BBC News Online: Despatches

British PM announces plan to help excluded

Mr Blair sees the unit as one of his government's most important initiatives. Its aim will be to help the millions of people whose lives are blighted by poor housing, bad health and high crime.

He will launch the unit at a South London secondary school, giving more details of the homework clubs announced yesterday to reduce truancy and youth crime. The unit will consist of 12 members drawn from backgrounds including local government, the police and the voluntary sector.

It will be headed by Moira Wallace, a civil servant who worked as private secretary to John Major. The unit itself will have no budget.

Its main task will be to co-ordinate the work of different government departments. Ministers still see work as the best passport out of poverty, but some leading sociologists are dismayed that there's no mention of redistributing wealth to the poor, not all of whom will benefit from Welfare to Work.

Summaries

In this section

Zimbabwe strike turns into rioting
Korea talks underway
Climate change plans outlined
Egyptian militants says they will end campaign against tourists
It's a dog's life for pet lovers in Shanghai
Sri Lankan army trained to fight legally
Still no victor in Serbian elections
UN food airlift to avert Afghan famine
Afghan falcons under threat
Turkey urged to drop Israel links
British farmers protest escalates
Goodbye Almaty, Hello Akmola