Immunize your children - CMO warns

Saturday, January 31, 2015 | 10:25 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Chief Medical Officer, Dr Marion Bullock DuCasse is reminding persons that immunization for children against certain vaccine preventable diseases including measles is offered at no cost at government health centres.

Dr DuCasse is therefore urging parents who have not yet fully immunized their children for their age to do so immediately especially in light of the measles outbreak presently affecting several states in the United States of America and Mexico.

Compulsory immunization for children begins at birth and continues until 6 years old with the schedule as follows:

Birth to 6 weeks: BCG (Tuberculosis)

6 weeks: 1st OPV (Polio); 1st DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis or Whooping Cough, Tetanus) / Hep B (Hepatitis B) / HIB (Haemophilus Influenzae Type B)

3 months: 2nd OPV; 2nd DPT/Hep B/ HIB

6 months: 3rd OPV; 3rd DPT/Hep B / HIB

12 months: 1st MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)

18 months: 1st Booster DPT; 1st Booster OPV; 2nd MMR – for children born July 2013 and after

4-6 years: 2nd Booster DPT; 2nd Booster OPV, 2 nd MMR – for children born before July 2013

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Immunize your children - CMO warns

Rand Paul warns of "same old, same old" with another Romney run

Jan 14. 2015: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., meets with members of the Londonderry Fish and Game Club. (AP)

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul warned Wednesday that another presidential run by Mitt Romney would not necessarily be good news for the GOP.

“The same old, same old has been tried,” he said. “And if we try the same thing again we might get the same result.”

Paul told FOX News during a visit to the key primary state of New Hampshire, “the more the merrier” in reaction to a potential Romney primary race. But he went further to say Romney “fell short,” adding that he didn’t appeal to a broad enough audience to win. The senator quipped, “So maybe we need to keep lookin’.”

Texas Senator Ted Cruz is also critical of the former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican nominee. Cruz said nominating a moderate has not worked, referring to Romney as the “mushy middle.”

The remarks came on the heels of Romney dipping his toes in the presidential primary waters. He has hinted at a third go-round for the nomination,and made calls to leaders in key primary states and to veteran campaign staffers.?

Hillary Vaughn is part of the Junior Reporter program at Fox News. Get more information on the program here and follow them on Twitter: @FNCJrReporters

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Rand Paul warns of "same old, same old" with another Romney run

READY EXCUSE IRS head warns cuts will cause bad customer service

Taxpayers could see delays in getting their refunds this year — as well as “unacceptable” customer service — as the IRS commissioner warns budget cuts are forcing the agency to cut back. 

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, in an email sent to workers and obtained by Fox News, predicted a messy tax season on several fronts. 

“The effect of these cuts will hurt taxpayers and our tax system,” he wrote. 

He said the cuts could force the IRS to shut down operations for two days later this year, resulting in unpaid furloughs for employees and service cuts for taxpayers. 

But in the near-term, the commissioner said cuts in overtime and temporary staff hours could cause delays in refunds. 

“People who file paper tax returns could wait an extra week — or possibly longer — to see their refund,” he wrote, adding: “Taxpayers with errors or questions on their returns that require additional manual review will also face delays.” 

He warned that IRS customer service, which already has faced heavy criticism, could be “diminished further.” Koskinen set a low bar for what taxpayers can expect. 

“We now anticipate an even lower level of telephone service than before, which raises the real possibility that fewer than half of taxpayers trying to call us will actually reach us. During Fiscal Year 2014, 64 percent were able to get through. Those who do reach us will face extended wait times that are unacceptable to all of us,” Koskinen wrote. 

Further, he warned of delays to IT investments of more than $200 million, predicting this would delay “new taxpayer protections against identity theft.” 

The IRS has faced tough congressional scrutiny over the last two years in large part over the scandal involving the targeting of conservative groups, and some lawmakers are reluctant to pour more funding into the agency. 

But Koskinen says the agency’s $10.9 billion budget is now the lowest level of funding since 2008. When adjusted for inflation, the budget hasn’t been this low since 1998, he said. 

He said a short-term shutdown may loom. 

“Unfortunately, this means at this time we need to plan for the possibility of a shutdown of IRS operations for two days later this fiscal year, which will involve furloughing employees on those days,” Koskinen wrote in the email. “Shutting down the IRS will be a last resort, but I want to be upfront with you about the problem.” 

Koskinen said the agency will extend a partial hiring freeze through the end of the budget year in September. He said fewer enforcement agents will cost the federal government at least $2 billion in lost tax revenue. 

“IRS employees are doing their best to handle the rising demand for their services, but they will simply not be able to keep up,” said Colleen M. Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union. “I have urged the IRS not to make any decisions on furlough days this early in the fiscal year and to work with us to find other alternatives.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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READY EXCUSE IRS head warns cuts will cause bad customer service

ILO warns of higher unemployment in Latin America and Caribbean

Monday, December 15, 2014 | 8:37 AM    

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – A new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) has found an “unusual pattern” in this year’s urban employment rate in Latin America and the Caribbean, which continued to fall despite warning signs of economic slowdown.

The ILO report titled “Labour Overview for Latin America and the Caribbean 2014,” noted that the region’s urban unemployment rate may reach 6.3 per cent in 2015, which means that there will be some 500,000 more without jobs.

“There are warning signs,” said Elizabeth Tinoco, the ILO’s regional director. “The concern is that we are creating fewer jobs despite unemployment remaining at a low level,” she added.

Although unemployment has not risen due to this slowdown in growth, there has been a sharp reduction of new jobs reflected in the employment rate, which fell by 0.4 percentage points to 55.7 per cent in the third quarter of 2014.

“This means that at least one million (fewer) jobs have been created,” Tinoco said.

The ILO said that this “scenario of uncertainty” comes after a decade in which the region enjoyed significant economic growth. The unemployment rate dipped to record lows and allowed for a higher quality of jobs.

The urban unemployment rate of young people dropped from 14.5 per cent to 14 per cent but still remains between 2 and 4 times higher than that for adults. What’s more, the unemployment rate for women is 30 per cent higher than that for men, and 47 per cent of urban workers work in the informal economy.

“Many people who temporarily left the workforce in 2014 will return to search for a job next year, together with young people entering the labour market. The region will have to create nearly 50 million jobs over the coming decade, just to offset demographic growth,” Tinoco said, adding “we are talking about almost 15 million people unemployed.

“So we have to face the huge challenge of rethinking strategies to push growth and a productive transformation of the economy to foster economic and social inclusion through the labour market,” Tinoco said.

The ILO is calling on countries in the region to prepare for the possibility of a labour market which has to take specific measures to stimulate employment and protect individual incomes.

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ILO warns of higher unemployment in Latin America and Caribbean

Rolls-Royce warns of falling revenue

17 October 2014 Last updated at 19:09 Rolls-Royce specialises in turbines for the aerospace and marine industries Shares in engineering firm Rolls-Royce closed 11.5% down after the company warned of falling revenues as trade sanctions against Russia begin to bite.

Customers of its nuclear, energy and power systems businesses have delayed or cancelled orders, the company said.

As a result, group underlying revenue for 2014 would be 3.5%-to-4% lower than expected, it said.

But Rolls-Royce expected underlying profit to remain flat as cost savings counterbalanced the falling revenue.

“Since our interim results, the economic outlook for 2015 has become more challenging,” the company said, with many of its customers experiencing “worsening market conditions” affecting their investment decisions.

Guidance on revenues for its civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and power systems divisions, remained unchanged, the company said.

But nuclear and energy revenue guidance would fall from 0%-to-5%, down from 5%-to-10%.

However, Rolls-Royce expected underlying profit in its civil aerospace division to be higher than previously thought.

“While the short term is clearly challenging, reflecting the economic environment, the prospects for the group remain strong, driven by the growing global requirement for cleaner, better power,” said chief executive John Rishton.

Rolls-Royce, which has 12,000 employees in the East Midlands, said the sale of its gas turbine and compressor business to Siemens was likely to be concluded “by the year end”.

The company would begin its planned £1bn share buy-back once the sale had been completed, the company said.

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Rolls-Royce warns of falling revenue

Yellen warns on growing inequality

17 October 2014 Last updated at 20:04 Some worried that the speech could be seen as tilting more Democratic, thus angering Republicans US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen said that she was “greatly concerned” about rising inequality in the US.

“I think it is appropriate to ask whether [growing inequality] is compatible with values rooted in our nation’s history,” she said in a speech in Boston on Friday.

Some worried the speech politicised the Fed in favour of Democrats.

President Barack Obama has highlighted inequality in recent speeches on the state of the US economy.

Ms Yellen has made efforts since taking over as head of the central bank in January to focus more on issues beyond the basic rate-setting role of the Fed.

‘Great Gatsby Curve’

“The past several decades have seen the most sustained rise in inequality since the 19th century after more than 40 years of narrowing inequality following the Great Depression,” she said, noting that while some degree of inequality is to be expected, the recent widening concerns her.

Ms Yellen cited the “Great Gatsby Curve”, which has found that “among advanced economies, greater income inequality is associated with diminished intergenerational mobility”.

To combat this trend, Ms Yellen advised focusing on four issues: affordable higher education, inheritance policy, business ownership and help for children.

However, she did not tie any of these policies to those of the Fed, which is unusual for a central bank official.

The Fed is set to hold a two-day meeting of its rate-setting committee on 28-29 October.

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Yellen warns on growing inequality

Health minister warns against deadly dengue in Chik-V address

Sunday, September 28, 2014 | 7:36 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The health minister, Dr Fenton Ferguson, has warned the public to safeguard against dengue virus, which is also spread by the aedes aegypti mosquito.

Ferguson issued the warning during a national address Sunday night on the spread of chikungunya virus.

“Be reminded that dengue is also spread by the aedes aegypti mosquito and is more serious than chikungunya, as the death rate is much higher,” said Ferguson.

He added: “Deaths from chikungunya are very rare and usually occur in persons with other illnesses, especially chronic illnesses. The death rate from chikungunya is less than one per cent compared to dengue which is 1-5 per cent and influenza which kills millions each year. In 2012, we had a total of 5,929 suspected dengue cases and in 2013, we had 925 cases.”

At the same time, the minister appealed to persons in high-risk groups, including pregnant women, infants, children under five years old and persons with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, to seek medical care “immediately if they experience symptoms that could be chikungunya”.

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Health minister warns against deadly dengue in Chik-V address

Union in Trinidad warns of protest action

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad

The Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) Monday warned that it could not guarantee industrial peace and stability in Trinidad and Tobago as it accused the government of frustrating efforts to settle outstanding wage negotiations at several state agencies.

“If we cannot get settlement on the bargaining table we are prepared to initiate legal strike action. We are prepared to have total withdrawal of enthusiasm in areas where we do not have that option,” OWTU president Ancel Roget told reports, adding “in other words we cannot guarantee industrial peace and stability, the prerequisite for our economy’s development and growth”.

Roget said that the union would embark on the industrial action “unless we have all of these issues resolved” naming a number of state agencies where negotiations are not completed.

“Most of them expired…rolling over into the new period and some of them just about approaching time to be expired. That is unacceptable,” Roget said, accusing the government of continuing to mislead the country in indicating that 85 matters had been successfully negotiated.

Roget, who is leading union workers ina demonstration outside the office of the finance minister, said that only after workers take to the streets the government acts.

“I wish to reiterate the point that they mislead the country by boasting about the settlement of some 85 negotiations. Every time they talk about it the numbers go up and when you call for them to identify them they can’t identify those negotiations.

“But I wish to say that the settlement of the negotiations that broke the five per cent cap only came about as a result of workers pounding the pavements throughout the streets of Trinidad and Tobago.

“It took a threat of a national strike to break that five per cent cap. They (the government) did not give up anything,” he said, noting that in his delivery of the 2014-15 national budget, Finance Minister Larry Howai spoke of an estimated TT$60 billion (US$9.6 billion) in revenue.

— CMC

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Union in Trinidad warns of protest action

NCB warns customers about scams

National Commercial Bank, has issued a warning about phishing and internet scams.
The bank did not say whether its customers have been duped by the scam recently.
But NCB says it has never sent emails asking for updates or confirmation of account details.
The bank said, customers being asked to follow a link to its website or being asked to supply private banking information through an email, should ignore the message and contact it immediately.
Phishing and internet scams have recently been used to deceive persons into providing banking information.

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NCB warns customers about scams

DA in Pennsylvania warns against Jamaica lottery scammers

According to an Associated Press report on Wednesday, a district attorney in the American state of Pennsylvania is warning people in a Pittsburgh suburb to beware of a telephone scam, apparently based in Jamaica.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. reportedly said the callers claim to work for Publisher’s Clearing House — the legitimate sweepstakes firm — and tell residents they’ve won a prize but must first send a check to cover processing fees.

According to Zappala, the callers have targeted residents of Whitehall Borough and South Fayette Townships in recent days, and that caller IDs have indicated the calls are being placed from the ’876′ area code in Jamaica.

Zappala has reportedly advised residents to always refuse to send money when they’re contacted by phone about any sweepstakes prize or similar offer. He said residents can avoid the calls altogether by having their phone company block any calls from the Jamaican area code.

SOURCE: Associated Press

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DA in Pennsylvania warns against Jamaica lottery scammers

Voice note warns of perfume rapist - Rape victim"s tale circulates

Unscrupulous persons have developed yet another scheme to harm the nation’s women.

THE WEEKEND STAR understands that a voice note that is currently being circulated online, details the horrific experience of a young woman who was reportedly rendered unconscious by perfume laced with a noxious chemical and molested.

In the almost two-minute voice clip, an unidentified man recounted an incident where a young girl who was reportedly missing, was allegedly found in an abandoned shop in downtown Kingston, naked, appeared to be sexually assaulted with her personal items also missing.

He also stated that when the girl was revived, she allegedly told the police that “someone gave her cologne to smell and she passed out.”

implore listeners

The man went on to implore listeners to be wary of their surroundings and use caution while going shopping.

THE WEEKEND STAR made checks with senior ranked police officers in the downtown area and they were unable to confirm the incident.

Checks were also made with the Centre for the Investigations of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse and head of the division, Veronica Gilzean, told THE WEEKEND STAR “I wont be able to confirm or deny it.”

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Voice note warns of perfume rapist - Rape victim"s tale circulates

Tommy Lee warns Alkaline - Urges deejay to be careful of taboo lyrics

CURTIS CAMPBELL, STAR Writer

Dancehall artiste Tommy Lee Sparta has urged controversial deejay Alkaline to be careful of the messages that he is sending to minors especially as it relates to taboo sexual practices. This he did in a new single called ‘Nah Bad’.

Tommy Lee who received his fair share of criticism courtesy of iconic dancehall artiste Bounty Killer for using the moniker ‘Uncle Demon’ in his lyrics, is now the one seeking to straighten out another aspiring dancehall act.

According to the deejay, who told the audience at Sting that he has had a change of heart since his near fatal accident, Alkaline’s practice of encouraging taboo sexual practices can be more harmful to children than using the fictitious moniker ‘Uncle Demon’.

“Mi just a correct him, mi nah dis him. Mi a mek him know sey him fi fix up him argument. If mi wah dis him; mi wi dis him, mi nuh fraid fi duh dat. Mi just feel like di youth dem nuffi a hear dem thing deh … . A nuh nothing if yu sey yu a Uncle Demon, that is just a made-up character. But when yu a guh sey gyal fi lick out bottom a nastiness dat, and that is physical. How yu wudda feel fi see a likkle pickney a duh dat? Mi just a correct him … . I never said I didn’t want to be corrected when Bounty speak against Uncle Demon, because a di right thing him did a sey. It was the disrespect that came with his opinion that got me upset,” Tommy Lee Sparta said.

According to the deejay who has songs featured in internationally renowned video game Grand Theft Auto, he does not want the children to be led in the wrong path where sexuality is concerned. Tommy Lee Sparta was making reference to Alkaline’s single Touch You, in which he endorsed anal stimulation using the tongue.

“Mi just return from tour and mi life comfortable mi nuh haffi a stress out myself. Mi just a sey certain action weh mek di pickney dem think sey it right – mi just sit back and a watch the business from wah day and mi decide fi fix it. Mi nuh care bout nuh man feelings,” Tommy Lee Sparta said.

The deejay is getting strong attention for his recent UIM Records-produced singles Whine Up and Dream, which have received over 300,000 views on YouTube.

Alkaline’s publicist Kereen Beckford told The STAR that they are not aware of Tommy Lee’s song and are therefore unable to give a comment.

Curtis.campbell@gleanerjm.com

( l – r ) Alkaline, Tommy Lee Sparta – File photos

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Tommy Lee warns Alkaline - Urges deejay to be careful of taboo lyrics

JLP warns of consequences of VOIP blockage

The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) spokesperson on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), Dr. Andrew Wheatley, is warning of dire consequences, regarding a move to block the use of certain Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).

Telecommunications providers, Digicel and LIME, have announced that they will block the use of certain VOIP applications on their networks.

In a release on Friday, Wheatley said the move could have an adverse effect on Jamaica trying to encourage greater use of ICT for economic development. He wants the government to state how it intends to create the needed frameworks to encourage ICT development, while permitting the actions announced by the telecoms companies.

He’s also charging the government and the Office of Utilities Regulation, to say how they view the rights of consumers who have paid for access to mobile & data networks to use applications.

He pointed to the need for the Government to accelerate the drafting and to accelerate the drafting and tabling of the promised ICT Act, which would address issues of this nature.

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JLP warns of consequences of VOIP blockage

NFPB warns of exposing boys to pornographic images

The National Family Planning Board (NFPB) is urging parents to be more mindful of exposing boys to pornographic material at a tender age.

Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ recently, NFPB Chairman, Dr Sandra Knight, said research shows that early exposure to pornography has a negative impact on brain development in boys, also resulting in them being less likely to complete healthy relationships with females later.

Healthy Sexual Interactions

“We are concerned about the rise in pornography addictions. It is seen by many Jamaican males as an acceptable viewing choice for their boys and we have found that this is a dangerous practice,” Knight is quoted as saying in a release sent to The STAR. “We find that our young male teenagers are not being as healthy in their social interaction with girls. Fathers need to substitute healthy positive interactions for the heavy pornographic and sexual images which are already all around.”

Further, Knight shared that research found that males in the 19-24 age range are the largest number of persons infected with HIV, urging parents to talk to their children about safeguarding themselves against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

“A significant number of those infected are males of various sexual orientations and the age group indicates that they are getting infected in their teenage years,” she said.

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NFPB warns of exposing boys to pornographic images

It is a criminal offence to share child porn, OCA warns

Wednesday, January 29, 2014 | 8:07 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Office of The Children’s Advocate (OCA) is advising the public that the sharing of child pornographic material is a criminal offence.

The OCA issued the reminder in light of reports of the circulation of pornographic content involving schoolgirls from a Clarendon-based school on popular social media site Facebook.

“It is very distressing to learn that there are persons in society, particularly adults, who are sharing and posting child pornographic material through email or on popular social media sites such as Facebook. This is act is intolerable, illegal and unacceptable,” Children’s Advocate, Diahann Gordon Harrison declared.

Gordon Harrison charged that the practice dehumanises children and “erodes the moral fabric of society.”

“If it is that we receive reports of such acts, and where possible, we have absolutely no objection in assisting the Police to bring these perpetrators to book. As a society we must find ways to assist our children and steer them toward a morally upstanding path, one which is befitting of a society we wish to lead,” Gordon Harrison insisted.

“It is time that we end this culture and obsession of sexually exploiting our children, and do away with the ‘a jus lickle sex, nutten nuh wrong wid dat mentality’,” the Children’s Advocate argued.

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It is a criminal offence to share child porn, OCA warns

UEFA warns Shakhter over sheep-slaughter ritual

Sport

Thursday, August 29, 2013

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA says it has warned Champions League participant Shakhter Karagandy that it could face disciplinary action if it continues the ritual slaughter of animals before matches.The club from Kazakhstan killed a sheep last week at the Astana Arena the day before beating Celtic 2-0 in the play-offs.In Glasgow ahead of yesteray’s return match, Shakhter coach Viktor Kumykov suggested the ritual could be repeated.UEFA says its competitions department wrote to inform Shakhter that animal slaughter “was not acceptable in or around our competitions”.UEFA says the Kaza kh club “would face sanctions if it happens again”.Shakhter, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the Champions League, is aiming to reach the 32-team group stage for the first time.

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UEFA warns Shakhter over sheep-slaughter ritual

Phillips warns investors not to rely on gov’t paper

MINISTER of Finance and Planning, Dr Peter Phillips, has warned Jamaican investors against depending on high-yielding government paper to protect them from competition, under the new Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Dr Phillips’ caution was aimed primarily at financial institutions and other businesses depending on government paper over the years to remain profitable, as well as commercial traders thriving on the importation of foreign goods.“In many respects, having existed in an environment which over many, many years of high interest rates and a lot of protected sectors, protected from the winds of competition, are able to secure profits simply by holding government paper, many elements in the investor community have lost the knowledge, skill, talent, to really face the competition,” Dr Phillips said Thursday.“Bankers will have to return to the business of banking, rather than just simply purchasing (government) paper. Companies who had huge portfolios will have to learn, again, what it takes to take an idea from concept to production. That, in itself, will take time, but it is also, I suspect, going to cause some degree of apprehension,” he stated.“People who lived simply on the basis of buying things from outside and selling them in the domestic market, if they want to sustain their profit levels, are going to have to look at how they are going to have to stop being traders and become producers, in some way; because those are the things that the programme is intended to achieve, to incentivise production and, in a sense, disincentivise the support of production elsewhere,” he added.He said that while the objectives may not be achieved overnight, the country has to sustain its commitment to that path, “and not lose heart or be overwhelmed in the immediate, painful difficulties which we face”.Dr Phillips was speaking at a press briefing at his ministry, Heroes’ Circle, on Jamaica’s performance in the first quarterly test under the new Extended Fund Facility agreement with the IMF.He said that he believes investor confidence in the EFF agreement is rebuilding, and that this was evident from recently concluded discussions with the holders of Government of Jamaica bonds in both North America and Europe.“I can say we are seeing the slow but steady and significant rebuilding of this confidence, certainly in the international community,” he said.“There are many who did not believe that we would have concluded a programme and indeed they were pleasantly surprised,” the minister said.“I am satisfied with Jamaica’s fulfilment of the prior conditions, and I think we need to emphasise that they were not easily achieved. They were achieved with the sacrifice and contributions of stockholders from all sectors of the country,” he added.Phillips also said he believed that the successful conclusion of the first review under the new programme will add to the level of confidence, but that it would require “sustained implementation” over future quarters, in order to sustain the build-up in confidence.He said that it would also require a more comprehensive communications effort, internationally and domestically, to promote the rationale behind the programme and, at the same time, take advantage of what has already been completed.He pointed out that while the programme is being administered by the Government, it will require the full realisation of its objectives and the participation of the other stakeholders, mainly the investor community.PHILLIPS … we are seeing the slow but steady rebuilding of confidence

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Phillips warns investors not to rely on gov’t paper

GraceKennedy warns of fraudulent cheques drawn on the company’s account

Latest News

Tuesday, August 06, 2013 | 1:50 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — GraceKennedy Limited is advising the public to exercise precaution when accepting cheques drawn on the company or any of its subsidiaries from persons they do not know.  The warning comes in light of reports received by the company of people presenting fraudulent cheques at retail outlets in Western Jamaica on August 5.The counterfeit cheques were drawn on the account of Grace Food Processors Division, the Group’s meat processing plant located in Savannah-la-Mar, Westmoreland.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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GraceKennedy warns of fraudulent cheques drawn on the company’s account

Cable warns on Help to Buy "bubble"

28 July 2013 Last updated at 07:54 ET Business Secretary Vince Cable fears the impact of government policies on the housing market

A flagship government scheme to revive the housing market could inflate it, Business Secretary Vince Cable warns.

The Help to Buy scheme provides equity loans of up to 20% for buyers of new-build homes in England will start part-guaranteeing mortgages for buyers across the UK from next year.

“I am worried of the danger of getting into another housing bubble,” Mr Cable told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.

Help to Buy has been credited with boosting first-time buyers this year.

But some have warned the government is interfering too much.

The first phase of the scheme was launched this year. From January, Help to Buy will be extended to help buyers of existing homes throughout the UK.

Mr Cable said: “The Help to Buy scheme is actually quite complex. We have one part that’s already operating, which is providing mortgages against new homes, nobody has questioned that.

“The proposal which hasn’t yet been implemented, which is providing a guarantee for a limited range of mortgages, could be a problem. It could inflate the market.

“But, if it’s properly designed it could be a useful addition.”

The second part of the scheme will allow people to buy with just a 5% deposit, with the government undertaking to act as guarantor for a mortgage for a further 20% of the value in the hope of giving banks greater confidence to lend.

Buyers of properties costing up to £600,000 will be eligible for the assistance.

But foreign buyers with no history of property ownership in the UK, buyers of second homes and buy-to-let landlords will be excluded, Chancellor George Osborne has said.

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Cable warns on Help to Buy "bubble"