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PARENTS HELD RESPONSIBLE
In a crackdown on recording piracy a mum has been threatened with a £4,000 fine or prison because her 14-year-old daughter downloaded songs on the internet. Because of her daughter's age the mum is responsible for the demand. So why is it parents are not held responsible for their offspring when they're involved in activities such as mugging, arson and vandalism?

NOT BUILT TO LAST
According to a Which? report, Hoover's domestic appliances are the most unreliable on the high street. The report claimed its fridge-freezers, washers, washer-driers and tumble-driers are all below average for dependability. Dyson goods are also blasted in the study. Both its cylinder and upright vacuum cleaners are the most likely to break down while its washers are among the least dependable. Bosch and Miele products are rated top. Which? editor Malcolm Coles said, "They are brands you can trust. They're not going to leave you with dishwashers full of dirty dishes or vacs that won't suck. On the other hand, you simply can't rely on Dyson and Hoover." Now when I were a lad........

NHS WASTE
More than 17 million meals are being thrown away untouched in Britain’s hospitals every year, an increase of almost 50% over the past three years. The sharp rise in the amount of food going to waste comes in spite of a big government drive to improve nutrition and make patients’ meals more palatable. Patient groups and politicians called for an urgent investigation into the increase amid concerns of patient malnutrition and wasted resources in the NHS. A Department of Health spokesman said, "A lot of the wastage is stuff that never even reaches patients. Three or four dishes go up to the ward for patients to choose what they want. We have to over-supply because we don't know who is going to want the chicken korma and who is going to want cauliflower cheese." Ever heard of a menu? See also: NHS Waste

LIVE 8 POLITICAL PLATFORM
London-based group Black Information Link called the Live 8 London concert "hideously white" for not having enough black performers. Justin Onyeka, entertainment editor at black newspaper New Nation, said he was surprised Band Aid 20 performers Dizzie Rascal, Ms Dynamite, Jamelia and Beverley Knight were not included in the line-up. He said Live 8 organisers "need to engage British, African and Jamaican artists and added, "Where are the reggae artists that have been campaigning for truth and justice?" Could it be they were busy with other projects and commitments? As a matter of interest is there a White Information Link? First the Spice Girls are appearing, then they're not, then they are - does anyone care?

EUROVISION POLITICAL CONTEST
A lack of investment by the BBC was blamed for Javine's poor British result in the Eurovision Song Contest after she finished third from bottom with just 18 points. Laki Pattalis, owner of Europop record store Trehantiri, said that the problem was the BBC was not prepared to promote it properly. It also got very little radio airplay in the UK, he added. The contest is politically driven these days anyway and the fact the song was crap probably didn't help either.

THREE-POINT PLAN TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO USE BUSES:

* Provide newer, better buses
* Run them more regularly
* Charge less

ID CARD PLANS COULD BE SCRAPPED
Labour's ID Cards Bill could be scrapped because it may victimise minority groups. The Home Office is concerned about the impact of ID cards on blacks, Asians, gypsies and transsexuals. The Commission for Racial Equality fear they will lead to police stopping and searching more blacks and Asians. But why are they only concerned for "blacks, Asians, gypsies and transsexuals"? Why must we do everything not to offend these minorities? So much for equality.

MORE MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN
The North West London Strategic Health Authority withdrew plans for a "super hospital", after £14m had been spent on its development. The project got into trouble when its estimated cost rose from £350m to £800m.

ANOTHER NON-STARTER
Under new legislation, anyone applying for a UK visa will be fingerprinted BEFORE leaving for Britain in a bid to weed out illegal migrants. And employers will face a new £2,000 fixed penalty fine every time they are found to have hired an illegal worker. Only skilled workers will be allowed to stay in Britain, but will have to speak English and pass a "Britishness test" in the same way as those applying for citizenship.

TOLD TO LIE LOW
Gipsy caravans arrived in North Curry, Somerset, and parked opposite the 70-year-old cottage belonging to Julia Tibbs and Hillary Harris. On the advice of lawyers, Miss Tibbs had been keeping a detailed record of events at the camp to submit to a planning inquiry about the site. When she called police to say more caravans had arrived, officers said her behaviour could put her personal security at risk. Police warned villagers not to gaze out of their windows after gipsies on an illegal site complained their privacy was being invaded. They were told that just looking at the travellers in a neighbouring field could be considered provocative and were advised to `lie low'. Why have the gypsies not been warned about THEIR behaviour?

PLENTY OF NUTTERS OUT THERE
Three abstract paintings by a chimpanzee were sold to American Howard Hong for more than £14,000. A spokesman for auctioneers Bonhams in London said there was “fantastic” interest.

SOFT ON CRIME
Prison officers in Wigan have been ordered to stop making toast for breakfast because the smell is upsetting inmates while they eat their rolls and jam. This is what ministers call getting tough on crime.

GOVERNMENT FILES DUMPED
Top-secret files, marked "Confidential", from John Prescott's office revealing private details of Britain's most senior politicians were found dumped on a grass verge behind a row of lock-up garages in North London. They included the private, constituency and holiday addresses, fax, home and mobile phone numbers and diary plans of FIFTY-FIVE Ministers and Cabinet members. The names in the files included Chancellor Gordon Brown, Mr Prescott himself, Defence Secretary John Reid, Home Secretary Charles Clarke, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy. The documents also contained detailed information on the whereabouts of dozens of Ministers and Cabinet officials. Phone numbers for duty press officers and parliamentary secretaries were also included. A spokesman for the Deputy Prime Minister said, "The flat of an official was recently burgled. The info contained in these documents is now out of date." So all of these people have changed their addresses, phone numbers, etc, have they?