Evidence to MPs on abortion law change

It is perfectly safe for women to have early abortions at home, medical experts will tell MPs this week in a move that could lead to a liberalisation of the 40-year-old Abortion Act. They will also tell the Commons Science and Technology Committee that the requirement for two doctors to agree to a termination should be scrapped.

'Pro-life' doctors and campaign groups will also give evidence, presenting their case for reduction in the upper time limit on abortions from 24 weeks, one of the highest in Europe.

The committee intends to reach a conclusion by the end of the month to inform a Commons debate on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, possibly later this year.

Rise in call-outs of armed police

Deployments of armed police have increased by 53 per cent in a decade, according to the Home Office. The number of incidents rose from 12,379 in 1996-97 to 18,891 in 2005-06. In London, the number rose from 2,439 to 4,711 while in the West Midlands it went from 270 to 1,044.

Resistance hero dies, aged 90

Andrée de Jongh, the Belgian Resistance worker who set up the Comet escape line that helped hundreds of British airmen to escape the Nazi occupation of her country during the Second World War, has died aged 90.

Woman killed in car collision

A woman was killed and four people were in a critical condition in hospital after a Mercedes car was involved in a collision with a WH Smith truck in Croydon before slamming into a churchyard wall. The truck driver was also taken to hospital.

Middlesbrough worst for living

Middlesbrough has come top of a poll of the worst places to live in Britain for Location, Location, Location, the Channel 4 show. Hull was second followed by Newham in East London and then Nottingham. Last year Hackney, in East London, was rated worst.

Army digs ‘disgrace’

The poor standard of accommodation for the Armed Forces is a national disgrace, according to Sir Menzies Campbell, the leader of the Liberal Democrats. The party said that the Ministry of Defence spent £16 million upgrading homes in 2006-07, well short of the £50 million necessary.

Phone watchdog

Icstis, the phone services regulator, has rebranded itself as PhonepayPlus after the scandals involving premium-rate phone-ins on television. The organisation, which fined the Richard and Judy show £150,000, said that the new name was “more meaningful and memorable for consumers”.

Cot death danger

Nine out of ten mothers who lose a baby to cot death are smokers, according to a study by the Institute of Child Life and Health at the University of Bristol. Peter Fleming, co-author of the report, said that the smoking ban could lead to an increase in people smoking in their homes.

Boy killed on m-way

A teenager died after he was hit by a vehicle on the M60. He is believed to have been a part of a group who ran away from police after a disturbance at a bowling complex at Ashton-under-Lyne, near Manchester. The boy, 16 was hit by a vehicle as he tried to cross the motorway near junction 23. He died at the scene.

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