this is bbc news — our latest headlines: a shift of policy on europe by labour — shadow brexit secretary sir kier starmer confirms the party would keep britain in a customs union. the winter olympic games come to a conclusion with the closing ceremony at pyeongchang olympic stadium. team gb took their record tally of five medals at the games. syrian warplanes are reported to have attacked the besieged rebel area of eastern ghouta despite the un security council voting unanimously for a ceasefire. now on bbc news, the week in parliament. hello and welcome to the week in parliament.

coming up... an uncomfortable morning of questioning for oxfam bosses. i am sorry, we are sorry, for the damage that oxfam has done. more grilling for carillion — this time it's those responsible for pensions and auditing. i mean, you are staggering out onto the streets, thinking, god, that was a surprise — you were all paid to look after this. and if you can stand the noise, get out of the chamber — we get the lowdown on high volume. huge numbers of people outside this place... disapprove — disapprove — of this sort of behaviour. on both sides, stop it. but first, it was the failings by oxfam which dominated the early part of the week. the sense of anger wasn'tjust down to the wrongdoing i the fact that to the wrongdoing — the fact that charity workers had paid women for sex in earthquake ravaged haiti — it was also the way the organisation dealt with it. and so oxfam's bosses steeled themselves for two uncomfortable

hours of cross—examination by a committee of mps. first, there was the issue of a comment made by this charity's chief executive. you appeared to be downplaying this scandal, using the parallel with the murder of babies in their cots which many people regarded as grossly inappropriate. can i give you the opportunity to apologise? certainty, chairman, i do apologise. the i was thinking under stress, i'd given many interviews and made many decisions to try and beat oxfam's response to this, i was thinking about amazing work i had seen oxfam do across the world most recently for refugees coming from myanmar. i should not have said those things. it is not for oxfam tojudge issues of proportionality or motivation. i repeat oxfam's broader apology, and my personal apology — i am sorry, we are sorry, for the damage that oxfam has done. both of the people of haiti, but also to wider efforts for aid and development by possibly undermining public support. people in a country behave

well as citizens, not because they are policed but because of their values, so this is about aligning our people with the values of oxfam. some hideous men came into our organisation and abused the trust of the british people, the supporters, but they were able to get away, to get a recommendation to leave. this was wrong. so we're going to change the culture. a conservative said she had been highlighting the problem of sexual exploitation for two years but no one had taken any notice. everybody knew this happened. everybody knew that the aid setor was pretty rotten because it had gotten all these people who were abusing women and girls

regularly in all countries, but nobody, not one organisation, was actually attacking it or doing a thing about it. that's shocking. you're all supposed to be good people, "trying to help the world," but it would appear that you're not as good as you should be. it's really heartbreaking that we are in this situation, but i want to assure you that we were not doing nothing. we were working on it, but we have reached a point where the world has woken up to the abuse of women and girls in a very special way and we find ourselves not to have done enough, but we did something. we have been improving every year, but we are not where we want to be. in the commons, the international development secretary gave a withering verdict on the previous leadership, accusing directors of putting the protection of oxfam reputation ahead of those they were supposed to help.

we must be able to trust organisations not only to do all they can to prevent harm, but to report and follow—up incidents of wrongdoing when they occur. in this duty, oxfam failed, under the watch of barbara stocking and penny lawrence. they did not provide a full report to the charity commission, they did not provide a full report to their donors. they did not provide any report to prosecuting authorities. in my view, mr speaker, they misled — quite possibly deliberately. the international development secretary. the exchanges between theresa may and jeremy corbyn at prime minister's questions are usually a brexit—free zone, but the cabinet were convening at their residence, the next day, to pin down the uk

future relationship with the eu. and so the opposition leader made an exception. he began with david davis' comforting reassurance that post—brexit britain would not descend into a war—ravageged society that had collapsed. yesterday, the brexit secretary assured the country that brexit will not plunge britain into a mad max—style world borrowed from the dystopian fiction. doesn't the prime minister feel he could set the barjust a little bit higher? prime minister! i'll tell you... as the right honourable gentleman knows, we're very clear we are going to ensure that when we leave the european union we will be able to take back control of our borders, our money, and our laws. and i have to say to him, the only fiction around in relation to the brexit and the european union is the labour party's front bench who can't even agree with themselves what their policy is. in december the foreign secretary and the environment secretary were briefing that the working time directive would be scrapped. the cbi and unions are very clear

that they are not looking for a bonfire of regulations — quite the opposite. the only party that wants to scrap workers' relation protections are the party opposite. i have been clear since i became prime minister, that this is a government that will not only protect workers' rights, but enhance workers' rights. and let's just look at the conservative record in government. who was it? which government was it that took action on zero—hours contracts? a conservative government, not labour. which government is it that got matthew taylor to actually report on the new economy, so we actually ensure workers get the best rights? a conservative government, not labour. which government is it that's ensuring that workers voices are heard on the boards of companies? a conservative government, not labour. i don't know if she's had a chance to read the daily telegraph today, but 62 of her backbenchers want a bonfire of regulations, want to destroy workers'

rights in this country. well, as usual during prime minister's questions, the commons was extremely noisy. and here is the point i think of peak rowdiness. will the prime ministerjoin me in urging the labour police and crime commissioner to put more police on the streets... shouting ..instead of increasing his budget for his staff by £10 million? minister! now, the microphones only pick up the sound around the person who's speaking. i was in the press gallery which looks over the green benches, and the noise across the chamber is absolutely incredible, it's like a wall of sound. eventually the speaker had had enough. more money is going to policing... order! please. the questions and the answers must be heard, and i make no apology for repeating that the discussions here at pmqs should bear some resemblance to what the house

is saying in relation to culture. we have recently had a report on harassment. let's try to behave properly in these sessions. well, one person who has heard many a prime minister's question is mark d'arcy, our parliamentary correspondent. i hope it hasn't affected your hearing? well, a bit — like you say it's like a wall of sound when you're in there. what you don't quite get from the television coverage is the cauldron—like atmosphere — everywhere you look there are people jabbing their fingers and shutting out at whoever is speaking, whether it is the prime minister orjeremy corbyn or somebody else, and the speaker's point there i was simply that you can't isolate that from the rest of what goes on in parliament, and if there is a sort of bullying culture, as some see it, at prime minister's question time, that's going to filter through into a lot else that goes on in parliament,

and he does not want that to happen he doesn't want people to get that impression of the place. but why do they do it? in the newsroom we don't normally yell at each other — why do mps do that? it's partly a bit of political theatre — don't forget a lot of this is quite calculated behind the scenes. people actually sort of look through the batting order of pmqs and think, hang on, he will be talking about something very serious and solemn so we don't want to shout at him, but that person is going to be saying something na kedly party political and we want to try and disrupt them, and they know there are some mps who can be knocked off their stride by a really good heckle. and a lot of conservatives think thatjeremy corbyn can be goaded and can get very angry, and you suddenly hear that back of the throat voice he gets when he's a bit under pressure. and they like to get him into that situation. and theresa may too? well, indeed, she tends to sort of carry on fairly serenely but you can see occasionally that she gets a little bit rattled and the body language which changes a bit. and almost anyone can in there —

it's not really a comment on anyone‘s character — it can be a horrible place when you're right at the centre of attention. we've had this report about harassment at westminster — do you think that might change the tone of prime minister's questions? it doesn't seem to have done so far. there are people who say that it should, there are people who argue and say you can't isolate the soort of bear—bating phase of the parliamentary week from the rest of what parliament does. and this kind of leakage from one part of parliamentary life to all the rest can contaminate everything if they're not careful, at least in terms of how the public sees it. remember, pmqs is the moment in parliament that is most seen, so that's the moment when they make a public impression, and i think the speaker in particular is very conscious of the dangers of that being seen as some kind of bear pit. he's always saying the public hate this — is that true? do the public hate it?

well, sometimes i think people can condemn violent tv and violent cinema but still watch it and i think that maybe there is an element of that about pmqs, but it's the most entertaining bit of the week. whether it actually matters or really changes peoples perceptions except on a few very dramatic occasions i think is another question. it does liven up the week for us. it certainly does. you can get it marks for technical every time. thank you. you may remember a few weeks ago, four carillion executives lost for words in the face of questions from a joint committee, investigating why the company failed. on thursday it was the pensions regulator and auditors who face similar treatment about their roles in the firm's collapse. carillion provided services for schools, hospitals and prisons. it went into liquidation at the beginning of the year suppliers unpaid and a hole in the company's pension scheme at hundreds of millions of pounds. more than a thousand people lost their jobs and there was widespread disruption amongst subcontractors

and suppliers. first to face the music was the pensions regulator. how many other schemes were before you pleading poverty, but paying dividends? how many in that position, could you tell us? i cannot answer that question either, this is complicated, numbers of our period of time that changed constantly i will be happy to send the committee notes on how many schemes are in that situation. that should be your daily diet — every week you should meet your that and say here is the most vulnerable, still paying huge dividends, what action are we taking? i can assure you that we take forward these issues have identified there with our very committed staff down in brighton. we don't doubt the staff commitment. we doubt your actions. next it was the turn of the auditors. i think it's quite simple and for me it comes down to this. i would not hire you to do an audit of the contents of my fridge because when i read it,

i would not know what is actually in my fridge or not. and that's the point of auditing, isn't it? to tell us what exists and what's there or not. we'll tell you what was there per the company records with is 73.9. that's like saying i will tell you what is in it, i will show you the receipt from the supermarket, but you have to open the fridge and have a look? his reply was to the effect that the fridge had been opened in 2014 and 15 but not in 2016. now, let's take a look at some of the news from around westminster in brief. up to 500 lives a year could be saved if the laws on organ donation in england were changed, mps were told. it were debating altering the rules on consensus of people would expressly have to opt out if they did not want their organs used after death. a conservative told the story of the nine—year—old who was killed in a car accident. one of her kidneys was given to a man in his 30s who had been

on the waiting list for an organ for two and a half years. the other kidney was given to a woman in her 50s who had been on the waiting list for nine and a half years. a young boy received her pancreas and liver. and her heart, her heart, was given to a ten—year—old boy. the health secretary admitted the response to the way medical problems caused by three nhs treatments have not always been good enough. a hormone based pregnancy test, it is claimed, led to miscarriages and birth defects. sodium valproate used to treat epilepsy was linked to autism and learning difficulties when taken in pregnancy. and vaginal mesh implants used after complications in childbirth caused some patients crippling side effects. sometimes the reaction has felt overly focused on defending the status quo rather than addressing the needs of patients.

and, as a result, patients and their families of spent too long feeling they were not being listened to, making agony of a complex medical situation even worse. so today, in addition to practical steps, for each of these three cases, i'm also setting up plans to establish a fairer, quicker and more compassionate way of addressing issues when they arise. the home office minister said the government would explore every option within the current law to try to help a six—year—old boy with a rare form of epilepsy. alfie from warwickshire suffers as many as 30 violent seizures per day. his pa rents violent seizures per day. his parents wanting to be treated with cannabis oil, illegal in the uk. his epilepsy group when he took the drug abroad. it is notjust one case. there are thousands of people who have the choice of suffering

terrible pain, and seizures, every day, or criminalize themselves by breaking the law. i would urge them to break the law! because the law in this case is an ass and is cruel and lacks compassion. the northern ireland secretary said there is a state of limbo, and promised to provide clarity for civil service, as soon as possible. there has been no functioning government for more than a year after the coalition collapsed in a bitter... a group of charities and others who want somebody to lobby and minister to argue with about mental health in northern ireland. there had been the ministers, that there have been no ministers, let them continue, yes

we want to see the evolution. but it is a dereliction, to continue without a budget without ministerial decisions. it is time to get on with it. when borisjohnson proposed a 22—mile—long bridge, to connect with kent with france, experts were quick to point out having a bridge in one of the busiest shipping lanes. but he would not let that put them off. the existing channel tunnel is likely, at the present rate, to be full within the next seven years, is a short time and the lifetime, it is a curiosity! that two of the most powerful economies in the world, separated by barely 21 miles of water, are connected by only one railway line. ministers have been accused of overseeing a public health emergency, after the high court ruled its current plan to tackle air pollution was unlawful. it represented a third court victory for campaigners,

the judge said that the current approach was not sufficient. he said that steps must be taken to comply with the law as soon as possible. in the commons there was clear anger from mps. the fact is this is a national health emergency — a million people could probably guide by recent estimates, by 20110, this is not good enough. she must act now. the uk is currently exceeding legal limits of pollution, and 2008, eu and get air quality directive. it poses a serious question as to whether this conservative government can be trusted with our environment. dealing with illegal air pollution after they leave the eu, if this is what we are witnessing now. i try not to take a partisan approach on this. but frankly i am fed up with the opposition simply not accepting

their responsibility. nearly half of all vehicles sold, i am not saying that previous labour ministers did not do things in good faith. but as we have found out, labour and ignored advice that diesel fumes were toxic. there were moving scenes with this — in england, many politicians have been affected by cancer. and one of them was labour's karen lee. she was diagnosed with breast cancer there were two foreign secretaries when, she was treated at nottingham city hospital, she had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a mastectomy,

and her treatment was just amazing. they just could not have been better. as well as that, she came home for the final weeks of her life to die. and the unqualified team that came to support me and my husband, would team that came was just i cannot thank them enough. i wish it could be me, and she is to say, i wish it could be no one. and ijust think that as parliamentarians as parliamentarians we have the power to influence and change, and maybe canjoin together across the house and make 2050, know when you die of breast cancer. mps went to comfort karen lee, on the right of the picture. something the health minister noticed. there is always one person who reads not a dry eye in the house. there is always one person who leaves not

a dry eye in the house. i think the whole house wanted to give her a hug, and many of them did and bless them for that. the incoming head of the financial industry regulator had to repay tax after using an unapproved tax break scheme. the news emerged as charles randall appeared before the treasury committee, he put money into a scheme that made use of tax breaks forfilm productions — he said it was an error ofjudgement. i was reassured that this partnership had been discussed with senior policy officials at hmrc who had indicated that they had approved of it. it is clear to me now that far from taking any comfort from that, i should have seen it as a warning signal,

because the mere fact that an informal assurance should be necessary, it should have been telling me that this was an investment for which there was no statutory framework. those who are seeking to be a chair, but it would look like, how the scheme works, it could well look like some clever tax break so people can... so not open to the consumers, regulated by the ncaa. yes, ican. yes, i can. edicts of his position as head of the organisation in april. what has been happening in a lot of westminster, you may be asking. the week got off to a bouncy start, from basketball and the uk.

mp reference us hip—hop artist ice cube about the benefits of the game. he raps, which party will play in basketball. it is an olympic sport. it has a bright future. the house of lords has its first female black lord — she is to be known as the lady of the black rod, and she was given a rousing reception as she was given her duties. -- the house of lords has its first female speaker — we have all been glued to our television, watching arnold winter olympics performance.

winning three medals in one day. successfully defending her gold. but what is the skeleton? basically it is finding yourself down a frozen track on a bobsled. lying facedown! maybe the government will have a head perspective now? x smiths singer morrisey was an hot water after making disparaging remarks about scottish first minister nicola sturgeon. remarks about scottish first minister nicola sturgeonlj remarks about scottish first minister nicola sturgeon. i am no fan of his politics or his music, but even morrisey got it right when he said... laughter when he said, of the first minister, those hands will be in everybody‘s pocket! the prime minister's brexit showdown, ham hock as this is the first step to offer a healthy brexit? and finally parliamentary procedure can be a little baffling, but the government business managers say they are expecting to know all the rules. that was billy hill. and, finally, parliamentary

procedure can be a little baffling, but the government business managers, the whips, are expected to know all the rules. kelly was promoted to the job last month, but she may not have quite come to grips of what is what. as amended in the public bill committee, now. now. she won't do that again! and that is it for now, so for me, goodbye. some of us this week might be surprised just how much snow does fall by the end of the week. different parts of the country will be getting the snow at different stages of the week, but overall

disruptive snow is likely pretty much anywhere in the uk. the cold airall the much anywhere in the uk. the cold air all the way from russia is right across the country now, pulling out into the north of the atlantic ocean. with that i think snow showers for this evening and overnight across eastern counties and, yes, the snow will be settling, the ground frozen solid in many places as temperatures even in towns and cities dipped two minus three. out it will be lower than that. initially we will not see too many showers out west and if anything on monday the basic message i want to give is it will be mostly light and leading flurries of snow across some of these southern and western areas, but in the east, anywhere from newcastle, hull, down to east angler, showers a bit more frequent through the course of monday and of course it will feel cold —— east anglia. this briefly touching 2 degrees but most of the day will be

below freezing and then you have the wind and it will feel a lot cold than that. then we watch the snow clouds developing in the north sea and they will be racing in our direction. the met office is already issuing a amber warning from... ok, it was an amber warning from the met office, believe me! we have some snow showers affecting areas in lincolnshire to reports of the midlands, into possibly birmingham as well and some of these showers will drift a bit further south. eastern areas will continue to get the snow showers to a tuesday and into wednesday. a lot of them, coming in these streaks. the thinking is eastern and northern areas through the course of tuesday and wednesday will get most of the snow showers, and some in the south as well. very difficult at this stage to predict exactly how much snow we will get. we are fairly confident we will see the most in the east, 10—20 centimetres, maybe more. but in the south and west there will be a lot of variation,

and some areas willjust have a dusting, there's nothing at all, some will have ten, itjust depends on how many snow showers you get. the real troublemaker at the end of the week, thursday morning, into friday, this area of low pressure could potentially bring a blizzard to southern areas of the uk. yes, a blizzard. keep track of the weather. there could be some very problematic weather towards the end of the week andindeed weather towards the end of the week and indeed through much of the week, depending on where you are. this is bbc news. the headlines at 2... a shift of policy on europe

by labour — shadow brexit secretary sir kier starmer, confirms the party would keep britain in a customs union. we have long championed being in a customs union with the eu and the benefits of that. it is the only way we are listed lead to get tariff free access and is really important for our manufacturing base. —— realistically to get. nobody can answer the question about keeping a hard border with northern ireland without a customs union. the winter olympic games have ended with the closing ceremony at pyeongchang olympic stadium. team gb took a record tally of five medals at the games. the chinese president xi jinping could serve indefinitely under constitutional changes that are being proposed.