welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in north america this is bbc news, the headlines: british mps have proposed and around the globe. alternative plans for brexit, i'm duncan golestani. after voting to take control our top stories: of the process from the government. british mps are set to vote they're set to stage a ballot on a range of alternative plans on wednesday on which options for brexit, but can theresa may they would accept. continue as prime minister? survivors of the so—called caliphate. we report from syria on the families stranded in camps and shunned by the world. meanwhile, there are signs the longer it goes on, theresa may's deal is winning over the more there is a risk that some critics, depite something could go wrong, questions about her future. kurdish authorities there could be instability in northern syria are calling in the region again. for an international tribunal to try unless a plan is put in place soon, members of the islamic state group. this really is a ticking time bomb. last week, forces retook the last piece of territory from is, claims of a "whitewash ofjustice", bringing an end to their as us prosecutors drop charges against us actorjussie smollett for allegedly staging a racist self—declared caliphate. and homophobic attack. prosecutors have dropped all charges against us actor jussie smollett for allegedly staging a racist and homophobic attack. the reasons behind the decision remain unclear.

now on bbc news, it's tuesday in parliament. hello again and welcome to tuesday in parliament. could it be third time lucky for the prime minister? she will continue to have discussions with colleagues across the house, to seek to build support for her deal, so that we can if possible this week approve the deal and guarantee brexit. as mps get ready to take back control. parliament is about to take control of this process, with all the enthusiasm of the first of tenant of the titanic taking over from captain edward john smith. britain's top cop is questioned about serious violence. you really don't need to tell me how big a problem it is. this is a huge problem

and it is something i'm absolutely passionate about. also in this programme — modesty breaks out in the house of lords. the structure of the honour system is a matterfor the monarch. this is well above my pay grade and indeed my rank. laughter all that to come and more. but first, mps will be asked to pass the legislation needed to change the date of brexit in uk law on wednesday evening. although the date is already changed in international law, a short debate and vote will be held in the commons to avoid a potential legal clash. before that, mps will hold a series of votes on different brexit options — what have become known as indicative votes — in an attempt to break the deadlock. of those votes, the options are expected to include a second referendum, or closer links with the eu, won't be binding on the government. the revised timetable emerged after theresa may's cabinet met for the second time this week.

on the morning after the commons voted to take control of the brexit process, at least for wednesday. the leader of the house made a statement, a rather brief one, to update mps. the first business tomorrow will reflect the decision taken by the house yesterday. at the conclusion of that business, the government will bring forward the european union withdrawal act 2018 amendment, regulations 2019 for consideration. thank you. the legislation to change the date follows last week's brussels summit, in which the eu agreed to delay brexit until the 22nd of may, if the prime minister's deal is finally passed. if it's not, the uk leaves on the 12th of april — unless it comes up with an alternative plan before then and asks for a longer extension. labour saw clarity. could i ask her when the meaningful vote will be brought back, given the prime minister said it would be coming back this week? and can she confirm it is also the government's understanding if the meaningful

vote is passed, exit day of may, and if there's no meaningful vote, we leave by the 12th of april, and there will be a further extension if we show purpose. but obviously, we welcome the fact that with the uncertainty of the 29th of march has now albeit moved to the 12th of april. so as the prime minister has said, she will continue to have discussions with colleagues across the house to seek to build support for her deal, so that we can if possible this week approve the deal and guarantee brexit. but to the honourable lady's specific question, the draft statutory instrument that the government helps to bring forward tomorrow will provide for two durations that were agreed with the eu 27. exit day, as amended, would be the 22nd of may, if the withdrawal agreement is approved before 11pm on the 29th of march. otherwise, it would be 11pm on the 12th of april.

monday's rebellion, enabling parliament to take control of the timetable was led by the conservative former cabinet minister, sir oliver letwin. i think we are particularly looking forward to a little bit of parliamentary innovation tomorrow. i'm looking around for prime minister letwin, discussing tomorrow's programme, which will obviously get an opportunity to speak tomorrow. mr speaker, parliament is about to take control of this process with all the enthusiasm of the first lieutenant of the titanic taking over from captain edward tom smith. he wanted to know that the government would honour the outcome of wednesday's vote. at this stage, we don't know which options will be debated and voted on, let alone which will pass. and to use his analogy, my right honourable friend, the new prime minister for west dorset, hasn't yet indicated that manifesto, nor indeed has the right honourable member for leeds central indicated his manifesto. so i think we need to wait for that advice. that was, she said, a joke.

but andrea leadsom wasn'tjoking when she said that any options agreed by mps had to be negotiable with the eu and deliverable. the leader of the house had a real lack of clarity as to whether a meaningful vote would come back this week, next week and perhaps the week after. any question sessions beginning the 8th of april and the week beginning the fourth, 15th of april on the parliament member will she confirm what we know to be self—evident, that the recess is cancelled? i think the honourable lady's question is with regards to recess. so as she will know, i have announced the dates for easter recess. but as is always the case, recess dates are announced subject to the progress of business. we will need time in the house, either to find a way forward or to pass the withdrawal

agreement bill. and i think the country will rightly expect parliament to be working flat out in either scenario. a big hit in there that, for mps at least, easter is cancelled. the head of the metropolitan police, cressida dick, has called for a national step up in tackling violent crime among young people, saying it had to be a higher priority for the home office and the public sector. do you think the levels of stabbings and knifings, particularly of young people, that we've seen very high profile recently are the worst they've been in your policing career experience? if you take a view over the last couple years, three years, four years, absolutely. they're at a terribly high level. i believe that the met, along with other partners, has began to stabilise and reduce that. it is deeply worrying. it's a horrible set of offences.

definitely more younger people involved. more knives involved in the serious violence on the streets. and just last night — yesterday afternoon, we had a 15—year—old stabbed not long after school. she said there was a lack of real cross—government action. i think it needs to be more clearly, a higher priority for parts of our public sector, stretched though they are, and probably parts of the home office, stretched though it is, not least with, you know, the issues around our relationship with the european union. it needs to be a higher priority, and then there needs to be more real coordination and delivery of the things we know work and will work. and of course, potentially some further resourcing of those would be something else i would ask. we have a massive problem and we have teenagers being stabbed after school. we have kids being stabbed after school. we have, you know, the hospital admissions for this awful

violence and crime and we have lives being ruined and families being devastated. and to be honest, it doesn't feel like the scale of the response is enough and is remotely matching the scale of the challenge. and she queried the work of the government's serious violence task force. if we're not seeing the scale of action, is that because actually it's just taking a long time? is it because the task force is great, but the problem is further down the track? or actually, do we need a massive electric shock into that task force to get it to do far more? firstly, you really don't need to tell me how big a problem it is. this is a huge problem and it is something i'm absolutely passionate about. and have worked incredibly hard on for the last couple of years. more to the point, my people are working incredibly hard and having daily huge successes. earlier this month, sarah thornton, the chair of

the national police chief council, called violent crime a national emergency. we obviously need a national step up, definitely. if the task force is part of that, that's great. if there's some other structure that goes above and beyond that, you know, involving more senior cabinet ministers, more of the time, if they mimic what happened 50 years ago, fine. we all agree there needs to be more co—ordination, more step up, and more kind of focus and priority. the conservative sir christopher chope suggested ways young people could prepare for violent situations. doing judo, tae kwon do. being physically able and taught how to deal with a situation where you are threatened with a knife. do you think there's something to be said for actually increasing the encouragement of people to, the young people, so they don't have to take a knife out, they can protect themselves by actually knowing how to deal with such an incident? the best knife presenting technique is to run away

as fast as you can. genuinely, it is. yeah, but you need to be fit to do that. i think people need to run away. i probably would not advocate a strategy of increasing the combat readiness of martial arts for young people in general. what we do with things like those types of groups, there is some attraction to those sports. it took young men off the street, he said, and channel them competitive activity. you're watching tuesday in parliament with me, david cornock. mps have complained to the health secretary that despite a relaxation of the rules governing the prescribing of medicinal cannabis, few patients have benefited so far. toward the end of last year, cannabis was reclassified to allow some cannabis—derived medicines to be prescribed by specialist doctors in limited situations. families with children with severe epilepsy are being campaigning for greater access. one conservative said prescriptions for medicinal cannabis where rare.

what measures is he taking to support clinicians in actually prescribing? i met some of the parents of some of the children whose needs are best met through the use of medicinal cannabis. my heart goes out to those who are fighting for this cause. we changed the law in the autumn to try to make it easier. i'm looking very closely at what we can do to make sure that the intention of that decision is being met. but, mr speaker, the health committee heard last week that patients are dying unnecessarily, and up to1 million families are being driven to criminality by getting medical cannabis immediately. and it's got worse since the government changed the law in november. when are these families going to get access to the medical cannabis that — if they lived in germany,

the netherlands, canada, the united states — they would have access for for their children and other sufferers? hear, hear! well, as he knows, i supported and indeed was a participant in the decision to ensure that access was made legal in the autumn. and i am working right now on trying to make sure that some of the challenges in the system are unblocked. now, the government has been urged to ban what's called "transplant tourism" to china, following allegations of forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience. in a debate in westminster hall, there were also calls for the uk and the united nations to investigate the claims after a tribunal in london, led by the qc sir geoffrey knight, said it was sure that the practise was occurring, beyond reasonable doubt. the mp opening the debate said the charges of forced organ removal in china have been circulating for many years. this horrifying practise

is so terrible that it's hard to believe, a major world power, a member of the human rights council, treating human beings like commodities, like cattle, can any of us here even begin to imagine living in a world where government officials could stroll in here, round up the christians in this chamber — that is probably, with respect, nearly every person that sits here — and take their organs and supply them to anyone who needs them? that is totally unacceptable. the sheer numbers alleged are absolutely staggering. as long ago as 2016, the conservative rights commission, which i had the privilege of chairing,

produced a report on this issue. we call it any a new of genocide cloaked in modern medical scrubs. the research we have been given, and indication of suggest this may be as high as 60,000 to 100,000 transplants a year. in one of our hearings, the conservative human rights commission heard that simply the size of the hospitals which are constructed to undertake these operations point to a far greater number and the official figures from the chinese government indicate. the charge that certain minority groups, christians, uighur muslims and others are targeted was picked up by a labour mp. the allegations that falun dafa practitioners, christians, and uighurs have been victims of that horrific practise are documented. the international community has strongly condemned organ harvesting in china and actions need to be taking to end the abhorrent and unethical practise. uk government and the un must do more about what can only be categorised as crimes against humanity in the vast industrial scale of this horror. responding, the minister referred to recent reports about transplant in china.

there is selective and controversial evidence of wrongdoing. the officer himself makes clear they have no slinking gun through the allegations. they are necessarily forced to rely upon assumptions and less on rigorous research techniques. some assumptions came up in a number of contributions that were made. i definitely think these are some assumptions. we have to work on the basis of rigorous evidence. obviously we are trying to develop a bigger body of that as we can. he said the government believed a few people went to china for transplants. the government cannot protect them and prevent the travelling. quite difficult to police and to understand whether people have gone for that purpose. but it is important that we make aware that other countries may have a very poor, or poorer and ethical and medical safeguards in the uk. travelling abroad for organ transplants carry some fundamental risks. conservative mp is trying to ensure victims of child sexual abuse are able to get

compensation more easily. andrew griffiths said nobody can take away the trauma and suffering filled by survivors of abuse. he introduced what is known as a ten minute rule bill and shared his personal motivation for trying to change the law. we all want to do our very best in this place for those survivors. and as someone, mr deputy speaker, who myself was a victim of child sexual abuse, i know how difficult and traumatic it is to discuss these issues. i had kept my secret hidden for some a0 years. i locked it away and chained it down and hoped it would never surface. i convinced myself that if i didn't give it words, i denied it a reality. that was my view —

and how wrong i was. talking about what happened to me, explaining to other people was the best thing that i could possibly have done. andrew griffiths. although his bill cleared its first parliamentary hurdle, it's highly unlikely to become law without government support. allegations that british special forces have been involved in gun battles in the long—running civil war in yemen were raised with the foreign office minister. labour said that, if true, the reports show the uk was directly involved in the conflict. despite government claims to the contrary. press reports on sunday claimed at least five british special forces commandos, had been wounded during a secret uk military campaign in yemen. where the saudi—supported forces of the yemeni government are fighting houthi rebels, known to be backed by iran. in the light of these reports, does the government still stand by its long—standing statements that britain is not a party

to the conflict. because frankly, given everything we already know about our support for the saudi air force and our supply of billions in arms to the saudi collation, if in addition to all that we now discover that our forces are engaged in actual gun battles with the houthi rebels — then if that doesn't constitute being a party to the conflict, i really don't know what does. we do still hold the point of view that we are not a party. they are supportive of saudi arabia, which has been a long—standing ally, which she is aware. i have never been to yemen myself, but my late father — his first engagement was in a different time, he has the fondest memories. as indeed many people living in that country still have the fondest memories of this country. it is for that reason of course that we have been a pen holder of the un security council.

let me just say that i also read mail on sunday article, and she has done, or perhaps slightly later than she had done, early this morning. it makes some very serious allegations. i am keen that we get to the bottom of those allegations. again, i am very keen not to in any way mislead the house. but the allegations that were made in relation to any engagement that involves bringing child soldiers on board, i think would be appalling. there has been, it seems, a huge reluctance on the part of the government to criticise the saudi regime, even in the face of the most appalling humanitarian situation in yemen which the minister has described. this appalling conflict. it seems unacceptable that we are continuing to sell arms to saudi arabia. i do not call that leadership. instead of leveraging our influence from our trading relationship with saudi arabia, it seems that we are silenced by it. can i ask the minister — does he share my assessment that

under brexit we will be in a weaker position, not a stronger one, to criticise states with a bad human rights record ? no, i think the truth the matter is — i see it obviously in my part of the world — that there is the diplomatic channels are open. we express human rights concerns, we already do so, with countries with whom we have trade. the foreign office minister mark field, who had a busy day after the resignation of his colleague. is it time for a shape up in the honour system? a conservative peer has said that the conclusion of the word "empire" makes some people from black and ethnic minority communities reluctant to accept an award. in 1917 the introduction of a system to recognise your service to a country that included the word empire was appropriate, but it is not so today. many people often from the black and ethnic minority refuse to accept or even apply on behalf of others for this reason. can the minister outline

the consideration can be given at the introduction of an additional honour, to the existing system, that doesn't include the word empire so that all parties can be satisfied and those who have a conscience and objection, for good reason, can accept and honour that might be the order of british excellence, keeping the same electives, but to the existing system can be respected as well? hear, hear. i agree with my noble friend, that we should do more to ensure that those from ethnic minority communities who have made a significant contribution to society should see their achievements get public recognition, and we should remove any obstacles in that path. in 2016, 6% of the new year's honours went to those from black and ethnic minority communities. this year, the percentage was 12% and we are averaging roundabout 10%, but none the less more can be done. there were relatively few refusals among those. the latest figures i've seen is around about 2%. the reasons for refusal are not given. but i understand that it is very rare for a refusal to be for the grounds that my noble friend has suggested. on her final point —

that would require a new order of chivalry. the structure the honour system is a matter for the monarch. this is well above my pay grade and indeed my rank. laughter. lord young, who stressed that the honour system is independent of government. football's european governing body uefa has charged montenegro with racist behaviour following the abuse suffered by england players in the year 2020 qualifier on monday. england won 5—1 but the match was overshadowed by racist chanting from some home fans, directed at several england players including danny rose. i am sure the whole house willjoin me in condemning the anhorrent racist abuse directed at england footballers

during their match last night. and i know you will agree that we must do everything we can to stamp out they should vile behaviour. mr speaker, can you please advise me if it would be reasonable to expect the secretary of state for digital culture media and sport to come to the house and make a statement on what the government is doing to protect our players abroad, and what action the government is taking to push for the strongest possible punishments? hear, hear! certainly perfectly reasonable for the honourable lady to hope for a statement. whether the secretary of state has a plan to do so and eventually — in truth i don't know — that may be intended. there are other ways in which the house can air its concerns on this matter. i share entirely her view. any and all racist abuse is to be totally and unreservedly condemned. and all of us who have got public voices, if i may put it that way, should take the opportunity to make clear that there can be no justification for that behaviour by anyone, anywhere, at any time. huge work has been done

by anti—racist organisations in football and more widely across sport, to try to change behaviour and change the attitudes which underlie abhorrent behaviour. it is only a pity to note that despite some fantastic work of which the honourable lady will be as well aware as i am, much still remains to be done. half an hour later, that exchange was raised with one of the speakers deputies will stop recalled john bercow‘s last links to the right wing anti—immigration group. and the speaker gave us and how many on racism in football and its evils from the chair, which was particularly welcome coming as it does from a former secretary of the immigration subcommittee of the monday club.

laughter however i have raised previously my concerns about the bias of the speaker and i will be grateful if you could convey to him, that the fewer views he expresses either from the chair or as the speaker, the less we will have anxiety about his bias. if i would say to the honourable member, no need to press on with the business at hand. the deputy speaker. sidestepping that point with a body swerve if that might yet see him picked for england. and that is the final whistle for this tuesday in parliament. thank you for watching. i do hope you canjoin me at the same time tomorrow, by when he wrote it to brexit may be a little clearer. but perhaps not. bye for now.

hello there. don't expect any major changes in our weather over the next few days. there is more dry weather to come, some spells of sunshine and patchy cloud as well. one subtle difference, it is going to turn a little bit milder for a time at least. high pressure then sitting to the south of the british isles. the winds allowing cloud to feed in over the top of that area of high pressure so we will continue to bring areas of cloud from the north—west towards the south of the uk through the first part of wednesday. best of the clear spells as we start off the day across southern and western parts of england and wales, that's where we have the lowest of the temperatures. a touch of across parts of the west country. south—east wales,

the south—west of england. further north, not as chilly because there is more cloud. through the day, we continue to bring these areas of cloud south—eastwards. a mixture of patchy cloud and sunshine for many. the best of the sunshine across wales in the south—west. equally the cloud across the far north and far north—west of scotland. temperatures generally 11—14 degrees, may be 15 in aberdeen if we get some sunshine and shelter to the east of high ground. as we move through wednesday night and into thursday, not as much cloud potentially by this stage but that could allow some mist and fog to form. again, some pockets of frost, temperatures widely holding up between 3 and 6 degrees. thursday, once again dominated by high pressure sitting just to the south of the british isles. winds around high pressure moving in a clockwise direction so introducing a south or south—westerly flow of air for most of us as we move towards the end of the week which will lift temperatures a bit. those day, areas of low cloud and some mist and fog patches as well. we should get to see some spells of sunshine. away perhaps in the far north—west of scotland, where there will be more cloud and breeze. temperatures 1a, 15, 16 degrees — somewhere we could get up to 17 degrees. similar temperatures could be achieved on friday, particularly in the central

and eastern parts of england and scotland. further north and west, for northern ireland and scotland, we'll see thickening cloud. outbreaks of rain creeping in. a frontal system approaching, and that is going to change the weather a little bit as we head into the weekend. as we move through friday and saturday, that front will slowly, painstakingly slowly slide south—eastwards, taking some cloud and rain with it but behind, the winds round to northerly. so things are looking a little bit cooler for the weekend and into next week, those temperatures are expected to drop further — we may even see some wintry showers.