A woman who claims she faced discrimination at work because she needed to look after her disabled son has won the latest round in her legal battle. The judgement could signal ground-breaking changes for anyone who looks after sick, frail or disabled relatives. In the UK, that means six million people.
A landmark case which could give new rights to millions of carers may affect workplace relations, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Sharon Coleman, who has a disabled son, has won the initial stages of a case at the European Court of Justice claiming "discrimination by association".
Proposals to overhaul the blue badge parking scheme for disabled drivers have been published by the government. It wants to make it easier to take action against those who have stolen, forged or used the badges fraudulently.
Scotland's health secretary remains committed to free personal care for the elderly, despite a report which said it faced an uncertain financial future. Nicola Sturgeon said it was a "good policy", but she added that future costs would determine decision making. Spending watchdog Audit Scotland revealed on Friday that there was a funding shortfall of up to £63m. It also said the policy, introduced in 2002, differed greatly from council to council. Local authorities said the report showed they were right to press for reform of the free personal care legislation.
Patients detained under the mental health act are often on mixed-sex wards where their safety may be seriously jeopardised, a key report warns. The Mental Health Act Commission also found young people on adult wards, a practice ministers have vowed to end.
Hundreds of mourners have paid their respects at the funeral of a disabled man kicked and punched to death for a £5 bet. Brent Martin, 23, was chased across two housing estates in Sunderland by three people he thought were his friends. A 21-year-old man and two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, face sentencing for his murder last August.
