Daily roundup 20 July: Dubs scheme, antidepressants, and emotional intelligence

The UK has not taken in any child refugees under Dubs scheme this year, it has emerged. The Guardian reports that the immigration minister, Brandon Lewis, met accusations that the government was "dragging its feet" on the issue by disclosing he will visit Italy and Greece next week to follow up the invitation to refer eligible children to be brought to Britain. But during an urgent parliamentary question raised by the outgoing Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, he faced cross-party criticism that it was taking too long to process eligible refugee children in Europe to bring them to Britain.


Mothers who take antidepressants during pregnancy may be putting their children at risk of autism, a new study suggests. The Telegraph reports that researchers at the University of Bristol found that the children of women who took the medication in pregnancy were 41 per cent more likely to be autistic. However the absolute risk is still small, rising from 2.9 in 100 children to 4.1.


Children as young as three are hindering their emotional intelligence by spending too long staring at screens instead of socialising with other youngsters, a study has shown. The Sun reports that a survey revealed that children need to spend time with each other to learn to share, communicate effectively with their peers and develop their emotions. But the boom in ownership of smartphones, tablets and computer consoles is inhibiting the development of vital skills.


Some social workers in Manchester are "over optimistic" in believing what parents of vulnerable children tell them and suffer a "lack of professional curiosity", Ofsted inspectors have warned. The Manchester Evening News reports that three years after the inspectorate branded Manchester's social services department "inadequate", its latest interim report has found progress to be "too slow" - although the pace has improved in the last 12 months.


Concerns have been raised about the safety of children at a Black Country nursery in the West Midlands. The Express and Star reports that Little Academy Nursery in Tipton has been rated "inadequate" by Ofsted, who said management did not have acceptable safeguarding procedures in place.