A more “common sense” approach to human rights laws is needed by public bodies who sometimes misinterpret them, the Lord Chancellor is to say. Lord Falconer has said the importance of the Human Rights Act has been “clouded by nonsense”. 

Social workers came under fire yesterday after an investigation into the abuse of a disabled four-year-old girl described by a detective as “one of the worst cases” he had seen.

The Government should consider stockpiling two types of antiviral drugs to treat people in the event of a bird flu pandemic, according to experts. There are fears that humans could catch the flu from close contact with birds infected with the H5N1 virus and trigger a pandemic.

A leading doctor has questioned the government’s policy of not offering routine flu jabs for the under-twos. Dr George Kassianos, the Royal College of General Practitioners’ immunisation expert, argues vaccinating infants would prevent illness and save lives.

{mosimage}The US already offers the jab to children aged six months to five years and introduced this on the assumption that it will reduce flu transmission and cases in both children and adults. But UK government advisers said it was unclear if a similar policy would cut the flu burden enough, given the cost of a vaccination campaign. In the UK, those hit hardest by flu – people aged over 65 and those, including infants and children, with other health problems are already offered free jabs.

But the expert advisory body, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), has so far rejected the idea of giving the jab to all children. However Dr Kassianos said routine childhood immunisation should be considered. “Children do fall ill with influenza and some even die as a result.” And he added: “Young children bring flu home from school and playgroup. That is why the US has introduced the vaccine universally.”

Serious concerns were raised yesterday about an “abortion epidemic” after a leading clinic said it was conducting the most terminations in its 32-year history. Marie Stopes International, a charity, said it had recorded its busiest month for abortions – 6,000 in January alone.

{mosimage}The figure had risen from 5,304 in the same month last year, a rise of 13 per cent. The figures led to alarm from family campaigners and concern about women having multiple abortions. Around two thirds of the agency’s work is for the NHS, which refers women to its clinics and picks up the bill.

In total it conducted 61,983 abortions last year, a figure which anti-abortionists describe as appalling given the number of infertile couples desperate to have children.

Liz Davies, the director of UK operations at Marie Stopes, said it seemed that “we may be seeing the consequences of the festive season, when partying excess and alcohol consumption combine to increase libido and lower inhibition, with the inevitable consequences of unprotected sex resulting in unplanned pregnancies”.

The agency wants a Government campaign, before next Christmas, against unprotected sex and a ministerial emphasis on women storing emergency contraception in their bathroom cupboards.

A spokesman said: “We are not saying ‘ooh go on, get loads of pills and go out and have sex’. But we would like to see a better education campaign around Christmas kick-started by the Government.” She said those presenting themselves at clinics were not just young single women off the party circuit. “We don’t just mean flighty singles. We also see long-term couples. One of the reasons some women want an abortion is that they have three children already and do not have any money for a fourth.”

Two million children went to hospital A&E departments in the United Kingdom last year following accidents – many of which could have been prevented, a joint report by the health and public expenditure watchdogs has found.

Scientists should be allowed to create human-animal hybrid embryos in the search for treatments for nervous system disorders, a Government advisory body said yesterday. The Human Genetics Commission will give its unanimous backing to the research in a public consultation to be carried out later this year by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Boosting levels of the brain’s natural cannabis-like chemicals could improve the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, a US study suggests. Mice with a similar condition could move normally within 15 minutes of having a cocktail including a compound which increases endocannabinoid levels.

The daily juggling act of balancing work and caring responsibilities is destined to get harder rather than easier, a survey suggests. The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) also found voters want direct support for working families to be firmly on the agenda of every political party.

One of the nine men arrested under anti-terror laws has described Britain as a “police state” for Muslims. Abu Bakr, one of two suspects released by West Midlands Police, said he was “taken aback” when he learned of the alleged plot to behead a Muslim soldier.

{mosimage}”It’s a police state for Muslims, it’s not a police state for everyone else, because these terror laws are designed specifically for Muslims. That’s quite an open fact because the people who have been arrested under terrorism laws, the groups for example that have been banned under the terrorism laws, the people that have been affected by terrorism legislation, have been Muslims.

“So we are feeling the brunt of it all. We are the ones that are being locked up, detained, and then told go back to our lives.” In an interview on BBC2’s Newsnight, Mr Bakr said the episode would live with him for the rest of his life. “I’m scared for myself and my family, because I’ve been picked up and told to go back home and everyone is assuming someone can pick up their life after such a major incident that occurs. And, you know, this is going to affect me for the rest of my life.”