they're investigating digital break—ins — attempts to steal research on vaccines and treatments — by hackers, backed by china, at research institutions and pharmaceutical companies involved in the covid—19 response. the government in the uk has had to defend itself against claims it was too slow to protect people exposed to the coronavirus in care homes. the opposition has asked the prime minister to account for official figures showing 10,000 unexplained deaths last month in care homes in england and wales. the uk is already in the depths of a significant recession according to the chancellor. figures show the economy contracting at the fastest pace since the financial crisis of 2008. rishi sunak told the bbcjust "a few days of impact from the virus" in march pushed the economy into decline. figures for the current quarter are likely to be even more serious.

now on bbc news, wednesday in parliament. welcome to wednesday in parliament as the covid—19 death toll mounts and care homes, borisjohnson comes under pressure. does the premise except the government was too slow to protect people in care homes? no, says the prime minister, striking and optimistic tone. the the british people got us through the first phase of this diverse and it will get us through the next one as well. how do politicians tackle an unprecedented crisis? there is not an hour that goes by where i do not question myself, agonise over

decisions we are taking. at prime minister ‘s question, boris johnson and keir starmer have clashed over the record of tackling coronavirus. the labour leader accused the prime minister of being too slow to protect care homes. borisjohnson says although it had been hired a number of deaths was down. the prime minister said we need to rapidly reverse the awful epidemic in our ca re reverse the awful epidemic in our care homes but earlier this year, and until the 12th of march, government advice was, and i am quoting from it, it remains very unlikely that people receiving care ina care unlikely that people receiving care in a care home will become infected. yesterday i figures showed that at least 40% of all deaths from covid—19 were in a care homes. doesn't prime minister except the government was too slow to protect

in care homes? no, mr speaker, and it was not true that the advice said that. actually, we prod the lockdown in care homes ahead of the general lockdown. —— brought. we saw an action to tackle what is unquestionably an appalling epidemic in care homes and a huge exercise in testing is going on, £600 million announced for infection control in ca re announced for infection control in care homes. the labour leader later wrote to the prime minister saying he made untrue claims. he raised the official death figures. this year for april, the death toll was a staggering 20 6000, three times the average, 18,000 additional deaths

this april, using the government figures only 8000 are recorded as covid—19 death and that leaves 10,000 additional and unexplained ca re 10,000 additional and unexplained care home deaths this april. i know the government must have looked into this. can the prime minister give us the government's views on these unexplained deaths? mr speaker, coronavirus is an appalling disease which afflicts some groups far more than others. i think the old country understand, and particularly the elderly. the shush the whole country. the office for national statistics is responsible for producing the data they have. the government has also produced data which not only shows there has been a terrible epidemic in care homes but, since the care homes action plan began, we are seeing an

appreciable and substantial reduction notjust in the number of outbreaks but also in the number of deaths and i want to stress to the house and also to the country that, solving the problem in care homes, is absolutely critical. critical to out is absolutely critical. critical to our ability to move forward as a nation with a stepped programme i announced on sunday. we must fix it and we will. the prime minister says solving the problem in care homes is crucial but that can only happen if the numbers are understood and are therefore i am disappointed the premise that does not have an answer to what are those 10,000 unexplained deaths. keir starmer went on to healthcare. he quoted the mother of a young child. she says, as boris said in his speech, people

encouraged to go back to work, meaning my partner as he works in construction. my partner has explained to his boss cannot happen because we do not have any childcare. i work as well but my bossis childcare. i work as well but my boss is having none of it. i hope i can get some advice. me and my partner have been so stressed all day. i was very clear both with him and with the house earlier in the week that, insofar as people may not be able to go back to work because they do not have the childcare that they do not have the childcare that they need, then their employees must be understanding. the labour leader said to support decisions that would affect millions of life. gaining public confidence is crucial. crucial stop the prime minister says that his decisions were driven by the silence, the data and public

health. —— the science. can the prime minister commit to publishing the scientific advice that the decisions were based on? boris johnson said scientific advice would be published in due course.” johnson said scientific advice would be published in due course. i think people can see exactly what we're trying to do as a country and a va ca i'icy trying to do as a country and a vacancy that everybody is still required to obey this social distancing laws. the commonsense of british people got us through that first phase of this disease, i am absolutely confident they will get us absolutely confident they will get us through the next as well. clearly the highlighted differences between the highlighted differences between the nations. last week in response to my questioning not to the ability of the government all four nations come together and to deliver a very clear message for our people, events on sunday would not have been more disastrous from this government. the prime minister has made confusion

costly. devolved administration shut out. widespread confusion amongst the public. a total disregard for workers safety. many images of london buses being at this morning. borisjohnson london buses being at this morning. boris johnson says london buses being at this morning. borisjohnson says there is more that unites us. i do not want to seek mass crowding on public transport in our capital or anywhere else and we are working actively with tfl to ensure that what we do is we have more capacity and discourage people from going to work during the peak and the operators, in particular tfl, leon moore tube trains when necessary. —— lay on. the education secretary has defended his plan about the face reopening of skills from june first in england.

sustained pressure from mps over the safety of children, teachers and other staff. every day that schools remain shut, vulnerable children risk falling through the cracks. however, we should only reopen skills when we know it is safe stop given whistle do not know about transmissibility between given whistle do not know about tra nsmissibility between children, can the secretary of state reassure us can the secretary of state reassure us that these decisions are based solely on public health and to what extent is getting parents back to work the main driver? gavin willis promised to share the advice the government had received. primary schools will be asked to welcome back reception, year1 and year 6 children in smaller class sizes. nurseries and other providers including childminders will be able to begin welcoming back children of all ages. secondary schools and colleges will be asked to provide

face—to—face support for years ten and 12 due to take exams in the next year. why are we bringing schools back? the reason we're bringing back is that we know children benefit from being educated by the brilliant teachers in front of them. we recognise the children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds will suffer the most if we do not bring schools back when we are able to do so. schools back when we are able to do so. but understand it schools will not officially be opened by the summer not officially be opened by the summer support and open summer schools over the holidays to be staffed by volunteers, graduates and an army of retired teachers to provide catch up tuition to the children being left behind? we are closely looking at such schemes and working with schools and the setup to make that available. the flat sector. instead of asking schools to

scramble and implement an unrealistic plan by a specific date, we ask schools to plan to meet certain conditions that, when met, would signal it was safe to open. a very important distinction. has it modelled the opening of schools by infection rates and will hit publish it? the younger years, social distancing will be virtually impossible and the current guide gives the impression that those pupils and staff should just accept being exposed. with this in mind, will he reassess his position? we wa nt will he reassess his position? we want to work with the honourable lady and the whole sector to make sure this is a phased, sensible and controlled return to schools

because, for people who suffer the most from schools not being open, those children so desperate to attend. denmark reopen it schools and has not seen a huge research in infections and they are reopening re sta u ra nt infections and they are reopening restaurant is the next phase for them. should we engage with danish counterparts to learn from their experience so counterparts to learn from their experience so we can we open our schools safely and successfully. my honourable friend raises important points about where the international bench was to look towards r. in reaching the conclusion of how to about a phase to return to school, we look to countries like denmark and the netherlands and many others. what you see is a mirroring approach as to what happened in denmark as to what happens here in the uk. you're

watching wednesday in parliament. the government has announced moves to get the housing market up and running again in england. in a statement to mp5, the housing secretary said hone viewing are now allowed. —— home. when coronavirus restrictions came into force, an estimated 450,000 buyers and renters had plans on hold. the changes must be carried out while social distancing and safety rules strictly adhered to. it is crucial that these changes happen safely and we continue to trade with caution to control the virus and protect the public. this means that, as these businesses reopen, they will need to adapt to new practices. for insta nces, adapt to new practices. for instances, with virtual viewings where possible and cleaning

thoroughly after viewing and moving house. i have published guidelines to explain how this can be achieved, building on the existing safer working guidance, with all parties observing hygiene measures and social distancing guidelines. he also outlined other measures to get the housebuilding that moving with safe working practices such as... more flexible working hours with appropriate checks. i am allowing sides to extend working hours, again with immediate effect. start and finish time variation will make it easier to observe social distancing measures and take pressure off public transport particularly in key cities and keep britain building.

some say too many decisions have been left unanswered. —— questions. what will the government do to help people trapped by planning and leasehold scanners? what advice of government have bought anyone who feels their workplace or construction site is not safe? this crisis has taught us if anyone is struggling, we all affected. it ignored those who are being forced to move home. i am quite puzzled by a particular example of extractions being eased because —— instructions being eased because —— instructions being eased, that they can welcome two complete strangers into the house? it doesn't make sense that kids cannot do a kick about with friends in the next garden, but

moving house could potentially pass the virus about. when covid-19 hit, they were affected and would welcome this certainty. but what steps can i ta ke this certainty. but what steps can i take to make sure constituents can undertake viewing safely and an estate agent can ensure they are in line with this new government guidance? across the country there will be thousands of people who are ina will be thousands of people who are in a state of limbo, not being able to move home. this announcement today will make a big difference to their lives as well as to the local economy in staffordshire. with respect to the guidelines, they are clear, as eveready said, you need to respect social distancing guidelines when you are in other people's properties, and we are encouraging virtual viewings was that they are sophisticated become at a cost, or they can be as simple as the agent or homeowner providing a video. and this week we have seen the four

nations approach to tackling the virus study fracture with restrictions in england being eased and the messaging changed. in wales, people are still being told is that home. there has been some confusion there, too, about what they can and cannot do. we saw questions on the west parliament. i tell you why there is confusion. you yourself may have said two people from different households could meet in a park if they adhere to social distancing guidelines and then we are told that is not the welsh government's advice and members are different households are not allowed to meet in parks. now it appears that even your health minister is confused about whether or not he can sit on a park bench and picnic with his family. first minister, how the people of wales supposed to have any sense of clarity when your own ministers don't seem to understand the rules themselves? on all of the points that the member has mentioned, i think clarity was there. people were very willing, i find, to pull the

meaning out of the words. here in wales we are encouraging people to stay home. that is the best way in which we can help one another to re cover which we can help one another to recover from this crisis. that's why we are all making the sacrifices that we are. but people are allowed now to leave their homes more than once a day for exercise. plaid cymru wa nted once a day for exercise. plaid cymru wanted to know the welsh government had taken advised to add medical grounds to its pandemic stockpile. can you therefore confirm that someone can you therefore confirm that someone within welsh government saw that recommendation, and can you say when that happened, or did the uk government failed to share with you this potentially life—saving information? mark drakeford said he would write to him. on downs, let's be clear, we have managed to deal with the pandemic in wales without ever having to tell the nhs in wales

that there wasn't a supply of the gowns that were needed. and he said that the welsh government had imported a million gowns, some of which had been distributed elsewhere in the uk. —— which had been distributed elsewhere in the uk. -- 500,000 which had been distributed elsewhere in the uk. —— 500,000 downs. just now, more than 20,000 —— 20 residents at the landing share care home has died in the last two months. at holyrood, deaths prompted questions to the first minister. presenting officer, fixing testing must become this government's overriding focus and it's clear it hasn't been. it's also clear the government could have been more transparent about what it was doing the care homes in the early days of the care homes in the early days of the outbreak. were made at the start and they have led to the excess deaths we have seen today. first minister, in light of this tragedy, when it comes to testing and care homes, by any standards this is a

failure? first minister. no, i don't. i'm not even speaking as first minister here, i'm speaking as a human being. i deeply regret every single death from this virus and i think all of us are in that position. but i also know, and i think i said the very first time i stood in this chamber and talked about what we were dealing with, i said mistakes would be made. i said i would make mistakes and the government would make mistakes and we are dealing with an unprecedented situation. there is properly not an hour that goes by right now where i don't question myself, i don't agonise over the decisions we are taking, and we're doing our best to get these decisions is right as possible. i have in leadership positions the world over right now is going to that same process —— i hope everyone in leadership positions all over the world right now going to that same process. the office for statistics did show deaths from covid—19 in the homes is

nearly double that in england. sir harry burns said in his evidence to this parliament's harry burns said in his evidence to this pa rliament‘s covid—19 committee, and i quote him, "if one of the elderly residents is goes to the virus, they are much more likely to get it. the nurses might then spread it unwittingly. that is clearly what is happening." i'm really not interested. i've not been interested since the start of this, political comparisons or anything, it'sjust not political comparisons or anything, it's just not relevant political comparisons or anything, it'sjust not relevant to me right now. but i do want to challenge the death toll in care homes being double in scotland to what it is in the uk. i don't believe that is the case. in scotland, the stay-at-home message still applies, it has been replaced in england by, stay alert. i'm nervous about england and scotland diverging from each other. it may compromise the clarity that

has so far saved lives. of the four uk nations, three of us, scotland, wales and northern ireland, have decided to stick with the currents that home message. one that england has decided to move a bit quicker out of lockdown — — has decided to move a bit quicker out of lockdown —— the current stay—at—home message. that's legitimate, they are entitled to do that, i'm not criticising that. nicola sturgeon. answer the rishi sunak is what it is very likely the uk economy is already in the middle ofa uk economy is already in the middle of a significant recession because of a significant recession because of the coronavirus lockdown. in the lords, one of his predecessors and social —— said social distancing has to be phased out if there was any hope of the economy recovering. can the government recognise there are whole sectors of the economy, 10% of the labour force, airlines, transport, that simply cannot operate with social distancing? we all understand why social distancing

is necessary all understand why social distancing is necessary now, all understand why social distancing is necessary now, but will it go unrecognised the awful two awkward truth we won't go back to where we we re truth we won't go back to where we were with a full recovery unless we see an appropriate time where social distancing is phased out and does not become part of the so—called new normal? the minister said the government had set out its roadmap for the easing of the lockdown, at least in england, and was finding ways for businesses to reopen safely. we will continue to be guided by the science and we will get our economic support based on how we progress through that phased reopening. given that we've learnt under public pressure to respond to the crisis, regulators can greatly accelerate their normal decision—making processes without sacrificing standards with the government urge all planning authorities to speed up decision—making and planning applications immediately so that we can get written building again? labous at the crisis was having a

severe impact on people not covered by the government has no job retention schemes. with a noble barrenness, the minister, commit to improving the generosity of universal credit and consider introducing the active labour market policy seen in other countries, including job search support and job guarantees for the young? lady panza said the government had already changed the value of a number of benefits. in terms of getting people back to where, the best thing we can do is get the virus under control and allow the economy to reopen. but of course we will continue to keep under review any further measures we need to support people who have sadly lost theirjob during this crisis. lady penn. on tuesday, the lid of the commons, jacob rees—mogg said mps should lead by example and returned to work at westminster rather than continue the digital experiment. his comments then go down well with mps of the speaker. nothing in the leader's announcement

changes the position on social distancing in and around the chamber and throughout the parliament. the only changes to the guidance from public health england can actually do that, i think we're all agreed on that. and so lindsay hoyle want if mps had to vote in person rather than online, it could take up to one hour each time stop labous said jacob rees—mogg was contradicting the government's an advice to work from home if possible. what the leader has done is to further confuse the message, i'm sorry to say, that home, stay alert, to what? come in on monday, coming on wednesday? it's like a commons hokey cookie. jacob rees-mogg said the government because i could but was if you need to get work, you must go to work. and the virtual parliament was ineffective. we have no flex ability of questions, the questions are all listed in advance. nobility for people to come in and join the debate, no cross cutting of debate, no ability to advance arguments or ta ke no ability to advance arguments or take them forward, simply a series

of prepared statements made one after another. that's not the house of commons doing its proper duty, its proper role of scrutiny of the government. and should members in scotland, wales and northern ireland ignore the advice of their respective governments to work from home? in my view,‘ members to return to this parliament in person without these questions being answered is unbelievably reckless. jacob rees—mogg said mps do not do their job properly remotely, and indeed on an online vote on the agriculture bill, some mps did inadvertently vote the wrong way. well, that's about it for wednesday in parliament. thank you for watching, i hope you canjoin me at parliament. thank you for watching, i hope you can join me at the same time tomorrow for the week in parliament, a look at the world of westminster and beyond. until then, goodbye for now.

hello. wednesday was a pretty decent day for many parts of the british isles. high pressure west of the british isles, providing quite a bit of dry area for many areas. there is the high as we start thursday, still extending that low of high pressure across many areas, but underneath that under overnight, the skies will clear. there will be quite a widespread frost to start the day, it might even be 1—2 records set for the night. a different story north in scotland, the weather front here dragging in a fair amount of cloud, a more noticeable breeze, though breezy still through the channel areas and the southern counties of england. but in between, come the afternoon, there will be variable cloud and decent sunny spells. we are just beginning to take those temperatures up from where they were at the start of the week. overnight, i think we will still import quite a bit of cloud across many areas of

the british isles, and if you keep the cloud, that will help to keep temperatures up. so thursday into friday, notjust as cold, though if you keep the skies clear, again you're temperatures really will dribble away. so here we are as far ahead as friday. rather having the northerly that we had on the eastern flank of that high to start the week, now it is more of a westerly breeze with a hint of northerly in it. so that is just helping to give a slightly warmer feel to the days then we started in the week. there's still a lot of dry weather, although weather front is plaguing the north and northwest of scotland, so more cloud and rain here. wherever you look on that chart, you will find those temperatures finding a degree or two per day. 0n into the weekend, forget all about northerly is and north westerlies. it is much more of a south and south—westerly flow around the area of high—pressure there. certainly dominant in the south of the british isles, but you will notice further north we have weather fronts. so although it turns increasingly mild, it is not all sunshine all the way by any means,

and certainly in the sunday we suspect a good part of scotland and northern ireland could see enough cloud for there to be bits and pieces of rain. certainly further south under the influence of high—pressure, a lot of dry weather and things certainly warming up.

a very warm welcome to bbc news, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. my name is mike embley. us security agencies accuse china of trying to steal american research on vaccines and treatments for covid—19. the uk government defends itself against claims it was too slow to protect people exposed to coronavirus in care homes. we'll hear from a doctor about the rare disease, thought to be linked to covid—19, which appears to be affecting children. chile reimposes a strict lockdown in santiago, as 2,500 new case are confirmed in 24 hours.