News in Brief

Another Labour MP has added his criticism of his party colleagues for insensitive treatment, following the suicide of the Labour MP, Gordon McMaster. The MP Liverpool West Derby, Robert Wareing, said that he felt "suicidal" after claims that he had covert links with a front organisation for the Bosnian Serbs. Mr Wareing was cleared of the allegations, but was suspended from the House for a week for failing to register £6,000 that he received from the company. He said that he wrote to the Prime Minister and the Chief Whip, Nick Brown, telling them how desperate he felt - but they failed to reply. Downing Street said that Mr Wareing's letter had been acknowledged in the usual way, and that a fuller reply would be sent when Mr Blair returns from his holiday.

More women are smoking during pregnancy because they do not believe it is a danger to themselves or the baby, according to research by the Health Education Authority. In 1996, 32% of pregnant women were regular smokers compared with 29% in 1995 despite it being linked with an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, low birth weight, increased risk of miscarriage and sudden infant death syndrome. More than half of women said they continued smoking during pregnancy through habit and more than a third cited addiction as the main reason for not quitting.