What the papers say

Former head of the Northern Ireland Office information service Andy Wood reviews the morning newspapers.

Memorials of the troubles, of one kind or another, come into their own in the Belfast mornings on Wednesday.

The Irish News reports that the Equality Commission is to look into the promotion of "Free Derry Corner" as a tourist attraction.

In a front page story the paper's Derry correspondent says the Commission will be examining the decision by Derry City Council to maintain the Bogside monument at the taxpayer's expense.

The commission's involvement follows claims by former unionist Mayor Richard Dallas that council ownership and maintenance of the much filmed gable end was unacceptable to unionist ratepayers.

A story in The News Letter headlined - Row erupts over new IRA memorial - says "a war of words" has broken out in Castlewellan over an application to site a second memorial - this time in the town's Lower Square area.

The News Letter says that Down Council's planning service has now withdrawn a recommendation to allow the memorial after complaints by the Democratic Unionist Party, Ulster Unionists and Social Democratic and Labour Party councillors.

And the continuing deadlock over policing is also high up on both papers' agendas.

The Irish News page one headline - Blair bids to end police deadlock - says the matter will enter "a make or break" stage in Downing Street on Wednesday when the prime minister holds talks with David Trimble and Seamus Mallon.

The paper reports that police recruitment advertising will now start running this Friday.

Seamus Mallon is quoted as saying: 'I wish anybody well who decides to respond to the advertisement'.

Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams urges republicans and nationalists to ignore the campaign, claiming that the start of recruitment sends out "entirely the wrong signal".

The News Letter coverage of the continuing dispute is headlined 'Unionist anger boils over' focusing on remarks by David Trimble that republicans and nationalists were being "hypocritical" by refusing to encourage Catholics to join the new service.

Now to the cross channnel papers - and next month's 7 March budget and just how much money Gordon Brown will have to play with.

According to The Independent whose story is headlined - Windfall paves way for budget handout - the chancellor is preparing "a giveaway budget" with across the board tax cuts and larger than expected public spending increases.

But, before you get too excited, 45 pence spent on The Guardian will bring you back to earth.

Its page one headline is - Brown spurns calls to spend. There is more cold water in the strapline - No budget give away despite £18 billion surplus - it confidently asserts.

The Daily Telegraph takes a more neutral stance, the chancellor's predicted £40bn annual surplus - equivalent to £700 for every one of us - may produce targeted tax cuts worth between £2bn and £3bn, the paper says.

Finally the case of FBI agent Robert Hanssen, now under arrest for allegedly passing secrets to the Soviet Union and later the Russians, proves that in one respect at least, Britain is still a world-leading role model.

The Times reports that Hanssen wrote to his Russian handlers: "I decided on this course of action after I'd read Kim Philby's book".

And The Guardian reports Hanssen's ability to remain undetected for 15 years clearly fooled his neighbours in Washington - "The Hanssen family didn't appear to be unusual in any way - they did nothing to raise a red flag" says one.

Must have been the snow on his boots that was the giveaway!