WHAT HAPPENED ON 23th January 2001?

22nd January 2001

HAGUE CALL FOR WOMEN SOLDIERS QUALIFIED

A spokesman for William Hague has sought to qualify the Tory leader's support for women to be allowed on the front line in an armed conflict. Mr Hague told students that women could be "very effective" on the front line. The view was at odds with Tory policy. Shadow defence secretary Iain Duncan Smith has described such a scenario as "political correctness gone mad". But the spokesman said Mr Hague was giving "general view about the issues".

23th January 2001

What People were saying on

"We don't have modern art. We have Lord Nelson."

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon describing the decor in his office at the MoD.

"A great part of this nation has become too casual for its own good: casual about the doctor casual about personal relationships casual towards any form of obligation."

Tory peer Lord Deedes.

"Labour's lead will fall but it will be enough to give them a majority of over 100 seats."

Pollster Robert Worcester who is already writing a book called Labour's Second Landslide.

23th January 2001

UK TROOPS EXTEND SIERRA LEONE TRAINING

The Government has announced plans to extend British troops' training of the Sierra Leonean army by eight months until the end of September. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said the move would help make the West African state's army "self-sufficient". The British military presence will remain at around 600 at any time. British troops have made an "important contribution to stability in Sierra Leone" Mr Hoon added.

22nd January 2001

TEENAGER CRITICAL AFTER INJECTION ERROR

An 18-year-old leukaemia patient is fighting for his life after drugs were mistakenly injected into his spine instead of a vein at a hospital. Two doctors have been suspended from Nottingham Queen's Medical Centre following the incident on January 4. The drug vincristine can lead to slow paralysis of the body & eventual heart failure when injected wrongly. A hospital spokesman said an inquiry had started after a "serious mistake".

23th January 2001

What People were saying on

"We don't have modern art. We have Lord Nelson."

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon describing the decor in his office at the MoD.

"A great part of this nation has become too casual for its own good: casual about the doctor casual about personal relationships casual towards any form of obligation."

Tory peer Lord Deedes.

"Labour's lead will fall but it will be enough to give them a majority of over 100 seats."

Pollster Robert Worcester who is already writing a book called Labour's Second Landslide.

23th January 2001

GP MISSED GIRL'S FOOTBALL-SIZED TUMOUR

A doctor who failed to spot a tumour the size of a football in a nine-year- old girl has been found guilty of serious professional misconduct. The child died after becoming violently ill at Dr Krishna Mohan Singh's surgery in Heston West London in 1999. Surgeons discovered the 10in wide tumour had displaced her kidney. The GMC also found Dr Singh guilty of failing to provide an adequate examination but he was not struck off.

22nd January 2001

DEPLETED URANIUM WARNING ISSUED IN 1991

The Government was warned 10 years ago that depleted uranium shells used in the Gulf War could be a health risk to UK troops it has been disclosed. The dangers were highlighted in a 1991 UK Atomic Energy Authority report. The study said that the total amount of DU used by the UK & US in the war could theoretically kill 500 000 people Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has said depleted uranium ammunition will remain available for use by British tanks.

23th January 2001

What People were saying on

"We don't have modern art. We have Lord Nelson."

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon describing the decor in his office at the MoD.

"A great part of this nation has become too casual for its own good: casual about the doctor casual about personal relationships casual towards any form of obligation."

Tory peer Lord Deedes.

"Labour's lead will fall but it will be enough to give them a majority of over 100 seats."

Pollster Robert Worcester who is already writing a book called Labour's Second Landslide.

23th January 2001

UK TROOPS EXTEND SIERRA LEONE TRAINING

The Government has announced plans to extend British troops' training of the Sierra Leonean army by eight months until the end of September. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said the move would help make the West African state's army "self-sufficient". The British military presence will remain at around 600 at any time. British troops have made an "important contribution to stability in Sierra Leone" Mr Hoon added.

22nd January 2001

SEARCH FOR QUAKE VICTIM CALLED OFF

Rescuers have called off the search for what could have been a survivor of the earthquake which shook Central America eight days ago. They had been holding out hope that the man may have survived nine days under a mudslide which hit the town of Las Colinas El Salvador. The rescuers had detected possible signs of life from under a building. The quake killed more than 700 people in El Salvador say local officials.

23th January 2001

What People were saying on

"We don't have modern art. We have Lord Nelson."

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon describing the decor in his office at the MoD.

"A great part of this nation has become too casual for its own good: casual about the doctor casual about personal relationships casual towards any form of obligation."

Tory peer Lord Deedes.

"Labour's lead will fall but it will be enough to give them a majority of over 100 seats."

Pollster Robert Worcester who is already writing a book called Labour's Second Landslide.

23th January 2001

What People were saying on

"I've only been invited to dinner but I am going to get there early & hang around the gates so that they let me in for tea as well."

Retired umpire Dickie Bird after receiving a Prime Ministerial invitation to go to Chequers.

"If hunting with dogs is to be made illegal how about hunting with cats?"

Leonard Marr of Hexham Northumbs in a letter to The Daily Telegraph.

"William Hague leads the most incompetent opposition in modern British history."

Lord Hattersley.

22nd January 2001

ISRAEL

The government has banned the import of food & raw materials which contain meat because of growing concern over Mad Cow disease in many countries. CZECH REPUBLICHealth officials fear a hallucinogenic ecstasy-like drug used by youngsters at raves in Poland may soon find its way across the border. Several million of the cheap pills known as Ufo have been produced at an illegal laboratory in southern Poland. SLOVAKIA Over a quarter of the adult population intend to buy a mobile phone this year as demand continues to soar.

23th January 2001

What People were saying on

"We don't have modern art. We have Lord Nelson."

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon describing the decor in his office at the MoD.

"A great part of this nation has become too casual for its own good: casual about the doctor casual about personal relationships casual towards any form of obligation."

Tory peer Lord Deedes.

"Labour's lead will fall but it will be enough to give them a majority of over 100 seats."

Pollster Robert Worcester who is already writing a book called Labour's Second Landslide.

23th January 2001

What People were saying on

"I've only been invited to dinner but I am going to get there early & hang around the gates so that they let me in for tea as well."

Retired umpire Dickie Bird after receiving a Prime Ministerial invitation to go to Chequers.

"If hunting with dogs is to be made illegal how about hunting with cats?"

Leonard Marr of Hexham Northumbs in a letter to The Daily Telegraph.

"William Hague leads the most incompetent opposition in modern British history."

Lord Hattersley.