The Government is “not dead set against” creating embryos that are part animal-part human, the Prime Minister has said. A White Paper published last month proposes outlawing the creation of such embryos, at least initially.

{mosimage}Scientists believe that refusing to grant permission for the creation of the embryos will jeopardise future research into serious human diseases.

Tony Blair said there were “difficult” issues surrounding creating the embryos, which are more than 99% human but have a small animal component. But he added: “I’m sure that research that’s really going to save lives and improve the quality of life will be able to go forward.” He said the existing law was going to be amended “to allow us to have some flexibility.” He continued: “We are not dead set against it, in fact the opposite. If there’s research that’s going to help people then we want to see it go forward.”

On Thursday, five leading scientists made an emotional plea to the Government and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). The HFEA, which regulates embryo research, will meet on Wednesday to discuss its policy on the issue and applications for licences to create the embryos.

UK scientists planning to mix human and animal cells in order to research cures for degenerative diseases fear their work will be halted. They accuse the body that grants licences for embryo research, the HFEA, of bowing to government pressure if it fails to consider their applications.

Thousands more women could benefit from the life-saving breast cancer drug, Herceptin, at no increased cost to the NHS, by reducing the dose and duration of treatment, researchers suggest.

Carers and Social Workers in our region are coming under attack while doing their jobs. On average nearly three members of staff are physically or verbally attacked in the North East every day.

{mosimage}Union officials have criticised the figures, saying workers should not have to face violence. The Chronicle obtained figures from all seven councils in our region showing how many of their social care staff had been attacked at work.

Staff included are mental health workers, home carers, residential care workers, learning disabilities coordinators and child care workers

Attacks include sexual assaults, racist abuse, violence and intimidation. Workers were punched, kicked, bitten, scalded and hit by thrown objects.

Some attacks were by people under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In many incidents police were called.

In Sunderland in 2005, four social workers were sexually assaulted. In Newcastle in 2004 one worker was threatened with a weapon.

Prominent Muslims and Jews united with Christians yesterday to voice concern at laws boosting gay rights. Churches are organising demonstrations next week against the Sexual Orientation Regulations, which are due to come into force in April.

There will be a shortage of GPs and nurses in four years’ time, but the NHS will have to shed hospital doctors, leaked government documents show. The prediction of a shortfall of 14,000 nurses was included in the Department of Health paper, it was reported.

Carers and social workers in the north east are coming under attack while doing their jobs. On average nearly three members of staff are physically or verbally attacked in the North East every day. Union officials have criticised the figures, saying workers should not have to face violence.

Patients are being forced to wait for treatment so NHS trusts can balance their books. Several primary care trusts (PCTs) confirmed they had a policy of imposing some form of minimum wait so that patients were not seen too quickly.

In a response to the newly published Education and Skills Committee inquiry the BMA highlights concerns about the current situation in medical education and voices opposition to the cap on student fees being lifted. The BMA is concerned that medical teaching has been shifted from universities to the NHS, where funding is under increasing pressure.

The contribution of immigrants to the UK economy is “very slight indeed” and the main benefits are to the migrants themselves, a pressure group has said. Migrationwatch UK says the economic benefit is equal to 4p a week for each person in Britain. Its chairman Sir Andrew Green accused Whitehall of trying to divert attention from the problems caused by migration.