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Exporters have ceased complaining that the UK government is not doing enough to help them. The initiatives that have been taken include cheaper export credit insurance premiums, more money to insure investments in developing countries, the nomination of 'national champions' and new export prommotion campaigns. One of the new campaigns is North America Now, and aims to increase the UK's share of the US export market to 5% from 3.8%. There are concerns about the selection of national champions, however, that it will eliminate competition between UK companies for foreign contracts.

There are moves to tighten up the credit control industry, due to the increase in the number of bankruptcies and creditor company cash flow problems caused by the recession. There are also proposals that new legislation should be passed which enables companies to charge interest on outstanding accounts. Furthermore, the Institute of Credit Management plans to raise its standards and introduce a system of examination for entry.

The European Single Market is the best way to ensure stability in Europe, if national governments can steer their economies out of the recession. There has been opposition to the Maastricht Treaty which is a result of politicians wanting to progress faster than the electorate to acheive a unified Europe. Furthermore, the creation of a single market is only a step towards political integration.

The number of management buy-outs has increased during the 90's and between 1982 and 1992, their number totaled 4,200 deals worth more than 26 billion pounds sterling. The number of buy-outs exceeded the number of acquisitions of independent companies in 1991. Buy-outs give the management incentive to improve the performance of companies which are failing as a result of recession. Intitutional investors are reluctant to sell, however, as they do not wish to reduce the diversity of their portfolios. Investment managers are often reluctant to lend money as their is a lack of security in such deals.

The use of paper in offices has increased, which contrasts with the vision of a paperless office with the introduction of computers. Although the amount of electronically stored information has increased, 95% is still stored on paper. The reasons for this is that management fails to perceive computers as the prime tool for holding information, it will not introduce a whole new system and it is only in the 90's that systems have become integrated. The impact of the recession may force companies to manage their information more effectively.

UK National Health Service consultants and managers are fighting for control of the health service. Doctors are opposed to government market-driven reforms and a service based on contracts, which is interfering with patient care, whilst managers are anxious that consultants are hindering their attempts to bring about rational planning, improve efficiency and cut waste, and want doctors to consider their duty to hospitals and the community rather than individuals.

A claim by Dr David Bihari director of the intensive care unit at Guy's and St Thomas' hospital trust that he was forced to use a computer to choose which patients should die has been strongly denied by the hospital. In a statement the hospital said that Dr Bihari's claims were not based on fact and there was no intention of employing the computer to make those types of decisions. Dr Bihari made his allegations on a BBC1 television program 'Here and Now', but will now resign from the National Health Service to take up a new appointment in Sydney, Australia in Jan 1995.

The two cathedrals in Liverpool, England, have very different financial situations. The Anglican Cathedral Church of Christ is managing to break even, despite running costs of 750,000 pounds sterling a year. The Catholic cathedral is trying to raise around 2 million pounds sterling to finish off essential repair work. The Anglican cathedral is involved in several commercial projects, providing funds to meet its own running costs and to help the secular community.

UK Cathedrals are following a sophisticated fund-raising strategy to raise around 100 million pounds sterling as the public is tired of traditional appeals. Norwich has made not made an appeal since the 1960s, but runs a shop, requests donations from visitors and has a Friends group, which pays repair bills. Clergymen believe that appeals should be directed at the wealthy few, and most cathedrals are seeking out sources of wealth, such as businessmen, and clergy are lobbying for contributions. There is a general feeling against entrance charges.

Wealthy businessman David Wraith has started a slander action in the High Court against his former wife Shirley, claiming that she subjected him to a 'campaign of spiteful vengeance' after their divorce. She received a settlement of 900,000 pounds sterling, but made wild claims about him and physically attacked him. She was determined to ruin his business career, even claiming that he gave her venereal disease.

The new Le Patch weight-loss patch, produced in the US, is claimed to allow the user to lose weight with almost no dieting. It delivers a seaweed extract into the bloodstream, and this is thought to speed up the metabolism and burn up excess calories. Some medical experts acknowledge that the patch will probably not cause any harmful side-effects, but question its effectiveness, pointing out that the only way to lose weight is to eat less.

Couples who have a strong relationship are more likely to bring up a loving, contented family. They need to be able to communicate well. Family therapists tend to analyse families which have problems rather than those who can overcome them. Patrick and Judith Vitoz have been happily married for 25 years and have three sons. They have ensured that computer games and television have not taken over their lives. They have holidays as a family and eat together in the evening. Judith's recent fight with cancer has not rocked their stability.

Several privatizations are planned in Europe in 1994, including some in high yield activities such as telecommunications, and United Kingdom investors could obtain similar yields to savings accounts, and the chance of capital growth. Opportunities are less clear than for United Kingdom privatizations, however, since labor cannot easily be shed to cut costs given high unemployment levels in Europe. Some companies being privatised are also already managed using commercial principles, such as Elf Aquitaine, so benefits from rationalisation will not be easily achieved.