the lifting of lockdown in england — the prime minister will unveil his plan this afternoon. school children in england will return to their desks on march 8th — and we'll be able to socialise with one friend outside. pubs, hairdressers, and hospitality venues will have to wait, as the prime minister urges caution at every step. we have to make sure we are able to protect the nhs by not allowing the reopening of the economy to allow for another spike that would then cause many more people to go into hospital. the prime minister will say he wants a phased approach. we'll be live in westminster to see what that might mean. also this lunchtime... the first study of the uk vaccination programme suggests it's having a "spectacular" impact on preventing serious illness in scotland.

the youngest pupils in scotland and wales are beginning a phased return to face—to—face teaching today. and billy monger — the young racing driver who lost both legs in a horrific crash — prepares for his next marathon task for comic relief. the walk is mentally challenging because of how long it's going to take. walking sort of close to a marathon distance for anyone is a tall ask. so that's going to be tough. and coming up on bbc news, outdoor sports, including football, tennis and golf, will be allowed to resume in england from march 29th, according to the vaccines minister, nadhim zahawi. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one.

at 3.30 this afternoon, the prime minister will address the house of commons and tell mps how and when england will emerge from lockdown. borisjohnson is expected to say restrictions will be loosened in four stages, when conditions allow — and that's an important caveat. we are not out of the woods yet. the first stage will see all pupils returning to school in england on march 8th. also, from march 8th, two friends will be allowed to meet in a public space, such as a park, to socialise, and each care home resident in england will be able to have one regular visitor, with whom they can hold hands. from march 29th, six people — or two households — can meet outdoors, including in private gardens. some outdoor sports will return. the following months should see other areas of the economy, and life, unlocked, but some members of his party have urged the prime minister to move faster. with our first report this

lunchtime, here's ben wright. the current lockdown has again silenced classrooms, closed all nonessential shops and kept families and friends apart. this afternoon the government will explain her restrictions in england will gradually be eased through the spring and into summer. but although the vaccine roll—out is going well, hospitalisations remain high and caution is the watchword in government. we caution is the watchword in government.— caution is the watchword in covernment. ., ., , government. we have to make sure we are able to. — government. we have to make sure we are able to. you — government. we have to make sure we are able to, you know, _ government. we have to make sure we are able to, you know, protect - government. we have to make sure we are able to, you know, protect the - are able to, you know, protect the nhs by not allowing the reopening of the economy to allow for another spike that would then cause many more people to go to hospital. that is ultimately the balance.— is ultimately the balance. these da s is ultimately the balance. these days downing — is ultimately the balance. these days downing street _ is ultimately the balance. these days downing street is - is ultimately the balance. these days downing street is quiet - is ultimately the balance. these | days downing street is quiet and cabinet meetings happen gradually. but boris johnson's cabinet meetings happen gradually. but borisjohnson�*s ministers spent the morning hearing about his 60 page road map and the likely stages for lifting restrictions. the first of those is march the 8th, when all

schools in england will reopen to all pupils. a different approach to the phased return of scotland, wales and northern ireland. 0utdoor clubs and northern ireland. 0utdoor clubs and activities run by schools can restart too. care home residents will be allowed to see one regular visitor indoors. and the rules around meeting one other person outside will be eased a bit. there will be no need to be exercising while meeting for coffee. later in this first stage, in march 29, it understood groups of six or two households will be able to meet up outside. sports like golf and tennis are expected to start again too. and thatis are expected to start again too. and that is the point of the stay at home order may be lifted. the government as long said getting children back to school has been the priority. but teaching unions say it is reckless, returning all teachers —— pupils to classrooms at once. we -- pupils to classrooms at once. we will —— pupils to classrooms at once. we will continue to push to put in place — will continue to push to put in place of— will continue to push to put in place of those measures around testing. — place of those measures around testing, ventilation, guidance and mask_

testing, ventilation, guidance and mask wearing, because the last thing we want _ mask wearing, because the last thing we want is _ mask wearing, because the last thing we want is to reopen schools for all pupils— we want is to reopen schools for all pumls and — we want is to reopen schools for all pupils and their many peoples are sent home — pupils and their many peoples are sent home because we have significant outbreaks of the virus. a minority— significant outbreaks of the virus. a minority of tory mps have been pushing for a quicker reopening of the economy. but number 10 has chosen a much more tentative strategy. ministers say there decisions will be driven by data about the vaccine roll—out, hospitalisations, infection rates and any new variants of covid. they want this lockdown to be the last. that could mean it is still many weeks before nonessential shops, hospitality and pubs reopen. we need a long-term — hospitality and pubs reopen. we need a long-term recovery _ hospitality and pubs reopen. we need a long-term recovery plan. _ hospitality and pubs reopen. we need a long-term recovery plan. we - hospitality and pubs reopen. we need a long-term recovery plan. we don't. a long—term recovery plan. we don't just need a date to reopen. we want to reopen softly, safely and we want to reopen softly, safely and we want to stay open. we are a people industry and we miss people. but we must keep people safe. itruiith industry and we miss people. but we must keep people safe.— must keep people safe. with the --rosect must keep people safe. with the prosraect of _ must keep people safe. with the prosaect of all — must keep people safe. with the prospect of all adults _ must keep people safe. with the prospect of all adults being - must keep people safe. with the i prospect of all adults being offered their first vaccine by earlyjuly, there is hope in government that is shutting shops —— shuttered shops

and separated families will be a thing of the past. let's speak to ben now. if there is one word that will oversee what the prime minister announces it is the word caution? yes, this is a road map full of speed bumps and checkpoints really. they will be proceeding with great care. it could easily be early summer before all restrictions that we are currently living under are lifted. that is the best case scenario. all we know at the moment is how step one will play out. so the return of children to school in england on march the 8th, then at the end of march a slight relaxation of people's ability to meet one other person outside. beyond that we know that each step could have a gap of about five weeks to allow ministers to assess all the data coming in, to make sure they are not risking a further spread of the virus. and we know the sort of principles they are being guided by. we know that ministers and their advisers think that outdoor activities are on the whole far safer than doing anything inside, so we can expect to see perhaps more

outdoor hospitality before you see in the restaurants and theatres start to reopen, for instance. the prime minister will spell all of that out in the house of commons later. there is a budget too around the corner, coming next week. i think the chancellor will clearly be responding in terms of furlough and other help given to businesses, to the plan being sketched out by the prime minister today. at some point mps will have a chance to vote on these restrictions. it sounds like labour are broadly very supportive, but we know a number of tory mps have been urging the government to go faster. if infection rates continue to plummet, hospitalisations stay low, you will hear a lot of agitation from tory mps. if the plan is as cautious as we expect, for the prime minister to go faster as the next few week span out. �* . ., , go faster as the next few week span out. �* , out. ben could i mgive. dashwood ben, thank— out. ben could i mgive. dashwood ben, thank you. _ teachers' unions have warned it would be reckless to allow millions of pupils and staff in england to go back to school at once.

they've called for a more cautious and phased return, to guard against another spike in infections. but the prime minister insists getting children back is his first priority. dan johnson reports. the morning covid test is already part of the routine for those children still in school, but head teachers in england now have to be ready for at least more secondary pupils to go through this when they return in a fortnight. scaling that up to test all of our pupils on the 8th of march itself is going to be a significant challenge. it is one we are going to have to adapt to. i think looking further ahead once the children are back it is really about making sure we work out where the gaps are in their knowledge from the learning they have been doing. these children with key worker parents haven't had the experience of home learning during this lockdown. so what do they think of their classmates coming back? it is believing that i will be able to see everyone again. but i will also miss them. i am quite worried about everyone going back in schools opening again because i'm afraid that the cases will rise again and we will be back

in lockdown and there will be a whole cycle going round and round again. many parents felt the pressure, juggling childcare, education and work all in the same space, day after day, week after week now. it has been extremely tough. we are practically living on top of each other. we have just tried to stay positive and make it work where we can but it has been difficult. i am a little bit apprehensive however that is the date so i suppose i have to go through with it. so there is a date but there isn't yet the detail of how this will be managed, in terms of filling up classrooms and spaces like this again and the logistics of testing every pupil. and some feel it is just not realistic to have all that in place for everyone to come back at the same time. children should be back on children back in school as quickly as possible. whether that is a big bang of throwing the gates open or slightly more measured approach is up for debate today. no teacher likes to label children

but there is recognition that some of the most disadvantaged have missed lots of learning and getting back on track will need time and effort. we have really missed that buzz in the classrooms and the playgrounds. once the children are back, we know from last time they can bounce back very quickly. they can make rapid progress. we have also got to be really aware of the challenges around their mental health and well—being. billions is already being spent on catch—up tuition, but will it be enough? will it reach the right kids? teachers also want to know how they will give grades this year in place of exams. lots to work out. at least now they know when they can make a start. danjohnson, bbc news, stratford. firms across the country are waiting to learn when they will be able to reopen. for many struggling with their bottom line, the end of lockdown can't come soon enough. but business owners say the government's approach must offer them stability, without the threat of another shutdown in the future. nina warhurst reports. preparing for the best, braised,

once again, for the worst. in normal times, there would be 12 busy staff in melissa's bustling manchester salon. but for 25 weeks since lockdown one started, these doors have been closed. it has been really tough being on and off, and keeping in check your staff's well—being, your well—being, your clients' well—being. when i was doing the calculations, we've had a £10,000 vat bill, a £6,000 rent bill. so as you can imagine, that hits the bank balance very hard. could this drizzly beer garden in stockport assumed we were giving customers? it costs more than £600 every week to keep it mothballed. they need paying customers and soon. it's not easy for the government. they want to give businesses like this the chance to breathe without risking having to shut them down again. and that is stopping and starting is tortuous for businesses,

some saying they cannot afford to keep second guessing what might come next. . ., , , , .. ., , next. there are massive implications and cost. next. there are massive implications and cost- we — next. there are massive implications and cost. we are _ next. there are massive implications and cost. we are dealing _ next. there are massive implications and cost. we are dealing with - and cost. we are dealing with perishable goods. 0bviously and cost. we are dealing with perishable goods. obviously the fresh food we make every day is just completely written off. the last time we closed in november we were ready to go, a minute's notice, rug pulled out from under us, massive cost to the brewery. again, making beer ourselves, we need time frames. then it goes. we need to be able to know what we are doing. it would be great if boris could organise these once and four us because that would make a massive difference, but at the minute, would you go out? yes, it is great we will be open, but is enough to keep going?— it is great we will be open, but is enough to keep going? dorothy has seen the seasons _ enough to keep going? dorothy has seen the seasons come _ enough to keep going? dorothy has seen the seasons come and - enough to keep going? dorothy has seen the seasons come and go - enough to keep going? dorothy has seen the seasons come and go in i seen the seasons come and go in chesterfield store for three years. but how can she now plan what to stock when she does know when she will open? we stock when she does know when she will oen? ~ . , ., stock when she does know when she willoen? . ., , ., ., will open? we had 'ust gone into the sales when we — will open? we had just gone into the sales when we closed, _ will open? we had just gone into the sales when we closed, so _ will open? we had just gone into the sales when we closed, so it's - will open? we had just gone into the sales when we closed, so it's very i sales when we closed, so it's very difficult. in march or april it will be spring, summer. a completely

different colour and style. i'm very optimistic that things will come right again. we have some very loyal customers and i'm sure it will come back. ~ ., ., ., ., , back. when, and for how long this time, the question _ back. when, and for how long this time, the question two _ back. when, and for how long this| time, the question two businesses are tired of asking.— are tired of asking. clarity and fairness. clarity _ are tired of asking. clarity and fairness. clarity on _ are tired of asking. clarity and fairness. clarity on clear - are tired of asking. clarity and fairness. clarity on clear rules| fairness. clarity on clear rules that are in place. and if it is going to be a tiered system, what that entails for hairdressers. and fairness, because last time there was a lot of misunderstanding and a lot of stress, time and money wasted on on clear rules.— on on clear rules. government su ort on on clear rules. government suaport has — on on clear rules. government support has been _ on on clear rules. government i support has been extraordinary. on on clear rules. government - support has been extraordinary. but so have the challenges. now patients and bank balances are wearing thin. nina warhurst, bbc news, stockport. our business editor, simonjack, is with me. businesses want to get back to work but it is a fine balance? yes. businesses want to get back to work but it is a fine balance?— but it is a fine balance? yes, the auestion but it is a fine balance? yes, the question is. _ but it is a fine balance? yes, the question is, are _ but it is a fine balance? yes, the question is, are we _ but it is a fine balance? yes, the question is, are we being - but it is a fine balance? yes, the question is, are we being too - question is, are we being too cautious? particularly with the

success of the vaccine roll—out. 0r success of the vaccine roll—out. or if this caution is the price of never having to go back to lock down again, so be it. for some industries, yes, we are being cautious. the hospitality industry. they opened onjuly cautious. the hospitality industry. they opened on july four last year. they opened on july four last year. they say infection and death rates in july and they say infection and death rates injuly and august and september were actually pretty flat. it was the coming back of the schools and colleges when it began to soar. that was before the vaccine. they say if we are going to do this, we need a bigger support. that means on top of extending furlough, extending a business rates holiday, we need some grands because we are burning through cash because we have costs from just been closed. the wider business community is saying, yes, we will support this, but if it is going to be data rather than data driven, that most cut both ways. if things turn out to be better than thought, we must allow the possibility that they could be some kind of acceleration. 0n possibility that they could be some kind of acceleration. on that point what the government has realised from this pandemic experiences overpromising and under delivering is a very painful political place to

be in, where as a target of a million vaccinations a week, which they have easily beaten, has been a very nice political place to be. i think they have learnt the lessons from that. but as the business community stay, if things get better, review it.— community stay, if things get better, review it. . ., . ~' , ., scientists say the first study of the uk vaccination programme suggests it is having a "spectacular" impact on preventing serious illness in scotland. researchers found that in the fourth week after the initial dose, hospitalisations were reduced by up to 85% and 94% for the pfizer and astrazeneca jabs respectively. 0ur health correspondent jim reed has the details. this is the first glimpse of the data that scientists have been waiting for. solid evidence that our vaccination programme is now starting to have an effect. i don't like needles myself. this research looked at hospital admissions in scotland between the start of december and mid february. it showed that in the fourth week

after people were given the pfizer and astrazeneca jab, they were 84% less likely to need hospital treatment for covid than those who had not yet been vaccinated. among the key group of over 80s most at risk of the disease, the combined figure was a reduction of up to 81% in hospital admissions using both jabs. we are absolutely thrilled with these results, the fact we are looking at the entire population and demonstrating that there are these effects, particularly among the high—risk populations. we should also see similar data on the effectiveness of vaccines in england this afternoon, head of that announcement on lockdown easing in the house of commons. the vaccination programme clearly is having an impact. the oxford team put out some data that two thirds of transmissions, you know, lowering transmission by two thirds because of the vaccination programme. there'll be more data

that the prime minister will share with the nation both in parliament today and this evening. but doctors warn the protection from any covid vaccine is still not 100%, and we don't yet know the full impact of the new variants of the virus if they start spreading more quickly. even if people have had their first dose, the advice is still to act cautiously and stick to the rules. jim reed, bbc news. let's talk to our medical editor, fergus walsh. the government said this road map is going to be dependent on the data and we are getting a lot of data? we are, and we are getting a lot of data? - are, simon, and the data is brilliant, utterly stunning, the data from scotland. now on its early and the figures will move around a bit in the coming weeks but it's the first real—world data we've had in the uk on the vaccines. and, if we look at the over 805, the most frail group, the ones who are the highest risk of dying from covid, the pfizer and oxford astrazeneca vaccines combined cut the risk of hospitalisation by at least 80% at

the fourth week. that's absolutely massive, and it's the first data we've had proving that the oxford astrazeneca vaccine is highly effective, as predicted, in the elderly, and you'll remember a few weeks ago president macron in france 5aid weeks ago president macron in france said it was maybe in the elderly, whatever that meant, and i predict that the french health authorities, the swedish, the polish, the polish, the swedish, the polish, the polish, the italians and others, which had restricted the vaccine to younger groups, will in due course look at this data and say, yeah, we are going to use that vaccine in older people. the vaccines are not 100% effective. and there is poorer uptake in deprived areas and among black, asian and ethnic minority groups who are at higher risk anyway, so the take—home message, if you are offered a jab, get it, if you are offered a jab, get it, if you haven't had it already, and have your second dose because it will

boost immunity further. like mike fergus, thank you very much. —— fergus, thank you very much. —— fergus, thank you very much. —— fergus, thank you very much. you can watch full coverage of the prime minister's announcement on bbc news. at 3.30, the prime minister will set out his strategy to mp5, and you can watch that live on the bbc news channel. and then at seven o'clock this evening, mrjohn5on will lead a briefing from downing street, which will be on bbc one. the time is almost 20 past one. our top story this lunchtime: bori5johnson is preparing to announce how and when england's lockdown will begin to be lifted. the government's confirmed that all schools in england can reopen from the 8th of march. from that date, two people will also be allowed to meet to 5ocialise in a public, outdoor space. coming up on bbc news: bowlerjames anderson speaks of his frustration over england's rotation policy, as 5elector5 balance the demands facing players in a packed year of test cricket. scotland's youngest pupils have returned to the classroom for the first time since

the christmas break. it marks the start of a phased reopening of schools that will also see the return of some senior school students. clinical data will be closely monitored to assess the impact on virus transmission. the education secretaryjohn swinney said he was confident today's return would be safe, but scotland would not follow england in letting everyone back at once. alexandra mackenzie reports. it's time to get up for school, darling. yay! an early start for those heading back to school this morning. morning. welcome back. how are you? there was an abundance of enthusiasm at the school gates as children aged between four and eight are learning in the classroom for the first time since before christmas. it's perfect timing for becky, who is third baby is due tomorrow. —— whose third baby is due tomorrow. nothing replicates the classroom. they need to be back in, they need interaction with their friends,

and they need the hands—on learning. i'm so excited, i'm so happy to meet all my friends. i i've missed it 100% and i've missed. my friends 2000%, and i've missed... ..10%. how has home—schooling been? horrible! staff 5aid they're le55 anxious this time around because all the precautionary measures are already in place, and they're fully prepared for classroom learning. i think it's a good idea to have a phased return and let the primary i—35 come in. we know they're the children who are at least risk. however, i think the feeling in our school is the sooner the better for the children 4—75 returning. the priority is to get all children back into the classroom, but this is a cautious and phased approach. the scottish government wants to see what impact it has on the number of coronavirus cases before allowing more pupils to return.

some senior secondary school pupils are also back today, but only for practical le55on5. like this drama class at holyrood secondary school in glasgow. it feels great to be back, - just because you kind of miss the teachers and everything, i when you're stuck in the house. this is an encouraging step forward, but with a strong note of caution. the first minister said it's not a signal that things are getting back to normal quite yet. alexandra mackenzie, bbc news, glasgow. in northern ireland, mini5ter5 have played down the prospect of relaxing restrictions before easter, although there are plans for the youngest pupils to return to school on the 8th of march. in wales, children aged three to seven are starting a phased return to classes for the first time since december. here's tomo5 morgan. a history and nature lesson in dino5aur5 this morning, as today mark5 another historical date during the pandemic in wales, with the youngest returning to the classroom again.

children aged seven and under are back in what will be a phased return of ages this time around. so that means six—year—old zac is back, but eight—year—old elli5 stays at home for now — at least until the 15th of march. i like learning, i like playing with my friends at school. i'd say i'm glad that i'm not going back. i kind of like it at home. it's been a really difficult couple of months trying i to teach an eight—year—old i and a six—year—old at home. too many distractions at home. it's not the best - learning environment. but the school's been really good, putting some online classes- and some virtual classes on, l so that's been really beneficial in their education, - but we are a bit concerned at them being set back- from where they should be. thi5 phased return of the youngest children coming back to the classroom first is being done so the welsh government can monitor what impact more pupils returning to the classroom at any one time has on coronavirus rates. however, the current plan does mean that it's looking unlikely that all high school children will be

back in the classroom before the easter holidays. i think every teacher, if you ask them, would want all the children back as soon as possible, and i think, you know, anyone who works in this profession would feel the same, but i think it's about safety and about making sure that we take the right steps at the right time. the other main difference in welsh school5 compared to september is that facemask5 will now be mandatory for anyone over 11 in schools when social distancing isn't possible. the rest of primary age children will return along with exam grade years in high school by the middle of next month, as long as vaccine numbers continue to rise consistently and virus down spike. —— virus rate5 don't spike. although home—schooling has provided some educational stability at home, according to the teachers and parents here this morning nothing can truly replace the classroom environment. tomo5 morgan, bbc news, llandow. prince william has said the duke of edinburgh is "ok" after his grandfather spent a sixth night in hospital. william was asked about philip's

health during a visit to a covid—i9 vaccination centre in norfolk. "they're keeping an eye on him," the prince said. in myanmar, hundreds of thousands of people have filled the streets, as they hold a general strike in protest at the military coup. the army has warned protester5 they're ri5king their lives. the foreign secretary, dominic raab, has used a speech to the un's human rights council to call for the release of the elected leader, aung san suu kyi. jonathan head reports. there is no party or institution behind this movement, no central leadership either. just hundreds of thousands of people organised through communities and professions into a remarkably coordinated show of opposition. the military government is trying to present these protests as the work of a few agitators, hoodwinking young people intojoining. today's general strike set out to prove that wrong.

the crowds were big in yangon and in the capital, naypyidaw, where they faced a formidable wall of police, moving down the capital's famously oversized highways. three weeks after the coup, public anger is still burning bright in myanmar. the calls for the generals who seized power to change course growing louder. the uk is sanctioning individuals for serious human rights violations that took place during the coup. the military must step aside, civilian leaders must be released, and the democratic wishes of the people of myanmar must be respected. the military government has little popular support. its authority being challenged every day on the streets. at some point, it'll have to decide whether to step back and release aung san suu kyi, or to increase the use of force to try and crush this movement. jonathan head, bbc news, bangkok.

the first banker to be jailed for rigging interest rates, has told the bbc he believes fresh evidence that's emerged since his trial will show his conviction was unsafe. the evidence raises questions over legal rulings in tom hayes' trial, which have also been used to prosecute more than 20 other traders, some of the only bankers to be prosecuted since the financial crash. his case is now being examined by the criminal cases review commission, the body set up to review allegations of miscarriages ofjustice. in his first ever tv interview, he spoke to our economics correspondent andy verity. tom hayes went from being a star trader at ubs to being the first defendant to be found guilty of manipulating libor, the benchmark interest rate that tracks what banks are paying to borrow cash. why can't you accept the jury's verdict? i don't blame the jury for it, but they were presented with a false narrative and they reached

a conclusion based on those facts. but i believe, had they seen the full evidence, full disclosure, they would have reached a very different conclusion. you know, at the time it was expedient that, for political reasons, a banker went to prison. and i was that banker and i was given an egregious sentence, and my life destroyed. to get libor, 16 banks would answer a question each day — at what interest rate could they borrow money from other banks? they'd submit their answers and an average would be taken, libor. the evidence against tom hayes was messages asking for those rates to be put in high or low in the hope it might help his bank make money on trades that went up or down with libor. but a key prosecution witness, john ewan, told the court any attempt to move libor to help a bank's trades was wrong. the former libor manager at the british bankers association said at no point did he even expect that was taking place. if he had, steps would have been taken to stop it. tom hayes said a transcript that's emerged since the trial of a meeting of the body that supervises libor casts doubt on that evidence. i was going through piles

of paperwork in my cell, and i couldn't quite believe what i was reading. a man named john ewan said in that conversation, "i don't know if this is a result of any derivatives trading going on, but the rates are representative, so from that point of view, i'm fine." it's absolutely in complete contrast to the ruling is made rulings made by the court and the evidence given at my trial. we asked john ewan to comment, but received no response. the criminal cases review commission will soon decide whether to refer tom hayes' case back to the appeal court. andy verity, bbc news. it's fair to say billy monger likes a challenge. the 21—year—old racing driver lost both his legs after a horrific crash in 2017.

he was back racing within a year, after appealing to motorsport�*s international governing body, the fia, to change its regulations restricting disabled drivers. today he starts a four day ilio—mile walk, cycle and kayak in aid of comic relief. tim muffett reports. it still feels so surreal that it's happening. i've never done anything like this before. it's completely different to motorsport, my background in racing. and what an extraordinary background it is. billy lost both of his legs in a motor racing accident in 2017. we met him nine months later as he got back behind the wheel for the first time. you have your prosthetics here and you are still able to control the car and the pedals. many people will find that really extraordinary. when you control the pedal normally, you do it all through your ankle, that's how you control how much input you're putting into the pedals. but with me, because i haven't got ankles, the way i simply control it is just through my leg like this. this will be another enormous challenge. a 1a0—mile triathlon across england in four days. walking, cycling and kayaking.

it is also such a wonderful cause and i know you will be