Beleaguered Home Secretary John Reid is expected to face further detailed questioning about his department’s performance with the publication of new crime figures. The quarterly figures for England and Wales from July to September last year will reveal whether the number of robberies has continued to spiral.

A £73 million funding boost for social enterprise was announced today by Health Minister Ivan Lewis. The money in the social enterprise fund, to be spread over four years, will go towards supporting and encouraging the development social enterprises in health and social care.

The NHS needs to learn from organisations like the John Lewis Partnership that show what can be achieved when employees see that their actions benefit themselves, the organisation they work for, and customers, says Professor Chris Ham in this week’s BMJ.

The message from politicians that Britain cannot afford healthcare – even though it is one of the richest economies in the world – is damaging the NHS. That’s the warning from an A&E consultant columnist writing in BMA News this week.

Methamphetamine, or crystal meth, the highly addictive drug prevalent across the US and Australia, is present in almost every town and city in England and Wales, according to an internal police report.

Babies should be put down for their daytime naps in the same room as their parents to minimise the risk of cot deaths, according to newly published research. A three-year study, part-funded by the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, has found that three-quarters of babies who die have been put down in rooms alone.

Dozens of at-risk children have been identified following high-profile abuse cases including the murder of baby Aaron O’Neil. Care agencies were criticised for not doing enough to protect three-month-old Aaron, who was battered to death by his father in February 2005.

Leading mental health charity Rethink has responded to a new British Social Attitudes report which worryingly highlighted the ongoing stigma people with mental illness face. Produced by the National Centre for Social Research, the report found that:

The merger in November 2006 of Enterprise 5 Housing Association and Nomad Homes to create NomadE5 Housing Association has brought together two of the most respected Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) into the Isos Housing Group.

Tony Blair has promised a decision next week on whether Catholic adoption agencies will be able to opt out of gay discrimination laws. The prime minister said there could also be a Commons vote, saying it was important to find “a way through this sensitive and difficult issue”.

{mosimage}Earlier, Education Secretary Alan Johnson said any opt-out would mean “plain, simple discrimination”. But some Catholics say new rules go against their religious beliefs.

In a statement, Mr Blair said: “Both gay couples and the Catholic agencies have high levels of success in adopting hard-to-place children. It is for that reason we have taken time to ensure we get these regulations right.

“How do we protect the principle of ending discrimination against gay people and at the same time protect those vulnerable children who are at the present time being placed through – and after care provided by – Catholic agencies who everyone accepts do a great job with some of the most disturbed youngsters?”

The agencies say they will close if not given an opt-out from having to place children with gay couples, which they say goes against their beliefs.

Mr Blair said: “The new regulations provide a massive step forward in ending discrimination against gay people. These regulations will extend further anti-discrimination legislation. We are clear about what we want to do. There is one last aspect within the new regulations to resolve and it concerns adoption.”