The number of young criminals using cannabis has shot up since Labour downgraded the drug’s legal status, it emerged yesterday.

Monica McCanch presented a well-dressed face of confident respectability to the world. She worked for Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company, in Kent before taking redundancy last year for a new life in Jamaica, where she planned to invest in eco-tourism.

Hundreds of thousands of health workers have “grudgingly” voted to accept an improved pay offer, bringing some relief to the government as it faces up to the threat of strikes elsewhere in the public sector, it was announced today.

A leading insurer has called in the Samaritans to help train its staff to be more compassionate when dealing with people making claims.

Despite the fact that doctors are often propounding the positive effects of physical activity, new research has shown that only a high level of mental activity protects against dementia and Alzheimer”s disease.

Allegations some elderly people in Suffolk are not getting the correct level of home care are to be investigated by council managers.

A Leeds organisation which helps young people with mental health problems, should be given more Government funding, according to a national report.

The funeral of a care worker who was stabbed at a Bedfordshire nursing home is to take place later.

Jersey’s Health Minister was sacked after he blew the whistle on a harsh punishment regime in a home where children as young as 11 were kept in solitary confinement.

{mosimage}Stuart Syvret, the island’s longest-serving and most popular senator, had accused ministers, civil servants and social workers of failing to protect children but he was forced out this week after losing a vote of confidence in Jersey’s parliament, the States.

He claimed to have been defeated by the “one-party oligarchy” of the Jersey establishment. But Frank Walker, the Chief Minister, accused Mr Syvret of bullying and harassing staff and bringing the Channel Island into disrepute. As to Mr Syvret’s abuse claims, the Government said that it had set up an inquiry, to be led by Andrew Williamson, a British childcare expert.

Mr Syvret told The Times yesterday: “There is a climate of fear throughout public administration in Jersey but people will be even more terrified than they were before. The fact that I have become the first health and social services minister in postwar Western Europe sacked for whistle-blowing sends an appalling signal.”

A sheltered housing complex for elderly people remains closed after more than 30 residents were led to safety from the premises when fire broke out.