Exhaust fumes cleaner than London air?
LONDON — The following advertisement was displayed in the April 17 Guardian newspaper:
"This Saab refreshes the air other cars leave behind.
"Incredible but true.
"Proved by government scientists, no less, when they conducted tests in the City of London last autumn. Thanks to its unique Trionic engine management system, exhaust emissions from a Saab 900CS 2.3 litre Turbo were found to have lower levels of both hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides than were found in the surrounding air."
LONDON — The following did not appear as an advertisement in the Guardian newspaper: "Group 4 — the prisoners' friend". But it surely could have.
Since the security company began its contract as Britain's first private prison escort service operator two weeks ago, seven prisoners in separate incidents have escaped on their way to or from court.
Two not so much escaped as were released. Other prisoners have been transported to the wrong courthouse, and many have arrived late for trial. In another incident, prisoners locked themselves in a Group 4 vehicle and screws at Moorlands jail had to use crowbars to get them out.
The company currently it transports 10% of Britain's prison population; the other 90% are hoping Group 4's contract is extended.
Meanwhile, after one year in operation, Britain's only private prison is having its own problems. It is reported that drugs are so freely available in the remand prison that prisoners have tried to extend their stay.
More seriously, assaults at the Wolds, near Hull, are three times greater than in state-run prisons. And the company that runs the Wolds? You guessed it — Group 4 Remand Services Limited (Capability).
LONDON — Household appliance giant Hoover's scam was simple: offer consumers a free trip to the US for two with the purchase of £100 worth of their appliances, promise them they can travel whenever they want between certain dates, and then sell them extras such as accommodation and car hire.
Or better still, as the April 1 issue of the consumer magazine Which pointed out, deter them from accepting the offer
The company handling the travel inquiries, caught in the act by a hidden video camera, would put people off from taking their free flights; people in Scotland were told they would have to travel to London Gatwick airport to pick up their flights; people in the south of England were given flights leaving at times other than requested, departing from Glasgow airport.
Hoover were overwhelmed with thousands of complaints as people's expectations were dashed and bad publicity mounted. Now, Hoover's US parent corporation, Maytag, has stepped in and sacked Hoover Europe's president and other top management in Britain. The company is now guaranteeing the offer and has put up £20million (A$45million) in an effort to buy back some "good will"!
Anyone want an unused Hoover vacuum cleaner? ... going cheap.
... Frank Noakes
Privatisation Outbreak
Hoover cleaned up