Parliamentary backing for jet fighter development (Aftenposten)

The Storting’s Defence Committee gave Defence Minister Kristin Krohn Devold its full backing yesterday, ensuring that Norway will now participate in the development of the USA’s new superjet, the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). In the past few days opposition MPs have got themselves steamed up over the fact that the Government has agreed to invest around NOK 1 billion over the next ten years in the development of the JSF. "I have received the Committee’s backing to complete the contracts and continue our collaboration with the JSF project," said Ms Devold after her meeting with the Defence Committee yesterday evening.

Three-year budget straitjacket (Dagsavisen)

The opposition parties’ agreement on pre-school day care ties up the next three years’ national budgets. Neither the Progress Party, Labour Party, Socialist Left Party nor the Centre Party are now allowed to do a deal with the Government over the budget without there being enough cash for the pre-school day care sector. The parties have agreed to force the Government to introduce a price cap of NOK 1,500 per month for a nursery place and ensure there are enough places available for all who want one. The governing coalition parties did not even take part in the negotiations. The opposition parties are using the same mechanism that was used when the additional cash benefit for children under three was introduced. In 1997 the three centre parties, the Conservatives and the Progress Party made a deal which prevented any of them from touching the additional cash benefit for the remainder of the parliamentary term.

Dørum takes anti-terror initiative (Verdens Gang)

Justice Minister Odd Einar Dørum has announced an immediate review of Norwegian emergency preparedness in the event of a nuclear terrorist bombing. Mr Dørum is not ruling out a general tightening up of Norway’s anti-terror contingency planning. "I will take immediate steps to review Norway’s preparedness to see if we are well enough equipped to deal with this development," he said.

Compromise on defence (Aftenposten)

Late last night the Labour Party arrived at a compromise agreement with the governing coalition parties over defence spending. After lengthy haggling over cash and organizational structure, the last pieces fell into place last night. Details of the deal will not be announced until this evening, but Aftenposten has learned that it will mean, among other things, that the Norwegian Armed Forces will receive NOK 118 billion over the next four years. This is exactly the same amount that the Government proposed in April. The Progress Party has maintained all along that this sum is too small, and the Government has therefore turned to Labour for support.

We owe NOK 1,500 billion (Dagsavisen)

Consumer borrowing is now nine per cent higher than at the same point last year. The significant rise in loans to private individuals, increased consumption and bumper pay rises have prompted economists to warn that the economy may be overheating. The total amount owed by local authorities and private households to banks, central government lending institutions and insurance companies has now climbed to NOK 1,498 billion.

Historic gas deal (Dagens Næringsliv)

Statoil has signed a contract to supply Britain with five billion cubic metres of gas per year for the next ten years. The contract, which could be worth up to NOK 50 billion, represents a breakthrough for Statoil in the British gas market, and is the largest single sales agreement entered into by the company since the Troll agreement in 1986. Since Statoil markets and sells state-owned gas through the State Direct Financial Interest (SDFI), the state will account for around half of this agreement.

Olsen clan face huge tax bill (Aftenposten)

Fred. Olsen is no longer in tax h(e)aven. In a landmark ruling yesterday the Norwegian Supreme Court ordered the shipping magnate and his family to pay back taxes on the billions of kroner salted away in a trust fund in Liechtenstein, whose own tax rate is extremely low. For the past 22 years the Olsen family has been accumulating funds in the Ptarmigan Trust, whose current value is estimated to be NOK 5-6 billion. Yesterday’s historic decision is the first time a court has ruled on how light fingered the tax authorities can be in relation to assets located in tax havens.

Worth Noting

• Tor Steig, chief economist at the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO), has called on Finance Minister Per-Kristian Foss to abandon proposals to reduce residential property taxes in next year’s national budget. According to Mr Steig, the residential property tax should in fact be even higher. (Dagens Næringsliv)
• Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik has signed an appeal calling for Norway’s embassy in Israel to be moved to Jerusalem. Norway’s official policy is to recognize only Tel Aviv as Israel’s capital city. (Klassekampen)
• The Storting’s Justice Committee will wait until this autumn before deciding whether or not to set up a commission to look into the treatment of children fathered by members of the German occupation force during the second world war. The proposal was to have been debated in May, and the children themselves are disappointed by the postponement. (Dagsavisen)
• Most Norwegians believe it is too easy to qualify for incapacity benefit. 52 per cent of the 1,000 people questioned said that the current regulations make it too easy to obtain incapacity benefit, 32 per cent said it was not too easy, while 16 per cent had no opinion. (Verdens Gang)
• One of the world’s largest and most important nature magazines, BBC Wildlife, has published a fierce attack on Norway’s predator management policy. "Norway brings shame on itself by its ruthless policy on predators," writes Stephen Mills, the respected reporter. (Dagbladet)
• Einar Førde, former head of the licence fee-funded broadcasting company NRK, has denied that he will be standing as the Labour Party’s candidate for mayor of Oslo. "I have not heard anything about being a candidate, so it is quite out of the question," he said. (Dagsavisen)

Today’s comment from Dagbladet

Following the brutal murders of several children, attention has been focused on the rights of the victim and their next of kin. The Ministry of Justice has therefore sent out a consultation document containing proposals to strengthen the victim’s position in the judicial process. That such demands have been made illustrates the failure of the public prosecution service and other bodies to fulfil their obligations to keep victims and their families informed. Violent crime results in an almost limitless need for care and consideration – not least when the victim is a child. Meeting that need is undoubtedly society’s responsibility. Next of kin who wish to attend the trial may also require financial assistance. This is addressed by the Justice Ministry’s proposals, which would provide compensation for loss of earnings and other expenses. But those guilty of the most heinous crimes are also entitled to fair treatment under the law. For this reason criminal investigations in our legal system are left up to the public prosecution authorities, who are intended to be a neutral body. That is how it should remain.