New public-private urban regeneration companies, which have planning and compulsory purchase power, similar to ones already introduced in Sheffield, Liverpool and Manchester, are also likely to be backed in new areas such as Leicester.

ECONOMIST: The pre-budget report

The council does have the power to compulsory purchase an empty home "in exceptional circumstances" but as yet this has not happened.

BBC: Cornwall Council tackles empty homes crisis

The union said the only disappointment was that the assembly still did not have the power to make seat belts compulsory.

BBC: New code for school bus behaviour

Despite unionist alarm, Mr McGuinness as education minister has neither the power nor the inclination to make the teaching of Gaelic compulsory in all Northern Ireland's schools.

ECONOMIST: North meets South

Also, with its mission to provide "power for all by 2012, " India's federal government has introduced legislation making it compulsory for electricity distributors to get a specified quantum from renewable energy sources.

FORBES: Wind Man