Pledge Watch: Laptops for all

By Justin Parkinson Political reporter, BBC News

Politicians love announcing new initiatives. In this new series we pluck a pledge from the archives. And see what happened next...

Did laptops get as easy to borrow as a library book?

Picture the late 1990s, when internet start-up firms were on their way to becoming bigger than established titans of industry and commerce.

It was a heady time when the power of the "information highway" to liberate the information-starved masses seemed infinite.

Recall the then chancellor Gordon Brown's call for the UK to lead the global "knowledge economy", leaving no man, woman or child behind in the sharing of glorious, electronic wizardry-created wealth.

In this spirit Mr Brown announced a policy now forgotten by most.

In October 1999 he pledged: "We will pioneer a system so people can use computers and software in the new century the way local libraries have loaned books in the last century."

Old stock

The plan was to allow low-income families to lease subsidised laptops - then usually costing at least

MPs support regional committees

Critics say the cost of the committees outweigh the benefits

MPs have backed government plans to set up new select committees for English regions despite widespread concerns over their cost and political make-up.

A rebel amendment calling for those MPs chairing the committees not to be paid over and above their basic Westminster salary was passed by two votes.

Ministers believe the eight committees will improve regional accountability.

But one Labour MP argued the new bodies would increase ministerial patronage and threaten Parliament's independence.

'Accountability gap'

The government carried the vote to establish the committees, which are estimated will cost about

Angry leaders clash over Baby P

Angry scenes at PMQs as Gordon Brown accuses David Cameron of bringing "party politics" into the debate about Baby P

David Cameron and Gordon Brown have clashed angrily over the inquiry into a baby who died after months of abuse.

The Commons Speaker was forced to step in to tell MPs to "stop shouting across the chamber" and remember the issue was "a little child who has gone".

The row was prompted by the PM accusing the Tory leader of "making a party political issue" of it. Mr Cameron called that "frankly cheap".

Minister Ed Balls has ordered a review into Haringey's childrens' services.

Baby P, a 17-month-old boy, died in August 2007 after months of abuse.

On Tuesday two men were found guilty of causing his death in Haringey, north London - the same borough in which eight-year-old Victoria Climbie was murdered in 2000 by her great aunt and the woman's boyfriend. Baby P's mother had already admitted causing his death.

'No resignations'

In the Commons earlier Mr Cameron had urged the government to intervene saying it was "completely unacceptable" that an internal review into Baby P's death had been undertaken by the council's own children's services director.

He said "nobody is taking responsibility, nobody has resigned" and added of the woman in charge of the review: "She cannot possibly investigate the failure of her own department."

The prime minister said people had been "horrified and angered" by the story of Baby P's death, but the government would decide what action to take having just received the full report from Haringey on Wednesday morning.

THE FULL STORY Watch the entire Commons session and read BBC political correspondent Iain Watson's verdict on "the most ill-tempered" PMQs clash he's seen The Full Story: PM's Questions Baby death sparks Haringey review

An independent review would be undertaken by Lord Laming, who chaired the inquiry into Victoria Climbie's death, to see what progress had been made around the country, he said.

But the exchange became more heated after the prime minister told Mr Cameron: "I do regret making a party political issue of this."

Mr Cameron said that was a "frankly cheap" response to "perfectly reasonable questions" and demanded he withdraw the comment.

He also said it was "shameful" that Labour MPs were trying to shout him down and urged Mr Brown to consider taking over Haringey social services "and put someone in charge who can run it properly".

'Terrible news'

Mr Brown did not withdraw the comment, telling MPs: "There is common ground on both sides of the House and we should maximise our agreement on these issues about this very sad and tragic case."

Speaker Michael Martin had to intervene several times, amid rowdy scenes in the Commons he warned MPs about shouting after "this terrible news".

But later he had to tell them again: "It is not a good thing at this time when we heard this news about a little child who has gone before us that we should be shouting across the chamber."

Baby P, had been on an at-risk register and had been seen about 60 times by social workers, doctors and welfare groups.

Baby P's clothes. He died after months of abuse.

On Tuesday two men were found guilty of causing his death in Haringey, north London - the same borough in which eight-year-old Victoria Climbie was murdered in 2000 by her great aunt and the woman's boyfriend.

Baby P's mother had already admitted causing her son's death.

An internal inquiry by Haringey's Local Safeguarding Children Board blamed legal advice taken a week before the baby's death for the decision not to take him into care. The board's chair, Sharon Shoesmith, is also head of child services at Haringey social services.

The government argued the review was carried out by "independent people" and Ms Shoesmith commissioned, but did not author it - which they say is in line with guidance from the Victoria Climbie inquiry.

The Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone, who was leader of the opposition in Haringey during the Victoria Climbie case, said the measures outlined by the prime minister were welcome but did not go far enough for Haringey.

She urged him to call an independent public inquiry.

Later Ed Balls, the children's secretary, announced that Ofsted, the Healthcare Commission and the Chief Inspector of Constabulary would carry out an "urgent" review of services involved in child welfare in Haringey.

He said the review indicated there were "a number of failings of practice and management by the agencies involved" in Baby P's case and said he needed to ensure that "such a tragedy doesn't happen again, that lessons are learned and that children in Haringey are safe".

The Conservatives said the announcement of an independent review was a "vindication of what we have been saying all day - that Haringey Council should not be judge and jury in any inquiry into what led to the death of Baby P".

Shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said it was "crucial" lessons were learnt from the "tragedy" and said he hoped the review would "draw a line" under the political row.

The Lib Dems also welcomed the move.

Labour backbencher Jon Cruddas told BBC Two's Daily Politics the case of Baby P was "beyond politics".

He said Labour backbenchers had been expecting questions on the economy and as a result "the response was not helpful, it did not shine a positive light on my own party - that is part of the culture within the House of Commons chamber".

Mystery claim over chief leaving

Ian Miller left the chief executive role after seven years in the post

Seven Denbighshire Labour councillors have asked whether the county's former chief executive Ian Miller received a pay-off before resigning.

They said his departure was "shrouded in mystery" and asked for details of any "backroom deals" be made public.

Mr Miller stepped down after seven years to "pursue new challenges".

But the independent-led council would not comment on "personnel matters" and criticised the group for raising questions publicly.

Mr Miller's announcement last week came after a difficult period for the council, which was strongly criticised in a report by schools inspector Estyn in September 2007.

It highlighted poor communication and "ineffective" political leadership at the council and the criticisms led to the ousting of then leader Rhiannon Hughes.

This secrecy epitomises everything that is wrong with Denbighshire Labour group leader Jeanette Chamberlain Jones

In September 2008, the council was criticised for the way it handled the opening and closure of Hyfrydle, a residential centre for autistic children which opened in 2007.

However, Jeanette Chamberlain Jones, who leads the Labour group, said it was still not clear why Mr Miller had gone.

She said: "He left very quickly and we were not told anything. It beggars belief that we didn't have a full council meeting to discuss it."

In a statement, she and deputy Labour leader Joan Butterfield said: "If there have been any backroom deals, then as councillors we, on behalf of the public, demand to know the details.

"We are totally opposed to any such deals. This secrecy epitomises everything that is wrong with Denbighshire."

'Openness and clarity'

Ms Butterfield said it was imperative in the current financial climate that council tax payers knew whether Mr Miller received a pay-off.

She added: "It's all shrouded in mystery. We don't seem to have a lot of clarity with things that happen in Denbighshire council. Openness and clarity are really what the public expects of the council."

A spokeswoman for the council said: "It is the council's policy not to comment on personnel matters relating to staff, past or present.

"However we are concerned that some councillors have raised these questions publicly without first approaching the council with their requests for information.

"There are plenty of opportunities available for all councillors to raise any issues of interest to them directly with the leader of the council or senior managers on a regular basis."

Probe into boosting minority MPs

About one in five MPs is a woman

MPs have approved proposals for a Parliamentary inquiry into how to boost the numbers of women, ethnic minority and disabled MPs.

A special committee of MPs, known as a "Speaker's Conference", will examine ways of making the Commons more representative of the UK as a whole.

Leader of the House Harriet Harman said the Commons faced a "democratic deficit" which affected its legitimacy.

Just 3% of MPs are black or Asian compared with 10% of the UK population.

Among 646 MPs there are just 125 women, of whom two are black and none Asian.

Legitimacy

In a debate on the subject, Ms Harman admitted that Parliament did not reflect wider society in the composition of its members.

Society has changed and the House needs to change too Harriet Harman, Leader of the House

She said the Speaker's Conference, to be chaired by Speaker Michael Martin and consisting of 17 other MPs, would examine how best to achieve greater diversity in Parliament and make recommendations.

"Society has changed and the House needs to change too," she said.

"To reflect our population we need more than four times more Black and Asian MPs...The missing faces on the green benches are the missing voices in this chamber."

For the Tories, its shadow deputy commons leader Shailesh Vara welcomed the move as an opportunity to secure a "genuine step change in representation".

However, he said he was disappointed by the narrow remit of the committee after Gordon Brown said last year that it could address issues including weekend voting, the representation of women and ethnic minorities and whether voting age should be lowered to 16.

Tony Wright, chairman of the public administration committee, tabled an amendment to Ms Harman's motion, asking for the "under representation of certain groups of citizens" to be included.

"It is pretty clear that we have a huge problem about the exclusion of people who live at the sharp end of society from our political life," he said of working class representation.

British Obama

Last week Communities Secretary Hazel Blears criticised the "deeply unhealthy" number of government jobs given to career politicians with little experience beyond Westminster.

And following Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election, UK equalities chief Trevor Phillips told the Times a British equivalent would find it very difficult to become PM.

He said there was an "institutional resistance" in the UK to selecting black and Asian candidates as MPs.

We do not have a voting system designed to produce a Parliament that reflects our society Ken RitchieElectoral Reform Society

The first Speaker's conference, chaired by Speaker Lowther from 1916 to 1917, paved the way for the enfranchisement of women in the UK.

There were only five in the 20th Century - previous conferences have operated in a similar way to select committees and have taken evidence from witnesses. The aim is to achieve a cross-party consensus following confidential talks.

If approved, the Speaker's Conference is expected to present its recommendations some time next year.

The Electoral Reform Society said it must produce radical reforms and should "mean more than another round of Westminster wonkery".

Chief executive Ken Ritchie said: "We do not have a voting system designed to produce a Parliament that reflects our society, so we should not be surprised parts of the electorate are under-represented."

There is no obligation on the government of the day to accept recommendations from Speaker's Conferences but most are usually adopted.

MPs due to back diversity probe

Probe into boosting minority MPs

About one in five MPs is a woman

MPs have approved proposals for a Parliamentary inquiry into how to boost the numbers of women, ethnic minority and disabled MPs.

A special committee of MPs, known as a "Speaker's Conference", will examine ways of making the Commons more representative of the UK as a whole.

Leader of the House Harriet Harman said the Commons faced a "democratic deficit" which affected its legitimacy.

Just 3% of MPs are black or Asian compared with 10% of the UK population.

Among 646 MPs there are just 125 women, of whom two are black and none Asian.

Legitimacy

In a debate on the subject, Ms Harman admitted that Parliament did not reflect wider society in the composition of its members.

Society has changed and the House needs to change too Harriet Harman, Leader of the House

She said the Speaker's Conference, to be chaired by Speaker Michael Martin and consisting of 17 other MPs, would examine how best to achieve greater diversity in Parliament and make recommendations.

"Society has changed and the House needs to change too," she said.

"To reflect our population we need more than four times more Black and Asian MPs...The missing faces on the green benches are the missing voices in this chamber."

For the Tories, its shadow deputy commons leader Shailesh Vara welcomed the move as an opportunity to secure a "genuine step change in representation".

However, he said he was disappointed by the narrow remit of the committee after Gordon Brown said last year that it could address issues including weekend voting, the representation of women and ethnic minorities and whether voting age should be lowered to 16.

Tony Wright, chairman of the public administration committee, tabled an amendment to Ms Harman's motion, asking for the "under representation of certain groups of citizens" to be included.

"It is pretty clear that we have a huge problem about the exclusion of people who live at the sharp end of society from our political life," he said of working class representation.

British Obama

Last week Communities Secretary Hazel Blears criticised the "deeply unhealthy" number of government jobs given to career politicians with little experience beyond Westminster.

And following Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election, UK equalities chief Trevor Phillips told the Times a British equivalent would find it very difficult to become PM.

He said there was an "institutional resistance" in the UK to selecting black and Asian candidates as MPs.

We do not have a voting system designed to produce a Parliament that reflects our society Ken RitchieElectoral Reform Society

The first Speaker's conference, chaired by Speaker Lowther from 1916 to 1917, paved the way for the enfranchisement of women in the UK.

There were only five in the 20th Century - previous conferences have operated in a similar way to select committees and have taken evidence from witnesses. The aim is to achieve a cross-party consensus following confidential talks.

If approved, the Speaker's Conference is expected to present its recommendations some time next year.

The Electoral Reform Society said it must produce radical reforms and should "mean more than another round of Westminster wonkery".

Chief executive Ken Ritchie said: "We do not have a voting system designed to produce a Parliament that reflects our society, so we should not be surprised parts of the electorate are under-represented."

There is no obligation on the government of the day to accept recommendations from Speaker's Conferences but most are usually adopted.

Clegg urges 'ambitious' tax cuts

The Lib Dems proposed tax cuts in September

Nick Clegg has accused Labour and the Tories of "timidity" in their efforts to kick-start the British economy.

The Lib Dem leader says "ambition" is needed to rebalance taxes so the rich pay for "big, permanent and fair" cuts.

Any tax cuts from the government are likely to be "meagre" while Tory plans are "piffling", he says.

The PM has signalled he backs unfunded tax cuts as a "fiscal stimulus" while the Tories have offered tax breaks for firms who employ jobless people.

The Liberal Democrats proposed income tax cuts for low and middle income earners during their September conference - and have since accused the other parties of "clambering on the bandwagon".

'Piffling incentive'

There has been speculation that Gordon Brown will announce tax cuts in the pre-Budget report, expected next week, and Tory leader David Cameron announced proposals earlier to give National Insurance breaks to firms which employ people who have been jobless for three months.

In a speech to the Royal Commonwealth Society later, Mr Clegg says Britain's response to a global recession should not be "timidity and tinkering".

Now is not the time for small-mindedness. It is a time for ambition Nick Clegg Tories propose business tax cuts Brown backs 'unfunded' tax action

"We hear talk of tax cuts emerging from Downing Street, but they are likely to be small, and short term.

"Funded through borrowing, the money will have to be paid back later. So it's meagre tax cuts today, giant tax rises tomorrow from Brown," Mr Clegg says.

"Meanwhile the Conservatives want a piffling incentive for businesses to take on new workers that won't put a penny in the pocket of a single family in Britain. Neither package comes close to what's needed."

He adds: "Now is not the time for small-mindedness. It is a time for ambition. An opportunity to fundamentally rebalance Britain's unfair tax system."

The Liberal Democrats want to cut the basic rate of income tax from 20p to 16p in the pound - which they say would benefit most British taxpayers. They say it would mean someone on

UK jobs open to migrants unveiled

The government says it will get tough on firms employing illegal workers

The list of jobs open to immigrants from outside the European Union has been published by the UK government.

Ministers say it will cut by 200,000 the jobs available to non-EU workers.

It includes maths and science teachers and specialist nurses and vets among others, in line with recommendations of an expert panel.

But it also includes 100,000 social workers - a job which the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) originally ruled was not in short supply.

In its report in September, the MAC said there was no evidence from the field that there was a shortage of social workers in the UK.

But the government has ordered the committee to reconsider its verdict after "new evidence" of a shortage had came to light from the social work sector. They must report again in March 2009.

'Population trends'

The shortage occupation list replaces the current work permit system and is a central plank of the government's new points-based migration system, which comes into effect on 27 November.

SHORTAGE JOBS Hospital consultants Vets Scientists Quantity surveyors Specialist nurses Engineers Dancers and choreographers Ship and hovercraft officers Pipe fitters and line repairers Chefs Care assistants Social workers

Immigration minister Phil Woolas claimed it would restrict the number of people coming into the UK to work and allow the government to "raise or lower the bar according to the needs of business and taking population trends into account".

Workers from European Union countries, with the exception of Bulgaria and Romania, will remain free to take any jobs in the UK.

Wealthy investors, or university-educated people earning more than

Minister moves to aid apprentices

Empey moves to help apprentices

The minister said training had to continue despite the economic climate

The employment minister has announced new measures to support apprentices on training schemes who have been made redundant during the economic downturn.

Sir Reg Empey said he wanted to ensure training was not cut during the downturn.

"We need to ensure continuous professional and technical training," he said.

"So that employers are in a better position to strike when the iron becomes hot again."

Speaking in the assembly, the minister said apprentices working in the construction, engineering and the motor vehicle industries would be able to complete professional and technical training, even if they had been made redundant.

The Alliance of Sector Skills Councils and other relevant employer bodies have been asked to encourage employers to take on any apprentices who have been made redundant.

Sir Reg also indicated that his department would be prepared to contribute some conditional funding towards any additional wage costs.

For those apprentices who are 18 and over, but are unable to find an alternative employer with whom to finish training, the department is enabling apprentices to continue training under the Steps to Work programme.

For those apprentices under 18 years of age, training can be continued under the pre-apprenticeship component of Training for Success.

The minister hopes the arrangements will be in place by the beginning of December.

No plans to remove 'nuclear veto'

There are already plans for new nuclear reactors in England

There are no plans to remove Scotland's powers to effectively veto the building of new nuclear power stations, Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy has said.

Under devolution, planning powers can be used by the Scottish Parliament to prevent large-scale building projects.

In its submission to the Calman Commission on devolution, the UK Government warned this could undermine its energy policy.

But Mr Murphy said it was important Scotland retains control over planning.

He told the BBC's Newsnight Scotland programme: "The Scottish Parliament has power over planning policy and that's important that they have that power.

"But the UK Government has power over energy policy - that's the established devolution settlement.

"I think what we're saying today in our evidence is that we have to look to see if we can have better working relations so that both parliaments and both governments can work in the interests of Scotland."

In Westminster's written submission to the Calman Comission, individual Whitehall departments gave their experience of devolution.

Although they do not make formal recommendations, the most commonly expressed view is that the status quo works well and there are no calls for major change.

"Nonetheless, the UK Government remains open to proposals ... to adjust the settlement further to strengthen devolution," said the report.

However, a spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond said: "The Labour Government are offering nothing, will try to take powers back if they can, and are rendering the whole Calman exercise farcical."

Tax cuts can help economy - Brown

Gordon Brown wants to maintain the initiative on the economy

Gordon Brown has fuelled talk of possible tax cuts by saying they could help to support consumer spending.

In a speech in London, Mr Brown referred to planned tax cuts in the US and Germany, saying countries must "work together" to tackle the downturn.

Earlier, the PM said he was looking "at everything" that could help the economy and would announce details within days.

David Cameron says the Tories will announce "tax changes to encourage businesses to take on workers".

Government action

The Lib Dems have already said they would cut taxes for lower paid people and have challenged the two main parties to "put their money where their mouths are" when it comes to tax pledges.

Economic recovery will work better if we all work together Gordon Brown Brown faith in US alliance

Mr Brown has said that any potential tax changes are a matter for the pre-Budget report, expected next week.

In his annual speech at the Lord Mayor's Banquet, Mr Brown said that "people are looking to governments for action" in helping them through the troubled economic times.

He drew attention to planned fiscal stimulus packages in Germany and the US as well as China's move to pump $600bn in its economy, all aimed at encouraging people to spend more.

"With Britain continuing to lead the debate, economic recovery will work better if we all work together," he said.

"The benefits of any individual country's fiscal action will be all the greater if this is part of a concerted and fairly distributed international response to maintain global demand."

The BBC's Nick Robinson said Mr Brown was dropping hints that he would be prepared to borrow more to fund tax cuts but that nothing was certain until the details were confirmed.

Asked about possible tax cuts earlier in the day, Mr Brown said petrol duty had been frozen and people were already getting

Icelandic overfishing 'scandal'

Icelandic fishing boats have landed 108,000 tonnes of mackerel

The Scottish Government has described as a "scandal" the massive overfishing of mackerel that has been carried out by Icelandic boats.

BBC Scotland has learned that the Icelandic industry took five time its allowance of the fish from one section of sea this year.

Iceland told recent quota setting talks that the extra mackerel were a "by-catch" of herring fishing.

But Scottish fishing leaders accused Iceland of a "smash and grab" approach.

Quota settlements mean Scottish boats are allowed to catch more than half of all mackerel fished in the north east Atlantic in a deal which is worth tens of millions of pounds to the country's economy.

Other nations get smaller rights, with Icelandic boats allowed to take 20,000 tonnes of the fish.

Such activities by Icelandic fishermen threaten the long term sustainability of the mackerel stock. Scottish Government spokesman

But at the quota talks earlier this month, Iceland admitted it had actually taken 108,000 tonnes.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government told BBC Scotland the revelation was a "scandal."

He added: "At a time when the Scottish industry is at the very forefront of responsible and sustainable fishing practices in this sector, such activities by Icelandic fishermen threaten the long term sustainability of the mackerel stock.

"Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead has taken several steps to ensure this matter is raised at the very highest level.

"The Norwegian Secretary of State has also given assurances to us that they are to demand action by the Icelandic authorities to resolve this situation.

"We continue to keep this high on the agenda and ensure that the EU negotiators take an extremely robust line on this matter in discussions with Icelandic officials on an activity that cannot and should not be allowed to continue."

The Scottish Fisheries Federation said Iceland was taking s "smash and grab approach" to stock management.

Derek Duthie, secretary of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association, added: "We can't have fishing nations sticking two fingers up to the European agreement."

Pledge Watch: Secular vicars

By Justin Parkinson Political reporter, BBC News

Politicians love announcing new initiatives. In this series we pluck a pledge from the archives. And see what happened next...

Registrars can offer some marriage advice if they want to

Was it a genuine pledge, or a bit of spin put out by Tony Blair's team?

It was the weekend before the then prime minister's 1998 Labour Party conference speech.

Two Sunday broadsheet newspapers reported that Mr Blair would give registrars the power to be "secular" vicars.

This eye-catching idea would see them providing couples with guidance on how to make their marriages successful.

When they had children, parents would be encouraged to have a civil naming ceremony - like a Christening but with no religious content.

The Church is unlikely to be enthusiastic about proposals which appear to parody its own services Church of England

Of course, Mr Blair never used the word "vicar" in his conference speech, but he said Labour would shortly be setting out plans to give more support to parents, families and marriage.

The registrar schemes and several other policies - such as encouraging a greater role for grandparents and making pre-nuptial agreements legally binding - were included in a government green paper published later that year called Supporting Families.

'Sensitivity'

Charities, health groups and religious organisations were among those consulted.

In its response, the Church of England said registrars offering marriage advice might "invite a degree of ridicule".

It added: "Although the benefits likely to result from such changes are likely to be modest, the experiment is worth pursuing."

On registrars encouraging secular naming ceremonies it said: "The Church is unlikely to be enthusiastic about proposals which appear to parody its own services.

"But if there is a real demand for such innovation we would not wish to stand in the way of those who want such ceremonies.

The government felt it would be helpful if registrars made leaflets or information packs available to couples getting married Home Office

"The intention of encouraging long-term commitment to the child by parents and the wider family is certainly one we applaud, but there are serious questions as to whether registrars should be asked to assume such novel functions."

This point was taken up by opponents of "nanny statism", angry at the idea that the man or woman in the town hall knows best how to run families.

Conservative Peter Lilley said it represented an "unprecedented intrusion into family life" and said the government was trying to "nationalise baptisms".

The Liberal Democrats warned against possible discrimination in favour of "government-approved relationships".

'Voluntary basis'

Amid the proposals and claims bandied about, it was often forgotten that registrars already had the right to offer wedding advice, in the form of leaflets.

After the green paper consultation, this was left much the same.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The government felt it would be helpful if registrars made leaflets or information packs available to couples getting married.

"However, a change to the law would be required to make this a requirement, but registration officers can make information packs or leaflets available on a voluntary basis."

Some still do. Some still do not.

But the law changed on civil naming ceremonies for babies, which had been offered by some charitable groups since the mid-1990s.

Civil weddings used to be so badly performed and cold. That's not true now Former civil ceremony worker

A pilot scheme in late 2000 saw councils providing them, along with marriage renewal vows.

The 2003 Local Government Act gave local authorities the power to charge for them, providing a source of revenue.

They have become increasingly popular since.

The wording, which can be edited by parents, notes the birth of the child and tends to emphasise commitment and love.

But the ceremony is just that - ceremonial - and has no legal meaning.

Registrars performing it stand in front of the assembled family and friends and conduct affairs in the style of what some might call a "secular vicar".

Training courses

However, the roles of civil servant and priest are different.

One of the first people to offer the ceremonies, who did not wish to be named, said: "It was found that registrars weren't the best people to offer people advice. They were basically administrators.

"But there were training courses offered and some of them took to the ceremonial side of things.

"It had a knock-on, as many registrars really upped their game. If you go to a civil wedding now it's very, very much better than they were 20 years ago.

"They used to be so badly performed and cold. That's not true now."

A Church of England spokesman said: "The Church has broadly welcomed the expansion of the role of registrars, where it is clear that their activities would help support family life.

"But the idea of 'secular vicars' seems to have been consigned to the dustbin of history."

There have been changes and registrars have a far greater ceremonial role than they once did. Whether or not they now amount to "secular vicars" depends on your point of view.

Here is a selection of your comments:

I am a retired church minister....and have only attended a civil wedding ceremony once but have conducted dozens of marriages myself. I was really impressed by the Civil Ceremony and the pastoral care and guidance expressed by the Registrar...this was some nine or ten years ago now... and I thought then that the advice given on the day, in front of the gathered guests was wonderfully apposite :no God talk but a lot of motherly advice that left no doubt in the mind as to the purpose and importance of marriage.John Hardy, Meltham England

People in Britain do want to be able to mark the life events of birth, marriage and death with an enjoyable and appropriate ceremony but many do not want to be involved with the fantasies and dogmas of religion. This is shown by the huge rise in popularity of Humanist ceremonies performed by celebrants trained by the British Humanist Association. Humanists celebrants do not presume to give advice on how people should go about their lives but simply respond to the wishes of those for whom they are performing the ceremony. There is no need for another set of smug, self important people telling us what to do to replace the vicars that are slowly dying out.Keith Denby, Barnstaple

Your report omitted much the worst thing that registrars have done - the conversion of civil partnerships into marriages in everything but the name. Some gay men want this - the great majority of us gay men despise it as an attempt to make us take on straight institutions, to abandon the difference that makes us gay. That the ceremonies which the registrars, with no legal authority, took it on themselves to provide, are not compulsory is irrelevant. The point is that they take place, and by doing so taint and debase the partnerships, to an extent that many of us now are reluctant to take them on. They are excellent in themselves; the registrars have ruined them by making them into mockeries of marriages.H H Atkin, Hull

Civil marriages are undoubtedly performed with a bit more feeling than they were a few years ago but this does not make the registrar a "secular Vicar". The term is a contradiction in terms. We Atheists are getting a poor deal from the BBC. How about a "thought for the day" from a leading Atheist every morning.Colin Boother, Kingston, Surrey, UK

My father who was an atheist died earlier this year. His widow, my stepmother, on the other hand is a Christian and was upset that it was not to have been a religious ceremony. The undertakers arranged for a retired Church of England vicar to carry out a secular ceremony which had great dignity. The net result was that everyone was happy and my dad got the send-off that he would have wanted. Certainly, as a fellow atheist it was a ceremony that I would be happy with. Ian Pope, Bristol

I am an Atheist Anglican Christian. I enjoy ceremony and ritual. The Anglican Church is the mythology that my culture is based on. However I have not had any luck with a number of local vicars - who have refused to encourage me to participate in their services without being a hypocrite by adding a few words that encourage all to participate, whatever their belief system. Ceremony and tradition are important to a lot of us, regardless of our belief system - and it is a pity that both the church and the Conservative party seem to have been dismissive of the initiative mentioned in this article. I also think that quite a few people setting out on a life long relationship that could well involve children could do with some help - and I am not sure that if you are an atheist - or an atheist Christian like me - that the church is the best place to get such advice. I am sorry that the initiative was not taken any further.

George Taylor, near Oxford

The idea was stupid to begin with. "Vicars" are people with at least 6 years of specialist training to deal with people during the many high and low points in their lives. The idea of asking a local government employee to do this after perhaps a 5 day course would actually be detrimental to people. A surprising number of registrars are active members of a faith group and would find it very difficult to undertake what is a form of 'ministry' without including some of their own beliefs and values - and neither should they. This is just another example of the secular minority trying to undermine faith groups - using taxpayers' money to do it. The dustbin is the right place to put this. One last question - how many people have secular funerals ? That is the real place to test commitment to religion.Chris Billington, Wetherby, West Yorkshire

Of all the so-called 'pledges' upon which you could have chosen to focus your attention, this has surely got to be one of the most irrelevant and ludicrous of all. Aside from the fact it was a pathetic attempt to impose out-dated Christian morality by stealth, futher reinforcing the continued persecution of co-habiting couples, who honestly cares if registrars are 'required' to provide marriage guidance or are able to perform naming ceremonies?

James Uscroft, Stoke on Trent

It seems to me that many religious folk, such as Tony Blair, assume that their approach is right and a few minor fiddlings at the edge will make it applicable to all. It could simply be that many people don't want an ill-informed outsider giving bad advice, whether he or she is a vicar or a civil servant.Jeff Green, Harrow

Its quite a struggle to think of who I'd be less likely to apprroach for advice than a vicar, but I think you've cracked it. Local government employess probably fit the bill.Mark Allen, Nottingham

I recently attended not a wedding but a funeral which was conducted by a member of the Humanist Association. While he performed the ceremony at the crematorium as adequately as many a minister I have seen, where the service fell down was not in its lack of religious content but by the lack of the personal touch by the conductor (for want of a better term), which is a criticism which could be levelled at many a religious service too. Certainly the family members who spoke did so from the heart but the service leader had not known my friend and, although he did his best, it showed. I hope that my funeral will be conducted by someone who knows me well and who will be able to remind friends and family of who I was, warts and all, who will make them laugh as well as cry.Nick, Sheffield, UK

From what I've seen on the news and from my visits to England I would say there are plenty of "vicars" there who aren't actually Christian - therefore they are "secular vicars".Johnny Ark, Belfast, N.Ireland

I can't think of anything more insulting for a new parent than the idea that they would need a bureaucrat to carry out a naming ceremony to encourage their "long-term commitment to the child". It's from the same school of thought that thinks morals only come from religion and that secular people have something 'missing' from their lives.Steve, Peterborough, UK