This
week’s news in brief
£168m
pleases RCN
The
Royal College of Nursing has welcomed the Government’s plans to spend £168m
over the next three years on a package of golden hellos and loyalty bonuses to
attract staff. Nurses coming back to the NHS will get a £1,000 grant to help
with their costs while they complete a refresher course. www.rcn.org.uk
US
jobs buck trend
Job
growth in the US persisted and the unemployment rate did not move from
near-record lows last month. The Labour Department claimed that it showed the
US economy’s resilience and belies talk of recession. There was unexpectedly
strong job growth in services, particularly retail, finance and consulting.
Business
doubts euro
Business
remains unconvinced of the case for the euro, according to an EEF survey. It
shows that businesses have significant concerns about further involvement of
the EU at national level in the areas to taxation and social policy, and that
these impact on their attitude towards the euro. www.eef.org.uk
C
of E pays for ‘sin’
A
choirmaster who claimed he was sacked for “living in sin” has received a £7,500
settlement days before the case was to go before an employment tribunal.
Stephen Hartley had planned to sue the Church of England for unfair dismissal
after losing his job as director of music at St James’s Church in Wetherby,
West Yorkshire.
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Councils’
value guide
Local
government minister Beverley Hughes is to launch a handbook containing
guidelines for councils on tendering and awarding contracts when outsourcing
services. The Handbook of Workforce Matters in Best Value Contracting, aims to
produce a well-trained and motivated workforce to achieve Best Value. www.detr.gov.uk
