Tories taunted over jobs .sx OPPOSITION leader Neil Kinnock taunted ministers over the latest unemployment increase , saying :sx " The longer this Cabinet hangs on to its jobs , the more other people are going to lose theirs .sx " .sx But Commons Leader John MacGregor , deputising at question time for Prime Minister John Major , said Labour would " lose more jobs , more permanently " .sx The Government is to close its Jobshare scheme - involving cash incentives for employers to provide additional employment - at the end of the year , junior employment minister Robert Jackson disclosed .sx A National Health Service debate to " nail Labour's smears and fears " , was announced for Monday by Mr MacGregor .sx Health Secretary William Waldegrave will open it on a motion entitled " The Prime Minister's pledge to continue free hospital treatment for everyone " .sx Labour's Eric Illsley ( Barnsley Central ) claimed that a " luxury holiday fact-finding mission to a Paris hotel " has been arranged for Barnsley District General Hospital staff in preparation for NHS trust status .sx Mr MacGregor said health reforms were making big savings , " all of which are being directed at patient care " .sx British plans to train African National Congress members would discriminate against Zulus and prejudge the outcome of Pretoria's reforms , Sir Ian Lloyd ( Con Havant ) protested .sx But Mr MacGregor said the move would greatly help with " race relations and the future in South Africa .sx " .sx Increasing Government department errors pose the risk of fraud and corruption , Public Accounts Committee chairman Robert Sheldon warned .sx He paid tribute to " very high standards " of vigilance on public spending , but warned :sx " Once fraud and corruption gets a hold in any particular area , that is when you are in trouble .sx " .sx Shadow Commons leader Dr Jack Cunningham demanded a statement by Home Secretary Kenneth Baker on franchises after it emerged that ex-premier Margaret Thatcher told TV-am she was " heartbroken " it lost its battle to broadcast .sx Mr MacGregor said licence allocation was a matter for the Independent Televison Commission , not the Government .sx The introduction of tax on hospital volunteer drivers' mileage claims will be phased in gradually over a number of years , Treasury Financial Secretary Francis Maude announced .sx He said he was aware of much concern about the issue .sx Moves to outlaw the sale of tickets on the day of a soccer match without the home club's authority , were pledged by junior Home Office minister Peter Lloyd " when Parliamentary time allows .sx " .sx The phasing out of drift nets for salmon fishing off England's north-east coast was backed by Agriculture Minister John Gummer and Scottish fisheries minister Lord Strathclyde .sx They said the change should be made " gradually , so as not to cause unnecessary hardship .sx " .sx Parliament is to be prorogued at the end of next Tuesday's business until the Queen's Speech on October 31 , which opens the new session , Mr MacGregor announced .sx King quashes army cut protests .sx DEFENCE Secretary Tom King brushed aside widespread opposition to Army cuts , dealing a blow to campaigners who marched on the Commons with almost 1m signatures .sx He made clear there was no going back on plans to reduce infantry battalions from 55 to 38 and Army size from 160,000 to 116,000 .sx Mr King announced a big cut in Britain's nuclear free fall bombs , as part of an overall Nato stockpile reduction to be announced later this week .sx Controversial low-flying training by fighter jets is to be cut by almost a third over the next three years , junior Defence Procurement minister Kenneth Carlisle announced .sx But there will be an increase in other forms of low-flying , principally by helicopters and the new propellor-driven Tucano trainer .sx Mr Carlisle also announced that the ice patrol ship HMS Endurance , which played a key role in the Falklands conflict , is to be decommissioned .sx It will be replaced by the MV Polar Circle , to be leased from Norway from November .sx The future of the Tower of London's Beefeaters and the public duties of the Household Division - both world famous tourist attractions - will be " kept under review " during planning for Army restructuring , armed forces minister Archie Hamilton said .sx But he insisted the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals would continue to form a Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment for their ceremonial role .sx Mr Hamilton said in a series of Commons written replies yesterday that the three battalions of Foot Guards normally based in the London area might be given increased manpower " to facilitate the discharge of public duties " .sx The Commandant of the Royal Military School of Music was also reviewing the future structure and location of Army bands , he said .sx Transport Secretary Malcolm Rifkind hinted that some Government money might after all be made available to finance the Channel Tunnel rail link .sx Until now , ministers have firmly ruled out any state funding of the multi-billion-pound project .sx Mr Rifkind said :sx " I have indicated very clearly that what I would like to see is a private sector-funded project .sx That's what we believe would be the most desirable .sx " But he added :sx " If proposals come forward which fall short of that , we will consider that in the circumstances of the time .sx " .sx Commons Leader John MacGregor claimed Labour was " retreating " on its accusations that the Government wants to privatise the health service .sx Replying to a demand by the Opposition's Dr. Jack Cunningham for a statement from Health Secretary William Waldegrave about " creeping privatisation of the NHS " , Mr MacGregor said :sx " There are simply no charges to respond to .sx " .sx The EC cannot use its forces to separate warring sides in Yugoslavia , Foreign Office Minister Douglas Hogg said .sx He insisted :sx " The solution can only be a political one , freely reached among the Yugoslavs themselves .sx " .sx Legislation paving the way for privatisation of British Rail will not be presented to Parliament until after the election , Transport Minister Roger Freeman said .sx Prime Minister John Major set out in a written reply those aspects of his Citizen's Charter which will need new legislation .sx The first Bills to implement his pledges to increase accountability by public services to their users are expected to be included in the October 31 Queen's Speech .sx MPs back cuts in forces .sx MINISTERS fought off the threatened backbench rebellion over their plans to slash the armed forces as seven Tories defied their whips and voted against the Government .sx The defence estimates were approved by 324 votes to 66 , the Opposition abstaining , after a stormy two-day debate on the changes .sx Labour's amendment recognising the scope for further reductions in defence spending and urging more help for ex-service personnel lost by 345 votes to 238 .sx Conflict Britain's ability to fight another Gulf-style conflict would not be hindered , Defence Procurement Minister Alan Clark insisted .sx Mr Clark announced the setting-up of a working group to examine UK nuclear weapons safety , the outcome of investigations into the loss of six Tornado aircraft in the Gulf War and a project definition contract for two new amphibious assault ships .sx Defence Secretary Tom King said there will be a " significant reduction " in civilians employed by the forces .sx Mortgages at preferential rates will be available to full-time members of the armed forces from next month , Armed Forces Minister Archie Hamilton said .sx He also disclosed that servicemen made redundant will receive special capital payments .sx Plans to crack down on squatting in empty homes and shops were announced by Home Secretary Kenneth Baker , who said :sx " The law needs to be changed to safeguard the rights of owners .sx " A consultation paper includes the option of extending the criminal law on squatting .sx Shadow home secretary Roy Hattersley backed the view that action should be taken , but said :sx " If the Government is serious about squatting , it needs to do something about homelessness .sx " .sx Labour leader Neil Kinnock renewed battle over the health service .sx He asked Commons Leader John MacGregor , standing in for Prime Minister MrJohn Major at question time :sx " Can you tell us what the Government proposes to do to stop the process of privatisation of the NHS ?sx " .sx Mr MacGregor replied :sx " The reforms we are pursuing are not creeping privatisation .sx They are getting proper reform to ensure the resources are better directed to patient care .sx " .sx The Government was defeated in the Lords over the universities' role in its planned privatisation of the research body , the British Technology Group .sx Voting was 111 to 102 for an amendment to the British Technology Group Bill .sx Major to take full PM's pay .sx JOHN Major is likely to take his full pay rise as Prime Minister , unlike his predecessor Margaret Thatcher .sx He is not expected to keep his salary pegged to that of fellow Cabinet ministers when the rises are announced next month , Government sources have indicated .sx Mrs Thatcher drew the same salary as her Cabinet colleagues and did not take the extra available to her as PM .sx Mortgage Downing Street sources said :sx " The Prime Minister does draw his full salary , unlike Mrs Thatcher .sx He has a mortgage to pay and a lot of other commitments .sx " .sx Ministers look set to be awarded a below-inflation pay rise - but MPs will enjoy a 6.5% rise in January .sx With their pay now linked to the civil service scale , MPs' salaries will rise from pounds28,790 to pounds30,854 .sx Government accused of victimising poor people .sx THE number of people on Income Support paying poll tax arrears in Kirklees has more than doubled in three months .sx And figures released by the Labour Party show that nationally the numbers have increased by 54% .sx Demanding Government intervention , Shadow Secretary of State for Social Security Michael Meacher has called for 100% poll tax rebates for pensioners , the unemployed and people on benefit .sx He accused the Government of victimising the poorest section of the community by chasing them for punitive payments .sx The number of claimants in Kirklees paying community charge arrears shot from 62 in May this year to 137 in August .sx The figures supplied by the Benefits Agency revealed that throughout the UK numbers rose from nearly 58,000 to just over 89,000 in the same period .sx Mr Meacher said :sx " At the present rate of increase , by next year there will be more than 250,000 people having poll tax arrears deducted from Income Support .sx " These will be in addition to the 430,000 repaying loans to the Social Fund , 250,000 repaying electricity and gas arrears , 80,000 paying rent arrears and 45,000 paying water charge arrears .sx " .sx Money was being taken from people who were existing on appallingly low benefits , said Mr Meacher .sx Huge variations across the country in the number who were being pursued for deductions from benefit showed how unfair the poll tax was .sx " The local authorities have told Environment Secretary Michael Heseltine that it is not effective to pursue benefit claimants for non-payment of their 20% poll tax liability , " said Mr Meacher .sx " Some of these debts will never be collected .sx Mr Heseltine himself has proposed that those on benefit will not have to pay his council tax .sx " .sx He added :sx " But for a further year from April 1992 , councils will be obliged to impose this punitive poll tax on the very poorest , and to fruitlessly pursue those who cannot pay .sx It is victimisation of the poorest people .sx " .sx " Disgraceful " response to pleas .sx Forum criticises lack of support from Tory MP .sx COLNE Valley MP Graham Riddick was criticised last night for his " disgraceful " response to pleas to fight cutbacks in police manpower .sx Holmfirth Police Community Forum is now writing to the Tory MP to complain at his lack of support and request he attends the next meeting of the forum - of which he is a member .sx They wrote to him in July asking for help in reducing budget cutbacks forced on West Yorkshire Police Authority by Government capping threats .sx But forum vice-chairman Kirklees Clr Bob Mortimer attacked the response Mr Riddick made in a letter to the group as an " absolute disgrace " .sx From next April the authority faces slashing pounds4m from its budget and losing 420 police officers and hundreds of civilian staff , said Clr Mortimer .sx Home Secretary .sx Mr Riddick wrote that he had informed West Yorkshire's Chief Constable of his and the forum's concern over reduced manning levels next year because of the cash crisis .sx He had also written to the Home Secretary who had gone " as far as he was able to go in saying that the authority would not be capped even if its budget did exceed the capping limit " .sx