this is bbc news. the headlines... the duke of edinburgh will stay in hospitalfor a number of days, after having what's been described as a successful procedure for a pre—existing heart condition. it comes as the duchess of sussex tells american television the royal family has been "perpetuating falsehoods" about her and prince harry. i don't know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still be just silent if there is an active role that the firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. more tax rises may be needed, says the insititue for fiscal studies — as it warns the chancellor's spending plans don't look deliverable.

the number of coronavirus infections in england continues to fall, say researchers — but the rate of decrease may have slowed. heated exchanges at holyrood, with opposition msps continuing to press nicola sturgeon about the handling of harassment complaints against alex salmond. there is no argument if nicola sturgeon broke the ministerial code. the argument is only about how badly she broke it. she hasjust prejudged the outcome of the independent inquiry into the ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political games for the conservatives. and, leave your money at home — amazon opens its first supermarket in the uk, and it doesn't have any tills.

the duke of edinburgh has undergone a procedure for a pre—existing heart condition. buckingham palace says the procedure was successful, and was carried out yesterday. the duke, who is 99, is expected to stay in hospital for a number of days. the news comes as the royal family is being accused by the duchess of sussex of perpuating falsehoods about her and and her husband. the dramatic comments are in a newly released excerpt from meghan and prince harry's interview with oprah winfrey for american television. here's our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. it was unmounted this week that the jerk was transferred from the king april to seventh hospital where he spent 13 nights to saint bartholomew is, one

of britain's premier centres for cardiac care. he will have been assessed on tuesday and then a surgical procedure yesterday. according to buckingham palace... it's thought the pre—existing heart condition may refer to the episode ten years ago, when he was admitted by helicopter to pa pworth hospital. he had suffered a blocked coronary artery. a stent was inserted. the queen and other members of the family visited him in hospital, a sign that this had been a moment of real anxiety. this time, the queen is remaining at windsor, where, with her officials, she will doubtless be pondering the latest twists and turns in the sussex saga. last night, the us broadcaster cbs issued another clip from the duchess of sussex�*s upcoming interview with oprah winfrey. it is not comfortable

viewing for the palace. how do you feel about the palace hearing you speak your truth today? i don't know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still be just silent if there is an active role that the firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. and if that comes with risk of losing things, i mean, there's a lot that has been lost already. as the duchess accuses the palace of perpetuating unspecified falsehoods against her, the palace is preparing to investigate claims from former members of her staff that she bullied them, allegations which the duchess's spokesman has denied. normally, of course, the queen would have her husband at her side to support her at moments such as this. but not just now. but from the palace today on social media, on this world book day, a reminder of less turbulent times. the queen and the duke together

at balmoral in 1976. let's talk about the duke. the procedure, we understand? yes. let's talk about the duke. the procedure, we understand? yes, if it is something — procedure, we understand? yes, if it is something to _ procedure, we understand? yes, if it is something to do _ procedure, we understand? yes, if it is something to do with _ procedure, we understand? yes, if it is something to do with the - is something to do with the insertion of the stent in 2011, this would be something called angioplasty. this is not major heart surgery, it would be carried out under local anaesthetic, which clearly is important in the case of someone who is nearly 100. it could be narrowing the artery around the old stent, or narrowing another artery acquiring another stent. we do not know and i don't think the palace will tell us. we do know that his recuperation is expected to take a number of further days. i’m his recuperation is expected to take a number of further days.— a number of further days. i'm very difficult timing. _ a number of further days. i'm very difficult timing. a _ a number of further days. i'm very difficult timing. a matter - a number of further days. i'm very difficult timing. a matter of - a number of further days. i'm very difficult timing. a matter of days | difficult timing. a matter of days away from the football because of the interview and the us. yes. away from the football because of the interview and the us. yes, not ureat for the interview and the us. yes, not

great for somebody _ the interview and the us. yes, not great for somebody with _ the interview and the us. yes, not great for somebody with a - the interview and the us. yes, not great for somebody with a heart i great for somebody with a heart condition. it is fair to say the palace must be feeling baffled and frankly bemused by all of this. what are the falsehoods that meghan alleges the firm has been perpetuating? now, hopefully oprah winfrey has pushed back and challenged her in the interview to say, what are you talking about? what is the chapter and verse of these false ogc are being put about? and only then, as she does spell it out will be be in a position to judge the credibility and substance of what she is alleging. a leading economic research group says the chancellor's spending plans, outlined in yesterday's budget, do not look deliverable. the institute for fiscal studies is warning further tax rises may be needed. our economics correspondent, andy verity, told us more. this is a traditional assessment we get after every fiscal event, and i have followed a lot of these over

the years, and i have rarely seen an assessment is critical of a button assessment is critical of a button as this one. they welcome the spending that is going to support the economy, some £65 billion additional spending that rishi sunak is doing. he said it is generous, progressive, and helping the country through the emergency. the rfs agrees and welcomes that, it is just the rest of their assessment that will not be pleasant listening for the chancellor. for example, they are saying that the credibility of the plan is to get back into surplus after that big initial spend to get us out of this hole, well, there is not much credibility to them, is what the ifs are saying. for example, there is a £70 billion cut to public spending relative to the plans that rishi sunak had before the pandemic. pauljohnson, the ifs director as how likely he thinks it is that rishi sunak will be able to pull that off, and he had this

assessment.— pull that off, and he had this assessment. . ., ., , �* assessment. frankly, that doesn't strike me as _ assessment. frankly, that doesn't strike me as being _ assessment. frankly, that doesn't strike me as being terribly - strike me as being terribly plausible. the id that we will need to be _ plausible. the id that we will need to be spending less on education and health_ to be spending less on education and health and _ to be spending less on education and health and social care and local government and all these things aher— government and all these things after the — government and all these things after the pandemic that we thought we would _ after the pandemic that we thought we would beforehand just doesn't look on _ we would beforehand just doesn't look on the loose but likely, given that we _ look on the loose but likely, given that we knowjust for the minimum things— that we knowjust for the minimum things like — that we knowjust for the minimum things like vaccination and test and trace _ things like vaccination and test and trace and _ things like vaccination and test and trace and ppe and so on let alone catching _ trace and ppe and so on let alone catching up — trace and ppe and so on let alone catching up with the huge backlog of operations and the need to catch up children— operations and the need to catch up children who have lost so much school — children who have lost so much school and _ children who have lost so much school and need to help local authorities and so on. these numbers don't _ authorities and so on. these numbers don't look— authorities and so on. these numbers don't look like they are going to hold~ _ don't look like they are going to hold. ,, . , don't look like they are going to hold. ,, .,, ., ,., don't look like they are going to hold. ,, ., , ., , hold. the ifs has also repeatedly focused on _ hold. the ifs has also repeatedly focused on what _ hold. the ifs has also repeatedly focused on what it _ hold. the ifs has also repeatedly focused on what it regards - hold. the ifs has also repeatedly focused on what it regards as - hold. the ifs has also repeatedly focused on what it regards as a i focused on what it regards as a double standard. on the one hand, the chancellor is withdrawing the temporary boost to universal credit, the 6 million of the country produced families. he has done it for 18 months now, but the ifs is pointing out that that it has been

withdrawn in october, cutting benefits for the pair as farmers, while on the other hand that you cannot raise taxes on corporations for another three years. onjoining for another three years. on joining the for another three years. onjoining the criticism that some other ngos have made on the effect that that is going to have on this particular families, and rishi sunak told us this morning he acted generously by expanding it to that level rather than phasing it out. he has pointed to other measures he is taking, like kick—start, like help with paying rent. but they ifs a single is no policy is here to deal with the inequality that are forcing over the pandemic between the young and old, between the rich and poor, and also between the rich and poor, and also between the rich and poor, and also between the better and less well educated. well, there's also been further political fallout from the chancellor's statement. our political correspondent chris mason has been at westminster.... fascinating day—two analysis going on as we pore through the detail of the budget yesterday. and in particular, questions around this phrase "levelling up". you will have heard it used a lot,

sprinkled around like political seasoning on the rhetoric of particularly conservative politicians. a rather amorphous concept. what on earth does it mean? well, there is a row this lunchtime, about money allocated in the budget yesterday to a series of towns, a good number of which are now conservative—held, with labour saying this is "pork barrel politics". that is a reference to a 19th american term of shovelling money in the direction of people you hope will continue voting for you. the government makes the argument that if you have a sizeable majority, then lots of areas that you do help with funding are likely to be areas that are held by the current government. danjarvis, the mayor of south yorkshire, labour mp and barnsley, also asking why the chancellor's seat in relatively affluent richmondshire in north yorkshire is allocated as a priority one region for levelling—up spending, where as barnsley and sheffield and south yorkshire

are only in priority two. so this is a real focus today as the analysis of this budget in the detail really gets going. there was good news for home—buyers in the budget, with an extension of the stamp duty holiday in england and northern ireland, and a commitment to support people who can raise only a small deposit through a 95% mortgage guarantee scheme. i'm joined now by grainne gilmore, head of research at property website zoopla. good afternoon. is it helpful that 95% scheme? and if so, who is it helping? it 9596 scheme? and if so, who is it helinu ? , , ., helping? it will definitely be of hel , helping? it will definitely be of help. because _ helping? it will definitely be of help, because we _ helping? it will definitely be of help, because we know- helping? it will definitely be of help, because we know that i helping? it will definitely be of help, because we know that in | helping? it will definitely be of. help, because we know that in the housing market it as a deposit gap. people who might be able to afford a mortgage on a monthly repayment

basis but don't have the deposit put together to access the finance they need. so, this won't make more loans available to those with smaller deposits, but then the question comes as to who it helps. it depends where you are living in the country, and it depends on the capital value of housing, because you will still be probably paying a slightly higher rate for the 95% mortgage than you would with a 25 deposit, and then the bank was stressed out your affordability, your ability to affordability, your ability to afford a mortgage payment every month. the likelihood is people in the midlands, the north, parts of wales and scotland will really benefit. there may be fewer people who will benefit in the south and south—east. who will benefit in the south and south-east— south-east. because even if i ercent south-east. because even if i percent deposit _ south-east. because even if i percent deposit required - south-east. because even if i percent deposit required in i south-east. because even if i - percent deposit required in some parts of the country is still a vast sum of money for a small property. but in that sense, is it part of the government's levelling up agenda, the fact that the benefit comes to certain parts of the country? it certainly aligns, when we look at the data and the difference between

moving from rented accommodation into a 95% mortgage, the map really reflects the levelling up agenda, because it really is more of a benefit perhaps to those in the midlands and the north. people in the south and south it will still be able to benefit where they can find houses for the maths adds up, but the housing stock, there is a lot more in the north and midlands where you can benefit. bud more in the north and midlands where you can benefit-— you can benefit. and the stamp duty holida . so you can benefit. and the stamp duty holiday. so much _ you can benefit. and the stamp duty holiday. so much has _ you can benefit. and the stamp duty holiday. so much has been - you can benefit. and the stamp duty holiday. so much has been said - you can benefit. and the stamp duty holiday. so much has been said and| holiday. so much has been said and written about that. i mean, anyone in the middle of a transaction welcomes us, because it was getting to a nail—biting point. but i'll be and are searching for only the history books will tell us whether that policy has been really beneficial? because it really created movement in the property market that wouldn't have happened otherwise? you market that wouldn't have happened otherwise? ., ., ., ., ~' otherwise? you have got to think that if the proceedings _ otherwise? you have got to think that if the proceedings on - otherwise? you have got to think that if the proceedings on the - that if the proceedings on the table, people would want to take advantage, but to do something we have been seen we can see clearly in the data ever since the data ever since i first lockdown, we saw a grand spot on the market, and there

is reassessment of home after spending so long with four wars during a lock turn, owners are taking the opportunity to reassess how and where they are living, so we can see a lot of activity in the market. and if even last month, there was no expectation of such savings and people were making sales, and activity were strong. it is a great piece of news for those who thought they were going to miss it because a completion process just got so long. and also those who are making probable sales. they will get some benefit if they can complete before the end september. more broadl , before the end september. more broadly. we _ before the end september. more broadly, we still _ before the end september. more broadly, we still lack _ before the end september. more broadly, we still lack housing generally in this country. whichever part of the uk you're talking about. do you have any sympathy with those who say, actually, which is still be talking about home—building? there are still fundamentally a shortage of supply. are still fundamentally a shortage of su -l . ., , , are still fundamentally a shortage ofsu--l. , ., are still fundamentally a shortage ofsu-nl. , ., , ., ., of supply. there has been a slowdown also in the delivery _ of supply. there has been a slowdown also in the delivery of _ of supply. there has been a slowdown also in the delivery of new— of supply. there has been a slowdown also in the delivery of new homes, - also in the delivery of new homes, just because of the pandemic, and

the housing industry is one of the first to open up, but because of the distance in requirements, thanks have to slow down. so, the delivery of homes has picked up a lot over the last five years. it may have slowed down during the pandemic, but it is really not meeting the demand, and i think the government is very aware that as a continuing problem. but at the same time, opening up access to lending which allows more people to be in the housing people to be active in the housing market will give confidence then to deliver more housing in the future. interesting to talk to you. thank you very much. the headlines on bbc news... the duke of edinburgh has undergone a successful procedure for a pre—existing heart condition and will remain in hospital for a number of days. the duchess of sussex has accused the royal family of "perpetuating falsehoods" about her and prince harry.

the chancellor defends his plans to raise overall taxation to the highest level since the 1960s — as he faces criticism for doing too little to tackle inequality. scientists tracking the spread of coronavirus say infections in england have continued to fall — though the rate of decrease may have slowed. the findings from imperial college london are based on swab samples last month. and as the government announces extra funding to try to tackle obesity in england, a new report shows that 90% of covid deaths worldwide have happened in countries where more than half the population is overweight — that includes the uk. here's our health correspondent catherine burns. the health secretary today checking in on the latest in the race between us and coronavirus.

last year it was all about scientists creating vaccines, now the race continues, tweaking those vaccines to make sure they keep pace with the virus as it mutates. this is all about making sure that if we need an updated vaccine to work against these new variants, we can get it approved and into people's arms as soon as is safely possible. the vaccines we have got now were designed to fight the original version of coronavirus. they still work against new variants but maybe not quite as well. scientists are already working to update them, and now the regulator, the mhra, says when they are ready they can be fast tracked through the approval system. the government has also announced more money to deal with obesity, £100 million to encourage people to get to and stay at a healthy weight. this comes as a report from the world obesity forum says 90% of covid deaths around the world have happened in countries

with high obesity levels. the reverse is true too, countries like vietnam with low numbers of overweight people have not been as badly affected. vietnam has one of the lowest rates in the world, 0.04 per 100,000 people have died of covid and 18% of its population is overweight. in comparison, the uk has one of the worst death tolls with 182 people dying out of every 100,000. 64% of people here are overweight. we are still struggling to understand exactly the mechanisms but it is something we have seen with h1n1 and people tend to die more with influenza as well so it's not exactly news to ours. the problem is we haven't done anything about obesity until now. on monday schoolchildren across england will head back to classrooms, the first step in lifting this lockdown. today though, researchers are warning the fall in infections in england could be slowing down.

we are seeing pockets where there seems to be the suggestion of increasing rates, so we have a mixed picture of quite large falls and then the possibility that things are rising in certain areas. those areas include london, the south—east and the midlands. it is based on just a few days' data, but worth keeping an eye on, especially as it looks like this is happening before we come out of lockdown. catherine burns, bbc news. there have been heated exchanges at holyrood, with opposition msps continuing to press nicola sturgeon at first minister's questions, about the scottish government's handling of harassment complaints against her predecessor, alex salmond. our political correspondent nick eardley is at holyrood. in that mammoth assertion that nicola sturgeon had in parliament

yesterday, herteam nicola sturgeon had in parliament yesterday, her team seem to be pretty happy. they don't think there was a knockout blow, a moment that could have been extremely damaging for the first minister. that said, i don't think questions are going to stop being asked. in particular, of a father she has potentially broken the rules that ministers have to follow, the ministerial code. and within the last half hour here at holyrood, there have been some really heated exchanges about the government's legal advice in a civil action that was brought by are examined, and further nicola sturgeon should have paused or scrapped the government's is a lot earlier. have a listen to this exchange with ruth davidson. bud exchange with ruth davidson. and what we have _ exchange with ruth davidson. and what we have already seen shows that there is _ what we have already seen shows that there is no _ what we have already seen shows that there is no argument that there government ignored legal advice— they did~ — government ignored legal advice— they did. the argument if it as if it was— they did. the argument if it as if it was for— they did. the argument if it as if it was for three weeks for treatment. there is no argument of the first _ treatment. there is no argument of the first minister was at fault, the

argument — the first minister was at fault, the argument is only about how much she is to blame _ argument is only about how much she is to blame. and there is no argument _ is to blame. and there is no argument if nicola sturgeon broke the ministerial code. the argument is only— the ministerial code. the argument is only about how badly she broke it. is only about how badly she broke it believe — is only about how badly she broke it. believe that the sanction is to lo. it. believe that the sanction is to go why— it. believe that the sanction is to go. why doesn't she? i it. believe that the sanction is to go. why doesn't she?— it. believe that the sanction is to go. why doesn't she? i think ruth davidson has _ go. why doesn't she? i think ruth davidson hasjust _ go. why doesn't she? i think ruth davidson hasjust shown - go. why doesn't she? i think ruth davidson hasjust shown her- go. why doesn't she? i think ruth davidson hasjust shown her true l davidson hasjust shown her true colours _ davidson hasjust shown her true colours and — davidson hasjust shown her true colours and the _ davidson hasjust shown her true colours and the conservative - davidson hasjust shown her true| colours and the conservative true colours _ colours and the conservative true colours all — colours and the conservative true colours all over _ colours and the conservative true colours all over again. _ colours and the conservative true colours all over again. because . colours and the conservative true | colours all over again. because of course _ colours all over again. because of course she — colours all over again. because of course she stands— colours all over again. because of course she stands up— colours all over again. because of course she stands up you - colours all over again. because of course she stands up you and - course she stands up you and scrutiny— course she stands up you and scrutiny and _ course she stands up you and scrutiny and democracy- course she stands up you and scrutiny and democracy and l course she stands up you and . scrutiny and democracy and due process— scrutiny and democracy and due process is— scrutiny and democracy and due process is really— scrutiny and democracy and due process is really important, - scrutiny and democracy and due process is really important, but| process is really important, but 'ust process is really important, but just as — process is really important, but just as on — process is really important, but just as on tuesday— process is really important, but just as on tuesday night, - process is really important, but just as on tuesday night, the l just as on tuesday night, the conservative _ just as on tuesday night, the conservative preacher- just as on tuesday night, the conservative preacher is - just as on tuesday night, the conservative preacher is myl just as on tuesday night, the - conservative preacher is my evidence to the _ conservative preacher is my evidence to the parliamentary— conservative preacher is my evidence to the parliamentary enquiry, - conservative preacher is my evidence to the parliamentary enquiry, she - to the parliamentary enquiry, she hasjust— to the parliamentary enquiry, she hasjust orejudged _ to the parliamentary enquiry, she has just prejudged the _ to the parliamentary enquiry, she hasjust prejudged the outcome . to the parliamentary enquiry, she | hasjust prejudged the outcome of the independent _ hasjust prejudged the outcome of the independent enquiry- hasjust prejudged the outcome of the independent enquiry into- hasjust prejudged the outcome of the independent enquiry into the i the independent enquiry into the ministerial— the independent enquiry into the ministerial code. _ the independent enquiry into the ministerial code. this— the independent enquiry into the ministerial code. this is- the independent enquiry into the ministerial code. this isjust - the independent enquiry into the i ministerial code. this isjust about desperate — ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political— ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political games - ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political games for- ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political games for the i desperate political games for the conservatives. _ desperate political games for the conservatives. that— desperate political games for the conservatives.— conservatives. that was first minister's — conservatives. that was first minister's questions. - conservatives. that was first minister's questions. there l conservatives. that was first - minister's questions. there could be a lot more to come on this. today we are expecting to see more legal documents published this afternoon. they will continue to be questions over other parts of nicola

sturgeon's evidence. there are two things to watch out for, and ponders when that committee reports on what it has been heating over the last few weeks. that is likely and to be in about two or three weeks' time. there is another report coming out in the ministerial code that could be crucial. it will be published in full on the day that it is received ljy full on the day that it is received by the government. so nicola sturgeon yesterday really steadied the ship after the crisis we have seen engulfing the scottish government over the last few days. that doesn't mean it is all plain sailing from now on. the liberal democrat msp for edinburgh western is alex cole—hamilton. he's among those who questioned the first minister yesterday. hejoins me now. that was a marathon session yesterday. do you feel all the questions that you wanted to ask

where put over those many others? i think so. with the exception of some around legal advice, because it is fair to say probably government did publish some key elements of the legal advice and a judicial review just hours before nicola sturgeon appeared before our committee, they didn't give us everything. so it is not clear what we have are some of the right questions, because there are some unknowns on that. so there could be a lot — are some unknowns on that. so there could be a lot more _ are some unknowns on that. so there could be a lot more to _ are some unknowns on that. so there could be a lot more to come? - are some unknowns on that. so there could be a lot more to come? is - are some unknowns on that. so there could be a lot more to come? is that| could be a lot more to come? is that what you're — could be a lot more to come? is that what you're saying? _ could be a lot more to come? is that what you're saying? i _ could be a lot more to come? is that what you're saying? i wouldn't - could be a lot more to come? is that what you're saying? i wouldn't see i could be a lot more to come? is that what you're saying? i wouldn't see a| what you're saying? i wouldn't see a lot more. let's remember that the scottish government gave us a legal advice really through gritted teeth, and that the expense of threat of a no—confidence vote in the deputy first minister. it had twice defied the express will of parliament by not giving us the legal advice, and that as a committee member released i made every effort that we have attempted to get to the truth of in the decision—making process on the legal adviser from the start. one of the things that really struck me from what we learnt on tuesday night

when that advice was revealed was that on the 31st of october 2018, they legal advice a change from it being, yes, we think you will win to know, we think you will lose. but what was critical in those paragraphs was a recommendation that if the government for the the case then they could have reset the process and allowed the women at the heart of this to have their complaints properly adjudicated through a new procedure. that decision wasn't taken. i asked the first minister, and the women were not consulted, and as a result everything exploded injanuary the following year when the case collapsed, and those women have been fundamentally let down. bud collapsed, and those women have been fundamentally let down.— fundamentally let down. and you are talkin: fundamentally let down. and you are talking about — fundamentally let down. and you are talking about the _ fundamentally let down. and you are talking about the fact _ fundamentally let down. and you are talking about the fact that _ fundamentally let down. and you are talking about the fact that it - fundamentally let down. and you are talking about the fact that it was - talking about the fact that it was hard to get all the documents that you wanted. as such, as far as your concern, is that nicola sturgeon's responsibility? it concern, is that nicola sturgeon's responsibility?— responsibility? it certainly is. the government _ responsibility? it certainly is. the government decides _ responsibility? it certainly is. the government decides what - responsibility? it certainly is. the government decides what they i responsibility? it certainly is. the i government decides what they wave legal privilege. your viewers will remember many battles in the house

of commons over the years to see legal advice over things like the war in iraq, and ultimately parliament generally always prevails. we have never had a tussle like that in the scottish parliament before, but we did this time, and we had two votes in the parliament and the threat of no confidence in the deputy first minister. but i think we set an important precedent, times of national interest, it is very important to share legal advice, especially when it might lead us to the truth as to why women at the heart of those who came forward with complaints about alex salmond were so badly helped. complaints about alex salmond were so badly helped-— so badly helped. nicola sturgeon could still be _ so badly helped. nicola sturgeon could still be forced _ so badly helped. nicola sturgeon could still be forced out? - so badly helped. nicola sturgeon could still be forced out? we - so badly helped. nicola sturgeon l could still be forced out? we have not to could still be forced out? we have got to enquiries _ could still be forced out? we have got to enquiries that _ could still be forced out? we have got to enquiries that need - could still be forced out? we have got to enquiries that need to - got to enquiries that need to conclude. i don't think that it is political parties to prejudge that. i think it is important that you process happens, but it is absolutely unambiguous. if she has misled parliament, which we have had there are two accounts were she very likely did very possibly dead. we

saw some evidence of that, and i'm not sure she fully dispelled those concerns and committee yesterday. if she had misled parliament, which the independent adviser, james hamilton, will ascertain, then the rules of the ministerial code couldn't be clearer. she will have to tender his resignation as first minister. briefly, you have mentioned the women at the heart of this. i wonder whether you feel that that, they are, their situation, whether you feel that that, they are, theirsituation, has whether you feel that that, they are, their situation, has been forgotten about, and what that means in the broader context? because the story has become toxic politics and more besides, and we forget that there is a much more human and difficult situation at the heart of this. ., ., ., ., , this. the women at the heart of this must have hated _ this. the women at the heart of this must have hated every _ this. the women at the heart of this must have hated every minute - this. the women at the heart of this must have hated every minute of i this. the women at the heart of this| must have hated every minute of our enquiry. this enquiry has probably gone on a year longer than it needed to, but that is down to government obstruction. i promise you this, i

think i speak for every member of the enquiry when i say that as an day that goes by when we don't think about those women and what they have been through. when i think will keep me going is the fact that right now we have a flawed procedure for handling complaints, but you still live, and has no attendant guidance, so there hasn't been another complaint race in the scottish government for the last three years. why? because they don't believe anybody genuinely will be given fair hearing or protected. this is because of such a mess, and set the movement back. if you remember that important force of activity, giving complainers the space to come forward. that has been set back years and decades in scotland. we really need to reset the process of the people in the future can come forward. �* ., ., , forward. and we have to remember there was a — forward. and we have to remember there was a not _ forward. and we have to remember there was a not guilty _ forward. and we have to remember there was a not guilty verdict, - forward. and we have to remember there was a not guilty verdict, but l there was a not guilty verdict, but i am talking about the broader context and the atmosphere but you

have described. thank you very much forjoining us. ireland's foreign minister simon coveney has said the eu is likely to see britain as a negotiating partner it can't trust. it comes after the government moved unilaterally to change post—brexit arrangements for northern ireland. the decision relates to checks on goods arriving from great britain. speaking on a visit to middlesbrough, borisjohnson said the problems were technical, and would be solved. we are taking some temporary and technical measures to ensure that there are no barriers in the rdc, or to make sure that things floats freely from gb to earn an iron, and thatis freely from gb to earn an iron, and that is what we expect. but obviously, these are matters for continuing intensive discussions with her friends, continuing intensive discussions with herfriends, and we continuing intensive discussions with her friends, and we will continue to do that. i am sure that

with goodwill and common sense, all these technical problems are eminently solvable. finally this lunchtime, news of a dramatic feline rescue. four ginger cats, abandoned on a burning ship in the andaman sea, have been taken to safety by the thai navy. the ship's human crew had already been evacuated from the ship, but they'd forgotten the cats. they are now being cared for by their rescuers. in yourarea of in your area of high pressure is building on the north of the country thatis building on the north of the country that is going to end things on a fine and settled not for this week. and indeed into the weekend. we will hold onto high pressure, but it is going to be chilly for all areas. pushing down from the north, a very

weak to cold fun spreading southwards across the country today. it will introduce patchy, light rain behind it, and the colder air will move southward. that band of thick cloud with some patchy rain will eventually push away from the south—west of the country tonight, and in many places will be dry with some clear spells and variable cloud. this is where we have the clearer skies across northern and western areas, that is what it will be cold this, but some frost here. friday, a chilly start, but we should see some sunshine around, something we haven't seen widespread in the country for quite awhile. and to the afternoon, it will be cloudier, and it is going to be charity for all, around 5 degrees. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... the duke of edinburgh has undergone a successful procedure for a pre—existing heart condition

and will remain in hospital for a number of days. the duchess of sussex has accused the royal family of "perpetuating falsehoods" about her and prince harry. the chancellor defends his plans to raise overall taxation to the highest level since the 1960s, as he faces criticism for doing too little to tackle inequality. heated exchanges at holyrood, with opposition msps continuing to press nicola sturgeon at first minister's questions, about the handling of harassment complaints against alex salmond. we will be answering many of your questions in the next few minutes about the budget. sport now, and for a full round up, let's go to the bbc sport centre.

it's been another disappointing day for england's cricketers in india as the final test began in ahmedabad. england, needing victory in this match to square the series, won the toss but could only score 205. india were 26 for1 at the close in reply. joe wilson was watching the action. yes, it's the cricket again, and yes, it's this again. cue patel. exit dom sibley. now zac, attack. crawley mis—hit directly into those waiting hands and england were two down. remember whenjoe root used to score 200s? out for five, lbw. here's an exchange between muhammad surridge and ben stokes, soon india's captain virat kohli stepped in. "two blokes showing they care," is how stokes described it. certainly, no ground given in world cricket's biggest stadium. stokes provided england's meaningful innings. he got to 50 with the promise of more. that's coming, it's been given.

he was out for 55. england had picked an extra batsman, dan lawrence, and scoring was feasible. it wasn't easy. india saw to that. folks, seventh man out. lawrence was expanding and in all seriousness considered the umpire, it's a dangerous business. that was a well executed miss. this wasn't. oh, that's gone. lawrence stranded and stumped for 46. england soon all out for 205. if you bat badly you must bowl brilliantly, hold on. anderson struck, one wicket late thursday, may be more early on friday? yeah, that's a big maybe. joe wilson, bbc news. so a disappointing day for england let's get the thoughts now of top scorer ben stokes.

i have played 70 odd games now, this is the hardest... these are the hardest conditions that i have faced as a batsman. obviously, i have played all around the world. yeah, i do not think it is necessarily... it is a case of finding it your own way. it is not about coming to gather as a group, this is what we need to do better as a group. wales scrum—half kieran hardy has been ruled out of the rest of the six nations after damaging a hamstring in the triple crown win against england. hardy scored a try before limping off at the principality stadium in the second half of the 40—24 victory. wales have three wins from three so far and are next away at italy on the 13th march. liverpool managerjurgen klopp says he won't automatically release players for international duty if they have to quarantine on their return to the uk. liverpool's brazilian players alisson becker, fabinho and roberto firmino,

plus portugalforward diogojota could face 10 days in quarantine on their return to the united kingdom from covid—19 "red—list" countries. klopp said he had the backing of fifa. we cannot let the boys just go and then sort the situation when they come back. visit our players in a ten—day quarantine in a hoteljust not possible. i understand the need for these different fas but this is not a time we cannot make everybody happy, and we have to admit that the players are paid by the clubs so that means we have to be first priority. that's all the sport for now.

the chancellor, rishi sunak, has promised another £65 billion of economic support in his budget, which he says will help businesses and people through the pandemic. how will it affect your personal finance? to answer your questions, i'm joined byjasmine birtles, founder of the website moneymagpie and by iona bain, founder of young money blog. a warm welcome to both of you. not surprisingly we have a lot of questions about this after the budget. one here, i have been listening to the chancellor but i heard no mention of helping the nhs or pensioners. what is happening to the state pension? just when, i will come to you first. the state pension? just when, i will come to you first.— come to you first. absolutely. i didn't hear— come to you first. absolutely. i didn't hear any _ come to you first. absolutely. i didn't hear any mention - come to you first. absolutely. i didn't hear any mention of - come to you first. absolutely. i didn't hear any mention of that| didn't hear any mention of that either. the government will probably point out that the state pension is doing quite likely —— quite nicely. they had the triple lock, and last

year that was under question. people wondered whether the triple lock would stay and that has. the state pension just go up would stay and that has. the state pensionjust go up by would stay and that has. the state pension just go up by two and a half percent. when you think of inflation at the moment, that is not bad. i can't speak on behalf of the government, but that i suspect though is what they would say if they were asked directly.- though is what they would say if they were asked directly. iona, your thou~hts they were asked directly. iona, your thoughts on — they were asked directly. iona, your thoughts on that? _ they were asked directly. iona, your thoughts on that? the _ they were asked directly. iona, your thoughts on that? the triple - they were asked directly. iona, your thoughts on that? the triple lock. thoughts on that? the triple lock basically guarantees _ thoughts on that? the triple lock basically guarantees that - thoughts on that? the triple lock basically guarantees that the - thoughts on that? the triple lock. basically guarantees that the state pension— basically guarantees that the state pension will go up every year by at least _ pension will go up every year by at least 25% — pension will go up every year by at least 2.5%, so that means that it will be _ least 2.5%, so that means that it will be going up by that amount in this coming tax year. although it is worth— this coming tax year. although it is worth noting that it is a little bit lower— worth noting that it is a little bit lower than it was last year, because we saw— lower than it was last year, because we saw quite a big rise in wages in the last— we saw quite a big rise in wages in the last tax— we saw quite a big rise in wages in the last tax year which meant that the last tax year which meant that the state — the last tax year which meant that the state pension rose by 3.9%, which _ the state pension rose by 3.9%, which is — the state pension rose by 3.9%, which is more than 2.5%, but still not doing — which is more than 2.5%, but still not doing too badly at the moment. a

not doing too badly at the moment. question, jasmine, particularly for you i think. 80% government support, does that mean that their bank can refuse your application for a recovery loan? can you unpick that for us a little.— for us a little. bank certainly can refuse an _ for us a little. bank certainly can refuse an application _ for us a little. bank certainly can refuse an application and - for us a little. bank certainly can refuse an application and they i for us a little. bank certainly can l refuse an application and they do, because although it is 80% government funded, there is still 20%. so if they lend you £10,000, they don't want to lose that £2000. so really, unless it is alone directly from the government, there is no why a bank should just give you money because you want it. i have been told that actually they are expecting quite a high default rate with these loans. so i think we will see banks being a little more circumspect this year about lending. i have realised we are going back to

a question about pensions. this person says i am 53 and have a private pension. when can i cash in some of my money. has the chancellor mentioned anything about cashing in your money at a particular age? iona? ., ., . ., �* iona? no, the chancellor didn't say an hinu iona? no, the chancellor didn't say anything about _ iona? no, the chancellor didn't say anything about that _ iona? no, the chancellor didn't say anything about that yesterday. - iona? no, the chancellor didn't say anything about that yesterday. it i iona? no, the chancellor didn't say anything about that yesterday. it isj anything about that yesterday. it is correct _ anything about that yesterday. it is correct to _ anything about that yesterday. it is correct to say that the age for cashing — correct to say that the age for cashing in— correct to say that the age for cashing in your pension is 55 full. it cashing in your pension is 55 full. it may— cashing in your pension is 55 full. it may go— cashing in your pension is 55 full. it may go up to 57 in april 28 and the government is consulting on whether— the government is consulting on whether to do that. as things stand, that should — whether to do that. as things stand, that should not affect anybody who is nearing — that should not affect anybody who is nearing 55 in the next couple of years. _ is nearing 55 in the next couple of years. and — is nearing 55 in the next couple of years. and i— is nearing 55 in the next couple of years, and i would be very wary about _ years, and i would be very wary about offers to cash in your pension early _ about offers to cash in your pension early if_ about offers to cash in your pension early. if anybody approaches you about _ early. if anybody approaches you about that through cold calling all e-mails _ about that through cold calling all e—mails are anything like that, there _ e—mails are anything like that, there is— e—mails are anything like that, there is a — e—mails are anything like that, there is a very high chance it could be a scam — there is a very high chance it could be a scam. be careful about any offers _ be a scam. be careful about any offers to — be a scam. be careful about any offers to cash in your pension

early — offers to cash in your pension earl . . �* , , , early. that's very interesting. jasmine early. that's very interesting. jasmine you _ early. that's very interesting. jasmine you were _ early. that's very interesting. jasmine you were nodding - early. that's very interesting. jasmine you were nodding to | early. that's very interesting. - jasmine you were nodding to that. jasmine you were nodding to that. yes, they have been some really scandalous stories in recent times about people losing their whole pensions through fraudsters. i would recommend also to add to what iona says that if you have not already had a free session with pension rights, the government backed information centre for people who are coming towards retirement, that you do that. you get one free session. also, to be frank, at this stage of life, it really is worth paying the money to have some proper financial advice because at the age of 53, or even 55, you are looking at 30, 40, possibly even 50 years that you need to fund, so it is really important to get it right. it is worth paying for proper independent financial advice at this stage tojust make independent financial advice at this stage to just make sure that you have got all your ducks in a row.

you have got enough money and you know how to manage it for the next however many decades. yes. know how to manage it for the next however many decades.— know how to manage it for the next however many decades. yes, we 'ust don't however many decades. yes, we 'ust don-t generally fl however many decades. yes, we 'ust don't generally talk i however many decades. yes, we 'ust don't generally talk about i however many decades. yes, we just don't generally talk about pensions l don't generally talk about pensions enough, do we? iona, initiallyi don't generally talk about pensions enough, do we? iona, initially i am tempted to say you are far too young to talk to about pensions, but actually that's kind of the point, isn't it? we should be thinking about it. even if the sum you can saveis about it. even if the sum you can save is only tiny, we should be saving. save is only tiny, we should be savina. ., , ., , ., saving. the earlier you start savin: , saving. the earlier you start saving. the _ saving. the earlier you start saving, the more _ saving. the earlier you start saving, the more time - saving. the earlier you start saving, the more time your| saving. the earlier you start - saving, the more time your money is on the _ saving, the more time your money is on the stock— saving, the more time your money is on the stock market so there's more potential— on the stock market so there's more potential to — on the stock market so there's more potential to grow. there are no guarantees with investing, but if you can — guarantees with investing, but if you can start in your 20s and make a decent _ you can start in your 20s and make a decent contribution into your workplace pension, it may not seem like much _ workplace pension, it may not seem like much now but it does add up over— like much now but it does add up over time — like much now but it does add up over time-— over time. let's go to a question about the _ over time. let's go to a question about the chancellor _ over time. let's go to a question about the chancellor yesterday. | over time. let's go to a question - about the chancellor yesterday. this person says i have been working solidly throughout the pandemic and pay my taxes and a lot of my friends were furloughed and enjoying their

time and focusing on hobbies. there is more but i will paraphrase that. he says i sympathise with furloughed people but it seems a lot of them prefer to be paid to sit at home then go back to work. now the government is asking all of us to pay for it. why do we all have to pay for it. why do we all have to pay for it and not those who were actually furloughed. it is unfair. there is a question from the heart from dan. i there is a question from the heart from dan. ,, ., there is a question from the heart from dan. ~ ., ., ,., there is a question from the heart from dan. ~ ., ., i. from dan. i know how you feel, dan. there are a — from dan. i know how you feel, dan. there are a lot _ from dan. i know how you feel, dan. there are a lot of— from dan. i know how you feel, dan. there are a lot of people _ from dan. i know how you feel, dan. there are a lot of people feeling - there are a lot of people feeling like that. those who are working or who were not able to work, or for some reason fell through the cracks or couldn't even get universal credit. i have spoken to people who fell through all of the cracks. and as you say, there are some people who for a year now have been paid to stay at home, even though 80%, for a lot of people is absolutely fine. there is an enormous amount about this lockdown which has been extremely unfair and i'm afraid will

continue to be. maybe, who knows, maybe in the next few years, the chancellor will come up with ways to tax people who had more furloughed money than others. i don't know. there again, they make say that that is unfair. frankly, whatever he does, there will be a number of people who say that is not fair, and it is what we as a country are all going to have to deal with. the argument _ going to have to deal with. the argument in — going to have to deal with. the argument in favour of furlough is that if_ argument in favour of furlough is that if we — argument in favour of furlough is that if we did not have it businesses would go under and would be making _ businesses would go under and would be making employees redundant on a mass scale. _ be making employees redundant on a mass scale, causing unemployment to spike and _ mass scale, causing unemployment to spike and which would have a huge scarring _ spike and which would have a huge scarring effect on the economy. there _ scarring effect on the economy. there is — scarring effect on the economy. there is an _ scarring effect on the economy. there is an effect of the furlough scheme — there is an effect of the furlough scheme where it could just end up delaying _ scheme where it could just end up delaying the inevitable. it may have to make _ delaying the inevitable. it may have to make people redundant in the end, and perhaps— to make people redundant in the end, and perhaps it is better to let that happen, _ and perhaps it is better to let that happen, as — and perhaps it is better to let that happen, as brutal as it might be in this short — happen, as brutal as it might be in this short term —— in the short term, — this short term —— in the short

term, and _ this short term —— in the short term, and boost the economy and have those _ term, and boost the economy and have those people on universal credit while _ those people on universal credit while looking to the jobs. the economy— while looking to the jobs. the economy will not be able to operate as normal— economy will not be able to operate as normal after the pandemic has subsided, — as normal after the pandemic has subsided, so those of the arguments for and _ subsided, so those of the arguments for and against. it has never been tried _ for and against. it has never been tried in_ for and against. it has never been tried in this — for and against. it has never been tried in this country before, and it really— tried in this country before, and it really does — tried in this country before, and it really does their waiting and seeing if it can _ really does their waiting and seeing if it can cause less unemployment. is if it can cause less unemployment. is there _ if it can cause less unemployment. is there any— if it can cause less unemployment. is there any support in the budget for low income people who had to disable the long term sick who can't work and receive £40 in income support and have to pay £50 in social care contribution. do we not matter? if i could work i would. i know what you mean. i have had a few friends say exactly the same. in fact, one of my followers on twitter

said that because he looks after his mother and said so yet again nothing for carers and nothing for my mum. i agree. there have been some great inequalities here. i am patron of the charity called fair for you, which has been pushing for the £20 uplift for universal credit to be kept, and it is good to have that for another six months. honestly i think it should be for another 12 months. i would also like to see it for carers because it is very true. for a few years, those who are caring for a vulnerable parent or child or whatever have really not had what they should have had. they do seem to be a sector that have been overlooked. i do agree. i'm hoping that in the next budget something will be done on that. but i think what we're going to see for the next five to ten years is budgets where we will be taxed more. they will be finding ways to claw

back that money and it will be very hard for them to be giving some of it away at same time. i hard for them to be giving some of it away at same time.— hard for them to be giving some of it away at same time. i will move to a question — it away at same time. i will move to a question from _ it away at same time. i will move to a question from louise _ it away at same time. i will move to a question from louise talking - it away at same time. i will move to | a question from louise talking about people from lower incomes. why did richey sue nack taxed the least well off? why freeze the enteric tense tax threshold for example? if i can come to the _ tax threshold for example? if i can come to the question _ tax threshold for example? if i can come to the question about - tax threshold for example? if i can come to the question about the . come to the question about the personal— come to the question about the personal tax allowance first, i think— personal tax allowance first, i think there is a strong argument that actually this new freeze will affect _ that actually this new freeze will affect middle and higher earners more _ affect middle and higher earners more than lower earners. yes, the changes— more than lower earners. yes, the changes will— more than lower earners. yes, the changes will mean that about 1.3 million _ changes will mean that about 1.3 million people will be brought into the tax _ million people will be brought into the tax system, and 10% of adults will be _ the tax system, and 10% of adults will be brought into the higher rate — will be brought into the higher rate the _ will be brought into the higher rate. the 40% fresh threshold will increase _ rate. the 40% fresh threshold will increase by— rate. the 40% fresh threshold will increase by about £50 to £270 in then _ increase by about £50 to £270 in then it _ increase by about £50 to £270 in then it will — increase by about £50 to £270 in then it will be frozen. there is an argument — then it will be frozen. there is an

argument that that will affect the middle _ argument that that will affect the middle and higher earners the hardest. — middle and higher earners the hardest, although of course it will bring _ hardest, although of course it will bring more — hardest, although of course it will bring more and more people into that tax net _ bring more and more people into that tax net on_ bring more and more people into that tax net. on the question of inheritance tax, i think that you could _ inheritance tax, i think that you could say— inheritance tax, i think that you could say it _ inheritance tax, i think that you could say it is more progressive to freeze _ could say it is more progressive to freeze that — could say it is more progressive to freeze that tax because it is more of a tax _ freeze that tax because it is more of a tax on — freeze that tax because it is more of a tax on assets on wealth than on earnings. _ of a tax on assets on wealth than on earnings. so— of a tax on assets on wealth than on earnings, so if you do fall into that, — earnings, so if you do fall into that, in— earnings, so if you do fall into that, in some ways it might be nice problem _ that, in some ways it might be nice problem to— that, in some ways it might be nice problem to have to worry about inheritance tax. there are some ways you can _ inheritance tax. there are some ways you can mitigate your inheritance tax liabilities. it's mainly through gifting _ tax liabilities. it's mainly through gifting subject to certain rules, and married people do have a double exemption _ and married people do have a double exemption passing down their marital home _ exemption passing down their marital home if— exemption passing down their marital home. if you think the freezing of inheritance tax would affect you, you should definitely seek professional financial exec advice step professional financial exec advice steo i_ professional financial exec advice step t can — professional financial exec advice step i can see you nodding to some of that _

step i can see you nodding to some of that. ., step i can see you nodding to some of that. ,, ., . , step i can see you nodding to some of that. ~' ., ., , .,, of that. like iona says. i was actually expecting _ of that. like iona says. i was actually expecting some - of that. like iona says. i was actually expecting some sort of that. like iona says. i was i actually expecting some sort of wealth tax and tax on assets and i think going forward in the short term, we will probably see some more taxes on assets because the government and the chancellor do not want to tax earnings any more than they have two because they want to encourage growth. business, earning, working needs to be encouraged to policy out of the incredibly fragile state our economy is on at the moment. at the same time, he needs to claw back billions, so it would make sense to tax assets in some way. whether that is property or investment wealth i don't know, but it would not surprise me at all of that comes in next year's budget. before i let you go, we have looked up before i let you go, we have looked up some of the most popular searches that have been done since the budget. iona, i have brought a

couple of them together. people are asking is income tax going up in 2021? and how much can you earn before you pay tax? these are some of the really frequent searches and shows all the things that are really complicated that we need to keep googling them. complicated that we need to keep googling them-— complicated that we need to keep googling them. firstly, income tax is not going _ googling them. firstly, income tax is not going on _ googling them. firstly, income tax is not going on in _ googling them. firstly, income tax is not going up in 2021. _ googling them. firstly, income tax is not going up in 2021. personal. is not going up in 2021. personal allowances— is not going up in 2021. personal allowances and higher rate threshold will be _ allowances and higher rate threshold will be going up ever so slightly to keep pace — will be going up ever so slightly to keep pace with inflation in the next year but _ keep pace with inflation in the next year but they will be frozen until 2026 _ year but they will be frozen until 2026. how much can you end before paying _ 2026. how much can you end before paying tax? — 2026. how much can you end before paying tax? it will be £12,570 next year. _ paying tax? it will be £12,570 next year. but — paying tax? it will be £12,570 next year, but there is a big caveat here — year, but there is a big caveat here that— year, but there is a big caveat here. that is the figure for england and wales — here. that is the figure for england and wales. scotland has two extra tax bands — and wales. scotland has two extra tax bands. a starter rate and an intermediate rate. its higher rate threshold — intermediate rate. its higher rate threshold is much lower than south of the _

threshold is much lower than south of the border atjust £43,000 threshold is much lower than south of the border at just £43,000 versus 558.000 _ of the border at just £43,000 versus £58.000 in— of the border at just £43,000 versus £58,000 in england and wales. ami £58,000 in england and wales. am i riaht in £58,000 in england and wales. am i right in saying _ £58,000 in england and wales. am i right in saying you — £58,000 in england and wales. n i right in saying you start paying national insurance earlier as well before you start getting to that 12,570? , before you start getting to that 12,570?- some _ before you start getting to that 12,570?- some of- before you start getting to that 12,570? yes. some of the other searches- _ 12,570? yes. some of the other searches. who _ 12,570? yes. some of the other searches. who pays _ 12,570? yes. some of the other searches. who pays corporation tax in the uk? what is capital gains tax? . ., , ., in the uk? what is capital gains tax? , ., ., , ., in the uk? what is capital gains tax? ., ., , ., ,., in the uk? what is capital gains tax? ., ., , ., ., tax? the capital gains tax is a tax on assets. _ tax? the capital gains tax is a tax on assets. on _ tax? the capital gains tax is a tax on assets, on the _ tax? the capital gains tax is a tax on assets, on the profit _ tax? the capital gains tax is a tax on assets, on the profit of - tax? the capital gains tax is a tax on assets, on the profit of assets| on assets, on the profit of assets that you sell. capital gains tax as it was said yesterday will be frozen and you pay it on any profits over i think £11,000. iona will know the amount herself. actually, no, i'm just looking it up. it is 12,000 to 300. you can make a profit of 12,300

on anything you sell, may be art or a car or whatever. the totalfor your tax year should be no more than 12,300. anything above that, you pay capital gains tax on it. corporation taxes paid by companies. i have a little company so somebody like me would pay corporation tax. it could be anything up to huge companies. it is a different thing from your own personal earnings. it is the profit that a company makes. companies pay it. thank that a company makes. companies pay it- thank you — that a company makes. companies pay it- thank you so _ that a company makes. companies pay it. thank you so much _ that a company makes. companies pay it. thank you so much to _ that a company makes. companies pay it. thank you so much to both - that a company makes. companies pay it. thank you so much to both of- it. thank you so much to both of you. there are more questions which shows what a popular thing this is. thank you so much forjoining us. amazon has opened its

first shop in the uk — and it doesn't have any tills. the supermarket in west london uses smartphone technology to allows customers to choose their items, and then walk out. the company wants to open dozens of similar stores across the country, but privacy campaigners say they have big concerns. here's our business correspondent emma simpson. so here it is, amazon's first physical store outside the us. it's a grocery convenience score. you can probably see there's an awful lot of interest in this. now, to use it all you need is one of these and the amazon app, that's because when you go in you've got a lot of expensive technology. it's full of cameras and sensors tracking everything that you take off the shelves and put in your bag and then once you are done you simply have to walk out. there is no checkout. so is this a glimpse into the future of shopping? we arejoined by duncan brewer, retail consultant. what do you think, duncan?

supermarkets are always looking for ways to make shopping easier for their customers and this is an experience unlike anything else in the uk. i think they're going to be looking with great interest to see if they need to evolve similar technology, similar experiences out into their stores. why is amazon moving onto the high street? i think it's a great time to be moving into the high street. property prices, rental prices are cheap and there's lots of sites available and it's important to remember even the online players need a bricks and mortar presence. a bricks and mortar store can offer things, whether it's brand experience or ultra convenience, that can't be done through a purely online offer. are its rivals, the big supermarkets, going to be worried about this? i'm sure the supermarkets will be watching this closely to see the rate of expansion and see what happens, but the reality is supermarket retail is always changing and everyone is looking out for the next innovation, to make it betterfor customers, whether it's freshness of product or ease of shopping, and this may be the future. who knows?

duncan, thanks very much. and amazon is planning a few more of these in the coming weeks and months. it's that time of year again when children across the uk dress up to mark world book day. events are largely taking place online because of the pandemic. campaigners are using the day to urge families, schools and nurseries to have books with more characters from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. our community affairs correspondent adina campbell reports. dressing up as their favourite book characters. world book day is one of the biggest events in the school calendar,

bradford born writer says that things haven't changed that much since she started writing years ago. the stories that i am telling a universal stories. they are stories that would happen to anyone. i'm writing from the point of view of the black freighter. to make sure that these characters get out there because they haven't been out there enough. this despite a third of children in the uk being from an ethnic minority background, figures shows that 5% of children's books feature people as a main character from one of these backgrounds. campaigners say the change has been too slow and more diversity is neededin too slow and more diversity is needed in children's books to reflect the uk today. we needed in children's books to reflect the uk today.- needed in children's books to reflect the uk today. we are raising the next generation, _ reflect the uk today. we are raising the next generation, the _ reflect the uk today. we are raising the next generation, the next - reflect the uk today. we are raising i the next generation, the next change makers, business owners. so in 20 years time for us not to be having

this conversation, we need to start now. it this conversation, we need to start now. . . . this conversation, we need to start now. , . , this conversation, we need to start now. ,. , ~ ., now. it starts with books. and for those reading _ now. it starts with books. and for those reading a _ now. it starts with books. and for those reading a bedtime - now. it starts with books. and for those reading a bedtime story i those reading a bedtime story tonight that mac we will be talking more about that after 3pm. a railway bridge in oxfordshire was this morning hit by a massive load of... irony. an articulated lorry got stuck under the bridge on the a41 between bicester and aylesbury. seemingly missing the many low bridge warning signs for miles around. nobody was injured. despite the slogan for the well known diy chain— sadly for this driver, he couldn't. now it's time for a look at the weather.

hello there. much of this week has been fine and settled thanks to high pressure, and that is how we are going to end the week, with high—pressure dominating this scene once again. but bringing some cool air to all areas. so, it will be chilly for the end of the week, and into the weekend, but with a lot of dry weather around. variable cloud, perhaps a little bit of sunshine too. we have got this weak cold front spreading southwards across the country through today, high pressure building in through the north. behind that front, you can see that colder air moving southwards. there will be a little bit of patchy light rain on that front affecting northern england and northern ireland, perhaps the midlands as we move towards the end of the day. behind it, perhaps the few glimmers of brightness, but mostly today it is going to be rather grey and pretty damp, and those temperatures in single figures. low single figures in the north, turning chilly here, and a chilly field to things further south too. and a chilly feel to things further south too. as we head into this evening and overnight, that cold front spreads its way southwards, taking any patch of ring with it. and behind it, skies will tend to clear, so we will see variable cloud and clear skies.

and where the skies are clear, it is going to turn cold with some frost, mainly across more northern and western areas. onshore breeze continuing to keep things a little less frost de across the north sea coast. so here on friday, we end the week with a big area of high pressure slap bang on top of the uk, some cold air wrapped into it though so it really will feel quite chilly. we start off on a cold note, perhaps some sunshine around, as well, more than what we have seen over the last few days, but in the afternoon that cloud may tend to build up, so some areas turning grey. just a slight chance of a shower affecting the north sea coast been blown along that north—easterly wind. a chilly day for all, temperatures ranging from around five celsius to seven or eight celsius. friday night is going to be called as well, particularly where we have clear skies. and i think we will see more of the widespread frost to greet us the saturday morning. that said, high pressure still with us of the weekend, so it is going to be a cold start and bright with some sunshine, and again through the day we could see some cloud tending to build up, so it could turn

a little bit grey for many of us. a chilly day to come, temperatures mainly sick celsius temperatures mainly 6 celsius to seven or eight celsius. it is a similar story sunday as well, a chilly start, some sunshine around, mainly dry, but change starting to take place across the north and the west, slightly more unsettled conditions here. the weather front is pushing on. more of a breeze. a few showers at times, perhaps a little less cold here than how it will be further south.

this is bbc news. the headlines... the duke of edinburgh will stay in hospitalfor a number of days, after having what's been described as a successful procedure for a pre—existing heart condition. it comes as the duchess of sussex tells american television she feels she has to speak out about how the palace treated her and prince harry. i don't know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still be just silent if there is an active role that the firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. heated exchanges at holyrood, with opposition msps continuing to press nicola sturgeon about the handling of harassment complaints against alex salmond.

there is no argument if nicola sturgeon broke the ministerial code. the argument is only about how badly she broke it. she hasjust prejudged the outcome of the independent inquiry into the ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political games for the conservatives. the number of coronavirus infections in england continues to fall but the rate of decline appears to be slowing — the health secretary says it's cause for concern. and, leave your money at home — amazon opens its first supermarket in the uk, and it doesn't have any tills. the duke of edinburgh has undergone a procedure

for a pre—existing heart condition. buckingham palace says the procedure was successful, and was carried out yesterday. the duke, who is 99, is expected to stay in hospital for a number of days. the news comes as the royal family is being accused by the duchess of sussex of perpuating falsehoods about her and and her husband. the dramatic comments are in a newly released excerpt from meghan and prince harry's interview with oprah winfrey for american television. here's our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. he will have been assessed on tuesday, and then a surgical procedure yesterday. according to buckingham palace, the duke of

edinburgh... are to start the pre—existing condition may date from ten years ago. the queen and other members of the family visited him in hospital, a sign that had been a moment of real anxiety. this time, the queen is remaining at windsor, where she will doubtless be pondering the latest twists and tales and the sussex saga. last night, the us broadcaster issued another club from the upcoming interview with oprah winfrey. it is not comfortable viewing for the palace. haifa winfrey. it is not comfortable viewing for the palace. how do you feel about the _ viewing for the palace. how do you feel about the parlous _ viewing for the palace. how do you feel about the parlous hearing - viewing for the palace. how do you feel about the parlous hearing you | feel about the parlous hearing you speak your truth today? i feel about the parlous hearing you speak your truth today?— feel about the parlous hearing you speak your truth today? i don't know how they could _ speak your truth today? i don't know how they could expect _ speak your truth today? i don't know how they could expect that _ speak your truth today? i don't know how they could expect that after i speak your truth today? i don't know

how they could expect that after all i how they could expect that after all of this— how they could expect that after all of this time we would still be silent — of this time we would still be silent if— of this time we would still be silent if there is an active role that— silent if there is an active role that the — silent if there is an active role that the firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. and if— perpetuating falsehoods about us. and if that comes with the risk of losing _ and if that comes with the risk of losing things, i mean, there is a lot that — losing things, i mean, there is a lot that has _ losing things, i mean, there is a lot that has been lost already. as the lot that has been lost already. is the duchess accuses the palace of perpetuating unspecified falsehoods against her, the palace is preparing to investigate claims from former members of her staff that she bullied them, allegations which the duchess's spokesman has denied. normally, the queen would have her husband at her side to support at moments like this, but is notjust now. but from the palace today, on social media, on world book day, a reminder of less turbulent times. the queen and the jerk together at balmoral in 1976. let's talk about the duke. a procedure, we understand?

yes, if it is something to do with the insertion of the stent in 2011, this would be something called angioplasty. this is not major heart surgery, it would be carried out under local anaesthetic, which clearly is important in the case of someone who is nearly 100. it could be a narrowing the artery around the old stent, or narrowing of another artery requiring another stent. we do not know and i don't think the palace will tell us. we do know that his recuperation is expected to take a number of further days. and very difficult timing. a matter of days away from the full broadcast of the interview in the us. yes, not great for somebody with a heart condition. it is fair to say the palace must be feeling baffled and frankly bemused by all of this. what are the falsehoods that meghan alleges the firm has been perpetuating? now, hopefully oprah winfrey has

pushed back and challenged her in the interview to say, what are you talking about? what is the chapter and verse of these false accusations that are being put about? and only then, if she does spell it out, will we be in a position to judge the credibility and substance of what she is alleging. a leading economic research group says the chancellor's spending plans, outlined in yesterday's budget, do not look deliverable. the institute for fiscal studies is warning further tax rises may be needed. our economics correspondent, andy verity has more. this is the traditional assessment we get after every fiscal event, and i have followed a lot of these over the years, and i have rarely seen an assessment as critical of a budget as this one. they welcome the spending that is going to support the economy, some £65 billion additional spending that rishi sunak is doing. he said it is generous, progressive, and helping the country through the emergency.

the ifs agrees and welcomes that, it is just the rest of their assessment that will not be pleasant listening for the chancellor. for example, they are saying that the credibility of the plans to get back into surplus after that big initial spend to get us out of this hole, well, there is not much credibility to them, is what the ifs are saying. for example, there is a £17 billion cut to public spending relative to the plans that rishi sunak had before the pandemic. pauljohnson, the ifs director, asked how likely he thinks it is that rishi sunak will be able to pull that off, had this assessment. frankly, that doesn't strike me as being terribly plausible. the idea that we will need to be spending less on education and health and social care and local government and all these things after the pandemic than we thought we would beforehand just doesn't

look likely, given that we knowjust for the minimum things like vaccination and test and trace and ppe and so on let alone catching up with the huge backlog of operations and the need to catch up children who have lost so much school and the need to help local authorities and so on. these numbers don't look like they are going to hold. the ifs has also repeatedly focused on what it regards as a double standard. on the one hand, the chancellor is withdrawing the temporary boost to universal credit for six million of the country's poorest families. he has done it for 18 months now, but the ifs is pointing out that that has been withdrawn in october, cutting benefits for the poorest families, while on the other hand saying that you cannot raise taxes on corporations for another three years. and joining the criticism that some other ngos have made on the effect that that is going to have on those particular families, and rishi sunak told us this morning

he acted generously by expanding it to that level rather than phasing it out. he has pointed to other measures he is taking, like kick—start, like help with paying rent. but the ifs is saying there is no policy is here to deal with the inequality that are forcing over the pandemic between the young and old, between the rich and poor, and also between the better and less well educated. we can talk now to our political correspondent chris mason. and it is plenty, because the comments from the ifs, the inequalities, a lot bubbling around today. inequalities, a lot bubbling around toda . . inequalities, a lot bubbling around toda . , ., ,, . inequalities, a lot bubbling around toda. , today. there is. classic data after a buduet, today. there is. classic data after a budget. the _ today. there is. classic data after a budget, the real _ today. there is. classic data after a budget, the real detail- today. there is. classic data after a budget, the real detail of- today. there is. classic data after a budget, the real detail of whatl today. there is. classic data afterl a budget, the real detail of what is in the various documents is properly poured over as opposed to just the headlines, bluntly, that you get on the afternoon after a budget. and i think what is quite striking, i have been listening to lots of these briefings from think tanks like the

ifs, the resolution foundation, is a recognition many of the economist that there is, in the words of one of them this morning, was a wartime budget. in other words, a pandemic budget. in other words, a pandemic budget. we are still in the teeth of the economic as well as the medical consequences of covert 19, and so pro some are tempted to talk about a realignment of politics here is a conservative government with a big majority spending big, big, big money. the extent to which we that that will be how things pan out in the future is difficult to discern at this stage, because we are still in the teeth of the pandemic. what is definitely clear as andy was reflecting on is a huge number of medium and long—term questions around funding, for instance, of the health service, given the huge backlog of non—director—mac related operations and procedures that have been put off as a result of the pandemic, and how you go about

finding that in the context of what is going to be some big questions to ask in the future about public spending, given the amount of debt that has been racked up handling the current emergency. bud that has been racked up handling the current emergency.— current emergency. and there is a secific current emergency. and there is a specific question _ current emergency. and there is a specific question abound - current emergency. and there is a specific question abound about i current emergency. and there is a i specific question abound about extra funding for specific towns, and the number of them and the constituencies that we are talking about. . �* . . constituencies that we are talking about. . �* , , , constituencies that we are talking about. . �*, , , ., about. that's right. this is that conce -t about. that's right. this is that concept of _ about. that's right. this is that concept of levelling _ about. that's right. this is that concept of levelling up, - about. that's right. this is that concept of levelling up, one i about. that's right. this is that concept of levelling up, one of| about. that's right. this is that i concept of levelling up, one of the sound are conservative mps in particular like sprinkling out like seasoning across their rhetoric. this idea that parts of the country have had a bad deal in the past and deserve more attention now. that is broadly accepted across the piece, politically. but one of the things thatis politically. but one of the things that is catching attention here today, two things, actually, one is an announcement yesterday that backs up an announcement yesterday that backs up in an argument that rates before about towns of funding, in particular money going to towns that have been asked to apply for additional government funding. the criticism coming from labour being

that money is being shovelled in the direction of seats that have recently been won by the conservatives, what are sometimes known as pork barrel politics, the idea that you shove money and the direction of people that you hope will continue voting for you. here does a response from the prime minister on teesside this morning to that allegation. i minister on teesside this morning to that allegation.— that allegation. i think if you look at the map. _ that allegation. i think if you look at the map. one _ that allegation. i think if you look at the map, one of _ that allegation. i think if you look at the map, one of the _ that allegation. i think if you look at the map, one of the functionsl that allegation. i think if you look i at the map, one of the functions of the election— at the map, one of the functions of the election clearly is that there are a _ the election clearly is that there are a lot — the election clearly is that there are a lot of conservative represented terms, that isjust a basic— represented terms, that isjust a basic electoral fight. but i have asked _ basic electoral fight. but i have asked about this, and i am told that the criteria — asked about this, and i am told that the criteria is entirely objective, and the — the criteria is entirely objective, and the look into all sorts of data, poverty. _ and the look into all sorts of data, poverty, unemployment and so on. we want to— poverty, unemployment and so on. we want to unite _ poverty, unemployment and so on. we want to unite and level up across the whole — want to unite and level up across the whole country, and we want to do it in a _ the whole country, and we want to do it in a completely impartial way. so, it in a completely impartial way. so. that— it in a completely impartial way. so. that is— it in a completely impartial way. so, that is what we will continue to do. so, that is what we will continue to do then _ so, that is what we will continue to do then it— so, that is what we will continue to do then it is— so, that is what we will continue to do. then it is fantastic to be here to see _ do. then it is fantastic to be here to see what — do. then it is fantastic to be here to see what is happening, with the opportunity that they now have to

create _ opportunity that they now have to create a _ opportunity that they now have to create a free report, and really turbo—charge what they are doing. with carbon capture and storage, with the — with carbon capture and storage, with the potential for making new ones _ with the potential for making new ones turbine technology, making the novavax _ ones turbine technology, making the novavax vaccine just over the way there _ novavax vaccine just over the way there. what an amazing thing starting — there. what an amazing thing starting to happen here. and that is made _ starting to happen here. and that is made possible by this free report agenda, — made possible by this free report agenda, and that is part of uniting and levelling up, and of some places have missed out for now, i feel that they have _ have missed out for now, i feel that they have missed out, people make sure we _ they have missed out, people make sure we come back and we find the things— sure we come back and we find the things that — sure we come back and we find the things that they need and get on and do it _ things that they need and get on and do it that— things that they need and get on and do it. that is what this government is all— do it. that is what this government is all about — do it. that is what this government is all about-— is all about. connected to this argument _ is all about. connected to this argument is — is all about. connected to this argument is a _ is all about. connected to this argument is a broader - is all about. connected to this i argument is a broader conversation about levelling up, and a document published alongside the budget yesterday, the levelling up a prospectus, and attached to that was a ranking of every area of england, scotland and wales as priorities

one, two, or three for the government's levelling up and what was packed out by danjarvis, the labour mayor of the sheffield city region, and it labour mp in barnsley, is that richmond are in rural affluent yorkshire, which happens to be the seat of rishi sunak, the chancellor, is rated as priority 14 levelling up, and that barnsley and sheffield, in south yorkshire, are only level two. i have been having a chat with lisa nandy, labour mp for brecon in greater manchester, under long—standing champion of ensuring that towns get a fair crack at the talisca work. he that towns get a fair crack at the talisca work-— talisca work. he could deal with this pretty _ talisca work. he could deal with this pretty quickly. _ talisca work. he could deal with this pretty quickly. you - talisca work. he could deal with this pretty quickly. you could i this pretty quickly. you could publish — this pretty quickly. you could publish the _ this pretty quickly. you could publish the criteria _ this pretty quickly. you could publish the criteria on - this pretty quickly. you could publish the criteria on whichl this pretty quickly. you could i publish the criteria on which these decisions — publish the criteria on which these decisions were _ publish the criteria on which these decisions were made. _ publish the criteria on which these decisions were made. it _ publish the criteria on which these decisions were made. it beggars. decisions were made. it beggars belief— decisions were made. it beggars belief that — decisions were made. it beggars belief that the _ decisions were made. it beggars belief that the government i decisions were made. it beggars belief that the government is i decisions were made. it beggarsi belief that the government is still refusing _ belief that the government is still refusing to — belief that the government is still refusing to do _ belief that the government is still refusing to do so. _ belief that the government is still refusing to do so. he _ belief that the government is still refusing to do so. he could - belief that the government is still refusing to do so. he could make| refusing to do so. he could make sure _ refusing to do so. he could make sure that — refusing to do so. he could make sure that local— refusing to do so. he could make sure that local areas _ refusing to do so. he could make sure that local areas are - refusing to do so. he could make sure that local areas are actuallyl sure that local areas are actually driving _ sure that local areas are actually driving many— sure that local areas are actually driving many of _ sure that local areas are actually driving many of these _ sure that local areas are actually driving many of these decision. sure that local areas are actually i driving many of these decision. that the moment, — driving many of these decision. that the moment, the _ driving many of these decision. that the moment, the decisions- driving many of these decision. that the moment, the decisions are i driving many of these decision. thati the moment, the decisions are being made _ the moment, the decisions are being made from _

the moment, the decisions are being made from white _ the moment, the decisions are being made from white hawk. _ the moment, the decisions are being made from white hawk. the - the moment, the decisions are being i made from white hawk. the government has let _ made from white hawk. the government has let nothing _ made from white hawk. the government has let nothing about _ made from white hawk. the government has let nothing about the _ made from white hawk. the government has let nothing about the fact _ made from white hawk. the government has let nothing about the fact that - has let nothing about the fact that most _ has let nothing about the fact that most people — has let nothing about the fact that most people in— has let nothing about the fact that most people in towns _ has let nothing about the fact that most people in towns no- has let nothing about the fact that most people in towns no far- has let nothing about the fact that| most people in towns no far better how they _ most people in towns no far better how they want _ most people in towns no far better how they want no _ most people in towns no far better how they want no town _ most people in towns no far better how they want no town centre i most people in towns no far better how they want no town centre is i most people in towns no far betterj how they want no town centre is to look and _ how they want no town centre is to look and feel— how they want no town centre is to look and feel than _ how they want no town centre is to look and feel than civil _ how they want no town centre is to look and feel than civil servants i look and feel than civil servants hundreds— look and feel than civil servants hundreds of— look and feel than civil servants hundreds of miles _ look and feel than civil servants hundreds of miles away. - look and feel than civil servants hundreds of miles away. they l look and feel than civil servants i hundreds of miles away. they have given _ hundreds of miles away. they have given a _ hundreds of miles away. they have given a huge — hundreds of miles away. they have given a huge role _ hundreds of miles away. they have given a huge role to _ hundreds of miles away. they have given a huge role to mps _ hundreds of miles away. they have given a huge role to mps in - hundreds of miles away. they have given a huge role to mps in this. given a huge role to mps in this process, — given a huge role to mps in this process, which— given a huge role to mps in this process, which of— given a huge role to mps in this process, which of course - given a huge role to mps in this process, which of course opens| given a huge role to mps in this. process, which of course opens up given a huge role to mps in this- process, which of course opens up to suggestions — process, which of course opens up to suggestions of — process, which of course opens up to suggestions of american _ process, which of course opens up to suggestions of american cell- process, which of course opens up to suggestions of american cell pork. suggestions of american cell pork barrel— suggestions of american cell pork barrel politics, _ suggestions of american cell pork barrel politics, brother— suggestions of american cell pork barrel politics, brother tried - suggestions of american cell pork barrel politics, brother tried to i barrel politics, brother tried to favour— barrel politics, brother tried to favour constituencies - barrel politics, brother tried to favour constituencies that i barrel politics, brother tried to. favour constituencies that sarah barrel politics, brother tried to - favour constituencies that sarah and their electoral _ favour constituencies that sarah and their electoral interest. _ favour constituencies that sarah and their electoral interest. he - favour constituencies that sarah and their electoral interest. he could i their electoral interest. he could deal with— their electoral interest. he could deal with that — their electoral interest. he could deal with that very— their electoral interest. he could deal with that very quickly, - their electoral interest. he could deal with that very quickly, the l deal with that very quickly, the fact that — deal with that very quickly, the fact that he _ deal with that very quickly, the fact that he hasn't _ deal with that very quickly, the fact that he hasn't won - deal with that very quickly, the fact that he hasn't won too i deal with that very quickly, the i fact that he hasn't won too many people _ fact that he hasn't won too many people about _ fact that he hasn't won too many people about this _ fact that he hasn't won too many people about this country- fact that he hasn't won too many people about this country who i fact that he hasn't won too manyl people about this country who are desperate — people about this country who are desperate for _ people about this country who are desperate for investment - people about this country who are desperate for investment in - people about this country who are desperate for investment in the i people about this country who are i desperate for investment in the high streets. _ desperate for investment in the high streets. there — desperate for investment in the high streets, there is— desperate for investment in the high streets, there is something - desperate for investment in the high streets, there is something wrong i streets, there is something wrong with this _ streets, there is something wrong with this allocation _ streets, there is something wrong with this allocation of _ streets, there is something wrong with this allocation of funding. it i with this allocation of funding. it is not _ with this allocation of funding. it is not fair, — with this allocation of funding. it is not fair, it— with this allocation of funding. it is not fair, it is— with this allocation of funding. it is not fair, it is not— with this allocation of funding. it is not fair, it is not right, - with this allocation of funding. it is not fair, it is not right, it- with this allocation of funding. it is not fair, it is not right, it is. is not fair, it is not right, it is not _ is not fair, it is not right, it is not transparent. _ is not fair, it is not right, it is not transparent. it _ is not fair, it is not right, it is not transparent. it cannot i is not fair, it is not right, it is not transparent. it cannot be| is not fair, it is not right, it is- not transparent. it cannot be right that more — not transparent. it cannot be right that more affluent _ not transparent. it cannot be right that more affluent areas - not transparent. it cannot be right that more affluent areas are - not transparent. it cannot be right i that more affluent areas are getting priority— that more affluent areas are getting priority over — that more affluent areas are getting priority over more _ that more affluent areas are getting priority over more deprived - that more affluent areas are getting priority over more deprived areas, i priority over more deprived areas, and the _ priority over more deprived areas, and the government— priority over more deprived areas, and the government needs - priority over more deprived areas, and the government needs to- priority over more deprived areas, i and the government needs to clean its act _ and the government needs to clean its act up~ _ and the government needs to clean its act u -. . , and the government needs to clean its act u-. . , and the government needs to clean itsactu. ., , ., , its act up. that is lisa nandy, labour mp — its act up. that is lisa nandy, labour mp for _ its act up. that is lisa nandy, labour mp for wigan. - its act up. that is lisa nandy, labour mp for wigan. before | its act up. that is lisa nandy, i labour mp for wigan. before we let you go, we are hearing that the government has reached a settlement with the senior civil servant to do

with the senior civil servant to do with claims against the home secretary. just bring us right up to date with what is happening. iderttrs date with what is happening. news breakin: in date with what is happening. news breaking in the _ date with what is happening. news breaking in the last _ date with what is happening. iji" breaking in the last minute or so. the former permanent secretary at the home office, the more senior civil servant in that department. a year ago he very publicly resigned from his position after what he described as a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign against him. he was very outspoken about the home secretary, priti patel. here at the time said that he would be pursuing a claim for being constructively dismissed from his role. we can report this afternoon he has reached a settlement with the government over this alleged orchestrated and vicious ripping campaign, after those allegations that priti patel, the home secretary bullied staff. it is understood the government has not admitted liability, as far as that settlement

is concerned, but she is receiving what is described as a substantial settlement. you will remember there was an investigation into the home secretary's behaviour. alex salmond, the government standard's watch what would turn to her behaviour and concluded she had broken the ministerial code. the prime minister said she he had full confidence in her, and of course she continues as home secretary. just to bring you a line from the home office in response to this, they say the government and sir philip's representatives have jointly concluded it is in both parties's interest to reach a settlement at the state rather than continue to prepare for an employment tribunal. the statement concludes a government does not accept liability in this matter, and it was right that the government defended the case. so, an agreement is reached for a quite a

substantial settlement for sir philip after his suggestion that there had been a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign against him when he was a home office's more senior civil servant. thank you for now. we may well be about you, but thank you very much for now, chris mason, a political correspondent. the headlines on bbc news... the duke of edinburgh will stay in hospital for a number of days, after having whats been described as a successful procedure for a pre—existing heart condition. it comes as the duchess of sussex tells american television she feels she has to speak out about how the palace treated her and prince harry. heated exchanges at holyrood, with opposition msps continuing to press nicola sturgeon about the handling of harassment complaints against alex salmond. there have been heated exchanges at holyrood,

with opposition msps continuing to press nicola sturgeon at first minister's questions, about the scottish government's handling of harassment complaints against her predecessor alex salmond. we can speak now to our political correspondent, nick eardley. he has been following this throughout. a marathon session yesterday be reflecting on. what yesterday be reflecting on. what more today? _ yesterday be reflecting on. what more today? eight _ yesterday be reflecting on. what more today? eight hours - yesterday be reflecting on. twist more today? eight hours in yesterday he reflecting on. wiat more today? eight hours in total yesterday, and i think there was a bit of a collective sigh of relief among nicola sturgeon's team after that session, because they don't think there was any kind of knockout blow. there was no moment for the first minister was under real, significant pressure, perhaps struggling to give an answer. that said, i don't think the story is going to go away, because there are still questions being asked about

nicola sturgeon's i can't come at some accusation stopping bandied about that she broke the ministerial code. that is something that in normal times harder opponents say she would have to resign for. there are a couple of things that have come up today. one is meeting sergei held with alex salmond, and why they weren't recording as government meetings, even though she knew that she was talking to him about an investigation her government was undertaken. the second is about what that the government wasted taxpayer's money by continuing to fight are examined in court over the case that he brought against them. backin case that he brought against them. back in october 2018, the government's lawyers had suggested there were some big issues with its case. it wasn't dropped until january 2019, and that has raised a few eyebrows. it dominated at first minister's questions today. have a listen to this exchange between ruth davidson and nicola sturgeon. there is no argument _

davidson and nicola sturgeon. there is no argument if _ davidson and nicola sturgeon. there is no argument if this _ davidson and nicola sturgeon. there is no argument if this government ignored _ is no argument if this government ignored legal advice, they did. the argument — ignored legal advice, they did. the argument as if it did so for three weeks _ argument as if it did so for three weeks or— argument as if it did so for three weeks or for more than three months. there _ weeks or for more than three months. there is_ weeks or for more than three months. there is no— weeks or for more than three months. there is no argument if the first mihisier— there is no argument if the first minister was at fault for losing more — minister was at fault for losing more than half £1 million of taxpayers' money, the argument is about_ taxpayers' money, the argument is about how— taxpayers' money, the argument is about how much she is to blame. and there _ about how much she is to blame. and there is— about how much she is to blame. and there is no— about how much she is to blame. and there is no argument if nicola sturgeon _ there is no argument if nicola sturgeon broke the ministerial code, the argument is only about how badly she broke _ the argument is only about how badly she broke it. we believe that the sanction— she broke it. we believe that the sanction is— she broke it. we believe that the sanction is to go. why she broke it. we believe that the sanction is to go.— she broke it. we believe that the sanction is to go. why doesn't she? ruth davidson _ sanction is to go. why doesn't she? ruth davidson has _ sanction is to go. why doesn't she? ruth davidson hasjust _ sanction is to go. why doesn't she? ruth davidson hasjust shown - sanction is to go. why doesn't she? ruth davidson hasjust shown her i ruth davidson hasjust shown her true colours — ruth davidson hasjust shown her true colours and _ ruth davidson hasjust shown her true colours and the _ ruth davidson hasjust shown her true colours and the conservative i true colours and the conservative true colours and the conservative true colours _ true colours and the conservative true colours all _ true colours and the conservative true colours all over— true colours and the conservative true colours all over again, - true colours and the conservative . true colours all over again, because of course _ true colours all over again, because of course she — true colours all over again, because of course she stands _ true colours all over again, because of course she stands up _ true colours all over again, because of course she stands up your - true colours all over again, because| of course she stands up your answer scrutiny— of course she stands up your answer scrutiny and — of course she stands up your answer scrutiny and democracy— of course she stands up your answer scrutiny and democracy and - of course she stands up your answer scrutiny and democracy and due - scrutiny and democracy and due process— scrutiny and democracy and due process is— scrutiny and democracy and due process is important, _ scrutiny and democracy and due process is important, but- scrutiny and democracy and due process is important, butjust . scrutiny and democracy and due | process is important, butjust as scrutiny and democracy and due - process is important, butjust as on tuesday— process is important, butjust as on tuesday night, _ process is important, butjust as on tuesday night, the _ process is important, butjust as on tuesday night, the conservatives . tuesday night, the conservatives prejudged — tuesday night, the conservatives urejudged my— tuesday night, the conservatives prejudged my evidence _ tuesday night, the conservatives prejudged my evidence to - tuesday night, the conservatives prejudged my evidence to the - prejudged my evidence to the parliamentary— prejudged my evidence to the parliamentary enquiry, - prejudged my evidence to the parliamentary enquiry, she i prejudged my evidence to the. parliamentary enquiry, she has prejudged my evidence to the - parliamentary enquiry, she hasjust prejudged _ parliamentary enquiry, she hasjust prejudged the — parliamentary enquiry, she hasjust prejudged the outcome _ parliamentary enquiry, she hasjust prejudged the outcome of- parliamentary enquiry, she hasjust prejudged the outcome of the - prejudged the outcome of the independent _ prejudged the outcome of the independent enquiry- prejudged the outcome of the independent enquiry into- prejudged the outcome of the independent enquiry into thei independent enquiry into the ministeriai— independent enquiry into the ministerial code. _ independent enquiry into the ministerial code. this- independent enquiry into the ministerial code. this is- independent enquiry into the ministerial code. this isjust| independent enquiry into the - ministerial code. this isjust about desperate — ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political— ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political aims _ ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political aims for - ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political aims for the i desperate political aims for the conservatives. _ desperate political aims for the conservatives.—

desperate political aims for the conservatives. . ., , conservatives. anyone that has been followin: conservatives. anyone that has been following the — conservatives. anyone that has been following the story _ conservatives. anyone that has been following the story closely, - conservatives. anyone that has been following the story closely, and - following the story closely, and anyone who made it through all eight outs yesterday and seven hours of alex salmond on friday will know it is really complicated, and a lot of it is down to interpretation. it is not black and white, not everything is obvious. there are two points over the next few weeks rather well be something of a conclusion. they committed that ms sturgeon was not just a day is going to produce a report looking at all of the different angles of this in the next three weeks, and ms sturgeon's independent adviser on the ministerial code is also going to deliver his conclusions, probably later this month. and i think that latter investigation in particular is going to be really important to figuring out whether ms sturgeon actually broke the rules that she is supposed to follow.— actually broke the rules that she is supposed to follow. thank you very much for nine, _ supposed to follow. thank you very much for nine, at _ supposed to follow. thank you very much for nine, at holyrood. - supposed to follow. thank you very much for nine, at holyrood. and i supposed to follow. thank you very | much for nine, at holyrood. and we will stay with us. i'm joined now by the new leader of the scottish labour party, anas sarwar.

good afternoon, thank you for having me. do you think nicola sturgeon still has questions to answer? i think there are still questions to answer, and we saw the clip of first minister's questions, and i think what was really unfortunate about that exchange as it actually does stray into hard party politics rather than focusing on the principle is at hand, and that is about democracy of the first minister, the integrity and the actions and the will of the parliament being respected. and the first minister gave evidence yesterday, but we still haven't seen the full legal advice. we are expecting more legal advice on papers today, that is not an acceptable situation. that goes against two votes in the parliament, and i can see request made by the committee itself. although we have an agreement to publish this legal advice because of the no—confidence vote in the deputy first minister. on the point on the ministerial

code, i think for the first minister is right, of course she should be entitled to answer serious questions, and of course she is entitled to due process. my point would be, let's take the personality and the party out of it, and be very clear that we should have a speedy report from the enquiry. it should be published as soon as it is received by government, and on the principle, if there is a breach of the ministerial code, you would expect to minister to resign. 50. expect to minister to resign. so, addressed _ expect to minister to resign. so, addressed on — expect to minister to resign. so, addressed on that report. you wait to see what happens, essentially? one party is on the actions of the deputy first minister, to see what legal advice is now published at the end of today. that fact that it has come to the stage and we are still waiting for the legal advice to be published, even after the first minister has given evidence, is completely unacceptable. if that is not published in full there are serious questions to be asked about the role of the deputy first minister. in the first minister's actions, i think we have to wait for

the publication of the hamilton enquiry, and if there is a breese, we still haven't seen the conclusions, if there is a breach, i think there is an expectation in terms of protecting the integrity of the office, that the minister will resign. the office, that the minister will resin. , . . ~ the office, that the minister will resin. , ., . ~' 1, the office, that the minister will resign. jackie baillie has said there is a _ resign. jackie baillie has said there is a degree _ resign. jackie baillie has said there is a degree of - resign. jackie baillie has said there is a degree of toxicity i resign. jackie baillie has said| there is a degree of toxicity in scottish politics at the moment. i5 scottish politics at the moment. is that right? i think she tried, and sadly i think there has been a toxicity in our politics for a number of years, and the tragedy of it there is that we are having the toxicity, this fight between two big personalities in scotland, ignoring the kind of environment we are currently living in scotland. people should not forget we are in the midst of a pandemic. for the government to be distracted in fighting amongst itself is really unfortunate when people are worrying about health and their livelihoods and access to vaccines, worried about the charge in's education and mental health. the quicker we can get a resolution on this— this is why this should quickly published the legal advice. we should have the publication of the hamilton enquiry,

and the quicker it is resolved and dealt with, then we can get our politics back to the issues that matter to people right across scotland. ., , . . , ., scotland. there was criticism of the failure to provide _ scotland. there was criticism of the failure to provide certain _ failure to provide certain documents, you have alluded to that. where does the responsibility lie for that? squarely at the feet of the government. i know the first minister has said that she has recused herself from those decisions, and therefore it is a decisions, and therefore it is a decision for the deputy first minister, but if she is due about that she is frustrated and disappointed by this process you should be taking action on it. it is simply unacceptable that you have had a committee enquiry, cross—party committee enquiry, demanding access to documents so they can do the work properly. on two occasions you had the will of parliament ignored, to was passed by a majority of the scottish parliament for the publication of this come under threat of a no—confidence vote

backed by all parties, and even store that is deadening on the part of the government. nicola sturgeon keeps and she has nothing to hide. if she has nothing to hide, publish all documents and let it go in front of the public, in front of the enquiry, and let's get this concluded.— enquiry, and let's get this concluded. ., , . ., concluded. you newly elected to euro. do concluded. you newly elected to euro- do use _ concluded. you newly elected to euro. do use that _ concluded. you newly elected to euro. do use that they're - concluded. you newly elected to i euro. do use that they're confident that the bigger party operates, the bigger party deals with any complaints as handled in a scrupulous fashion? i complaints as handled in a scrupulous fashion? i think we should hold _ scrupulous fashion? i think we should hold yourself _ scrupulous fashion? i think we should hold yourself to - scrupulous fashion? i think we should hold yourself to the - scrupulous fashion? i think we - should hold yourself to the highest standard. iam not should hold yourself to the highest standard. i am not going to pretend that my party always gets things absolutely right, as someone who has himself put a complaint forward about the actions of my own political party in recent years. i know we still have work to do, but i would like to think we hold yourself to the higher standard. what you have to remember is, we are talking about the government actions. this is to women who came forward, who were utterly fuelled by a government process, and then the government spent over half a government process, and then the government spent over half £1 million of public money trying to defend the case that

was never going to be successful. that is simply not acceptable and not good enough, and therefore to getjustice, for these women, to make sure no one has to think twice about coming forward again, to get integrity back into the role of government, and to protect the office of the first minutes ago —— office of the first minutes ago —— of the first minister, regardless of who sits on the chair, we have to get this result. if there is a breach, the minister has to resign. we must leave it there. we are going to turn to a different story. the european union's highest court has ruled that britain has systematically breached agreed air pollution limits for years, and ordered it to comply with the guidelines. if it fails to do so, it may be fined. the uk has left the eu, but it has agreed to respect court decisions in cases, such as today's, that started before brexit. we can talk now to our

energy and environment analyst, roger harrabin. tell us more. what does assessment? the uk, since 2010, has been in regular breach of standards set by the eu in terms of or to pollution, toxic gas, which comes from home boilers and also particularly from cars, and particularly affects people around busy roads. the government is trying to get round the problem by telling local authorities that this is primarily a local issue. you can sort things out in a local sort of way. but it has been taken to court, and accused of failing in its duty to protect its citizens. and the european court has found that the uk is guilty. so citizens. and the european court has found that the uk is guilty.— found that the uk is guilty. so the government _ found that the uk is guilty. so the government has _ found that the uk is guilty. so the government has to _ found that the uk is guilty. so the government has to do _ found that the uk is guilty. so the government has to do what? - found that the uk is guilty. so the government has to do what? the | government has to do what? the government _ government has to do what? the government has _ government has to do what? the government has to do what? tte: government has to prove government has to do what? tt9 government has to prove to the court that it government has to prove to the court thatitis government has to prove to the court

that it is putting in a plausible plan to end toxic emissions where people live, as quickly as possible. and this is the it is falling down on in the past, but the government has said it is going as going as quickly as possible, and the court assured we think you can go on off a lot faster. the pressure is on the government again to come up with results on this issue. as you mention, it is still under the jurisdiction of the court, because the court case started before brexit, so what happens now is, if the european commission decides again that it doesn't think the uk is going fast enough, it can't send the case back to the court, and the court controlled and potentially, and fine the uk. and here we get into murky legal ground, because it is not clear legally part that the uk can i say, actually, we have left the eu, we are not going to pick up that phone. we need to see how that one is going to end. find that phone. we need to see how that one is going to end.— one is going to end. and does this mean that the _

one is going to end. and does this mean that the government - one is going to end. and does this mean that the government is - one is going to end. and does this. mean that the government is under pressure to do something century? you talked about the fact that thus far it has been putting the onus on local councils. we did see a change around that? does this apply to government to do something century? how could it be approached? i think the government will be asked to make sure that local authorities can fund their plans. local authority financing has been cut drastically over recent years, and they are saying we have got this problem with toxic air in some places and we need help to get rid of it, to re—engineer the roads or take people off the roads or other policy measures. and we need help from the government. that is one area definitely where we're likely to see more pressure on the government to come up with more money to help local authorities on their way. money to help local authorities on their wa . �* :, �*, , their way. our briton's level is much worse — their way. our briton's level is much worse than _ their way. our briton's level is much worse than a _ their way. our briton's level is much worse than a lot - their way. our briton's level is much worse than a lot of- their way. our briton's level is - much worse than a lot of european countries? is that the point, or other country struggling with this?

we are a densely packed country. we are not always comparing like with like. :, , , like. indeed, and the uk is very much not _ like. indeed, and the uk is very much not alone. _ like. indeed, and the uk is very much not alone. that _ like. indeed, and the uk is very much not alone. that has - like. indeed, and the uk is very much not alone. that has been| like. indeed, and the uk is very - much not alone. that has been one of its lines or excuse or reason to the court. the uk has pleaded guilty. it is not trying to say we don't have these high emissions. it is saying that we do, but everyone else has them as well. in this case, the uk was actually backed by germany which is also facing similar action from the court. so it is by no means alone. what's more, there is another reason as we had the volkswagen exhaust testing scandal where volkswagen were deliberately rigging the tests of their exhausts to make it look as though their cars were cleaner than they were. this is a resounding factor and now the government is deciding what it is going to do, appeal or take the case

forward in any way, orjust settle down and put enough policies and cash in place to solve this problem once and for all.— once and for all. very interesting. thank you — once and for all. very interesting. thank you very — once and for all. very interesting. thank you very much _ once and for all. very interesting. thank you very much indeed - once and for all. very interesting. thank you very much indeed for i once and for all. very interesting. . thank you very much indeed for now. now we will turn to the weather. this week will end on a fine and settled nope. into the weekend it is going to be chilly for all area. here is this area of high pressure pushing down from the north. spreading southwards across the country as a cold front today. a patch of light rain behind it. that band of thick cloud, and some patchy rain will eventually push away from the south west of the country tonight, and then many places will be dry with some clear spells and variable cloud. it is where we have the clearest skies where it is going to be coldest with some frost and a little less cold where we hold on

the cloud. the friday, a chilly start but we should see some sunshine around, which we haven't seen across the country for quite awhile. little bit cloudier in the afternoon and a little bit chillier. between five and eight celsius. hello this is bbc news. the headlines... the duke of edinburgh will stay in hospital for a number of days, after having whats been described as a successful procedure for a pre—existing heart condition. it comes as the duchess of sussex tells american television she feels she has to speak out about how the palace treated her and prince harry. heated exchanges at holyrood, with opposition msps continuing to press nicola sturgeon about the handling of harassment complaints against alex salmond. the number of coronavirus infections in england continues to fall but the rate of decline appears to be slowing —

the health secretary says it's cause for concern and, leave your money at home — amazon opens its first supermarket in the uk, and it doesn't have any tills. sport, and for a full round up, let's go to the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. england have a lot of work to do enactment about. england need victory in this match if they want to level the series. ben stokes passed his half century, but said it was one of the toughest days he'd ever experienced with the bat. i have played 70 odd games now, this is the hardest... these are the hardest conditions that i have faced as a batsman.

obviously i have played all around the world. yeah, i do not think it is necessarily... it is a case of finding it in your own way. it is not about coming to gather as a group, this is what we need to do better as a group. our reporter henry moran was watching. the pitch that they are playing is an infinitely better for batting. no question. we haven't seen the early eternal variable bounce that made this so difficult for batsmen earlier in the match. this performance is well under par in this game. winning the toss again, the third time it has happened in the series, to only score 205. this was a good opportunity for england. the only rays of light, were ben stokes and a very disappointing batting again.

the hope is that the early break will cause some concern for india early to back. the challenges the squad selection. they picked spinners over seam bowlers. last time it did not work for them. this time, there picture is much better suited for the seam attack. whether the pitch deteriorates enough for some players to make a bit more impact, we will wait and see. the suggestion from what we have seen of the pitch is that it will be a lot harder for pick the pitch is that it will be a lot harderfor pick for the pitch is that it will be a lot harder for pick for spinners than it was the last time out. staying with cricket and the pakistan super league has been suspended until later in the year after seven players, including england's tom banton tested positive for coronavirus. pakistan cricket board ceo waseem khan says their plan for a five—day lockdown was turned down because of fears over player safety. we had a meeting today with the

franchise owners which we propose that perhaps we should look for a five day lockdown, people getting retested. the franchise owners were adamant that the players had lost a lot of confidence, there was a lot of anxiety in the camp and they were not in a mental state to play. the english fa has announced the women's fa cup will resume later this month. the 2021 competition was stopped injanuary because of the third national lockdown with 'non—elite' football suspended. one first—round and 17 second—round ties are still to be played. teams from the women's super league and championship willjoin the competition in round four. dates for the later rounds and the final at wembley are still to be confirmed. and this year's le mans 2a hour endurance race has been postponed from june until august when spectators should be able to be present. last year's race at the circuit in western france was held in september without fans because of the covid pandemic. organisers say the race will now start on the 21st of august.

that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. thank you very much. we are going to talk about a story we haven't covered so far this afternoon. a healthcare professional has been arrested on suspicion of murder and rape as part of an investigation into a patient�*s death at blackpool victoria hospital. lancashire police said the man was arrested as part of the investigation into valerie kneale's death in 2018. the 75—year—old died from a haemorrhage caused by a non—medical related internal injury. the arrested man has been suspended by blackpool teaching hospitals nhs trust. we can speak now to our news correspondent, danny savage. it isa it is a very distressing case, danny. just tell us what the police are saying at the moment. the police are saying at the moment. the police are saying at the moment. the police are saying that this goes back to

november 2018 when they began an investigation at the hospital following allegations of mistreatment and neglect on the stroke unit. as part of that investigation, a number of postmortem investigations were carried out on patients who died there. one of them was the victim. —— the alleged victim. it was suggested she died from a haemorrhage and a non—medical internal injury. they say that following on from that, a major investigation has taken place, and yesterday they arrested a health care professional on suspicion of murder and rape care professional on suspicion of murderand rape in care professional on suspicion of murder and rape in connection with the death. that man has been suspended by the hospital trust while the investigation takes place. the police have also extended the time he can be held in custody. he was arrested yesterday, so it was an initial period of 2a hours and they

have applied for an extension so he can be held for questioning until later on this evening. that man is currently being questioned. there are some very alarming allegations coming out about what may have happened and that stroke unit at the blackpool victoria hospital. there is a second investigation taking place unrelated to this one about poisoning of patients on that war as well. a lot of focus on that unit in particular at the hospital. detectives are questioning that person who has been arrested and we await further updates from lancashire police. the uk government says it notified brussels and dublin earlier this week of its intention to delay introducing checks for some goods arriving in northern ireland from great britain. a spokesman for borisjohnson denied that the unilateral decision to extend the grace period beyond the agreed deadline was a breach of the post—brexit trade agreement. ireland's foreign minister simon

coveney has criticised the uk for taking the action — and says the eu is negotiating with a partner it simply can't trust. earlier speaking on a visit to middlesbrough, borisjohnson said the problems were technical, and would be solved. we are taking some temporary technical measures to ensure that there are no barriers in the irish sea world to make sure that things throw —— that things flow freely from a to b. but obviously these are matters for continuing intensive discussions with our friends and we will continue to do that. i'm sure that with a bit of will and common sense all these technical problems are eminently solvable. demonstrators have returned to the streets of myanmar to continue their protest against the military coup, despite the increasing use of deadly force by the police.

the united nations says 38 people were killed in the country yesterday. borisjohnson says he's horrified by the escalation of violence. he's called for the release of the civilian leader aung san suu kyi and an immediate end to military repression. our south east asia correspondent jonathan head reports. this was an astonishing display of courage and defiance by a protest movement that's seen dozens gunned down in the past 2a hours. they're fortifying their own neighbourhoods, knowing that they too could be shot, forcing the police to retake them street by street. it's a war now for control of myanmar, but a war in which only one side is armed. this is okkalapa township in yangon,

the shrines marking out where seven protesters were killed in a deadly confrontation with the security forces. caught on this terrifying video, as people tried to avoid the volleys of gunfire while calling out to get help for those they see being hit. gun fire. translation: soldiers fired live rounds from the bridge. - they shot at us and i think they used machine guns. many people were hit on their head, face, hands and bodies. i saw some people's fingers were in pieces. in the city of mandalay supporters of the protest movement filed past the body of 19—year—old kyal sin, who was shot dead while taking part in a rally. her image has now become a symbol of their determination to resist

the military and of the sacrifices that must entail. there is plenty of international outrage over what the myanmar military is doing. so far though, not much international action. the people of myanmar are on their own, resisting a regime which shows no concern over the human cost of its heavy—handed repression. jonathan head, bbc news. the headlines on bbc news... the duke of edinburgh will stay in hospital for a number of days, after having whats been described as a successful procedure for a pre—existing heart condition. it comes as the duchess of sussex tells american television she feels she has to speak out about how the palace treated her and prince harry

heated exchanges at holyrood, with opposition msps continuing to press nicola sturgeon about the handling of harassment complaints against alex salmond. it's that time of year again when children across the uk dress up to mark world book day. events are largely taking place online because of the pandemic. campaigners are using the day to urge families, schools and nurseries to have books with more characters from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. our community affairs correspondent adina campbell reports. dressing up as their favourite book characters... i'm dressed up as my favourite character — fantastic mr fox. world book day is one of the biggest events in the school calendar, but bradford—born children's author trish cook says representation hasn't changed that much since

she started writing 30 years ago. it's not something that's unusual. in everyday life, we take on main roles, we're notjust a friend or the supporting role in a piece. the stories that i'm telling are universal stories, they're stories that happen to everyone, but i'm writing them from the point of view of a black writer to make sure these characters get out there because they haven't been out there enough. despite a third of uk children being from an ethnic minority background, just 5% of books feature characters from these backgrounds. campaigners say change has been too slow. more diversity is needed to reflect the uk today. we are raising the next generation. the next change—makers the next

business owners. so in order that we are not having this conversation in 20 years time, it needs to start now, it starts with books. and 20 years time, it needs to start now, it starts with books. and for those reading _ now, it starts with books. and for those reading a _ now, it starts with books. and for those reading a bedtime - now, it starts with books. and for those reading a bedtime story - those reading a bedtime story tonight... we can speak to children's author, hilary robinson, who has written almost 70 books and regularly takes part in world book day events. we will chat about world book day generally and what you have been doing, but i'm interested in your perspective and what we were just hearing there about the need for better and greater representation in children's bus but. what better and greater representation in children's bus but.— children's bus but. what are your thoughts? _ children's bus but. what are your thoughts? i _ children's bus but. what are your thoughts? i would _ children's bus but. what are your thoughts? i would agree - children's bus but. what are your thoughts? i would agree with - children's bus but. what are your| thoughts? i would agree with that and i think there have been a lot of interesting initiatives about that interesting initiatives about that in the last few years. it something i want to see in my work as well. it's people with needs as well. quite a diverse group of children

and theirfamilies that quite a diverse group of children and their families that need to be represented. the move as there and it is encouraging and to be supported by all sorts of bodies. it takes time for these kind of changes but they are changes and it is all for the good. a lot more work to be done but it is all in the right direction. done but it is all in the right direction-— done but it is all in the right direction. :, , ., . :, direction. what is the importance of the role of world _ direction. what is the importance of the role of world book _ direction. what is the importance of the role of world book day. - direction. what is the importance of the role of world book day. do - direction. what is the importance of the role of world book day. do you | the role of world book day. do you think it can generally focus minds and encourage us all to think and talk about reading? it’s and encourage us all to think and talk about reading?— talk about reading? it's like a birthday for— talk about reading? it's like a birthday for everybody - talk about reading? it's like a birthday for everybody that i talk about reading? it's like a . birthday for everybody that loves books and brings everybody together, but i always worry slightly that there are some parents and guardians and teachers and worried that children aren't engaged with books and a dated by them in certain ways and a dated by them in certain ways and there are —— they can be several reading this for that. children come to reading in all sorts of different ways. one of my children used to love reading stories on the back of cereal packets and they would go

through phases where they were less interested in books and more interested in books and more interested in books and more interested in comics. i never discourage that because as far as i was concerned whatever they were reading whatever text they were engaged with that was a good thing. it goes in waves and stages and comes back round again. and they are both very avid readers now. sojust be patient and don't worry too much. if they are engaged and interesting, for example in cookery books or gardening, there are all sorts of ways we can encourage them. having world book day is a real focus on bringing together of everybody. so it is a great thing.— it is a great thing. cookery books. i never thought _ it is a great thing. cookery books. i never thought of _ it is a great thing. cookery books. i never thought of it _ it is a great thing. cookery books. i never thought of it that - it is a great thing. cookery books. i never thought of it that way. - i never thought of it that way. something that is always a pleasure to read, isn't it? what if you've been doing today for world book day. it is always a bit different, especially as the last year has been. what sort of contact have you been. what sort of contact have you been having with children or schools or whatever? t been having with children or schools or whatever?—

or whatever? i have been able to meet with _ or whatever? i have been able to meet with my — or whatever? i have been able to meet with my children _ or whatever? i have been able to meet with my children even - or whatever? i have been able to meet with my children even if. or whatever? i have been able to meet with my children even if it | or whatever? i have been able to | meet with my children even if it is virtually, and soap writers and illustrators are in demand at this time and we are able to sort of allocate days within the week rather than just today. in fact, allocate days within the week rather thanjust today. in fact, in allocate days within the week rather than just today. in fact, in some ways the pandemic has been quite a good thing to encourage us all to engage with technology in ways we might not have thought of before. teachers often generate the questions. yesterday, we had 84 childrenjoining in, year threes and fours and that was fantastic. that was a workshop rather than just me chatting is a presentation. it was a workshop. so it has been enlightening in many ways and i think it's going to be positive for the future because we know if we can't get there for any reason to a school or an event, we can always, we've got the technology now so that has been great. t we've got the technology now so that has been great-— has been great. i wish we could talk to ou for has been great. i wish we could talk

to you for longer. _ has been great. i wish we could talk to you for longer. sorry _ has been great. i wish we could talk to you for longer. sorry to _ has been great. i wish we could talk to you for longer. sorry to end - has been great. i wish we could talk to you for longer. sorry to end it - to you for longer. sorry to end it there but thank you very much indeed. let you get back to a very busy day, i'm sure. amazon has opened its first shop in the uk — and it doesn't have any tills. the supermarket in west london uses smartphone technology to allows customers to choose their items, and then walk out. the company wants to open dozens of similar stores across the country, but privacy campaigners say they have big concerns. here's our business correspondent emma simpson. so here it is, amazon's first physical store outside the us. it's a grocery convenience score. you can probably see there's an awful lot of interest in this. now, to use it all you need is one of these and the amazon app, that's because when you go in you've got a lot of expensive technology. it's full of cameras and sensors tracking everything that you take off the shelves and put in your bag and then once you are done you simply have to walk out. there is no checkout.

so is this a glimpse into the future of shopping? we arejoined by duncan brewer, retail consultant. what do you think, duncan? supermarkets are always looking for ways to make shopping easier for their customers and this is an experience unlike anything else in the uk. i think they're going to be looking with great interest to see if they need to evolve similar technology, similar experiences out into their stores. why is amazon moving onto the high street? i think it's a great time to be moving into the high street. property prices, rental prices are cheap and there's lots of sites available and it's important to remember even the online players need a bricks and mortar presence. a bricks and mortar store can offer things, whether it's brand experience or ultra convenience, that can't be done through a purely online offer. are its rivals, the big supermarkets, going to be worried about this? i'm sure the supermarkets will be watching this closely to see the rate of expansion and see what happens, but the reality

is supermarket retail is always changing and everyone is looking out for the next innovation, to make it betterfor customers, whether it's freshness of product or ease of shopping, and this may be the future. who knows? duncan, thanks very much. and amazon is planning a few more of these in the coming weeks and months. some dramatic pictures now — and ambitions to send humans to mars have suffered another setback after a prototype rocket exploded. the unmanned space—x rocket blew—up after what appeared to have been a successful test flight in the united states. russell trott reports. three, two, one, ignition. we have lift. it was all running so smoothly. the rocket launched from camera county in texas. five minutes in and the spec sex craft begins its

tricky descent back to the landing zone. 12 kilometres of the two feet below. a near perfect landing, or at least that is how it looked, and despite some flames needing to be put out it was all systems go for a second flight. this time, not so good. thankfully, no one was on board, and there were no injuries among the safe decrease on the ground. two previous tests also had failed. space expanded by the tesla electric car entrepreneur, hopes to eventually send a reusable rocket to mars. it may need more testing. now, stav danaos has the weather. hello there. much of this week has been fine and settled thanks to high pressure,

and that is how we are going to end the week, with high—pressure dominating this scene once again. but bringing some cooler air to all areas. so, it will be chilly for the end of the week, and into the weekend, but with a lot of dry weather around. variable cloud, perhaps a little bit of sunshine too. we have got this weak cold front spreading southwards across the country through today, high pressure building in from the north. behind that front, you can see that colder air moving southwards. there will be a little bit of patchy light rain on that front affecting northern england and northern ireland, perhaps the midlands as we move towards the end of the day. behind it, perhaps the few glimmers of brightness, but mostly today it is going to be rather grey and pretty damp, and those temperatures in single figures. low single figures in the north, turning chilly here, and a chilly feel to things further south too. as we head into this evening and overnight, that cold front spreads its way southwards, taking any patchy rain with it. and behind it, skies will tend to clear, so we will see variable cloud and clear skies. and where the skies are clear, it is going to turn cold with some

frost, mainly across more northern and western areas. onshore breeze continuing to keep things a little less frosty across the north sea coast. so here on friday, we end the week with a big area of high pressure slap bang on top of the uk, some cold air wrapped into it though so it really will feel quite chilly. we start off on a cold note, perhaps some sunshine around, as well, more than what we have seen over the last few days, but in the afternoon that cloud may tend to build up, so some areas turning grey. just a slight chance of a shower affecting the north sea coast being blown in on that north—easterly wind. a chilly day for all, temperatures ranging from around five celsius to seven or eight celsius. friday night is going to be called as well, particularly where we have clear skies. and i think we will see more of the widespread frost to greet us for saturday morning. that said, high pressure still with us of the weekend, so it is going to be a cold start and bright with some sunshine, and again through the day we could see some cloud tending to build up, so it could turn a little bit grey for many of us.

a chilly day to come, temperatures mainly 6 celsius to seven or eight celsius. it is a similar story sunday as well, a chilly start, some sunshine around, mainly dry, but change starting to take place across the north and the west, slightly more unsettled conditions here. the weather front is pushing in. more of a breeze. a few showers at times, perhaps a little less cold here than how it will be further south.

this is bbc news. the headlines. the duke of edinburgh will stay in hospital for several days, after having what's been described as a successful procedure for a pre—existing heart condition. it comes as the duchess of sussex tells american television she feels she has to speak out about how the palace treated her and prince harry. i don't know how they could expect that, after all of this time, we would still be just silent if there is an active role that the firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. heated exchanges in the scottish parliament, with opposition msps continuing to press nicola sturgeon about the handling of harassment complaints against alex salmond. there is no argument if nicola sturgeon broke the ministerial code. the argument is only

about how badly she broke it. she hasjust prejudged the outcome of the independent inquiry into the ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political games for the conservatives. a report says countries with more overweight people have had the highest death rates from covid—19, as the government looks at a reward scheme to encourage people to lose weight. and leave your money at home — amazon opens its first supermarket in the uk and it doesn't have any tills. good afternoon. the duke of edinburgh has undergone a procedure for a pre—existing heart condition. buckingham palace says the procedure was successful,

and was carried out yesterday. the duke, who is 99, is expected to stay in hospital for a number of days. the news comes as the royal family is being accused by the duchess of sussex of perpetuating falsehoods about her and and her husband. the dramatic comments are in a newly released excerpt from meghan and prince harry's interview with oprah winfrey for american television. here's our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. it was on monday of this week that the duke was transferred from the king edward vii hospital, where he had spent 13 nights, to st bartholomew's hospital, one of britain's premier centres for cardiac care. he will have been assessed on tuesday and then a surgical procedure yesterday. according to buckingham palace...

it's thought the pre—existing heart condition may refer to the episode ten years ago, when he was admitted by helicopter to pa pworth hospital. he had suffered a blocked coronary artery. a stent was inserted. the queen and other members of the family visited him in hospital — a sign that this had been a moment of real anxiety. this time, the queen is remaining at windsor, where, with her officials, she will doubtless be pondering the latest twists and turns in the sussex saga. last night, the us broadcaster cbs issued another clip from the duchess of sussex's upcoming interview with oprah winfrey. it is not comfortable viewing for the palace. how do you feel about the palace hearing you speak your truth today? i don't know how they could expect that, after all of this time, we would still be just silent if there is an active role that the firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us.

and if that comes with risk of losing things, i mean, there's a lot that has been lost already. as the duchess accuses the palace of perpetuating unspecified falsehoods against her, the palace is preparing to investigate claims from former members of her staff that she bullied them — allegations which the duchess's spokesman has denied. normally, of course, the queen would have her husband at her side to support her at moments such as this. but not just now. but from the palace today, on social media, on this world book day, a reminder of less turbulent times. the queen and the duke together at balmoral in 1976. we have the latest figures on coronavirus cases and deaths in the uk and we can show there is now. in

terms of cases, the latest number is 6573. if we compare that to exactly a week ago, that is a big drop because last week at this time it was 9985. a drop of around 3000 in terms of new cases. in the past 24—hour period, within 28 days of the test, 242 deaths, and comparing that to this time last week it was 323 deaths. again, a big drop in the number of deaths. and vaccinations. those receiving the first dose almost 21 million now. very close to 21 million. the daily rate of vaccinations has slowed from the peak of half a million a day. it is down a little on that but almost 21

million have had theirfirst dose. a leading economic research group says the chancellor's spending plans outlined in yesterday's budget do not look deliverable. the institute for fiscal studies is warning further tax rises may be needed. our economics correspondent, andy verity, has more. this is the traditional assessment we get after every fiscal event, and i have followed a lot of these over the years, and i have rarely seen an assessment as critical of a budget as this one. the ifs welcomes the spending that is going to support the economy, some £65 billion additional spending that rishi sunak is doing. he said it is generous, progressive, and helping the country through the emergency. the ifs agrees and welcomes that, it is just the rest of their assessment that will not be pleasant listening for the chancellor. for example, they are saying that the credibility of the plans to get back into surplus after that

big initial spend to get us out of this hole, well, there is not much credibility to them, is what the ifs are saying. for example, there is a £17 billion cut to public spending relative to the plans that rishi sunak had before the pandemic. pauljohnson, the ifs director, asked how likely he thinks it is that rishi sunak will be able to pull that off, had this assessment. frankly, that doesn't strike me as being terribly plausible. the idea that we will be spending less on education and health and social care and local government and all these things after the pandemic than we thought we would beforehand just doesn't look likely, given that we knowjust even for the minimum things like vaccination and test and trace and ppe and so on, let alone catching up with the huge backlog of operations and the need to catch

up children who have lost so much school and the need to help local authorities and so on. these numbers don't look like they are going to hold. the ifs has also repeatedly focused on what it regards as a double standard. on the one hand, the chancellor is withdrawing the temporary boost to universal credit for six million of the country's poorest families. he has done it for 18 months now, but the ifs is pointing out that that has been withdrawn in october, cutting benefits for the poorest families, while on the other hand his judgment is that you cannot raise taxes on corporations for another three years. and joining the criticism some other ngos have made on the effect that that is going to have on those particular families, and rishi sunak told us this morning he acted generously by expanding it to that level rather than phasing it out. he has pointed to other measures he is taking, like kick—start, like help with paying rent.

but the ifs is saying there are no policies here to deal with the inequality that are forcing over the pandemic between the young and old, between the rich and poor, and also between the better and less well educated. we can talk now to our political correspondent damian grammaticas. interesting to hear that a lot of experts are drilling down into the detail of the budget. yes. experts are drilling down into the detail of the budget.— experts are drilling down into the detail of the budget. yes, they are. drillin: detail of the budget. yes, they are. drilling down _ detail of the budget. yes, they are. drilling down into _ detail of the budget. yes, they are. drilling down into some _ detail of the budget. yes, they are. drilling down into some of- detail of the budget. yes, they are. drilling down into some of the - detail of the budget. yes, they are. drilling down into some of the big l drilling down into some of the big issues that are going to have to be phased,issues issues that are going to have to be phased, issues about the costs the health service will face from the backlog of operations that has built up. all sorts of difficult things in the fine print. one thing people have picked up and politicians particularly have picked up, opposition politicians, is on where some of the money will be going. the government has talked about its desire to level up and put money into communities that might be poorer, might need investment. the criticism has been that the

implication, the way that is being done, it looks like more money will be going to areas that may have voted conservative at the last election, and that this is pork barrel politics, trying to reward areas that have voted for the conservative party or may do in the future. that is something put to borisjohnson future. that is something put to boris johnson today. future. that is something put to borisjohnson today. that future. that is something put to boris johnson today. that this future. that is something put to borisjohnson today. that this might be happening. this is what he said. i think if you look at the map, and one of the functions of the election clearly is that there are a lot of conservative represented towns. i think it isjust a basic electoral fact. but i have asked about this, and i am told that the criteria are entirely objective, and they look into all sorts of data — poverty, unemployment and so on. we want to unite and level up across the whole country, and we want to do it in a completely impartial way. so, that is what we will continue to do. and it is fantastic to be here in teesport and see what's happening,

with the opportunity that they now have to create a free port, and really turbo—charge what they are doing. with carbon capture and storage, with the potential for making new wind turbine technology, making the novavax vaccine just over the way there. quite amazing things starting to happen here. and that is made possible by this free port agenda, and that is part of uniting and levelling up, and if some places have missed out for now, or feel that they have missed out, then we'll make sure we come back and we find the things that they need and get on and do it. that is what this government is all about. one person who thinks his area is missing out is danjarvis, the mayor of sheffield city region. he looked at some of the detail in documents that get produced with the budget, looking at the levelling up fund and

in that, but he pointed out is that there is a ranking for every area of there is a ranking for every area of the country, how your priority and need for funds, the country, how your priority and need forfunds, priority the country, how your priority and need for funds, priority one is the highest need, and he said richmond, which is the constituency of richmond in yorkshire, falls under an area that looks like it is level one. but if you go to barnsley, which he says is more deprived, that is level two. why? he says richmond is level two. why? he says richmond is the constituency of rishi sunak, the chancellor. he thinks there are questions to be answered. he has written to rishi sunak and in his letter he talked about the pandemic and said it has disproportionately targeted the most disadvantaged communities, government support has not. his labour colleague lisa nandy was asked about this today, as well. well, he could deal with this pretty quickly.

he could publish the criteria on which these decisions were made. it beggars belief, frankly, that the government is still refusing to do so. he could make sure that local areas are actually driving many of these decisions. at the moment, the decisions are being made from whitehall. the government has learned nothing about the fact that most people in towns know far better how they want their town centres to look and feel than civil servants hundreds of miles away. they have given a huge role to mps in this process, which of course opens them up to suggestions of american—style pork barrel politics, where they try to favour constituencies that are in their electoral interests. he could deal with that very quickly. the fact that he hasn't, i think, willjust say to many many people around this country that they are desperate for investment in the high streets. that there is something wrong with this allocation of funding. it is not fair, not right, not transparent. it cannot be right that more affluent areas are getting priority over more deprived areas, and the government needs

to clean its act up. i think we can be sure this argument will run, as money is pushed out, areas will be arguing they should be first. �* , areas will be arguing they should be first. 3 :, r' areas will be arguing they should be first. 3 areas will be arguing they should be first. �*, first. let's ask you something entirely different, _ first. let's ask you something entirely different, which - first. let's ask you something entirely different, which is . first. let's ask you something i entirely different, which is about legal action brought against the home secretary priti patel by one of her government's top civil servants, sir philip rutland.— sir philip rutland. there has been a development- _ sir philip rutland. there has been a development. it _ sir philip rutland. there has been a development. it goes _ sir philip rutland. there has been a development. it goes back - sir philip rutland. there has been a development. it goes back to - sir philip rutland. there has been a development. it goes back to the i development. it goes back to the last year sir philip rutnam a top level civil servant and he said there was a vicious an orchestrated campaign against him. he had received allegations about the behaviour of the home secretary priti patel. he resigned. he brought a case, what he said was constructive dismissal. that legal case has been in the background and what we have today is a settlement

in that between the government and sir philip rutnam in which the government is not admitting to any liability, but the statement says the representatives have jointly concluded it is seen both parties�* interest to reach a settlement rather than go to employment tribunal. the government does not accept liability and what it has done is paid him a substantial sum in compensation.— let's get more reaction to the budget — we can speak to debbie todd who runs a small business and alex hannay who is the assistant manager at the grapes pub in banford in greater manchester. he's been on and off furlough for the last year. did you hear much good news in the budget? taste did you hear much good news in the buduet? ~ , did you hear much good news in the budaet? , . , budget? we were listening closely and from what _ budget? we were listening closely and from what we _ budget? we were listening closely and from what we heard _ budget? we were listening closely and from what we heard it - budget? we were listening closely| and from what we heard it sounded positive. we hoped that thurlow

would be extended. we have staff reliant on it at the moment, and to hear that would happen was good news —— furlough scheme. you hear that would happen was good news -- furlough scheme.— -- furlough scheme. you have been on and off furlough. _ -- furlough scheme. you have been on and off furlough. i _ -- furlough scheme. you have been on and off furlough. i was _ -- furlough scheme. you have been on and off furlough. i was first _ -- furlough scheme. you have been on and off furlough. i was first put - -- furlough scheme. you have been on and off furlough. i was first put on - and off furlough. i was first put on in the first — and off furlough. i was first put on in the first lockdown _ and off furlough. i was first put on in the first lockdown and - and off furlough. i was first put on in the first lockdown and got - and off furlough. i was first put on in the first lockdown and got my i in the first lockdown and got my first payment on the 17th of april and when we came out of the first lockdown i think that was 4th of july, and moving forward to november, back into lockdown, through to the tier system and into lockdown again and all that time i have been on furlough. haifa lockdown again and all that time i have been on furlough. how badly has our have been on furlough. how badly has your business — have been on furlough. how badly has your business been _ have been on furlough. how badly has your business been hit _ have been on furlough. how badly has your business been hit by _ have been on furlough. how badly has your business been hit by the - your business been hit by the pandemic and to what extent do the measures the chancellor announced help you? me measures the chancellor announced hel ou? ~ :, measures the chancellor announced hel ou? ~ ., : help you? we are hopeful. we were hit relatively — help you? we are hopeful. we were hit relatively badly. _ help you? we are hopeful. we were hit relatively badly. in _ help you? we are hopeful. we were hit relatively badly. in hospitality i hit relatively badly. in hospitality we are almost exclusively reliant on people coming in and spending money on food and drinks. when we were

forced to close, our revenue stream vanished in a heartbeat. we were so concerned. the thing we were able to take relief from were staff wages would be covered to a degree. that is a huge amount of expenditure for the business and in that regard we knew we were saved. moving forward with the new measures, there is because for hope. we know that in time over the next couple of months is the opportunity we might be able to reopen and in the meantime we are waiting and seeing.— waiting and seeing. debbie, you have a small business _ waiting and seeing. debbie, you have a small business organising _ waiting and seeing. debbie, you have a small business organising arts i waiting and seeing. debbie, you have a small business organising arts and l a small business organising arts and crafts workshops for organisations and individuals. to what extent did the budget help? it is and individuals. to what extent did the budget help?— the budget help? it is not clear at the budget help? it is not clear at the moment- _ the budget help? it is not clear at the moment. i— the budget help? it is not clear at the moment. i am _ the budget help? it is not clear at the moment. i am excluded. i the budget help? it is not clear at| the moment. i am excluded. when the budget help? it is not clear at i the moment. i am excluded. when i turned _ the moment. i am excluded. when i turned 50 _ the moment. i am excluded. when i turned 50 i— the moment. i am excluded. when i turned 50 i took my pension. it is classed _ turned 50 i took my pension. it is classed as— turned 50 i took my pension. it is classed as other employment. up

until last — classed as other employment. up until last year, the recent tax, it has gone — until last year, the recent tax, it has gone on _ until last year, the recent tax, it has gone on the last three years as an average. — has gone on the last three years as an average, which means i earn more from _ an average, which means i earn more from other— an average, which means i earn more from other income. at the moment, it is not _ from other income. at the moment, it is not clear— from other income. at the moment, it is not clear whether the tax return will be _ is not clear whether the tax return will be the — is not clear whether the tax return will be the only year that is accepted for everybody for the fourth — accepted for everybody for the fourth and fifth grant or whether it is newly— fourth and fifth grant or whether it is newly self—employed people. would is newly self-employed people. would ou have is newly self-employed people. would you have liked — is newly self-employed people. would you have liked to _ is newly self-employed people. would you have liked to have _ is newly self-employed people. would you have liked to have more _ is newly self—employed people. “wmlc you have liked to have more support from the chancellor yesterday? yes. there are still _ from the chancellor yesterday? yes. there are still a _ from the chancellor yesterday? yes. there are still a lot _ from the chancellor yesterday? yes. there are still a lot of— from the chancellor yesterday? yes. there are still a lot of gaps. still pushing — there are still a lot of gaps. still pushing forward for parity, excluded uk. pushing forward for parity, excluded uk~ there _ pushing forward for parity, excluded uk. there are too many people falling — uk. there are too many people falling through the gaps with round pe-s falling through the gaps with round pegs in _ falling through the gaps with round pegs in square holes. it falling through the gaps with round pegs in square holes.— pegs in square holes. it has been tou~h for pegs in square holes. it has been tough for small _ pegs in square holes. it has been tough for small businesses. i pegs in square holes. it has been| tough for small businesses. what pegs in square holes. it has been i tough for small businesses. what has it been like for you? me tough for small businesses. what has it been like for you?— it been like for you? we had a full dia a it been like for you? we had a full diary a year— it been like for you? we had a full diary a year ago- _ it been like for you? we had a full diary a year ago. some _ it been like for you? we had a full

diary a year ago. some amazing i diary a year ago. some amazing places. — diary a year ago. some amazing places, people to work with. due to social— places, people to work with. due to social distancing, all of that work has pretty— social distancing, all of that work has pretty much gone. it was an emotional— has pretty much gone. it was an emotional roller—coaster, a year of picking _ emotional roller—coaster, a year of picking up— emotional roller—coaster, a year of picking up the phone to people and saying _ picking up the phone to people and saying i_ picking up the phone to people and saying i am sorry, we cannot have you _ saying i am sorry, we cannot have you it _ saying i am sorry, we cannot have you it is — saying i am sorry, we cannot have you. it is really going to be june when _ you. it is really going to be june when we — you. it is really going to be june when we can start again, subject to us getting — when we can start again, subject to us getting there and meeting the different— us getting there and meeting the different stages.— us getting there and meeting the different stages. alex, when are you thinkin: different stages. alex, when are you thinking you — different stages. alex, when are you thinking you will— different stages. alex, when are you thinking you will reopen? _ different stages. alex, when are you thinking you will reopen? we - different stages. alex, when are you thinking you will reopen? we will i thinking you will reopen? we will ho efull thinking you will reopen? we will hopefully reopen _ thinking you will reopen? we will hopefully reopen outdoors - thinking you will reopen? we will hopefully reopen outdoors as i thinking you will reopen? we will. hopefully reopen outdoors as soon thinking you will reopen? we will i hopefully reopen outdoors as soon as possible, april the 12th. we only have a limited amount of seating so we are looking forward to reopening indoors, which will be made the 17th, all being good. haifa indoors, which will be made the 17th, all being good.— indoors, which will be made the 17th, all being good. how do you feel about _ 17th, all being good. how do you feel about the _ 17th, all being good. how do you feel about the future? _ 17th, all being good. how do you feel about the future? are i 17th, all being good. how do you feel about the future? are you i feel about the future? are you optimistic that people will come back to your pub? will you get the business back up and running quickly? we business back up and running ruickl ? ~ :, , business back up and running ruickl ?~ . ~ :,

quickly? we hope so. we know there is a two-pronged _ quickly? we hope so. we know there is a two-pronged advantage - quickly? we hope so. we know there is a two-pronged advantage with i quickly? we hope so. we know there is a two-pronged advantage with the | is a two—pronged advantage with the furlough scheme in that customers who have taken advantage of the scheme, as soon as we open, they have said they will not be waiting for a paycheque as it were, they will be able to spend money straightaway, which would be fantastic. we have the infrastructure to get going as soon as possible. we are positive we will be able to do something good and we have loyal customers. i think, hopefully, it will be ok. t have loyal customers. i think, hopefully, it will be ok.- have loyal customers. i think, hopefully, it will be ok. i am sure the will hopefully, it will be ok. i am sure they will be _ hopefully, it will be ok. i am sure they will be queueing _ hopefully, it will be ok. i am sure they will be queueing up - hopefully, it will be ok. i am sure they will be queueing up to - hopefully, it will be ok. i am sure they will be queueing up to get i hopefully, it will be ok. i am sure i they will be queueing up to get back in! debbie, whatabout they will be queueing up to get back in! debbie, what about your business? how do you feel, are you optimistic looking into the post—pandemic world? t optimistic looking into the post- pandemic world? post-pandemic world? i am optimistic- _ post-pandemic world? i am optimistic. i— post-pandemic world? i am optimistic. i am _ post-pandemic world? i am optimistic. i am not- post-pandemic world? i am | optimistic. i am not prepared post—pandemic world? i am optimistic. i am not prepared to give _ optimistic. i am not prepared to give uo — optimistic. i am not prepared to give uo i— optimistic. i am not prepared to give up. i have a loyal customer base _ give up. i have a loyal customer base it — give up. i have a loyal customer base it is — give up. i have a loyal customer base. it is nothing i have personally done wrong. i am hoping my corporate clients will have me back but —

my corporate clients will have me back but their hands are tied as much _ back but their hands are tied as much as— back but their hands are tied as much as mine at the moment. this was my dream _ much as mine at the moment. this was my dream business and what i wanted to do _ my dream business and what i wanted to do i_ my dream business and what i wanted to do i am _ my dream business and what i wanted to do. i am not going to give up. do not to do. i am not going to give up. not give up. a to do. i am not going to give up. dr? not give up. a good message to everybody. good luck to you. the european commission has blocked the export of astrazeneca's coronavirus vaccine, produced in italy and destined for australia, after the drug manufacturer failed to meet its eu contract commitments. ark lowen joins us live from rome mark lowen joins us live from rome we have heard about vaccine nationalism and walls, this looks like a vaccine blockade. it is nationalism and walls, this looks like a vaccine blockade.— like a vaccine blockade. it is a muscular— like a vaccine blockade. it is a muscular move _ like a vaccine blockade. it is a muscular move by _ like a vaccine blockade. it is a muscular move by one - like a vaccine blockade. it is a muscular move by one of- like a vaccine blockade. it is a muscular move by one of the | like a vaccine blockade. it is a i muscular move by one of the eu's heavyweights. 250,000 doses of the astrazeneca vaccine produced near rome and bound for australia have

been blocked for export by italy. it is under a new eu wide scheme in which vaccine manufacturers must ask permission from the country where the vaccine is produced before export. it is a move made by the new prime minister of italy who is an influentialfigure, he was prime minister of italy who is an influential figure, he was the president of the european central bank before and he argued in a video conference call with eu leaders in january that these rules need to be applied very rigorously. he is furious at the reduction by astrazeneca of vaccines they had been contracted to provide by up to 70% in the first trimester and 50% in the second trimester. he has put in the second trimester. he has put in place the blockade, which has been agreed by the european commission. taste been agreed by the european commission.— been agreed by the european commission. ~ :, ., ., :, been agreed by the european commission. :, ., ., :, :, commission. we have heard a lot of fine words from _ commission. we have heard a lot of fine words from european _ commission. we have heard a lot of fine words from european leaders i fine words from european leaders saying there cannot be vaccine nationalism and nobody is safe until

the world is safe. and yet here we are with this blockade. this the world is safe. and yet here we are with this blockade.— are with this blockade. this is a new scheme — are with this blockade. this is a new scheme agreed _ are with this blockade. this is a new scheme agreed at - are with this blockade. this is a new scheme agreed at the i are with this blockade. this is a new scheme agreed at the end | are with this blockade. this is a i new scheme agreed at the end of january and amidst the acrimonious war of words with britain and accusations that astrazeneca particularly failed to live up to commitments with eu countries because it was providing some of the doses originally bound for europe to non—eu countries. there is a scheme thatis non—eu countries. there is a scheme that is finite. eu leaders say it will not go on for ever. the fact it is going to be implemented i think will clearly ramp up the war of words and race for vaccines. we have yet to get a response from astrazeneca. we also understand the italian prime minister spoke about it with borisjohnson in a call today. clearly, the eu is flexing its muscles in this vaccine war. than its muscles in this vaccine war. an interesting development. thanks.

scientists tracking the spread of coronavirus say infections in england have continued to fall, though the rate of decrease may have slowed. the findings from imperial college london are based on swab samples last month. and as the government announces extra funding to try to tackle obesity in england, a new report shows that 90% of covid deaths worldwide have happened in countries where more than half the population is overweight — that includes the uk. here's our health correspondent catherine burns. the health secretary today checking in on the latest in the race between us and coronavirus. last year, it was all about scientists creating vaccines. now the race continues, tweaking those vaccines to make sure they keep pace with the virus as it mutates. this is all about making sure that if we need an updated vaccine to work against these new variants, we can get it approved and into people's arms as soon

as is safely possible. the vaccines we have got now were designed to fight the original version of coronavirus. they do still work against new variants but maybe not quite as well. scientists are already working to update them, and now the regulator, the mhra, says when they are ready they can be fast tracked through the approval system. the government has also announced more money to deal with obesity, £100 million to encourage people to get to and stay at a healthy weight. this comes as a report from the world obesity forum says 90% of covid deaths around the world have happened in countries with high obesity levels. the reverse is true too — countries like vietnam, with low numbers of overweight people, have not been as badly affected. vietnam has one of the lowest rates in the world, 0.04 per 100,000 people have died of covid and 18% of its population is overweight. in comparison, the uk has one

of the worst covid death tolls, with 182 people dying out of every 100,000. 64% of people here are overweight. we are still studying to understand exactly the mechanisms but it is something we have seen with h1n1 as well, people with obesity tend to die more from influenza as well, so it's not exactly news to us. the problem is we haven't really done anything about obesity until now. on monday, schoolchildren across england will head back to classrooms, the first step in lifting this lockdown. today though, researchers are warning the fall in infections in england could be slowing down. we are seeing pockets where there seems to be the suggestion of increasing rates, so we have a mixed picture of quite large falls and then the possibility that things are rising in certain areas. those areas include london, the south—east and the midlands.

it is based on just a few days' data, but worth keeping an eye on, especially as it looks like this is happening before we come out of lockdown. catherine burns, bbc news. now,— figures from the ons show that more than 40% of over—80s who received a coronavirus vaccine during the current lockdown appear to have since broken the rules by meeting up with someone indoors. let's speak to our news correspondent charlotte wright. it is often young people accused of breaking the rules during the time of coronavirus. this breaking the rules during the time of coronavirus.— of coronavirus. this is the older eo - le. of coronavirus. this is the older people. interesting _ of coronavirus. this is the older people. interesting survey i of coronavirus. this is the older i people. interesting survey looking at people aged over 80. it seems to suggest that some elderly people, over 80, suggest that some elderly people, over80, have suggest that some elderly people, over 80, have been flouting lockdown restriction since having had the vaccine. the implication being i suppose there is a degree of confidence having had one or both

doses. the survey came from the office for national statistics who spoke to more than 2000 over 805 in england. in mid—february, a crucial date because the lockdown wa5 england. in mid—february, a crucial date because the lockdown was in place at that point and the government by that point said it had offered a first dose of the vaccine to all over 805, they found in this survey that 43% of those surveyed said they had met up with somebody other than a personal care support worker, someone in their household or social bubble, since being vaccinated, which you are not allowed to do in the restrictions. but the vaccine was being rolled out before these lockdown restrictions came into play and so some of those meetings may have been within the rules. what is interesting is 41% of over 805 vaccinated in the past three weeks from mid—february, they said they had met with someone other

than their support worker, household bubble, member of their household indoors during that time, suggesting that some of these people have been breaking lockdown rules. iloathed that some of these people have been breaking lockdown rules.— breaking lockdown rules. what is the reaction to the _ breaking lockdown rules. what is the reaction to the figures? _ breaking lockdown rules. what is the reaction to the figures? age - breaking lockdown rules. what is the reaction to the figures? age uk i breaking lockdown rules. what is the reaction to the figures? age uk the i reaction to the figures? age uk the chari said reaction to the figures? age uk the charity said it _ reaction to the figures? age uk the charity said it is _ reaction to the figures? age uk the charity said it is not _ reaction to the figures? age uk the charity said it is not that _ reaction to the figures? age uk the charity said it is not that simple i charity said it is not that simple and they said it is not a surprise some over 805 may not have abided by the letter of lockdown guidance because many families they say will have felt the need to pop in to help loved ones. caroline abrahams from age uk said loneliness and depression mean some will think it is better to take a calculated risk of them feel profoundly miserable on their own. but this survey suggests there are people taking that calculated risk during this lockdown.— calculated risk during this lockdown. ., :, ., ,, , :, now it's time for a look at charlotte, thank you. the weather with stav. an area of high pressure is building

in the north of the country that is going to end things on a fine and settled note for this week, and indeed into the weekend. we will hold onto high pressure, but it is going to be chilly for all areas. high pressure pushing down from the north, a very weak cold front spreading southwards across the country today. it will introduce patchy, light rain behind it, and the colder air will move southward. that band of thick cloud with some patchy rain will eventually push away from the south—west of the country tonight, and in many places it will be dry with some clear spells and variable cloud. this is where we have the clearer skies across northern and western areas, that is where it will be coldest, but some frost here. for friday, a chilly start, but we should see some sunshine around, something we haven't seen widespread in the country for quite a while. into the afternoon, it will be cloudier, and it is going to be charity for all, around five degrees. —— to ——to8 —— to 8 degrees. hello.

the headlines — the duke of edinburgh will stay in hospital for a number of days, after having whats been described as a successful procedure for a pre—existing heart condition. it comes as the duchess of sussex tells american television she feels she has to speak out about how the palace treated her and prince harry. heated exchanges at holyrood, with opposition msps continuing to press nicola sturgeon about the handling of harassment complaints against alex salmond. the number of coronavirus infections in england continues to fall but the rate of decline appears to be slowing — the health secretary says it's cause for concern. and, leave your money at home — amazon opens its first supermarket in the uk, and it doesn't have any tills. sport, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre.

here's jane. dare i ask you what is happening with the cricket? you might well ask attentively, it is all over for today. england have a lot of work to do in ahmedabad. they won the toss but were all out for 205 on the first day of the final test against india. england need victory in this match if they want to level the series. at close of play, india were 24—1 in reply. joe wilson was watching the action. cue patel. exit dom sibley. now zac, attack. crawley mis—hit directly into those waiting hands and england were two down. remember whenjoe root used to score 2005? out for five, lbw. here's an exchange between muhammad siraj and ben stokes, soon india's captain virat kohli stepped in.

"two blokes showing they care," is how stokes described it. certainly, no ground given in world cricket's biggest stadium. stokes provided england's meaningful innings. he got to 50 with the promise of more. that's coming, it's been given. he was out for 55. england had picked an extra batsman, dan lawrence, and scoring was feasible. it wasn't easy. india saw to that. folks, seventh man out. lawrence was expanding, and in all seriousness considered the umpire, it's a dangerous business. that was a well executed miss. this wasn't. oh, that's gone. lawrence stranded and stumped for 46. england soon all out for 205. if you bat badly you must bowl brilliantly, hold on. anderson struck, one wicket late thursday, maybe more early on friday? yeah, that's a big maybe. joe wilson, bbc news.

so disappointing for england, ben stokes passed his half century, but said it was one of the toughest days he'd ever experienced with the bat. i have played 70 odd games now, this is the hardest. these are the hardest conditions that i have faced as a batsman. obviously, i have played all around the world. yeah, i do not think it is necessarily... it is a case of finding it your own way. it is not about coming to gather as a group, this is what we need to do better as a group. staying with cricket, and the pakistan super league has been suspended until later in the year, after seven players, including england's tom banton, tested positive for coronavirus. organising officials said plans of an initial five—day lockdown were turned down because of fears over player safety, but paul stirling from islamabad united says the situation could have been handled faster.

it was our team that had the first break— it was our team that had the first break on — it was our team that had the first break on sunday, and i think it was probably— break on sunday, and i think it was probably more reactionary than it should _ probably more reactionary than it should have been. it should have been _ should have been. it should have been a _ should have been. it should have been a lot— should have been. it should have been a lot more proactive work done i been a lot more proactive work done ithink. _ been a lot more proactive work done i think, without saying too much, but we're — i think, without saying too much, but we're just hopeful, hopeful that we can— but we're just hopeful, hopeful that we can get— but we're just hopeful, hopeful that we can get home. we should be able to now. _ we can get home. we should be able to now, hopefully we do come back and it— to now, hopefully we do come back and it is— to now, hopefully we do come back and it is a _ to now, hopefully we do come back and it is a little bit better. the english fa has announced the women's fa cup will resume later this month. the 2021 competition was stopped injanuary, because of the third national lockdown with 'non—elite' football suspended. one first—round and 17 second round ties are still to be played. teams from the women's super league and championship willjoin the competition in round four. dates for the later rounds and the final at wembley are still to be confirmed. and this year's le mans 24—hour endurance race has been postponed from june until august, when spectators should be able to be present. last year's race at the circuit in western france was held

in september without fans, because of the covid pandemic. organisers say the race will now start on the 21st of august. that's all the sport for now. there have been heated exchanges at holyrood, with opposition msps continuing to press nicola sturgeon at first minister's questions, about the scottish government's handling of harassment complaints against her predecessor alex salmond. our political correspondent nick eardley has been following developments. eight hours in total yesterday, and i think there was a bit of a collective sigh of relief among nicola sturgeon's team after that session, because they don't think there was any kind of knockout blow, there was any kind of knockout blow, there was any kind of knockout blow, there was no moment where the first minister was under real significant pressure, perhaps struggling to give an answer. that said, i don't think

this story is going to go away, because there are still questions being asked about nicola sturgeon's account, and some accusations still being bandied about that she broke the ministerial code. that is something that in normal times her opponent say she would have to resign for. so there are a couple of things that have come up today. one is meetings that she held with mr salmond and why they weren't recorded as government meetings, even though she knew that mr salmond was talking to her about an investigation that her government was undertaking. the second is about whether the government wasted taxpayers's money by continuing to fight mr salmond in court about the case that he brought against them. now, back in october 2018, the government's lawyers suggested there were some big issues with its case. it wasn't dropped untiljanuary 2019 and that has raised a few eyebrows and that has raised a few eyebrows and it dominated at first ministers questions today. have a listen to this exchange between ruth davidson

and nicola sturgeon. find this exchange between ruth davidson and nicola sturgeon.— and nicola sturgeon. and what we have already _ and nicola sturgeon. and what we have already seen _ and nicola sturgeon. and what we have already seen shows - and nicola sturgeon. and what we have already seen shows there i and nicola sturgeon. and what we have already seen shows there is l and nicola sturgeon. and what we i have already seen shows there is no argument _ have already seen shows there is no argument if— have already seen shows there is no argument if the government ignored le-al argument if the government ignored legal advice, they did. the argument is if they— legal advice, they did. the argument is if they did it for three weeks or for more — is if they did it for three weeks or for more than three months. there is no argument — for more than three months. there is no argument if the first minister was at _ no argument if the first minister was at fault for losing more than a half—million pound of taxpayers money, — half—million pound of taxpayers money, the argue is how much she is to blame _ money, the argue is how much she is to blame for~ — money, the argue is how much she is to blame for. there is no argument if nicola _ to blame for. there is no argument if nicola sturgeon broke the ministerial code, the argument is only about — ministerial code, the argument is only about how badly she broke it. we believe the sanction is to go. why doesn't she? i we believe the sanction is to go. why doesn't she?— why doesn't she? i think ruth davidson has _ why doesn't she? i think ruth davidson hasjust _ why doesn't she? i think ruth davidson hasjust shown i why doesn't she? i think ruth davidson hasjust shown heri why doesn't she? i think ruth i davidson hasjust shown her true colours _ davidson hasjust shown her true colours and — davidson hasjust shown her true colours and the _ davidson hasjust shown her true colours and the conservative i davidson hasjust shown her true| colours and the conservative true colours _ colours and the conservative true colours all — colours and the conservative true colours all over _ colours and the conservative true colours all over again, _ colours and the conservative true colours all over again, because i colours and the conservative true | colours all over again, because of course _ colours all over again, because of course she — colours all over again, because of course she stands— colours all over again, because of course she stands up— colours all over again, because of course she stands up here - colours all over again, because of course she stands up here and i colours all over again, because of course she stands up here and to| course she stands up here and to scrutiny— course she stands up here and to scrutiny and _ course she stands up here and to scrutiny and democracy- course she stands up here and to scrutiny and democracy and - course she stands up here and to scrutiny and democracy and duel scrutiny and democracy and due process— scrutiny and democracy and due process is— scrutiny and democracy and due process is really— scrutiny and democracy and due process is really important, i scrutiny and democracy and due process is really important, but| process is really important, but 'ust process is really important, but just as — process is really important, but just as on — process is really important, but just as on tuesday— process is really important, but just as on tuesday night - process is really important, but just as on tuesday night the - just as on tuesday night the conservatives— just as on tuesday night the conservatives prejudged - just as on tuesday night the conservatives prejudged my just as on tuesday night the - conservatives prejudged my evidence to the _ conservatives prejudged my evidence to the parliamentary— conservatives prejudged my evidence to the parliamentary enquiry, - conservatives prejudged my evidence to the parliamentary enquiry, she - to the parliamentary enquiry, she has to the parliamentary enquiry, she hasjust_ to the parliamentary enquiry, she hasjust prejudged _ to the parliamentary enquiry, she has just prejudged the _ to the parliamentary enquiry, she hasjust prejudged the outcome . to the parliamentary enquiry, she | hasjust prejudged the outcome of the independent _ hasjust prejudged the outcome of the independent enquiry- hasjust prejudged the outcome of the independent enquiry into- hasjust prejudged the outcome of the independent enquiry into the i the independent enquiry into the ministerial— the independent enquiry into the ministerial code. _ the independent enquiry into the ministerial code. this— the independent enquiry into the ministerial code. this is- the independent enquiry into the ministerial code. this isjust - the independent enquiry into the i ministerial code. this isjust about desperate — ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political— ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political games - ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political games for- ministerial code. this isjust about desperate political games for the i desperate political games for the

conservatives. _ desperate political games for the conservatives.— desperate political games for the conservatives. �* . , conservatives. anyone that has been followin: conservatives. anyone that has been following this — conservatives. anyone that has been following this story _ conservatives. anyone that has been following this story closely, - conservatives. anyone that has been following this story closely, or - following this story closely, or anyone that even made it through the late hours yesterday, and seven hours of alex salmond on friday, will know it is really complicated, and a lot of it is down to interpretation. it is not black—and—white, not everything is obvious, but there are two points over the next few weeks where there will be something of a conclusion. the committee that ms sturgeon was at yesterday is going to produce a report, looking at all of the different angles of the story. that should be within the next three weeks or so, and ms sturgeon's independent adviser on the ministerial code is also going to deliver his conclusions, probably later this month, and i think that latter investigation in particular is going to be really important, into figuring out whether miss sturgeon actually broke the rules that she was supposed to follow. as we mentioned earlier, countries with high levels of overweight people, such as the uk and the us, have the highest death rates from covid—i9.

a study found 90% of the 2.5 million covid—i9 deaths worldwide have happened in countries where more than half of the population is overweight. here, health officials are to examine whether paying people to exercise could help drive down levels of obesity. sir keith mills, who founded the air miles and nectar rewards programmes, is to look at ways to use incentives to support people who choose healthier diets and do more physical activity. let's discuss this further with kim roberts, ceo of henry — a healthy lifestyle charity which has helped bring down rates of child hood obesity. kim, good to have you with us. first of all, just tell us what you have been doing to drive down obesity. so, what we're doing is we are working in early life, so we're getting on at the beginning, because we know that it's really hard to reverse obesity once it's

established, so the henry focus is on supporting families to provide the conditions for a healthy childhood, because if we can get children into healthy habits in the beginning, we are preventing obesity before it is established.— before it is established. people have talked _ before it is established. people have talked about _ before it is established. people have talked about obesity - before it is established. people have talked about obesity is . before it is established. people have talked about obesity is a i have talked about obesity is a problem in this country for many, many years, but has covid really exposed just how serious and how dangerous this problem is? i think absolutely it _ dangerous this problem is? i think absolutely it has. _ dangerous this problem is? i think absolutely it has. as _ dangerous this problem is? i think absolutely it has. as you - dangerous this problem is? i think absolutely it has. as you were - dangerous this problem is? i think absolutely it has. as you were just saying, the highest covid death rate, so in the countries where more than half the population is overweight, and i think what that is telling us is had more of the uk population been a healthy weight pre—pandemic, we may not have had so many deaths. 50 pre-pandemic, we may not have had so many deaths— many deaths. so aside from the very aood work many deaths. so aside from the very good work you _ many deaths. so aside from the very good work you are _ many deaths. so aside from the very good work you are doing _ many deaths. so aside from the very good work you are doing with - good work you are doing with children, what else do you think this country needs to do to bring down obesity, to make people generally healthier?— down obesity, to make people generally healthier? well, i think the first thing _

generally healthier? well, i think the first thing i _ generally healthier? well, i think the first thing i would _ generally healthier? well, i think the first thing i would say - generally healthier? well, i think the first thing i would say is - generally healthier? well, i think| the first thing i would say is there is no one magic solution. if there were, we wouldn't be in the position that we are in, and we wouldn't have had rising obesity rates. obesity is a very complex issue. i think we need to look at the roots of obesity, because obviously where people are already living with obesity, we need to give them every help and encouragement and support we can to help them lose weight. but we can to help them lose weight. but we also need to be upstream. we need to be thinking about what is it about our society, about the world we live in, that is contributing... tell us, briefly, what is it about our society?— tell us, briefly, what is it about our socie ? ~ ~ . our society? well, i think we have chanced, our society? well, i think we have changed. our— our society? well, i think we have changed, our lifestyles _ our society? well, i think we have changed, our lifestyles have - our society? well, i think we have i changed, our lifestyles have changed over the last 30 years. it is much more normal to be eating pre—food, take a ways, high street, crammed with food shops. families are busy

and we know at henry with the work we do with families parents tell us it is often really hard to lead a healthy family lifestyle with all those different pressures. so i think what we need to do is support families, support parents, because it is healthy, happy adults who will bring up a healthy, happy next generation. but bring up a healthy, happy next generation-— generation. but surely there is pressures _ generation. but surely there is pressures you _ generation. but surely there is pressures you talk _ generation. but surely there is pressures you talk about - generation. but surely there is pressures you talk about apply generation. but surely there is i pressures you talk about apply to lots of countries around the world, so why is it specifically the uk has such a serious problem with weight and obesity?— and obesity? absolutely, yeah, we are near the _ and obesity? absolutely, yeah, we are near the top _ and obesity? absolutely, yeah, we are near the top of— and obesity? absolutely, yeah, we are near the top of a _ and obesity? absolutely, yeah, we are near the top of a very - are near the top of a very unenviable league table. i think it is generally western countries who have this problem, so it is about a western lifestyle. i think we do really need to be addressing that at a systemic level, looking at, you know, food regulation. we need to be really trying to make a difference

at different levels, so there is that sort of population level regulation. we also need to be looking at supporting individuals, supporting families, focusing on prevention in early life, as well as treatment. prevention in early life, as well as treatment-— prevention in early life, as well as treatment. , ., . ,, ., treatment. very good to talk to you and net treatment. very good to talk to you and get your— treatment. very good to talk to you and get your perspective, _ treatment. very good to talk to you and get your perspective, thank - treatment. very good to talk to you | and get your perspective, thank you so much. the european union's highest court has ruled that britain has systematically breached agreed air pollution limits for years, and ordered it to comply with the guidelines. if it fails to do so, it may be fined. britain has left the eu, but it has agreed to respect court decisions in cases — such as today's — that started before brexit. our energy and environment analyst, roger harrabin, explains. the uk, since 2010, has been in regular breach of standards set by the eu in terms of n02 pollution toxic gas, which comes from home boilers and also, particularly, from cars and particularly affects people around busy roads. the government has tried to get round the problem by telling local

authorities that this is primarily a local issue, you can sort things out in a local sort of way. but it has been taken to court and accused of failing in its duty to protect its citizens, and the european court has found the uk is guilty. the government has to prove to the court it is putting in a plausible plan to end toxic emissions where people live as quickly as possible. this issue is the one it has fallen down on in the past, where the government has said it is going as quickly as possible and the court has ruled, no, we think you can go an awful lot faster. so the pressure is on the government again to come up with results on this issue. as you mentioned, it is still under the jurisdiction of the court because the court case started before brexit. what happens now is if the european commission decides again it does not

think the uk is going fast enough, it can send the case back to the court, and the court can rule then, potentially, and fine the uk. and here we get into murky legal ground, because it is not clear, legally, whether the uk can now say, well, actually, we have left the eu, thanks, we are not going to take up that fine. we need to see how that one is going to end. germany's vaccine commission has approved the use of the oxford—astrazeneca jab in people aged over 65. the country previously approved it for under—655 only, citing insufficient data on its effects on older people. we can talk now to professor klaus uberla from the german society of immunology. some people might say this decision comes a little bit late, because there has already been a lot of mixed messages and muddled

communications, in germany and around europe, on the oxford astrazeneca vaccine, and it means that a lot of people have decided that a lot of people have decided that they don't want to have it? well, let me first say that the time point of our first revelation, there was one covid case in the more than 65—year—old of the vaccine group and one in the relevant control group, so this wasn't good evidence for efficacy of the vaccine in this age group, and the we therefore decided to wait for additional data, which were obtained at the end of last week, and that is why we now have re—evaluated our decision, and clearly are happy to confirm the efficacy now in the more than 65 years old. efficacy now in the more than 65 ears old. �* ., ., ~' efficacy now in the more than 65 years old-— efficacy now in the more than 65 ears old. �* . ,, years old. but looking back, with hindsiuht, years old. but looking back, with hindsight. do _ years old. but looking back, with hindsight, do you _ years old. but looking back, with hindsight, do you think - years old. but looking back, with hindsight, do you think there - years old. but looking back, with| hindsight, do you think there was years old. but looking back, with i hindsight, do you think there was a mistake now? because we have had european politicians like president macron, he said that the oxford astrazeneca vaccine was crazy and

effective in people over 65 and again that put a lot of —— quasi—ineffective. again that put a lot of -- quasi-ineffective.- again that put a lot of -- quasi-ineffective. again that put a lot of -- uuasi-ineffective. . �* , ., . quasi-ineffective. that's not what we said, quasi-ineffective. that's not what we said. we _ quasi-ineffective. that's not what we said, we said _ quasi-ineffective. that's not what we said, we said we _ quasi-ineffective. that's not what we said, we said we do _ quasi-ineffective. that's not what we said, we said we do not - quasi-ineffective. that's not what we said, we said we do not have i we said, we said we do not have sufficient data to show efficacy, and we are just basing sufficient data to show efficacy, and we arejust basing our sufficient data to show efficacy, and we are just basing our decisions on hard evidence, and this was at the timejust lacking, on hard evidence, and this was at the time just lacking, and therefore even looking back i think this was the right decision, and just imagine that it would have turned out similar to influenza vaccine, the efficacy would have been reduced or even absent in the elderly, this would have been a long damage to the credibility of the german standing committee on vaccination. but the take-up of — committee on vaccination. but the take-up of the _ committee on vaccination. but the take-up of the vaccine _ committee on vaccination. but the take-up of the vaccine generally i committee on vaccination. but the| take-up of the vaccine generally in take—up of the vaccine generally in germany is not as high as i think a lot of people had been hoping for. you have had hundreds of thousands of unopened doses. do you accept there has been a problem with communications on the vaccine? definitely this could have been

communicated better, but the unopened bottles could be given next week, and therefore this is not a loss of vials for vaccination, it is a delay, which is not good, but this is not a long—term problem here. there has been a lot of talk about whether the chancellor angela merkel should be seen having the vaccine. would that help to promote it, to encourage other people to have it? well, we have clearly said the criteria for prioritisation, and if you look at the mortality, it is really severalfold, more than 15 fold higher in the 80—year—olds, and therefore i think the priority must be to predominantly prioritise really immunisation in this population, and in health care workers, which are transmitting

potentially the virus to this patient group. potentially the virus to this patient group-— potentially the virus to this patient group. potentially the virus to this atient u-rou. ., �* ., ., patient group. you say you've got no recrets, patient group. you say you've got no regrets, but _ patient group. you say you've got no regrets, but i — patient group. you say you've got no regrets, but i mean _ patient group. you say you've got no regrets, but i mean oxford - regrets, but i mean oxford university and astrazeneca, they were very confident in their trial data, the united kingdom government were confident that the vaccine was very effective in older people, but you, you know, germany and other european countries took a different view. you don't think in looking back that actually maybe you should have gone with what oxford and astrazeneca said? ha. have gone with what oxford and astrazeneca said?— have gone with what oxford and astrazeneca said? no, not at all, one case in _ astrazeneca said? no, not at all, one case in the _ astrazeneca said? no, not at all, one case in the control _ astrazeneca said? no, not at all, one case in the control group - astrazeneca said? no, not at all, one case in the control group and the vaccine group is no evidence at all that this is working in this group. wejust all that this is working in this group. we just need to have sufficient numbers of cases to decide whether a vaccine is efficacious or not. shill decide whether a vaccine is efficacious or not. all right, really good _ efficacious or not. all right, really good to _ efficacious or not. all right, really good to talk - efficacious or not. all right, really good to talk to - efficacious or not. all right, really good to talk to thank| efficacious or not. all right, - really good to talk to thank you, professor klaus uberla from the german society of immunology. thank you. amazon has opened its first shop in the uk and it doesn't have any tills. the supermarket in west london uses smartphone technology to allows customers to choose their items,

and then walk out. the company wants to open dozens of similar stores across the country, but privacy campaigners say they have big concerns. here's our business correspondent emma simpson. so here it is, amazon's first physical store outside the us. it's a grocery convenience store. you can probably see there's an awful lot of interest in this. now, to use it all you need is one of these and the amazon app, that's because when you go in you've got a lot of expensive technology. it's full of cameras and sensors tracking everything that you take off the shelves and put in your bag, and then once you are done you simply have to walk out. there is no checkout. so is this a glimpse into the future of shopping? we arejoined by duncan brewer, retail consultant. what do you think, duncan? supermarkets are always looking for ways to make shopping easier

for their customers and this is an experience unlike anything else in the uk. i think they're going to be looking with great interest to see if they need to roll similar technology, similar experiences out into their stores. why is amazon moving onto the high street? i think it's a great time to be moving into the high street. property prices, rental prices are cheap and there's lots of sites available and it's important to remember even the online players need a bricks and mortar presence. a bricks and mortar store can offer things, whether its brand experience or ultra convenience, that can't be done through a purely online offer. are its rivals, the big supermarkets, going to be worried about this? i'm sure the supermarkets will be watching this closely to see the rate of expansion and see what happens, but the reality is supermarket retail is always changing and everyone is looking out for the next innovation, to make it betterfor customers, whether it's freshness of product or ease of shopping, and this may be the future. who knows? duncan, thanks very much. and amazon is planning

a few more of these in the coming weeks and months. of course amazon sells plenty of books as well and it is that time of year. when children across the uk dress up to mark world book day. events are largely taking place online because of the pandemic. campaigners are using the day to urge families, schools and nurseries to have books with more characters from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. our community affairs correspondent adina campbell reports. dressing up as their favourite book characters... i'm dressed up as my favourite character — fantastic mr fox. world book day is one of the biggest events in the school calendar, but campaigners feel characters from ethnic minority backgrounds are not represented enough in children's books. we don't see the iconic roles. you know, charlie and the chocolate factory, alice in wonderland — all these characters are amazing, but they're white, or they're

written as white characters. so it would be great to see more characters pushed into the limelight so they could become iconic, so we could have more selection when it comes to world book day. despite a third of schoolchildren in the uk being from an ethnic minority background, latest figures show just 5% of all published children's books featured someone as a main character from one of these backgrounds. over the last 30 years, children's authors like trish cooke have been trying to increase representation. there's no reason why black- characters shouldn't be in books. it's not something that's unusual. in everyday life, we take on main roles, we're not just a friend - or the supporting role in a piece. the stories that i'm telling are universal stories, - they're stories that happen - to everyone, but i'm writing them from the point of view of a black-

writer to make sure these characters get out there because they haven't been out there enough. _ a third of children and young people in the uk say they're reading more during lockdown, according to the national literacy trust, and some businesses have seen a growth in sales. i get such great feedback, and parents dm me all the time to say, "thank you, that finally my child sees a character and can. i believe in that saying "you can't be what you can't see". i feel like a lot of children now are seeing themselves as astronauts, as politicians, and they're realising they can literally be anything. for some parents, change has been too slow, and doesn't fairly reflect the uk today. their message is clear. we're raising the next generation, the next change makers, the next business owners. in order for, in 20 years

time, for us to not be having this conversation, we need to start now, it starts with books. what's a gruffalo? adina campbell, bbc news. the latest test flight of a spacex rocket has had a successful ta ke—off in south texas. the rocket, without any crew on board, reached a predetermined height of ten kilometres, before landing again. spacex officials called it a 'beautiful soft landing". the landing and take—off did indeed look good, but... ..just a few minutes later the test ended in a fiery explosion. the rocket thrown into the air and crashing back to the ground. it's the third rocket to explode in as many months. the owner of space x, elon musk, is hoping eventually his rockets will be able to take humans to mars. still a bit of a work in progress. a railway bridge in oxfordshire was this morning hit by a massive load of...

..irony. an articulated lorry got stuck under the bridge on the am between bicester and aylesbury. seemingly missing the many low bridge warning signs for miles around. despite the slogan for the well known diy chain, sadly for this driver, he couldn't. there were no injures reported. a bridge too far. now it is time for a look at the latest weather forecast with staff. hello, there. much of this week has been fine and settled thanks to high pressure, and that is how we are going to end the week, with high—pressure dominating this scene once again. but bringing some cooler air to all areas. so, it will be chilly for the end of the week, and into the weekend, but with a lot of dry weather around. variable cloud, perhaps a little bit of sunshine too. we have got this weak cold front spreading southwards across the country through today, high pressure building in from the north. behind that front, you can see that colder air moving southwards.

there will be a little bit of patchy light rain on that front, affecting northern england and northern ireland, perhaps the midlands as we move towards the end of the day. behind it, perhaps a few glimmers of brightness, but mostly today it is going to be rather grey and pretty damp, and those temperatures in single figures. low single figures in the north, turning chilly here, and a chilly feel to things further south too. as we head into this evening and overnight, that cold front spreads its way southwards, taking any patchy rain with it. and behind it, skies will tend to clear, so we will see variable cloud and clear skies. and where the skies are clear, it is going to turn cold with some frost, mainly across more northern and western areas. onshore breeze continuing to keep things a little less frosty across the north sea coast. so here on friday, we end the week with a big area of high pressure slap—bang on top of the uk, some cold air wrapped into it though so it really will feel quite chilly. we start off on a cold note, perhaps some sunshine around, too, more than what we have seen over the last few days, but in the afternoon that cloud may tend to build up, so some areas turning grey.

just a slight chance of a shower affecting the north sea coast been blown along that north—easterly wind. a chilly day for all, temperatures ranging from around five celsius to seven or eight celsius. friday night is going to be cold as well, particularly where we have clear skies. and i think we will see more of a widespread frost to greet us the saturday morning. that said, high pressure still with us of the weekend, so it is going to be a cold start and bright with some sunshine, and again through the day we could see some cloud tending to build up, so it could turn a little bit grey for many of us. a chilly day to come, temperatures mainly six celsius to seven or eight celsius. it is a similar story sunday, as well, a chilly start, some sunshine around, mainly dry, but change starting to take place across the north and the west, slightly more unsettled conditions here. the weather front is pushing in more of a breeze. a few showers at times, perhaps a little less cold here than how it will be further south.

hello, good afternoon. you're watching bbc news with me, ben brown. the headlines: the duke of edinburgh will stay in hospital for several days, after having what's been described as a successful procedure for a pre—existing heart condition. it comes as the duchess of sussex tells american television she feels she has to speak out about how the palace treated her and prince harry. i don't know how they could expect that, after all of this time, we would still be just silent if there is an active role that the firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. more tax rises may be needed, says the institute for fiscal studies, as it warns the chancellor's budget spending plans don't look deliverable. heated exchanges in the scottish parliament, with opposition msps continuing to press nicola sturgeon

about the handling of harassment complaints against alex salmond.