The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 4 April 2013

issue 06 April 2013

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Housing benefit for council and housing association tenants was reduced by 14 per cent for those deemed to have one spare bedroom and by 25 per cent for those with two or more spare bedrooms. Council Tax Benefit, claimed by 5.9 million families, was transformed into Council Tax Support, supplied by local authority schemes. The Financial Services Authority was replaced by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. In the National Health Service, GP-led groups took control of local budgets and a new board called NHS England began to oversee day-to-day running of services. The introduction of a 111 health helpline throughout England was delayed after some pilot schemes proved unsatisfactory, with callers holding on for hours. A policewoman sued a petrol station after tripping over a kerb there while investigating a 999 call in the middle of the night. Robbers were caught on closed-circuit television gathering cash after blowing up a cash dispenser at a petrol station at Weyhill, Hampshire.

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