search dogs and thermal imaging equipment to try to find eight people who are still missing after the devastating mudslides. 17 people are known to have died. more than 500 homes have been damaged or destroyed. president trump has used derogatory language about african countries, haiti and el salvador, while dismissing proposals for a bipartisan agreement on immigration. at a white house meeting with lawmakers, mr trump asked why the us should take in people from these places, which he dismissed using a vulgar term. police in pakistan have offered a ten million rupee reward for information leading to the killer of six—year—old zainab ansari. the discovery of the young girl's body has led to violent protests. around a dozen other children have been killed in the past two years. now on bbc news, thursday in parliament. hello and welcome to the programme.

coming up, the prime minister's 25 year plan for the environment has got a less than enthusiastic response. no legislative change could actually make a difference. the government has suggested... we are the fifth biggest economy in the world. and the reshuffle fails to impress the snp. never before has a cabinet reshuffle had so little effect, what an outstanding feat, even for this chaotic government. this month, 85% of patients were seen in four hours, well below the 95% target, those are the worst figures since the target was

introduced in 200a. the labour shadow leader of the commons said the crisis was preventable. the evidence is clear on the nhs, cancelled operations and people waiting on trolleys, my friend was discharged from new cross hospital and by the 2nd ofjanuary he had had a huge heart attack. the secretary of state has to take responsibility and be accountable. why, if there are no concerns on the part of the government, have the care quality commission decided to suspend routine inspections because of the winter crisis? nhs providers can't deliver a safe and decent standard of patient care. am sure that she will have read carefully yesterday afternoon

the words of the prime minister, she made clear that she had apologised for everybody that had an operation cancelled, and she has made it clear that the nhs has never been better prepared for winter than ever before and part of our appropriate prior planning for winter has been that patients don't turn up on the day and get their operation cancelled. the minister will have seen that just one week before christmas and new year, bed occupancy rose to 91% and 39 ambulances were diverted from a&e because they were two busy to cope, 31 beds were closed because of diarrhoea or vomiting and escalation beds had to be opened because hospitals were full. the warnings today will tell

the same sorry story. does the extra funding mean it is far too late for the winter so far and the government has had to announce the bombshell of 550,000 cancellations of operations? the government needs to come up with urgent funding to help the nhs cope with the worst winter crisis in two decades. i would hope the noble lady would welcome the money set aside in the budget and it is important to say that in addition to the 370 million, half of which has gone into plans, there is a further 100 million that has gone into taking further pressure off emergency services, so i don't accept the accusation that that money came

too late and indeed there is still money in the pot as services come under pressure. in the budget, there was also another {2.8 billion to help the nhs get through the next few years and we know that the pressure is because of the ageing population and the money is to help the nhs get back on target. the prime minister has pledged to eliminate all plastic waste by 2042. it's part of the government's strategy on the environment. the amount of plastic in the oceans has caused an outcry and the suggestion is to introduce plastic—free aisles in supermarkets. the issue seems to be the talking point in the parliament. labour complained it is a long time coming. the government has finally got

around to announcing its 25 year plan and catching up with the welsh government, just six years later! but this plan lacks substance, is full of missed opportunities, weak proposals and no laws. it's not radical and is a cheap attempt by this prime minister at rebranding the tories. will the government commit to making a statement on this plan in this house to allow proper scrutiny? i'm disappointed in what she has said. i hope that across the house we can unite and do what is right for future generations and i would caution her to wait

for more information and this will be discussed at length across the house and she will learn more today and a hope more in the future. the chair of the environment committee said he had much enthusiasm for the plans. i want to see now practical application on how we are going to meet these goals because, if you want to change an environment, if you want to change a financial regulation in banking, you change the regulation and that fixes the problem. but if you say, i want to plant millions of trees, you physically have two plant these trees, you have to find land and you have to find the policies to do it. i'm not saying you can't do it, but it's highly deliberate in the future. and the former chair of the green party said that she had been hoping for these measures but she was disappointed. there is absolutely nothing on climate change, no suggestions

on laws to change that could make a difference and for example i don't understand how the prime minister can claim we as a country are leading on climate change when she is just about to give a green light to more fracking, we are banning onshore wind developments, we are still tied to build nuclear power stations and we are giving tax breaks to oil and gas. none of these things is going to help us have a cleaner, greener, safer planet. you are watching thursday in parliament. now, a number of conservative mps have called on the government to boost defence spending. several spoke in support of a motion demanding military expenditure be maintained at at least

its current levels. it is vital that our defence budget ensures that our armed forces are equipped for the challenges we face in the future and it is clear that our armed forces forces, and this is one of the themes, our armed forces, need resources that are over and above what is currently planned for. particularly in light of the increasing threats we face as a country. i think we face incredibly dangerous times, this nation is at risk, there are very real threats to our people's security and if we don't address it strategically and address it in a way that brings in more money for defence, if we don't increase more

defence spending to 3%, we are not doing our duty, we are not doing what are people sent us here to do. it's not enough to set a 3% target on defence, we must also recognise that our tried and tested machine for making military strategy has been largely dismantled, the chiefs of staff must be more than budget managers stuck on the sidelines whilst politicians and officials call the shots and as often as not call the shots incorrectly. 0ther mps called on how working in the armed forces affects personnel. shore leave used to mean heading off on a friday afternoon and not returning until a week on monday, they had a full week and two weekends away. now, the leave starts on monday

morning with sub mariners expected to be back on post on friday night. how is this sustainable and how can relationships survive that? labour said more had to be done to tackle armed forces recruitment. we welcome the army's recent report despite the recent histeria by the press. if we can remove perceptions that deter potential applicants, that is to be welcomed. but we must look very seriously at the contract with capita which is not fit for purpose. we have the biggest force in europe and i believe that it will still be the coalition of the willing that will step forward to beat the challenges of today.

in west africa it was us that step forward with other nations that were not necessarily members of nato. it's whether we have the capability and desire to step forward. a report commissioned by the mayor of london has painted a disturbing picture of what could happen if there is no deal in the brexit negotiations. the study by sadiq khan suggests that billions of pounds investment could be lost without an agreement. labour mps were concerned. surely the secretary of state will agree that no transpacific trade deal will make up for the loss of market,

and has he seen the mayor of london's report which shows what a cataclysmic effect leaving the eu would have leaving europe and on ourjobs? mr speaker, as usual i don't accept the premise of any part of the honourable gentleman's questions. i don't believe we will lose our share of the market. we want to maintain an open agreement with the european union, they will want that with us, because we are the fifth biggest economy in the world, and a major trading partner with them. the worst assessment was less than half than the assessment given to us before the referendum on what our loss of market share might be if there was no deal whatsoever. the subject of chlorinated chicken also came up. will full regulatory alignment with the eu extend to farming standards in the eu and chlorinated chicken will not be entering the uk? mr speaker, we made very clear

on numerous occasions that we do not intend to lower standards in food safety, environmental standards or workers' rights. the impact on brexit on food and animal welfare standards were also raised in the lords. the government was challenged to guarantee there would be no watering down of current rules to secure a trade deal with the united states. the minister tried reassuring. our food is held in high repute due to oui’ food is held in high repute due to our standards. the withdrawal bill will transfer onto the uk statute book full eu food safety and animal welfare standards. 0ur book full eu food safety and animal welfare standards. our current high standards including import requirements will apply when we leave the eu. easier where liam

fox's agreed with american officials at trade talks will be secret and the us commerce secretary said scrapping the hygiene laws that hindi us exports of food to the uk and others would be a critical component of any trade discussions and is he also aware that liam fox is on record as saying there is nothing wrong with chlorine dipped paltry despite its use to disguise huge bacterial contamination which arise from their inadequate hygiene standards? clearly the government is desperate for a us trade deal so how can we be sure the interests of british consumers and farmers won't be sacrificed? british consumers and farmers won't be sacrificed ? ultimately, british consumers and farmers won't be sacrificed? ultimately, is the government prepared to walk away if compromises demanded in those negotiations? of course we want to have a vibrant trade your relationship with the united states, i hope all of you do. all around the world. we are a trading nation. we

have been clear we are not going to water down or compromise on the standards i have set out and indeed they will be transferred into our own domestic law, the very point is that the noble baroness raised. the food standards agency will have a key role to play in ensuring high food safety standards which will obviously have resource implications, staff implications and a whole raft of regulatory instruments will have to be adopted. what is the proposed timetable? it's important we ensure the resources that there are indeed what we are doing with additional resources to deal with many of these things are put in place so that we are in a position to have the continuing confidence that we should have. will he have a word with colleagues in other departments to save brexit will lead to cheap food? it's inconsistent to talk about cheap

food because the only way that can happen is it our own paltry and peak and beef industries are decimated by cheaper imports based upon of course lower standards. i've said what i've said which is i am absolutely clear that we will not be watering down any of our standards. they are already going to be on the statute book when parliament as an act of the withdrawal bill, they will be statute. what assurance can the minister give us that on day two after leaving the european union, there wouldn't be proposals to water down those rules? are we going to be told that the 17.4 million people wanted to change the rules in order to get a deal with the united states? the baroness is set out a position that no parliament can find its successors. i've said the

direction of travel of this government is we are not watering down, there will be requirements under the uk statute book and it will be for parliament to decide on the future on what it wanted to do. i've been absolutely clear. a conservative mp has urged ministers to try to help a man sentenced to death by houthi rebels in yemen. he has been in detention since 2013. sana'a is has been in detention since 2013. sa na'a is controlled has been in detention since 2013. sana'a is controlled by houthi rebels. the man, who practices the bahai fate, had been treated appallingly. is a father of three, and the execution of hamed bin haydara would accelerate the

persecution of the bahai community. he has been subjected to torture, beating, electrocution and forced to sign confession an rest. 40 court hearings have being held on his caged houthi rebels of rights activism exactly you think all yemeni history. itotally activism exactly you think all yemeni history. i totally agree with the honourable of what has unfolded over the last five years is that what was really tribal conflict converted into more sectarian conflict. it contains the danger of escalating further into a deeper pi’oxy escalating further into a deeper proxy conflicts. this is actually a kind of tension to come massive

famine and disease are rising in mortality which is probably the worst aspect and a deeply hidden aspect of what is going on. one of the cabinet members whose job never seems to be in peril was amber rudd, the home secretary, who gained a new role as ministerfor the home secretary, who gained a new role as minister for women and equality. 0ne role as minister for women and equality. one of the first issues to confront in her additional capacity is the argument about equal pay at the bbc. surely women deserve total quality on the 21st century. what steps is the government taking to make sure there is not a pay gap in the civil service in light of the fa ct the civil service in light of the fact that carrie grace as resigned

as china editor at the bbc, citing pay issues. it is absolutely essential that we all ensure the equal pay act is enforced. as much asi equal pay act is enforced. as much as i admire the bbc and enjoy listening and looking at our programmes, they have a serious question to answer would certainly hope they will address and in terms of the gender pay gap, we are committed to ensuring we address that as well. and minority representation of the corporation was also raised. 14.596 of its staff are claimed to be from other backgrounds but when looking at the start that make up the programmes, that figure falls to 1.5%. if the minister concerned there is a major problem with bame representation and what discussions has he had with them? i haven't seen those particular figures. what it draws attention to is that sometimes the

overall number suggesting there is a quality hides the fact that in some areas, there is nowhere near equality. i think there are additional questions for the bbc to answer. the previous women and equalities commission just been leaning rose to ask first question from backbenches. i would like to congratulate the home secretary. she will know that young people, parents and teachers think it is vital in a modern internet world to see sex and relationships education updated. then she confirmed the government will push ahead? also if she will meet with my selves —— myself. also the honourable member for meet with my selves —— myself. also the honourable memberfor robber. meet with my selves —— myself. also the honourable member for robber. --

rotherham. can i thank the member for her enormously good work and i will keep up my momentum. 0ne for her enormously good work and i will keep up my momentum. one of the fantastic things she did was lead to make sure that sex and relationship education is provided in all schools. i will be delighted to work with her and assure the outcome we get is something called the house can support. amber rudd. another minister who made it through the reshuffle unscathed was the leader of the commons, andrea leadsom. a regular engagement is to appear at business questions. but there was a surprise applet. i'm sure as eager light members of the house will notice, i'm the leader of the house of commons. my right honourable friend is attending sandringham for a meeting of the privy council and we are standing in her place in the

they're really our boys jobs and girls jobs. it was supposed to restore the government was diminished authority. never before has a cabinet reshuffle diminished a prime minister quite the way this one has. even to this chaotic government. a conservative referred to speculation before the reshuffle

that there was to be a minister for the no deal in the brexit negotiations. the best way to get a good deal is to make clear to them that we are prepared for no deals when we have european withdrawal bill next week, will we have the minister behind brexit in the chamber as we were promised during or before the reshuffle so we can question him or her and if not, why not? i'm sure we'll have a range of dedicated ministers. hi there.

i'll be the first one to admit the weather has not been exciting in the last few days. take yesterday, many of us had cloud, mist and fog. just a few cloud breaks, the best of these in south—west england and wales and across western scotland. they could remain there for friday. the cloud was low enough to touch the top of the tallest buildings in london. more of the same for friday. here's the picture. low pressure in greenland, high pressure near finland. a long way away from the uk. and that means, for us, there is barely a breath of wind. that is why the weather is not changing a great deal. for many of us, a cloudy start. yes, there will be a few mist and fog patches dotted around. some of the worst of these in northern ireland and the somerset levels.

poor visibility. down to below 100m in a few places. hill fog elsewhere. don't expect any major changes elsewhere. a few sunny spells coming through. i think the best of these in parts of south—west england and wales and running up into western scotland. perhaps northern ireland as well. but across central and eastern england, that is where the cloud is likely to be rather thicker. there could be occasional brighter spells. but on the whole, quite a cloudy day. it could even be thick enough for the occasional spot of drizzle from time to time. heading through friday night, little overall change, cloud in central and eastern areas. to the west, there is a change. this atlantic front begins to slowly move through bringing rain towards the end of the night towards northern ireland. that takes us to saturday. the start of the weekend. this is a slow—moving weather front. stuck underneath this band of rain, it could rain most of the day. some coming and going. further east, cloud. bright and sunny spells. perhaps more of these in east anglia in south—east england thatn we have seen.

sunday, another pretty cloudy affair. this band of rain eventually will swing south and eastwards as we go on through sunday night and into monday, clearing out of the way. then, the weather gets more exciting next week, you will be pleased to hear, as cold air comes surging back in. it could be turning much colder. it could be windy, perhaps very windy at times, quite early on in the week. and cold enough for some snow, especially in the north, on the hills, and especially on northern hills. that's your latest weather. welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. our top stories: still — the desperate search for survivors in california, as people try to come to terms with the scale of the massive mudslides, and the damage inflicted. president trump uses crude and insulting language to attack legal protections for immigrants from african countries, also haiti and el salvador.

more violent protests in pakistan over the rape and murder of a six—year—old girl and the 12 similar murders over the past two years. the new york times was barred from publishing any more classified documents dealing with the vietnam war. and steven spielberg speaks to us about his new film, the current climate in hollywood, and donald trump.