News round-up: Draft bill on social care in Queen's Speech

The issue of social care for disabled and elderly people was high on the news agenda as the new session of Parliament began. Earlier in the week, campaigners, charities and the Local Government Association had voiced concerns that plans to radically reform social care would not go far enough to tackle the problems in the current system, and might be delayed until the next Parliament.

On Wednesday, the Queen's Speech setting out the Government's agenda did include the announcement of a draft bill on overhauling care and support which, ministers said, would "put people in control of their care and give them greater choice", while simplifying the law on social care that is currently spread across a number of acts. Charities and care organisations welcomed the inclusion of these plans for reform, but were critical of the fact that it was only a draft Bill rather than full legislation, and that it still didn't tackle the issue of funding.

More of the week's headlines

Botox migraine jab set to be offered on NHS, says NICE (BBC News, Friday 11 May)

Shane Jenkin: Eye-gouge attacker due to be sentenced (BBC News, Friday11 May)

NHS 'can't cope' with multi-disease patients (BBC News, Thursday 10 May)

Matthew Wright investigated over disability slurs in TV poll (The Guardian, Thursday 10 May)

Fight to control the Chen Guangcheng story (BBC News, Thursday 10 May)

How the 'perfect storm of cuts' is shrinking one woman's life choices (The Guardian, Thursday 10 May)

Police taser Alzheimer's sufferer, 58, 'several times (The Telegraph, Thursday 10 May)

Remploy workers protest at Parliament over closures (BBC News, Wednesday 9 May)

Stem cell shield 'could protect cancer patients' (BBC News, Wednesday 9 May)

One in six cancers worldwide are caused by infection (BBC News, Wednesday 9 May)

Arthritis cases 'set to double to over 17m by 2030' (BBC News, Wednesday 9 May)

Ricky Gervais comedy Derek commissioned for full series (BBC News, Wednesday 9 May)

How offensive is the word 'lunatic'? (BBC News, Wednesday 9 May)

How to create an 'inclusive design' radio (Today, BBC Radio 4, Wednesday 9 May)

End of anti-depressants? Magnetic pulse therapy eases depression in third of patients (Daily Mail, Wednesday 9 May)

'Bionic' woman Claire Lomas completes London Marathon (BBC News, Tuesday 8 May)

US drug company to pay $1.6bn over Depakote mis-selling (BBC News, Tuesday 8 May)

Leveson is showing 'wilful blindness' towards disabled people (The Guardian, Tuesday 8 May)

Families with disabled children wrongly told they face benefit cut (The Guardian, Tuesday 8 May)

Why GPs need to be more carer aware (The Guardian, Tuesday 8 May)

Mission to Lars: film follows learning disabled man's dream (The Guardian, Tuesday 8 May)

Jeremy Clarkson cleared by Ofcom over Elephant Man comment (The Guardian, Tuesday 8 May)

All in the mind? Why critics are wrong to deny the existence of chronic fatigue (Daily Mail, Tuesday 8 May)

Britain's army of unpaid carers 'being pushed to breaking point' (The Independent, Tuesday 8 May)

Helen Keller's forbidden love: New book inspired by the author's clandestine engagement tells of thwarted romance and broken hearts (Daily Mail, Tuesday 8 May)

"Ignorant and heartless": Iain Duncan Smith blasted over Remploy attack (Daily Mirror, Monday 7 May)

Comparison websites 'break the law' over disabled users (The Telegraph, Monday 7 May)

Injection offers Alzheimer's hope (The Telegraph, Monday 7 May)

Jill Allen-King: 'My guide dog gave me back my life' (The Telegraph, Monday 7 May)

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng's uncertain future (BBC News, Monday 7 May)

Elephant Man memorial backed by the Mayor of Leicester (BBC News, Monday 7 May)

Thalidomide victims plea for permanent health grant (BBC News, Monday 7 May)

Homeland's depiction of mental illness has been a step forward for TV (The Guardian, Monday 7 May)

London 2012: Audio commentary for Paralympic ceremonies (BBC News, Sunday 6 May)

'Antipsychotic drugs made me want to kill myself' (BBC News, Sunday 6 May)

Using Avastin for eye condition wet AMD 'could save NHS £84m' (BBC News, Sunday 6 May)

Drug may help anorexia survival (The Independent, Sunday 6 May)

Courses help cancer survivors face the future (BBC News, Saturday 5 May)

Will greatest Paralympic scandal ever go away as Intellectually Disabled athletes return in 2012? (The Telegraph, Friday 4 May)

Special needs 'used as a cover for poor parenting' (The Telegraph, Friday 4 May)

The Undateables to return for second series on Channel 4 (The Guardian, Friday 4 May)

Breivik trial forces Norway to look again at insanity (BBC News, Friday 4 May)