this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. nearly half of intensive care staff in england could be experiencing symptoms such as post—traumatic stress disorder after treating patients during the first wave of coronavirus, a new study suggests. further lockdown restrictions are being considered in scotland. first minister nicola sturgeon will outline any tightening of the rules later today. uk health secretary matt hancock says the government might also consider introducing tougher restrictions in england. it is possible then to make further restrictions but what i would say is that the most important thing is the compliance with the existing measures, that is the thing that is going to make the difference. do you think lockdown restrictions are working where you are?

or do you think they need to be tightened? if you'd like to get in touch on this or any of our stories you can contact me on twitter @annita—mcveigh using the hashtag #bbcyourquestions. a large—scale trial of a new coronavirus treatment begins in the uk. it's hoped the drug will stop patients developing severe illness. a number of senior republicans indicate they will support the democrats�* plan to remove president donald trump from office after last week's violent attack on the capitol. urgently improve the quality of food parcels, caterers are told, after images of free school meals were shared online.

hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world, and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. the education select committee is holding a session with education secretary gavin williamson mp this morning. the committee is expected to look at the process leading up to the decision to close schools, the current pressure on teachers and support stadd as well as what arrangements should be put in place following the decision to cancel exams. ina in a letter to the head of the regulator, gavin williamson said a breadth of evidence should be used, suggesting that some form of exam may yet form a part in the summer. and there is gavin williamson, so let's listen in... and there is gavin williamson, so let's listen in. . ._ let's listen in... good morning, everyone. _ let's listen in... good morning, everyone. i— let's listen in... good morning, everyone. i am _ let's listen in... good morning, everyone, i am the _ let's listen in... good morning, everyone, i am the permanent| everyone, i am the permanent secretary in the department for education. . ~ secretary in the department for education. ., ,, , ., ., , education. thank you. could i 'ust ask ou, education. thank you. could i 'ust ask you, secretary i education. thank you. could i 'ust ask you, secretary of i education. thank you. could i 'ust ask you, secretary of state, h education. thank you. could ijust ask you, secretary of state, to . education. thank you. could i just l ask you, secretary of state, to give an update on the food boxes issue?

as i understand it, schools have an option to use either local vouchers or will have a national voucher scheme as they have had previously in the first lockdown? and apart from telling the food contractors to go to specsavers, who have been supplying parsimonious food boxes, will you name and shame those companies and just make sure that schools who do these deals are not ripped off by the taxpayer and families get the nutritious food that the government guidelines suggest? that the government guidelines su: est? ~ ~ that the government guidelines su~est?~ ~ . ., ., suggest? well, mr chairman, when i saw that picture. _ suggest? well, mr chairman, when i saw that picture, i _ suggest? well, mr chairman, when i saw that picture, i was _ suggest? well, mr chairman, when i saw that picture, i was absolutely i saw that picture, i was absolutely disgusted. as a dad, myself, ijust thought, you know, how could a family in receipt of that really be expected to deliver, you know, five nutritious meals as is required. it is just not acceptable. it's been

made absolutely clear to the whole sector, including dustmen, that this will not be tolerated, we will not live with that. and it is so important. —— including chartwells. there are clear standards, and they need to deliver against those standards, and if they do not, action will have to be taken. the ministerfor action will have to be taken. the minister for children met with chartwells yesterday and they have made it absolutely clear that this was not acceptable and they have apologised for this and we will support any school that needs to take action against any contractor and we will name and shame any of those who are not delivering against the standards. i5 those who are not delivering against the standards. is it those who are not delivering against the standards.— the standards. is it right that there will _ the standards. is it right that there will be _ the standards. is it right that there will be a _ the standards. is it right that there will be a national- the standards. is it right that i there will be a national scheme starting soon?— there will be a national scheme starting soon? there will be a national scheme startin: soon? ~ , ., starting soon? so, mr german, there are a number— starting soon? so, mr german, there are a number of— starting soon? so, mr german, there are a number of things. _ starting soon? so, mr german, there are a number of things. firstly, - are a number of things. firstly, schools do have existing food contracts in place so they can

obviously provide food boxes through those existing contracts. —— mr chairman. they can also take on local vouchers scheme is that they may want to, and the department will reimburse them for that, it is important they have local tax ability. and from next week, the national food voucher scheme will be available to all schools, which we are running with eden red, where we successfully distributed hundreds of millions of pounds�* worth of vouchers to families for free school meals, that will be available to all schools from next week. but all schools from next week. but all schools still have the option of doing locally procured vouchers if thatis doing locally procured vouchers if that is what they want to do. but the national scheme will be available from next week. you have ke -t available from next week. you have kept nurseries _ available from next week. you have kept nurseries open, _ available from next week. you have kept nurseries open, can _ available from next week. you have kept nurseries open, can you - available from next week. you have l kept nurseries open, can you confirm that they will be staying open and can you confirm that they are staff

who work there, who are doing so much to keep children learning, and for children? 50. much to keep children learning, and for children?— for children? so, nurseries, we alwa s, for children? so, nurseries, we always. mr— for children? so, nurseries, we always, mr chairman, - for children? so, nurseries, we always, mr chairman, very - for children? so, nurseries, we. always, mr chairman, very much for children? so, nurseries, we - always, mr chairman, very much like you, i always want to see all education settings open all the time, i always want to ensure that every child is in a position to be able to go to school, and as you will be aware, the transmissibility amongst those who are the youngest is actually the very lowest, compared to all other settings. so when you are in a position to be able to keep out of the education sector open in terms of early years, i believe it was the right decision to make, because so many families really rely on that nursery provision. but most importantly, those early years are so important... those early years are so important. . ._ those early years are so important... those early years are so im ortant. .. �* ,, ., ., those early years are so imortant... �* ., ., ., important... are you going to to keep them _ important... are you going to to keep them open _ important... are you going to to keep them open or _ important... are you going to to keep them open or not? - important... are you going to to

keep them open or not? yes. i keep them open or not? yes. guaranteed? _ keep them open or not? yes. guaranteed? of _ keep them open or not? yes. guaranteed? of the - keep them open or not? yes. guaranteed? of the advice i keep them open or not? yes. i guaranteed? of the advice that keep them open or not? yes. - guaranteed? of the advice that we have had is — guaranteed? of the advice that we have had is that _ guaranteed? of the advice that we have had is that we _ guaranteed? of the advice that we have had is that we can _ guaranteed? of the advice that we have had is that we can keep - guaranteed? of the advice that we have had is that we can keep early| have had is that we can keep early years settings open and there is no intention to close them and we have not received any contrary advice to that. if i not received any contrary advice to that. u, , not received any contrary advice to that. u, , ., ., ., that. ifi can 'ust turn onto mental health, that. ifi canjust turn onto mental health. could _ that. ifi canjust turn onto mental health, could i _ that. ifi canjust turn onto mental health, could i ask, _ that. ifi canjust turn onto mental health, could i ask, is— that. ifi canjust turn onto mental health, could i ask, is the - that. ifi canjust turn onto mental health, could i ask, is the me . health, could i ask, is the dfee carrying out any audit on the impact of lockdowns and school closures on pupils�* mental health? and what is the government doing to ensure that pupils have adequate access to mental health support when schools are closed? you will have heard the evidence from the royal college of psychiatrists and the royal court attrition is, and just last week and officer at the royal court wrote harrowing lee about the 400% increase in eating disorders amongst young people, partly due to school closures and social isolation. so, can you guarantee that mental health professionals will be put in schools, and that parents and

children in social isolation at home can have access to those professionals whenever they need it? i think all members of your committee and much more wider in society, we have all had to deal with either loved ones or people that are close to us, issues to deal with mental health, and what we have seen during the pandemic, it has put quite extraordinary strain on so many young people and families. and you know, i would like to pay tribute to the work that has been undertaken by the department of health, a £2.3 billion investment in mental health, and this is about how we bring together both education and health services locally to make sure we deliver the best mental health support that is possible. we had the

well—being for education return programme which was an investment in terms of training for teachers and those who work in schools and colleges, to best be able to help young people as well as those who work in education to support them with mental health issues that they may have. but i�*ve also asked the minister for universities and the minister for universities and the minister for universities and the minister for children minister for universities and the ministerfor children to minister for universities and the minister for children to look at some of the real issues that children are having to deal with, and also professionals within the sector, both within schools, in colleges, in nurseries and of course, universities, about how the government can best respond to some of these real challenges that we are dealing with on mental health. mould dealing with on mental health. would it not 'ust dealing with on mental health. would it notjust be. — dealing with on mental health. would it notjust be, because _ dealing with on mental health. would it notjust be, because we _ dealing with on mental health. would it notjust be, because we know - dealing with on mental health. would it notjust be, because we know it - it notjust be, because we know it is a serious problem and getting

worse, sadly, just to have either incredible organisations and charities like places to be, for example, for children and parents to be able to have access to a mental health counselor in their school whenever they need it, especially during lockdown? that would make possibly a huge difference to families that are struggling? weill. families that are struggling? well, that is very much _ families that are struggling? well, that is very much where _ families that are struggling? well, that is very much where the - that is very much where the well—being education return programme was aimed at, teaching and training staff in order to be able to deliver that support at source. and of course having children back in schools was a very important moment in order to be able to spot some of the challenges, and that is why i am so keen to ensure that schools are closed for the shortest time possible. because it doesn�*t just help children�*s educational attainment, it also helps in their physical and mental well—being, being in school as well. but we are

looking right across the spectrum as to how we can leverage in as much mental health support for children. this is why i�*ve asked both michelle and vicki to look right across the whole education sectors, looking at what more that we can be doing and bringing in those important partners. and you�*re absolutely right to highlight the voluntary sector, who do such excellent work in there, and we continue to support so many children�*s charities through, you know, financial support, who are so vital in terms of helping and supporting children in their mental health and well—being. but we do want to look at how we can step that up. i well-being. but we do want to look at how we can step that up.- at how we can step that up. i hope ou will at how we can step that up. i hope you will consider— at how we can step that up. i hope you will consider that _ at how we can step that up. i hope you will consider that and - at how we can step that up. i hope you will consider that and that - at how we can step that up. i hope you will consider that and that it . you will consider that and that it will happen quickly. could ijust ask you, given that you have rightly said that you want schools to open again as soon as possible, ideally after the half—term, and i hope that is assigned in blood, with all the

activities and investment the government is doing in terms of testing, regarding children and teachers, surely it might be better to put that investment into rolling out vaccines for teachers and support staff and perhaps having mobile vans, a bit like blood donor vans, as much as possible going up and down schools vaccinating teachers and support staff? because that would be one way that teachers would not feel at risk but more importantly we could get our schools open again sooner rather than later? so, you�*re right to highlight their has been a lot of focus on testing. testing will continue to remain a really important part of supporting children in education. because as you are aware, mr chairman, there hasn�*t been a completed trial on children, you know, people under the age of 18 on any of the vaccines. so, we aren�*t going to be in a

position to be able to offer vaccinations for children until they have been those fully completed trials. so, testing will remain important, because actually, we�*ve already seen with the roll—out of testing, we�*ve already had hundreds of thousands of tests completed for those children who are attending schools and for those of staff. but wh not schools and for those of staff. but why not make sure that teachers are, not because one favours one group of workers over another, i get that, and it is always going to be difficult, but why not ensure that teachers and support staff are a priority for vaccination? so then we get our schools open? there are 450,000 teachers, roughly, so, if you spent a few days doing that, given that the capacity now is 200 every couple of days, you could get teachers and support staff done pretty quickly? 50. teachers and support staff done pretty quickly?— teachers and support staff done pretty quickly? so, mr chairman, there is a school—

pretty quickly? so, mr chairman, there is a school workforce - pretty quickly? so, mr chairman, there is a school workforce of - pretty quickly? so, mr chairman, there is a school workforce of 1 i there is a school workforce of1 million, and it is absolutely vital we do not forget support staff in this. because it is often the support staff who will often be the ones who are often the most exposed, and i think there is also a special needin and i think there is also a special need in the area of special schools as well, where there is often a crossover between notjust an education setting but also as a care and health setting as well. it is quite understandably right that the government has decided to prioritise those who are most at risk of being hospitalised and as a result of catching covid, most at risk of death. but as the health secretary and as nadim has also said, in that next wave, where we need to

prioritise others, i will make no apology for the fact that i see the top priority is for all those who work in schools, notjust teachers but all those who work in schools. because every single one of them is absolutely vital for delivering... thank you, and i always say to support staff and i and glad that you mention to support staff as well because they are often forgotten about when people just talk about teachers. tom hunt wants to ask a question about vaccinations. goad question about vaccinations. good mornin: , question about vaccinations. good morning, secretary _ question about vaccinations. good morning, secretary of— question about vaccinations. good morning, secretary of state. i am aware _ morning, secretary of state. i am aware that— morning, secretary of state. i am aware that there is a letter sent to you recently by i think it was hmc, and i_ you recently by i think it was hmc, and i have — you recently by i think it was hmc, and i have a — you recently by i think it was hmc, and i have a school in my constituency which is working with other_ constituency which is working with other schools, who feels as though it has— other schools, who feels as though it has the _ other schools, who feels as though it has the facilities and also the trained — it has the facilities and also the trained staff to be able to vaccinate all of the local teaching staff in _ vaccinate all of the local teaching staff in the area. so, it would simply— staff in the area. so, it would simply be _ staff in the area. so, it would simply be a matter of getting them the vaccine, they would be able to take care — the vaccine, they would be able to take care of everything else, without _ take care of everything else, without detecting a from the other, whier— without detecting a from the other, wider vaccination strategy. so,

without detecting a from the other, widervaccination strategy. so, i 'ust widervaccination strategy. so, i just wondered what your thoughts were. _ just wondered what your thoughts were. i_ just wondered what your thoughts were, i think the letter was sent pretty— were, i think the letter was sent pretty recently so i don't know if you have — pretty recently so i don't know if you have had some thoughts on that because _ you have had some thoughts on that because it _ you have had some thoughts on that because it does seem as though a lot of schools_ because it does seem as though a lot of schools are really prepared to roll up _ of schools are really prepared to roll up their sleeves and be part of getting _ roll up their sleeves and be part of getting teachers vaccinated? concisely, if you can. gf getting teachers vaccinated? concisely, if you can. of course. tom, i concisely, if you can. of course. tom. i haven't _ concisely, if you can. of course. tom, i haven't actually - concisely, if you can. of course. tom, i haven't actually seen - concisely, if you can. of course. tom, i haven't actually seen the tom, i haven�*t actually seen the letter but i will make sure it is dug out immediately. 0bviously, letter but i will make sure it is dug out immediately. obviously, the jcvi have set out those who are most at risk of death and most at risk of harm, and so, they have to be the top priority. my priority is to see teachers, support staff, being the place to be able to get the vaccine at the very earliest moment. and i agree with you, i think there is a real appetite and a real ability, as we�*ve already seen with testing, that schools can play a major role in the roll—out, notjust of testing

but in terms of vaccination, making sure we get to that position where we�*re predicting that really, really critical workforce that is so vital for all of us but most importantly so vital for our children. so for all of us but most importantly so vital for our children. 50 it for all of us but most importantly so vital for our children.- so vital for our children. so it is aood to so vital for our children. so it is good to confirm _ so vital for our children. so it is good to confirm that _ so vital for our children. so it is good to confirm that you - so vital for our children. so it is good to confirm that you are i good to confirm that you are fighting that teachers and support staff get moved up the priority list for vaccinations. mr staff get moved up the priority list for vaccinations.— for vaccinations. mr chairman, absolutely _ for vaccinations. mr chairman, absolutely tooth _ for vaccinations. mr chairman, absolutely tooth and _ for vaccinations. mr chairman, absolutely tooth and nail, i for vaccinations. mr chairman, absolutely tooth and nail, it i for vaccinations. mr chairman, absolutely tooth and nail, it is| for vaccinations. mr chairman, i absolutely tooth and nail, it is the thing which i have conversations about every single day. tom, on your point i would be happy to meet up with yourself to have a bit of discussion and detail on the back of that meeting. just discussion and detail on the back of that meeting-— that meeting. just a couple more ruestions that meeting. just a couple more questions before _ that meeting. just a couple more questions before i _ that meeting. just a couple more questions before i pass - that meeting. just a couple more questions before i pass to - that meeting. just a couple more questions before i pass to my i questions before i pass to my colleagues. ijust want questions before i pass to my colleagues. i just want to talk about disengagement from learning and vulnerable pupils. we know that before the most recent lockdown, overall truancy rates almost doubled in autumn 2020. average absent rates in autumn 2020. average absent rates in the recent autumn term was 4.4%,

rising to 8.5% in late november, and thatis rising to 8.5% in late november, and that is after covid —related absences were factored in. wraparound access to social services diminished during the lockdown, children�*s social care teams received 18% fewer referrals than in the same period over the prior three years. my concern is that the lockdown could further exacerbate a rise in disengagement seen during the autumn term, and that fewer children will be able to access local support services. covid aside, what is the department�*s plan to re—engage learners who are falling off the radar, and how will you support multiagency working at a local level? 50. support multiagency working at a local level?— local level? so, i think we would all say that _ local level? so, i think we would all say that covid _ local level? so, i think we would all say that covid has _ local level? so, i think we would all say that covid has created i all say that covid has created enormous challenges for every sector, certainly and not least, education. but there are sometimes good things that can start to emerge from this. one of the things that

has really started to emerge is much closer working between schools, social services and local authorities, but also the police forces in local areas. and how they are engaging together in terms of actually working together to have a constant dialogue, constant communication, constant support with children. the initial data that we�*ve already seen starting to come in just for the first day of this week is, we�*ve seen a much higher level of children with social workers in school than we saw last time. we saw a variability of between 4% and 28% of children who had a social worker in schools in the last term, sort of, in the first lockdown, where schools were closed, this time, and it is still too low, thatis

this time, and it is still too low, that is at 40%, we have a clear strategy in terms of working with local authorities, with our react teams, supplementing and supporting local authorities with 0fsted in terms of helping them if they need extra support in order to be able to reach out to the most honourable children. but there is a bigger issue in terms of long—term engagement, and you�*ve highlighted it, as to the fact that there are more of those children who were attending school when schools were fully up and running, with all year groups invited. this is where it becomes really important in terms of getting the discipline and behaviour structures right within schools and making sure that all schools have really strong policies in terms of truancy and making sure that there is an exceptionally low tolerance level of truancy within schools, and how we best support schools in order to be able to implement that. so, those who are most vulnerable

recognise the school is the safest place for them, and it�*s the best place for them, and it�*s the best place for them, and it�*s the best place for them. we place for them, and it's the best place for them.— place for them, and it's the best place for them. we know that in the last lockdown. _ place for them. we know that in the last lockdown, just _ place for them. we know that in the last lockdown, just 696 _ place for them. we know that in the last lockdown, just 696 of _ place for them. we know that in the | last lockdown, just 696 of vulnerable last lockdown, just 6% of vulnerable children _ last lockdown, just 6% of vulnerable children attended school, i am talking — children attended school, i am talking about the lockdown starting last march. and last week and i correct — last march. and last week and i correct in — last march. and last week and i correct in saying that the department suspended the attendance data collection they have run since last april? — data collection they have run since last april? if that is so, it means it will— last april? if that is so, it means it will not— last april? if that is so, it means it will not be possible to assess whether— it will not be possible to assess whether schools are being inundated with pupils, as many that are claiming _ with pupils, as many that are claiming. will the publication of this data — claiming. will the publication of this data resume so that we can find out what _ this data resume so that we can find out what is — this data resume so that we can find out what is exactly happening to vulnerable children, whether or not they are _ vulnerable children, whether or not they are attending school? gf they are attending school? course, mr they are attending school? of course, mr chairman, and obviously in terms of the changed circumstances, we had to change the way that we were collecting data, as it would not be reflective of the circumstances that schools found themselves in. and just this morning

we published, we made, and ad hoc release of data, which i think is to give people a clear sense of where things were on the first full... the first full, the first full day of collecting that data. ijust referred to, 40% of children with dhcp plans were in attendance, 46% in primaries, 25% in secondaries, 29% in special schools and 36% in alternative provision. 40% of children with social workers were in attendance, so as you can see, a much higher rate than last time but recognising that there is still much or work to do. and the overall attendance rate was 14% of pupils...

thank you, i am very happy if you call me by my first name, by the way. just finally, ijust call me by my first name, by the way. just finally, i just want to ask you about alternative provision. can you confirm that alternative provision is obliged to stay open for all of their pupils during lockdown? and if there is no obligation to do so, are they allowed to stay open to all pupils evenif allowed to stay open to all pupils even if some are not on the vulnerable critical workers list? and just finally, the government softened the requirement in the last lockdown for councils to support pupils with ehcp plans, can you confirm whether you�*re doing the same this time? 50. confirm whether you're doing the same this time?— confirm whether you're doing the same this time? , ., ,., same this time? so, in terms of bond has ou same this time? so, in terms of bond has you know. _ same this time? so, in terms of bond has you know. it _ same this time? so, in terms of bond has you know, it is _ same this time? so, in terms of bond has you know, it is really _ has you know, it is really important, as i said in my statement yesterday, sorry, as i said in my statement last week, we do ask... parents are in a position to be able to keep their children at home, we do ask them to keep their children

at home, but if they are in a position where that isn�*t possible, if they are a critical work of a vulnerable child, we do want to see those sort of places made available to them, and we haven�*t got any plans in terms of changing the ehcp... plans in terms of changing the ehcp. .. ., ., ., ., ., plans in terms of changing the ehcp... ., ., ., ., ., ehcp. .. you are not going to soften the requirement _ ehcp. .. you are not going to soften the requirement on _ ehcp. .. you are not going to soften the requirement on the _ ehcp. .. you are not going to soften the requirement on the ehcp, i ehcp. .. you are not going to soften the requirement on the ehcp, as i the requirement on the ehcp, as happened last time?— happened last time? there is no intention of— happened last time? there is no intention of doing _ happened last time? there is no intention of doing that. - happened last time? there is no intention of doing that. and i intention of doing that. and alternative _ intention of doing that. and alternative provision, are they going to be obliged to stay open for their pupils or not? we going to be obliged to stay open for their pupils or not?— going to be obliged to stay open for their pupils or not? we are asking a p2 stay open- _ their pupils or not? we are asking a p2 stay open. and _ their pupils or not? we are asking a p2 stay open. and we _ their pupils or not? we are asking a p2 stay open. and we have - their pupils or not? we are asking a p2 stay open. and we have seen i p2 stay open. and we have seen already in the first cut of data that we have had, —— ap, to stay open. sorry, ifi that we have had, —— ap, to stay open. sorry, if ijust look through the... i am open. sorry, if ijust look through the... iamjust open. sorry, if ijust look through the... i am just trying to find the exact data on the ap opening. sorry, i do apologise. exact data on the ap opening. sorry, i do apologise-— i do apologise. sorry, 'ust to say, the ap, i do apologise. sorry, 'ust to say, the a», you t i do apologise. sorry, 'ust to say, the ar. you can h i do apologise. sorry, 'ust to say, the ap, you can send i i do apologise. sorry, just to say, the ap, you can send us - i do apologise. sorry, just to say, the ap, you can send us the i i do apologise. sorry, just to say, l

the ap, you can send us the data... as i say, 24% in alternative provision, and what we are asking alternative provision is to work with parents and children... fipen alternative provision is to work with parents and children... open to all of their pupils _ with parents and children... open to all of their pupils or _ with parents and children... open to all of their pupils orjust _ with parents and children... open to all of their pupils orjust critical i all of their pupils orjust critical workers? all of their pupils or 'ust critical workers? ~ , ., , ., ., all of their pupils or 'ust critical workers? ~ , ., ., ., workers? well, it is open to all of those within _ workers? well, it is open to all of those within the _ workers? well, it is open to all of those within the ehcp _ workers? well, it is open to all of those within the ehcp plan, i workers? well, it is open to all of| those within the ehcp plan, which obviously is a great proportion, but we are asking them to work with parents where there is a very specific need in order for them to be able to do that. and to work with parents to work with the need of a child, if that needs to be made available to them. i child, if that needs to be made available to them.— child, if that needs to be made available to them. i think susan wants to say — available to them. i think susan wants to say something. - available to them. i think susan wants to say something. yes, l wants to say something. yes, secretary _ wants to say something. yes, secretary of _ wants to say something. yes, secretary of state, _ wants to say something. yes, secretary of state, sorry, i i wants to say something. yes, i secretary of state, sorry, i hope it is helpfut — secretary of state, sorry, i hope it is helpfut i— secretary of state, sorry, i hope it is helpful. i think the first thing to understand is, the definition of vulnerable — to understand is, the definition of vulnerable children is one where we -ive vulnerable children is one where we give some _ vulnerable children is one where we give some discretion to the school, because _ give some discretion to the school, because we — give some discretion to the school, because we think they have the best understanding of which children are most _ understanding of which children are most vulnerable. that means that for ap, they— most vulnerable. that means that for ap, they are — most vulnerable. that means that for ap, they are open for all children with ehcp. —

ap, they are open for all children with ehcp, and all of those they deem _ with ehcp, and all of those they deem vulnerable, and for many ap settings. _ deem vulnerable, and for many ap settings, that will be all the children— settings, that will be all the children in the school. we have also offered _ children in the school. we have also offered them some flexibility to work— offered them some flexibility to work with their parents, because they understand their children and their parents well and they understand what is going to work for them _ understand what is going to work for them. many settings talk to us about them. many settings talk to us about the value _ them. many settings talk to us about the value of— them. many settings talk to us about the value of being able to design patterns — the value of being able to design patterns with parents, as ap settings _ patterns with parents, as ap settings do quite a lot of the time in normal— settings do quite a lot of the time in normal times, to try and manage patterns _ in normal times, to try and manage patterns of— in normal times, to try and manage patterns of attendance that are going _ patterns of attendance that are going to — patterns of attendance that are going to work and keep the largest possible _ going to work and keep the largest possible number of those children engaged — possible number of those children engaged. so, yes, they can open for all of— engaged. so, yes, they can open for all of their— engaged. so, yes, they can open for all of their children but they can also design sensible patterns of attendance with pupils and parents that are _ attendance with pupils and parents that are going to make sense for them _ that are going to make sense for them and — that are going to make sense for them and fortheir that are going to make sense for them and for their cohort.- them and for their cohort. thank ou, i them and for their cohort. thank you. i am _ them and for their cohort. thank you. i am going _ them and for their cohort. thank you. i am going to _ them and for their cohort. thank you, i am going to bring - them and for their cohort. thank you, i am going to bring in i them and for their cohort. thank you, i am going to bring in david johnston, please.— you, i am going to bring in david johnston, please. test, chair. good mornin: , johnston, please. test, chair. good morning, secretary _ johnston, please. test, chair. good morning, secretary of— johnston, please. test, chair. good morning, secretary of state. - johnston, please. test, chair. good morning, secretary of state. in i morning, secretary of state. in september. _ morning, secretary of state. in september, the _ morning, secretary of state. in september, the department. morning, secretary of state. in i september, the department issued morning, secretary of state. in - september, the department issued a tier system _ september, the department issued a tier system to — september, the department issued a tier system to manage _ september, the department issued a tier system to manage school- tier system to manage school openings _ tier system to manage school openings where _ tier system to manage school openings where you - tier system to manage school openings where you could i tier system to manage school. openings where you could move tier system to manage school- openings where you could move from having _ openings where you could move from having a _ openings where you could move from having a rotor— openings where you could move from having a rotor for— openings where you could move from having a rotor for different _ having a rotor for different children _ having a rotor for different children to _ having a rotor for different children to attend - having a rotor for different children to attend school. having a rotor for differentl children to attend school at different _ children to attend school at

different times, _ children to attend school at different times, through i children to attend school at different times, through to| children to attend school at i different times, through to holy online _ different times, through to holy online learning. _ different times, through to holy online learning. whose - different times, through to holy online learning. whose decision different times, through to holy- online learning. whose decision was it to move _ online learning. whose decision was it to move away— online learning. whose decision was it to move away from _ online learning. whose decision was it to move away from that _ online learning. whose decision was it to move away from that system i online learning. whose decision was. it to move away from that system and why was _ it to move away from that system and why was it _ it to move away from that system and why was it taken — it to move away from that system and why was it taken refuge _ it to move away from that system and why was it taken refuge well, - it to move away from that system and why was it taken refuge well, the i why was it taken refuge well, the decision— why was it taken refuge well, the decision to — why was it taken refuge well, the decision to move _ why was it taken refuge well, the decision to move away— why was it taken refuge well, the decision to move away from i why was it taken refuge well, the decision to move away from that| decision to move away from that system — decision to move away from that system was _ decision to move away from that system was obviously _ decision to move away from that system was obviously done i decision to move away from that system was obviously done in i system was obviously done in conjunction _ system was obviously done in conjunction with— system was obviously done in conjunction with the - system was obviously done in i conjunction with the department of health. _ conjunction with the department of health. public_ conjunction with the department of health, public health _ conjunction with the department of health, public health england, i conjunction with the department ofj health, public health england, and also through — health, public health england, and also through the _ health, public health england, and also through the formal— health, public health england, and also through the formal process i health, public health england, and also through the formal process of| also through the formal process of the covid-0 — also through the formal process of the covid—0 committee. _ also through the formal process of the covid—0 committee. in - also through the formal process of the covid—0 committee. in termsl also through the formal process of. the covid—0 committee. in terms of the covid—0 committee. in terms of the design _ the covid—0 committee. in terms of the design of— the covid—0 committee. in terms of the design of these _ the covid—0 committee. in terms of the design of these systems, - the covid—0 committee. in terms of the design of these systems, thesel the design of these systems, these are never— the design of these systems, these are never done _ the design of these systems, these are never done in— the design of these systems, these are never done in isolation, - the design of these systems, these are never done in isolation, purelyl are never done in isolation, purely with the _ are never done in isolation, purely with the department _ are never done in isolation, purely with the department for _ are never done in isolation, purelyl with the department for education, it is actually— with the department for education, it is actually done _ with the department for education, it is actually done most _ with the department for education, it is actually done most critically i it is actually done most critically and importantly— it is actually done most critically and importantly with _ it is actually done most critically and importantly with the - it is actually done most critically i and importantly with the department for health— and importantly with the department for health and — and importantly with the department for health and public _ and importantly with the department for health and public health - and importantly with the department for health and public health england| for health and public health england to make _ for health and public health england to make sure — for health and public health england to make sure it _ for health and public health england to make sure it meets— for health and public health england to make sure it meets the _ for health and public health england to make sure it meets the need. i for health and public health england| to make sure it meets the need. and what we _ to make sure it meets the need. and what we were — to make sure it meets the need. and what we were finding _ to make sure it meets the need. and what we were finding is _ to make sure it meets the need. and what we were finding is that - to make sure it meets the need. and what we were finding is that in- what we were finding is that in terms — what we were finding is that in terms of— what we were finding is that in terms of working _ what we were finding is that in terms of working with - what we were finding is that in terms of working with the - what we were finding is that in- terms of working with the department of health _ terms of working with the department of health and — terms of working with the department of health and public— terms of working with the department of health and public health _ terms of working with the department of health and public health england, i of health and public health england, we felt _ of health and public health england, we felt that— of health and public health england, we felt that by— of health and public health england, we felt that by moving _ of health and public health england, we felt that by moving to _ of health and public health england, we felt that by moving to the - we felt that by moving to the

contingency— we felt that by moving to the contingency framework, - we felt that by moving to the contingency framework, we i we felt that by moving to the . contingency framework, we felt we felt that by moving to the - contingency framework, we felt that this would _ contingency framework, we felt that this would be — contingency framework, we felt that this would be a _ contingency framework, we felt that this would be a better— contingency framework, we felt that this would be a better way - contingency framework, we felt that this would be a better way of - contingency framework, we felt that this would be a better way of doingi this would be a better way of doing it, this would be a better way of doing it. and _ this would be a better way of doing it. and actually— this would be a better way of doing it, and actually having _ this would be a better way of doing it, and actually having spoken - this would be a better way of doing it, and actually having spoken with| it, and actually having spoken with the sector— it, and actually having spoken with the sector and _ it, and actually having spoken with the sector and their— it, and actually having spoken with the sector and their experiences i it, and actually having spoken withi the sector and their experiences of operating — the sector and their experiences of operating schools— the sector and their experiences of operating schools throughout - the sector and their experiences of operating schools throughout the i operating schools throughout the first few — operating schools throughout the first few weeks, _ operating schools throughout the first few weeks, through - operating schools throughout the first few weeks, through june - operating schools throughout the | first few weeks, through june and july, _ first few weeks, through june and july, and — first few weeks, through june and july. and then— first few weeks, through june and july, and then into _ first few weeks, through june and july, and then into september, i first few weeks, through june and i july, and then into september, we felt that, _ july, and then into september, we felt that, and _ july, and then into september, we felt that, and with _ july, and then into september, we felt that, and with the _ july, and then into september, we felt that, and with the full - july, and then into september, we felt that, and with the full opening of schools. — felt that, and with the full opening of schools. it — felt that, and with the full opening of schools, it felt _ felt that, and with the full opening of schools, it felt that _ felt that, and with the full opening of schools, it felt that the - of schools, it felt that the contingency _ of schools, it felt that the contingency framework i of schools, it felt that the . contingency framework best of schools, it felt that the - contingency framework best met of schools, it felt that the _ contingency framework best met their needs— contingency framework best met their needs and _ contingency framework best met their needs and it _ contingency framework best met their needs and it also _ contingency framework best met their needs and it also worked _ contingency framework best met their needs and it also worked best - contingency framework best met their needs and it also worked best with . needs and it also worked best with the department— needs and it also worked best with the department for— needs and it also worked best with the department for health - needs and it also worked best with the department for health and - needs and it also worked best with l the department for health and public health— the department for health and public health and _ the department for health and public health and gland. _ the department for health and public health and gland. find _ the department for health and public health and gland.— health and gland. and it is that what ou health and gland. and it is that what you imagine _ health and gland. and it is that what you imagine we _ health and gland. and it is that what you imagine we will - health and gland. and it is that| what you imagine we will revert health and gland. and it is that i what you imagine we will revert to when _ what you imagine we will revert to when schools come to reopen? yes, so, we when schools come to reopen? yes, so. we already _ when schools come to reopen? yes, so, we already have _ when schools come to reopen? yes, so, we already have the _ when schools come to reopen? yes, so, we already have the set - when schools come to reopen? use: so, we already have the set scheme in terms of a contingency framework. obviously, as i have said many times, i want schools to be closed for the shortest period of time available. but the contingency framework would be sort of sat there

as a, you know, to continue, if there are areas of particular need where we have school settings continue to remain closed, it would be through the contingency framework that they would remain closed. you issued a temporary continuity direction _ issued a temporary continuity direction to greenwich council on the 13th — direction to greenwich council on the 13th of— direction to greenwich council on the 13th of december. and i happened to support _ the 13th of december. and i happened to support your determination to keep— to support your determination to keep schools open but people have understandably asked on what basis you nrade _ understandably asked on what basis you made that decision, given where we find _ you made that decision, given where we find ourselves now with children having _ we find ourselves now with children having to _ we find ourselves now with children having to use online learning anyway? _ having to use online learning an a ? anyway? so, david, it was, as you can imagine. _ anyway? so, david, it was, as you can imagine, right _ anyway? so, david, it was, as you can imagine, right across - anyway? so, david, it was, as you can imagine, right across the - anyway? so, david, it was, as you| can imagine, right across the north of england, right across the midlands, we've seen many local authorities and many schools having to really tackle very high levels of covid infections, and what's happened on every one of those

occasions, we've been in a situation where we've worked really closely with those local authorities where they've had particular concerns. and we've dealt with dozens of local authorities where they've had particular concerns, and we've never beenin particular concerns, and we've never been in a situation where we've had to move the direction. because what has always happened is, those local authorities have come to us, we've had detailed discussions, we've looked, working with public health england and with the local director of public health, as to how we deal with some of those challenges. sometimes that has meant schools closing, where there has been particular challenges. but we've really taken the approach of partnership working. you have had areas with case rates of over 800 where working with the local authority we have been able to keep schools open and protect education. keep schools open and protect education-— education. what we had in the situation with _ education. what we had in the situation with greenwich, - education. what we had in the | situation with greenwich, there education. what we had in the -

situation with greenwich, there was no conversation, no discussion. greenwich flagged up an issue beforehand. usually, these have been flagged up by either directors of children's services, directors of public health, which was not the situation in greenwich. we found out by a clear announcement that this was the approach greenwich was taking, when they had a case rates load of 250 per 100,000, which was not that different from the all london case rate and it certainly wasn't one of the areas flagged up to us by public health england or anyone else. we were also in a position where the knowledge of a new variant was certainly not something that we had any understanding and knowledge of. you

had seen authorities and schools across the north of england and midlands being in a position where we had had this amazing partnership working, where we work together dealing with tricky issues and case rates much higher than we were seeing in greenwich and being in a position where children were able to continue getting an education. it would have been remiss and wrong of us not to take action where there was a local authority where case rates were so much lower than those of other local authorities across the north and midlands. where we had had that partnership working together to keep schools open, but taking action where necessary to help and support them in the containment of the virus. at that stage none of us was aware of the new variant and we were not aware of the impact that would ultimately have in terms of case rates, and the

impact more widely right across the country and including in london. 50 country and including in london. so the education secretary is speaking to the education select committee. he was asked by the chair robert halfon about those food boxes being given to children in receipt of free school meals. you will have seen the images of what they contain. robert halfon said will you name and shame contractors supplying boxes like this and gavin williamson said he would, he said it will not be tolerated, we will not live with that, there are clear standards that need to be delivered against. he was asked about nursery schools and whether they would remain open and he said the advice he had been given as it is safe to allow them to stay open. lots of other topics, importantly vaccinations for school staff, also disengagement from learning, as children are doing

online learning, and a number of other issues. we will cover more covid related news in the next half hour but first to the us. attempts to remove the outgoing president donald trump from office following the violent attack on the us capitol are gaining momentum. seniorfigures have indicated they will support moves by the democrats to impeach him. the process involves two parts — first, the charges must be brought to the house of representatives where the democrats hold a majority and passed in a vote. that could happen later on today. the case is then passed to the senate for a trial. but there a two—thirds vote is necessary for a president to be convicted and removed and currently the democrats and republicans both have 50 seats each. so at least 17 republicans would have to vote for conviction. as many as 20 are said to be open to the idea — that's according to the new york times. but when a trial would be held

is not known, and the president leaves office on 20th of january, whenjoe biden will be sworn in. democrats could choose to wait until later this year. in this case, an impeachment trial, once mr trump has left office, would prevent him from running for the white house again. from washington, here's our correspondent barbara plett usher. just one week after the deadly attack on the capitol building, the house is racing to impeach donald trump for inciting it. the president's actions demonstrate his absolute inability to discharge the most basic and fundamental powers and duties of his office. therefore, the president must be removed from office immediately. first, though, democrats pushed the vice president, mike pence, to take action — to invoke the constitution and declare mr trump unfit to govern. he won't do that — he warned this move would further inflame the nation. but some republicans have begun to abandon the president,

including the third—ranking member in the house, liz cheney. they say they will vote to impeach. the dam is beginning to break. mr trump hasn't made it any easierfor his party. venturing out of the white house for the first time since the riot, he showed no remorse, accepted no responsibility. the impeachment hoax is a continuation of the greatest and most vicious witch hunt in the history of our country, and is causing tremendous anger and division and pain, far greater than most people will ever understand, which is very dangerous for the usa, especially at this very tender time. in washington, it's lawmakers who are getting angrier, as growing evidence shows how brutal the mob was. in a sweeping investigation, dozens have been charged. hundreds might be. and security officials are bracing for more violence ahead ofjoe biden's inauguration. they warn of plans for armed protests — even a plot to try and overthrow the government.

the country is reaping the whirlwind of donald trump's presidency. and today marks a pivotal step in its dramatic end. mr trump is facing the unprecedented stigma of a second impeachment, and his fractured party is facing a traumatic moment of reckoning. barbara plett usher, bbc news, washington. i am joined now by dr gina yannitell reinhardt who is a senior lecturer at the department of government at the university of essex. thank you for your time. do you think are enough republicans might actually vote against donald trump in these impeachment proceedings? they have looked at growing evidence from the capitol riots. they listen to what he has had to say in the days since and for some of them, it goes beyond the pale. it days since and for some of them, it goes beyond the pale.— goes beyond the pale. it certainly does. for some, _

goes beyond the pale. it certainly does. for some, they _ goes beyond the pale. it certainly does. for some, they were - goes beyond the pale. it certainly does. for some, they were ready | goes beyond the pale. it certainly i does. for some, they were ready to disavow their relationship with donald trump. but the fact that some of the top ranking republicans in the house has publicly come out against his actions, that is what is really indicative of the changing tide. the house republicans are not needed to pass an impeachment vote. the resolution can pass with a simple majority, and the democrats have a simple majority in the house. the question is what would happen in the senate in order to convict, so the senate in order to convict, so the house it's like the investigators and prosecutors. the senate is the adjudicator. they sit asjudge and jury and senate is the adjudicator. they sit as judge and jury and decide whether to convict on the charge. in order for that to happen there needs to be a two thirds majority, 67 senators. that would take quite a few republicans. mitch mcconnell, the

lead republican in the senate, has leaked his opinion he thinks impeachment is a good idea. if he were to state that impeachment is something he is in favour of, it is likely most of the senate will turn against trump and vote for his impeachment.— against trump and vote for his impeachment. you think that is likel ? it impeachment. you think that is likely? it was _ impeachment. you think that is likely? it was interesting - impeachment. you think that is l likely? it was interesting looking at the discussion last night when word of what mitch mcconnell had said started to leak out and lots of people of the opinion he said this but it will not happen. you people of the opinion he said this but it will not happen.— people of the opinion he said this but it will not happen. you think it ma ? i but it will not happen. you think it may? i absolutely _ but it will not happen. you think it may? i absolutely think _ but it will not happen. you think it may? i absolutely think it - but it will not happen. you think it may? i absolutely think it made. i but it will not happen. you think it i may? i absolutely think it made. he has been in discussions with the president—electjoe biden, and they are dealing with whether or not it is possible to pursue an impeachment trial at the same time as they are pursuing legislation and passing laws based on the first 100 days of joe biden's presidency. he is definitely getting ready to consider

impeachment, and the fact he leaked that, if we contrast it to a year ago during the first impeachment of donald trump, when he said in no way was the senate consider this, there would be no trial, no evidence presented, this is a different situation. it presented, this is a different situation. . . presented, this is a different situation-— presented, this is a different situation. it is a contrast and listenin: situation. it is a contrast and listening to _ situation. it is a contrast and listening to the _ situation. it is a contrast and listening to the clip - situation. it is a contrast and listening to the clip of - situation. it is a contrast and | listening to the clip of donald trump when he talked about the impeachment hoax and be careful what you wish for, i wonder what your view is on senior republican party thinking. do they think the best chance in terms of the future of the republican party is this is the way to try to cut ties with him and stop him from being able to run for public office again, and detach themselves from donald trump? orders that pose issues for the party, with commentators talking about splits in the party. commentators talking about splits in the -a . . . . commentators talking about splits in thea. the party. this is a contentious issue and _ the party. this is a contentious issue and every _

the party. this is a contentious issue and every republican - the party. this is a contentious - issue and every republican lawmaker issue and every republican lawmaker is walking a very fine line, trying to decide whether they need to align with trump or with the party establishment. mitch mcconnell made it clear he is ready to split. the issue of what the senators vote for in terms of impeachment has a lot to do with when they are up for re—election. any senator who is republican up for election in a year or two is unlikely to vote to convict. but many and most senators are not up for re—election in two years but four or six years, and they have time to recover their image and to run based on a new republican party that will emerge. they are more insulated and more likely to vote to convict, and that is what we are looking at, the debates that each republican is having as to whether they will align with trump or not. that is why mike

pence, the vice president, has declined to invoke the 25th amendment. he is hoping to run for office soon and is not willing to take the political hit he would if he invoked the 25th. than;t he invoked the 25th. very interesting _ he invoked the 25th. very interesting to _ he invoked the 25th. very interesting to talk - he invoked the 25th. very interesting to talk to - he invoked the 25th. very interesting to talk to you. he invoked the 25th. very - interesting to talk to you. thank you. nearly half of intensive care staff in england could be suffering from post—traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety or problem drinking. that's the finding of new research which has indicated how much pressure the coronavirus pandemic has placed on nhs workers. king's college london spoke to more than 700 icu staff during the first wave of the pandemic last summer. the study found poor mental health was common in intensive care clinicians, particularly amongst nurses. the results of the study come as the numbers of people being treated in hospital with covid rise to the highest level since the pandemic began. graham satchell reports.

monitors beep. the thin line between life and death is played out here in intensive care. but never has the pressure on staff been so great. intensive care units are full. the staff are incredibly stretched at the moment. and, really, i guess many people are breaking themselves to try and make this work right now. staff "breaking themselves". this pandemic has been going on for almost a year, and the consequences for nhs staff are now becoming clear. a new report shows high levels of stress, depression, anxiety. we're all supporting each other, luckily. and we're trying to save lives. erm... we're alljust doing what we can to save people's loved ones. the relentless pressure laid bare in this video by nurse shirley watts in the first wave last april.

and we're sinking a little bit, but we're still turning up and we're trying to do our best. today's study by king's college london shows poor mental health is now common amongst intensive care staff. it says 40% have symptoms of post—traumatic stress. 11% have severe anxiety. and 13% have frequent thoughts of being better off dead or hurting themselves. doctors like zudin puthucheary are used to saving people's lives, not having them die in huge numbers. part of being in intensive care is that you give up a lot of yourself to try and do your best for your patients. and sometimes, when it doesn't work out, it can be very painful. this is st george's hospital in london — the sheer number of patients here causing significant stress. i'm looking after many more sick patients than i normally look after.

it'sjust overwhelming, the whole situation. i personally cry when i get home, quite a lot, actually, at the moment. sleep — we're suffering with sleep problems, i think, a lot of nurses and doctors at the moment, as well. we just do have to keep going because we have to be here for patients. but i do worry, you know, about the scars that will leave some of our staff with. an nhs spokesperson told us they've invested £15 million in mental health support. but the intensive care society, which represents staff, says not enough is being done. it's now appealing to the public for support to help maintain the wellbeing of front—line medical workers. we need to raise funds for these resources, because there is no plan in how we'll rehabilitate the staff in the pandemic. this pandemic will have many unfortunate lasting legacies. one is the damage it's doing to nhs staff. graham satchell, bbc news.

further lockdown restrictions are being considered in scotland after the death toll from the virus passed 5,000. first minister nicola sturgeon will outline any changes later today — they could include tightening the rules around take—away and click—and—collect services. new travel restrictions mean anyone entering the country from abroad will have to show proof of a negative covid test from friday. connor gillies reports. many people in england are wondering whether the current restrictions we're living under will get tougher, but the government says at the moment, the focus is on getting us all to follow the existing rules. the average number of cases over the last seven days have decreased by 0.5 per cent, but the government says we shoudn'tjust look at one figure as symbol of hope. here's health secretary matt hancock. the rules are really simple. stay at home unless you have to leave. and

this is important. they are important to try to get the number of cases down. we know that this can work because we know the only way the virus spreads is when people meet each other, and so we can all play a part in making this happen and, together, we can make this the peak, if enough people follow the rules that are incredibly clear. matt hancock. i want to bring in your tweets about restrictions because i have had a lot getting in touch. maggie asks why nonessential construction workers are at work, and they say they cannot get sick because of no sick pay, work in small spaces. because of no sick pay, work in smallspaces. i because of no sick pay, work in small spaces. i suppose a lot of construction work can be in the open air. she urges the government to furlough construction workers. another asks why is there no one—way system in supermarkets? this person

said they got pushed out of the way while waiting for enough space to proceed. and says i have spoken to management and the answer is, we are looking into it. another interesting one from h, who says i work at her main post office and keys have been going out the door and up the street with people posting on essentials like socks and soap and sweets and chocolate and even admitting they are not important. and the second part goes on yesterday somebody passed a parcel to me and said he will want to wash your hands, i am posting this for my neighbour who has covid. the next customer refused to wear a mask and had an "happy to hug" badge on. and barry says only in anecdotal observation but every day for my exercise across a bridge in leicestershire and in the first lockdown there was a reduction in traffic and a sign said essential

travel only but this type little apparent reduction in travel and no sign about only travelling if essential. so many more interesting ones to read out if i had more time but thank you for sending in your tweets. i promise i read them all. let's move away from covid. the first execution of a woman in america since 1953 has been carried out in indiana. lisa montgomery was sentenced to death in 2007 for strangling a pregnant woman, before cutting out and kidnapping her unborn baby. her execution had been scheduled for yesterday, but a usjudge postponed it, arguing she was too mentally ill to understand why she was facing capital punishment. that ruling, however, was effectively overturned by the supreme court. her lawyers and supporters had appealed to president trump for clemency. our correspondent nomia iqbal reports from indiana on the roadside opposite the prison, many came to have their say.

since last summer, the town of terre haute has seen nine people sent to their death. it's after federal executions were resumed by the government for the first time in nearly two decades. and now, lisa montgomery — the only woman on federal death row — is the latest. in a statement, her lawyer kelly henry said... her lawyers and advocates say montgomery wasn't the worst of society, but the most broken, and that, as a mentally ill victim of childhood abuse, she deserved mercy, who should have been kept behind bars for the rest of her life.

that's a view shared by people here. i just don't think that we have any right to kill somebody else. nobody is saying that they didn't commit these crimes and most of the people aren't saying they committed them. i believe in a loving god that has i believe that we should not be killing people. the only people gathered outside the jail are those who believe lisa montgomery should not have been put to death, and that it wasn't up to the government to decide. but we've seen people driving past, shouting abuse at the protesters. because many think that capital punishment should exist for a shocking crime like this. in 2004, montgomery travelled from her home in kansas to missouri to visit bobbiejo stinnett, who was heavily pregnant. she strangled her and kidnapped the baby from her womb. the baby survived, bobbiejo stinnett bled to death. for those close to mrs stinnett, the death of montgomery is the onlyjustice they want — including the police officer who tracked her down.

this case haunts those of us that worked it. this is a devil come back to earth disguised as lisa montgomery. for those who sat here into the night, they hoped montgomery's fate would have been decided next week by the new president — joe biden has indicated he would abolish the federal death penalty — but time ran out, closing the page on the tortured life and horrific crime of lisa montgomery. nomia iqbal, bbc news, indiana. the russian opposition leader and critic has said he will fly back to russia on the 17th of january from germany where he has been recovering after being poisoned. he is one of vladimir putin's leading critics and went to germany for treatment after collapsing in what western nations was an attempt to murder him with another chuck agent. a large—scale

trial of a new treatment. hoped to help covid—19 patients from developing severe illness began in the uk yesterday. the first patient received the treatment at hull royal infirmary. it involves inhaling a protein called interferon beta which the body produces when it gets a viral infection. justin rowlatt reports. alexandra constantine inhales the new treatment deep into her lungs. the 34—year—old was admitted to hull royal infirmary with covid—19 on monday night. she has a young daughter at home she is desperate to get back to. just a short move, or try to make myself comfortable, i start to feel very tired and i start to sweating, and i start to...sweating, and all my body starts to be in pain. i never feel this before. it's... it's horrible. alexandra is the first patient to receive the treatment as part

of this new clinical trial. the treatment uses a protein called interferon beta, which is part of our body's natural immune response. right, so this is the device that actually aerosol—ises the drug. professor tom wilkinson is overseeing the trial. it's helping the cells really reconstitute their immune response to fight off the virus. therefore, there's less damage to the lung, less symptoms, less risk of admission to intensive care, or even death. and so that's what we are studying in the trial, those effects. the drug was developed here at southampton university hospital. bbc news filmed an earlier trial last year. the results were very promising. it suggested it cut the odds of a covid—19 patient in hospital getting severe disease by almost 80%, and brought a significant reduction in breathlessness, a key symptom. but the trial was small, just 100 patients. this new so—called phase three

clinical trial will involve more than 600 patients in 20 countries. but drugs often don't live up to their early promise, warns dr lamis latif. although it's exciting, we have to see what the results show, and we've also had other drugs in similar circumstances. we've had hydroxychloroquine, for example, but again when that reached further trials, it wasn't as promising as it initially made out to be, so that's something to really take note for this current drug. this building behind me is southampton hospital's brand—new intensive care unit. the doctors here say because of the covid crisis, it is full at the moment. now, this drug trial should be finished byjune. if the drug proves effective, the company hopes approval will follow shortly after that. then it will be available to help patients and, of course, to alleviate pressure on the nhs. justin rowlatt, bbc

news, southampton. more coming up on our coverage of the virus and the latest development in the united states. you're watching bbc news. joanna gosling will be with you next. from me, goodbye, nowa time fora next. from me, goodbye, nowa time for a look at the weather. it was a cold start for some places, particularly in the north and east. we have seen some iciness around this morning. things are turning milder because we have more cloud working in from the west. that cloud bring in wet weather for many. outbreaks of rain and some sleet and snow over the high ground. we have cold air holding on in the north—east, but yellow colours showing milder air sweeping in. where the air masses are meeting, there is a weather front bringing outbreaks of rain to many parts of the uk today. quite heavy for a time across parts of southern and western scotland. northern ireland is seeing heavy bursts of rain. that rain stretching to the south—east of england.

some of it falling as sleet and snow over the high ground, northern england and scotland, as well. a contrast in temperature. 2—4 in the north and east, 10—11 down towards the south—west of england and into wales, as well. moving into the evening hours, we have a lot of cloud and outbreaks of rain lasting through the night for many. you can see it increasingly turning to snow for scotland and northern england. perhaps some of that snow getting down to lower levels. there could be a slight covering through the central belt by first thing tomorrow. some iciness around in the north and the east where you are in that colder air tomorrow morning. milder towards the south and west, with cloud and what outbreaks of rain. thursday, we have a slow—moving front sitting across the uk. it will eventually fizzle out, with milder air squeezed away towards the south through the day. forfor the morning, we start with rain for many areas. some dry weatherfor northern ireland, and then pushing into parts of south—west england and wales later. further east, we keep outbreaks of rain through the day. and sleet and snow over the hills of northern england,

for the pennines for instance, up towards the higher ground of scotland. temperatures between two in edinburgh to 11 in plymouth through the day on thursday. as we move through thursday night, the cloud and rain and hill snow the cloud and rain and hill snow will tend to eventually peter out. there could be fog and mist patches as we start friday morning. a ridge of high pressure holds onto the weather for friday, so a drier sort of day, then low—pressure returns from the atlantic as we head towards the weekend. particularly unsettled into saturday. friday, most places looking drier and colder. turning wet and windy for saturday. a bit drieragain, but still by sunday.

this is bbc news, i'mjoanna gosling. the headlines at 11: further lockdown restrictions are being considered in scotland. first minister nicola sturgeon will outline any tightening of the rules later this morning. health secretary matt hancock says the government might also consider introducing tougher restrictions in england. it is possible then to make further restrictions, but what i would say is that the most important thing is the compliance with the existing measures — that is the thing that is going to make the difference. nearly half of intensive care staff in england could be experiencing symptoms such as post—traumatic stress disorder after treating patients during the first wave of coronavirus, a new study suggests. education secretary gavin williamson says a national food voucher scheme

will be available to all english schools from next week, after images of free school meal parcels were shared online. a large—scale trial of a new coronavirus treatment begins in the uk. it's hoped the drug will stop patients developing severe illness. a number of senior republicans indicate they will support the impeachment of president donald trump after last week's violent attack on the capitol. the process begins today. hello. further lockdown restrictions are being considered in scotland after the number of deaths from the virus passed 5,000. first minister nicola sturgeon will outline any changes later this morning.

they could include tightening the rules around take—away and click—and—collect services. new travel restrictions mean anyone entering the country from abroad will have to show proof of a negative covid test from friday. meanwhile, the health secretary says lockdown restrictions in england will stay in place for "as long as they are necessary". in interviews this morning, mr hancock said, "we can make this the peak" of the coronavirus pandemic if "enough people follow the rules". we'll hear from mr hancock shortly, but first here's our correspondent connor gillies on the situtation in scotland. travel news now for those of you who have to be out. and queuing traffic on the northbound m74... the streets and roads are not as silent as last spring — not as quiet as the politicians may like. with hospitals under sustained, significant pressure, more restrictions are being mooted. this is what's causing concern — queues and gathering.

one coffee—shop owner closed his place down over covid fears. as a business owner, we've found it extremely difficult to work, you know, and police things like queues and social distancing effectively without actually taking a very. . .a very strong sort of approach. our staff were often out in the street trying to sort out people and ask them not to crowd on the pavement, and so on. click and collect may be tightened, and the advice on takeaways squeezed. we're asking people to stay at home, except for essential purposes. but people can still go fortakeaway, still go into places for takeaway. now, it may not be about saying you can't have takeaway at all, but do we need to tighten up how that operates just to limit the potential for people coming together inside? a cough is the most obvious spread of covid. one expert reckons three—metre social distancing would help, but the data continues to show

a positive case is more likely to have gone to a supermarket than anywhere else. that weighs heavy here in greenock — where two workers died after contracting the virus. i just stay away from everybody. i stay by myself. i don't talk to anybody. ijust keep away from people. i'm all right. i mean, i take all my precautions — you know, i hand sanitise, my mask on, and i think that's all anybody can do. and here in lanarkshire, another sign of how serious it all is — all non—urgent surgical procedures being postponed amid fears covid hospital numbers could double. lockdown lifting at the end of january now highly unlikely as this crisis continues. connor gillies, bbc news. the health secretary matt hancock reiterated the need for everyone to observe the lockdown. the rules are really simple, which is to stay at home

unless you absolutely have to leave. you know, i'm home... this is important. we don't say these things lightly. they are very important to try to get the number of cases coming down. and we know that this can work because we know that the only way that the virus spreads is when people meet each other or on surfaces. and so, we can all play a part in making this happen. and together, we can make this the peak, if enough people follow the rules, which are incredibly clear. our political correspondent nick eardley is in westminster. this so nick, the questions keep coming about whether and when restrictions may be further tightened. restrictions may be further tightened-— restrictions may be further tightened. restrictions may be further tiahtened. , . . tightened. yes, and as you heard from the health _ tightened. yes, and as you heard from the health secretary - tightened. yes, and as you heard from the health secretary there, | tightened. yes, and as you heard . from the health secretary there, the message we are getting from

government all this week really is about following the rules that are already in place, about complying with the restrictions, particularly in england, which the government has already announced. that said, i do think that is going to continue to be a lot of pressure on any government to go a bit further with some of the restrictions, so i expect in the next hour that nicola sturgeon will tighten up the rules in scotland, she will announce a crackdown on click and collect, limiting the number of businesses that can use that, there will also be some new rules around takeaways, banning, for example, takeaway alcohol. that has already happened in england, but they fear that some of the scientists have is that by allowing shops to have click and collect in place, by allowing some nurseries to be open, by allowing other elements of society that were closed in the first lockdown to continue moving, that there isjust too much room for people to interact with each other so i think we are

going to continue to hear questions about whether the restrictions in england go far enough. that is likely to be some of that at prime minister's questions today as well. but if you are a number —— number 10 is that they need to see the data coming through for the first couple of weeks and lockdown, it was only announced about ten days ago, so there are still questions about the impact that is having on the prevalence of the virus. thank you very much. _ prevalence of the virus. thank you very much, nick. _ mps on the science and technology committee are questioning the vaccines minister nadhim zahawi and health bosses crucial to the jabs programme about the rollout of the covid—19 vaccine, let's listen in. and then we will look at more sites. and then we will look at more sites. and of course, we will bring on board the community pharmacies and the independent sector as well. now the independent sector as well. now the limiting factor is two things. one, initialvolume, so in any manufacturing process, especially

when dealing with a biological compound, a novel vaccine, is lumping at the outset. and there is no doubt that it was, but getting better. as you heard just now... if you stabilise, you get a clearer line of sight sol you stabilise, you get a clearer line of sight so i now have line of sight of deliveries all the way through until the end of february and getting more confidence about march as well so we have millions of doses coming through in the weeks and next month or the month after —— next month and the month after. add a second challenge is focusing on the most vulnerable. if you are going to reach the over 805, you have to have a delivery mechanism to get to them, hence why we chose the primary care networks as the volume provider of this campaign and then the national vaccination centres as well working hand—in—hand. those are the two limitations.

well working hand-in-hand. those are the two limitations.— the two limitations. which one is bitinu the two limitations. which one is bitin: at the two limitations. which one is biting at the _ the two limitations. which one is biting at the moment? _ the two limitations. which one is biting at the moment? if- the two limitations. which one is biting at the moment? if you - the two limitations. which one is| biting at the moment? if you had more _ biting at the moment? if you had more vaccines, have you got there comedy— more vaccines, have you got there comedy networks to deploy them? yes. or is it that you — comedy networks to deploy them? yes. or is it that you are _ comedy networks to deploy them? res or is it that you are waiting for more — or is it that you are waiting for more vaccines? so or is it that you are waiting for more vaccines?— or is it that you are waiting for more vaccines? ., , more vaccines? so now it is getting better. more vaccines? so now it is getting better- just — more vaccines? so now it is getting better- just to _ more vaccines? so now it is getting better. just to be _ more vaccines? so now it is getting better. just to be very _ more vaccines? so now it is getting better. just to be very clear, - more vaccines? so now it is getting better. just to be very clear, what l better. just to be very clear, what is at the constraint _ better. just to be very clear, what is at the constraint at _ better. just to be very clear, what is at the constraint at the - better. just to be very clear, what l is at the constraint at the moment? is it is at the constraint at the moment? is it the _ is at the constraint at the moment? is it the availability of vaccines or the — is it the availability of vaccines or the ability to deploy? so the constraint _ or the ability to deploy? so the constraint around _ or the ability to deploy? so the constraint around the - or the ability to deploy? so the i constraint around the deployment or the ability to deploy? so the - constraint around the deployment was because you had to handle the vaccine initially at —70 degrees in the coal chamber, not every hospital can be stood up at the same time —— cold chamber. the boat came forward, but not everyone of them. that was a constraint. —— the bulk of them. i constraint. —— the bulk of them. i understand the reasons for why both areas _ understand the reasons for why both areas are _ understand the reasons for why both areas are difficult for deployment and as— areas are difficult for deployment and as we — areas are difficult for deployment and as we heard from astrazeneca in manufacturing, but for the moment,... this is not a point of criticisnr, — moment,... this is not a point of criticism, effectual point, are we

held back— criticism, effectual point, are we held back -- _ criticism, effectual point, are we held back —— it is effectual point. i held back —— it is effectual point. i read _ held back —— it is effectual point. i read being _ held back —— it is effectual point. i read being constrained by the number— i read being constrained by the number of doses that we have or our ability— number of doses that we have or our ability to— number of doses that we have or our ability to deploy them? which of those? _ ability to deploy them? which of those? it— ability to deploy them? which of those? . ability to deploy them? which of those? , ., , . , those? it is not binary. in the sense it is — those? it is not binary. in the sense it is both. _ those? it is not binary. in the sense it is both. we - those? it is not binary. in the sense it is both. we have - those? it is not binary. in the l sense it is both. we have gone those? it is not binary. in the - sense it is both. we have gone from having a challenge around the deployment of the vaccine at —70 celsius, a second coming along only really approved and then deployed on the 4th of january. again had to spend a couple of days in hospital deployment before we were rolling it out to primary care. day by day, what are you will see its greater volumes going out. the nhs plan has built a infrastructure that can deliver the volume that the manufacturers give.- deliver the volume that the manufacturers give. deliver the volume that the manufacturers rive. �* , . . ,, . manufacturers give. let's tack about the manufacturer _ manufacturers give. let's tack about the manufacturer volumes _ manufacturers give. let's tack about the manufacturer volumes and - manufacturers give. let's tack about the manufacturer volumes and the l the manufacturer volumes and the delivery _ the manufacturer volumes and the delivery. astrazeneca is opening up.

how nrany— delivery. astrazeneca is opening up. how many are you expecting next week? — how many are you expecting next week? so— how many are you expecting next week? ., ., how many are you expecting next week? . ., . , ~ week? so we are not releasing week b week week? so we are not releasing week by week figures _ week? so we are not releasing week by week figures and _ week? so we are not releasing week by week figures and you _ week? so we are not releasing week by week figures and you will - by week figures and you will understand why when i hopefully explain. first of all, there is a series of tests of batches by the manufacturer that go through. probably read things about sterility tests and things as well. then there is a test by the regulator, i gain a patch test. that is for quality control. —— a batch test. that moves a week by week because a batch may fail, so it may be misleading the committee in this house to say this is what we are getting this week because it will move around and are part of the supply chain challenge we have. a5 part of the supply chain challenge we have. as you would, standing up any... it is at the acrylic of setting up a supermarket chain any month and growing it up by 20% every week. taste month and growing it up by 20% every week. ~ . . month and growing it up by 2096 every week. ~ . . , week. we heard that there is high visibili of week. we heard that there is high visibility of what _ week. we heard that there is high visibility of what is _ week. we heard that there is high visibility of what is being -

visibility of what is being supplied, that is stabilised. you have _ supplied, that is stabilised. you have the — supplied, that is stabilised. you have the numbers because they have been given— have the numbers because they have been given to you. he suggested that he has _ been given to you. he suggested that he has been told not to give them because _ he has been told not to give them because it — he has been told not to give them because it is a matter of national security — because it is a matter of national security. can you explain a bit about — security. can you explain a bit about that? i security. can you explain a bit about that?— security. can you explain a bit about that? ., . , about that? i would also 'ust remind ou, about that? i would also 'ust remind you. chairman. * about that? i would also 'ust remind you. chairman. 1h about that? i would also 'ust remind you, chairman, i also _ about that? i would also just remind you, chairman, i also said _ about that? i would also just remind you, chairman, i also said we - about that? i would also just remind you, chairman, i also said we have l you, chairman, i also said we have clear lines of sight to the end of february already, which is really good news. we are saying we have millions coming through in this week and next month.— millions coming through in this week and next month. millions next week? eve week and next month. millions next week? every week we _ and next month. millions next week? every week we are _ and next month. millions next week? every week we are going _ and next month. millions next week? every week we are going to _ and next month. millions next week? every week we are going to move - every week we are going to move forward to hit the 50 million target by mid—february. 50 forward to hit the 50 million target by mid-february— forward to hit the 50 million target by mid-february. so you have a clear line of sight — by mid-february. so you have a clear line of sight -- _ by mid-february. so you have a clear line of sight -- 15 _ by mid-february. so you have a clear line of sight -- 15 million _ by mid-february. so you have a clear line of sight -- 15 million target - line of sight —— 15 million target by february. it line of sight -- 15 million target by february-— line of sight -- 15 million target by february. it is not so much on the security _ by february. it is not so much on the security it — by february. it is not so much on the security it is _ by february. it is not so much on the security it is a _ by february. it is not so much on the security it is a security - the security it is a security matters to a deliveries can and then how they are effectively distributed to the deployment infrastructure. i to the deployment infrastructure. i am not asking what surgery they are

going _ am not asking what surgery they are going to _ am not asking what surgery they are going to so — am not asking what surgery they are going to so they will be hijacked on the way, _ going to so they will be hijacked on the way, just for the... so going to so they will be hi'acked on the way, just for the. . ._ the way, 'ust for the. .. so as of seven the way, just for the. .. so as of seven days" _ the way, just for the. .. so as of seven days' time, _ the way, just for the. .. so as of seven days' time, the _ the way, just for the. .. so as of seven days' time, the nhs - the way, just for the. .. so as of seven days' time, the nhs will| seven days' time, the nhs will absolutely begin to share data at a local level. we will do a data cut on thursday on a regional level as to how many people have been vaccinated, but as of seven days' time, a weak�*s time roughly, simon stephens, i think, time, a weak�*s time roughly, simon stephens, ithink, before time, a weak�*s time roughly, simon stephens, i think, before another committee confirmed they will be shedding more data that local level so that mp5 and local government, who are doing a tremendous job so that mp5 and local government, who are doing a tremendousjob in this endeavour, can begin to see where deliveries are so that every person can understand when they are getting... any more time i can give to a primary care network, to plan ahead, the better the outcome. so the supply teams focus very much on making sure we give as much time as possible. are difficult in the early days, gets better as we move through

the process, gets even easier... this is the vaccine is a vaccines minister, nadhim zahawi, giving evidence to the commons select committee on the relatively covid vaccination. coverage continues here on the bbc news channel. we will say goodbye if you're watching us on a bbc news channel. we will say goodbye if you're watching us on bbc two, see you soon. didi goodbye if you're watching us on bbc two, see you soon.— two, see you soon. did i say show off about how _ two, see you soon. did i say show off about how many _ two, see you soon. did i say show off about how many batches - two, see you soon. did i say show off about how many batches we i two, see you soon. did i say show| off about how many batches we are receiving. the more difficult light becomes for manufacturers as well although, clearly, they are doing a tremendousjob and i although, clearly, they are doing a tremendous job and i want to place on record my thanks to pfizer and astrazeneca. on record my thanks to pfizer and astrazeneca-— on record my thanks to pfizer and astrazeneca. along with the prime minister and _ astrazeneca. along with the prime minister and the _ astrazeneca. along with the prime minister and the health _ astrazeneca. along with the prime minister and the health secretary, j minister and the health secretary, celebrating the achievement that we have had _ celebrating the achievement that we have had there. i am surprised that you have _ have had there. i am surprised that you have become a little shy about it. �* ., y you have become a little shy about it. �* ., , , ., ., , it. but only in terms of volumes. let me put— it. but only in terms of volumes. let me put it _ it. but only in terms of volumes. let me put it a — it. but only in terms of volumes. let me put it a different - it. but only in terms of volumes. let me put it a different way. - it. but only in terms of volumes. i let me put it a different way. what is the _ let me put it a different way. what is the weekly rate of vaccination that we — is the weekly rate of vaccination that we need to attain to get to the prime _ that we need to attain to get to the prime minister's target for the middle — prime minister's target for the

middle of february for all of the 70s and — middle of february for all of the 70s and of— middle of february for all of the 70s and of the most vulnerable categories? 50 70s and of the most vulnerable categories?— 70s and of the most vulnerable cateuories? ,, , . , categories? so we keep a scale up week by week _ categories? so we keep a scale up week by week so _ categories? so we keep a scale up week by week so you _ categories? so we keep a scale up week by week so you saw- categories? so we keep a scale up week by week so you saw the - categories? so we keep a scale up week by week so you saw the 4th | categories? so we keep a scale up i week by week so you saw the 4th of week by week so you saw the lath of january until the 11th of january, delivers many vaccinations orjabs in the previous three weeks. what delivers many vaccinations or 'abs in the previous three weeks. what is the rate that — in the previous three weeks. what is the rate that is _ in the previous three weeks. what is the rate that is required _ in the previous three weeks. what is the rate that is required to _ in the previous three weeks. what is the rate that is required to meet - the rate that is required to meet that target?— that target? oh, it will fluctuate da b that target? oh, it will fluctuate day by day _ that target? oh, it will fluctuate day by day because _ that target? oh, it will fluctuate day by day because we - that target? oh, it will fluctuate day by day because we are - that target? oh, it will fluctuate day by day because we are a - that target? oh, it will fluctuate i day by day because we are a public during daily data. if you do a straight line... you need to grow, 3.9 million exit, the week after that it has to almost double again. i havejust under that it has to almost double again. i have just under five weeks now to get to the mid—february to hit that thing though four courts in england, in england about 12.29, in the uk it is about 50 million. —— for cohorts. we are publishing —— in england it is about 12.29, the uk it is about

50 million. 50 is about 12.29, the uk it is about 50 million-— 50 million. so it is over2 million a week, 50 million. so it is over2 million a week. are _ 50 million. so it is over2 million a week. are you _ 50 million. so it is over2 million a week, are you confident - 50 million. so it is over2 million a week, are you confident you'rej a week, are you confident you're going _ a week, are you confident you're going to — a week, are you confident you're going to attain that rate of an average — going to attain that rate of an average of 2 million a week until the middle of the month? i am confident— the middle of the month? i am confident that we'll meet our target — confident that we'll meet our tar: et. , confident that we'll meet our taruet. , . . ., , target. there will be fluctuations on a daily level _ target. there will be fluctuations on a daily level because - target. there will be fluctuations| on a daily level because different modes of delivery... get let me give you an example, it is very important to vaccinate in care homes, it takes probably each individual a day's work of agp, ten or 12 hours to do a care home of between 50 and 100 residents and their staff. to vaccinate in... some have got six gone over 1000 in a day. the great challenge, if i mayjust try to

bring to life for you, is that making sure we actually get to the most vulnerable. the easier thing to as volumes coming is to just open it up as volumes coming is to just open it up and some countries have said, we will vaccinate anyone over the age of 60, like israel has done, queue up of 60, like israel has done, queue up and get it vaccinated. that is easier to do. the nhs, thejoint committee on vaccination committee have said... the top nine cohorts is a large percent of mortality. that is much death more difficult than is opening the doors and saying that that —— that is much more difficult than opening the doors. i will that -- that is much more difficult than opening the doors.— than opening the doors. i will turn to my colleague. _ than opening the doors. i will turn to my colleague, starting - than opening the doors. i will turn to my colleague, starting with - to my colleague, starting with graham — to my colleague, starting with graham. in terms of this delivery, we have _ graham. in terms of this delivery, we have been, commendably, the government has been planning for this for— government has been planning for this for months, procured long in advance — this for months, procured long in advance a — this for months, procured long in advance a great piece of foresight

and anticipation. we knew that these vaccines— and anticipation. we knew that these vaccines were coming, we hope that they were _ vaccines were coming, we hope that they were coming. so why is it the case: _ they were coming. so why is it the case, why— they were coming. so why is it the case, why will delivery networks —— where _ case, why will delivery networks —— where delivery networks not prepared, gps, pharmacists,? why was it not— prepared, gps, pharmacists,? why was it not like— prepared, gps, pharmacists,? why was it not like sunderland on election night, _ it not like sunderland on election night, when everyone is primed, waiting _ night, when everyone is primed, waiting for— night, when everyone is primed, waiting for receipt of the vaccines to put— waiting for receipt of the vaccines to put them in? why is it having to be built— to put them in? why is it having to be built up— to put them in? why is it having to be built up gradually over time? great _ be built up gradually over time? great question. first of all, i am glad you pay tribute to the vaccine for staff. we are notjust a nation of shopkeepers, but a nation of great traders and had the foresight to be able to negotiate those contracts with the seven leading teams that we felt had the best chance of getting to a vaccine. the first country to engage with biontech and, of course, with pfizer as well in a meaningful way, which is why we were the first country to

approve and deploy. your question is linked to my answer earlier. if you just say to yourself, and set the exam question to the nhs, who have built a first—class deployment infrastructure, look, just go for speed, let's vaccinate as many people as possible as quickly as possible, forget about the cohorts that are most vulnerable, just go as i described other countries have done, vaccinate anyone over the age of 60, you could see much greater volumes. the prime minister, rightly so, absolutely, said to be followed the var, to so, absolutely, said to be followed thejcvi, to say, actually, it is harder but much better to target very forensically the over 805, those who look after them, residents of care homes, much harder to deploy and to get to the numbers are so that his detention between the two things. that his detention between the two thins. . ., ~ ., , ,

things. that network has been built, -- is being — things. that network has been built, -- is being built. — things. that network has been built, -- is being built, isn't _ things. that network has been built, -- is being built, isn't it? _ things. that network has been built, -- is being built, isn't it? no, - -- is being built, isn't it? no, that was— -- is being built, isn't it? no, that was ready _ -- is being built, isn't it? no, that was ready to _ -- is being built, isn't it? no, that was ready to go. - -- is being built, isn't it? no, that was ready to go. as - —— is being built, isn't it? iirr, that was ready to go. as soon as the vaccine was approved, that network was ready to go with the military embedded, as you heard, in the planning process, ready for the vaccine to be approved so we could actually deploy it, but the challenge, as i say to you, is due you not worry about the most vulnerable and just go for volume question i order your target very specifically, which is what we do and get volume. let specifically, which is what we do and get volume.— and get volume. let me turn to graham stringer _ and get volume. let me turn to graham stringer first _ and get volume. let me turn to graham stringer first and - and get volume. let me turn to graham stringer first and then l and get volume. let me turn to| graham stringer first and then a dawn— graham stringer first and then a dawn butler. you are on bute, graham. — dawn butler. you are on bute, graham. -- — dawn butler. you are on bute, graham. —— on mute. dawn butler. you are on bute, graham. -- on mute. minister, you seem phobic— graham. -- on mute. minister, you seem phobic to _ graham. -- on mute. minister, you seem phobic to numbers. _ graham. -- on mute. minister, you seem phobic to numbers. why - graham. -- on mute. minister, you seem phobic to numbers. why can l graham. -- on mute. minister, you i seem phobic to numbers. why can you not tell us in — seem phobic to numbers. why can you not tell us in detail _ seem phobic to numbers. why can you not tell us in detail the _ seem phobic to numbers. why can you not tell us in detail the vaccine - not tell us in detail the vaccine capacity that is on line.- not tell us in detail the vaccine capacity that is on line. people are intelligent. — capacity that is on line. people are intelligent, they _ capacity that is on line. people are intelligent, they can _ capacity that is on line. people are intelligent, they can recognise - intelligent, they can recognise there — intelligent, they can recognise there might _ intelligent, they can recognise

there might be _ intelligent, they can recognise there might be hitches, - intelligent, they can recognise i there might be hitches, batches might— there might be hitches, batches might get— there might be hitches, batches might get contaminated - there might be hitches, batches might get contaminated in- there might be hitches, batches| might get contaminated in some there might be hitches, batches- might get contaminated in some way. why can _ might get contaminated in some way. why can you _ might get contaminated in some way. why can you not— might get contaminated in some way. why can you not tell _ might get contaminated in some way. why can you not tell us _ might get contaminated in some way. why can you not tell us of _ might get contaminated in some way. why can you not tell us of those - why can you not tell us of those figures? — why can you not tell us of those figures? why— why can you not tell us of those figures? why can _ why can you not tell us of those figures? why can you _ why can you not tell us of those figures? why can you not - why can you not tell us of those figures? why can you not give . why can you not tell us of those i figures? why can you not give us predictions — figures? why can you not give us predictions day _ figures? why can you not give us predictions day by _ figures? why can you not give us predictions day by day, - figures? why can you not give us predictions day by day, week- figures? why can you not give us predictions day by day, week byi predictions day by day, week by week? — predictions day by day, week by week? there _ predictions day by day, week by week? there is _ predictions day by day, week by week? there is a _ predictions day by day, week by week? there is a huge - predictions day by day, week by week? there is a huge national| week? there is a huge national interest— week? there is a huge national interest in— week? there is a huge national interest in this. _ week? there is a huge national interest in this. and _ week? there is a huge national interest in this. and you - week? there is a huge national interest in this. and you are . interest in this. and you are keeping _ interest in this. and you are keeping the _ interest in this. and you are keeping the figure - interest in this. and you are keeping the figure secret. . interest in this. and you are . keeping the figure secret. and spending — keeping the figure secret. and spending huge _ keeping the figure secret. and spending huge amounts - keeping the figure secret. and spending huge amounts of- keeping the figure secret. and - spending huge amounts of money. that is an extraordinary— spending huge amounts of money. that is an extraordinary position. _ spending huge amounts of money. that is an extraordinary position. why - is an extraordinary position. why are you _ is an extraordinary position. why are you so — is an extraordinary position. why are you so phobic— is an extraordinary position. why are you so phobic numbers? - is an extraordinary position. why are you so phobic numbers? mr. are you so phobic numbers? stringer, with respect, i are you so phobic numbers? if�*iiir stringer, with respect, i am are you so phobic numbers?- stringer, with respect, i am quite the opposite i think. it was this government, this prime minister that insisted on having a target to meet the for most vulnerable cohorts by february. it was this government employ minister, working with the nhs, absolutely rose to the challenge to publish weekly, initially, now daily numbers, real numbers, absolutely, numbers that we can stand behind, not predictions,

as you put it because it would be very wrong to publish predictions, in my view. it is this government, tomorrow, thursday will publish with the nhs again, regional numbers and will go further. simon stephens said yesterday to another committee that we will start going to much more localised number so that everyone can see information and data that is robust and correct, mr stringer. it is our ally in this endeavour. many of your colleagues here and in parliament and local government, i spoke to the mayors, the m nine yesterday, they'll see that the thing is to share as much information as possible with the country, the nation expects... that is why we are publishing daily data. i am slightly disappointed in your question and to say that we are phobic numbers. the one thing we are not doing is saying, we have had x million deliveries. i am saying that

we had a clear line of sight for volumes all the way through until the end of february, which means i am confident of hitting the target of the tt most vulnerable cohorts are being offered a vaccine by mid—february. that is 12 million are being offered a vaccine by mid—february. that i512 million in england, 15 million in the uk. you did not answer— england, 15 million in the uk. you did not answer the _ england, 15 million in the uk. you did not answer the chairperson a question. — did not answer the chairperson a question. you're _ did not answer the chairperson a question, you're not _ did not answer the chairperson a question, you're not answering i did not answer the chairperson a . question, you're not answering my question — question, you're not answering my question let's— question, you're not answering my question. let's try— question, you're not answering my question. let's try to _ question, you're not answering my question. let's try to do _ question, you're not answering my question. let's try to do it - question, you're not answering my question. let's try to do it from . question, you're not answering my question. let's try to do it from a i question. let's try to do it from a different— question. let's try to do it from a different angle. _ question. let's try to do it from a different angle. how— question. let's try to do it from a different angle. how much - question. let's try to do it from a different angle. how much pfizer| different angle. how much pfizer vaccine _ different angle. how much pfizer vaccine and — different angle. how much pfizer vaccine and how— different angle. how much pfizer vaccine and how much _ different angle. how much pfizer. vaccine and how much astrazeneca vaccine _ vaccine and how much astrazeneca vaccine are — vaccine and how much astrazeneca vaccine are in— vaccine and how much astrazeneca vaccine are in stock— vaccine and how much astrazeneca vaccine are in stock now? - vaccine and how much astrazeneca vaccine are in stock now? can - vaccine and how much astrazeneca vaccine are in stock now? can you i vaccine are in stock now? can you give _ vaccine are in stock now? can you give us _ vaccine are in stock now? can you give us a — vaccine are in stock now? can you give us a flow— vaccine are in stock now? can you give us a flow chart _ vaccine are in stock now? can you give us a flow chart of _ vaccine are in stock now? can you give us a flow chart of when - vaccine are in stock now? can you give us a flow chart of when that i vaccine are in stock now? can you i give us a flow chart of when that is likely— give us a flow chart of when that is likely to _ give us a flow chart of when that is likely to be — give us a flow chart of when that is likely to be deployed _ give us a flow chart of when that is likely to be deployed over- give us a flow chart of when that is likely to be deployed over the - give us a flow chart of when that isj likely to be deployed over the next weeks? _ likely to be deployed over the next weeks? you — likely to be deployed over the next weeks? you did _ likely to be deployed over the next weeks? you did not— likely to be deployed over the next weeks? you did not give _ likely to be deployed over the next weeks? you did not give greg - likely to be deployed over the next| weeks? you did not give greg clark answers— weeks? you did not give greg clark answers to — weeks? you did not give greg clark answers to similar— weeks? you did not give greg clark answers to similar questions, - weeks? you did not give greg clark answers to similar questions, why. answers to similar questions, why can you _ answers to similar questions, why can you not — answers to similar questions, why can you not get _ answers to similar questions, why can you not get them _ answers to similar questions, why can you not get them to _ answers to similar questions, why can you not get them to be? - answers to similar questions, why i can you not get them to be? targets are fine. _ can you not get them to be? targets are fine. they— can you not get them to be? targets are fine. they can— can you not get them to be? targets are fine, they can be _

can you not get them to be? targets are fine, they can be hit— can you not get them to be? targets are fine, they can be hit and - can you not get them to be? targets are fine, they can be hit and miss. . are fine, they can be hit and miss. people _ are fine, they can be hit and miss. people want — are fine, they can be hit and miss. people want to _ are fine, they can be hit and miss. people want to know _ are fine, they can be hit and miss. people want to know what - are fine, they can be hit and miss. people want to know what is - are fine, they can be hit and miss. people want to know what is likely to be _ people want to know what is likely to be the — people want to know what is likely to be the outturn. _ people want to know what is likely to be the outturn. i— people want to know what is likely to be the outturn. i want - people want to know what is likely to be the outturn. i want to - people want to know what is likely to be the outturn. i want to knowi people want to know what is likelyi to be the outturn. i want to know is a member— to be the outturn. i want to know is a member of— to be the outturn. i want to know is a member of parliament _ to be the outturn. i want to know is a member of parliament whether. to be the outturn. i want to know is i a member of parliament whether you are spending— a member of parliament whether you are spending the— a member of parliament whether you are spending the money— a member of parliament whether you are spending the money wisely - a member of parliament whether you are spending the money wisely and l are spending the money wisely and whether— are spending the money wisely and whether the — are spending the money wisely and whether the vaccine _ are spending the money wisely and whether the vaccine is _ are spending the money wisely and whether the vaccine is getting - are spending the money wisely and whether the vaccine is getting out. whether the vaccine is getting out effectively — whether the vaccine is getting out effectively and _ whether the vaccine is getting out effectively and as _ whether the vaccine is getting out effectively and as efficiently - whether the vaccine is getting out effectively and as efficiently as i effectively and as efficiently as possible — effectively and as efficiently as possible. this _ effectively and as efficiently as possible. this i— effectively and as efficiently as possible. this i also— effectively and as efficiently as possible. this i also want i effectively and as efficiently as possible. this i also want to i effectively and as efficiently as i possible. this i also want to know, certainly. — possible. this i also want to know, certainly. that— possible. this i also want to know, certainly, that we _ possible. this i also want to know, certainly, that we get _ possible. this i also want to know, certainly, that we get to _ possible. this i also want to know, certainly, that we get to the - certainly, that we get to the vaccine _ certainly, that we get to the vaccine to— certainly, that we get to the vaccine to the _ certainly, that we get to the vaccine to the most - certainly, that we get to the i vaccine to the most vulnerable people — vaccine to the most vulnerable people as _ vaccine to the most vulnerable people as quickly _ vaccine to the most vulnerable people as quickly as _ vaccine to the most vulnerable people as quickly as possible, | vaccine to the most vulnerable i people as quickly as possible, but if it is— people as quickly as possible, but if it is possible _ people as quickly as possible, but if it is possible to _ people as quickly as possible, but if it is possible to do— people as quickly as possible, but if it is possible to do both, - people as quickly as possible, but if it is possible to do both, as- people as quickly as possible, but if it is possible to do both, as you| if it is possible to do both, as you said, _ if it is possible to do both, as you said. to _ if it is possible to do both, as you said. to get — if it is possible to do both, as you said. to get it— if it is possible to do both, as you said, to get it to _ if it is possible to do both, as you said, to get it to vulnerable i if it is possible to do both, as you said, to get it to vulnerable and l said, to get it to vulnerable and -et said, to get it to vulnerable and get greater— said, to get it to vulnerable and get greater volumes _ said, to get it to vulnerable and get greater volumes that, i said, to get it to vulnerable and i get greater volumes that, whether said, to get it to vulnerable and - get greater volumes that, whether we can do— get greater volumes that, whether we can do that _ get greater volumes that, whether we can do that in— get greater volumes that, whether we can do that. in order— get greater volumes that, whether we can do that. in order to _ get greater volumes that, whether we can do that. in order to do _ get greater volumes that, whether we can do that. in order to do that, i get greater volumes that, whether we can do that. in order to do that, we i can do that. in order to do that, we need _ can do that. in order to do that, we need those — can do that. in order to do that, we need those flow— can do that. in order to do that, we need those flow charts _ can do that. in order to do that, we need those flow charts of— can do that. in order to do that, we need those flow charts of volume, i can do that. in order to do that, we. need those flow charts of volume, of what volume — need those flow charts of volume, of what volume is — need those flow charts of volume, of what volume is available. _ need those flow charts of volume, of what volume is available.— need those flow charts of volume, of what volume is available. thank you, mr stringer- — what volume is available. thank you, mr stringer- so _ what volume is available. thank you, mr stringer. so the _ what volume is available. thank you, mr stringer. so the nhs _ what volume is available. thank you, mr stringer. so the nhs is _ what volume is available. thank you, mr stringer. so the nhs is doing i mr stringer. so the nhs is doing everything that is humanly possible to one, get the most vulnerable vaccinated as quickly as possible.

what we have absolutely committed to it is meeting the target of offering a vaccine to the top four cohorts by mid—february... flan a vaccine to the top four cohorts by mid-february. . ._ a vaccine to the top four cohorts by mid-february. .. can you answer the ruestion mid-february. .. can you answer the question of— mid-february. .. can you answer the question of how _ mid-february. .. can you answer the question of how much _ mid-february. .. can you answer the question of how much pfizer- mid-february. .. can you answer the question of how much pfizer vaccine | question of how much pfizer vaccine and astrazeneca vaccine? deployable doses, the and astrazeneca vaccine? deployable doses. they move _ and astrazeneca vaccine? deployable doses, they move because _ and astrazeneca vaccine? deployable doses, they move because early - and astrazeneca vaccine? deployable doses, they move because early daysj doses, they move because early days of manufacturing, in any manufacturing process, i of manufacturing, in any manufacturing process, lam of manufacturing, in any manufacturing process, i am a chemical engineer by background, begins lumpy, it begins to stabilise and smooth out and we will have... that is the process we are going to at the moment so that our challenges at the moment so that our challenges at the moment so that our challenges at the outset, much more difficult for the nhs, which is where i think you are coming from. many colleagues have also had a similar feedback from their local primary care networks that they do not have enough visibility of when deliveries are coming in, which i think it is where your question is really coming from. the nhs apply team is working to make sure we get as much notice

as possible for deliveries —— nhs supply team. i think it would be unwise and wrong to say to the nhs, you must publish every single batch that his coming in because batches move around. much better to publish... move around. much better to publish- - -_ move around. much better to publish... move around. much better to aublish... ., �* ., , ., publish... you're not listening to the questions. _ publish. .. you're not listening to the questions. i— publish... you're not listening to the questions. i am _ publish... you're not listening to the questions. i am asking - publish... you're not listening to the questions. i am asking how i publish... you're not listening to i the questions. i am asking how much pfizer— the questions. i am asking how much pfizer vaccine. — the questions. i am asking how much pfizer vaccine, how— the questions. i am asking how much pfizer vaccine, how much _ the questions. i am asking how much| pfizer vaccine, how much astrazeneca vaccine _ pfizer vaccine, how much astrazeneca vaccine is _ pfizer vaccine, how much astrazeneca vaccine is available _ pfizer vaccine, how much astrazeneca vaccine is available in _ pfizer vaccine, how much astrazeneca vaccine is available in stock _ pfizer vaccine, how much astrazeneca vaccine is available in stock now? i. vaccine is available in stock now? i might— vaccine is available in stock now? i might ask. — vaccine is available in stock now? i mightask. in— vaccine is available in stock now? i might ask. inthe— vaccine is available in stock now? i might ask, in the future... - vaccine is available in stock now? i might ask, in the future... i- vaccine is available in stock now? i might ask, in the future... i see i might ask, in the future... i see not reason — might ask, in the future... i see not reason not _ might ask, in the future... i see not reason not to _ might ask, in the future... i see not reason not to answer- might ask, in the future... i see not reason not to answer it i might ask, in the future... i see i not reason not to answer it when it is likely— not reason not to answer it when it is likely to — not reason not to answer it when it is likely to be — not reason not to answer it when it is likely to be delivered. _ not reason not to answer it when it is likely to be delivered. the - not reason not to answer it when it is likely to be delivered. the idea i is likely to be delivered. the idea that as _ is likely to be delivered. the idea that as a — is likely to be delivered. the idea that as a security— is likely to be delivered. the idea that as a security issue _ is likely to be delivered. the idea that as a security issue is - that as a security issue is completely— that as a security issue is completely nonsensical. i that as a security issue is i completely nonsensical. just that as a security issue is _ completely nonsensical. just totally males _ completely nonsensical. just totally males are _ completely nonsensical. just totally males are from _ completely nonsensical. just totally males are from when _ completely nonsensical. just totally males are from when i— completely nonsensical. just totally males are from when i am. - completely nonsensical. just totally males are from when i am. i males are from when i am. totally— males are from when i am. totally males _ males are from when i am. totally males from _ males are from when i am. totally males from when i - males are from when i am. totally males from when i am | males are from when i am. - totally males from when i am there is a centre. — totally males from when i am there is a centre. if— totally males from when i am there is a centre. if i_ totally males from when i am there is a centre, if i want— totally males from when i am there is a centre, if i want to _ totally males from when i am there is a centre, if i want to rob - totally males from when i am there is a centre, if i want to rob that- is a centre, if i want to rob that centre. — is a centre, if i want to rob that centre. they— is a centre, if i want to rob that centre, they can _ is a centre, if i want to rob that centre, they can go _ is a centre, if i want to rob that centre, they can go there. - is a centre, if i want to rob that| centre, they can go there. there is a centre, if i want to rob that- centre, they can go there. there is no secret— centre, they can go there. there is no secret about _ centre, they can go there. there is no secret about that. _ centre, they can go there. there is

no secret about that. your - centre, they can go there. there is no secret about that. your answerl no secret about that. your answer are absurd — no secret about that. your answer are absurd why— no secret about that. your answer are absurd. why will— no secret about that. your answer are absurd. why will you - no secret about that. your answer are absurd. why will you not - no secret about that. your answer are absurd. why will you not handi are absurd. why will you not hand over the _ are absurd. why will you not hand over the information? _ are absurd. why will you not hand over the information? mr- are absurd. why will you not hand over the information?— are absurd. why will you not hand over the information? mr singer, i no back over the information? mr singer, i go back and _ over the information? mr singer, i go back and say — over the information? mr singer, i go back and say to _ over the information? mr singer, i go back and say to you _ over the information? mr singer, i go back and say to you that - over the information? mr singer, i go back and say to you that the . over the information? mr singer, i i go back and say to you that the nhs have built it up limit infrastructure that there is no stock. you heard from phil prosser talk about we do not want vaccine sitting on shelves or fridges instead of being in people's arms. the nhs will, in the next few days, literally being time for delivery. this idea that we are just sitting on lots of stock and sit back on it is not true. what happens at any manufacturing process, and i go back and say this, if you get lumpiness. you get deliveries that are less predictable, that begins to be more... ., . . . . . more... you have made that clear. i think we understand _ more... you have made that clear. i think we understand that _ more... you have made that clear. i think we understand that i'd - more... you have made that clear. i think we understand that i'd heard l think we understand that i'd heard that from — think we understand that i'd heard that from astrazeneca, to be fair. i think— that from astrazeneca, to be fair. i think we _ that from astrazeneca, to be fair. i think we need to move on to some other— think we need to move on to some other questions. can think we need to move on to some other questions.— other questions. can i ask one last cuestion? other questions. can i ask one last question? 0f— other questions. can i ask one last question? of course. _ other questions. can i ask one last question? of course. it _ other questions. can i ask one last question? of course. it is - other questions. can i ask one last question? of course. it is almost l other questions. can i ask one last | question? of course. it is almost of oint question? of course. it is almost of point because _ question? of course. it is almost of point because these _ question? of course. it is almost of point because these are _ question? of course. it is almost of point because these are very - point because these are very annoying _ point because these are very annoying answers. in point because these are very annoying answers.— point because these are very annoying answers. in the previous

session, annoying answers. in the previous session. we _ annoying answers. in the previous session, we were _ annoying answers. in the previous session, we were told _ annoying answers. in the previous session, we were told that - annoying answers. in the previous session, we were told that the - session, we were told that the process— session, we were told that the process would _ session, we were told that the process would be _ session, we were told that the process would be tailored - session, we were told that the process would be tailored to l session, we were told that the i process would be tailored to local development _ process would be tailored to local development '— process would be tailored to local development. i have _ process would be tailored to local development. i have to— process would be tailored to local development. i have to say- process would be tailored to local development. i have to say that i process would be tailored to local- development. i have to say that when i talk development. i have to say that when itatk to— development. i have to say that when itatk to those — development. i have to say that when i talk to those of— development. i have to say that when i talk to those of local _ development. i have to say that when i talk to those of local public - i talk to those of local public health — i talk to those of local public health people _ i talk to those of local public health people here - i talk to those of local public health people here and - i talk to those of local public - health people here and elsewhere in the country. — health people here and elsewhere in the country. they— health people here and elsewhere in the country, they say— health people here and elsewhere in the country, they say they _ health people here and elsewhere in the country, they say they are - the country, they say they are starved — the country, they say they are starved of _ the country, they say they are starved of information. - the country, they say they are starved of information. they. the country, they say they are i starved of information. they do the country, they say they are - starved of information. they do not even _ starved of information. they do not even know — starved of information. they do not even know when _ starved of information. they do not even know when batches _ starved of information. they do not even know when batches are - starved of information. they do not even know when batches are going| starved of information. they do not. even know when batches are going to be delivered — even know when batches are going to be delivered. why— even know when batches are going to be delivered. why is— even know when batches are going to be delivered. why is the _ even know when batches are going to be delivered. why is the nhs- even know when batches are going to be delivered. why is the nhs so- be delivered. why is the nhs so centralised _ be delivered. why is the nhs so centralised that— be delivered. why is the nhs so centralised that it _ be delivered. why is the nhs so centralised that it cannot - be delivered. why is the nhs so centralised that it cannot hand i be delivered. why is the nhs so. centralised that it cannot hand over more _ centralised that it cannot hand over more control— centralised that it cannot hand over more control to _ centralised that it cannot hand over more control to local— centralised that it cannot hand over more control to local people? - centralised that it cannot hand over more control to local people? that| more control to local people? that was part _ more control to local people? that was part of— more control to local people? that was part of the _ more control to local people? that was part of the problem _ more control to local people? that was part of the problem we - more control to local people? that was part of the problem we had i more control to local people? that i was part of the problem we had with the test _ was part of the problem we had with the test and — was part of the problem we had with the test and a — was part of the problem we had with the test and a tray— was part of the problem we had with the test and a tray system. - was part of the problem we had with the test and a tray system. well - was part of the problem we had with the test and a tray system. well youj the test and a tray system. well you not work _ the test and a tray system. well you not work more — the test and a tray system. well you not work more closely _ the test and a tray system. well you not work more closely with - the test and a tray system. well you not work more closely with local - not work more closely with local public _ not work more closely with local public health _ not work more closely with local public health teams? _ not work more closely with local public health teams? find - not work more closely with local public health teams? and briefly, if ou would, public health teams? and briefly, if you would, minister. _ public health teams? and briefly, if you would, minister. absolutely. i public health teams? and briefly, if| you would, minister. absolutely. we will work more _ you would, minister. absolutely. we will work more closely _ you would, minister. absolutely. we will work more closely with - you would, minister. absolutely. we will work more closely with local - will work more closely with local public health chiefs. we have a meeting later on this afternoon with local leaders, and the lead senior responsible officerfor local leaders, and the lead senior responsible officer for the whole of

the deployment, emily lawson. we are absolutely making sure that public health, local public health, local government is embedded in the infrastructure so your frustration, i hate it, mr stringer. —— i hear it. gps up until now have not had as much notice as they like in terms of being able to book appointments and get the most vulnerable vaccinated. that will improve. i can give you that assurance. day by day, the supply team at nhs england, there are number one priority is to make sure that we give as much visibility for next week a week after. if we can it, giving them a visibility, even better. ultimately, there are two challenges, you stand up, we have 200 thousand sites

vaccinating... you approve the efficiency of those sites. i give you that we assurance.- efficiency of those sites. i give you that we assurance. thank you very much. _ you that we assurance. thank you very much, graham. _ you that we assurance. thank you very much, graham. we - you that we assurance. thank you very much, graham. we are - you that we assurance. thank you | very much, graham. we are going you that we assurance. thank you i very much, graham. we are going to id very much, graham. we are going to goto— very much, graham. we are going to go tojohn _ very much, graham. we are going to go tojohn butler, zara sultana, then~~~ — go tojohn butler, zara sultana, then... dawn. go to john butler, zara sultana, then... dawn.— go to john butler, zara sultana, then... dawn. . ,, i. , . then... dawn. thank you very much, chair. then... dawn. thank you very much, chain there — then... dawn. thank you very much, chair. there is _ then... dawn. thank you very much, chair. there is no _ then... dawn. thank you very much, chair. there is no need _ then... dawn. thank you very much, chair. there is no need to _ then... dawn. thank you very much, chair. there is no need to be - then... dawn. thank you very much, chair. there is no need to be so - chair. there is no need to be so basic— chair. there is no need to be so basic because _ chair. there is no need to be so basic because we _ chair. there is no need to be so basic because we are _ chair. there is no need to be so basic because we are all- chair. there is no need to be so basic because we are all on - chair. there is no need to be so basic because we are all on the| chair. there is no need to be so- basic because we are all on the same side _ basic because we are all on the same side we _ basic because we are all on the same side we want— basic because we are all on the same side. we want this _ basic because we are all on the same side. we want this to _ basic because we are all on the same side. we want this to work, - basic because we are all on the same side. we want this to work, we - basic because we are all on the same side. we want this to work, we want| side. we want this to work, we want people _ side. we want this to work, we want people to _ side. we want this to work, we want people to be — side. we want this to work, we want people to be vaccinated _ side. we want this to work, we want people to be vaccinated and - side. we want this to work, we want people to be vaccinated and we - side. we want this to work, we want| people to be vaccinated and we want this to _ people to be vaccinated and we want this to work — people to be vaccinated and we want this to work. can _ people to be vaccinated and we want this to work. can i _ people to be vaccinated and we want this to work. can ijust _ people to be vaccinated and we want this to work. can ijust start - people to be vaccinated and we want this to work. can ijust start out - this to work. can ijust start out with, _ this to work. can ijust start out with. we — this to work. can ijust start out with. we took— this to work. can ijust start out with, we took evidence - this to work. can ijust start out with, we took evidence from . this to work. can ijust start out| with, we took evidence from the astrazeneca _ with, we took evidence from the astrazeneca just _ with, we took evidence from the astrazeneca just before - with, we took evidence from the astrazeneca just before you. - with, we took evidence from the j astrazeneca just before you. i'm with, we took evidence from the - astrazeneca just before you. i'm not sure if— astrazeneca just before you. i'm not sure if you _ astrazeneca just before you. i'm not sure if you heard, _ astrazeneca just before you. i'm not sure if you heard, but— astrazeneca just before you. i'm not sure if you heard, but apparently - sure if you heard, but apparently the people — sure if you heard, but apparently the people working _ sure if you heard, but apparently the people working on _ sure if you heard, but apparently the people working on the - the people working on the vaccinations— the people working on the vaccinations have - the people working on the vaccinations have not - the people working on the| vaccinations have not been vaccinated _ vaccinations have not been vaccinated themselves. - vaccinations have not been i vaccinated themselves. that vaccinations have not been - vaccinated themselves. that could cause _ vaccinated themselves. that could cause problenrs _ vaccinated themselves. that could cause problems with _ vaccinated themselves. that could cause problems with getting - vaccinated themselves. that could cause problems with getting the l cause problems with getting the vaccinations— cause problems with getting the vaccinations developed. - cause problems with getting the vaccinations developed. i - cause problems with getting the vaccinations developed. i would | cause problems with getting the - vaccinations developed. i would hope that you _ vaccinations developed. i would hope that you would — vaccinations developed. i would hope that you would be _ vaccinations developed. i would hope that you would be able _ vaccinations developed. i would hope that you would be able to _ vaccinations developed. i would hope that you would be able to commit - vaccinations developed. i would hope that you would be able to commit to| that you would be able to commit to ensure _ that you would be able to commit to ensure those — that you would be able to commit to ensure those people _ that you would be able to commit to ensure those people working - that you would be able to commit to ensure those people working on - that you would be able to commit to ensure those people working on the| ensure those people working on the vaccines— ensure those people working on the vaccines can — ensure those people working on the vaccines can be _ ensure those people working on the vaccines can be vaccinated. -

vaccines can be vaccinated. absolutelv _ vaccines can be vaccinated. absolutely. we _ vaccines can be vaccinated. absolutely. we have - vaccines can be vaccinated. absolutely. we have to - vaccines can be vaccinated. l absolutely. we have to make vaccines can be vaccinated. - absolutely. we have to make sure that the vaccination supply chain and the infrastructure is secured. notjust in terms of the threat of the virus itself, but the threat of cyber attack or other security. we work with them very closely. and, of course, very much focused on the joint committee on vaccinations and immunisations. absolute focus on the categories of those who are most vulnerable. but the supply chain is... ~ , ., vulnerable. but the supply chain is... ~ vulnerable. but the supply chain is... will you confirm a definitive determination _ is... will you confirm a definitive determination that _ is... will you confirm a definitive determination that the _ is... will you confirm a definitive determination that the people i is... will you confirm a definitive l determination that the people who need to be vaccinated will be vaccinated? it need to be vaccinated will be vaccinated?— need to be vaccinated will be vaccinated? , , . ., vaccinated? it is very much part of the critical — vaccinated? it is very much part of the critical infrastructure - vaccinated? it is very much part of the critical infrastructure of- vaccinated? it is very much part of the critical infrastructure of the . the critical infrastructure of the vaccination camp.— the critical infrastructure of the vaccination camp. public health encland vaccination camp. public health england have —

vaccination camp. public health england have said _ vaccination camp. public health england have said that - vaccination camp. public health england have said that there i vaccination camp. public health| england have said that there will vaccination camp. public health - england have said that there will be no supply— england have said that there will be no supply on a sunday. is that correct? — no supply on a sunday. is that correct? , �* . . . correct? sorry, i didn't hear. what was that? — correct? sorry, i didn't hear. what was that? that _ correct? sorry, i didn't hear. what was that? that there _ correct? sorry, i didn't hear. what was that? that there would - correct? sorry, i didn't hear. what was that? that there would be - correct? sorry, i didn't hear. what was that? that there would be no | was that? that there would be no vaccines on sundays. is that correct? no, that is not correct. they work seven days a week. up till now, they have been delivering exactly what the nhs deployment has required. the front line, the prime care networks, the national vaccination centres that we have set “p vaccination centres that we have set up this week, all work eight to eight and make sure they deliver seven days a week. we want to make sure we vaccinated over christmas, new year, this is a national endeavour. 50 new year, this is a national endeavour.— new year, this is a national endeavour. so there will be a vaccination _ endeavour. so there will be a vaccination supply _ endeavour. so there will be a vaccination supply on - endeavour. so there will be a i vaccination supply on sundays. endeavour. so there will be a - vaccination supply on sundays. that is good to know. there seems to be a problen1 _ is good to know. there seems to be a problen1 with— is good to know. there seems to be a problem with the sign of chain. do

you know— problem with the sign of chain. do you know what those problems are? how do _ you know what those problems are? how do you — you know what those problems are? how do you mean sign of chain? can you expand that? i am not aware of any problems at the sign off chain at all. there are very clear inspection regimes that have to take place. inspection regimes that have to take lace, ., , , , inspection regimes that have to take lace. , , ., place. perhaps 'ust clarify that. some place. perhapsjust clarify that. some pharmacies _ place. perhapsjust clarify that. some pharmacies and - place. perhapsjust clarify that. some pharmacies and gps - place. perhapsjust clarify that. | some pharmacies and gps have place. perhapsjust clarify that. - some pharmacies and gps have main orders _ some pharmacies and gps have main orders and _ some pharmacies and gps have main orders and apparently those orders have been— orders and apparently those orders have been dispatched but there are issues _ have been dispatched but there are issues with sign offs so they are not receiving the order is in a timely— not receiving the order is in a timely manner.— not receiving the order is in a timely manner. not receiving the order is in a timel manner. ., ., timely manner. forgive me, i thought we were talking _ timely manner. forgive me, i thought we were talking about _ timely manner. forgive me, i thought we were talking about public - timely manner. forgive me, i thought we were talking about public health i we were talking about public health england warehousing end of the chain. you're talking about the actual deliveries to primary care networks and gps. we are running, currently, 98.5% accuracy of

deliveries. that is good. but it can improve. there is clearly i.5% deliveries. that is good. but it can improve. there is clearly 1.5% of deliveries and their problems and challenges but we are dealing with those rapidly. the team is looking to improve that performance even further. as i mentioned earlier,... could you share what those challenges are? it could you share what those challenges are?— could you share what those challenges are? could you share what those challenaes are? , .. , ., challenges are? it is exactly what ou 'ust challenges are? it is exactly what you just described. _ challenges are? it is exactly what you just described. sometimes i challenges are? it is exactly what you just described. sometimes a | you just described. sometimes a primary care network, for example, is expecting a certain number of boxes and they don't receive what they are receiving, or there is a delay in the process so that instead of getting the delivery when they order on thursday, the delivery doesn't happen. but 98.5% accuracy is pretty good. the equivalent of

standing up a supermarket chain in a month and growing it by 20% almost on a weekly basis. you'll get better at that as well. sign quick more questions. in regards to waste of vaccines, do you know how many vaccines, do you know how many vaccines have been wasted because of a break in the supply chain? that vaccines have been wasted because of a break in the supply chain?— a break in the supply chain? that is a break in the supply chain? that is a really good _ a break in the supply chain? that is a really good question. _ a break in the supply chain? that is a really good question. we - a break in the supply chain? that is a really good question. we are - a really good question. we are estimating waste to be about 10%. we are running _ estimating waste to be about 10%. we are running way below that. that is really— are running way below that. that is really good — are running way below that. that is really good. so are running way below that. that is really good-— really good. so they forecast a rate of 1096? yes- _ really good. so they forecast a rate of 10%.? yes. the _ really good. so they forecast a rate of 1096? yes. the reality _ really good. so they forecast a rate of 1096? yes. the reality is - really good. so they forecast a rate of 1096? yes. the reality is much i of 1096? yes. the reality is much less. of 1096? yes. the reality is much less- with _ of 1096? yes. the reality is much less. with the _ of 1096? yes. the reality is much less. with the eight _ of 1096? yes. the reality is much less. with the eight dose - of1096? yes. the reality is much less. with the eight dose vial- of 1096? yes. the reality is much i less. with the eight dose vial from astrazeneca, they are also finding that they — astrazeneca, they are also finding that they have got a little more volunre — that they have got a little more volunre in — that they have got a little more volume in the vials.— that they have got a little more volume in the vials. that is very true. a different _

volume in the vials. that is very true. a different question - volume in the vials. that is very true. a different question to - volume in the vials. that is very j true. a different question to the waist in the cold supply in regards to the pfizer vaccine, but my last question is this. it's kind of an important point. you often referred to the number of people offered the vaccines, which, essentially, it's irrelevant, because it is not the amount of people who are offered which is important, what is important is the number of people the vaccine has been administered to. can you please commit to stop referring to the number of people offered the vaccines. it's important when you are doing your analysis, in terms of people who have been offered it and declined it, but in terms of knowing how many people have been vaccinated, it is really important that we talk about people who have been vaccinated, supposed to have been offered the vaccine. diva grey? i to have been offered the vaccine. diva grey?— to have been offered the vaccine. divarre ? , ,~ diva grey? i completely agree with ou. want diva grey? i completely agree with you. want everyone _ diva grey? i completely agree with you. want everyone who _ diva grey? i completely agree with you. want everyone who is - diva grey? i completely agree with you. want everyone who is offered vaccine _ you. want everyone who is offered vaccine to — you. want everyone who is offered vaccine to take up the vaccine. it's good _ vaccine to take up the vaccine. it's good for— vaccine to take up the vaccine. it's good for them. it is good for their

communities. clearly, we are not a country— communities. clearly, we are not a country will — communities. clearly, we are not a country will mandate that everybody has to _ country will mandate that everybody has to be _ country will mandate that everybody has to be vaccinated. we don't do those _ has to be vaccinated. we don't do those sort — has to be vaccinated. we don't do those sort of things here. the reason — those sort of things here. the reason we _ those sort of things here. the reason we say offered is because we want to— reason we say offered is because we want to make sure, like you, i want to encourage — want to make sure, like you, i want to encourage everybody to take the vaccine _ to encourage everybody to take the vaccine it — to encourage everybody to take the vaccine. it is good for their own protection _ vaccine. it is good for their own protection and the community. the reason _ protection and the community. the reason that— protection and the community. the reason that we say offered is because _ reason that we say offered is because they have a choice as to when _ because they have a choice as to when they— because they have a choice as to when they take the vaccine or not. what _ when they take the vaccine or not. what you — when they take the vaccine or not. what you will see published is the number— what you will see published is the nunrber of— what you will see published is the number ofjabs that we deliver, both first dose _ number ofjabs that we deliver, both first dose and second dose and you will see _ first dose and second dose and you will see much greater granularity and breakdown of data week on week. so you _ and breakdown of data week on week. so you can _ and breakdown of data week on week. so you can hold us to that... when i say offered, — so you can hold us to that... when i say offered, i— so you can hold us to that... when i say offered, i don't mean the latter saving _ say offered, i don't mean the latter saving you — say offered, i don't mean the latter saying you get this in a month or so time. _ saying you get this in a month or so time. i_ saying you get this in a month or so time. i mean — saying you get this in a month or so time, i mean the needle is ready to

'ab time, i mean the needle is ready to jab someone. i want to send the message — jab someone. i want to send the message out to everyone, if you are offered _ message out to everyone, if you are offered a _ message out to everyone, if you are offered a vaccination appointment, please _ offered a vaccination appointment, please take it up. it is for your own— please take it up. it is for your own safety— please take it up. it is for your own safety and protection. if we can protect _ own safety and protection. if we can protect people in the top four categories, that is 88% of mortality by mid—february. in categories, that is 8896 of mortality by mid-february— by mid-february. in regards to offerin: by mid-february. in regards to offering people. _ by mid-february. in regards to offering people, if— by mid-february. in regards to offering people, if you - by mid-february. in regards to offering people, if you can - by mid-february. in regards to| offering people, if you can have by mid-february. in regards to - offering people, if you can have the information in different languages, and british sign language, people will take up the offer. it} will take up the offer. 30 languages. _ will take up the offer. 30 languages, including kurdish and turkish — languages, including kurdish and turkish. and lots of other languages as well _ turkish. and lots of other languages as well. �* u. . turkish. and lots of other languages aswell. �* , turkish. and lots of other languages aswell. , ,, turkish. and lots of other languages aswell. , , ,, ., as well. because waste is less than forecasted. — as well. because waste is less than forecasted. we _ as well. because waste is less than forecasted, we have _ as well. because waste is less than forecasted, we have managed - as well. because waste is less than forecasted, we have managed to i as well. because waste is less than i forecasted, we have managed to get ahead of the programme. do you have ahead of the programme. do you have a view as to whether we should give these delayed doses earlier than is now proposed or whether we should go on to the next category of vulnerable people, the over sixties? which would you choose? the vulnerable people, the over sixties? which would you choose?— vulnerable people, the over sixties? which would you choose? the nhs will look very closely _

which would you choose? the nhs will look very closely at _ which would you choose? the nhs will look very closely at this. _ which would you choose? the nhs will look very closely at this. the _ which would you choose? the nhs will look very closely at this. the joint - look very closely at this. the joint committee has made it clear that the player rotation is very clear. intent player rotation is very clear. went to net player rotation is very clear. went to get through — player rotation is very clear. went to get through that _ player rotation is very clear. went to get through that first _ player rotation is very clear. went to get through that first wave. player rotation is very clear. wentl to get through that first wave. 0h, to get through that first wave. oh, i see. to get through that first wave. oh, i see- there _ to get through that first wave. oh, i see. there has _ to get through that first wave. oh, i see. there has been _ to get through that first wave. oh, i see. there has been a _ to get through that first wave. oh, i see. there has been a decision i to get through that first wave. 0h, j i see. there has been a decision to dela the i see. there has been a decision to delay the second _ i see. there has been a decision to delay the second cases _ i see. there has been a decision to delay the second cases of- i see. there has been a decision to delay the second cases of the - delay the second cases of the vaccine. once we delay that for the vulnerable people, would you want to bring forward that second dose, or would you want to go on to other people, perhaps the over 60s, or other categories we have discussed today? other categories we have discussed toda ? . . , ., , today? that decision will be taken with public health _ today? that decision will be taken with public health england. - today? that decision will be taken with public health england. my i today? that decision will be taken i with public health england. my own personal view is that you want to protect as many people as quickly as possible. you want to get through the nine categories and move towards teachers, the prime minister wants is to prioritise, police officers, shop workers as well. that suggests ou want shop workers as well. that suggests you want to — shop workers as well. that suggests you want to more _ shop workers as well. that suggests

you want to more people. _ shop workers as well. that suggests you want to more people. but - shop workers as well. that suggests you want to more people. but we i shop workers as well. that suggests l you want to more people. but we will start the second _ you want to more people. but we will start the second dose _ you want to more people. but we will start the second dose in _ you want to more people. but we will start the second dose in march. - you want to more people. but we will start the second dose in march. so i start the second dose in march. so keep it in march rather than move it to february?— keep it in march rather than move it to february?- thank - keep it in march rather than move it to february?- thank you. i keep it in march rather than move it| to february?- thank you. my to february? correct. thank you. my first question — to february? correct. thank you. my first question is _ to february? correct. thank you. my first question is about _ to february? correct. thank you. my first question is about presence. - first question is about presence. prisons— first question is about presence. prisons are _ first question is about presence. prisons are a high—risk setting for transmission. there would be considerable challenges if they were outbreaks in this setting. vaccinating detainees is good for public— vaccinating detainees is good for public health and a good approach for a completely disenfranchised group _ fora completely disenfranchised group as— for a completely disenfranchised group. as this been considered? yes. if the group. as this been considered? yes. if the funds — group. as this been considered? yes. if the funds most _ group. as this been considered? fies if the funds most vulnerable categories, that is exactly what we're doing, to make sure that they are protected. 50 we're doing, to make sure that they are protected-— are protected. so you are not lookin: are protected. so you are not looking at — are protected. so you are not looking at particular - are protected. so you are not| looking at particular settings, presence in this instance because? you are _ presence in this instance because? you are looking at age and? that is

what we have _ you are looking at age and? that is what we have looked _ you are looking at age and? that is what we have looked at _ you are looking at age and? that is what we have looked at we've - you are looking at age and? that is i what we have looked at we've looked at different cohorts in groups, ba mp, as well, and very clearly come down on the side of age that is the determinant of mortality —— bame as well. age makes you the most vulnerable. once we've got through those top—down categories, we can begin move and come into much greater contract —— and work through those who come into much greater contact with the virus. the those who come into much greater contact with the virus.— contact with the virus. the virus doesnt contact with the virus. the virus doesn't discriminate _ contact with the virus. the virus doesn't discriminate on - contact with the virus. the virus - doesn't discriminate on immigration status _ doesn't discriminate on immigration status. how is the government made sure that _ status. how is the government made sure that people who are undocumented and have immigration

status. _ undocumented and have immigration status, they considered to make sure that people _ status, they considered to make sure that people who are on the fringes of society— that people who are on the fringes of society and by marginalised are thought— of society and by marginalised are thought of?— thought of? very good question. you're absolutely _ thought of? very good question. you're absolutely right. - thought of? very good question. you're absolutely right. we - thought of? very good question. you're absolutely right. we are i you're absolutely right. we are working closely with local government. 50 if people fall into the top four categories between now and mid—february and the top nine categories. you mention vulnerable people in the real question but also the homeless people as well. natural mayors and local government leaders all have a role to play nice because they know exactly where those hard to reach groups are and we have to make sure we get them and protect them as as possible. i just make sure we get them and protect them as as possible.— them as as possible. i 'ust like to touch on people h them as as possible. i 'ust like to touch on people who _ them as as possible. ijust like to touch on people who aren't - touch on people who aren't registered but with a gp, this

includes _ registered but with a gp, this includes homeless people, and the growing _ includes homeless people, and the growing use of using online gp services — growing use of using online gp services. what plans have the government needs to make sure that people _ government needs to make sure that people who aren't registered with a local gp _ people who aren't registered with a local gp physically and left behind? the best— local gp physically and left behind? the best way through reaching this people is not only local government, though i think they are very effective and i thank them for everything they are doing on the vaccination programme, but also through charities and the third sector, who really know where those most vulnerable people are. we've got a big focus on making sure that they are also engaged with us so we actually reach those hard to reach groups. some councils have done a tremendousjob. i think it is summer set with the traveller community. we want to work, learn from that and we want to work, learn from that and we want to work, learn from that and we want to see how we can spread that the rest of the country as well. my final question is 24—hour vaccine centres. there seems to be a lot of

support for that on my social media. i am wondering whether the government will commit to those who how we will make sure that does not affect the supply to gp herbs, hospitals and... affect the supply to gp herbs, hospitals and. . ._ affect the supply to gp herbs, hospitals and... william the first half of your _ hospitals and... william the first half of your question? _ hospitals and... william the first half of your question? 24-hour i half of your question? 24-hour vaccine herbs. _ half of your question? 24-hour vaccine herbs. is _ half of your question? 24-hour vaccine herbs. is this _ half of your question? 24-hourl vaccine herbs. is this something that the government will commit to? sinemet will absolutely look at all of the ways we can expand the vaccination programme. committee has a clear view on this. we are targeting the most vulnerable, the hardest to reach. it is much easier to open it up and say that anyone can come and you can fill the centres very quickly, 20 47 and get the volume. then you are not targeting those who are at highest

risk of death. that's the challenge at this stage. it's much better to be forensic at this stage and use the primary care networks, gps, back to your earlier question about people who are unregistered. we have amended their contract so that they can vaccinate anybody. they don't have to be registered with them to allow us to reach there is really hard to reach groups that you are quite rightly concerned about. fin quite rightly concerned about. on the question that was asked about people who registered with the nhs online gp service, rather than with a local practitioner, how do they get contacted if they are in one of the categories for vaccination? so the categories for vaccination? for every person the categories for vaccination? sr every person who is registered with us, online or physically, will be contacted because they have registered. those who haven't registered. those who haven't registered to the need to register. we have amended the contract so a gp

can vaccinate anyone. so the national immunisation and vaccination system, the single repository that has all the data, is able to register them. but also gp south, online or otherwise, can reach out to people to say, please come forward for your vaccination. as i said, we have amended the contract so that they can vaccinate anyone. but like so they will be vaccinated even if they don't have particular gp?— particular gp? thank you for your time today _ particular gp? thank you for your time today in _ particular gp? thank you for your time today in resolving _ particular gp? thank you for your time today in resolving issues. i particular gp? thank you for your i time today in resolving issues. can i time today in resolving issues. can i -o time today in resolving issues. can i go back— time today in resolving issues. can i go back to — time today in resolving issues. can i go back to the concept of a rate—limiting factor. it's not a criticism. _ rate—limiting factor. it's not a criticism. in— rate—limiting factor. it's not a criticism, in any case there is a rate—limiting factor. supply of the vaccine _ rate—limiting factor. supply of the

vaccine is — rate—limiting factor. supply of the vaccine is rate—limiting factor. would — vaccine is rate—limiting factor. would you _ vaccine is rate—limiting factor. would you agree with this? absolutely. it has been the case, very much so. anyone who works in manufacturing will tell you. as someone who has been in chemical engineering, i can tell you it always starts as a challenging process and then it gets smoother and steadier. as you begin to iron out any issues, in terms of batch testing or any other quality control that we need to put in place. the worst thing we can do in a national vaccination programme, as large as this, the largest in the history of the country, is to have a bad start to the campaign. it is but safety but also speed which we men deploy. i absolutely believe and have seen the ability of the nhs to deploy at volume, rapidly. the challenge, this

is the thing that i want to highlight again, because it is really important, is the tension and then focusing on the most vulnerable and getting to them. it's much easier tojust open the and getting to them. it's much easier to just open the doors and let everyone get through and keep jabbing, but then you are missing those who are at highest risk of death from this virus. having seen the operation in staffordshire, they've clearly got the capacity to double what they're getting supply. on a local basis, except it might not be the same ever in the country, but it is supply that is the constraint. you've been reluctant to give us any line of sight in terms of delivery scheduled. i did the maths, we need another 12 million people vaccinated in little over four weeks, as i'm sure you know. simple maths suggests that could be one half million next week, two and a half million, three and a half million a week after. is that the kind of ramp up you are expecting?

very much so. by the end of the month. — very much so. by the end of the month. the _ very much so. by the end of the month, the nhs will be able to deploy— month, the nhs will be able to deploy 2— month, the nhs will be able to deploy 2 million a week. then we keep— deploy 2 million a week. then we keep going. it�*ll deploy 2 million a week. then we keep going-— deploy 2 million a week. then we keep going. deploy 2 million a week. then we kee aroin. �* ., ., ., ., keep going. it'll have to go above 2 million. sinemet _ keep going. it'll have to go above 2 million. sinemet absolutely. - keep going. it'll have to go above 2 million. sinemet absolutely. the i million. sinemet absolutely. the nation will _ million. sinemet absolutely. the nation will be _ million. sinemet absolutely. the nation will be able to see that because — nation will be able to see that because we are publishing daly data. for the _ because we are publishing daly data. for the nation's benefit now, because they want to know what will happen, we are expecting that by february. that is implicit from the mathematics you are carrying out. that number, 12 million into the united _ that number, 12 million into the united kingdom. but my remit is nhs england _ united kingdom. but my remit is nhs england. the rest are devolved to the devolved nations. in

england. the rest are devolved to the devolved nations.— england. the rest are devolved to the devolved nations. in relation to the devolved nations. in relation to the second — the devolved nations. in relation to the second doses, _ the devolved nations. in relation to the second doses, if _ the devolved nations. in relation to the second doses, if in _ the devolved nations. in relation to the second doses, if in areas - the second doses, if in areas completed down to priority group four, can they move on to group five in group six, or are we so committed to this one to four deadline that they will stop getting supplies until every part of the country has had groups one to four done. back to the balance or back had groups one to four done. back to the balance o— the balance or back to the balancing of su- -l the balance or back to the balancing of supply and _ the balance or back to the balancing of supply and the — the balance or back to the balancing of supply and the most _ the balance or back to the balancing of supply and the most vulnerable l of supply and the most vulnerable who need — of supply and the most vulnerable who need to be vaccinated. he has -ot who need to be vaccinated. he has got to— who need to be vaccinated. he has got to make that decision. i hope by mid—february, the whole country has moved _ mid—february, the whole country has moved at _ mid—february, the whole country has moved at the same pace, which is what _ moved at the same pace, which is what the — moved at the same pace, which is what the nhs is trying to right now. yes, what the nhs is trying to right now. yes. pfizer— what the nhs is trying to right now. yes, pfizerwas what the nhs is trying to right now. yes, pfizer was more difficult to handle — yes, pfizer was more difficult to handle. primary care networks in some _ handle. primary care networks in some areas— handle. primary care networks in some areas or more open to deploying pfizer— some areas or more open to deploying pfizer than— some areas or more open to deploying pfizer than others. that got better in days _ pfizer than others. that got better in days and — pfizer than others. that got better in days and then weeks. it got even better— in days and then weeks. it got even better with — in days and then weeks. it got even better with astrazeneca because it

-ot better with astrazeneca because it got easier— better with astrazeneca because it got easier to handle. hopefully, next _ got easier to handle. hopefully, next days— got easier to handle. hopefully, next days and weeks, he will see people _ next days and weeks, he will see people catching up rapidly and therefore we won't have... there will be _ therefore we won't have... there will be no — therefore we won't have... there will be no reason to say, actually, we need _ will be no reason to say, actually, we need to— will be no reason to say, actually, we need to have different priorities for different regions. we want every region— for different regions. we want every region to _ for different regions. we want every region to have the same priority. that— region to have the same priority. that is— region to have the same priority. that is the — region to have the same priority. that is the great challenge of this. understood, but some regions will clearly get a head at one time or another. they can be expected to stop. if they've got some left of the batch in category four, they should surely move onto category five with the rest of the batch. sinemet absolutely, but you've got to remember, you've got to balance your supplies coming through. it is your supplies coming through. it is far more important for the whole of the country— far more important for the whole of the country to protect awful categories mid february. that is the way we _ categories mid february. that is the way we get — categories mid february. that is the way we get mortality down and protect — way we get mortality down and protect the nhs.—

way we get mortality down and protect the nhs. obviously there is si . nificant protect the nhs. obviously there is significant mortality _ protect the nhs. obviously there is significant mortality in _ protect the nhs. obviously there is significant mortality in group - protect the nhs. obviously there is significant mortality in group five. i significant mortality in group five. finally, could i ask about priority taxation second phase. we have already asked questions about this in our first already asked questions about this in ourfirst session. already asked questions about this in our first session. is already asked questions about this in ourfirst session. is it already asked questions about this in our first session. is it your view that they have been lots of torque prioritising teachers, prisoners, bus drivers, people who come into contact with lots of people. is that your decision in the jcb i? would it be political decision? sinemet i think it is only wise to listen to thejcb eye. thea;r wise to listen to the jcb eye. they will look at _ wise to listen to the jcb eye. they will look at this _ wise to listen to the jcb eye. they will look at this in _ wise to listen to the jcb eye. they will look at this in great _ wise to listen to the jcb eye. they will look at this in great detail. the reason they have given us these nine categories is because the thing you want— nine categories is because the thing you want to — nine categories is because the thing you want to do is cut mortality. of

course. _ you want to do is cut mortality. of course. the — you want to do is cut mortality. of course, the more we vaccinate, at the moment— course, the more we vaccinate, at the moment we don't know what impact vaccines— the moment we don't know what impact vaccines have on transmission. i'm sure _ vaccines have on transmission. i'm sure you've — vaccines have on transmission. i'm sure you've delved into that in your enquiry— sure you've delved into that in your enquiry session. but we know that they actually protect the individual both in— they actually protect the individual both in terms of immunisation, but also from _ both in terms of immunisation, but also from severe illness. in the weeks — also from severe illness. in the weeks and _ also from severe illness. in the weeks and months to come, will be able to— weeks and months to come, will be able to answer you. the jcb i am of the best— able to answer you. the jcb i am of the best place to look at this in terms — the best place to look at this in terms of— the best place to look at this in terms of looking at, why do we go nextinstinct is to say, rightly so, that those — nextinstinct is to say, rightly so, that those who are most likely to come _ that those who are most likely to come into— that those who are most likely to come into contact with a viral load, teachers. _ come into contact with a viral load, teachers, shop workers, policemen and women. — teachers, shop workers, policemen and women, were to be the highest risk of— and women, were to be the highest risk of getting the virus and

therefore they are the ones we should — therefore they are the ones we should focus on. but i would very much _ should focus on. but i would very much he — should focus on. but i would very much be guided by the jcb i. the workin: much be guided by the jcb i. tie: working assumption much be guided by the jcb i. tt9: working assumption as much be guided by the jcb i. tt9 working assumption as it will reduce transmissibility. when we get to the stage the population we immunise is not at risk of dying, then they become the most important. sinemet can think you've hit the nail on the head. :. , can think you've hit the nail on the head. . , . ., head. thanks very much for everything _ head. thanks very much for everything you _ head. thanks very much for everything you are - head. thanks very much for everything you are doing. i head. thanks very much for i everything you are doing. you head. thanks very much for - everything you are doing. you are working _ everything you are doing. you are working practically— everything you are doing. you are working practically 20 _ everything you are doing. you are working practically 20 47. - everything you are doing. you are working practically 20 47. i- everything you are doing. you are working practically 20 47. i would j working practically 20 47. i would like to— working practically 20 47. i would like to pick— working practically 20 47. i would like to pick up— working practically 20 47. i would like to pick up two _ working practically 20 47. i would like to pick up two topics - working practically 20 47. i would like to pick up two topics with - working practically 20 47. i would i like to pick up two topics with you. if like to pick up two topics with you. if we _ like to pick up two topics with you. if we could — like to pick up two topics with you. if we could start _ like to pick up two topics with you. if we could start with _ like to pick up two topics with you. if we could start with vaccine - if we could start with vaccine passports _ if we could start with vaccine passports if— if we could start with vaccine passports. if this _ if we could start with vaccine passports. if this is - if we could start with vaccine passports. if this is all- passports. if this is all successful, _ passports. if this is all successful, it - passports. if this is all successful, it is - passports. if this is all successful, it is very. passports. if this is all- successful, it is very likely that the uk — successful, it is very likely that the uk will— successful, it is very likely that the uk will be _ successful, it is very likely that the uk will be a _ successful, it is very likely that the uk will be a distance - successful, it is very likely that| the uk will be a distance ahead successful, it is very likely that i the uk will be a distance ahead of the uk will be a distance ahead of the world — the uk will be a distance ahead of the world. whilst _ the uk will be a distance ahead of the world. whilst i _ the uk will be a distance ahead of the world. whilst i have _ the uk will be a distance ahead of the world. whilst i have heard - the world. whilst i have heard ministers _ the world. whilst i have heard ministers be _ the world. whilst i have heard ministers be very— the world. whilst i have heard ministers be very clear- the world. whilst i have heard ministers be very clear that i the world. whilst i have heard - ministers be very clear that vaccine

passports _ ministers be very clear that vaccine passports are — ministers be very clear that vaccine passports are not— ministers be very clear that vaccine passports are not going _ ministers be very clear that vaccine passports are not going to - ministers be very clear that vaccine passports are not going to be - passports are not going to be something _ passports are not going to be something that _ passports are not going to be something that we _ passports are not going to be something that we need - passports are not going to be something that we need to i passports are not going to be i something that we need to use passports are not going to be - something that we need to use the uk, something that we need to use the uk. and _ something that we need to use the uk. and i_ something that we need to use the uk. and i would _ something that we need to use the uk, and i would be _ something that we need to use the uk, and i would be grateful- something that we need to use the uk, and i would be grateful if- something that we need to use the uk, and i would be grateful if you i uk, and i would be grateful if you could _ uk, and i would be grateful if you could confirm _ uk, and i would be grateful if you could confirm that, _ uk, and i would be grateful if you could confirm that, what - uk, and i would be grateful if you could confirm that, what plans, i could confirm that, what plans, negotiations— could confirm that, what plans, negotiations will— could confirm that, what plans, negotiations will be _ could confirm that, what plans, negotiations will be have - could confirm that, what plans, negotiations will be have about| negotiations will be have about unpicking — negotiations will be have about unpicking global— negotiations will be have about unpicking global travel, - negotiations will be have about unpicking global travel, and . negotiations will be have about unpicking global travel, and is| unpicking global travel, and is there — unpicking global travel, and is there any— unpicking global travel, and is there any point— unpicking global travel, and is there any point at _ unpicking global travel, and is there any point at all- unpicking global travel, and is there any point at all to - unpicking global travel, and is there any point at all to start. there any point at all to start having — there any point at all to start having vaccine _ there any point at all to start having vaccine certification i there any point at all to start| having vaccine certification to enable — having vaccine certification to enable that _ having vaccine certification to enable that to _ having vaccine certification to enable that to restart - having vaccine certification to enable that to restart in - having vaccine certification to enable that to restart in the i having vaccine certification to - enable that to restart in the coming months? _ enable that to restart in the coming months? :. .. enable that to restart in the coming months? ., ,, , ., , . ~ months? thank you very much. i think i would months? thank you very much. i think i would like — months? thank you very much. i think i would like to — months? thank you very much. i think i would like to confirm _ months? thank you very much. i think i would like to confirm to _ months? thank you very much. i think i would like to confirm to this - i would like to confirm to this committee that we have no plans for a vaccine passports. one, we don't know what the impact of the vaccines are on transmission. we havejust discussed it with mr bell. secondly, it would be discriminatory. there would be those who, for a number of reasons, may not be able to be vaccinated or choose not to. this is not a country that mark as the prime minister said, we don't do things like that in this country, these don't speak to our values of freedom. i think that resonates with

many people on this. i think that is an important message to send out the whole country. much more important is to say to people, it's the right thing for you, for your safety, for your protection. in terms of immunity and severe infection, to be vaccinated. it is right for your community as well. if you can protect communities, then it's a good thing to do. sharing information and persuasion. information is our ally in this endeavour. so we will continue to do that. of course, we will make sure we continue to engage internationally. we are one of the largest contributors to the coronavirus vaccine programme. i would remind this committee that no one is safe until the whole world is safe. hence why borisjohnson has taken such a leadership position in terms of, i think we are up to 1.3 billion between the various efforts

going on around the world in terms of making sure that countries with low income and middle income also get the benefits of the vaccine. i want to pay tribute to oxford and astrazeneca for offering the vaccine at cost whilst we are in a pandemic to the world. i thank them for that. and the whole scientific community in uk. i and the whole scientific community in uk. ., ., , ., . in uk. i wholeheartedly agree. we are all in the _ in uk. i wholeheartedly agree. we are all in the same _ in uk. i wholeheartedly agree. we are all in the same planet - in uk. i wholeheartedly agree. we i are all in the same planet together. just are all in the same planet together. just press _ are all in the same planet together. just press the point, you are aware of any— just press the point, you are aware of any conversations that are being hard about— of any conversations that are being hard about starting to open up international travel in a few months' _ international travel in a few months' time international travel in a few months' tim- international travel in a few months' tim— international travel in a few months' tim - �* ., ., months' time ok, we're going to leave that _ months' time ok, we're going to leave that questioning _ months' time ok, we're going to leave that questioning of - months' time ok, we're going to leave that questioning of the - leave that questioning of the vaccines minister being questioned by a select committee of mps vaccines minister being questioned by a select committee of mp5 on the roll—out of the vaccine he says he

is confident that the government is on course to vaccinate the four most vulnerable cohorts of with the vaccine by mid february. he said it is 12.2 million people in england and 15 million in the uk. obviously, at that point, when that happens, they start to have that second dose of the vaccine. the coverage will be continuing on bbc parliament. we will leave it and we'll be bringing you prime minister's questions in a few minutes. first let's catch up with the weather. it was a cold start for some places, particularly in the north and east. we have seen some iciness around this morning. things are turning milder because we have more cloud working in from the west. that cloud bring in wet weather for many. outbreaks of rain and some sleet and snow over the high ground. we have cold air holding on in the north—east,

quite a contrast and temperature. some of that mounting snow will bring down to lower levels across scotland and northern england as we move through the course of the night. there could be a slight cut the ring through the central belt. icy and slippery stretches first thing thursday morning. all this rain and hailsnow thing thursday morning. all this rain and hail snow will gradually start to use fizzle out through the day. a brighter day for northern ireland on thursday. a contrasting temperature of around two to 11 degrees. goodbye.

this is bbc news, the headlines... further lockdown restrictions are being considered in scotland. first minister nicola sturgeon will outline any tightening of the rules later this morning. right now, we are going to boris johnson for prime minister's questions. today we are publishing our proposals for reforming the mental health act. for too long we have seen rising rates of detention that have had little beneficial effect but had left some worse off not better. and that is why we are making sure the act works better for some of the most honourable in our society and gives them more of a legal right in deciding what treatment works best for them. and my right honourable friend the health secretary will take the house shortly. this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others and in my addition to the

duties in the house i will have further such meetings later today. i know the whole house will want to associate itself with the prime minister's remarks about the dear brian binley. one of the groups hit hardest by the pandemic is young people in full—time education, especially those facing exams last year and this, with all of the mental health challenges that come from such uncertainty. does my right honourable friend agree that for those whose exams have been scrapped this year would benefit from the upmost clarity about how exactly they will be assessed. a clear plan, announced early, without last—minute changes to help teachers and students prepare for an even more challenging experience. thank you. my challenging experience. thank you. my right honourable friend is absolutely right and there is clearly a problem of differential

learning that has grown over the last few months and risks being exacerbated now by the current lockdown and we will do everything we can to ensure that exams are fair, that the ways of testing are set out in a timely way and the department for education is launching a consultation to ensure that we get the right arrangements for this year. flan that we get the right arrangements for this year-— for this year. can i 'oin the condolences h for this year. can i join the condolences expressed i for this year. can i join the condolences expressed by| for this year. can i join the i condolences expressed by the for this year. can i join the - condolences expressed by the prime minister, i'm sure behalf of the whole house, and can i also begin by paying tribute to all of those involved in vaccine programme. i went to the new vaccine hub last week and it was really up lifting to see the nhs, the red cross and lots of volunteers all working together and giving real hope. they had a simple message to me, which is if they had more vaccine, they could and they would do more and i'm sure

thatis and they would do more and i'm sure that is shared across the country. i welcome news that has come out this morning about a pilot of rolling vaccine centre is the 24 hours and i anticipate huge clamour for this, vaccine centre is the 24 hours and i anticipate huge clamourfor this, so can the prime minister tell us when will the 24—hour vaccine centres be open to the public, because i understand they are not at the moment, and when will they be rolled out across the country? i’m moment, and when will they be rolled out across the country?— out across the country? i'm grateful to the right — out across the country? i'm grateful to the right honourable _ out across the country? i'm grateful to the right honourable gentleman | to the right honourable gentleman what he says about the roll—out of the vaccines and i can tell him we will be going to 24 hours as soon as we can and my right honourable friend the health secretary will set out more about this in due course and as he rightly says at the moment the limit is on supply and we have a huge network of 223 hospitals in a thousand gp surgeries, 200 pharmacies and 50 mass vaccination

centres and they are going, as he has seen himself, exceptionally fast and i pay tribute to their work and it is thanks to the work of the nhs and the vaccine task force that we have secured more doses per capita than virtually any other country in the world, certainly more than any other country in europe. i the world, certainly more than any other country in europe. i obviously welcome the _ other country in europe. i obviously welcome the urge _ other country in europe. i obviously welcome the urge of— other country in europe. i obviously welcome the urge of the _ other country in europe. i obviously welcome the urge of the prime - welcome the urge of the prime minister and the government to get on with this. we are all happy to help and the sooner we have 24/7 centres, the better for our help and the sooner we have 24/7 centres, the betterfor our nhs and our economy. in the last prime minister's questions on the 16th of december, the prime minister told us then that we were seeing, in his words, a significant reduction in the virus. he told us then that there was no need for endless lockdown is and no need to change the rules about christmas mixing.

since then, since that last pmqs, 17,000 people have died of covid. 60,000 people have been admitted to hospital and there has been overi million new cases. how are manners —— how did the prime minister get it so wrong and why was he so slow to act? {lit so wrong and why was he so slow to act? : :, , . so wrong and why was he so slow to act? . ., , ., ., , so wrong and why was he so slow to act? _, , ., ., , ., act? of course, what he fails to oint act? of course, what he fails to point out _ act? of course, what he fails to point out is _ act? of course, what he fails to point out is that _ act? of course, what he fails to point out is that on _ act? of course, what he fails to point out is that on the - act? of course, what he fails to point out is that on the 18th - act? of course, what he fails to point out is that on the 18th of. point out is that on the 18th of december, two days later, the government was informed of the spread of the new variant and the fact that it spreads roughly 50 up to 70% faster than the old variant and that is why it is indeed correct to say the situation today is very troubling indeed. we have 32,000 covid patients in hospital, the nhs is under huge strain and i would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all the staff, doctors

and nurses, everybody working now in our nhs who are doing an extraordinaryjob under the most extraordinary job under the most challenging extraordinaryjob under the most challenging possible circumstances to help those who so desperately needed and thank them for what they are doing. but at the same time, i also want to thank all of those involved in what is the biggest vaccination programme in the history of this country where once again the nhs is in the lead, working with the army and the legion of volunteers and everybody else, and that programme of vaccines does show the way forward and it does show how we are going to come through this pandemic and again, i repeat my gratitude to all those involved because they have now vaccinated 2.4 million people, delivered 2.8 million people, delivered 2.8 million doses, more than any other country in europe and this is the toughest of times, mr speaker, but we can see the way forward. the

prime minister _ we can see the way forward. tt9 prime minister says that effectively two days after the pmqs the advice changed stop the truth is, the indicators were all in the wrong direction back at the last pmqs, be that as it may, the prime minister said he got the advice on the 18th of december, two days after pmqs and we have all seen the sage minutes from the 22nd of december confirming the advice given to the government. the government advisers warned the prime minister that the new variant was spreading fast and it was highly unlikely that november style lockdown would be sufficient to control it. pretty clear advice. on the 18th of december to the prime minister from the 18th of december to the prime ministerfrom sage, tougher lockdown minister from sage, tougher lockdown than ministerfrom sage, tougher lockdown than november is going to be needed. i got the minutes he and everybody has seen them. yet instead of acting on the 18th of december, the prime minister sat on his hands for over two weeks. we are now seeing in the

daily figures the tragic consequences of that delay. so how does the prime ministerjustify delaying for 17 days after he got that advice on the 18th of december? i must disagree very profoundly with what the right honourable gentleman has just said because what the right honourable gentleman hasjust said because he knows what the right honourable gentleman has just said because he knows very well that within 24 hours of getting the advice on the 18th about the spread of the new variant we acted to put the vast part of the country into much, much tougher measures and indeed what we are now seeing and it's very important to stress that these are early days, we are now seeing the beginnings of some signs that that is starting to have an effect in many parts of the country, but by no means everywhere. it is early days and people must keep

their discipline, keep enforcing the rules and work together as i've said to roll—out vaccine programme. i do recall that on the day we went into a national lockdown, sadly we were obliged to shut the schools, and even on that date the labour party was advocating keeping schools open and for understandable reasons, because we all want to keep schools open but i think it a bit much to be attacked for taking tougher measures to put this country into the protective measures it needed when the labour party were themselves calling then to keep schools open. just for the record, i wrote to the prime minister on the 22nd of december. i hadn't seen that sage advice at that stage, and i said he would have ourfull

advice at that stage, and i said he would have our full support if he wanted to have a national lockdown and i will put it in the public record so people will check it, but more fundamentally, the prime minister says we took measures straightaway and put people into different tiers, but the advice was that a november style lockdown was not enough. how on earth was putting people into a different tier system an answer to the advice given? and isn't this the situation, every time there is a big decision to take, the prime is to there late. the next big decision is obvious. the current restrictions are not strong enough to control the virus. stronger restrictions are needed. there is no point members opposite shaking their heads. in a week or two the prime minister is likely to be asking members to vote for this. so can the prime minister tell us when infection rates are much higher than last march, when hospital admissions are much higher than last march, when death rates are higher than last march, why on earth are restrictions weaker than last march?

we keep things under constant review and we will continue to do so and if there is any need to toughen up restrictions, which i don't rule out, we will of course come to this house but perhaps as is so often the case, the right honourable gentleman didn't listen to my earlier answer because i pointed out to the house that the lockdown measures we had in place combined with the tier 4 measures are starting to show signs of some effect and we must take account of that as well, because nobody can doubt the serious damage thatis nobody can doubt the serious damage that is done by lockdown to people's mental health, twojobs, two livelihoods as well and to listen to the right honourable gentleman in the right honourable gentleman in the last 12 months you would think he had absolutely no other policy except to plunge this country into 12 months of lockdown, and as for coming too late to things, it was

only a few weeks ago that he was attacking the vaccine task force that has secured the very doses, the millions of doses that have put this country into the comparatively favourable position we now find ourselves. it’s favourable position we now find ourselves-— favourable position we now find ourselves. �* , , ., , ourselves. it's 'ust not true. every time i ourselves. it's 'ust not true. every time t have — ourselves. it'sjust not true. every time i have spoken _ ourselves. it'sjust not true. every time i have spoken about - ourselves. it'sjust not true. every time i have spoken about the - ourselves. it'sjust not true. every i time i have spoken about the vaccine i have supported it. but the prime minister says we are balancing health restrictions on the economy. and yet we ended 2020 with the highest death toll in europe and the deepest recession in any major economy, so thatjust isn't a good enough answer. i want to turn to the latest free school meals scandal. we have all seen images on social media of disgraceful food parcels for children costed at about £5 each. that is not what the government promised. it is nowhere near enough. so can i ask the prime minister, would he be happy with his kids

living on that? and if not, why is he happy for other people's kids to do so? i he happy for other people's kids to do so? :, �* ~' he happy for other people's kids to doso? , , do so? i don't think anybody in this house is happy _ do so? i don't think anybody in this house is happy with _ do so? i don't think anybody in this house is happy with the _ do so? i don't think anybody in this house is happy with the disgracefulj house is happy with the disgraceful images we have seen of the food parcels that have been offered. they are appalling and an insult to the families that have received them and i am grateful, by the way, to marcus rashford who highlighted the issue and is doing quite an effectivejob by comparison with the right honourable gentleman in holding the government to account for these issues. and the company in question has rightly apologised and agreed to reimburse, but it is because we want to see our kids properly fed throughout this very difficult pandemic that we have massively increased the value of what we are providing, another £170 million in

the covid grant scheme, £220 million more for the holiday activities and food programme, and we are now rolling out the national free school meals voucher scheme as we did in march to give parents the choice to give kids the food that they need. under this government, we will do everything we can to ensure no child goes hungry as a result of the probation is caused by this pandemic. probation is caused by this pandemic-— probation is caused by this andemic. ~ . probation is caused by this andemic. ~ , , pandemic. the prime minister says that the parcels _ pandemic. the prime minister says that the parcels are _ pandemic. the prime minister says that the parcels are disgraceful, i that the parcels are disgraceful, but it shouldn't have taken social media to shame the prime minister into action stop like the education secretary, he invites others and invites me to hold him to account. so let me do that. because blaming others is not as simple as that, because i have checked the government guidance on free school meals, the current guidance, published by the department for education. i've got it here. it sets out example parcels for one child for five days. the

out example parcels for one child forfive days. the department out example parcels for one child for five days. the department for education, you want to be held to account, one loaf of bread, to bake potatoes, block of cheese, baked beans, three individual yoghurt, sound familiar? those are the images that you just called disgraceful. the only difference i can see on this list and what the prime minister described as disgraceful is a tin of sweetcorn, a packet of ham and a bottle of milk. so he blames others, but this is on his watch. the truth is, families, last under this government whether its exams, free school meals or childcare. will the prime minister undertake, he wants to be held to account, to take down this guidance by the close of play today and ensure that all of our children can get a decent meal during the pandemic? mr speaker, the right honourable gentleman's words would be less hypocritical and absurd it was... i hypocritical and absurd it was... i think we need to be a little bit

careful— think we need to be a little bit careful about what we are saying to each other — careful about what we are saying to each other. there was a not truth earlier— each other. there was a not truth earlier and — each other. there was a not truth earlier and there was also comparisons to others, please, let's keep the _ comparisons to others, please, let's keep the discipline in this chamber and the _ keep the discipline in this chamber and the respect for each other. we are tidying — and the respect for each other. we are tidying up how this parliament behaves _ are tidying up how this parliament behaves and i certainly expect the leadership of both places to take place _ leadership of both places to take place. would you like to withdraw hypocrisy? — place. would you like to withdraw h ocris ? :, , place. would you like to withdraw hocris? ., ,~ ., hypocrisy? you can find my criticism to the absurdity, _ hypocrisy? you can find my criticism to the absurdity, i _ hypocrisy? you can find my criticism to the absurdity, i hope _ hypocrisy? you can find my criticism to the absurdity, i hope that - hypocrisy? you can find my criticism to the absurdity, i hope that is - to the absurdity, i hope that is acceptable, of the right honourable gentleman attacking us over free school meals when it was a conservative government that instituted universal free school meals. not a labour government. and of the 280 billion we have spent securing the jobs and livelihoods of people across this country, operating universal credit and increasing the living wage by a record amount this year and increasing local housing allowance, the overwhelming majority, the bulk of the measures, the benefits fall

in favour of the poorest and the neediest in society. which is what this house would expect. mr speaker, he takes one position one week, one position the next. that is what he does, that has been his whole lamentable approach throughout this, if i can get away with lamentable, mr speaker, throughout this pandemic. he says he supports the vaccine now, he says this supports the vaccine roll—out, and he goes to try and associate himself with hit because he senses it is going well. the in no doubt, that was the party that wanted this country to stay in the european union vaccine programme. absolutely true, he stood on a manifesto, he stood on a manifesto which he has not repudiated, mr speaker. to dismantle the very pharmaceutical companies that have created this miracle of science which is true.— science which is true. prime minister. — science which is true. prime minister, there _ science which is true. prime minister, there are - science which is true. prime i minister, there are questions, science which is true. prime - minister, there are questions, and sometimes —

minister, there are questions, and sometimes we have got to try and answer— sometimes we have got to try and answer the — sometimes we have got to try and answer the question to what was asked _ answer the question to what was asked of— answer the question to what was asked of you. i think to run through the history— asked of you. i think to run through the history is— asked of you. i think to run through the history is one thing, but in fairness. — the history is one thing, but in fairness. it— the history is one thing, but in fairness, it is prime minister's questions, i would say it is the final— questions, i would say it is the final question. we have lots of others — final question. we have lots of others to— final question. we have lots of others to go through so i think what i am others to go through so i think what i am going — others to go through so i think what i am going to do is move on. simon jack i am going to do is move on. simon jack in _ i am going to do is move on. simon jack in sidmouth.— jack in sidmouth. thank you, mr seaker. jack in sidmouth. thank you, mr speaker- the — jack in sidmouth. thank you, mr speaker. the hospitality - jack in sidmouth. thank you, mr| speaker. the hospitality industry jack in sidmouth. thank you, mr i speaker. the hospitality industry is the lifeblood of east devon, our pubs, restaurant, cafe is an hotels provide thousands ofjobs, places to meet and places to stay. the generous support package put in place will tide many of these businesses over for now but they will need further support. will my right honourable friend consider extending the vat cut for hospitality to give them a helping hand when they are back open for business? ~ :. hand when they are back open for business? 9 . ., ., , business? well, i am gratefulto my honourable — business? well, i am gratefulto my honourable friend _ business? well, i am gratefulto my honourable friend and _ business? well, i am gratefulto my honourable friend and i _ business? well, i am gratefulto my honourable friend and i know- business? well, i am gratefulto my honourable friend and i know that i business? well, i am gratefulto my| honourable friend and i know that my right honourable friend the chancellor has done everything he can to help businesses throughout

the pandemic and that is why he has extended the grants, and that is why we have got the cuts for both vat and business rates. we will do everything we can to help as we go forward. the best thing would of course be to ensure that we roll—out this vaccine programme and bounce back as fast as possible. any further announcements my right honourable friend makes will be well ahead of the 3ist of march, by which we intend to have a budget. let’s we intend to have a budget. let's head u- we intend to have a budget. let's head up to _ we intend to have a budget. let's head up to scotland _ we intend to have a budget. let's head up to scotland and - we intend to have a budget. let's head up to scotland and the leader of the _ head up to scotland and the leader of the snp, ian blackford.- of the snp, ian blackford. thank ou, mr of the snp, ian blackford. thank you, mr speaker. _ of the snp, ian blackford. thank you, mr speaker. my _ of the snp, ian blackford. thankj you, mr speaker. my constituent of the snp, ian blackford. ’ttagr'taz you, mr speaker. my constituent who is a producer of shellfish and export is experiencing his worst nightmare. after loading a lorry of fresh local seafood on monday as he has some 35 years, his driver faced bureaucracy and delays. brexit red tape now means that £40,000 of his

fresh high quality produce is lost, unable to be sold. mr speaker, that 40,000 produce is income for over 100 localfamilies, in many remote and fragile communities. can the prime minister tell my constituent, where is the seat of opportunity that he and his scottish tories promised —— see opportunity? we are putting £100 million into supporting the fishing industry in scotland across the whole of the uk. 95nd the fishing industry in scotland across the whole of the uk. and it is the policy _ across the whole of the uk. and it is the policy of _ across the whole of the uk. and it is the policy of the _ across the whole of the uk. and it is the policy of the scottish - is the policy of the scottish nationalist party notjust to break up nationalist party notjust to break up the united kingdom under their harebrained scheme, but also to take scotland back into the eu and hand back control of scottish fisheries to brussels. thereby throwing away all those opportunities in a way that i think the right honourable gentleman himself opposite would say was totally absurd. and i'm amazed

he continues on this track. tan he continues on this track. ian blackford- _ he continues on this track. ian blackford. i'm _ he continues on this track. ian blackford. i'm amazed - he continues on this track. ian blackford. i'm amazed that. he continues on this track. ian | blackford. i'm amazed that the he continues on this track. ian - blackford. i'm amazed that the prime minister continues _ blackford. i'm amazed that the prime minister continues to _ blackford. i'm amazed that the prime minister continues to traduce - blackford. i'm amazed that the prime minister continues to traduce the - minister continues to traduce the name of the scottish national party, he has been told before and frankly that answer was an insult to all fishermen who are facing a loss today. the reality is that mr that a third of the scottish fishing fleet is tied up in harbour, some boat landing in denmark rather than scotland to avoid brexit bureaucracy. scottish seafood exporters are losing up to £1 million a day. seafood scotland says the extra red tape is an almost impossible task. it has also even forced ferry operators to pause deliveries to the continent. mr speaker, the european union have put in place a 5 billion fund to support businesses with the cost of brexit. last night it was revealed that ireland is receiving 1 billion of it. can the prime minister tell

scottish business when they will be getting the same level of support and where is the compensation for my constituent that is losing £40,000 today? mr constituent that is losing £40,000 toda ? ~ ., , today? mr speaker, he continually advocates the _ today? mr speaker, he continually advocates the break-up _ today? mr speaker, he continually advocates the break-up of - today? mr speaker, he continually advocates the break-up of the - today? mr speaker, he continually i advocates the break-up of the union advocates the break—up of the union with the united kingdom, and he continually advocates going back into the european union, even though that would be immensely destructive to the scottish, immensely destructive to the scottish economy, jobs, livelihoods, pensions and the currency. as far as i understand it, they are already spending money in scotland on what they called indyref2, when the scottish government should be getting on with fighting the pandemic, that is what the people of scotland want to see. you might pay tribute to the merits of the united kingdom enrolling at the vaccine across the whole of the country, —— in rolling out the

vaccine. i'm told mr speaker they cannot even bring themselves to say the oxford astrazeneca vaccine. perhaps he can just say that he likes the oxford astrazeneca vaccine. . likes the oxford astrazeneca vaccine. , ., likes the oxford astrazeneca vaccine. , :, :, likes the oxford astrazeneca vaccine. , ., ., ., vaccine. let us move to yorkshire instead. thank _ vaccine. let us move to yorkshire instead. thank you, _ vaccine. let us move to yorkshire instead. thank you, mr _ vaccine. let us move to yorkshire instead. thank you, mr speaker. | vaccine. let us move to yorkshire - instead. thank you, mr speaker. with the vaccination _ instead. thank you, mr speaker. with the vaccination programme _ instead. thank you, mr speaker. with the vaccination programme making i the vaccination programme making very encouraging progress, can the prime minister reaffirm that lifting restrictions to return to normal as soon as it is safe is an overriding national priority? can i invite him to consider drawing a line in the sand in terms of vaccination of sufficient numbers of the priority group, the reaching of which will trigger a phased relaxation of controls as immunity widens? yes. trigger a phased relaxation of controls as immunity widens? yes, mr seaker, i controls as immunity widens? yes, mr speaker. i can — controls as immunity widens? yes, mr speaker, i can confirm _ controls as immunity widens? yes, mr speaker, i can confirm that _ controls as immunity widens? yes, mr speaker, i can confirm that we - controls as immunity widens? yes, mr speaker, i can confirm that we are - speaker, i can confirm that we are going to go down the top four priority groups who account for 88%,

sadly, of covid deaths. the target is as he knows by the 15th of february, they will then be an opportunity to look very carefully at the measures that we have in place. and we will try to reverse the restrictions as soon as we reasonably can, in a way that does not involve overwhelming the nhs. let's head to northern ireland. the prime let's head to northern ireland. tt9 prime minister promised us that northern ireland would continue to have unfettered access to the uk internal market, and yet in my constituency, consumers are facing empty supermarket shelves. they can't get parcels delivered from great britain. small businesses can't bring spare parts and raw materials into northern ireland from great britain. steel importers are facing tariffs. and we have many other problems, all caused by the northern ireland protocol. what i and the people of northern ireland need to know from the prime

minister, as leader of the united kingdom, is what his government is going to do to address this. if he will consider invoking article 16 of the northern ireland protocol to resolve these issues, because the trading support service is welcome but it is not the solution alone. we need direct government intervention to deal with this now. i need direct government intervention to deal with this now.— to deal with this now. i think the riaht to deal with this now. i think the right honourable _ to deal with this now. i think the right honourable gentleman, - to deal with this now. i think the right honourable gentleman, i i to deal with this now. i think the i right honourable gentleman, i can tell him that at the moment the goods are flowing between northern ireland and britain, no lorries have been turned back. of course there are teething problems, and what i can confirm to him is that if there are problems that we believe are disproportionate, we will have no hesitation in invoking article 16. let's head to ruth edwards. thank ou, mr let's head to ruth edwards. thank you. mr speaker- _ let's head to ruth edwards. thank you, mr speaker. may _ let's head to ruth edwards. thank you, mr speaker. may i _ let's head to ruth edwards. ’ttagr'taz you, mr speaker. may i congratulate my right honourable friend on his trade deal with the eu? and welcome the prospect of a more global

approach to our trading policy. but he agree with me that freeport —— would he agree with me that a freeport at east midlands airport, connected to the world by trains, planes and automobiles, and focus on generating green growth, is key to the success of global britain? i am the success of global britain? i am deliahted the success of global britain? i am delighted she _ the success of global britain? i am delighted she is _ the success of global britain? i am delighted she is campaigning for a freeport, they will be a process and successful applicants will be announced in the spring. let's head u i announced in the spring. let's head u- to st announced in the spring. let's head up to st aubin _ announced in the spring. let's head up to st aubin daisy _ announced in the spring. let's head up to st aubin daisy cooper. - announced in the spring. let's head up to st aubin daisy cooper. i - announced in the spring. let's head up to st aubin daisy cooper. i hope | up to st aubin daisy cooper. i hope the promise — up to st aubin daisy cooper. i hope the promise they _ up to st aubin daisy cooper. i hope the promise they will _ up to st aubin daisy cooper. i hope the promise they will join _ up to st aubin daisy cooper. i hope the promise they will join with - up to st aubin daisy cooper. i hope the promise they will join with me | the promise they willjoin with me in congratulating the local gps and the admin medical and volunteer staff who have set up the vaccine centre in st albans at incredible speed, they have already vaccinated thousands of residents but that enormous success is being hampered because they are only being provided with vaccines for 1100 people per

day at two days a week, and only getting the vaccine that very short notice. will the prime minister personally intervened to ensure that the vaccine centre in st albans and all pcn led a local vaccine services have a much greater and consistent vaccine supply so they can get on with the job of vaccinating the country against covid? i with the job of vaccinating the country against covid? i certainly think the gp _ country against covid? i certainly think the gp vaccination - country against covid? i certainly think the gp vaccination centre i country against covid? i certainlyj think the gp vaccination centre in st albans for what they are doing —— i thank them for what they are doing and their wonderful work. it is thanks to private care networks across the country that we have done 2.4 million people with vaccines. the constraint is not the distribution network, it is the supply. don't forget, we have a bigger supply than most other european, all other european countries, indeed we virtually have as many vaccines as all the other european countries put together. we will be ramping up that supply in

the days and weeks ahead. itttel’iiiii will be ramping up that supply in the days and weeks ahead. will the prime minister _ the days and weeks ahead. will the prime ministerjoin _ the days and weeks ahead. will the prime ministerjoin me _ the days and weeks ahead. will the prime ministerjoin me in _ the days and weeks ahead. will the prime ministerjoin me in thanking | prime ministerjoin me in thanking the shropshire defence engineers in the shropshire defence engineers in the private and public sector, currently _ the private and public sector, currently working on the warrior and boxset _ currently working on the warrior and boxset military vehicle programmes, doin- boxset military vehicle programmes, doing a _ boxset military vehicle programmes, doing a greatjob? as the government considers— doing a greatjob? as the government considers the challenger two life extension programme, will they bear in mind _ extension programme, will they bear in mind the _ extension programme, will they bear in mind the workforce in warwickshire that has such a history and practice — warwickshire that has such a history and practice in delivering uk defence? gf and practice in delivering uk defence? u. , and practice in delivering uk defence? , ., ., ., defence? of course i am so familiar with the superb _ defence? of course i am so familiar with the superb workforce - defence? of course i am so familiar with the superb workforce in - with the superb workforce in shropshire to which he refers, and of course there is a competition currently going on, negotiations going on with the modernisation that he is speaking of. as he knows, we have made the biggest investment in our defence since the cold war, with the recent spending review, but it would not be right for me to comment

on these negotiations at this stage. let's head to hornsey and wood green — let's head to hornsey and wood green. 9. .. let's head to hornsey and wood green. 9, ~' ,, ~ let's head to hornsey and wood green. ., ,, ~ .,~ green. thank you, mr speaker. prime minister, widening _ green. thank you, mr speaker. prime minister, widening inequalities- green. thank you, mr speaker. prime minister, widening inequalities are i minister, widening inequalities are tearing communities apart, and covid has made things much worse. in hornsey and wood green, we have a 182% increase in joblessness. hornsey and wood green, we have a 182% increase injoblessness. today, will the prime minister pledged to reverse the planned £100,000 per annum cut to universal credit to provide a certain future to all of those increasing numbers of people who use universal credit as a lifeline? 9 ~ ,,, ., ,, ., who use universal credit as a lifeline? ~ ., ., , lifeline? well, mr speaker, not only have we operated _ lifeline? well, mr speaker, not only have we operated universal- lifeline? well, mr speaker, not only have we operated universal credit i lifeline? well, mr speaker, not only| have we operated universal credit by £1000, -- have we operated universal credit by £1000, —— up rated, but we have also extended, increase the local housing allowance and the minimum wage, we will keep all of its under constant review. i know that she speaks for

the labour front bench, review. i know that she speaks for the labourfront bench, the review. i know that she speaks for the labour front bench, the current labour policy as far as i understand it is to abolish universal credit. and i think many people in receipt of universal credit know how important it is, and will find that the stunning in view of what she has just said. the stunning in view of what she has 'ust said. : 9 , the stunning in view of what she has just said._ thank- the stunning in view of what she has just said._ thank you, | just said. andrew percy. thank you, mr speaker- — just said. andrew percy. thank you, mr speaker. here _ just said. andrew percy. thank you, mr speaker. here in _ just said. andrew percy. thank you, mr speaker. here in east _ just said. andrew percy. thank you, mr speaker. here in east yorkshire | mr speaker. here in east yorkshire and north lincolnshire and the humber we have some of the highest flood risk in the country and we are still waiting for the report into the 9 9. still waiting for the report into the 9 . ~ , �* , the we are living prime minister's questions to _ the we are living prime minister's questions to take _ the we are living prime minister's questions to take you _ the we are living prime minister's questions to take you to - the we are living prime minister'sj questions to take you to holyrood where nicola sturgeon is possibly going to announce further restrictions. the total number of positive cases reported yesterday was 1499. that

represents 10.2 tests have carried out and that takes the total number of cases to 155,372. i can also confirm out of sight yesterday, hundred and... people had received theirfirst hundred and... people had received their first vaccine. hundred and... people had received theirfirst vaccine. for hundred and... people had received their first vaccine. for now in hospital with coronavirus, which is 77 yesterday. i can tell the chamber that 1005 patients were admitted to hospital in the week up to the 7th of january hospital in the week up to the 7th ofjanuary alone. hospital in the week up to the 7th of january alone. that compares to 851 in the last week of december. 134 people are currently in intensive care, which is one of more than yesterday. all of these figures, of course, underlined the severity of the pressure on the national health service and the fact that it national health service and the fact thatitis national health service and the fact that it is increasing. i am also very sad to report that in the last 24 hours another... the total number

of deaths under that measurement is 5000 to 102. the national record of scotland has also published its weekly updates. this includes deaths thatis weekly updates. this includes deaths that is suspected by coronavirus. the total number of registered death suspected to be linked to coronavirus was 7074. 384 of those deaths were registered last week. that is 197 more than in the previous week. it is indeed the highest weekly figure we have recorded since may. some of the cases last week may be down to people registering deaths that had occurred over the christmas and new year period. even so, this figure is heartbreakingly high. it reminds us of the grief that this virus continues to cause. i send my condolences to those who have lost a loved one. just a little while ago, the cabinet secretary for health

made detailed statement about our vaccine is programmed. we are asking people of sacrifices, and it is worth highlighting some of the key points that she made. we have vaccinated more than 80% of care home resident in scotland and more than half of front line health and social care workers. the vaccinations of those over the age of 80 is under way and gathering speed. first doses for the over 805 will be completed by the start of february. everyone aged over 70 will have been offered vaccination by mid february. it is our aim to vaccinate everyone over 65. also for those of with extreme clinical vulnerability by the end of february. at the start of march, 1.4 million people will have received the first dose of vaccine. to support this, more than 1100 vaccination centres are already operational. that will increase with mass centres open to. all of this is

positive. vaccination offers us a route back to a more normal life and offers us a route to the future. of course, now we are in a race against the virus. when the race, we must compete vaccination programme as quickly as possible and that is what we will do. but we must also slow down the virus. today's members demonstrated again why that is so necessary. in early december, we were recording approximately 100 new cases of coronavirus every week for every 100,000 people. that figure since then has almost trebled. that is, of course, mainly because of the new variant, which is much easier to transmit, and it is spreading rapidly. the new variants now makes up rapidly. the new variants now makes up around 60% of new cases. it is now far more difficult to get the number i remember back without restrictions. it's still very early days. there are some signs that lockdown may be starting to have an effect. the rapid increase in cases that we saw on the turn of the year appears to have slowed down and

began to stabilise. that is good news. at this stage, it can give us no room for complacency. it is still too soon to be entirely confident that the situation is stabilising. of course, even if it is, this will only be because of lockdown. it is not unfortunately, and indication that it not unfortunately, and indication thatitis not unfortunately, and indication that it is safe to ease it yet, in any way. the number of new cases are still far too high. of course, all of this is having a significant and severe impact on our health service. a number of people being infected everyday remaining as high as it is, the pressure on the nhs is likely to increase further and continue for some time. of course, as i reported a few moments ago, last weeks of the highest number of registered stamps from coronavirus since early may. we must continue to do everything possible to reduce numbers. this is essential to relieve the pressure on the nhs, but also to save lives. that is why the cabinet considered yesterday some further tightening of the lockdown restrictions to ensure that they can be as effective as

they need to be in suppressing the virus. there are six changes that we intend to make. the regulations giving effect to these will be subject to parliament they could take effect on saturday. i am aware that some of these changes will sound technical and relatively minor. however, we believe that individually collectively, these individually collectively, these individual mothers in further reducing the interactions that allowed the virus to spread will help our efforts to suppress it. however technical the changes might sound, i know that all of them involve further restrictions on our liberties, someone to give an assurance again that none of these decisions are arrived at lightly. let me set out what these changes are. firstly, we intend to limit the availability and operation of click and collect retail services. only retailers are selling essential items will be allowed to offer click and collect. this will include, for example, clothes and footwear, baby equipment, homeware and books. all

other click and collect services must stop. more importantly for click and collect services that are allowed, staggered appointments must be made to stop the opportunity for killing. this will be set down in regulations and guidance —— stop the opportunity for queueing. we must reduce the reasons people have for losing home as far as possible. i welcome the actions of those businesses who have voluntarily suspended click and collect and tighten the procedures in relation to face coverings. secondly, we tend to face coverings. secondly, we tend to apply restrictions to take away services. to customers will no longer permitted to inside to collect takeaway food or coffee. any places wanting to offer this will have to do so from a doorway or hatchway. thirdly, we intend to

change the rules on consumption of alcohol. at the moment, different parts of scotland have different laws in relation to the consumption of alcohol in outdoor public places. however, from saturday, it will be against the law in all level for areas to drink alcohol at stores in public. that'll mean buying a takeaway point and drink it outdoors will not be permitted. i know this is not a popular move that it is intended to underline and support the fact that we should only be leaving home for essential purposes. that includes exercise or recreation, but it does not include simple socialising. when you do leave home, you should only meet one person from another household in a group no bigger than two people. i know this is a hard message and it is absolutely not one that i want to be sending, but it is vital to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. fourthly, and significantly, we intend to strengthen the obligation on employers to allow staff to work from home whenever possible. the law

already says we should only be leaving home to go to work if it is work that cannot be done from home. this is a legal obligation that falls on individuals. however, we will now introduce statutory guidance to make clear to employers that they must support the workers to work from home wherever possible. for all employers, the basic but vital message is this, if you'll staff were working from home during the first lockdown last year, they should be working from home now and you should be facilitating that. fifthly, we will strengthen the perceptions in the nation to working inside people's houses. we have issued guidance 5ay inside people's houses. we have issued guidance say in level for areas that work is only allowed in a private dwelling if it is essential for the upkeep of the household. the map this into law. the firm changes an amendments to regulations requiring people to stay at home, but i want to be clear that this is intended to close an apparent loophole rather than change the spirit of the law. it will also ring the wedding of the stay—at—home

regulations in scotland in line with the other uk nations. right now, the law states that you can only leave home for an essential purpose. however, having left him for an essential purpose, someone could stay out for another purpose that is nonessential. the the change will now clarify that you must only stay or leave and remain outside for essential purposes. it does not change the purposes for people to go out to the house or nor does any time limit on being outdoors for essential exercise. but it does mean that if the police challenging for being out of the house for something thatis being out of the house for something that is not essential, it will not be a defence to save initially left do something that was i know this doesn't make for enjoyable listening. it has been a pleasure to be told about further restrictions on businesses or individual freedoms

can go we please. we would not be doing any of this if we did not believe it essential to get and keep this deadly virus under control. case numbers are still so high and a new variant is so infectious that we must be as tough and effective as we possibly can beat to stop it spreading. that does mean taking further steps to stop people from meeting and interacting indoors and also outdoors. today's measures will help us achieve that. they are a regrettable but necessary means to an end. in conclusion, i want to stress again that although these are dark and difficult times, we also have grounds for hope. a5 dark and difficult times, we also have grounds for hope. as indicated earlier, there are some early signs of the lockdown is beginning to have an effect. we must stick with it. in addition, vaccination is already protecting a lot of the people who are most vulnerable to the virus and it will protect many more in the weeks and months ahead. finally, however many hopeless this situation makes all of us feel at times, the

fact is, none of us are powerless in the face of this virus. we can't guarantee that we won't get it or pass it on. after all, it is highly infectious. and we can all behave in a way that significantly reduces the risk of getting it or passing it on. please continue to do that. i want to stress this point. please stick to stress this point. please stick to the spirit and notjust the latter of these rules. don't think in terms of the maximum interactions you can have without breaking the rules. please instead think about how you minimise your interactions to the bare essentials to remove as many opportunities as possible for the virus to spread. in everything you do, please assume that the virus is there with you. that either you haveit is there with you. that either you have it or any person you are in contact with has it and act in a way that prevents it passing between you. all of this means staying at home apart from genuinely essential purposes and that includes working from home whenever possible, except for essential purposes, do not have

other people in your house and do not go into theirs. please follow the facts advice at all times when you are out and about. all of this is how we keep ourselves and our loved ones safe and it is how we keep the virus under control until the vaccines gets to do their work. at this critical and dangerous moment, please stay home, protect the nhs, stay lives. thank you. you might think very much. first minister will now take questions. i think the first minister for advance notice of her status damning statement. the —— for advance notice of her statement. the click and collect restrictions were unexpected for many. they thought the services

would continue and they had invested heavily to get up and it is safe to keep trading. i am pleased the first minister says funding will be made available for some point. but these businesses spent many to make the changes that the minister required of them and they are now being told they have to adapt again. but like these are all reasonable points. on these are all reasonable points. on the question of evidence, we will publish, probablyjust about now, and evidence paper, an update of the one we published last week to put into public domain scrutiny by the members of parliament and the wider public, the state of the epidemic, the evidence underpinning the decisions we are making. i fully understand the call for businesses and different sectors for specific evidence about transmission in their sectors. when we were at a stage with community prevalence of the virus lower, that was much more relevant with a laser focus exactly where the virus was spreading. we

have higher community transmission being fuelled by this faster spreading variant, it is much more a case that what the evidence tells us is that overall in general, we have to minimise all of our interactions between ourselves and each other. lockdown, as was announced last week, it has substantially done that. we have data that suggests that. we have data that suggests that the traffic volumes have fallen, people's contact have fallen. but we do know, anecdotally as well as from other areas, that there are some parts of the economy and some aspects of individual behaviour, where understandably people are still coming together in a way against fast account transmitting variant of the virus risks continue to spread. that is why be set at this further tightening today. in why be set at this further tightening today.- why be set at this further tightening today. in click and collect, tightening today. in click and collect. many _ tightening today. in click and collect, many businesses - tightening today. in click and i collect, many businesses have decided voluntarily to suspend. we are not taking it away altogether but we are putting in place more mitigations and restrictions for the

end of suppressing the virus. finally, on the issue of financial compensation, there is significant many available, much of it already with businesses, much more businesses over the course of the month. the month. the finance secretary recently set out additional payments for those in the hospitality and retail sectors. for example, we will continue to look on an ongoing basis and what we can do within our resources and where there are illegitimate calls for more financial support. they have businesses, however difficult this is, that they will understand that this is necessary and inescapable right now if we are not see ourselves and the national health services overwhelmed by the virus and unfortunately, many more people dying from it. thank you. this and unfortunately, many more people dying from it. thank you.— dying from it. thank you. this is the latest _ dying from it. thank you. this is the latest web _ dying from it. thank you. this is the latest web businesses - dying from it. thank you. this is the latest web businesses don't| dying from it. thank you. this is - the latest web businesses don't feel involved or consulted by the government. they feel like an afterthought. we called for a covert business council. the first minister

said she would take it forward but it's still not been launched. the new funding announced earlier this week is welcome but it was welcomed backin week is welcome but it was welcomed back in the 9th of december, two, when the government announced funding for other areas. it was welcome in late october when they announced a £30 million discretionary fund. one of those funds, we have seen evidence of any 6 million reaching businesses. will the first minister agree to immediately publish how much of all of that funding has actually reached businesses? was she callous now, has even a tenth of all of that funding being delivered months on —— will she tell us now? if being delivered months on -- will she tell us now?— she tell us now? if you take the £750 million _ she tell us now? if you take the £750 million that _ she tell us now? if you take the £750 million that is _ she tell us now? if you take the £750 million that is out - she tell us now? if you take the £750 million that is out been i £750 million that is out been allocated to business support since october, 600 million of that is already live. the vast majority of other funds go live this month.

payments are flowing to businesses and at the end of this month, the businesses that are eligible for additional top up payments will receive those payments. we will continue to publish figures as we proceed. one consultation with businesses, we discussed with businesses, we discussed with businesses on an ongoing basis, with businesses on an ongoing basis, with business organisations, with individual sectors. business organisations, with individualsectors. i business organisations, with individual sectors. i appreciate the desire for as much consultation as possible. we will try to do that as far as we possibly can. but ultimately right now, we face decisions that are inescapable. no amount of discussion or consultation takes us away from the sharp point that we have a rapidly spreading virus, that if we don't reduce and minimise interactions, that will overwhelm us, overwhelm our national health service, and lead to the deaths of many more people than would otherwise be the case. i'm afraid that that is the harsh reality of the situation we are in now. my duty as first minister and the duty of the government is not to shy away from these difficult decisions, to take the

responsibility of these decisions, to stand appear, set them out, sat out the reasons for them and the evidence behind them. and let's do as much as we can, as we will continue to do, to support those affected by them. you continue to do, to support those affected by them.— affected by them. you have a responsibility _ affected by them. you have a responsibility to _ affected by them. you have a responsibility to not - affected by them. you have a responsibility to not let - affected by them. you have a| responsibility to not let viable businesses full. a leaked document shows that only digital boost development grant opened yesterday morning. it was meant to be open for six weeks but it is shut within 24 hours because it was inundated and oversubscribed. that is a measure of how desperate things are. businesses are crying out for funding but funds aren't opening and guidance hasn't been delivered. councils want to get this out of the door but they are hearing nash thing from the scottish government. if you click onto government websites, they li5t16

government websites, they li5t16 government funds and underneath they say, please do not contact us about the funds as we do not have any details yet. first minister, how many funds do not even have guidance?— many funds do not even have guidance? many funds do not even have tuidance? ~ ., ., , , guidance? most of the money is already live- _ guidance? most of the money is already live. the _ guidance? most of the money is already live. the rest _ guidance? most of the money is already live. the rest of - guidance? most of the money is already live. the rest of that - guidance? most of the money is i already live. the rest of that which has only been announced recently will be going live over the next period. i haven't seen the leaked documents that are referred to, i'm happy to look at them and see whether they are up—to—date or whether they are up—to—date or whether they are out of date. since october, we have allocated £750 million to business support. that includes books of up to £3000 every four weeks through the strategic business fund which is for tourism and culture which has been hit particularly hard, and groups such as newly self—employed, taxi drivers, on the 11th of january we

announced top up for hospitality and retail and leisure. that will be a top up of £25,000. that will be paid later this month, compared to £9,000 in england, for example, small businesses will receive a small amount of course, yesterday we announced additional funding for our island community so they can help businesses that are in level three areas as opposed to level four. i have had discussions with the finance secretary of how we do support councils to get money out of the door more quickly and into the pockets of businesses more quickly. the digital boost fund has been announced already. it has been quickly oversubscribed. one of the discussions i was having before i left the office to come here and i will continue to have when i get back to the office after this is how we will put additional funding internet to meet more demand for it. we'll continue to give them the priority it merits. the responses

merely listing — priority it merits. the responses merely listing announcements. l priority it merits. the responsesj merely listing announcements. i welcome the announcements. evan welcomed the announcements. this is about getting many delivered eight people's pockets and it is not getting there. people are getting desperate to actually see some of the funding they have been promised to stop theirjobs from going under. here is george. good afternoon ruth. i would like you to ask the government when the grant for scottish taxi drivers will be distributed. i am on my knees, desperate. i understand everyone is in the same position, but we have been promised this since november and we cannot find access find out what is happening. for 38,000 taxi drivers, there are thousands more hairdressers, shop owners, wedding operators, and so on. all of them have been promised help, they'll

welcome to announcements, but they are being told, don't bother applying act because we don't know how these schemes are going to run yet. way back in the 24th of march, it was said that the aim was to make payments within ten working days. right now, there are sectors out there who would be delighted if they could see promised cash within ten weeks. when first ministerfinally gets to grips with this? there are thousands of scottish jobs are relying on it. i thousands of scottish 'obs are retyrng en rtfi thousands of scottish 'obs are relying on it. i fully understand how important _ relying on it. i fully understand how important this _ relying on it. i fully understand how important this is. - relying on it. i fully understand how important this is. ruth - relying on it. i fully understand - how important this is. ruth davidson seems to give the impression that no money has flown to businesses. that is not the case. we have announced many different streams of support as different sectors made the case for additionalfunding. of course, we have to put arrangements in place through local authorities usually. they will often ask us for different guidance for eligibility for that and the arrangements forgetting that out. that is an ongoing process that we will continue to accelerate and speed up as much as possible. there

is money flowing to businesses. there will be more money flowing to businesses. the finance secretary will continue to support councils. additional administrative support has been given to councils to ensure that the process is as quick as it can be. 9. .. that the process is as quick as it can be. ., ,, i. that the process is as quick as it can be. ., , that the process is as quick as it canbe. ., , , can be. thank you. nobody welcomes these new restrictions, _ can be. thank you. nobody welcomes these new restrictions, but _ these new restrictions, but compliance with them is necessary. can i say that it really is important that employees who can work from home are allowed... latte important that employees who can work from home are allowed... we are ttoin to work from home are allowed... we are going to leave — work from home are allowed... we are going to leave hollywood _ work from home are allowed... we are going to leave hollywood but _ work from home are allowed... we are going to leave hollywood but we - work from home are allowed... we are going to leave hollywood but we have l going to leave hollywood but we have heard from first minister nicola sturgeon and outlining six tighter restrictions that will come in from saturday across scotland. i'm a quickly run through them in case you missed them. the first is that click and connect is going to be limited only for essential items, which is clothes, footwear, food, and books. in order to do that, there must be

staggered appointments and no access inside premises. the second change is restrictions to take a ways. customers will no longer be allowed inside to collect takeaways. they will have to be a serving hatch or doorway. the third change is consumption of alcohol. it will be against the law outdoors in public in all tier 4 areas. that is coming in all tier 4 areas. that is coming in from saturday. one person can be met in a group no bigger than two. the fourth change is increased work from home. statutory guidance will be given to employers to facilitate it. she said that if staff were working from home the first lockdown, they should be working from home now. there will be new onus on employers to make that happen. there are going to be limits to working inside private homes. they will be tightened up. only allowed if it is essential for

upkeep and maintenance. the six change is that people must not leave or remain outside the home except for an essential purpose. she said that basically, currently, the guidance or law is that you can leave home for an essential purpose, but it it can sometimes mean that people stay out for longer and do something that isn't essential, so they are tightening that up to make sure that if you are outside the home, whatever the reason for leaving it, you can only be outside for an essential purpose. there will be no time limit on exercise. there are six new changes announced by nicola sturgeon that would come into effect in scotland from saturday. the one o'clock news is up next. right now it's time for a weather update. after a gloomy and wet morning across the uk, things are becoming increasingly wintry for scotland and northern ireland. through the afternoon and into the evening and overnight. in response

to this, the met office have issued an amberwarning for to this, the met office have issued an amber warning for heavy snowfall. there is a risk of disruption. the area highlighted behind me, highest ground is ten to 20 centimetres, thatis ground is ten to 20 centimetres, that is up to eight inches of snow. lower ground, five to ten centimetres. that warning stands until 10am tomorrow. why is this happening? cold airfrom scandinavia extending to the east of the uk. the front kind to in from the west. i5 front kind to in from the west. is that france runs into the cold air, so we see that snow. scotland and across northern england overnight. south into the pennines even as far south as east anglia. further west, it is milder, wales has parts, rain. in plymouth, temperatures are around 90 b celsius. ice could be an issue first thing on thursday. there is pressure front here. it will slowly

weaken through thursday but only slowly and it stays in one place. more snow for scotland and england first thing. some seats down into the midlands. it will be rain persisting across the south—east. things to ease back as we go later on today on thursday but still quite wintry across the north—east. it will certainly feel so the temperature is three or 4 degrees. temperatures will be up to 9 degrees in the west. was start to balance things out come friday. the high from the west builds in. quite a lot of cloud will be hanging around but not a bad day. and then we start to balance things out come friday. the high from the west builds in. quite a lot of cloud will be hanging around but not a bad day. on the weekend, wet and windy weather swinging in for saturday. friday was to be in the chilly side, especially with all the cloud around. much clearer conditions overall. saturday, it becomes milder, but it will be wet and windy. sunday, quieter once again but turning a little cooler. for now, our major concern as we started out is that snow developing to the north of the

uk. a reminder that we could see some disruption for parts of scotland and northern england.

anger in the commons over the standard of food parcels for parents in lockdown — they're branded "disgraceful and awful". labour leader sir keir starmer tells the prime minister he's putting families last. can i ask the prime minister, would he be happy with his kids living on that? under this government, we will do everything we can to ensure that no child goes hungry as a result of the privations caused by this pandemic. footballer marcus rashford calls for action — he speaks to the prime minister — as more pictures emerge of meagre food parcels. came to the realisation that this is what i've been given to eat for a week, and just a sense of sadness — where has the rest of the food gone? this is meant to be a week's food. why is it so mean?

we'll be getting reaction as the education secretary