Parents fear children are still at risk despite child porn curbs
| 19 June 2013
A plan to block online images of child abuse will not protect children from viewing millions of legal pornographic websites, parents and campaigners have warned.
Ministers struck a deal on Tuesday with major internet companies to provide the Internet Watch Foundation with more money and new powers to seek out online child pornography. After talks with major internet companies, the Culture Secretary said the IWF, industry’s own watchdog, would be given an extra £1 million in funding from private firms to block “abhorrent images” of child abuse.
However, while the initiative was welcomed, concerns remained that it was too easy for children to view adult pornography at home or in public WiFi zones.
'Right to childcare' timetable call from MSPs
| 18 June 2013
A fundamental transformation of childcare in Scotland is needed, according to a group of MSPs. Holyrood's equal opportunities committee has been looking at issues surrounding women and work.
In his speech to the SNP conference earlier this year First Minister Alex Salmond pledged to make childcare a top priority in an independent Scotland. The committee wants a timetable set for introducing a statutory right to care for every child up to the age of 15.
It said such a move, along with more flexible working patterns, could transform women's access to work.
Last year the Scottish government outlined plans to increase free pre-school childcare, but MSPs on the equal opportunities committee said changes must go beyond that age group.
Council's crackdown on scams sends a message to postal fraudsters
| 17 June 2013
A local authority has launched a fresh crackdown on postal, online and telephone fraud. Angus Council is working with post offices to reduce the number of people who are tricked into parting with their money by con artists.