being from around the hull area... there's also 26—year—old scott, who's proud of his east yorkshire accent. it's quite a friendly accent. i'd say that you're a lot more. affable if you sound northern. are there any particular phrases you'd be keen to put in the voice bank? i guess there's a lot of dialect that throws people off. - if i say "chip spice" people haven't heard of that. - it's not mum, it's mam. there's about a hundred different |words for bread roll, isn't there? i i go for bread bap. hi, i'm richard cottingham. but i'd like to be called richie. and there are many, many others who are keen to help. it's something that he couldn't do because he's never been able to speak, but i thought it's something that we all take for granted. richie finally hopes to have his new voice in the next few months. i would like to say thank you to all the volunteers who took the time and effort to apply. fiona lamdin, bbc news.

time for a look at the weather. here's helen willetts. i'm showing you the signs of spring, simon, but interspersed with the sunny spells we have showers today and it's a rather unsettled picture over the coming few days as well. we've got the scattered showers around as well as the sunny spells. some areas faring better for sunshine than others. the showers are more numerous across northern and western are more numerous gci’oss northern and western areas are more numerous across northern and western areas and we've recently had showers here in london, if you are stepping out for a bit of exercise. so through the rest of the afternoon sunny spells, showers, pretty much as it is at the moment but it's relatively mild. we've got temperatures 10—14 c, just a smidgen above where they should be for this time of year, feeling pleasant in the spring sunshine. but change is afoot and as we go through the evening and overnight we keep the showers. they merge in the north to

a longer spell of rain. that's a cold weather front. the winds are strengthening and we have showers or rain, temperatures will stay above freezing but they dropped quite rapidly later in the night in north—western areas. why? our cold weather front is ushering in colder air. it's going to get colder for the end of the week. but probably just temporarily at least. so, there's our weather front as we start tomorrow morning. a few showers ahead of it. some sunshine following but the showers once again a showery day in the north and west tomorrow, but they are more likely tomorrow, but they are more likely to be of sleet and snow on the hills. we have hail and thunder today, we'll have that tomorrow as well and the cold air gets to the south—east by the end of the day. temperatures are four or 5 degrees down tomorrow than those of today, so feeling different tomorrow and tomorrow night certainly so, a cold night. clear the rain in south—east areas through tomorrow evening, then the showers could be wintry evening southern areas, over the moors but certainly a colder night with the frost in the north, touch and go,

certainly a ground frost in southern areas in rural parts. the weekend brings a little respite, southern areas high pressure so less wet, let showery on wednesday but this next weather front sweeps through saturday night into sunday, time is a bit of a devil so do stay tuned to the forecast but for saturday you can see fewer showers, less rain around, but they're still quite a bit of cloud, the rain is coming back later in the day. we are picking up a south—westerly wind so less cold than friday particularly if their spring sunshine but don't expect a great deal. by sunday the weather front slipping southwards we feel, behind it more wintry showers but a mixed bag. saturday looking like the drier half of the weekend at the moment. a reminder of our top story...

good afternoon — it'sjust after 1.30pm, and this is the latest from the bbc sport centre. the world cup qualifiers continue this evening. northern ireland have the toughest task among the home nations away to italy. scotland are home to austria — and england face one of the smallest nations in football, san marino. ahead of the game, there's been talk of whether england players will take the knee, after some high profile stars including crystal palace�*s wilfried zaha stopped the gesture by saying it's lost its meaning. it's a landmark match for manager gareth southgate, his 50th in charge of the national side, but he says he's focussed on the task at hand. it's been an absolute honour and i suppose something i will think about more than anything is finished, really, but the numbers upon the board somewhere. it will be there. so, yes, it's a nice landmark, but of course my focus is with the team

and making sure that we get this world cup qualifier occasion up to start. fifa have confirmed that norway won't face disciplinary action, following last night's protest ahead of their win in gibraltar. the players all wore t—shirts with the slogan "human rights, on and off the pitch". fifa say they believe in the "freedom of speech, and in the power of football as a force for good." norway have discussed whether they should boycott the 2022 tournament because of poor working conditions for migrant workers in qatar. crewe alexandra chairman, john bowler, is standing down, following the sheldon report into child sexual abuse in football. in a statement bowler said... "i am satisfied with the findings of the review that found that the club did not have any knowledge of barry bennell�*s heinous crimes. i will always be deeply appalled and sorry that those young players and their families suffered at the hands of this evil predator." well, in a statement, the offside trust, the organisation founded and run by survivors of child sexual abuse in sport said:

finally, the official countdown to the postponed 2020 toyko games is under way, after the olympic torch was lit during a scaled—down event this morning. after a brief opening ceremony, members of the 2011 japan women's football team began the torch�*s i20—day journey. through 859 locations — it ends with the opening ceremony on the 23rd july. there'll be no international fans at the games — because of the coronavirus pandemic — and former british athlete, iwan thomas admits that's it's been a tough time for the athletes. ican i can only imagine how tough it is. it's also about being mentally and physically ready. the cold winter training, the cold nights, the light at the end of the tunnel, the olympics to aim for. it must be very hard to remain motivated, but now they can finally see it is coming.

the president of the european parliament is about to hold a news conference — we can cross live to brussels now act swiftly and respecting the contracts of transparency and we need to insist on the need to get these clauses with teeth in them to really kick in. contracts have been signed, and the failure to comply with the rules that they have entered into willingly themselves, sanctions, i think, entered into willingly themselves, sanctions, ithink, will entered into willingly themselves, sanctions, i think, will be necessary and so the european union will have to carry on transmitting that trust to our citizens and today, quite natural that there will

be appeals made and some governments, of course, have expressed their irritation, they wanted the possibility to go their own way, but i understand that temptation, but the appeal from the heads of states and government is to focus and joined together and to pool our resources to do the right thing for the supply systems and distribution systems to work smoothly and then in the european union it is the responsibility, and it is a fine message that we are conveying to our action. the european union, through its institutions, has tremendous responsibilities and we have called repeatedly to act transparently and consistently and we don't want to place the blame at the doorstep of the european union because of

so—called insufficiencies in the national systems and we have already seen that a number of times, but thatis seen that a number of times, but that is not something we need right now. when it comes to the council, of course, people are waiting for the statement of the president of the statement of the president of the united states. great, we are pleased, relations between the eu and the united states are back again and the united states are back again and we are looking forward to that and we are looking forward to that and we are looking forward to that and we want to find our way out with and we want to find our way out with a strategy from this pandemic, but not as a fortress. the european union will continue to insist on what sets it apart in international dealings and with frank exchanges in good faith, we are willing to do everything and even when we deal with the harshest authoritarian

regimes, we are prepared to enter into a dialogue and as was recalled into a dialogue and as was recalled in the council over the past months, a number of meps and a number of organisations went to china and we thought that was unacceptable. i send it to the european union and european parliament, that we are not a punching ball that you canjust wave a finger at or punch in the face. we need to have a hard stance and we need to be up to the task. the european parliament will not fail in very short notice to consider the agreement that we have with china, the eu— china agreement will be very cautious and looking at the details to ensure that we get our focus right and we have our position with a high bar of ambition. there are certain number of things that we cannot allow to go

unchallenged when it comes to the rule of law and human rights. that is the message we conveyed in the parliament and in these talks with china and we saw what happened. thank you for your attention. who are start now with questions. i don't know there are questions from the room. i do see some questions i need to answer. david.— need to answer. david. thank you. rowdy roddy _ need to answer. david. thank you. rowdy roddy carly. _ need to answer. david. thank you. rowdy roddy carly. the _ need to answer. david. thank you. rowdy roddy carly. the first - need to answer. david. thank you. | rowdy roddy carly. the first relates to vaccines — rowdy roddy carly. the first relates to vaccines. data provided by the european — to vaccines. data provided by the european commission states that more doses_ european commission states that more doses produced in the european union have been_ doses produced in the european union have been exported than have been administered in the european union. should _ administered in the european union. should we _ administered in the european union. should we be doing what the united

states. _ should we be doing what the united states, the united kingdom and in india are _ states, the united kingdom and in india are doing? to essentially have a ban _ india are doing? to essentially have a ban on _ india are doing? to essentially have a ban on exports or prioritise their citizens_ a ban on exports or prioritise their citizens when it comes to providing vaccines _ citizens when it comes to providing vaccines. and the second question relates_ vaccines. and the second question relates to — vaccines. and the second question relates to the china agreement on investments. do you believe it will be impossible to ratify if the sanctions that china has imposed on the european union are maintained? thank_ the european union are maintained? thank you _ the european union are maintained? thank ou. . ~ i. the european union are maintained? thank ou. . ~' ,, ~' the european union are maintained? thank ou. . ~' ~' , thank you. thank you. i think my introductory _ thank you. thank you. i think my introductory remarks _ thank you. thank you. i think my introductory remarks responded. thank you. thank you. i think my l introductory remarks responded to those questions, essentially. we need to reply reciprocity and proportionality. obviously we have to help low income countries, countries in need, countries are having difficulties, that is a responsibility that we have to

maintain. also the countries in our neighbourhood will expect gestures of solidarity from us. but there needs to be proportionality and reciprocity. that is why i think the commission's provision is going the right direction. we can't even allow ourselves to waste even a single dose of vaccine or to transfer vaccines to countries that don't need them or countries that are using vaccines for business purposes. that is not the right way to use vaccines. now on the china issue. as i said, we will be looking at the raymond very carefully and we don't want to see economic issues taking priority, issues that relate to us. this examination will take place in parliament and the parliament will draw the appropriate conclusions. but rest assured, there

are fundamental human rights that are fundamental human rights that are inviolable and these are things that we have shown when it comes to issues that are internal to the european union and this principle will be upheld in our external relations also. next question. translation. swiss television. do you think— translation. swiss television. do you think it's _ translation. swiss television. do you think it's possible _ translation. swiss television. do you think it's possible to - translation. swiss television. do you think it's possible to get - translation. swiss television. doj you think it's possible to get this certificate, — you think it's possible to get this certificate, this _ you think it's possible to get this certificate, this digital— certificate, this digital certificate _ certificate, this digital certificate for- certificate, this digital. certificate for vaccination certificate, this digital- certificate for vaccination in the european — certificate for vaccination in the european parliament? - certificate for vaccination in the european parliament? i- certificate for vaccination in the european parliament? i think. certificate for vaccination in the i european parliament? i think they voted _ european parliament? i think they voted for— european parliament? i think they voted for the _ european parliament? i think they voted for the procedure, - european parliament? i think they voted for the procedure, but - european parliament? i think they voted for the procedure, but the l voted for the procedure, but the fact is_ voted for the procedure, but the fact is that — voted for the procedure, but the fact is that we _ voted for the procedure, but the fact is that we need _ voted for the procedure, but the fact is that we need to _ voted for the procedure, but the fact is that we need to reach - voted for the procedure, but the fact is that we need to reach ani fact is that we need to reach an agreement— fact is that we need to reach an agreement and _ fact is that we need to reach an agreement and are _ fact is that we need to reach an agreement and are returning i fact is that we need to reach anj agreement and are returning 27 different— agreement and are returning 27 different state _ agreement and are returning 27 different state apparatus - agreement and are returning 27 different state apparatus into . different state apparatus into something _ different state apparatus into something that _ different state apparatus into something that would - different state apparatus into something that would be - different state apparatus into - something that would be standard in digital _ something that would be standard in diuital. . , . ., . digital. translation. the parliament did ado -t a digital. translation. the parliament did adopt a procedure _ digital. translation. the parliament did adopt a procedure and - digital. translation. the parliament did adopt a procedure and as - digital. translation. the parliament did adopt a procedure and as you . did adopt a procedure and as you will be aware some of you will recall that in the past, the

european council suggested the very idea in my local speech is a very useful for non—discriminatory that if you don't get vaccinated you would have to respect the sanitary procedures nationally and you will have to show... the procedures nationally and you will have to show. . ._ procedures nationally and you will have to show... the health secretary man how kong _ have to show... the health secretary man how kong -- — have to show... the health secretary man how kong -- -- _ have to show... the health secretary man how kong -- -- matt _ have to show... the health secretary man how kong -- -- matt hancock. l have to show... the health secretary i man how kong -- -- matt hancock. the man how kong —— —— matt hancock. the vote to come later on. let's listen to what is going on there now. this data has been _ to what is going on there now. try 3 data has been collated recently, it's a so—called siren study for public health england. i am very happy to look into exactly the data that my honourable friend is looking for and if we have it i will publish it. from what was asked, i think we

do have it, but let's try to do that so we can get it exactly what has been looked for. on the face of it, he is absolutely right, that is exactly the sort of thing we are looking for. i will try to get that right. madam deputy speaker, each step of the road map is guided by the data on the progress against the four tests. we are able to take the first step on the march the 8th when we allow face—to—face education in schools and relax the rules on to people gathering outside recreation and allow care home residents to nominate a single regular visitor supported by regular testing and ppe. the regulations before the house today eased restrictions further, again, in a careful and controlled way. they allow us to put in place the remaining measures for step one, which would come into force on monday. this means the state home rule will end and six people or two households will be able to meet outdoors in outdoor

sports will resume. these regulations also mention that the remaining steps of our road map into law so that we can gradually ease restrictions at the right time, before eventually removing them altogether, which we hope to be able to do on the 21st ofjune. mr; to do on the 21st ofjune. my constituents _ to do on the 215t ofjune. my constituents have been in touch and raise concerns about these measures for being in place for longer than absolutely necessary. i have also raised concerns about long covid. could you respond to my constituents about these issues and also explained to the house what the minister is looking into to do better understand the effects of long covid and population? thank ou. we long covid and population? thank you- we clearly — long covid and population? thank you. we clearly want _ long covid and population? thank you. we clearly want to _ long covid and population? thank you. we clearly want to lift - long covid and population? thank you. we clearly want to lift these | you. we clearly want to lift these measures as soon it is possible and my goal is we will eventually see covid as something which has to be managed rather like flu. we don't put in place restrictions on normal

life to tackle flu, but we do have a regular vaccination programme and thatis regular vaccination programme and that is where i hope we can get vaccines. but i can answer the second point before further interventions. the point about lat long covid is important and in fact, today, the national institute of health research, which is in a brilliantjob during this pandemic, they have put out a £20 million called for further research and diagnostics including patient and public involvement in understanding more long covid so that can be properly understood and people get the support that they need on the nhs for those who catch a covid and have symptoms over a long time, which can be deeply, deeply debilitating for some people. i will give way. debilitating for some people. i will rive wa . . ~ debilitating for some people. i will civewa. ., ~' debilitating for some people. i will civewa. . ., give way. thank you for giving way. he mentions— give way. thank you for giving way. he mentions the _ give way. thank you for giving way. he mentions the fact _ give way. thank you for giving way. he mentions the fact that - give way. thank you for giving way. he mentions the fact that we - give way. thank you for giving way. he mentions the fact that we live i he mentions the fact that we live with flu everyone to, and we act against it. has he made an assessment as to what level hospital

admissions will be allowed for protecting the nhs? it’s admissions will be allowed for protecting the nhs?— protecting the nhs? it's very difficult to — protecting the nhs? it's very difficult to know _ protecting the nhs? it's very difficult to know in _ protecting the nhs? it's very difficult to know in advance. | protecting the nhs? it's very l difficult to know in advance. at protecting the nhs? it's very - difficult to know in advance. at the peak of this pandemic we had 38,000 patients in hospital across the uk as any one time with covid. but of course meant that other nonurgent treatment had to be delayed. there is a question of the trade off here between how much treatment is delayed. in a bad flu season, treatment like that elective operations which are not urgent, they are delayed, that is a way in which the nhs and manages to get through difficult flu season in winter. measures like that will be necessary if we have an increase in covid cases. but we have to, if we have learned anything, we have learned is that we have to live with risk as a society and that is a reality and so the goal and the strategy is to invest in the nhs,

make sure it can expand, and make sure that through the vaccine effort and continued no doubt efforts that people will take personal responsibility for, like mask wearing or personal response ability, people will highly likely do this to protect themselves and others after the springs we have just had. i want to get that to the point of personal responsibility, plus the vaccine, plus the test and trace programme that can people can be tested regularly and reduce transmission and manage covid in that way whilst restoring confidence. that is the best way, i think, that will help us down the road. it think, that will help us down the road. , , . ., . road. it is extremely encouraging and i'm grateful. _ road. it is extremely encouraging and i'm grateful. can _ road. it is extremely encouraging and i'm grateful. can he - road. it is extremely encouraging and i'm grateful. can he confirml and i'm grateful. can he confirm that the reason step four is not in the regulations is that step four doesn't need any regulations, which is freedom from these regressions? ads, is freedom from these regressions? very good way of putting it. it is a

pleasure, madam deputy speaker, to be as one with my honourable friend after all this time and i hope very much that hejoins after all this time and i hope very much that he joins us for the lobbyist later. i will... much that he joins us for the lobbyist later. iwill... i much that he joins us for the lobbyist later. i will... i am an optimist. if i can carry on detailing the purpose of these measures. step two allows nonessential retail and personal care services to reopen and we have said that this will happen not before the 12th of april. this will also allow indoor leisure like james and self containment accommodation and self containment accommodation and step two also sees the opening of the outdoors of pubs and restaurants which are something i know is something so many of us are looking forward to. . step three will lift restrictions of meetings outdoor subject to a limit of 30 and “p outdoor subject to a limit of 30 and up to six people or two households

are being able to meet inside and indoor hospitality, indoor entertainment and all other types of accommodation will be able to open their doors once again. madam deputy speaker, step four will begin no earlier than the 21st ofjune. this is the final stage in this road map because bolstered by the mammoth testing capacity and the protection of the vaccination programme, this is when we aim to remove all legal limits on social contact and restore our freedom once again. limits on social contact and restore ourfreedom once again. i know how hard these restrictions have been, i know they have meant missing out on special moments with loved ones, putting important events and hold and they have taken any significant economic toll. we don't want to keep them in place any longer than we judge we have to do. i am pleased to say that these road map regulations will expire at the end ofjune. if i can turn now to the temporary provisions in the coronavirus act, which we put before the house today.

the act has been a crucial part of a response to the virus. it helps us to protect the nhs in its hour of need and to keep public services and ports —— courts and local democracy running and other financial assistance to so many people. some provisions in the act require renewal every six months. if we were to remove the temporary provisions in this act altogether, then we would lose, for instance, measures protecting tenants and renters from eviction, we would not be able to run virtual court hearings that are an integral core part of maintaining the rule of law, people wouldn't be able to receive statutory sick pay for the full period that they are required to self—isolate. there are some important technical provisions that allow for the running of public services when there is the social distancing that we have at the moment. i distancing that we have at the moment. . , distancing that we have at the moment. , . ~ distancing that we have at the moment. . ,, , ., moment. i will give way. thank you for aaivin moment. i will give way. thank you

for giving way- _ moment. i will give way. thank you for giving way- is — moment. i will give way. thank you for giving way. is it _ moment. i will give way. thank you for giving way. is it not _ moment. i will give way. thank you for giving way. is it not correct - for giving way. is it not correct that if the bill is voted down today the government would have 21 days to bring forward a new bill to parliament? and it is also not correct that a lot of what we are relying on comes from other legislation and not actually the coronavirus act? the legislation and not actually the coronavirus act?— legislation and not actually the coronavirus act? . , ., , ., , coronavirus act? the main provisions under which — coronavirus act? the main provisions under which we _ coronavirus act? the main provisions under which we put _ coronavirus act? the main provisions under which we put in _ coronavirus act? the main provisions under which we put in place - coronavirus act? the main provisions under which we put in place the - under which we put in place the lockdown come from the public health act, not the coronavirus act. the mainstay of the coronavirus act is to allow us to support people, to support public services. for instance, furlough is in the coronavirus act. that is not up for renewal because that is a permanent part is in for the full period of the coronavirus act. but nevertheless, being able to pay statutory sick pay to people when they are self isolating, that is, i am asking the house today to renew the provision and i think that we

must. also, and i want to really stress this point, especially to those who are understandably concerned about the extent of powers in the coronavirus act. although this act remains essential and there are elements which we are seeking the renewal of, we have always said that we will only retain powers as long as they are necessary. they are exceptional powers and they are approved by this house for the use in the most extreme of situations and must be seen in this light and because of the progress we have made, we are now able to expire and suspend a whole raft of measures within this act, just as we expire to the provisions after the last review six months ago. we propose, madam deputy speaker, to expire 12 provisions in the act, section 15 has allowed local authorities to ease some responsibilities and social care, section 2a, which allows biometric data for security purpose for next six months. five

provisions that require information for businesses and people involved in the food supply chain, section 71 that allowed a single treasury minister to sign on behalf of all treasury commissioners. i know�*s office are looking to get the signatures out again. are two provisions that have created a new form of emergency volunteer leaf, which we have not needed and are retiring. section 79 which extended arrangements for businesses improvement district and section 84 that allowed for the postponement of general senate elections. these are not needed any more and are not seeking to extend them. we only extend that which we think is necessary. i will give way there. i necessary. i will give way there. i thank the secretary of state for giving way. i welcome this and particularly the social care easements which were discriminatory against the most vulnerable in our society. but will he accept that under the coronavirus act we have had 250 people wrongfully charged or

this act is full of far—reaching powers that are not needed. the practical measures he talks can be brought forward in the next 21 days and as he has suggested, this fake news that furlough cannot go on without renewing the act is just untrue, because that is a permanent provision. untrue, because that is a permanent rovision. ., , , ., ., provision. furlough is provided for under this act _ provision. furlough is provided for under this act and _ provision. furlough is provided for under this act and as _ provision. furlough is provided for under this act and as i _ provision. furlough is provided for under this act and as i have - provision. furlough is provided for under this act and as i have just i under this act and as i have just said, it is a permanent provision, but the statutory sick pay isn't and i think we shouldn't —— should be giving statutory sick pay to people. the secretary of state has asked for a further six months under the act, which is all that we can do. the prime minister has been saying about the need for section two to help us deal with the backlog in the same is true of the section 53 with respect to courts. in six months�* time, will we need that, well we have therefore dealt with the backlog in our health service and in courts or will be

needing to renew this six months? that is a good question. the truth is that we have a record number of nurses in the nhs, over 300,000 in part because of this act which has allowed emergency registration much more swiftly than previously. there are parts of this act that have allowed us to do good things that everybody would like to see like that and so when we do come to retire this act, which we must within one year and preferably within one year and preferably within six months, we would need to make sure that we continue to do that that sort of thing. and make sure that nurses can be enrolled as easily as possible into the nhs. but i cannot answer whether we will be retiring it in six months. my preference would be yes, but given the last year, i think a prediction will be hasty. flan

the last year, i think a prediction will be hasty-— will be hasty. can i make a suggestion _ will be hasty. can i make a suggestion to _ will be hasty. can i make a suggestion to my - will be hasty. can i make a i suggestion to my honourable will be hasty. can i make a - suggestion to my honourable friend. i know that in the courts bill, the expansion of availability of criminal proceedings is going to be put into that legislation and that therefore will be needed. the secretary of state is bringing forward a new health bill during the new session. would that and opportunist update that? it�*s new session. would that and opportunist update that? it's an im ortant opportunist update that? it's an important point _ opportunist update that? it's an important point that _ opportunist update that? it's an important point that we - opportunist update that? it's an important point that we are - opportunist update that? it's an - important point that we are working on and we have just started the process. if there are measures that work well and we want to keep because they are good, then can we put them permanently on the statute book? that should probably properly take the process of normal legislation. he mentions a forthcoming health and care bill. i look to the leader of the and i can see that he is smiling, although i cannot say whether that is normal. very nice to see you looking so handsome there. that would, our aim

would be to get into the statutory books surely bring it forward in the middle of next year and so there is a shorter term question of preparing that. we need to do that with the best administrative abilities that we can and i�*m talking about the less controversial ones of the act i give way. he has mentioned there are some very valuable administrative measures and if they were the only thing being rolled forward then i don�*t think people would mind, although my reading of the act is that the registration provisions for medical staff are actually in section 89 of the permanent part of the act rather than the temporary part. the controversial part, the police powers to detain potentially infectious people which the honourable lady referred to which have been used unlawfully on a number of occasions, it says in his letter in the one year review of the act that those are intended to be long—term powers and he has also just suggested that these provisions

might be rolled forward a further six months. that is