Daily roundup 17 May: Screen time, consanguineous relationships, and government intervention

A dramatic increase in screen time is putting children's health at risk, the World Health Organisation has warned. The Independent reports that a study by the organisation found that a rise in social media usage and increasing amounts of time spent in front of tablets, computers and smartphones is causing children as young as 11 to suffer an increased risk of poor health.


One in five child deaths in an east London borough is due to the baby's parents being related, a report has found. The Evening Standard reports that Redbridge Council found that 19 per cent of baby deaths in the borough over the last eight years were because of consanguineous relationships - marriages between couples who are second cousins or closer relatives.


Calls have been made for the government to step in and take over Wirral Council's troubled children's services department. The Liverpool Echo reports that at the annual meeting of the council, the Conservative group said it has "zero confidence" in the ability of leader Phil Davies and his administration to sort out the department.


Eight professional football clubs have failed to respond to an independent inquiry's request for information they may have relating to historical child sex abuse in football. The BBC reports that the inquiry's lead barrister Clive Sheldon QC wrote to every club in England and Wales in January. The clubs which have missed the deadline for responding could now face sanctions.