Morning news headlines for October 23, 2012

Oct 23 2012 By Cheryl Mullin

MPs to quiz BBC boss over Savile

BBC boss George Entwistle will be quizzed about the corporation’s handling of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal by a committee of MPs today.

The Director-General faces the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee a day after Newsnight editor Peter Rippon stepped aside after the BBC said his explanation of why the show dropped its investigation into Savile  was “inaccurate or incomplete”.

The committee is expected to quiz Mr Entwistle, who took up his post last month, about the two reviews into the case set up by the BBC, the corporations vetting procedures at the time it employed the late DJ and its existing policies on sexual harassment.

Charles due at Bond movie premiere

SUPERSPY James Bond will get the royal seal of approval tonight when the latest film of 007’s adventures receives its world premiere.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will join the stars of Skyfall at the event at the Royal Albert Hall.

It will benefit real members of the security services after Charles asked for the screening to support charities that help members of the three intelligence agencies – the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), the Security Service (MI5) and GCHQ.

Follow our live blog from the premiere starting at 5pm.

Man in court over murder of vet

A MAN will appear in court today accused of the murder of a missing Irish vet.

Catherine Gowing, 37, was last seen on the evening of Friday October 12 at a supermarket near her home in Flintshire, North Wales.

Ms Gowing, who is originally from Clonlee, Co Offaly in the Irish Republic, was reported missing the following Monday when she failed to arrive for work at the Evans Veterinary Practice in Mold.

Vow to toughen up community orders

HI-TECH ankle tags will be used to track offenders and almost all community sentences will include some form of punishment, the Justice Secretary said today.

Chris Grayling will change the Crime and Courts Bill to bring in satellite tracking of criminals and to toughen up community orders.

But when the plans were originally announced by Mr Grayling’s predecessor, Ken Clarke, even the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) impact assessment warned the move could increase reoffending if the new punitive element forces out rehabilitation requirements.

Change urged in NHS care delivery

MOST health trusts believe that “major change” in the way services are delivered to patients is necessary, a survey has found.

Nine in 10 trusts said that major local changes – including hospital mergers, closures or changing the way services are provided – are necessary in the next two years, according to the research conducted by the Foundation Trust Network (FTN).

The body, which represents the majority of NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts, said members of the public must be involved with the decisions to reconfigure local health services.

Accused van driver in court again

A VAN driver is to appear in court again today accused of murdering a mother-of-three and attempting to murder 13 other pedestrians, including seven children, in a hit-and-run rampage.

Matthew Tvrdon, 31, is accused of deliberately driving into parents and young children during 30 minutes of mayhem spread over three miles in Cardiff’s Ely and Leckwith districts on Friday afternoon.

He was remanded in custody at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court yesterday and will appear at Newport Crown Court at 10am today over a video link.