hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... 38 million people will be living under the tightest coronavirus restrictions in england by this weekend. this is bbc news. the health secretary says many parts the headlines: 38 million people will be living of the east and south of england under the tightest coronavirus restrictions in england are to be moved into tier 3 because of a big rise by this weekend. in the number of cases. the health secretary says many parts of the east and south of england thousands of school are to be moved into tier 3, children across england because of a big rise will have their return to school in the number of cases. staggered after the christmas break. great western rail changes i regret having to take the action its timetable and stops that we have to take. selling advance tickets, i deem it necessary and there's after a covid outbreak among staff. a strong view right across government that these actions the level of new coronavirus infections in wales could be twice are necessary, but i also plead that what was previously thought, personal responsibility after a delay in reporting is absolutely central to how thousands of positive tests. we as a society should more former rugby union players havejoined legal action respond to this pandemic. against the game's authorities, accusing them of negligence over head injuries. thousands of schoolchildren across england will have their return to school staggered after the christmas break.

great western rail changes its timetable and stops selling advance tickets, sport now, and a full round up after a covid outbreak among staff. from the bbc sport centre. the level of new coronavirus infections in wales could be twice good afternoon. what was previously thought — after a delay in reporting more former rugby union players thousands of positive tests. havejoined legal action against the game's authorities more former rugby union players for alleged negligence. havejoined legal action against the game's authorities — it's after nine recently retired international players came forward accusing them of negligence to say they're suffering permanent brain damage over head injuries. caused by repeated blows to the head. 0ur sports news correspondent chris mclaughlin has more. this is something we were expecting, these nine former players and the legal firm representing them sometimes we didn't even have a loaf of bread in the house. it's have today officially embarrassing to say, but we didn't. and, in the wake of her son's food poverty campaigning, launched a letter of claim with the wru, the rfu and world marcus rashford's mum tells us rugby for negligence. why his childhood inspired his work. we already knew that steve thompson, the former england player alex popham, and michael lipman were involved in this potential class action.

two other names to bring you this afternoon — the former leicester and gloucester flanker, neil spence. he is currently 1m. two—thirds of the population of england — or 38 million people — and the former dragons centre, adam hughes, just 30. will be living under the tighest retired in 2018 because of fears coronavirus restrictions over a brain injury. by this weekend. all say they are suffering the health secretary, matt hancock, told mps that following a review, from the early signs of dementia, most of the areas already all say that is due to repeated in the toughest tier 3 blows to the head, be that level will remain there. in training or in matches. that letter of claim will be lodged he said a 46% increase in covid—i9 with the governing body. they have given them three cases in the past week months to respond to that. in south east england and cases there has been a response "up by two thirds" in the east of england meant it was "necessary from the wru, the rfu and world to apply tier 3 measures across a much wider area". rugby today and i will bring bedfordshire, buckinghamshire, berkshire and hertfordshire will be subject to tier 3 rules, you an excerpt on the bbc as will parts of surrey, east sussex, website, and it says, cambridgeshire and hampshire. "we are deeply saddened to hear bristol and north somerset will move of the brave personal accounts from former players. rugby is a contact sport and, from tier 3 to tier 2. while there is an element of risk herefordshire will move to playing any sport,

from tier 2 into tier i. rugby takes player welfare extremely the health secretary told mps seriously and it continues to be our number one priority." the measures are needed elsewhere, premier league clubs have voted against allowing teams to suppress the virus and said, to make five substitutions per match at a meeting today, "we've come so far, but they have agreed the introduction of two we mustn't blow it now." additional concussion replacements. all the details come from our the premier league hopes to start the plans from january, political correspondent helen catt. after the approval of trials was given for the new year. not so long ago, hastings the new rule means permanent in east sussex had one of the lowest substitutions can be made if a player suffers a head injury, rates of coronavirus in england. even if all replacements have already been used. there have been calls for concussion now a surge in cases has pushed substitutes to be used in football for some time, the town into tier 3 along to give players more protection. with a huge swathe daniel parslow is a fomer york city defender, and retired from football of the south east. last year after being concussed during a match. it is therefore necessary to apply tier 3 measures across a much lots of concussion injuries wider area of the east are delayed and in my circumstances, and south—east of england, it was exactly that. ifelt fine, i passed including bedfordshire, buckinghamshire, berkshire, peterborough, the whole all the initial checks of hertfordshire, surrey, with the exception of waverley, and it was not until two, hastings and rother on the kent border of east sussex, three, four minutes later and portsmouth, gosport and havant in hampshire. that the nausea, dizziness, these changes will take effect from one minute past midnight unease on my feet and it was at that on saturday morning. stage that we knew

it was very serious. staying with football, and edinson cavani could be banned for up to three games millions of people across northern after being charged england and midlands with misconduct by the fa. will stay in tier 3. it's after the manchester united striker posted a message on social media which contained an offensive spanish phrase. i regret having to take cavani deleted the message the action we have to take. and apologised when the potential i deem it necessary and there meaning of the post was pointed out to him. is a strong view right his side take on sheffield united across government that these this evening in the actions are necessary. premier league. greater manchester has been under the toughest restrictions for months and the rate of infection has come more sports have been down, below the average. deciding their schedules for 2021. despite that the government the start of the australian open has decided not to move tennis has been delayed it to tier 2 yet. because of the pandemic. the first grand slam event the problem with tier 3 of the year was supposed to start is it is devastating in melboune on the 18th january. from an economic point of view and that is what we said it'll now begin three weeks later, to the government. on 8th february, and that'll if they will keep places in tier 3 allow the players to complete today, then there has to be much a two—week quarantine more financial support. period, which is currently some areas will move down a tier. required in australia. and get ready for the longest bristol and north somerset to tier 2, herefordshire formula one season in history. to the very rare tier i. there'll be 23 races next year, starting in australia on 21st march, running the latest tiering decision right though to abu dhabi comes less than 2a hours on 6th december. all the details are on the bbc after the prime minister urged us to be cautious over christmas. sport website and app.

have yourselves a merry little christmas. breaking news to bring you an in the i'm afraid this year i do mean little. the rules allowing three households to gather are not last few minutes, the court of changing in england, arbitration has held up its decision scotland or northern ireland to ban russia from international but the message is to persuade competition but the ban has been people not to get together. reduced from four to two years. it labour says that isn't enough. means they will be absent from the this isn't about cancelling christmas. tokyo 0lympics means they will be absent from the tokyo olympics and the world cup in qatar. tokyo olympics and the santa will still world cup in qatar. deliver his presents. that's all the sport for now. but is he really telling us that allowing — allowing — indoor mixing of three households some breaking news about coronavirus across regions and generations here in this newsroom. well, a rise for five days is sensible, given the virus is raging with such ferocity at the moment? in covid rates. we are hearing cases the tier changes come into force are rising in all but one region of england, according to the latest on saturday meaning hospitality surveillance report from public venues in new tier 3 areas health england. the highest rate is will have to shut to diners over christmas. in the capital, london, and that is the next formal review in tier3 in the capital, london, and that is in tier 3 already. it is now is due in a fortnight. standing at 319 cases their 100,000 helen catt said there are a lot of people who are not happy people. i should say, these are about what they heard this morning from matt hancock. figures for the week to the similar i don't think this is going to have

come as a surprise to anyone, 13th. up—to—date, but not as far as certainly not that expansion of tier 3 across quite a lot today. 319 cases per 100,000 people of the south—east, given what we have been hearing this week from the government about the rising in the capital. in eastern england, rates, particularly in that part of the country and that the rate is now 249 per 100,000, and sort of backdrop. i don't think there's going to be much surprise either, really, in the south—east, it is 238. that we haven't seen much of a loosening in other areas of the country. that with christmas coming up increasing in many parts of the so fast and there are fears country. in fact, about what will happen increasing in many parts of the country. infact, public increasing in many parts of the country. in fact, public health in and have told us the only area if there is too much mixing around then, that the fact that they haven't loosened restrictions in parts of the rest according on week falls is yorkshire of the country i think again isn't and the humber, which drop very going to come as a surprise. i think it will be a disappointment, slightly by a handful, now standing though, for some areas particularly in the north—west who have been under these restrictions for so long now. at 148 per 100,000. going up in many there were some areas, particularly around greater manchester, who thought they had met areas and a big figure in london, the criteria for being moved down into tier 2. although of course london is made up the fact that they haven't been of 32 boroughs and the figures can is going to be a disappointment. va ry matt hancock the health secretary of 32 boroughs and the figures can vary quite a lot from borough to said he was going to make available borough. we do note that rising assessments for each area to explain rates in london is where the capital why they have been put has been put into to three, and matt where they were and i think they will be studied very, very hard by those particularly hancock today talked about lots of in the north—west. so not much surprise, different parts of the country going definite disappointment. i think we'll have to see

what the next review brings up different parts of the country going up as of saturday. more analysis on in a couple of weeks. those figures to come from our health correspondence. also related many parts of the country will be disappointed they've been kept in the highest to coronavirus. .. level of restrictions. our correspondent danny savage is in otley in west yorkshire. he told me what the mood is like. great western railway has stopped selling advance tickets and has been forced to change its timetable, i think the mood music over the last after a covid outbreak among staff. few days from civic leaders earlier i spoke to our transport from north—east england down here to west yorkshire and over correspondent caroline davies, the pennines into greater manchester who explained the impact the outbreak could have on the operator. is that they had done everything the company has said they anticipate they had been asked to do to bring the number of train services the infection rate down in their areas to get them out cancelled or changed is going to be of tier 3 into tier 2 relatively small and that they are in touch with the affected but as we have heard this morning it wasn't to be, so yes, they are very disappointed. customers. the big question is, is this could happen across the however, i think many people are not surprised. christmas period across the rest of i was talking to some publicans the country? speaking to train yesterday who were expecting perhaps operators today, they say they have plans in place if an outbreak were to be left in tier 3 and some of them wanted to be left in tier 3 to happen on their services, similar because they thought any move to happen on their services, similar to how they have operated the rest to tier 2 would be short—lived. of the year. there has been demand they could foresee further for christmas travel and each train not be able to take as many people as normal because of social restrictions coming along

distancing measures, but the operators say the amount of demand injanuary, early in the new year, which could close them down again, is lower this year and it was and they sayjust opening up previously an they even still have for a couple of weeks availability on some of their wasn't financially viable. this is otley in west yorkshire. busiest services still. they are not this has something... anticipating chaos at the moment. it's not a big place — it has 20 public houses, though, all of them closed up at the moment, with great western, if your train all of the staff and landlords fed does not run or if you turn up up, as are the locals, without a reservation and it is who probably like going to the pub looking for, there are plans in on occasion, but what makes it place to have coaches instead. the particularly difficult here as well is that we are right on the border big message from the operators is if with west yorkshire. you are planning to travel, book if you go half a mile up the road ahead because it helps them plan. the pubs are open and you can go in there for a meal with people that you live with. overall there is some disappointment and the question has been asked today what do these areas have to do if they have technically met the criteria, what do they have the true level to do to get from tier 3 to tier 2? of new coronavirus infections in wales could be twice and that is the answers they want the figure previously thought. planned computer maintenance has led to a delay in reporting an extra 11,000 positive covid tests. in the next day or two. 0ur correspondent sian lloyd is in cardiff. 0nly yesterday we were reporting that people in wales were learning they were going to be facing tougher and you can find out what the rules coronavirus restrictions starting are in your area of the uk from christmas eve, with a full by entering your postcode lockdown here from december 28. that

in our interactive tool — was explained by the first minister mark drake fit. the situation here you can find it online at the bbc is extremely concerning and there is news website or on our app. a record number of welsh patients being treated for coronavirus. today people are to have to take on this news that a delay in reporting more it is hard to keep up, isn't it? than 11,000 extra news that a delay in reporting more than 11 , 000 extra positive news that a delay in reporting more than 11,000 extra positive covid tests m ea ns than 11,000 extra positive covid tests means that cases are twice as herefordshire has been moved down high as was thought for the previous week. public health wales have into tier i, joining cornwall, explained this and say that planned it maintenance meant there was the isles of scilly and the isle significant underreporting, but that of wight in the lowest tier of restrictions. anyone who received a positive covid test was informed and contacted in the usual way. on friday, it had councillor david hitchiner is warned that this planned it the leader of herefordshire council. maintenance would lead to changes and affect its daily reporting of good afternoon. how have you managed coronavirus figures. the first to achieve it? well, our community minister said that he was aware of the underreporting. this is not a has been very supportive. i think we computer problem, this was planned, had a very good pr campaign. we are

and upgrade of the computer system and upgrade of the computer system a small county. i wish we knew for and none of the data is missing. certain how it was but we have kept everybody who had eight positive test was told that in wales last numbers, we went up to nearly 200 week. —— a positive test. everything but we have come down again to was uploaded to our system, but the around 50. what will it mean to go figures demonstrates just how seriously position here in wales has and particularly business owners? become. i can tell you that figures well, it will give them more freedom from the office for national statistics just released show that because i guess some of the covid—19 was the biggest cause of death in wales in novemberfor the government money is dependent on tier 2 or tier 3 so they will be first time in six months. less money to support. i think we are sort of pleased to be in tieri away from coronavirus now. but we are also terribly nervous the government has announced a new £30 million fund to pay about it because we are looking for fire alarms to be fitted forward to christmas and the concern in high—rise buildings in england which have dangerous cladding. after christmas, we do not want to the move is intended to reduce the costs faced by leaseholders be bouncing in and out of different who are having to pay for round—the—clock fire patrols, tiers, businesses want some which have been introduced at many blocks in the wake certainty and having instructions to open up and then with the of the grenfell tower disaster. possibility in january open up and then with the possibility injanuary of closing down again is not a very easy message for us down again is not a very easy message for us $0

down again is not a very easy message for us so we down again is not a very easy message for us so we have two as a community try to stay within tier i. that is what we have to work out and that was three and a half years ago to do that you have to be vigilant and the costs are still being felt bya and the costs are still being felt by a huge number of people up and and diligent and in a way follow the down the country. by a huge number of people up same things we have been doing for and down the country. some time, social distancing, dr nigel glen is from the association of residential managing agents — washing hands, all of that. but is where he represents property management companies which manage so washing hands, all of that. but is so interesting because exactly, i over 1.4m leaseholders. was curious whether the concerns of hello, good afternoon. hello. isis view and councillors as to how you maintain itand view and councillors as to how you maintain it and how you do not get complacency because we are only a a substantial sum of money and will week away from christmas, we know it really help? it is a substantial about the five—day window and what amount of money and will always eve ryo ne about the five—day window and what everyone thinks of that, whether you help, but we have to remember we are are concerned that things may change facing here, a multi—billion pound problem in respect of the cladding, and people might get complacent and and that is not even starting to think this is great, we will stay look the additional costs, which you this way. yes, i can see where you have mentioned, such as building are coming from. we think even defects like compartment station —— though the publica ns are coming from. we think even though the publicans will be able to and so on. weymouth deanery figure open up and people will come back that would be needed? it is probably and start celebrating and think it

is fantastic, it is the very thing in the tens of millions. —— we do not want to happen, people that would be needed? it is probably in the tens of millions. -- do you know a figure that would be needed? have to stay cautious. we have to iron ore dataset for my members and look after granny. we have to to clad buildings around £2.2 million and we have hundreds of those. it is hard to see how £1 relieve the pressure from the nhs. these things will not go away. well billion would stretch a long way. done herefordshire, a pat on the the waking watch costs are outside back, we have kind of got their of that and are crippling for reward. we a re back, we have kind of got their reward. we are not sure if it is a good thing or not to be quite leaseholders. it is a huge sum of honest. that is so interesting, it money every month for anyone caught in the situation through no fault of their own. the people watching this is not quite a double edged sword but it is the difficulty of on the outside who are not affected, balancing all of this, of reminding it would seem logical to say, right, people that is all the scientists have said to us it is great about any company that has built a block the vaccine but it is many months before every one has had it and all and there are now? as about the of us as a society have to remain people who built it to pay to have alert. we do absolutely. this is it removed and have something safer still a killer. there is a vaccine place it. that would seem the most coming along but it is not simplistic answer, but explain to immediate. we have to look after

each other. we all have to make people who do not know much about this, what would you say really needs to be done? is a simplistic sacrifices. people who need a answer, it is a complex situation. decision to say we will stay at home this christmas, some people might think we are in tieri so we can do the main thing has to be to get whatever we like, but is exactly whatever we like, but is exactly what we do not want to happen. we people safe. let's get people safe first and then that requires wa nt to what we do not want to happen. we want to keep people thinking about being safe. yes, well, perhaps we government to fund. it will be huge amount of money, but then the government can then decide who is at will talk again after christmas. fault and who can pay afterwards. thank you very much for now. the three years after the grenfell tower fire, we are still arguing about whether comes from. -- where the leader of herefordshire council which is one of our very small number of areas which is going to be money comes from. when the government is told they should pay in tieri, and for the cladding to be removed so number of areas which is going to be in tier i, and those tiers take effect, if there are changes, those everybody is safe, whether they are owners of rents, and then the ta ke effect, if there are changes, those take effect in the early hours of saturday morning. government can go and recoup the cost subsequently, what is the thousands of schoolchildren acrosss england will have their return to school delayed following the christmas break. response to that? they are looking 0ur education editor

branwenjeffreys has more details. at it carefully. the government has recognised the size of the problem, i understand that secondary pupils are going to have a gradual return the social, economic impact it is having on the people in the cladding with years 11 and 13 going back buildings, and the entire sales from the first day of school because they are the ones process , buildings, and the entire sales process, which has grown to a halt facing exams next summer. because of this, because lenders other secondary pupils will not give mortgages and things will have a gradual return, like that. the government is putting staggered over the following days. a huge amount of time in, but there primary schoolchildren should expect is no quick and easy answer. you're to go back on the first day of term talking about safety, but there is a into their classrooms. so why the sudden change of heart human mental health cost to this. from the government? there are people who are stuck and well, just a couple of days ago ministers announced there would be rapid testing introduced into schools from january. maybe they need to move or want more schools have pushed back, space, and they cannot sell. they saying that is a huge task. are stuck through no fault of their the national education union said own, are they not? it is they would have to get consent from all the parents for these heartbreaking. i have been so many tests, train up an army of volunteers, and it simply wasn't meetings where people have broken possible to get it all in place in time for the beginning of term. down and have tried. it is a terrible situation and they are this comes just a few days still there years later and there after the government threatened seems to be no way out for them. the legal action against local councils

who had also suggested delaying stress they are under is just a return to classroom teaching. remarkable. it is terrible. so they just have to keep waiting? as you say, it is three and a half years 0ur education editor. since the grenfell tower fire. i'm afraid that is it. i will not get the headlines on bbc news: any christmas cards for saying that, but that is why we are saying is what it needs is a significant push, and the only way we can see that the health secretary says many parts of east and south—east of england are to be moved into tier going ahead is the government funding. iam 3, because of a big rise going ahead is the government funding. i am a taxpayer and do i in the number of cases. wa nt to funding. i am a taxpayer and do i want to pay for it? i don't see why i should. the government might have some culpability because of changing thousands of schoolchildren across england will have regulations in the past, but let's their return to school staggered after get people safe and then the the christmas break. government can figure out whether it should be developers, whether they should be developers, whether they should be developers, whether they should be a tax on new sales, or the level of new coronavirus other ways to recover it. we are infections in wales could be twice what was previously thought — clear, as long as leaseholders after a delay in reporting thousands of positive tests. cannot pay, because they are innocent. let's get the work done, because it has to be the safety and well—being that comes first. because it has to be the safety and lots to talk about around well-being that comes first. so much coronavirus and we will talk about more that could be discussed. thank

you for now. this and your questions answered is coming up at 3:30pm but we will step the headlines on bbc news... away from that for a moment. 38 million people will be living under the tightest coronavirus the cabinet office restrictions in england by this weekend. minister michael gove the health secretary says many parts is answering questions from mps on the brexit select committee. of the east and south of england it comes as talks are continuing are to be moved into tier 3, in brussels to try to secure a deal, because of a big rise with two weeks to go before the uk in the number of cases. in the last few minutes, leaves eu trading rules. the chancellor has announced let's listen in to some that the furlough scheme will be extended for an extra month until the end of april. of what mr gove has to say. thousands of school children across england will have their return to school don't make or has the scope of that. staggered after the christmas break. 0ne don't make or has the scope of that. one of the things that is the case for the eu, and one of the things that is the case forthe eu, and i one of the things that is the case for the eu, and i don't mean this in a disrespectful way, as you can authorities in the united states sometimes find regulations which are believed to be close to filing we re sometimes find regulations which were under one headline can find charges against a former libyan intelligence officer, their way into another, so things in connection with the bombing of panam flight 103 over lockerbie in 1988. that are in one thing can find it's understood abu aj—aila mohammed masud is suspected of making the bomb that brought down themselves somewhere else at a the plane, killing 270 people. different point. 0k, 0ur security correspondent

frank gardner reports. themselves somewhere else at a different point. ok, that would be approaching bad faith as they were to try that in the future. do you think these talks have been the lockerbie bombing was the worst conducted with both sides acting in terrorist attack in british history. good faith or do you think some of 259 people were killed when a bomb the movement in the eu demands has exploded on board pan am flight 103 as it flew over the scottish town taken us beyond that? well, i think of lockerbie in 1988. a judgment can be made at the end of a further 11 people died when it the process, so i think there have crashed to the ground. been moments of strain in difficulty the bombing was blamed but the negotiators are working hard on colonel gaddafi's regime in libya at the moment so i wouldn't want to make theirjob more difficult by and after a subsequent trial only one person has ever been convicted — providing any sort of interference. abdelbaset al—megrahi. he was eventually released back to libya and died protesting his innocence. now, further investigations we will look forward to asking you by a victim's brother has focused next time. the chances of a deal by attention on a new suspect. he's abu agila masud, seen here in a libyanjail, serving time for other offences. sunday night? higher or lower than a former intelligence officer, your usual 66%? he is believed to be the bomb maker

sunday night? higher or lower than your usual 6696? my sunday night? higher or lower than who fitted the timer to the device. the us wants him your usual 66%? my new resolution, adopted from a few weeks ago, is to extradited for trial. avoid giving percentages, but i think at the moment i think, but not everyone believes lockerbie reg retta bly, think at the moment i think, was the work of libya. regrettably, the chances are more jim swire lost his daughter flora likely that we will not secure an in the bombing and has campaigned for answers ever since. i don't feel confident agreement, so at the moment less that the material that was provided than 50%. thank you very much to indicate that the bomb had come from the hand of a libyan in malta was correct. i cannot bring myself to feel indeed. thank you for coming in for that the evidence we've heard so far does in fact point us towards the truth. us. indeed. thank you for coming in for us. in march you told us you were going to put in place a robust libya's late ruler colonel gaddafi was certainly desperate to get stated subsidy system. can you give us an stated subsidy system. can you give us an update on where we are? the sanctions lifted 20 years ago. to do that he reluctantly accepted the charges and paid compensation to the victims‘ families. today, 32 years after the tragedy secretary of state for business, of lockerbie, it appears some energy and industrial strategy has details are still being uncovered and the mysterious case been working on a proposal to make of the new suspect may yet pose more sure it respects both free—market unanswered questions. principles but also allows us to frank gardner, bbc news. intervene in an appropriate way. one of the issues in the negotiations which is relevant and adds to the

point which nigel made is that one of the things the eu has been the french president, emmanuel macron, has tested positive arguing is that... for covid—19 and says he is self—isolating for the next week. portugal's prime minister, antonio costa, who met monsieur macron yesterday, is now self isolating, as is the prime minister of spain, pedro sanchez, following a lunch with the french president on monday. when it comes to providing funding atan eu when it comes to providing funding marcus rashford's campaign to tackle at an eu level. so you would have a food poverty has been situation where for the sake of widely talked about, and he's been open about how his argument the eu at the level of the childhood experiences inspired him to help others. now his mother mel has spoken for the first time about her son's 27 could provide support for the work during the pandemic; — production of electric vehicles but if the uk said we want to use sally nugent reports. government money to prime that new technology then the tariffs which the eu want us to agree with me and we would be prevented from doing so and we thank that is a fundamental

problem that the union of the united kingdom like the union of the european union should be of course i had threejobs. if i didn't, it ina european union should be of course in a position where it respects would not have been possible to have clear rules about how stated as provided but at the moment or food. marcus is speaking from the certainly during the course of these bottom of his hard. —— his heart. i negotiations the eu has sought for would rather give the food to the itself freedom from restraints but kids and myself. itself freedom from restraints but it would not grant us. it sounds sometimes it was really bad. sometimes i didn't get anything to eat and they'd ask me, like a game of double standards. in "have you had yours?" and i'd say yeah, but i didn't. the election last year a keep alive sometimes we didn't even have a loaf of bread in the house. for us was being to intervene in key it's embarrassing to say, but we didn't. all them little struggles markets to secure a competitive and the sacrifices that you made, advantage in the future and i do not it helped you appreciate everything like ten times more. so i don't see it as a weakness, think a competitive advantage is cos i think in sport, you have something to be shied away from, it to have something behind you that's pushing you. is exactly what we should be doing, when you come from a place of struggle and a place of pain, so can you reassure us we a lot of the time, it is exactly what we should be doing, so can you reassure us we will keep that flexibility that means is we switches and it becomes your drive and motivation. look at different industries in the 0ver over the last few months, marcus has future, hydrogen and space and been campaigning to help vulnerable

families growing up in similar electric vehicles, we will retain that sovereign ability to find the markets where we as the uk will have situations. last year we gave out 95 a competitive advantage and intervene and make sure we can tonnes of food. boost. absolutely. one of the last year, we gave out purposes of being sovereign is the 95 tonnes of food. this september? capacity to be able to do different 339 tonnes. so you can see, it's been massive. things in different ways. we will as his mum, watching him load a car full of breakfast stuff for other not be diverging fully for the sake of it but you are right there are a number of areas where the uk has an this new building is being named advantage because of the skill of after mel, for everything they've done together to help families in need. our people are because of the thank you so much. enterprise shown by innovators and start your own, erm, your own trophy cabinet. yeah. what's it like then, to be in this building still your own constituents in that's named after you, burnley are very much in the after all the you and marcus forefront of their minds when we are have achieved over the last several months? thinking about how to make sure i'm overwhelmed. and i don't know what to say, there are high qualityjobs in the but all i can say is thank you. industries of the future. on the i think i'm going to cry! for us, and my mum especially, we were concentrated secretary of state for business plans, can you give is a time limit so plans, can you give is a time limit so what we might expect to see the so much on, like, the people that we was trying to help. legislative proposals for what they so the reaction and the response

read might look like? to things, a lot of itjust simply legislative proposals for what they read might look like ?|j legislative proposals for what they read might look like? i cannot goes over our heads, pre—empt what a leader of the is because we're still focused on helping people. might say but there will be can ijust do one with marcus? substantive legislation which will yeah, definitely. give effect ad position on state aid you need to grow a little bit. under or in other ways of supporting business. and that will not hold up the negotiations? we can proceed with the negotiations and try to get an agreement, although i totally acce pt an agreement, although i totally accept it may not be in our interests. the eu is not holding that up? no, they want to understand theatres would usually be bursting with life at this time of year, but the approach we are taking but it is the pandemic has mostly huge number to close their doors. the approach we are taking but it is the case that measures will be brought forward by the secretary of state on subsidy control in the next parliamentary session. thank you. now a group of out—of—work west end keep fighting the good fight. thank performers have found a new use for their skills this christmas — putting on virtual concerts for care you, anthony. good afternoon. i am homes across the uk. and fittingly the premiere has been held in a home for retired singers and actors. fiona lamdin has more. # snow is falling (snow is falling) # all around me (all around me) # children playing. ..#

going to ask about fisheries. but is these actors would normally be probably not a surprise. i think it centre stage in the west end. steph parry has starred in 42nd street, billy elliot and mamma mia! is clear that the british fishing but lockdown has changed everything. fleets need to be built in order to so i left the theatre in march. i left my dressing room kind of ready to come back a few days later and carry on the show. officiate our waters that have and that was eight months ago. reverted back from the 31st of december. 0n reverted back from the 31st of december. on what basis is the the last eight months have been different. they've been barren. government offering the eu access for eu fishing vessels and crews to uk waters from the 1st ofjanuary? and with many theatres still closed, rehearsals like these are rare. it's been the hardest the first and most important thing year of my life. to stress is that in international i've seen my whole law the uk will be an independent industry decimated. coastal state and it is important thatis coastal state and it is important that is recognised by the eu but as i've been on the phone to, you rightly point out it is also the from actors to producers to lighting designers, case it will take a little bit of who simply cannot pay their mortgage, erm, people worrying time for the eu fishing fleets to about their families. expand on the way we wanted to to so this is your first time back in a rehearsalfor nine months. ta ke what's it like? expand on the way we wanted to to take advantage of the additional eerily familiar to hear young capacity that will be available to performers, seasoned professionals, catch. it is also the case but we just singing together

for the first time. it really did feel will want to invest in ports and a bit like coming home. harbours across the uk to make sure # time for parties and celebrations we have the processing ability as well, so what we hope to do is reach # people dancing all night long...# an approach with the eu whereby they and these stars are now understand that while of course the using their talents to create principle of any negotiations is at a christmas concert for every care the heart of the way we will do home across the country. # time for singing christmas songs.# things that they can have confidence about a staged approach whereby they this is particularly close will have a degree of confidence and to my heart because we lost my nan this year. she was in a care home and obviously certainty over the decreasing level towards the end we weren't of availability of stocks to them able to go and see her. and increasing availability of # rudolph the red—nosed reindeer # had a very shiny stocks to uk fishermen. when you are nose...# thinking about a staged approach, do i've seen what impact you have any year basis, three music can have on people living in homes with years, five years? the eu have alzheimer's and dementia. # chestnuts roasting talked about a ten year approach and on an open fire...# and where better to preview the approach they have outlined has it than at brinsworth house, a nursing home for those other aspects which would be very who've served in the entertainment industry. difficult. we are negotiating hard she sings in order to impress upon the eu the

point that we just want to be an independent coastal state like rosario and josephine others and they negotiate on an were both performers. annual basis with norway, iceland, and now i sing in my dressing room or my bedroom, along the corridor and in the loo. the faroe i couldn't sing the carols because i don't sing carols in english. i only sing carols in spain. annual basis with norway, iceland, the fa roe islands annual basis with norway, iceland, the faroe islands and we want to ensure that the rights of our coastal communities are represented i do enjoy watching good shows without undue restraint on freedom done by great people. it feels like the most christmassy of movement. if we reach no deal thing i've ever done in my career. this year, and from the 1st of we can do something january without a deal, the eu has good for somebody else. and how christmassy is that? no access to our waters, is that right? no rights of access, # we wish you a merry christmas # and a happy new year.# absolutely right. we would want to fiona lamdin, bbc news. reach a pragmatic arrangement with the eu even in those circumstances but if there is no deal on the 31st of december then on the ist of january european ships with loads now it's time for a look access to our waters. something is better than nothing. as the uk at the weather with darren bett. hello there.

the best of the weather today has been across more asking for all fish caught in uk eastern parts of the uk, waters to be landed in the uk? no. where it has been drier and sunnier. but we are seeing the weather changing from the west. and we have got this set of weather fronts coming in, this it is the case at the moment the cloud already thickening up, and it is rain that is coming and the english channel at the into western areas as well. through this evening, moment, for some stocks, only 7% of that wetter weather in the west will continue to push its way eastwards to many the stocks are allocated to eager parts of the country. some heavier bursts of rain over the hills, but the rain does tend to peter out before it arrives across east anglia and fishermen, so no, and there are the southeast, and we could see a few breaks in the cloud well—established principles which in scotland, with some showers following in from the west. but it is going to be a very mild allow european boats to fish waters night, a breezy night, and by the end of the night, most places will be and of course to land the fish in in double figures. but friday looks like it's going to the harbour, but we need equitable be cloudy for much of the country. we will see more rain developing, heavier rain in the southwest of england and wales, sharing. well the fisheries threatening some more flooding. that wetter weather pushes northwards into northern england, agreement you are seeking mean northern ireland and up in to scotland. fundamental change on the 1st of probably still largely dry january for those catching the fish in the afternoon across east anglia and the southeast, but all areas in the uk waters and selling their will have a stronger wind on friday. flesh to the eu market? -- their it is a southerly wind, gales likely in the southwest of england and southwest wales, but it is going to be very mild.

we start off with double figures and temperatures will creep up to around 13, maybe even 14 degrees. as we head into the weekend, fish. i would we start to push rain eastwards flesh to the eu market? -- their fish. iwould hope flesh to the eu market? -- their fish. i would hope we would see a on friday night to clear away move and adjustment that can ever on saturday morning. and then this is going to be the dominant feature right the way such a man more access to our through the weekend, move and adjustment that can ever such a man more access to our own fish but also at the same time in an an area of lower pressure is sitting to the northwest of the uk. ideal world we would want to have that will feed in the showers, tariff free access for fish and pick up the wind, and gradually we will see temperatures dropping shellfish products to the eu market. a bit as the weekend goes on, as that very mild air on friday gets pushed away. we will pull away from that session quite a windy weekend, i think, with some sunshine and also some showers, for now, michael gove answering which could be heavy. now, on saturday we are going questions in front of the brexit to find showers pushing through the english channel once that early rain clears committee, not literally in front, away from east anglia but you know how these things are done at the moment. a lot of debate and the southeast from overnight. a lot of showers, though, for the western side of the uk, about fisheries which is one of the they could be heavy, potentially thundery as well. keyissues about fisheries which is one of the key issues and just as we went to no doubt some will get pushed inland that michael gove reiterated that he and further east, but not many. feels the likelihood of the deal is and we've still got the temperatures in much of the country less tha n still in double figures, feels the likelihood of the deal is but tempered somewhat by those less than 50%. we will keep an ear strong and blustery winds. across that and if there are any more interesting comments need we still quite blustery on sunday, will let you know. that session very much continuing there. still some showers, again, mainly across western and more

southern parts of the uk. perhaps the showers easing down a bit in the afternoon as the winds start to ease as well, some breaking news. but those temperatures not quite as high. the furlough scheme will be we are looking at around 8—10 c. extended for an extra month until the end of april, chancellor rishi sunak has announced. slightly different to the general scheme it was at the beginning of coronavirus but nonetheless it still exists in some form and very much needed by those who benefit from it of course, to top up wages for people and businesses that simply are not able to function for all the reasons we know about. it will be extended until the end of april, thatis extended until the end of april, that is what we are hearing from rishi sunak in the last few moments. there may be some business response to that so we will bring that to you when we get it. much more to come on this is bbc news. the headlines: coronavirus and a reminder we will

38 million people will be be answering your questions just living under the tightest after three 30p and so if you have coronavirus restrictions in england by this weekend. the health secretary says many parts any questions about tiers and the of the east and south of england are to be moved into tier 3, various coronavirus restrictions because of a big rise send us your questions. in the number of cases. now it's time for a look i regret having to take the action that we have to take. at the weather with darren bett. i deem it necessary and there's the best of the sunshine has been a strong view right across the eastern side of the uk. across government that these actions the weather has been changing are necessary, but i also plead that from the west with thickening cloud and we are seeing more of this rain coming in as well, replacing personal responsibility is absolutely central to how those earlier showers. we as a society should that wetter weather will continue to push its way eastwards this evening and overnight. some heavier rain over the hills. respond to this pandemic. the rain probably tending to peter out a bit as it arrives in the south east of england and east anglia. the chancellor announces many places becoming dry by the end of the night, an extension to the furlough scheme. by which time temperatures generally in double figures. it will now run until the end a few showers to start the day. of april next year. maybe a few breaks in the cloud thousands of schoolchildren across scotland, but we will see across england will have their return to school staggered more rain arriving in the west and some heavy rain threatening some after the christmas break. flooding in the south west of england and then to parts of wales. that wetter weather moving the bbc understands health officials into northern england, northern ireland and up in northern ireland have into scotland as well. proposed a six—week largely dry in the afternoon lockdown to try to curb the for east anglia and the spread of the virus. south—east of england. more former rugby union players

there will be a stronger havejoined legal action wind on friday. against the game's authorities — gales in the south—west of england and south—west wales. accusing them of negligence it's a southerly wind so it's going to be a very mild day. over head injuries. after that mild start, temperatures will keep up to highs 00:30:10,623 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 of 13, perhaps 14 celsius. and coming up, the west end performers staging virtual christmas concerts for care homes. two—thirds of the population of england — or 38 million people — will be living under the tightest coronavirus restrictions by this weekend. the health secretary, matt hancock, told mps that following a review, most of the areas already in the toughest tier 3 level will remain there.

he said a 46% increase in covid—19 cases in the past week in south east england and cases "up by two thirds" in the east of england meant it was "necessary to apply tier 3 measures across a much wider area". bedfordshire, buckinghamshire, berkshire and hertfordshire will be subject to tier 3 rules, as will parts of surrey, east sussex, cambridgeshire and hampshire. bristol and north somerset will move from tier 3 to tier 2. herefordshire will move from tier 2 into tier 1. the health secretary told mps the measures are needed to suppress the virus and said, "we've come so far, we mustn't blow it now. all the details come from our political correspondent helen catt. not so long ago, hastings in east sussex had one of the lowest rates of coronavirus in england. now a surge in cases has pushed

the town into tier 3 along with a huge swathe of the south east. it is therefore necessary to apply tier 3 measures across a much wider area of the east and south—east of england, including bedfordshire, buckinghamshire, berkshire, peterborough, the whole of hertfordshire, surrey, with the exception of waverley, hastings and rother on the kent border of east sussex, and portsmouth, gosport and havant in hampshire. these changes will take effect from one minute past midnight on saturday morning. millions of people across northern england and the midlands will stay in tier 3. i regret having to take the action we have to take. i deem it necessary and there is a strong view right across government that these actions are necessary. greater manchester has been under the toughest restrictions for months and the rate of infection has come down, below the average. despite that the government

has decided not to move it to tier 2 yet. the problem with tier 3 is it is devastating from an economic point of view and that is what we said to the government. if they will keep places in tier 3 today, then there has to be much more financial support. some areas will move down a tier. bristol and north somerset to tier 2, herefordshire to the very rare tier 1. the latest tiering decision comes less than 24 hours after the prime minister urged us to be cautious over christmas. have yourselves a merry little christmas. i'm afraid this year i do mean little. the rules allowing three households to gather are not changing in england, scotland or northern ireland but the message is to persuade people not to get together. labour says that isn't enough. this isn't about cancelling christmas. santa will still deliver his presents. but is he really telling us that allowing — allowing — indoor mixing of three households

across regions and generations for five days is sensible, given the virus is raging with such ferocity at the moment? the tier changes come into force on saturday meaning hospitality venues in new tier 3 areas will have to shut to diners over christmas. the next formal review is due in a fortnight. duncan kennedy is in gosport in hampshire, which is set to move into tier 3. from saturday. yes, and that has come as something of a surprise to people here. they were not expecting it. one of three areas in hampshire to go into tier 3. gosport, portsmouth and an area next door, called have earned, all of those three going into tier 3. people here seeing fareham is not strangely and

they do not understand why some areas are going on and some areas areas are going on and some areas are going out. all 14 local authorities here in hampshire have seen authorities here in hampshire have seen that infection rates go up. a neighbouring portsmouth they have gone up by 42% and the leader of the city council says he can understand why the government has chosen to put his area into tier 3 but other people are seeing it perplexing. i guess we willjust have to people are seeing it perplexing. i guess we will just have to follow the rules of the kind of mood we are picking up here. we can speak to a couple of people to get their reaction. we have andrew and james, both locals from gosport. what is your reaction to going into tier 3, having been in tier 2 for so long?|j think having been in tier 2 for so long?” think my reaction is quite a shock going from tier1 to tier 2 and it is when all the shops close in the cafe is close as well and then they

start doing takeaways and it is just really bad. i think they don't give you enough notice. they do it straightaway and people with mental health problems and all that, economic, people'sjobs... health problems and all that, economic, people's jobs. .. what about the fact infection rates are going up here? you have to do something but what to do is difficult. what about the fact infection rates are going up? the government has to act. the government has to act. the government saying we ought to go into lockdown on things like that but like fare ham into lockdown on things like that but like fareham they are not into

lockdown and we are starting to go into lockdown and shops closing. what do you think it is going to do figure plans in the run—up to christmas? what? what will it do figure plans in tier 3? sometimes i plan something and then i cannot plan something and then i cannot plan to do things, i am staying at home and trying to find things to do and coming out and trying to avoid other people. the biggest thing is the fact restaurants and pubs will have to close and only available for takeaway. what will that do for businesses here for you?” takeaway. what will that do for businesses here for you? i am in a retirement flat and after the first wave we locked down straightaway so we didn't have anyone who got covid so we we didn't have anyone who got covid so we will be lockdown and only

people's families would comment. thank you. we will leave it there. two of the points of year. a little bit of shock to be put into tier 3. not a lot of people here were expecting that. you picked up on the fa ct expecting that. you picked up on the fact that they are a little bit jealous if you like of their neighbours staying in tier 2 with restrictions coming in here for tier 3and restrictions coming in here for tier 3 and the fact that people are accepting something has to be done in those areas where infection rates are rising. it all reverts back to the christmas rules next week when areas like this will be free again under those no restrictions over the christmas period before reverting back to tier 3 —— new restrictions. lots of discussions going on about why they are in tier 3 but a general a cce pta nce why they are in tier 3 but a general acceptance something has to be done in those areas where infection rates are rising. duncan, thank you very much, in gosport in hampshire. it is

quite hard to keep up. and you can find out what the rules are in your area of the uk by entering your postcode in our interactive tool — you can find it online at the bbc news website or on our app. bristol has moved from tier 3 to tier 2 and joining me now is the mayor of bristol, marvin rees. good afternoon. what do you think of this decision? there is obviously going to be some relief among many people in the city, particularly those in the hospitality sector, because they will be able to open their doors again to customers, but we recognise it comes with a lot of risk antivirus is still with us so i am concerned about going into the

christmas period relaxation and the potential for a whiplash back of covid optics in the year but we certainly appreciate that the number of people in bristol will be relieved. as you point out, it is only for a few days until we get to the five—day window which starts on december the 23rd. what is your message to people of the city so that you do not end up going back up ain? that you do not end up going back up again? my message first and foremost is to thank the people of bristol because it is the way they have behaved and they way they have conducted themselves that has led to the incidence of overt and the city following so dramatically in the last few weeks. we went from single digits up to 500,000 back to 115 in just a few weeks. it shows we can do it if we go along with the guidance and keep social distancing space.

but what we need to do is continue with those behaviours. wejust but what we need to do is continue with those behaviours. we just need to safeguard ourselves. i also recognise the pressure on business. thousands of businesses have been left out of the support packages and are falling through the gaps. for those that are being given the opportunity to open there is a real challenge that they say they cannot sun themselves on and off on a whim which brings financial challenge, so the opportunity that is there is a very qualified opportunity for many of our businesses and so the support packages the government are putting together need to be appropriate and adequate and given out in a timely manner. it is interesting you mention that. we are going to talk about the fact that the furlough scheme is going to run until the end of april. i appreciate businesses need more than just the furlough scheme but over the course of the last few months worth of business owners been saying to you? do some

feel there has been sufficient support? 0r feel there has been sufficient support? or have some said i have folded, i cannot keep my business going? there is a lot of pressure. local authorities across the country are mainly obviously interacting with the core cities outside london and have worked incredibly hard to make sure that any money that comes then, any support package we get is put out as quickly as possible. but nonetheless lots of businesses are just not getting sufficient money. it is not happening in a timely enough way or we are being given money, for example the pub is money that was sent to us, the funding was announced but the guidance didn't come for another two or three weeks after it was announced so that leaves us as a local authority in a wicked situation having to guess what the intentions are around these pots of money. what we need is as much certainty as we can from government around the way they are going to approach this covid and

dare i say they need to include readers of places and decisions. i had no idea we were going into tier 2. for the last few days i have been asked and i have been sharing openly my suspicion we were going to remain in tier3and my suspicion we were going to remain in tier 3 and an effort to keep the numbers down before the christmas relaxation to minimise the risks of that relaxation. i just relaxation to minimise the risks of that relaxation. ijust got a note earlier on today the same as eve ryo ne earlier on today the same as everyone else that bristol is in tier 2. but is not engaging with the leaders of places in that decision making which means for the quality of leadership that is not what it could be. no notice, no consultation? no. i was could be. no notice, no consultation? no. iwas on could be. no notice, no consultation? no. i was on an interview and i was actually talking about what we were going to do about brexit and in the middle of that somebody popped into my office written on a piece of paper tier 2 written on a piece of paper tier 2 written on a piece of paper tier 2 written on it. no notice, but you will find the story being repeated

across the country. what we do not expect, but i would never expect, is that for personal phone calls everywhere to learn the individual local authority, but i think we should have when governments are working out the framework to make their future decisions that those frameworks are informed by the underground experience and intelligence of local authority leaders and organisations operating in the business community is, the trade unions, the schools. it has to be done with the country, not to the country. it is interesting to hear your perspective. the mayor of bristol. the chancellor rishi sunak has annouced that the furlough jobs retention scheme will be extended until april 2021. our business correspondent andy verityjoins us. what has rishi sunak been seeing? we have just heard from him

what has rishi sunak been seeing? we havejust heard from him in what has rishi sunak been seeing? we have just heard from him in the last error to say we are extending furlough until the end of april 2021. the risk was that if the government hadn't extended the furlough scheme, at the moment it was due to go to the end of march, now it is until the end of april, then firms would have been taking a very ha rd then firms would have been taking a very hard look at their finance in this next month perhaps and in the coming weeks, after having reviewed the disastrous christmas, and wondering whether they can stay afloat and perhaps need many redundancies because they couldn't afford the wages. now if they know they can keep on taking that government money for the wages until the end of april there is a chance business may get a bit more back to normal after more people are vaccinated but we should be clear the scale of the problem for small businesses and especially pubs and restau ra nts a nd hotels

businesses and especially pubs and restaurants and hotels is huge. for them effectively christmas is a trading period has been cancelled. you are looking at a huge deficit they have got, the difference between the cash coming in on the cash they need to pay notjust wages but other bills like rent, heating, lighting, suppliers and so on. £180 billion is the difference and they do not have enough cash to pay for that so there will be a reckoning in the new year. the question is can it be covered by the emergency loan schemes? rishi sunak talked in march about £330 billion of loans. that was not loans from the government, it was from banks that the government was going to back. we have had about 68 billion so only a fraction of that given out to businesses. some have been denied these emergency loans, some have not had other support, some have been cut out of the furlough scheme and the self—employed scheme, so a lot of businesses are saying you cannot

then does any more money, we are already drowning in debt, there are calls from trade bodies and opposition parties for the government to do more in terms of grants, money it is simply going to hand out to allow these businesses to survive. really interesting. our economics correspondent talking about the one—month extension of the furlough scheme. coronavirus infection rates are rising in all but one region in england. latest figures from public health england say london has the highest rate with more than 300 cases per 100,000 people in the week to december 13th. yorkshire and the humber is the only part of england to see a week—on—week fall in the infection rate. with me is our health correspondent, nick triggle. we have only had these figures out in the last couple of hours, but thatis in the last couple of hours, but that is a fairly grim start for the

capital and there are others. indeed. this is an in—depth look into the daily figures we get from government each day and they are up to last sunday and they perhaps provide some of the justification or reasoning for the actions the government is taking today with the tiers. as you mentioned all regions of england are seeing increasing rates of infection apart from yorkshire and humber. even in the north—west and north—east where we have seen big falls during much of november and early december, there was false in those areas have stopped and there are signs infection rates may be creeping up, so infection rates may be creeping up, so that is why we did not see some of those areas come out of tier 3 and into tier 2 even though they have relatively low rates. london has the highest rates, 319 cases per 100,000 people last week, up from 200 per 100,000 the week before.

quite a significant jump 200 per 100,000 the week before. quite a significantjump of over 50%. what has also been crucial is what is happening in the nhs in this report has some details on hospital admissions. they are rising again in every region apart from in the midlands. we know from the daily figures there are 15,000 patients in hospital with covid and england, up from 12,000 at the start of december, but what we also got today was how filled hospitals are with other patients. nine in ten beds are occupied, which is not unusual at this time of year and shows there is a little bit of wriggle room but it is quickly filling up, but we know hospitals are cancelling some of the routine operation playback and that is coming at a cost. and this time of year always busy for the nhs even

without covid. thousands of schoolchildren acrosss england will have their return to school delayed following the christmas break. 0ur education editor branwenjeffreys has more details. secondary pupils are going to have a gradual return with years 11 and 13 going back from the first day of school because they are the ones facing exams next summer. other secondary pupils will have a gradual return, staggered over the following days. primary schoolchildren should expect to go back on the first day of term into their classrooms. so why the sudden change of heart from the government? well, just a couple of days ago ministers announced there would be rapid testing introduced into schools from january. schools have pushed back, saying that is a huge task. the national education union said they would have to get consent from all the parents for these tests, train up an army of volunteers, and it simply wasn't

possible to get it all in place in time for the beginning of term. this comes just a few days after the government threatened legal action against local councils who had also suggested delaying a return to classroom teaching. 0ur education editor branwen jeffreys. the bbc understands health officials in northern ireland have proposed a six—week lockdown to try to curb the spread of the virus. there is speculation ministers could approve it to take effect from 28th december, but the details will be discussed by the devolved government later this afternoon. 0ur ireland correspondent chris page joins us from belfast. what are you hearing? ministers in the devolved government are due to meet. it is understood that meeting may well get under way in the next quarter of an hour or so. understood

to be on the table, a proposalfrom the department of health from scientific advisers that there should be a six—week lock down here in order to deal with the alarmingly high number of coronavirus cases. that could include for example once again closure of nonessential shops. northern ireland just came out of a period of two weeks circuit breaker lockdown last friday but then there was some discussion as to exactly what shops should be deemed as nonessential, for example it was decided in the end by ministers that hardware shops were essential so they were allowed to remain open during that period, but more shops may be put into the nonessential category this time which means a bigger section of the retail economy will be closed. also likely to be affected, hospitality businesses, hairdressers and beauticians. ministers will be discussing the detail but basically it is understood that the period under

discussion is six weeks along perhaps with a review after four weeks, due to cake and just after christmas. it is possible as part of what may be decided by ministers that afternoon that as has happened in wales you could get nonessential retailers closing on christmas eve and not reopening again for the number of weeks of the six—week lockdown is approved and that will ta ke lockdown is approved and that will take us into the beginning of february. we will find out a little later by the sounds of it. thank you to chris page in belfast who will keep us up—to—date with developments. the true level of new coronavirus infections in wales could be twice the figure previously thought. planned computer maintenance has led to a delay in reporting an extra 11,000 positive covid tests. 0ur correspondent sian lloyd is in cardiff. 0nly yesterday we were reporting people in wales were learning they'd face tougher coronavirus restrictions starting on christmas eve with a full

lockdown from december 28th, and that was explained by mark drakeford, the first minister. but the situation is extremely concerning with a record number of welsh patients being treated in hospital for coronavirus. today people are having to take on board this news that a delay in reporting more than 11,000 extra positive covid tests means cases are twice as high as was thought for the previous week. public health wales have explained this. they say that planned it maintenance meant that there was significant underreporting but that anyone who received a positive covid test was informed and contacted in the usual way. on friday it had warned this planned it maintenance would lead to changes and affect its daily reporting of coronavirus figures. and the first minister, mark drakeford, has said he was aware of the underreporting. this isn't a computer problem — this was planned upgrading

of the computer system. none of the data is missing. everybody who had a positive test was told that in wales last week. everything was uploaded onto our ttp system but the figures do indeed demonstrate just how serious the position here in wales has become. and i can just tell you that figures from the office for national statistics just released show that covid—19 was the biggest cause of death in wales in november for the first time in six months. sian lloyd. your questions coming up just after half past. the cabinet office minister michael gove has said it's more likely that the uk will leave the eu

without a deal at the end of the year. it comes as talks are continuing in brussels to try to secure an agreement. 0ur reality check correspondent chris morris is here. he has extensive experience of working in brussels, so you know plenty about it, but michael gove was sending downbeat, is that fair? yes, cautious, iwould was sending downbeat, is that fair? yes, cautious, i would say. was sending downbeat, is that fair? yes, cautious, iwould say. if was sending downbeat, is that fair? yes, cautious, i would say. if you thought the coronavirus tier system is complicated welcome to the brexit negotiations. the glasses either half—full or half empty depending how you look at it. michel barnier the eu negotiator said this morning good progress but last stumbling blocks remain, so upbeat. similar sounding words from his palace the commission president ursula von der leyen yesterday saying there is a narrow path towards a deal but there

isa narrow path towards a deal but there is a deal. at the moment on the british side it sounds a bit more cautious, a bit more downbeat. michael gove speaking to a committee of the house of commons in the last hour. my new resolution, adopted a few weeks ago, is to avoid giving percentages, but i think at the moment, as i said to peter, i think, regrettably, the chances are more likely that we will not secure an agreement, so at the moment less than 50%. more likely that we will not. he talked a little bit about what happens if there is a deal right at the very last minute. we are getting very close to that anyway and it is interesting. if there were only literally a few days left, we only have a few weeks, but if it was a few days the european union has a way you can provisionally apply an agreement and then the european parliament can have its vote on

ratification later. some meps do not like that but it is a possibility. michael gove said we have to have time to legislate and let parliament have their say and if the clock has run out no agreement would have been reached and we will be and a world where we would trade on wto terms, in other words no deal. he appeared to be seeing heaven never reach an agreement on the 27th of december we would prefer to walk away from nine months of negotiation, tariff free trade, an important agreement on security co—operation and so on, we would walk away from that because the clock would have run out and we would simply trade on no deal. to they believe him ? would simply trade on no deal. to they believe him? i am not sure. the reason why he wants to keep pressure on the pedal. it would be a controversial decision if an agreement had been reached but because of a few days that was needed to legislate it properly the whole thing fell apart, but that is

certainly what he said to the committee. is no down a separate meeting? yes, and northern ireland will be treated separately. he has had a meeting and they confirmed the agreement in principle, which was reached last week. it is important because it says that when it is a deal or not, northern ireland will trade with the eu in the future without tariffs. that is really important for businesses in northern ireland. it does not matter whether the trade talks succeed orfail, they does not matter whether the trade talks succeed or fail, they will have tariff free trade. there are also issues separate or where there is more bureaucracy between britain and northern ireland. we know they will have to be checks on food going into northern ireland, but if you wa nt to ta ke into northern ireland, but if you want to take your dog or cat from great britain to northern ireland, after the 1st of january, you will need to go to the vet and get on animal health certificate. not impossible, but a symbolic piece of bureaucracy which means that if it

is friday night anything, i will go in see the cousins in belfast, take the dog through saturday morning, you cannot do that. you will need that of winger animal health certificate every time you do that. northern ireland will be treated slightly differently, some good, some not so good, and i think what will be interesting will be a lot of those good things will be seen in places like scotland, and they will be people saying, we did not vote for brexit in this nation of the uk. why cannot we —— why can we not have what they have? thank you, chris. see you again. now it's time for a look at the weather with darren bett. the best of the sunshine has been across the eastern side of the uk. the weather has been changing from the west with thickening cloud and we are seeing more of this rain coming in as well, replacing

those earlier showers. that wetter weather will continue to push its way eastwards this evening and overnight. some heavier rain over the hills. the rain probably tending to peter out a bit as it arrives in the south east of england and east anglia. many places becoming dry by the end of the night, by which time temperatures generally in double figures. a few showers to start the day. maybe a few breaks in the cloud across scotland, but we will see more rain arriving in the west and some heavy rain threatening some flooding in the south west of england and then to parts of wales. that wetter weather moving into northern england, northern ireland and up into scotland as well. largely dry in the afternoon for east anglia and the south—east of england. there will be a stronger wind on friday. gales in the south—west of england and south—west wales. it's a southerly wind so it's going to be a very mild day. after that mild start, temperatures will keep up to highs of 13, perhaps 14 celsius. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines...

millions more people in the east and south—east of england will face the toughest covid—19 rules from saturday, after a big rise in the number of cases. covid case rates are rising in all but one region of england, according to the latest weekly surveillance report from public health england. the chancellor announces an extension to the furlough scheme — it will now run until the end of april next year. thousands of school children across england will have their return to school staggered after the christmas break. the bbc understands health officials in northern ireland have proposed a six—week lockdown to try to curb the spread of the virus. sport and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's gavin. good afternoon.

let's start with news that russia's ban from major sporting events after a doping scandal has been cut to two years by the court of arbitration for sport this afternoon. it still prevents russia from competing at next year's olympics and paralympics, and the football world cup in 2022. the country was initially given a four—year ban by the world anti—doping agency following an investigation in 2016 which found at least 1000 russian athletes across at least 30 sports were implicated in state—sponsored doping programmes. more former rugby union players havejoined legal action against the game's authorities for alleged negligence. it's after nine recently retired international players came forward, saying they're suffering permanent brain damage caused by repeated blows to the head. 0ur sports news correspondent chris mclaughlin has more. this is something we were expecting, these nine former players and the legal firm representing them have today officially launched a letter of claim with the wru, the rfu and world rugby for negligence. we already knew that steve thompson,

the former england player alex popham, and michael lipman were involved in this potential class action. two other names to bring you this afternoon — the former leicester and gloucester flanker, neil spence. he is currently 44. and the former dragons centre, adam hughes, just 30. he retired in 2018 because of fears over a brain injury. all say they are suffering from the early signs of dementia, all say that is due to repeated blows to the head, be that in training or in matches. that letter of claim will be lodged with the governing bodies. they have given them three months to respond to that. there has been a response from the wru, the rfu and world rugby today and i will bring you an excerpt on the bbc website, and it says, "we are deeply saddened to hear

of the brave personal accounts from former players. rugby is a contact sport and, while there is an element of risk to playing any sport, rugby takes player welfare extremely seriously and it continues to be our number one priority." elsewhere, premier league clubs have voted against allowing teams to make five substitutions per match at a meeting today, but they have agreed the introduction of two additional concussion replacements. the premier league hopes to start the plans from january, after the approval of trials was given for the new year. the new rule means permanent substitutions can be made if a player suffers a head injury, even if all replacements have already been used. there have been calls for concussion substitutes to be used in football for some time, to give players more protection. daniel parslow is a fomer york city defender, and retired from football last year after being concussed during a match. lots of concussion injuries are delayed and in my circumstances, it was exactly that.

ifelt fine, i passed all the initial checks and it was not until two, three, four minutes later that the nausea, dizziness, unease on my feet and it was at that stage that we knew it was very serious. staying with football, and edinson cavani could be banned for up to three games after being charged with misconduct by the fa. it's after the manchester united striker posted a message on social media which contained an offensive spanish phrase. cavani deleted the message and apologised when the potential meaning of the post was pointed out to him. his side take on sheffield united this evening in the premier league. more sports have been deciding their schedules for 2021. the start of the australian open tennis has been delayed because of the pandemic. the first grand slam event of the year was supposed to start in melboune on the 18th january. it'll now begin three weeks later, on 8th february, and that'll allow the players to complete a two—week quarantine period, which is currently required in australia. and get ready for the longest formula one season in history.

there'll be 23 races next year, starting in australia, on 21st march and running right though to abu dhabi on 6th december. all the details are on the bbc sport website and app. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. and on the day that we have heard from matt hancock about the new tier restrictions which come in for a lot of people come saturday, you have been sending in a lot of questions about this and particularly questions, really, about how this impacts on christmas, what you can do and where you can travel. here to answer them is professor linda bauld, a professor of public health at the university of edinburgh, and professor sian griffiths, emeritus professor at the chinese university of hong kong. a warm welcome to both of you. and

let us start with a question from sue in ash and underline, who once to know, can i meet with my son's family on christmas day and then my other son's family on boxing day with mike i will continue first, linda, on this, but i am told that an awful lot of people are asking questions along these lines. sue has hit something here. linda, your thoughts. is challenging because we have the christmas guidance and the tiers guidance and the two relate. in relation to the question, that is three households on different days. in england, that is fine with some caveats. let us quickly summarise the rules in the uk. in scotland, three households to a maximum of eight people not including children. wales just to households, eight people not including children. walesjust to households, and northern ireland is similar to england. su's question, she can do this, but i would say that that is

one bubble. it means her son's family and the other family cannot then form different bubbles at the same time. sue can do that but it means all of those three households are then in the same bubble and that restricts what the other households may wish to do over the christmas period. your thoughts on that, sian, given so many people asking this question. linda is right, it is very tricky. you can only meet in three, and that three must be same, all of you. so if sue is seeing her first son one day and then he is technically in a bubble with the son she sees the next day, because this is all about limiting the spread between any larger grouping than that. yes, and as we have been reflecting in the last couple of days, we are now being told to keep it small and short comedy

phraseology the prime minister used at that news conference. —— short, the phraseology. someone asks, if your parents are part of your usual support bubble, can i visit them for a longer period of time then these dates we are all talking about? we are talking about the 23rd to the 27, with the extra day either side for northern ireland. he is interesting point. if you are in a support bubble before christmas, you can stay in that bubble throughout christmas and out of the other side, because your support bubble will continue. your support bubble is almost independent of christmas. however, you can, as a support bubble, you can then bubble with two other households. but if you are in a support bubble, it says is one household. linda, the fact so many people are asking these questions,

it reminds us how hung up we have got on the state of the 23rd to the 27th. absolutely, the whole rationale behind this was for people to see their families and loved ones they have not seen for many months within that specific window, but i think it is challenging for people, for example, if a younger person wa nts to for example, if a younger person wants to travel back to see their pa rents wants to travel back to see their parents and may have booked a ticket over that period. everyone has to use theirjudgment over this duration, but to recognise what the chief medical officer has said, which is to keep it short, keep it local, and by choosing those five days, the government is trying to contain that of mixing. people need to be sensible about it. ross says, if you are with your family all day on christmas day, which is allowed, what is the problem or additional risk of staying overnight? this is a

question that what people are asking. i think it is important for people to understand that in terms of exposure, it is about the number of exposure, it is about the number of people and frequency, but also the duration, the period of time. why is overnight more risky? when you stay overnight, you are therefore a longer period, it increases risks. you are also probably sharing a bathroom, kitchen, and you are touching lots of services you might not if you are there for a coffee or meal. that is there for a coffee or meal. that is the thing, it is duration. and the activities and interactions involve in staying in a family member's house. sian, i am interested in your take. nicola sturgeon said, please try not to stay overnight unless you really have to. and as the chief medical officer said yesterday, keep it short, do not say for too long,

because the longer you are in contact with more people, the more likely, if the virus is around, that it is you will pick it up. if you are ina it is you will pick it up. if you are in a living situation, you will go to the bathroom, and even if you have bathroom wipes out and people are asked to wipe down services, you will be sharing knives and forks and plates, helping pack the dishwasher and all of those things. they could pass on the virus. we have to be very careful during this period. we really have to remember to keep our distance, even though we are in the house, not holding, use the elbow greeting, do not rush and kiss people. we need to think about that whole washing the hands, having hand sanitiser around the place of people can keep wiping their hands and if possible keep the windows open. the more we are inside together, the more we are inside together, the more risk there is the virus will be

passed on. it is a great excuse for people not to help clear up in the kitchen, to be fair, isn't it? we know where this is going on christmas day. we have not had questions about foreign travel for a while, butjust in in cheshire says, my girlfriend lives in berlin, can she visit me over christmas? sian, you first. this is obviously an issue about travel from germany. in the first place, travel from germany, angela merkel, she has tightened the rules in germany and people are advised to only travel if necessary, essential travel only. i think, except for the 24th to the 26, a smaller window of time, the bubbling, the christmas period in germany will be smaller. having assumed that the decision to travel has been made, anyone coming into the country, your girlfriend, will need to quarantine for ten days.

unless she is already on her way, that means that christmas will either be with her in quarantine for the ten days during which she hasn't developed any symptoms. really, it isa developed any symptoms. really, it is a tricky one and the answer is probably, technically, you can. the question of whether you really want to and whether you sure, and you would need to only be in the bubble the 23rd to the 27th. the rules then change again after that. yes. i think that the answer is probably no, but there are lots of caveats. it is so difficult. linda, what do you think? sian is right. i would add that there are all sorts of scenarios. if his girlfriend is come back to the uk for a longer period, she may be returning, in that case,

the only thing i would add is that there is this new scheme where you can, ithink there is this new scheme where you can, i think it is called test to release, which has been introduced in england when you land in an airport. you can shorten your quarantine period by paying for a test by one of our list of private providers. we cannot discuss that now, but there does look to be some movement for the longer—term on shortening the quarantine period with testing on return into the uk for some people. ian in the peak district, thinking domestic league, says, are we allowed to stay in a holiday cottage outside of our area over the christmas period ? holiday cottage outside of our area over the christmas period? it would just be us and not involve other households. unfortunately, i do have to check this, i think the peak district is in tier 3. the reasoning of the restrictions to allow travel around the christmas period will

primarily be for christmas bubbles and to see loved ones, notjust for holidays with your spouse. people living in tier 3 areas are advised not to travel outside their area. they can still stay in private rented accommodation, which would be of this type, but are being asked by the government not to travel outside of that area. ian has to use his judgment there and i'd not think in the letter of the law it is necessarily forbidden, but would be sensible given the infection rate in that area to not move to an area with a lower level of infection in case ian and his wife take the virus with them. yes, sian, do you go along with that? like so much of this, the answer is a judgment call. yes. linda and i did wonder about how to interpret some of these rules when there are general rules for when there are general rules for when you are in the tea and if you are not going to bubble over christmas with people, do the rules apply? as a general rule, you should

ta ke apply? as a general rule, you should take it as precautionary advice and try not to travel. david in cornwall, one of the few parts of the country in tier 1, cornwall is still at the time of recording this in tier1. he still at the time of recording this in tier 1. he says, my wife and i have both 80 and within a sheltered housing apartment. we have invited neighbours in their 80s who live in this complex to share christmas lunch with us. because we are in tier 1, lunch with us. because we are in tier1, iam lunch with us. because we are in tier 1, i am assuming the rule of six will allow this. and i correct in thinking that? linda, what your thoughts about that?” in thinking that? linda, what your thoughts about that? i think he is correct in thinking that. let's just think about that scenario. the rule of six, you are not going beyond those six people, you are from different households in 81 area, and you can still meet indoors of six people. —— a tier1 area. the caveat would be that one of those other

individuals has decided to form a christmas bubble. if they have, they should not mix with others during that period. it is allowed within those tier 1 areas, that period. it is allowed within those tier1 areas, but if the others are bubbling, they should not all be mixing like that. i guess it is about asking his guests what their plans are over that period. sian, you are nodding. yes, it is tricky. you could say, and it depends if you will all be a bubble for longer and then it is only three, two plus you. but if in every else is bubbling, the sex is absolutely right. — — else is bubbling, the sex is absolutely right. —— if nobody else is bubbling. —— the six is absolutely right. sian, what you hope to do over christmas?” absolutely right. sian, what you hope to do over christmas? i am in a bubble, a childcare bubble, with a group of grandchildren, so we'll be seeing them. but i will not see another group who are in cornwall. i

will have to see them at a later date. having to make changes all the way through and we will be zooming and talking to each other and we will probably not do much at all, actually. staying at home. absolutely. all about what we can manage to do over a laptop. we are staying in our household but i can see and uncle who lives alone and i can see him outside. i haven't seen him in months. i'mjust looking forward to slowing down over this period and spending a bit of time with people that we do care about and looking ahead to a brighter 2021. well, we all say yes to that. thank you very much indeed and lovely to see both as ever. many thanks. theatres would normally be bursting

with life at this time of the year, but the pandemic has forced many to close their doors. now a group of out—of—work west end performers have found a new use for their skills this christmas, putting on virtual concerts for care homes across the uk. and, fittingly, the premiere has been held in a home for retired singers and actors. fiona lamdin has more. # snow is falling (snow is falling) # all around me (all around me) # children playing. ..# these actors would normally be centre stage in the west end. steph parry has starred in 42nd street, billy elliot and mamma mia! but lockdown has changed everything. so i left the theatre in march. i left my dressing room kind of ready to come back a few days later and carry on the show. and that was eight months ago. the last eight months have been different. they've been barren.

and with many theatres still closed, rehearsals like these are rare. it's been the hardest year of my life. i've seen my whole industry decimated. i've been on the phone to, from actors to producers to lighting designers who simply cannot pay their mortgage, erm, people worrying about their families. so this is your first time back in a rehearsalfor nine months. what's it like? eerily familiar to hear young performers, seasoned professionals, just singing together for the first time. it really did feel a bit like coming home. # time for parties and celebrations # people dancing all night long...# and these stars are now using their talents to create a christmas concert for every care home across the country. # time for singing christmas songs.# this is particularly close to my heart because we lost my

nan this year. she was in a care home and obviously towards the end we weren't able to go and see her. # rudolph the red—nosed reindeer # had a very shiny nose...# i've seen what impact music can have on people living in homes with alzheimer's and dementia. # chestnuts roasting on an open fire...# and where better to preview it than at brinsworth house, a nursing home for those who've served in the entertainment industry. she sings rosario and josephine were both performers. and now i sing in my dressing room or my bedroom, along the corridor and in the loo. i couldn't sing the carols because i don't sing carols in english. i only sing carols in spain. i do enjoy watching good shows done by great people.

it feels like the most christmassy thing i've ever done in my career. we can do something good for somebody else, and how christmassy is that? # we wish you a merry christmas # and a happy new year.# fiona lamdin, bbc news. an engineer investigating mystery power outages in a scottish village has discovered they were caused by a spectacular murmuration of starlings. neil mcdonald, who works at power firm sp energy networks, spotted thousands of birds "dancing" on overhead power cables. the starlings were causing the lines to bounce and the power to trip between them, causing power cuts in about 50 local homes in airth, near falkirk.

now it's time for a look at the weather with darren bett. hello there. the best of the weather today has been across more eastern parts of the uk, where it has been drier and sunnier. but we are seeing the weather changing from the west. and we have got this set of weather fronts coming in, the cloud already thickening up, and it is rain that is coming into western areas as well. through this evening, that wetter weather in the west will continue to push its way eastwards to many parts of the country. some heavier bursts of rain over the hills, but the rain does tend to peter out before it arrives across east anglia and the southeast, and we could see a few breaks in the cloud in scotland, with some showers following in from the west. but it is going to be a very mild night, a breezy night, and by the end of the night, most places will be in double figures. but friday looks like it's going to be cloudy for much of the country. we will see more rain developing, heavier rain in the southwest of england and wales, threatening some more flooding. that wetter weather pushes northwards into northern england, northern ireland and up in to scotland. probably still largely dry

in the afternoon across east anglia and the southeast, but all areas will have a stronger wind on friday. it is a southerly wind, gales likely in the southwest of england and southwest wales, but it is going to be very mild. we start off with double figures and temperatures will creep up to around 13, maybe even 14 degrees. as we head into the weekend, we start to push rain eastwards on friday night to clear away on saturday morning. and then this is going to be the dominant feature right the way through the weekend, an area of lower pressure is sitting to the northwest of the uk. that will feed in the showers, pick up the wind, and gradually we will see temperatures dropping a bit as the weekend goes on, as that very mild air on friday gets pushed away. quite a windy weekend, i think, with some sunshine and also some showers, which could be heavy. now, on saturday we are going to find showers pushing through the english channel once that early rain clears away from east anglia and the southeast from overnight. a lot of showers, though, for the western side of the uk, they could be heavy, potentially thundery as well. no doubt some will get pushed inland and further east, but not many.

and we've still got the temperatures in much of the country still in double figures, but tempered somewhat by those strong and blustery winds. still quite blustery on sunday, still some showers, again, mainly across western and more southern parts of the uk. perhaps the showers easing down a bit in the afternoon as the winds start to ease as well, but those temperatures not quite as high. we are looking at around 8—10 c.

this is bbc news. i'm clive myrie. the headlines... millions more people in england will be living under the toughest restrictions from saturday, in a bid to slow down the spread of coronavirus.

i regret having to take the action that we have to take. i deem it necessary and there's a strong view right across government that these actions are necessary, but i also plead that personal responsibility is absolutely central to how we as a society should respond to this pandemic. it comes as latest figures show covid case rates rising in all but one region of england. the chancellor announces an extension to the furlough scheme. it will now run until the end of april next year. thousands of school children across england will have their return to school staggered after the christmas break due to coronavirus concerns. russia's doping ban is halved by the court of arbitration for sport, but russian teams will still be banned from the tokyo olympics and dozens of other global competitions. more former rugby union players havejoined legal action against the game's authorities —

accusing them of negligence over head injuries. and coming up, the west end performers staging virtual christmas concerts in care homes. two—thirds of the population of england — or 38 million people — will be living under the tighest coronavirus restrictions by this weekend. the health secretary, matt hancock, told mps that following a review, most of the areas already in the toughest tier 3 level will remain there. he said a 46% increase in covid—19 cases in the past week in south east england and cases "up by two thirds" in the east of england meant

it was "necessary to apply tier 3 measures across a much wider area." bedfordshire, buckinghamshire, berkshire and hertfordshire will be subject to tier 3 rules, as will parts of surrey, east sussex, cambridgeshire and hampshire. bristol and north somerset will move from tier 3 to tier 2. herefordshire will move from tier 2 into tier 1. the health secretary told mps the measures are needed to suppress the virus and said, "we've come so far, we mustn't blow it now. all the details come from our political correspondent helen catt. not so long ago, hastings in east sussex had one of the lowest rates of coronavirus in england. now a surge in cases has pushed the town into tier 3 along with a huge swathe of the south east. it is therefore necessary to apply tier 3 measures across a much wider area of the east and south—east of england, including bedfordshire, buckinghamshire, berkshire,

peterborough, the whole of hertfordshire, surrey, with the exception of waverley, hastings and rother on the kent border of east sussex, and portsmouth, gosport and havant in hampshire. these changes will take effect from one minute past midnight on saturday morning. millions of people across northern england and the midlands will stay in tier 3. i regret having to take the action we have to take. i deem it necessary and there is a strong view right across government that these actions are necessary. greater manchester has been under the toughest restrictions for months and the rate of infection has come down, below the average. despite that the government has decided not to move it to tier 2 yet. the problem with tier 3 is it is devastating from an economic point of view and that is what we said to the government. if they will keep places in tier 3 today, then there has to be much more financial support.

some areas will move down a tier. bristol and north somerset to tier 2, herefordshire to the very rare tier 1. the latest tiering decision comes less than 24 hours after the prime minister urged us to be cautious over christmas. have yourselves a merry little christmas. i'm afraid this year i do mean little. the rules allowing three households to gather are not changing in england, scotland or northern ireland but the message is to persuade people not to get together. labour says that isn't enough. this isn't about cancelling christmas. santa will still deliver his presents. but is he really telling us that allowing — allowing — indoor mixing of three households across regions and generations for five days is sensible, given the virus is raging with such ferocity at the moment? the tier changes come into force on saturday meaning hospitality venues in new tier 3 areas will have to shut to diners over christmas.

the next formal review is due in a fortnight. so there's disappointment in many parts of the country that they've been kept on the highest level of restrictions. 0ur correspondent danny savage is in 0tley in west yorkshire. i think the mood music over the last few days from civic leaders from north—east england down here to west yorkshire and over the pennines into greater manchester is that they had done everything they had been asked to do to bring the infection rate down in their areas to get them out of tier 3 into tier 2 but as we have heard this morning it wasn't to be, so yes, they are very disappointed. however, i think many people are not surprised. i was talking to some publicans yesterday who were expecting perhaps to be left in tier 3 and some of them wanted to be left in tier 3 because they thought any move to tier 2 would be short—lived. they could foresee further restrictions coming along injanuary, early in the new year, which could close them down again, and they sayjust opening up

for a couple of weeks wasn't financially viable. this is 0tley in west yorkshire. this has something... it's not a big place — it has 20 public houses, though, all of them closed up at the moment, all of the staff and landlords fed up, as are the locals, who probably like going to the pub on occasion, but what makes it particularly difficult here as well is that we are right on the border with west yorkshire. if you go half a mile up the road the pubs are open and you can go in there for a meal with people that you live with. 0verall there is some disappointment and the question has been asked today what do these areas have to do if they have technically met the criteria, what do they have to do to get from tier 3 to tier 2? and that is the answers they want in the next day or two. 0ur correspondent phil mackie is in ledbury in herefordshire, which will soon be moving from tier 2 to tier 1.

0ne suspects there are a lot of happy people, 0ne suspects there are a lot of happy people, particularly 0ne suspects there are a lot of happy people, particularly those in the hospitality sector. also caution because there is a yo—yoing of the tea rs because there is a yo—yoing of the tears that we seem to be seen in the last few weeks. -- tiers. i detect christmas lights are sparking more than they were. a man walked by and said it is cracking that this has happened. they think they probably could have been in tier! when the last announcements were made. this isa last announcements were made. this is a rural area and i last announcements were made. this is a ruralarea and i had last announcements were made. this is a rural area and i had never been high rates or death rates throughout the pandemic. —— and there had never been. in particular the age group for the over 60s, there has been no rise and that is why it is about it

can move into tier1 now. people can socialise a lot more. it is quite bustling in tier two. big cities empty and small market hands busy, especially in tier two. hospitality can open again. if you serve a full meal, you can go out for a meal with a group of six friends from saturday night, which is something, i was talking to a 19—year—old who said we can socialise a bit again. at the moment they had to wander in the street and socially distance, wearing masks. they will not necessarily have to do that from saturday in herefordshire. there is concern because people have relatives in gloucestershire, etc. people do not want to mix too much at the moment. the welsh issue will

become a problem. there are towns like ross on wye, right on the border which will have the lowest restrictions in england come saturday. a few miles away in wales they will have much tougher restrictions than tier 3 in england. there is a worry that people across the border will be tempted to come here, breaking the rules over there and abiding by them this side of the border. this may happen even more so because we are running up to christmas. for tonight, most because we are running up to christmas. fortonight, most people here, there is an air of caution and they would have thought it would probably have happened earlier.- you say, a note of caution as well. the figures are actually plateauing when it comes to decreasing cases in the area at the moment and that is a real concern for the acting director of public health, who has been speaking today. the figures have

plateaued but at a very low level. they are plateauing elsewhere in the west midlands much higher. herefordshire is much lower, generally very low all the time. it has never been very high throughout the pandemic. the rate of decrease is falling pretty much everywhere in the midlands but in some places it has started to go up again. that is the plateau we are talking about. the numbers in herefordshire are lower than everywhere else. i think people here in herefordshire had felt they were hard done by not to be in tier1. felt they were hard done by not to be in tier 1. people do not want them to go mad and become reckless and do things they should not be doing next week in the run—up to christmas but there is no great urgency or panic here, in the same

way that if you move into the bigger, urban areas, remember last.fm at nine months now in some kind of lockdown with no break whatsoever. the numbers are not nearly at the same level here as they are in places like that. the lights behind you are twinkling a bit more brightly this evening. coronavirus infection rates are rising in all but one region in england. latest figures from public health england says london has the highest rate with more than 300 cases per 100,000 people in the week to december 13th. yorkshire and the humber is the only part of england to see a week—on—week fall in the infection rate. with me is our health correspondent, nick triggle. 0n the face of it, these figures are alarming, aren't they? indeed. they perhaps provide explanation for the action the government has taken today in terms of moving areas up to

tier 3 and not living other areas out of tier 3 and into tier 2. they are an in—depth look at the daily figures the government provides on a national level each day. as you say, they show that all but one area, yorkshire and humber, are seeing increasing rates and infections. even in the north—west and north—east, where we have seen big falls in november and into early december, cases have plateaued and even started to go up slightly. in london, there are the highest rates of any region in england. 319 cases per 100,000 in the route to the 13th of december. that compares to 200 pesos per 100,000 a week before. increases are well over 50%. —— cases. they also tell of what has been happening with hospital admissions which had been increasing in every region apart from the

midlands. this is crucial to the decisions today about the tiers. we know from daily figures over 15,000 patients are in hospital, up from 12,000 in early december. what we have got today is the total numbers of patients, non—tiers patients in hospital. 17,000 patients being treated in english hospitals, nine and ten beds are being occupied by patients. that is not unusual for this time of year. there is some wiggle room but concern is those beds are filling up fast. routine planned work has been cancelled. it has come as a cost as well. we are hearing from an increasing number of officials and senior members of public life in england that it was the national lockdown which was in place before the tier system came in

that saw the rates decrease and with the tiering system, rates are rising. is it fair to make that extrapolation? it is difficult to understand what is going wrong. in cases, that is in london, cases started to rise during lockdown. —— in london. in some areas, it has had some impact and in some they do not. interesting data from the office of national statistics yesterday about adherence to restrictions. 0ne national statistics yesterday about adherence to restrictions. one in five admitted to not keeping to restrictions, visiting other peoples homes over the past week. you do wonder if people are fatigued of all the restrictions. we are at a time of year when respiratory infections do transmit more. it is very, very difficult to keep a handle on this

virus and it will be a difficult few months until the vaccine start to have an impact. —— vaccines. months until the vaccine start to have an impact. -- vaccines. you can find out what the rules are by entering your postcode into our interactive tool. you can find it online at the website or on our app. the chancellor rishi sunak has announced that the furlough jobs retention scheme will be extended until april 2021. in a tweet, he said the government would continue to pay 80% towards wages of unworked hours. let's get the view now of pauljohnson, who is director of the institute for fiscal studies. it is good to see you. thank you for being with us. this had to happen, didn't it? once you get out of christmas, that is when businesses commit many hit by a fall in business over the christmas period, thatis business over the christmas period, that is when they will start to assess whether they can continue to

afford to keep workers on.” assess whether they can continue to afford to keep workers on. i think this is the chancellor trying to get ahead of the game. it has felt the treasury has been rather behind the game over the autumn as it responded to changes to lockdown rules and the tiers and so on rather late in the day. the chancellor has decided he can find the money and is willing to keep the gamble to keep the fallow scheme going right till the end of april, on the assumption he is expecting large numbers of restrictions, lockdown is, tier system is to be in place all the way through that period. this is a signal that government is not expecting things to get anything like back to normal at least until the end of april, which is itself a slightly depressing fact. the fact is, even though there is a vaccine out there, the most vulnerable are

not really going to be fully vaccinated of course across the country through until the end of easter. it is extending the furlough scheme until the end of april going to be long enough? let's hope so. there will probably by the end of april the possibly knocking on 40 million people who will have been on tierfor the million people who will have been on tier for the whole period since the beginning of this crisis back last spring. that is an awfully long time to have wages paid by the state. who knows how difficult it will be for businesses to get back on their feet if they have been effectively closed or had staff laid off for that period of time? we do not know when things will get back to anything like normal. the original plan was for the furlough to have been phased out entirely by the end of october. things have not gone anywhere near as planned. schemes like this are

all very well, the business loans scheme has not really helped as many people as it was hoped at the beginning of this whole process. is it now time, do you think, for the government to seriously consider grants? there have been a whole series of different kinds of subsidies, including business rates holidays and so on, which have reduced the costs of doing business for a lot of businesses. it is difficult to direct grants and know exactly where they are going to go. 0ne exactly where they are going to go. one of the slightly more remarkable things about all of this is the furlough scheme, the job things about all of this is the furlough scheme, thejob retention scheme, was designed pretty much overnight back in the spring and it is still in operation pretty much unchanged over that period. i think the treasury has found this is the best tool they have in their locker. for many businesses, for most businesses, the cost of employing

staff is their biggest cost. but they remain focused on what the chancellor remains focused on is trying to ensure they hold on to those staff said they are ready to go back quickly once things start to either. this will have to end at some point. —— start to ease off. the end of april is still some four months off. thousands of school children acrosss england will have their return to school delayed following the christmas break. let's get more from our education correspondent elaine dunkley. elaine, over to you. there has been a lot of conversation about when children were returned back to school after christmas and how they will return. what parents and teachers need is a plan. there has been huge anxiety and concern about the spread of coronavirus in secondary schools last week. matt

hancock was concerned it was 11 to 18—year—olds who were driving the increase in cases in london boroughs. also kent and essex. we have the festivities as well which might lead to a spike in cases. we are coming up to the coldest of months. what is the plan look like? it has been announced children in early year settings and children in primary school will return back to school as normal at the start of term. in secondary schools, their children are key workers and those who are vulnerable and need more support than they will return back to school week commencing fourth january. those in year 11, year 13 and taking exams, they will also return and be prioritised for mass testing. all other students will have a staggered mess based on return on the first week back. that will mean some remote learning happening. vocational exams as well

will also go ahead in the first week. 0ther will also go ahead in the first week. other children will have a staggered start, so that the mean gradual phasing back. unions have said christmas holidays are about to start and schools have had very little time to plan for this. for many of our schools and colleges, this is the last day of term. in fact, we're in the final hours of term. still the people i represent, the leaders, are unable to their parents, what will term look like next term? which students should be in school? which are remote learning? in a week when schools are being criticised for even talking about remote learning by the government. this rapid testing, whilst everybody of course is going to welcome good quality testing. how precisely is that going to work? how is the training going to be done of staff, who have never done that before ? how will that be reassuring to parents and what will the role of the army be in all of this? once again we are left on the back foot, with so many questions, so much of a sense of chaos when our young people and their parents, frankly deserve better. the government has said the army

will help facilitate in those schools across england to carry out mass testing. just last week islington council was warned to suggest that schools would not start back until the 11th of january. schools in the first week of the new year would have remote learning. now that looks like reality for many. great western railway has stopped selling advance tickets and has been forced to change its timetable, after a covid outbreak among staff. earlier, i spoke to our transport correspondent, caroline davies who explained the impact the outbreak could have on the operator. the company has said they anticipate the number of train services cancelled or changed is going to be relatively small and that they are in touch with the affected customers. the big question is, is this going to happen across the christmas period across the rest of the country? speaking to train operators today, they say they have plans in place if an outbreak were to happen

on their services, similar to how they have operated for the rest of the year. there has been demand for christmas travel and each train not be able to take as many people as normal because of social distancing measures, but the operators say the amount of demand is lower this year than it was previously and they even still have availability on some of their busiest services still. they are not anticipating chaos at the moment. with great western, if your train does not run or if you turn up without a reservation and it is looking full, there are plans in place to have coaches instead. the big message from the operators is if you are planning to travel, book ahead because it helps them plan. the french president, emmanuel macron, has tested positive for covid—19 and says he is self—isolating for the next week. portugal's prime minister antonio costa, who met monsieur macron yesterday is now self isolating, as is the prime minister of spain pedro sanchez following a lunch with the french president on monday.

millions of people in the uk missed out on life saving scans when hospital appointments were cancelled in the first few months of the pandemic. in england, millions of us bands were carried out compared with the same period in 2019. our health correspondent has the details. it took 13 visits until a scan at the end of may would be a cancer for this man. his death was announced earlier this week. his wife says more should have been done. everything was overrun and tired. no one was paying attention to him. it has cost him his life. it is not right you should turn around and say you are sorry. the government needs

to ta ke you are sorry. the government needs to take accountability for what has happened. it has cost my husband his life and my eight—month—old child not to have a father and me not to have a husband. as the pandemic grew and the health service was at risk of being overwhelmed by hospitals across the uk were told to cancel nonessential appointments, that included some diagnostic scans used to detect cancer. the impact has been dramatic. in england at least 4.4 million fewer scans were carried out between april and september this year, compared with the same period last year. the backlog created means one in seven people are waiting more than three months for a scan. doctors say the crisis has only highlighted existing shortages in staff and equipment. because of our capacity issues, our workforce issues, we cannot get through the work as fast as we would like. the covid pandemic has exacerbated that

problem and i think it is probably true there are people with cancers and one has to remember other serious conditions which might present a bit later than we would want. like the nhs and then says levels are back to levels they were before the pandemic. the messages, come forward and seek care if you are worried. marcus rashford's campaign to tackle poverty has been widely talked about. he talked about how his childhood experiences have been used to help others. do you want a cup of tea, marcus? no, thanks. as a young single parent, mel worked around the clock in a bid to keep food on the table for the future star. i had threejobs. and if i didn't do that, we wouldn't have been able to have food. it was just a bit difficult, so marcus is only telling the story from how he sees it,

and the words he's been saying, they've come from the bottom of his heart. sometimes, it was really bad. i'd rather give the food to the kids than give it to myself. sometimes, i didn't get anything to eat, and they'd ask me, "have you had yours?" and i'd say yes. but i didn't. sometimes we didn't even have a loaf of bread in the house, it's embarrassing to say but we didn't. all them little struggles and... sacrifices you made, it helps you appreciate everything ten times more. so i don't see it as a weakness because i think in sport you have to have something behind you that's pushing you. when you come from a place of struggle and a place of pain, a lot the time, it switches and it becomes your drive, your motivation. over the last few months, marcus has been campaigning to help vulnerable families growing up in similar situations. have you got food going out all throughout the day? yes, every day, monday to friday, mainly. last year, we gave out 95 tonnes of food. this september, it's 339 tonnes.

but it's notjust about marcus. this new building is being named after mel for everything they've done together to help families in need. marcus says his mum is the inspiration behind his campaign. starting your own trophy cabinet. what is it like to be in this building that is named after you, after all that you and marcus have achieved over the last several months? i'm overwhelmed. and i don't know what to say. but all i can say is thank you. think i'm going to cry. for us and my mum especially, we were concentrating so much on, like, the people we was trying to help. so, the reaction and the response to things, a lot of itjust simply goes over our heads because we are still focused on helping people. can ijust do one with marcus? definitely!

you need to grow a little bit. i won't grow any taller now, i wouldn't have thought! much more coming up. now for a look at the weather. the best of the weather today has been across more eastern parts of the uk, where it has been drier and sunnier. but we are seeing the weather changing from the west. and we have got this set of weather fronts coming in, the of weatherfronts coming in, rain the of weather fronts coming in, rain tending to peter i south the rain tending to peter out in the south of england and east anglia. becoming dry by the end of the night. temperatures generally in double figures. 80 showers around. we will see more rain arriving in the west and heavy rain threatening flooding in the south—west of england and into parts wales.

that wetter weather pushes northwards into northern england, northern ireland and up in to scotland. probably still largely dry in the afternoon across east anglia and the southeast, but all areas will have a stronger wind on friday. it is a southerly wind, gales likely in the southwest of england and southwest wales, but it is going to be very mild. we start off with double figures and temperatures will creep up to around 13, maybe even 14 degrees. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: millions more people in england will be living under the toughest restrictions from saturday, in a bid to slow down the spread of coronavirus. i regret having to take the action that we have to take. it is necessary , that we have to take. it is necessary, and there is a strong view right across government that these actions are necessary, but i also believe that personal responsibility is absolutely central asa responsibility is absolutely central as a society to how we should respond to this pandemic.

it comes as latest figures show covid case rates rising in all but one region of england. the chancellor announces an extension to the furlough scheme. it will now run until the end of april next year. thousands of schoolchildren across england will have their return to school staggered after the christmas break due to coronavirus concerns. sport now, and a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. the ban on russia competing at major sporting events after a doping scandal has been upheld — but cut to two years — by the court of arbitration for sport. it means russia won't have a formal presence at the delayed tokyo 0lympics next summer, or the football world cup in 2022. the country was initially given a four year ban by the world anti—doping agency — following an investigation in 2016 which found at least a thousand russian athletes across at least 30 sports were implicated in state—sponsored doping programmes.

0ur sports news correspondent alex capstick has more. well, during the case, as i understand it, the four—day hearing which took place in september in lausanne, russia didn't really defend the fact that they were guilty of covering up this data or providing fake evidence in these documents which they handed to wada earlier this year, but they argued that the sanction was unfair on clea n that the sanction was unfair on clean athletes who were innocent victims in all of this, athletes who wa nted victims in all of this, athletes who wanted to represent their country at an olympic games. and the panel felt it was not proportionate, the four—year ban was too harsh. although they said in the statement that it should no way validate the conduct of the russian authorities. so they reduced it to two years, which for a lot of people won't be enough. a lot of people wanted it to

be four years. wada said they were disappointed by this, and in the nitty—gritty of the detail, if you look at it, russian athletes can compete, they are allowed to compete, they are allowed to compete, they are allowed to compete, they will be allowed to have the name russia on their uniforms, but the flag and the anthem will be banned, so it is a bit like deep jung chang anthem will be banned, so it is a bit like deepjung chang winter games in 2018 when there was a team called the olympic athletes of russian, around 170 of them, who we re russian, around 170 of them, who were neutral. —— the games more former rugby union players havejoined legal action against the game's authorities for alleged negligence. it means there are now nine players included in preparing the action against the rugby football union, wales rugby union and world rugby. a letter of claim, setting out their intention to sue, was delivered today. former wales under—20 centre adam hughes, who is now aged 30 and seen in action here, is the youngest to claim he has suffered permanent brain damage through playing the sport. the law firm representing the group says more than 100 players have come forward.

elsewhere, premier league clubs have voted against allowing teams to make five substitutions per match at a meeting today — but they have agreed the introduction of two additional concussion replacements. the premier league hopes to start the plans from january, after the approval of trials was given for the new year. the new rule means permanent substitutions can be made if a player suffers a head injury, even if all replacements have already been used. staying with football, and edinson cavani could be banned for up to three games after being charged with misconduct by the fa. it's after the manchester united striker posted a message on social media which contained an offensive spanish phrase. cavani deleted the message and apologised when the potential meaning of the post was pointed out to him. his side take on sheffield united this evening in the premier league. more sports have been deciding their schedules for 2021. the start of the australian open tennis has been delayed because of the pandemic. the first grand slam event of the year was supposed to start in melbourne on the 18th january. it'll now begin three weeks later, on 8th february, and that'll allow

the players to complete a two—week quarantine period which is currently required in australia. and get ready for the longest formula one season in history. there'll be 23 races next year, starting in australia on 21st march and running right though to abu dhabi on 6th december. all the details are on the bbc sport website and app. that's all the sport for now. thank you for that. more now on the review into england's tier system — from saturday, more than 38 million people will be under the highest level of restrictions. some of the areas that will move into tier 3 from this weekend include bedfordshire and buckinghamshire, berkshire, parts of surrey and east sussex, including hastings, and portsmouth, including the towns of havant and gosport. from where our correspondent, duncan kennedy has more. that has come as something of a surprise to people here. they

weren't expecting it. it is one of three areas in hampshire to go into tier 3, here in gosport. across the water into portsmouth, and an area next door to portsmouth called haven't. all those areas going into tier 3. people saying strangely, fair next door to gosport is not. it is staying in tier 2. they are saying they don't understand why some areas are going in and some areas are going out. all 14 local authorities here in hampshire have seen authorities here in hampshire have seen their infection rates go up. in neighbouring portsmouth, they have gone up by 42%, and the leader of the city council there says he can understand why the government has chosen to put his area into tier 3, but other people are saying it is perplexing. some are in, some are out. we just don't get it. but i guess we willjust have to out. we just don't get it. but i guess we will just have to follow the rules, is the kind of mood we're picking up here in gosport. let's talk to a couple of people to get their initial reaction, because this news has only just their initial reaction, because this news has onlyjust come through. we have andrew and james, local gents from gosport. andrew, firstly, what

is your reaction to going into tier 3, having been in tier 2 for so long? well, i think it isjust quite a shock going from tier1 to tier 2, and it's like, you know, all the shops close and the cafe is as well, and they start doing takeaways and...| and they start doing takeaways and... ithink and they start doing takeaways and... i think it is really bad. your reaction, james? i think they don't give it enough notice, you know? they do it straightaway, and ina sense, know? they do it straightaway, and in a sense, people with mental health problems and all that, and the economic... people'sjobs and all that, it's... i the economic... people'sjobs and allthat, it's... i mean, you've got to do something. but what to do, you know? it's difficult. andrew?

infection rates are going up, the government has to act? well, yeah, i know the government is saying we ought to go into lockdown and things like that, but like fareham, you know, they are not into lockdown, but we are starting to go into lockdown and shops closing. what do you think it is going to do for your plans in the run—up to christmas? you think it is going to do for your plans in the run-up to christmas? to watch? to your plans, being in tier 3 now. well my plans are, i plan something, and then i can't seem to plan, staying at home and trying to find things to do, and sort of coming out and trying to avoid other people. the biggest thing is the fa ct people. the biggest thing is the fact that restaurants and pubs will have to close, only available for takeaway. what you think they will do for businesses here? what will it for you? well, after the first wave,

we did things the other way, so we did everything, like got the covid anyway, so we will be locked down, people won't be coming to... only people won't be coming to... only people who's families are coming the regular. thank you very much. we will leave it there. just two of the points of view here. a little bit of shock that they have been put into tier 3. not many people here were expecting that. and you just picked up their that. and you just picked up their that they are a little bitjealous, if you like, their neighbour staying in tier 2. the restrictions coming here in tier 3, but also that people are accepting that something has to be done and those areas where infection rates are rising. but it all reverts back to the christmas rules next week, in the areas like this will be free again and there no restrictions over the christmas period before they revert once again

back to tier 3, so lots of questions, lots of discussions going on here about why they are in tier 3, buta on here about why they are in tier 3, but a general acceptance that something has to be done in those areas where infection rates are rising. duncan kennedy, reporting in hampshire. the bbc understands health officials in northern ireland have proposed a six—week lockdown to try to curb the spread of the virus. there's speculation ministers could approve it taking effect from 28 december, but the details will be discussed by the devolved government later this afternoon. our ireland correspondent chris page has more. yes, as you say, ministers in the devolved government are due to meet. it is understood that meeting may well get under way in the next quarter hour or so, well get under way in the next quarter houror so, in well get under way in the next quarter hour or so, in fact. understood to be on the table, a proposal from the department of health, from scientific advisers, that there should be a six—week lockdown here in order to try to deal with the alarmingly high number of coronavirus cases. that could include, for example, once again,

the closure of all nonessential shops. northern ireland just came out of a period of two weeks of circuit breaker lockdown last friday, but then there was some discussion as to exactly what shops should be deemed as nonessential. for example, it was decided in the end by ministers that hardware shops where essential, so they were allowed to remain open during that period, but more shops may be put into the nonessential category this time round, meaning a bigger section of the retail economy will be closed. also likely to be affected, hospitality businesses, close contact services, the likes of hairdressers and beauticians, so ministers will be discussing the detail, but basically, it is understood that the period under discussion is six weeks long, perhaps with a review after four weeks, due to kick injust after christmas. it is possible as part of what may be decided by ministers this afternoon that, as has happened

in wales, you could get nonessential retailers shutting, closing on christmas eve and not reopening here for a christmas eve and not reopening here fora numberof weeks, christmas eve and not reopening here for a number of weeks, if the six—week lockdown is approved, and that would take us to the beginning of february. the true level of new coronavirus infections in wales could be twice the figure previously thought. planned computer maintenance has led to a delay in reporting an extra 11,000 positive covid tests. our correspondent sian lloyd is in cardiff. only yesterday, we were reporting that people in wales were learning that people in wales were learning that they would face tougher coronavirus restriction starting from christmas eve, with a full lockdown here from december 28, and that was explained by the first minister mark drakeford. the situation here is extremely concerning. there are a record number of welsh patients being treated in hospital for number of welsh patients being treated in hospitalfor coronavirus. today, people are having to take on board this news that a delay in reporting more than 11,000 extra positive covid tests means that cases are twice as high as was

thought for the previous week. public health wales have explained this. they say planned it maintenance meant there was significant underreporting, but that anyone who received a positive covid test was informed and contacted in the usual way. on friday, it had warned that this planned it maintenance would lead to changes and are fact its daily reporting of coronavirus figures. —— and affect its daily reporting. first mr mark dra keford its daily reporting. first mr mark drakeford said he was aware of the underreporting. this wasn't a computer problem, this was planned upgrading of the computer system. none of the data is missing. everybody who had a positive test was told that in wales last week. everything was uploaded onto our ttp system, but the figures do indeed demonstrate just how serious the position here in wales has become. and i can just position here in wales has become. and i canjust tell you position here in wales has become. and i can just tell you that figures

from the office for national statistics just released show that covid—19 was the biggest cause of death in wales in novemberfor the first time in six months. sian lloyd with the situation there. in the past few minutes, the education secretary gavin williamson has been speaking about the decision to stagger the return of schools in england in the new year. he has been speaking to nick ea rdley. why have you waited till the last minute to announce this change? the reason we are doing this staggered testing, the largest mass testing this country has ever seen, is to ensure that children get the benefit of getting a test, making sure they are in the best possible place to spend the maximum amount of time in school by reducing the number of children who have to be absent and reducing the number of children having to self—isolate. absent and reducing the number of children having to self—isolatem is clearly quite a big problem in schools right now. how bad is it? we have seen over 99% of schools being

open all the way through this, but we have seen open all the way through this, but we have seen some open all the way through this, but we have seen some children have had to isolate. this is why we are taking this extra measure. making sure that children, parents and teachers have absolute confidence in children going to school. but also making sure that we are maximising the amount of time that they are in the amount of time that they are in the classroom. so parents having contact with a child who has maybe had contact with a child who has maybe ha d co nta ct contact with a child who has maybe had contact with covid will not have to self—isolate at home, but go into school, going to class and have the opportunity to learn. if you days ago, you were threatening to may be sue councils for telling parents that they would have to keep children off for a few days, but now you are announcing pretty much the same thing? what we have seen, since june, is we are maximising the number of children into school. it is so important to get children into school and into the classroom. but by taking these measures in secondary schools and colleges, it means we will be able to maximise

the amount of time children are in the amount of time children are in the classroom, and as every —— at every stage, we will take a robust and strong stance to ensure schools are open, because as the chief medical officer for england said, children are actually best in schools. it is the safest place for them to be. that is why we continue to have a laser—like focus in terms of making sure children are in the classroom. but we now have the government saying that some secondary pupils don't have to be in school in the first week of term, when a few days ago, you are threatening to sue councils for saying a very similar thing. what we are seeing is, we are seeing the opportunity to roll out mass testing. this is the largest mass testing. this is the largest mass testing programme this country has ever seen testing programme this country has ever seen before, but by doing this, by rolling out this mass testing programme throughout secondary schools and colleges, it means children will be in the best possible position to maximise the amount of time they are in the

classroom, reducing the amount of time children have to self—isolate, if they have been in contact with someone if they have been in contact with someone who has had covid, meaning they are able to learn, and also reducing pressure on schools by reducing pressure on schools by reducing the number of staff who are also having to self—isolate. but also, playing an important role in defeating the coronavirus. just finally, will these tests be mandatory? what will you do if pa rents mandatory? what will you do if parents don't want their children tested ? parents don't want their children tested? we are not going to make them mandatory, buti tested? we are not going to make them mandatory, but i think all pa rents them mandatory, but i think all pa re nts wa nt them mandatory, but i think all parents want to see the very best for their children. they will want to see their children having the opportunity to be able to go into school and maximise the amount of time in the classroom, and we all recognise, we play a big role, every single one of us, in defeating coronavirus, and everyone can help. this is a big national effort. this is an effort that is involving departments right across government. it is evolving schools, communities,

local authorities. but by working together, we can all play our role in defeating coronavirus. the education secretary, gavin williamson, speaking to nick ea rdley. we just have the latest coronavirus figures covering the latest 24—hour period, and that says that across the uk, there were 35,383 new covid cases on thursday. that includes the 11,000 cases that were not reported in wales because of their computer maintenance issues. and the latest figures from public health england show that there were 612 coronavirus deaths the previous day. now, it is 532 coronavirus deaths in the last 24—hour period. so, down on

the last 24—hour period. so, down on the previous 24 hours. 532 new covid—19 deaths. but overall, a totalfigure for covid—19 deaths. but overall, a total figure for coronavirus cases in the last 24—hour period of 35,383, which includes the 11,000 previously unreported cases in wales. that takes us neatly onto the situation in the country. vaughn gething is the health minister for wales. good to have you with us. we know the office for national statistics says that covid was, for the first time in six months, the biggest cause of deaths in wales in the month of november. we know that from christmas eve, there will be a full lockdown, or rather, from the 28th of december, they will be a full lockdown in wales, and there is a record number of welsh patients in

hospital. how do you characterise the situation where you are in relation to covid—19, and what, perhaps, is going right and what is going wrong with the response? well, we are in an incredibly serious position. you could not hear and see those figures like i do on a daily basis and not recognise the seriousness of the position. but there is a high level of understanding of the recent restrictions in place. a recent survey showed nine out of ten people understand them very well or fairly well. the challenge is that too many others are still going outside those rules. the odd exception, the consideration that it might be a—ok for us, and there are some people that are simply disregarding the rules, .. that are simply disregarding the rules,.. and the majority of people who are doing that are causing a much bigger challenge for all of us. so the firebreak worked in reducing

cases significantly. we did not then see sustained change in how we lived our lives. we are still as a country having too much contact with too many people, too much of that contact taking place indoors, which is why cases are surging, and the number of people going to hospital is going up. it is also why people are losing their lives, and we all need to be part of a great national effort to recover that ground, as we have done before. the welsh government have responsibilities, but we can't do this on our own. we need the help of everybody in wales, every family in wales. but in terms of our responsibility, that's why we chose to move away from the uk arrangements on christmas, because our situation is that serious that three families mixing, and there are many people who live to the rules, three families mixing, we know that would have a real impact, so we changed the rules. we know that will bea changed the rules. we know that will be a painful choice for many people, he will have to reconsider their arrangements, but this is ultimately

about saving lives, so that future events about saving lives, so that future eve nts ca n about saving lives, so that future events ca n ta ke about saving lives, so that future events can take place with as many of us as possible to enjoy them. but there may be a sense for some people of drift in the way that you are handling this, because computer maintenance has meant that 11,000 positive cases were not recorded in the official data. that seems bizarre in the middle of this pandemic. well, if we had not undertaken at maintenance, we could have had a much bigger problem in the way that our systems work. we announced beforehand through public health wales that maintenance would ta ke health wales that maintenance would take place. we announced there would bea take place. we announced there would be a lag in the data, but actually, all that data, there is no cases, went into our contact tracing system, so in terms of making ministerial choices, we have been aware that the cases have been going up, and that has underpinned the choice we made both about introducing the level four lockdown, because the first minister indicated last week he would expect to make

the choice of the 22nd of december. we have made that choice really because we can see the trend in the cases. it underpins the choice we have made about moving away from christmas, so it isn't that those cases were ever lost. that is not true. but if you don't undertake maintenance when you need to do it, you end up with a bigger problem. for all the inconvenience it is, if we had not done that, and i would much rather it had not happened, but we are now in a position where the public see again notjust we are now in a position where the public see again not just the messaging we have given over the last few days about cases rising, you can see that in the figures, and it is still about the choices that we make. not asking what other people can do, but ask what we can do ourselves. what can i do? what can my family, my friends do? how can my family, my friends do? how cani can my family, my friends do? how can i take care of myself and other people by making different choices? but to be clear, every one of those 11,000 people who recorded positive cases, who were not part of the

official figures, they were cases, who were not part of the officialfigures, they were informed ina timely officialfigures, they were informed in a timely manner that they were positive? yes, they would still have had their notifications in the normal course, and they would still have had their cases fed into our contact tracing system, and they will have been contacted by contact tracers in accordance with our ability to do so. we increased our contact tracing service with a third of extra staff from the firebreak. we significantly beefed it up. but it isn't a real strain because of the number of cases coming in. we have been really proud of what the welsh contact tracing service has done. markedly a better level of performance than in england, but it is under real strain because of the hundreds of people with new positive cases. you talked about the success of the firebreak and hindsight is a wonderful thing. perhaps it should have continued a bit longer than it did. do you suspect that, once you have the full lockdown at the end of the christmas period, december 28, that rather than lift that if cases start to go down within ten days or

two weeks, you should keep that, maintain itfora two weeks, you should keep that, maintain it for a lot longer? we have already indicated that we are going to maintain the new level four arrangements and maintain them after three weeks. —— review them after four weeks. we will then decide whether those arrangements will continue. people should not expect it to end after two weeks. we will review it and be transparent with people about what the future is at that point. it is of course possible that point. it is of course possible that level four will continue across some or all of wales at that point. we will leave it there. vaughan gething, thank you good to see you. now it's time for a look at the weather with darren bett. hello there. the best of the weather today has been across more eastern parts of the uk, where it has been drier and sunnier. but we are seeing the weather

changing from the west. and we have got this set of weather fronts coming in, the cloud already thickening up, and it is rain that is coming into western areas as well. through this evening, that wetter weather in the west will continue to push its way eastwards to many parts of the country. some heavier bursts of rain over the hills, but the rain does tend to peter out before it arrives across east anglia and the southeast, and we could see a few breaks in the cloud in scotland, with some showers following in from the west. but it is going to be a very mild night, a breezy night, and by the end of the night, most places will be in double figures. but friday looks like it's going to be cloudy for much of the country. we will see more rain developing, heavier rain in the southwest of england and wales, threatening some more flooding. that wetter weather pushes northwards into northern england, northern ireland and up in to scotland. probably still largely dry in the afternoon across east anglia and the southeast, but all areas will have a stronger wind on friday. it is a southerly wind, gales likely in the southwest of england and southwest wales, but it is going to be very mild. we start off with double figures and temperatures will creep up to around 13, maybe even 14 degrees. as we head into the weekend,

we start to push rain eastwards on friday night to clear away on saturday morning. and then this is going to be the dominant feature right the way through the weekend, an area of lower pressure is sitting to the northwest of the uk. that will feed in the showers, pick up the wind, and gradually we will see temperatures dropping a bit as the weekend goes on, as that very mild air on friday gets pushed away. quite a windy weekend, i think, with some sunshine and also some showers, which could be heavy. now, on saturday we are going to find showers pushing through the english channel once that early rain clears away from east anglia and the southeast from overnight. a lot of showers, though, for the western side of the uk, they could be heavy, potentially thundery as well. no doubt some will get pushed inland and further east, but not many. and we've still got the temperatures in much of the country still in double figures, but tempered somewhat by those strong and blustery winds. still quite blustery on sunday, still some showers, again, mainly across western and more southern parts of the uk. perhaps the showers easing down a bit in the afternoon as the winds start to ease as well, but those temperatures not quite as high. we are looking at around 8—10 c.

this is bbc news, i'm clive myrie. the headlines... millions more people in england will be living under the toughest restrictions from saturday, in a bid to slow down the spread of coronavirus.

i regret having to take the action that we have to take. i deem it necessary, and there's a strong view right across government that these actions are necessary, but i also plead that personal responsibility is absolutely central to how we as a society should respond to this pandemic. thousands of secondary school children across england will have their return to school staggered, after the christmas break due to coronavirus concerns. the chancellor announces an extension to the furlough scheme. it will now run until the end of april next year.