The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 4

HOME NEWS THE GUARDIAN 'L. Thursday September 29 1983 Establishment accused of fehorteriij approach to problems 'Whitehall secrecy and fear' claim hv Nn. 1 0's fnrmer nolicv chief Thatcher rejects softer line on apartheid NEWS IN BRIEF Colleges cuts plan approved -w J- 30 years, fear is a powerful in- being left with the job of or.no on hn think-in? nf limitation, of making fiuence on the thinking of damage limitation, ot making He believed th Minister was the He believed Minister was the nr Bv Richard Norton-Taylor The former head of Mrs Thatcher's policy unit yesterday accused Britain's political establishment of lacking the nerve to face up to uncomfortable questions about the omy, and of refusing to contemplate radical alterna-, tives to existing policies. Sir John Hoskyns, who left his post at Downing Street last year and is now a director of ICL, the British computer manufacturer, said that the small, enclosed club of MPs and top civil servants in minster and Whitehall were equipped merely to solve day-to-day problems. The discussion of new ideas and strategic plans were stifled in the constricting Whitehall atmosphere, he claimed.

The Prime Minister was surrounded by colleagues and career civil servants who, for the most part, prefer things as they are, he said. Papers prepared by Whitehall departments were often accepted without question as the only menu from which options could be ordered. Delivering the annual lecture to the Institute of Directors, Sir John said Not surprisingly in a club whose prestige has sunk over the past NHS job losses wearing 4,000 with fresh round of cash cuts many of its members fear ot exclusion fear of looking foolish of breaking the rules of setting a precedent fear of anything which diminishes the importance of their present expertise." He made an appeal for more open government, which he claimed was a pre-condition for any serious attempt to solve Britain's underlying problems. Sir John went on With confidence and competence so much lower than they should be, it is not surprising that Whitehall fiercely defends its tradition of secrecy." The Official Secrets Act and the Thirty. Year Rule governing the publication of public records, "by hiding peacetime fiascos as though they were military disasters, protect ministers and officials from embarrassment," he said.

Sir John described the House of Commons as "the greatest closed shop of all," with successful professional politicians becoming amateur ministers of generally low calibre, swapping jobs too frequently, and having an appalling workload, poor facilities, and irrelevant experience. He saw the Civil Service as jobs will have to disappear elsewhere. The south-western regional health authority, which covers Bristol, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, announced the loss of 124 jobs, but said it intended to go ahead with the expansion of heart surgery at Bristol Royal Infirmary and extend Derriford hospital, Plymouth. Conservative members on Hillingdon health authority in west London, which needs to save 1 million, have refused to implement plans to curb heart by-pass operations at Harefield hospital, to close a children's plastic surgery ward at Mount Vernon Hospital, and to reduce intensive care and Rudy Narayan 'how brilliant I am' manded to see a senior officer. The sergeant noticed that Mr Narayan's speech was rambling and his breath smelled of Iy David Hcnckc, Social Services Correspondent Two more regional health authorities announced job losses yesterday totalling nearly 400 as part of the National Health Service spending cuts.

It brings the number of job losses in the NHS since the cuts began to nearly 4,000. The Yorkshire regional health authority, which covers Bradford, Halifax, Grimsby, Leeds. Hull and York, is to cut The Department of Health has agreed to reduce its request for job cuts from 388, but as the authority intends to create 511 jobs for new developments in Leeds, Wakefield and Grimsby, a total of 775 FLOWER POWER Claire Whatlcy reaches the peak of perfection when it conies to growing sunflowers. Claire, aged 11, of Fordingbridge, Hampshire, planted three seeds out of a packet of bird food and is still watching them grow higher than 13 feet Narayan 'insulted arrest police' Jury told of Martin's alleged account of arrest and shooting by detectives that the Prime only person who could change Whitehall practices and thinking. Among the unresolved problems facing the British, economy sir John listed public spending price stability economic distortions caused by an unreformed tax and benefit system the search for "a proper" role for the unions and what he described as tne social anu economic time bomb." This last covered the future of state pensions, of the National Health Service and the whole principle of "free provision," urban decay and the future of work.

'He described government, in the way it was organised as a creature without a brain." When it came to analysing policies and making decisions, Whitehall and Westminster, like too much of the academic world seems to be full of people who know everything and do nothing." Sir John said that recent experience had convinced him that "the way businessmen think and act is more relevant than that of most of the politicians, civil servants, academics and commentators who have concerned themselves with the nation's problem thus far." Peak time spending proposals for IT By Dennis Barker ANOTHER 50 million a year should be spent on commercial television's peak viewing programmes, while less popular slots such as current affairs, the arts, sport, religion, and education are pruned, argues a paper prepared by London Weekend Television for discussion by the top five ITV companies. Mr John Birt, programme director of London Weekend, prepared the document, which has been leaked to the industry's magazine, Television Weekly. The argument, which Mr Birt insists would mean a pruning rather than savaging of less popular areas of programming, is that ITV's serious programmes tend to lose out to BBC competition, even if it the BBC product is inferior. In these circumstances it is essential that ITV keeps its populist edge over the BBC with its peak programmes. The document says that ITV wins the earlv evening battle, and BBC the late evening one.

It gives an example in which the ITV audience dips markedly between Crossroads and Coronation Street, where a factual programme is placed. It dips again after Coronation Street, and further declines with a 9 pm documentary. If, instead, this had been one of ITV's popular dramas, the audience level would have been much higher," the paper argues. It adds: "One of the lessons of this schedule, and many like it, is that for one reason or another ITV's seven-day schedule is riddled with weak points, even on an evening which contains a number of our strongest programmes. This must be worrying." Mr Birt points out that about 75 per cent of ITV's revenue is earned in peak time.

The weaker ITV is in that period, the greater is the likelihood of cable television tapping "the rich vein of advertising which, sustains ITV." Mr Birt says: "ITV peak time must be far stronger than it Is today. The new era of competition is likely to mean that the scope for scheduling programmes of minor-, ity appeal during peak time will be limited. Indeed, soon there may be no case for it at all." LWT, says the document, estimates that it will need to spend 70 per cent more In peak time at the weekend than it does at the moment. This would mean, injecting an extra 50 million or so into the ITV system every year. The formidable effort put Into off-peak current- affairs, the arts, sport, religion, and.

education by the majors and much of it: at Inconvenient viewing hours needs to be re-examined in the light of Channel 4, a service which in May won an average per cent share of the audience during its hours of transmission," says Mr Birt. One approach open to the Independent Broadcasting Authority would be to ease the obligation on the regional companies to make local programmes, but to ask them to carry a greater share -of the burden of Channel 4 and IBA rentals than they do now, the paper says. An IBA spokesman said yesterday Such proposals would be ones in which the IBA would certainly take an Interest. Mr John Whitney, direc- tor-general nf the IBA, said yesterday that it would welcome preliminary. consultations with organisations that might be 'interested in applying for a Director Broadcasting Service ministers look better than they really are.

In the process, like someone who only plays tennis with an inferior opponent, the quality of Whitehall's own game has declined." Sir John said, four main changes were needed: the Prime Minister should no longer be restricted to the small pool of career politicians in Westminster a talent pool that could not sustain a single multinational company Whitehall should be organised for strategy and innovation, as well as for day-to-day political survival adequate numbers of "high-quality outsiders should be brought into the Civil Service the workload on ministers had to be reduced. These issues should form part of an agenda that would also include the way political parties were financed, the doctrine of collective Cabinet responsibility, and electoral reform. Businessmen must take a role in the attempt to combat what he called a massive failure of intelligence and nerve on the part of an inbred political establishment," Sir John said. cancer treatment at Hillingdon hospital. the authority is to.

close three GP hospitals at Uxbridge, Hayes, and North-wood, Pinner and district, and to transfer some patients to Hillingdon hospital. Hillingdon is also to introduce five clay wards for radiotherapy patients, and to close a number of general surgery wards at Hillingdon and Hare-field hospitals. Hackney health authority said yesterday it was reviewing its proposals to close four hospitals, following angry scenes at its meeting on Monday. But three of the hospitals are unlikely to survive. Only St Leonard's may keep some medical facilities.

Asked to provide a blood or urine sample, Mr Narayan allegedly accused Sergeant Hawkins, the arresting officer: of being a perjurer and told him Hawkins, you're finished. You've gone boy. I won't rest until I see you destroyed. Do. you know how brilliant I am Later continued Sergeant Holliday, Mr Narayan said You're not dealing with some stupid local nigger now, you know." Mr Narayan, said to have two previous motoring convictions, was fined 100 with 250 costs for failing to provide a specimen.

His licence was endorsed and he was disqualified from driving for 18 months. The charge of failing to take' a breath test was adjourned sine die. Dentists blame bills, not drills By Andrew Veitch. Medical Correspondent One adult in seven avoids going to the dentist for fear not of the drill but of the bill, according to a report today from the British Dental Association. The level of charges has risen by 300 per cent since 1975, witli the result that people who need treatment, particularly women- who put family needs their own health, delay treatment because of the cost, says the report.

It marks the launch of a campaign by the association to deter the Government from raising dental charges again in the current public expenditure review. The maximum charge for treatment providing crowns or dentures has risen from 12 in 1976 to 95 this year. Governments have pushed up charges to patients while holding down payments to dentists, says the report fees have increased by 118 per cent since 1975, compared with the 300 per cent rise in the level of charges. Examinations and advice are free, as is treatment for most people in full-time education, expectant and nursing mothers, families receiving supplemen tary benefit or family income supplement, and patients on low incomes auaiitymg lor tree NHS prescriptions or free milk and vitamins. All other people pay the full cost.

The association noints out that patterns of treatment have chanced. Most people expect to keep their natural teeth, so more patients want teeth crowned, or small metal dentures and bridges to, replace missing teeth. NHS Dental Treatment, a BD A Briefing, available free from the British Denial Asso ciation, 64 wtmpote street, London WW SAL. The barrister, Rudy Narayan, warned police they were not dealing with some stupid local nigger" when de refused to provide a blood or urine specimen after being stoppped while driving a court was told yesterday. Mr Narayan, aged 45, of Woodbourne Avenue.

Streatham, south London, was arrested for allegedly refusing to take a breath test when stopped while driving in Brixton's Railton Road area in the early hours of March 31. At Camberwcll Magistrates' Court yesterday he pleaded guilty by letter to charges of failing to take the breath test and failing to provide a test specimen. Sergeant Dennis Holliday said that at Brixton police station Mr Narayan described his arrest as a farce and de- PROPOSALS for cuts in the polytechnic and college sector of higher education which include the closure or merger of at least six institutions have been largely approved by the committee of the National Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education, writes Wendy Berliner. The shift of provision away from London and tho Smith. east has not been changed, de spite suosianiiai protests from the institutions.

In town planning, good quality course have become casualties nf tho rationalisation exercise forced by uovernment spending cuts. Detailed recommendations will be put to a meeting of the NAB committee, which represents the local and central government politicians, in November before final advice is eiven to the Education Spf. retary, Sir Keith Joseph. Waddington firm on entry curbs THE Home Office Minister of State, Mr David Waddington, yesterday ruled out the possi bility or relaxing existing immigration laws at the end of his three-day visit to Bangladesh. In an interview with the English-language Bangladesh Times, Mr Waddington said that Britain would reduce the waiting time for dependents of immigrants to obtain entry permits from 22 to 20 months.

But a second wife would not be considered a candidate for entry unless the first wife had been divorced, according to British marriage law. Court officers on bodies charge SIX retired coroners' officers were remanded on bail at Bow Street magistrates' court in London yesterday accused of corruptly giving work to undertakers. Former members of the Metropolitan Police they worked at Southwark, Batter-sea, and Croydon courts. It is alleged that they corruptly obtained money from undertakers for helping them to obtain the business of carrying out coroners' removals of bodies. Charity inquiry 12 granted bail TWELVE people detained on Tuesday in London in an investigation by Scotland Yard's fraud squad into allegations in connection with the Children With cancer charity have been released on police bail pending further interviews.

Police said that another 10 people who were detained in Peterborough yesterday had been eliminated from the inquiry. Former Lebanon colonel's desk job THE former commander of Britain's Lebanon peacekeeping force has left hospital and is to be given a desk job in Aldershot. Lieutenant Colonel David Roberts was relieved from his post because he was suffering from exhaustion. 3m heroin haul in London HEROIN with a street value claimed to be 3 million was seized by 20 Customs investigators who raided houses in Ley-ton and Woolwich in London yesterday. Twelve people, including three women, were being questioned.

The 12 kilogrammes of heroin are believed to have been smuggled from Pakistan. Rail guards call off sacking strike AN UNOFFICIAL strike by 138 railway guards at Brighton, Which, hit trains to and from London, was called off from midnight last night. Guards walked out on Monday when a colleague was sacked for allegedly attacking a passenger. The sacked man is to appeal on Monday. Union plan for factory Trade unions have prepared a rescue plan for the United Biscuits Crawford's factory in where the.

2,000 workers were told in July that the plant' would close within three years. The plan involves making 960 men redundant, cutting biscuit production, developing new food products, improving efficiency and reducing overheads. An annual profit of 5.5 million is predicted in percentage terms twice the food industry average. It is estimated that the as yet undisclosed new products could generate 6 million in turnover and 160 more jobs at the plant in Binns Road, Edge Hill. The plan will be put to a workers' meeting on Sunday and the company on October 17 hut- VActat-riav TTnitarl Ric.

cults personnel director, Mr Mi'ie Doyle, said It would surprise us if anything significantly new came out of this report which could make ui change our minds." By Colin Brown, Political Staff Mrs Thatcher has delivered a forthright condemnation of apartheid in South Africa in a letter to a backbench MP which says she would not support any softening uf approach by Commonwealth heads of government. Mr Ian Lloyd, the Conservative MP for Havant who was born in South Africa and has consistently opposed sanctions, called on the Prime Minister to Lreview DVitain's policy ine uommonweaim neaus or government are due to meet in Delhi in November and Mrs Thatcher also made it clear she did not believe any move to strengthen the Commonwealth's stand against apartheid would be helpful. She added: "But, as Neil Macfarlane (the Sports Minister) has recently pointed out, the Commonwealth statement can only be changed when there is a clear consensus for such a change amongst the Commonwealth at large. She stressed that the Gov ernment had to take account not only of Britain's sporting relations with South Africa, but of those with the Commonwealth and beyond. "I believe that those most affected in this country, our sportsmen, are beginning to take a similarly realistic view." The recent MCC decision not to tour South Africa seemed to confirm this and, in a stinging rebuke, she went on Perhaps those who voted against the proposed tour also had in mind that Mr Vorster took the first and significant step towards sporting isolation when he refused to accept Basil D'Olivera as a member of the 1968 MCC touring party." Mrs Thatcher also gave an assurance that Britain was not supplying arms to the front line states surrounding South Africa.

The great bulk of their, weaponry came from the Soviet Union and its allies, she said, and it was Communist med--dling in African affairs which was the most worrying factor in the escalation of tension in the region, though the under lying cause was the internal situation in South Africa itself." knew I wouldn't. It's a shame really." Mr Martin has pleaded not guilty to 15 charges of burglary, theft, causing grievious bodily harm, possessing firearms and attempting to murder a policeman. Earlier, Detective Constable James Francis denied that he had falsified his evidence to suggest that there was a fight, in the corridor as Mr Martin was arrested. He insisted that he heard Mr Martin struggle with a police officer as he ran down from the roof. Mr Ivan Lawrence, QC, defending said that Mr Martin claimed he was shot almost immediately he stepped out of the lift.

The trial continues today. scious into her allotment hut, struck again on the head several times and sexually assaulted. A watch and money worth less than 10 was stolen by Bowering. The accused was living in the bail hostel after being released on bail following- a magistrates court appearance at Leyburn. North Yorkshire, on two burglary charges.

Mr Brian Farrer QC, defend ing, said Bowering had a severe drink problem and had been drinking the day Dr McCutcheon was killed. It it unlikely that this man ever had any intention to kill." Sentencing Bowering, Mr Justice Stephen Brown told him that it was an appalling ana terrime offence. Simpson competitive pressure off-shore and gas accidents, which accounted for only 25 per. cent of all accidents last year, compared with 49 per cent in 1981. However, the number of deaths reported to the Department of Energy iiv 1982 was up by seven to 13.

Health and Safety Commission Report 1982-83. HUSO price 5. might- be there for" me but I went on up in the lift. When I got out of the lift door, your bloke was there and we stood looking at each other. I could have taken him out there and then.

I don't know why I didn't shoot him, but looking back on it I could have done. I could have got away easily. I could have taken out four or five of them and all the rest wouldn't have wanted to know. I went for my gun and he dived at me and the others followed him. It's all a bit hazy.

I was going for the other gun and then there was a bang and I knew I had been hit. It's a funny feeling really, a funny sensation. In a flash, I thought: Am I going to die Then I By Nick'Davies An Old Bailey jury yesterday heard David Martin's own alleged account of the evening last September when he was shot by police and arrested after walking into a trap at his flat in central London carrying two loaded guns. Officers who sat with him in hospital immediately T.i tor-wards told the jury that he claimed to have spotted two of the detectives at his -AH in Crawford Place, Marylebone. Detective Constable Brian Bushman read from notes written after the hospital interview.

Mr Martin is alleged to have said I had it in the back of my mind that they 25-year term Dr Dorothy McCutcheon brutally beaten for brutal killing Work safety gains foothold Gareth Parry on the Health, and Safety Commission's nine-year struggle A man who brutally battered an 81-ycar-old retired woman doctor to death with an iron bar was gaoled for life yesterday with a recommendation by -the judge that he serve at least 25 years. Dennis Bowering, aged 36, who was living in a bail hostel for ex-offenders in Selly Oak, Birmingham, pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court to murdering Dr Dorothy McCutcheon last March. Mr Malcolm Morse, prosecuting, said Bowering saw Dr McCutcheon on her allotment in King's Heath, Birmingham. He crept up behind her and hit her over the head with an iron bar. She was then dragged uncon the present totals if we organise 'our work systems, resources and management methods and procedures with the reduction of risk as a prime target.

Occupational health, particularly the' risk of cancer, is high in the commission's list of priorities. Relying on human- evidence after years of exposure to risk is "brutal and unacceptable." He Urged firms to take determined and early action, and to provide funds to find new solutions to occupational health hazards. Workers need enough, but not too technical, information to recognise risks and the reasons for safety measures. Alongside the complex and publicised health problems of toxic. substances such as asbestos, were the ever present, problems of deafness and- back'' injuries which cause' far more suffering and disability.

One area- of progress has been the reduction of serious Are they doing Sums in Slums? Does falling plaster mean falling standards? TheTimes Educational Supplement has carried out a national enquiry into the physical state of our schools. Have spending cuts turned some into slums? Isyour school building Does it need more than just a newlick of Also this week: The attack on higher education: Maurice Kogan LaurieTaylor: the history of hooliganism Carl Rogers: Encounter-grouping in schools Children's book awards: a critical guide English as a second language: new approaches Christopher Price, Mary Wamock THETIMES Educational Supplement THERE has been a 30 per cent reduction in the number of. people killed at work since the Health and Safety Commission was founded nine years ago. But British industry can, and must do better, the commission's retiring chairman, Mr Bill Simpson said in his annual report published yesterday. The recession has seen many good safety intentions melted like snow Tackling the economic and human tragedy of 16 million lost working days and the suffering, disfigurement and disablement due to accident and ill-health remains a national priority, said Mr Simpson, The number of injuries to people at work fell from 435,000 in 1981 to 388,000 last year, although the number of deaths showed a small increase from 451 to 468.

Mr. Simpson went "We cannot eliminate all accidents but we can slash.