Fatalities in Afghanistan are regularly reported in the media, but the numbers injured are less often examined.

Mephedrone, a designer drug, is a "legal high" that can be purchased via the internet, and has euphoric effects akin to cocaine or ecstasy, both of which are class A drugs.

Last Sunday The Observer published an article headlined “Shock rise in number of fatal a

A paper in the journal

With the deaths of Corporal John Moore and Private Sean McDonald of the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, the toll of UK military deaths in Afghanistan equalled that in the Falklands (255).

For conflict in action, there are few livelier battlegrounds than the row over how many people die in wars.

The pensioners’ winter fuel payment - £250 per household, no means test, no questions asked - drops into the bank accounts of those over 60 during December.

In spite of the rising toll of the war in Afghanistan, fewer military inquests are being held.

When a British soldier dies in Afghanistan, we know within days the sex, age and region of residence of the fatality, together with the immediate cause of death. How different it is for swine flu.

More British soldiers are dying in Afghanistan - but the number of inquests held into their deaths has halved, in spite of Government promises of extra resources. Why?