Other UK News In Brief

Military Tragedy

An Army officer with eight years service who has undertaken tours in Afghanistan has died in a cycling accident. A lorry hit him as he cycled near his base in Wiltshire. Captain Jonathan Allen was struck as he swerved to avoid a pothole while riding home to Burbage on the A338 from his barracks near Tidworth. The 29-year-old suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, just after 7pm on 24 March, but the news has only now emerged.

HD Goes Freeview

The initial launch of free high-definition terrestrial TV service is to reach about half the country, backed by £6m advertising launch package with Freeview aiming to take high definition television "to the mass market". It will be offering four HD channels from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and, in Wales, S4C, from tomorrow. Freeview HD will air hit shows such as Britain's Got Talent, Doctor Who, The Apprentice and Peepshow, along with games from the forthcoming football World Cup. However, only about half the UK will be able to receive the service when it starts, although Freeview hopes that will rise to 60% by the end of the year. BBC HD, ITV1HD and Channel 4's service, 4HD, will be available in London, Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and central Scotland. S4C will launch its HD channel, Clirlun, in Wales on 30 April.

Death Tax 'Killed Off'

The UK Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, will rule out legislation in the next parliament to impose a death tax to pay for social care for the elderly, but will promise new laws to cap the cost of residential costs after two years in a home. Instead he is freezing inheritance tax for the lifetime of the parliament, increasing the statutory retirement age of 65 and by greater efficiencies in the care system.

MPs Slam BBC's Accountability

A cross-party committee of MPs has called for greater transparency regarding its executive and talent costs and accusing it of presenting some of its audience figures "in a somewhat cavalier manner". The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee also attacked the corporation for highlighting "favourable over unfavourable information" in relation to spending on BBC3 claiming the true cost to viewers was almost double that published in the BBC's most recent annual report. The committee's review of the BBC's 2008-2009 annual report questions how the corporation measures the success of its programmes and it also said the "reward packages of the director general and senior management of the BBC are seen to be out of step with the current economic climate".

(BMcC/GK)