Good intentions but little action (Aftenposten)

Eight out of ten Norwegian managers say they think it is important to take positive action to recruit more women into managerial positions. But there is little evidence that they follow up those good intentions in practice. Only 15 per cent of managers today are women. "A mire of goodwill," is how Professor Hege Skjeie at the University of Oslo describes male managers’ attitudes. 1,700 Norwegian managers were interviewed about their views on equal opportunities.

Hanssen moving up the Labour ranks (Nationen)

The Labour grassroots are demanding that the party’s new leadership team should include a high-profile figure from outside the Oslo area. Bjarne Håkon Hanssen is the runaway favourite for the deputy leader slot among Labour mayors, according to a straw poll of local and county council chairmen for the Labour Party. Those who have already formed an opinion on the top team’s composition are in no doubt – the Labour Party must place more emphasis on regional policy, and Bjarne Håkon Hanssen is the best man for the job.

Environmentalists slam Government over new oil fields (Dagsavisen)

Petroleum and Energy Minister Einar Steensnæs does not feel any new research is needed before oil production can start up in the Barents Sea. The environmentalist group, Nature and Youth, has accused the Government of permitting oil production in this controversial area to get underway without adequate public debate. At this stage Mr Steensnæs is refusing to reveal what the Government’s policy is on oil production in the Barents Sea. "I do not want to say anything in advance. First we need to carry out a thorough impact assessment. The oil fields are located in the middle of extremely important fishing grounds. We need to proceed with caution," said Mr Steensnæs.

Jury system up for review again (Aftenposten)

The Conservatives and the Labour Party agree on the need to review the jury system. "My impression is that the pool from which jury members are selected is too small. There are too many people over 50, pensioners and civil servants," said Gunn Karin Gjul (Lab), deputy chairman of the Storting’s Justice Committee. The Ministry of Justice is currently reviewing the jury system at the request of the Storting. It is not yet clear how wide a mandate this review will have, but one of the issues under consideration will be whether the reasoning behind the juries’ verdicts should be made public.

‘Active sick leave’ scheme not working (Dagens Næringsliv)

Increased use of so-called ‘active sick leave’ has neither reduced the amount of sickness benefits being paid out nor got people back to work any faster, according to a survey of 6,000 patients suffering from back ailments in three Norwegian counties. The researchers’ findings threaten to demolish the agreement on a ‘more inclusive workplace’ between the Government, employers and trade unions, which was signed in October last year. At that time all the parties agreed on a common goal of reducing sick leave by 20 per cent by the end of 2005.

New rape record (Dagsavisen)

In 1991 385 women reported being raped. In 2001 that figure had risen to 635. In 2000 barely five per cent, or 22 out of 555 reported rapes, ended in a conviction. Three years before convictions were achieved in nine per cent of cases. "We have to turn the spotlight on how the police follow up rape complaints," said Tove Smaadahl of the Women’s Refuge Secretariat.

1. Worth Noting

1. Viggo Kristiansen was found guilty yesterday of the rape and murder of two young girls at Baneheia on 19 May 2000. The jury at the Agder Appeal Court took three hours and twenty minutes to sweep away any doubts about who did what when Stine Sofie (8) and Lena (10) were attacked, raped and stabbed to death. (All newspapers)
2. Not only is Trond Giske opposed to EU membership and gas-fired power stations, he is young and university-educated – and a friend of Ari Behn (the urbane young author and fiancé of Princess Märtha Louise). That is why he is not the United Federation of Trade Unions’ first choice as deputy leader of the Labour Party, confirms a centrally placed union source. (Aftenposten)
3. Bjarne Håkon Hanssen, a candidate for the post of deputy leader of the Labour Party, is no longer opposed to Norwegian membership of the EU. "Now I am not sure," he says. ( Dagsavisen)
4. The Christian Democratic Party’s foreign policy expert, Janne Haaland Matlary, wants the Government to be able to criticize Israel, even if it means losing its mediator role in the Middle East conflict. The violence in the Middle East and Israel’s harsh treatment of the Palestinians is causing shockwaves in the Israel-friendly Christian Democratic Party. (Aftenposten)
5. Gerd-Liv Valla, president of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), wants most people, with the exception of doctors and business executives, to get what is due to them through the forthcoming round of national wage negotiations. At the same time she plans to make sure Norwegian wage rises are kept in line with those of our trading partners. (Dagens Næringsliv)
6. LO president Gerd-Liv Valla has refused to reject the nurses’ demands or describe them as ‘beyond all sense’ – as other LO leaders have done. (Dagbladet)
7. According to a recent survey, half of those working in IT are thinking of switching to a different industry. Job insecurity and extreme pressure of work are the most important reasons. (Aftenposten)
8. There are plans to build more than 50,000 holiday homes in the Norwegian mountains over the next six to eight years. Real estate agents are warning against the trend, and are asking if there are enough buyers out there. (Dagens Næringsliv)
9. Norway takes silver medal in the competition to find the world’s most environment-friendly country, according to a report presented at the World Economic Forum’s annual conference in New York. Finland tops the list with 73.7 per cent on the environmental index, while Norway scores 72.8 per cent. The report ranks 142 countries according to a number of criteria, including level of pollution, use and abuse of natural resources and the countries’ global role. (Verdens Gang)

2. Today’s comment from Dagbladet

Transport Minister Torild Skogsholm has decided that the new regional public roads offices will be headquartered in Lillehammer, Arendal, Leikanger, Molde and Bodø. The Directorate of Public Roads wanted them located in Oslo, Skien, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø. When the rumours started flying that the Minister had other ideas, the Directorate of Public Roads tried in vain to get her to change her mind. Ms Skogsholm’s decision is an important regional policy statement – something which this government sorely needs. But it is also a confirmation that government institutions do not have to be located in the major cities. The new regional offices will take over many of the Directorate of Public Roads’ responsibilities. This means not only the relocation of a large number of jobs, but also of highly skilled and competent people who will provide a boost to the new regional centres. There has been a lot of talk, but not much action in this kind of case before. The Transport Minister has, quite literally, shown the way.