The housing charity Shelter has condemned the industry minister for her comments on immigration and social housing. Margaret Hodge argued British families should be given precedence over immigrant families in the provision of social housing.

Leading mental health campaigner Suman Fernando has refused to accept an OBE on the grounds that he disagrees with the government’s proposed mental health bill plans.

The decision to bring in ID cards for foreigners before bringing them in for Britons may lead to “de-facto racial profiling”, MPs and peers have warned. The Joint Committee on Human Rights says black and other ethnic minorities may “disproportionately” be asked to prove their UK immigration status.

Council staff, charity workers and doctors will be obliged to tip off police about anyone they believe might commit a violent crime, under a Home Office plan revealed in a leaked document.

Children as young as four on Tyneside are looking after parents and family members with chronic long-term illnesses. Health reporter Jane Picken finds out about one project helping to ease the burden of being a young carer.

Prime minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown has been urged to help children across the country affected by domestic violence by backing more schemes like a pioneering project in Norwich.

Families caring for disabled children are to receive £340m to help improve their lives, Economic Secretary Ed Balls has announced. {mosimage}Over the next three years, money will be spent on

The NHS is probably using too many expensive treatments, according to health economists and managers. New drugs are generally only used if they cost under £30,000 for each year of good health they provide.

The chairman of the British Medical Association, James Johnson, resigned suddenly last night over accusations that he was siding with the government in the debacle over training jobs for junior doctors. Mr Johnson said the criticism of him had “got very nasty” and he felt he had lost the confidence of some of his colleagues.

Council workers, charity staff and doctors will be required to tip off police about anyone whom they believe could commit a violent crime, under secret Home Office plans.