Some British holiday resorts reported that hotels were nowhere near full as many holiday-makers had gone abroad to seek the sun. About 250,000 people left Britain on Friday but airports were less busy on Saturday. The unusually cold weather for May is likely to continue today and tomorrow. "Of the core products in supermarkets, 60 per cent of lines are the same Customer service is becoming increasingly more important. So we brought in self scanning, creches, coffee shops - and now this."However, there are concerns that such tests are best left to doctors. "In my opinion an investigation of an allergic reaction in a patient should take place where the full clinical history is known, rather than blanket testing in a store," said Dr Sheila Powell, consultant dermatologist at Churchill Hospital, Oxford. "The question also arises which tests are more reliable and less reliable. If you have a problem you should talk to your doctor who can do an investigation if it is appropriate."And Erik Brown, publicity officer of the Anaphylaxis Campaign, said: "The kind of people who tend to be aware of allergies are the educated middle-classes who recognise it and do something about it.
I don't think this test is going to have much impact on a sprawling council estate At pounds 17 it's not exactly a social service.". Britain may wreck the next European summit unless Brussels lifts its ban on British beef. New hard-line proposals, which were discussed by Cabinet ministers last week, are winning the backing of leading centre-left figures as well as Euro- sceptics. Stephen Dorrell, Secretary of State for Health, and Malcolm Rifkind, the Foreign Secretary are now seen as hawks on the subject. The tougher approach may be revealed this week if a meeting of the EU veterinary committee on Tuesday fails to lift bans on British gelatine and tallow.The heads of government meeting in Florence on June 21-22 is seen as a key point for a show-down with EU partners, unless progress has been made by then.
The Cabinet is attracted to a strategy under which Britain would simply refuse to give in, digging in for concessions as Margaret Thatcher did over the EU budget in the early 1980s. This is seen as preferable to boycotting EU meetings - the so-called "empty chair" strategy.One minister said: "There are different ways of diplomacy. You have to get the right balance of threat and inducement."Another source said: "Stephen Dorrell is hard-nosed about it all. Malcolm Rifkind invites a greater range of options than his predecessor [at the Foreign Office], Douglas Hurd, and those options are inclined to be tough."However Kenneth Clarke, the Chancellor, is resisting any hardening of the position which, he argues, could undermine Britain's international position in the long term - particularly if John Major's bluff is called.
Earlier suggestions that the Government might retaliate by banning some European produce resulted in a humiliating retreat for the government.However, the hand of those pressing for a tough new stand may have been strengthened by last Thursday's local election results, which were slightly better for the Government than forecast. Sceptics argue that some voters are blaming Europe, and not the Government for the beef crisis.One right-wing Government source was enthusiastic about disrupting the EU Inter-Governmental Conference (IGC) in Italy. She's blown it."The Harris survey, for next week's Parliamentary Monitor, also confirms the finding of anIndependent on Sunday survey that most Labour MPs want to abolish the monarchy. It is thought she may have returned early because she received too much media attention locally.The evidence of a backlash against Diana is damning because the survey was carried just before her televised visit, inmake-up and with carefully arranged hair, to watch a child's heart operation, which was condemned as a tasteless publicity stunt. One Tory MP said: "That was the straw that broke many camels' backs. Anne Feek, chairman of SFIA, said: "We feel it is monstrous to impose what is effectively retrospective tax action on plan-holders.". The Princess of Wales's hopes of becoming an "ambassador" for the country have been rebuffed by a survey which shows three quarters of Conservative MPs think she is not fit for the role, writes John Rentoul.