Monday The Government has been coasting in its efforts to tackle antisocial behaviour, according to the new Home Secretary. Alan Johnson said that too many people on housing estates felt ignored by the authorities and that tackling the degrading effect bad behaviour has on people’s lives was a priority issue for Government.

A house that monitors an elderly person’s every move could help older people to live safe and independent lives. The “health house” being developed by researchers tracks everyday habits as well as checking weight and blood pressure and predicting whether a person is at risk of a serious fall.

Tuesday Weak schools will be forced into merging with other low-performing schools or given new leadership, Ed Ball, the Schools Secretary, said. The headteachers of top-performing state schools would also be allowed to break the £120,000 pay cap if they agreed to lead not-for-profit groups running less successful schools.

Wednesday The Prince of Wales’ travel bill rose by more than £500,000 last year, with his cost to the taxpayer in 2008-09 totalling £3.03 million, official figures show. He spent more on travel and official duties, earned more from the Duchy of Cornwall and employed more staff, yet managed to cut his tax bill by nearly 10 per cent.

Stillbirths have fallen steeply in the past seven years but older mothers still carry the highest risk, according to a report. The Confidential Inquiry into Maternal and Child Health shows that there were 5.2 stillborn babies per 1,000 births in 2007, down from 5.7 per 1,000 births in 2002.

Thursday A £1 million pilot scheme in Kent aimed at helping failed asylum seekers to return home resulted in only one family leaving Britain, according to a report from the Children’s Society. The Commons Home Affairs Select Committee chairman agreed the scheme had been a waste of money.

Police will have the power to confiscate beer and wine from anyone consuming alcohol in the 700 “controlled drinking zones” in England. Local authorities are introducing 100 zones a year, with some covering entire cities.

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