21st May 1999
UK Government to press ahead with Incapacity Benefit changes.

"Social Security Secretary Alistair Darling says the government will press ahead with its planned changes to incapacity benefit, despite its biggest rebellion to date on the issue.

Despite the opposition of 65 of its own backbenchers the government pushed its controversial proposals on welfare reform through the Commons with a majority of 40 votes.

In the end 270 MPs voted against the government's reforms, while 310 backed the changes.

The vote was closer than expected, with up to 40 Labour MPs abstaining or not voting.

The Welfare Reform Bill now moves on to the Lords, where opponents of the proposals believe the government could be defeated.

The complete text of the news report can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_349000/349166.stm

The complete text of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill is also online at http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/
pa/cm199899/cmbills/091/1999091.htm

For resources covering Social Security Benefits see our directory Disability Living

14th May 1999
Polio 2000 Conference, Victoria, Australia.

Preliminary Announcement

The following is from a leaflet distibuted by PR Conference Consultants Pty Ltd with their permission.

Introduction.

Polio Network Victoria is hosting an International Polio Conference in Melbourne from 19-22 January 2000. The conference aims to provide:

• people who have had polio with options and strategies to maximise their independence and well being in the future, and
• health professionals with an opportunity to exchange information and foster a multidisciplinary approach in the management of symptoms associated with the late effects of polio.

Three Day Program.

The program for the first three days, January 19-21, will consist of presentations by the three keynote speakers and a wide variety of workshops. The Conference Dinner will be held on Thursday, January 20, 2000.

Day for Health Professionals.

Saturday, January 22, has been set aside for health professionals only. The program on this day will provide health professionals with an opportunity to meet with the keynote speakers and discuss issues relating to management of individuals who have had polio .

Venue.

Edmund Barton Centre, South Road, Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia.

The conference centre is purpose built and accessible.

Delegates will be accommodated at Edmund Barton, the Buckingham and the Brighton Savoy.

Accommodation will be allocated according to delegates specific needs.

Keynote Speakers.

Mary Ann Keenan MD.

Alberto Esquenazi MD.

Jerry Zimmerman MD

Chief of Rehabilitation Medicine & Medical Director of the Post-Polio Institute Englewood, New Jersey, USA.

Workshops.

Workshop sessions will be held throughout the three-day program and will focus on providing people who have had polio with strategies to maximise their well being in the future.

Call for Abstracts.

The Call for Abstracts will be distributed in March 1999. Please contact PR Conference Consultants Pty Ltd if you wish to receive the application form.

Sponsorship.

Various sponsorship opportunities will be available and the Conference will include a trade exhibition.

To receive a copy of the Sponsorship and Exhibition Proposal (including an exhibition area floor plan) please contact PR Conference Consultants Pty Ltd.

Accommodation.

Discounted rooms have been reserved at the Conference venue and at several hotels in close proximity.

Airlines.

The 'Polio 2000' Organising Committee is currently negotiating discounted airfares for Conference delegates and booking details will be advised in the Program at a glance.

Further Information.

Please contact PR Conference Consultants Pty Ltd for further information.

When contacting them please specify which of the following you are interested in:

• Submitting an abstract.
• Program at a Glance and Registration Form (to be distributed June 1999).
• Three Day Program, including workshops.
• Day for Health Professionals only.
• Exhibition and Sponsorship Proposal.
• Information regarding air travel.
• Accommodation (including if willing to share a room and any specific needs).

Please include your Title, First Name, Surname, Profession, Organisation, Address, Post/Zip Code, Country, Telephone, Facsimile, and Email Address as applicable in any written communication.

Conference Organiser.

PR Conference Consultants Pty Ltd
PO Box 2954
Fitzroy Delivery Centre Victoria 3065
Australia

Telephone +61 3 9419 6199
Facsimile: +61 3 9419 6400
E-mail: prcc@labyrinth.net.au

For updated information on this conference see Conference Card #0007 in our World-Wide Conference and Seminar Diary

13th May 1999
Rebellion brewing as charities quit

BBC News reports that "Pressure is growing on the [U.K.] government to drop proposed cuts in disabled benefits after several major charities resigned in protest from an official advisory panel.

"The Royal institutes for the blind and deaf, cerebral palsy charity Scope, mental health group Mind, and the National Association of Citizen's Advice Bureaux are among the groups who have quit the government's Disability Benefits Forum over the proposed legislation.

The row centres on plans to make Incapacity Benefit available only to people who have made National Insurance contributions for the equivalent of one year over the past two years - instead of over their entire working life as at present.

The Bill also proposes means testing the benefit, by reducing payments to people with private pensions worth more than £50-a-week."

The complete text of the news report can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_342000/342432.stm

For resources covering Social Security Benefits see our directory Disability Living