Curious data loss incidents

Have just spotted a response by Geoff Hoon saying,

The Department for Transport has recorded 27 personal data related incidents in 2007-08 in its resource accounts published in July 2008.

The equipment lost in relation to these incidents recorded was five laptop computers, five Blackberrys, one USB memory device, and one removable hard disk drive.

So that's 12 devices which amounted to 27 personal data incidents? Is that 27 piece of personal data? Personal to who? Curious.

What happens when you make a mistake with your law drafting

I have no idea whether we have the equivalent of "safe haven" laws in the UK but they have them in the US. essentially most states have these and what it means is that a parent can legally abandon their child at a hospital to be taken into care if they want to.

Usually they are written to cover just new-born children, but Nebraska it appears made a bit of boob in July when they drafted their law. This resulted in them suddenly seeing parents dropping off their teenagers at hospitals to be taken into care.

In typical Government style the state reacted by announcing in October that the law would be fixed to only cover new-borns in November. The result? A tripling of teengaers being dropped off.

Unintended consequences huh?
Hat Tip: Crossed Pond

YouTube contest launched

Be afraid......

Watch out for the tell tale signs

Ken Livingstone's new friends

Not untypical I know, but Ken Livingstone's new project, Progressive London is hosting a conference and on the invited platform is Professor Eric Hobsbawm. For those who are unaware, Hobsbawm is basically an apologist for Stalin.

Johann Hari, who's writing I usually vehemently disagree with - has called Hobsbawm "the David Irvine of the left." Meanwhile, in an interview with BBC, Hobsbawn himself said that he thought the death of 15 to 20 million people would have been worth it if the Stalinist dream had been created at the end.

What is it about Livingstone enjoying the company of dictators, homophobes, and apologists for brutal murderous regimes?
Hat Tip: Croydonian

Clive Efford MP: Lame excuses that make him look like a liar?

Yesterday I posted and linked to this story about Clive Efford, MP for Eltham. He basically told a constituent the following in a letter dated the 10th November,

"I am unable to sign Early Day motions as I am now a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS). Unfortunately, ministers and PPSs are prevented from signing Early Day Motions through parliamentary conventions"

According to the House of Commons Information Centre he isn't a PPS though. What's more what is this? An Early Day motion from yesterday, the 12th November, which Clive Efford has signed.

This raises a number of questions, is Clive Efford MP a liar? Has he broken the rules he so proudly espoused he had to follow? Or has he just used a lame excuse which has backfired?

Update: Clive Efford MP has responded to his constituent saying,

"The current list of PPSs have not yet been published as it is not yet complete.

As a PPS to a minister I am bound by collective responsibility and therefore cannot sign EDMs which call on the government to take action however sympathetic I might be to those EDMs.

Hmmm, the list was updated again yesterday and still nothing. The HoC Information Centre says they "aim to update this list within one working day of changes being announced" so let's see how long it takes.

Worth noting as well that his reply in November was to a letter written in August. He says, according to a comment, he was made a PPS in last couple of weeks.

Did the Indy just admit it was wrong?

Here is an article in today's Independent which notes that the "ban on ugly" fruit and veg is being lifted by the EU and shops could start selling the oddly shaped produce once more.

Here is an article from the Independent in 2004 about "EU myths" which says that there are no bans on things like bendy cucumbers.

Funny old world huh?

Obama is not the first Black President!

Great comedy genius.

Labour MP caught telling fibs to constituents?

Interesting blog post about my former local Labour MP, Clive Efford (I've moved). The MP for Eltham sent a letter to a constituent saying that he couldn't possibly sign an EDM because he is a Parliamentary Private Secretary.

However, according to the House of Commons, who updated there list yesterday, he isn't anything of the sort. I just gave them a call to check the list was correct and they assured me it was. Meanwhile, the MP's office says he is PPS to Margaret Beckett. The Commons don't even record her as having one.

What's more, if one takes a look at his record for signing motions, he was doing so just eight days ago. In fact he signed two in October, and a few in July. So unless he's been promoted in the last eight days and been sacked yesterday (as the list was updated a day before the date of the letter) someone, somewhere is either telling porkies or he's been breaking the rules and signing motions when he shouldn't be.

Full exchange also available here.

Brown loses PMQs by his crassness

Unbelieavble. Gordon Brown has just accused Cameron of using the death of Baby P for party political reasons and has refused to withdraw the remark. Hopefully it will be YouTube'd soon because Cameron said nothing party political and he's clearly really pissed off that he has been accused by Brown.

All Cameron did was ask a question about the complete failure of the local Council in the case of the child and Brown avoided the question more than once. When he was asked again Brown said "I regret that this has been made party political" and the place erupted. Labour MPs were cheering Brown on as well.

Brown and his whole side of the House should be ashamed of themselves. Truly, truly ashamed, but I doubt he or any of them will apologise and withdraw the remark even if the pressure to do so reaches boiling point. The man is an odious little ****.

Video from Sky News