Rt Revd John Saxbee: Policy “needs to be re-visited and revised

The Church of England’s lead spokesperson on education issues, the Rt Revd John Saxbee, has written to Education Secretary Michael Gove to express his serious concern at the cancellation of the Building Schools for the Future programme in secondary schools.

As the House of Commons begins to debate the Academies Bill, the Church is signalling its deep disappointment at the recent announcement in another area of education policy, which it says will see the fate of the learning environment of at least 30,000 young people doomed to dilapidation for the medium term.

Bishop John’s letter focuses on the impact on the 23 Church of England secondary schools which were anticipating major building work in the near future but which have now been told they will no longer go ahead, and a further 18 CofE academy building projects now under review.

He also reflects on the impact on the wider education system, highlighting concern about the impact on communities under-served by the education system in the past, and predicting strong resistance from local communities to the sudden halt of the programme.

Bishop John argues that the Government’s policy “needs to be re-visited and revised so that new proposals can be brought forward which will give hope to those who currently feel very deflated and whose aspirations and hard work appear to have come to nothing.”

"Extremists are creating havoc and seek to destroy those who disagree with their dogma"

The world leader of an Islamic community has appealed to all Muslims to unite against terror and ‘jihadist’ violence.

The Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, said those who yearn for peace should not countenance anyone who sought to cause mayhem.

In May, more than 200 Ahmadi Muslims were murdered and injured in a gun, grenade and suicide attack on two mosques in Lahore.

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the fifth Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said: “Those who love and yearn for peace should stand united against terror and ‘jihadist’ violence. Extremists are creating havoc and seek to destroy those who disagree with their dogma. We will continue to respond with patience and prayer and never give up our belief and trust in God.”

Mr. Ahmad urged all Muslims to “always strive to be the standard bearers of the true Islam - and have love for all and hatred for none.”

He went on to say that “Allah created all the worlds and is The Master of all creation. Those who commit murder in His name will only incur His wrath. Those who kill will bear a heavy burden for God has proclaimed that to take one life of an innocent is like murdering all of humanity.

“We are a community of peace, even in the face of such adversity. By spreading a message of peace, we can extinguish the flames of hatred.”

Rafiq Hayat, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK added that the purpose of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been, for over a century, to propagate the peaceful practice of Islam - a mission that is opposed by extremists.

“Those who murder in the name of Allah, and those who incite others to hatred, are not only enemies of Islam but of all of humanity. Through Ahmadiyya, the renaissance of Islam has begun and it is through purity of faith and enlightened thinking - not intolerance and prejudice- that the beauty of our faith will be seen. Though we are stricken with grief and we all know of someone who has lost a loved one in the terrorist attacks, we remain steadfast and prostrate ourselves before Allah for divine protection and justice.”

A non-EU foreigner living legally in Italy can convert his Permit of Stay for studies or professional training into one for self-employed work, even if he has a “Contratto a progetto” (working for a project contract), the Immigrations Department of the Ministry of Labour has said.

Having received so many questions about this issue in the last months, the Immigrations Department of the Ministry of Labour decided to issue a special note confirming that student holders of “Contratto a progetto” can also convert their permits into self-employed work permits.

Compulsory retirement at 65 to be phased out by October 2011

The Government has come under attack from business groups after announcing plans to phase out the so-called default retirement age (DRA) of 65 by October next year.

Ministers said the DRA will be "consigned to the history books", drawing praise from campaigners who have complained that forcing someone to retire just because they reached 65 was discriminatory.

Employment Relations Minister Edward Davey said: "With more and more people wanting to extend their working lives, we should not stop them just because they have reached a particular age."

But after studying details of the announcement, business groups criticised the move, complaining that the timescale will give companies little time to prepare.

Adam Marshall, director of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "The Government has pledged to reduce the burden of employment law, but at the same time it is proposing to restrict businesses' ability to manage their workforce by phasing out the DRA.

"Employers agree that the DRA is currently too low and needs to rise for both economic and demographic reasons. However, if ministers want to make a positive change, they should either raise the DRA in line with the state pension age, or offer employers a new dismissal route that helps businesses manage their workforce more effectively, regardless of age."

CBI deputy director general John Cridland said: "The decision to abandon the DRA leaves business with many unresolved problems and the Government's timetable to scrap it will give companies little time to prepare."

Pensions Minister Steve Webb said that the move would allow people with skills and experience to continue working beyond 65 and TUC general secretary Brendan Barber joined him in praising the proposal.

He said: "This is a welcome move. It cannot be right that workers lose their protection against arbitrary dismissal overnight because of their age.

"But we need to go further to give people real choice about how and when they retire, with new rights for flexible working. This can end the retirement cliff-edge where people work full-time one day and stop work the next. Many would prefer a phased retirement."

By The Press Association