames Valley Police's response to Jayden's was "appropriate and proportionate in the circumstances".

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