a major report says social class and family structure play a bigger part than race in determining people's lives in the uk. commissioned in the wake of the black lives matter protests, the study says the uk should be seen as a model for other countries. no—one in the report is saying racism doesn't exist. we found anecdotal evidence of this, however, what we did find — was there evidence of actual, institutional racism? no. that was not there. we did not find that in our report. but the report has drawn strong criticism for playing down racism in the uk, we'll bring you all the latest. also this lunchtime: don'tjoin large groups and take your litter home — the message to people out enjoying the sun. as germany limits its use of the astrazeneca vaccine

to the over 60s, europe braces itself for a third covid wave. the last day of shielding in england and wales — we hearfrom one man about his year of isolation. and coming up, we'll be speaking to rebecca welch — the first woman appointed to referee an english football league match. and in the sport on the bbc news channel. england will look to make it three wins from three in world cup qualifying when they host poland at wembley tonight. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. race and racism have become less important factors in explaining social disparities in the uk —

that's the controversial conclusion of a major review commissioned by the government. the commission on race and ethnic disparities, set up after the black lives matter protests, found that social class and family structure played a bigger role in determining people's lives. the commission says concerns that the uk is institutionally racist are not borne out by the evidence — but that overt racism remains. but campaigners say they feel �*deeply, massively let down�* by the report, and that the government did not have the confidence of black and minority ethnic communities. greg mackenzie reports. last summer's black lives matter protests were some of the biggest seen in the uk. black lives matter! hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets up and down the country calling for change. it was triggered by the killing of george floyd in america. the government reacted and commissioned a report looking into racial disparities, which it has published today.

no—one in the report is saying racism doesn't exist. we found anecdotal evidence of this. however, what we did find was the evidence of actual institutional racism, no. that wasn't there, we didn't find that in our report. the report concludes race and racism have become less important factors in explaining social disparities. but its author admits while racism does exist in this country, the uk is not institutionally racist, which has angered some race campaigners. the two people appointed to lead an independent commission were on record denying structural racism and institutional racism 15 years ago. so it's no surprise that we have tony sewell saying he didn't find any evidence of institutional racism. well, he denied its existence 15 years ago. he is hardly going to change his mind. the commission has made 2a recommendations, which include the acronym bame,

that is black, asian and minority ethnic, should no longer be used. other recommendations include creating a police workforce that represents the communities they serve. and increasing the legitimacy and accountability of stop and search through body—worn video cameras. the prime minister asked them to do this report because although he thinks that there is a good deal of progress that has been made in recent years, there is a lot more to do. and so we will be listening and reading very carefully the recommendations from the commissioners about what more the country needs to do to tackle inequalities. the commission believes that if these recommendations are implemented, it will give a further burst of momentum to the story of the uk's progress to a successful, multiethnic and multicultural community. but some race campaigners believe we are some way off actually achieving this. greg mckenzie, bbc news. with me now is our

home editor mark easton. it's a controversial report, this — is that because of its content — or because of its authors? i think if the government was hoping this commission report would lead to a settled view on the question of racism in the uk that it was always going to be a struggle because if you recall going back to the black lives matter protest last summer at the prime minister at that time made it clear and he said, what i want to do as prime minister is change the narrative so we stopped their sense of victimisation and discrimination. antiracism groups were already concerned and then his policy chief munira mirza was involved, it was reported she was involved in appointing the commission and yet she was somebody that said institutional racism was a perception more than a reality and antiracism have become weaponised across the political spectrum. then we seek the appointment of tony sewell which actually led some

antiracism activist to consider seeking a judicial review because they felt he already had made his mind up a institutional racism. the concern is the accusation that the report is, saying what ministers want to hear and was hand—picked, whatever the truth about that, that will have some traction. and i think the report has a lot of common sense in it, to be honest. what of the committee finds, whether it is right or wrong and without the commission acted entirely impartially, that's not really the point, the problem is people will just say, not really the point, the problem is people willjust say, this was not independent. that potentially will serve to deepen division and distrust. a ~ serve to deepen division and distrust. ~ ., ~ , ., as people across england enjoy the sun for a third day — after covid restrictions were eased — there is concern over large groups gathering in parks. in nottingham — a dispersal order has been put in place — following social media footage showing a brawl, dozens of people

drinking, and ignoring social distancing rules. our correspondent navtej johal is in nottingham for us. it feels pretty quiet events arena here at the forest recreation ground are nottingham this afternoon however early this morning there was a big clean—up operation under way because much of the ground behind me was covered in litter following scenes last night that most people did not want to see. as we know the warm and sunny weather coincided with the lifting of some key covid restrictions at the start of this week and we've seen large groups of people gathering in nottingham's parks for the last two evenings, not following social buttons and guidelines or adhering to the rule of six. one eyewitness told us it was overflowing here last night, and some were openly relieving themselves in the park. the evening

before at another part the arboretum, footage was filmed or people drinking in large groups, climbing trees and even brawling. that has led to dispersal orders being issued by the police for some parks and alcohol being seized from those entering the arboretum. this morning the leader of nottingham city council told the bbc that if this behaviour continues then it may have to go even further, perhaps close some of the city's parks. please stop. covid is not something to be messed around with, to be trifled with. this is a dangerous disease that has caused people to die in our city. we are not yet at the situation where all of our restrictions have been rolled back, just a gradual easing of those restrictions. please don't abuse that. ina in a statement the police told us the behaviour on monday it was unacceptable and selfish and it has reminded people that the lockdown

measures are only partly completed and that there is still measures in place including the rule of six and the keeping out distant from each other as part of the social distancing guidelines. other as part of the social distancin: uuidelines. . ., ~' distancing guidelines. navte', thank ou. germany is suspending use of the oxford—astrazeneca covid vaccine for people under the age of 60 — because of a very small number of cases of blood clots in people who've had the jab. both the eu and uk medicine regulators say the vaccine is safe, and the benefits outweigh the risks. it comes as europe faces a third wave of coronavirus. france's president macron is to give a speech later, as pressure grows on him to bring in tougher measures to halt the spread. nick beake reports. germany, like the rest of europe, is desperate to boost production of covid vaccines so the opening of this brand—new biontech factory is welcome news. there is no another

blow for the astrazeneca shot. after resuming that use a fortnight ago chairman it says it will stop giving it to the under 60s because of the risk of rear blood clots even though astrazeneca and regular say it is safe. translation: the vaccination is the most important tool against the coronavirus. having several vaccines available is a good and it has a great scientific achievement. we do not face the question astrazeneca or nothing, we have several vaccines available. daily vaccination rates in france are picking up but not quickly enough to curb the third wave. intensive care doctors in paris are working flat out and some are calling for tougher covid restrictions. translation: we must prevent the virus spreading. we cannot do that with half measures. these 50 shades of measures. they are not working. in two weeks we still will not see any change so we

must go back into lockdown and sadly this lockdown will have to last for several weeks. that is something president macron resisted at the start of the year and he insists he took the right decision but tonight he will address the french people about how they will cope with the darkening picture. elsewhere in europe the outlook is equally bleak, poland has reported the highest daily death this year so far, the british strain of the virus responsible for more than 80% of cases, there are no intensive care beds free within a 150 kilometre radius of the capital warsaw. hungary has been that anything faster than many other eu countries by using the chinese and russian vaccines but it is suffering one of the worst infection rates in the world. the virus is spreading across the continent. vaccination suspicion and shortages remain.

mainland europe feel far away from the easing of restrictions the likes of the uk is now starting to enjoy. nick beake joins us now from brussels. deepening concern across the continent, but focus particular today on that speech by french president macron tonight? that's ri . ht. all president macron tonight? that's right- all eyes — president macron tonight? that's right. all eyes will _ president macron tonight? that's right. all eyes will be _ president macron tonight? that's right. all eyes will be on - president macron tonight? that's. right. all eyes will be on president macron this evening, what new measures might see an end to tackle the third wave in france, we shall see. it is worth stressing the contrast between the uk and mainland europe, where they are tightening measures rather than loosening them. in belgium the schools have shut again, in italy they are bringing in again, in italy they are bringing in a five day quarantine for any arrivals from other eu countries, in germany, they are tightening restrictions and are beefing up the checks on land borders to make sure everyone arriving in the country has a negative covid test. i think if we look for some glimmer of hope it

would be in the form of vaccinations, the rates are getting a bit quicker in many eu countries, the eu officials in brussels have said today the target for the first three months of the year, delivering more than 100 million doses of the vaccine which lots of people may be surprised about bearing in mind of the almighty row with astrazeneca and talked of legal challenges and possible export bans. i think we've seen less of that in the past few days and that is a reflection there is a resurgence of an emergency here, a health care emergency. i think it will be a difficult couple of months for europe, borisjohnson has said the impact here may be felt on the uk, talking in particular about new strains which may spread across the continents. also i think across the continents. also i think a word on british tourists later in the year in theory they may be able to leave the country but bearing in mind what we're seeing in many famous and favourite eu spots i think the viability of those places at the moment, there are serious

concerns about that.— concerns about that. nick, many thanks. today is the last day that four million people who've been shielding in england and wales will have to stay at home. but they are still being advised to minimise keep social contacts, to work from home where possible, and to stay at a distance from other people. graham satchell has been speaking to one man who is preparing for the change. there we are. just walking into the flat now. as you can see, not the biggest place in the world. put much of the last year, rob has been shielding —— for much of the last year, rob has been shielding in his small one—bedroom flat. the isolation, the loneliness has taken its toll. i've lost so much of my, i don't know, my confidence, just my personality, i've just gone into myself, you could say. i've always been a very sociable person, one that likes to help people, likes to make people laugh and make people smile, and when you are feeling so low

inside, it is hard to get back to that person. rob has muscular dystrophy. he has tried to keep his fitness up on the treadmill, but his condition has deteriorated. it has had a massive impact. i cannot stress enough how much physically it has affected me. and of course when it affects you physically, mentally you are affected as well. all in all, i am not the same person i was before the start of this just over a year ago. i've just received a letter i've been waiting for for a whole year. that letter says, shielding is over, after a year of not being able to go out and enjoy myself, out there in the sunshine, walking my dog, things that we take for granted. well, now i have a piece of paper that gives me

a passport to freedom, and here it is. for me, it is a mixture of happy, excited, to be able to get out there, but also a lot of trepidation, anxiety because i'm not convinced that it is 100% safe to be out there yet, but i can't stay in here forever. anyone that knows me will tell you that i don't let things beat me, i try and keep as positive as possible, and try and get on with it. almost 4 million people in england and wales have been told they can stop shielding from tomorrow. scotland and northern ireland are expected to follow suit in a few weeks. but the fact that shielding restrictions are being lifted is the clearest sign yet that things are moving in the right direction. graham satchell, bbc news. our top story this lunchtime.

a major report says social class and family structure play a bigger part than race in determining people's lives in the uk and coming up — as zoos and other attractions in england prepare to open — we'll be analysing how they've been impacted by the pandemic. coming up in sport on the bbc news channel. double olympic rowing champion helen glover is named in the british team for the european championships — just three months after coming out of retirement at the age of 34. the uk's new trading relationship with the european union might only be a few months old — but some businesses are struggling to adjust to the new commercial landscape — outside the customs union and single market. our economics correspondent darshini david has been investigating the impact of brexit — three months on. over 90 days now, since britain began a new year with new trading

arrangements with the eu. with traffic from dover only 7% below the level it was before the pandemic, and only a small proportion of hauliers still struggling with paperwork, in calais they say everything is running smoothly. it is working good. we've slowed down traffic sometimes a little, french customs asking for paperwork. but it is nearly according to what we were expecting. but what does it take to get things into those lorries? arla is the uk's biggest cooperative of dairy farmers. it imports and exports. for arla alone it is about 30,000 extra documents a year. vets needing to sign some of those documents. some of those documents needing to be ready for border inspections as well. and if you put all of that together, that places quite a significant administrative burden on our business. fresh food exports from the uk to the eu almost

halved injanuary as companies struggled with new formalities amidst a pandemic lockdown. meat processors say that while some issues have been sorted, they fear sales could be 20% lower, permanently. many of those involved in food and farming are calling for more procedures to be put online and checks to be streamlined. they fear the process is all a bit one—sided because controls on imports coming into the uk have been delayed. they fear that that is not focusing minds in brussels. i think it is only at that point when they are confronted with the same bureaucratic complicated system that everyone is going to say actually, we need to work together to find a better way of doing this. because this is just adding a cost in which ultimately the consumer is going to pay. those producing the meat are clamouring for more clarity and help, too. there is a cost to farmers at the moment and there is fiction and there are delays. and there are significant

issues to be overcome. how responsive is the government commit the uk government? to what you are saying right now? i have requested a meeting with sir david frost but as yet, i have not been able to see him face to face. which remains an urgent request on our behalf. over 40% of uk trade goes to the eu. a relationship that can't be ignored. the government says it is engaging with industry to counter any challenges and provide more resources. it is working, too, to deliver trade deals elsewhere. but those might take a while longer. dharshini david, bbc news. the archbishop of canterbury has addressed for the first time the remark made by the duchess of sussex that she got married three days before the royal wedding. during the interview with oprah winfrey — broadcast earlier this month — meghan said she and harry had a secret marriage ceremony with the justin welby in their �*backyard.’ our royal correspondent nicholas witchell joins me now. what has the archbishop said? he

said what has the archbishop said? he: said that the marriage was the one that he presided over in st george's chapel so what we appear to have here is a complete misunderstanding on the part of megan. what happened was fairly well established at the time but she made this claim that what happened a few days before was an exchange of vows attended by the archbishop of canterbury and the marriage was that in st george's chapel witnessed by everyone because after all a marriage is a legal contract and you have to have witnesses, you have to have the signing of the register. so the moment they became husband and wife was the moment the world witnessed in st george's chapel. she was simply wrong, it was a misunderstanding as indeed was at least one other claim she made during the interview, the suggestion she made that their son archie was unfairly or improperly denied the right style prince. the fact is he simply is not entitled to that because of his position within the

line of succession and the royal family and you must remember that the direction of travel in the royal family and one that will accelerate when the prince of wales becomes king is to have fewer people with the rank of prince and princess because normally that is regarded as an obstacle and an encumbrance to leading the sort of normal life that harry and meghan say they want for themselves and indeed for their son archie. but when it comes to the marriage as the archbishop of canterbury has now confirmed, the marriage was the one in st george's chapel. marriage was the one in st george's chael. : :, :,, marriage was the one in st george's chael. . :, .,, ~ . marriage was the one in st george's chael. . ., : . ., , chapel. nicholas witchell, many thanks. the green party has launched its local election campaign today, promising a �*green recovery�* from the pandemic the last local elections in 2019 saw the partry more than double their number of councillors, and its co—leader, jonathan bartley says our emergence from the covid crisis offers new hope for a greener, �*more caring' future. during the lockdown all of us and got glimpse that something different was

possible, in tragic circumstances, we realised that you could take cars off the road. you could pay people's wages. businesses, if they were supported properly, could transition and operate in different ways. you know, the formula 1 racing team coming forward and saying we can make ventilators. now many, many people suddenly realising that a different way of living, a different way of working, is possible. the bbc�*s china correspondent john sudworth has had to relocate from beijing to taiwan, following pressure and threats from the chinese authorities. he's faced obstruction and intimidation, heavy surveillance, and legal action — particularly for his coverage of the mass internment of the uighur people in the region of xinjiang. we can speak tojohn sudworth now. just tell us a bit more about why you had to leave beijing? it just tell us a bit more about why you had to leave beijing?- you had to leave bei'ing? it will come as you had to leave bei'ing? it will you had to leave beijing? it will come as no surprise _ you had to leave beijing? it will come as no surprise to - you had to leave beijing? it will come as no surprise to you - you had to leave beijing? it will come as no surprise to you and| come as no surprise to you and probably many of the viewers who may have seen my reports in recent years that we have been basing this kind of pressure because of our coverage

of pressure because of our coverage of subject and stories that china does not want us to cover or at least not in the independent way that we have. in recent months there has been in a tense final propaganda campaign targeting notjust the bbc but me personally and my work in particular. there have been legal threats and as well as that an intensifying attempt to obstruct and harass us whenever and whenever we film. as a result of these rising risks and increasing difficulties a decision was made that after tolerating it for so long we should relocate. important to mention that this is a cause notjust the bbc but is part of a wider pattern. this shift from beijing to taipei is now sadly a fairly well trodden route as other foreign organisations have gone before me for the american generals have been expelled from beijing in the past year or so and a strain on media now has no reporters

for any of its mainstream newspapers and broadcasters left in the country so the space for independent journalism is narrowing in china and of course the worrying thing about thatisitis of course the worrying thing about that is it is happening at precisely the time when the world really needs to know what is happening more than ever. , :, ,, :, ., , to know what is happening more than ever. ,, :, ., , ., it's under two weeks until outdoor visitor attractions like zoos and theme parks can reopen in england — and it's been a tough year for the industry. across the uk, figures from the association of leading visitor attractions show some museums were down to 10% of the attendance they'd had the previous year. our business correspondent sarah corker reports. with more than 11100 animals to feed every single day, including alex the hungry giraffe, staff at knowsley safari have been kept busy throughout lockdown. but running costs have remained

high, at a time when the site has been closed to visitors for many months. tha nkfully thankfully there have been some good business loan schemes to help us out and government has tried to make it possible for businesses to keep going. it has been difficult and painful and it will be used to come to recover from this. new figures showjust how damaging the pandemic has been for the tourism industry. visits to the uk's big tourist spots were down 70% last year. indoor venues were hit the hardest. outdoor attractions and countryside locations fared much better. overall, london still saw the biggest visitorfigures, with the tate modern topping the list. and for the first time, two gardens appeared in the top ten most visited. kew gardens and rhs garden wisley. now there is a road out of lockdown that has been a surge in bookings as

we all start to plan our trips this summer and open—air attractions like this one will be among the first to openin this one will be among the first to open injust two this one will be among the first to open in just two weeks' time. and alex here in the giraffe enclosure is expected to be popular with visitors in the months ahead. from april the 12th, open—air sites including zoos and theme parks can reopen. nothing has been done on the hoof. there will be fewer people because we will limit the numbers and you have a social distancing to manage walking around but in reality the experience for the visitor is exactly the same as it was pre—pandemic. with the ongoing uncertainty around international travel, staff are expecting big numbers through the gates. we will have time and designated

points to go around the safari drive. the restaurant will be closed and things like that and i think that will make a different experience but people need to be out and about and embracing nature. 50 and about and embracing nature. so as lockdown eases and many of us have an appetite for new experiences and the great outdoors where businesses are hoping they will be able to claw back those losses. sarah caulker, bbc news. now — rebecca welch has become the first female referee to be appointed to a game in the english football league. she'll take charge of the match in league two between harrogate town and port vale on monday. and we can speak to her now — shejoins us from washington in tyne and wear. congratulations, how does it feel? it has not really sunk in yet. i've had a couple of days to get to grips with it but i'm still on cloud nine and hopefully in the next couple of days when it all dies down i will

start to digest it. but a great opportunity for me. is start to digest it. but a great opportunity for me.- opportunity for me. is this something _ opportunity for me. is this something you _ opportunity for me. is this something you always - opportunity for me. is this . something you always wanted opportunity for me. is this - something you always wanted to opportunity for me. is this _ something you always wanted to do? definitely not and i would be lying if i said i did. it was not until i was 27 and i qualified as a referee and again this is an ambition to climb through the ranks and i made the choice to go down that route and the choice to go down that route and the rest is history as they say. i've been doing it in the past ten years and i'm very fortunate to be in the position that i'm in now. it is a great achievement and same time people will say why has it taken this long? i people will say why has it taken this lona ? , : people will say why has it taken this lon- ? , :, ., this long? i started quite late, i was 27 so _ this long? i started quite late, i was 27 so actually _ this long? i started quite late, i was 27 so actually i've - this long? i started quite late, i was 27 so actually i've been - this long? i started quite late, i l was 27 so actually i've been doing it for ten years. you've got to be the top one, 2% of every category to get promoted so we've had some really good referees across england and you have to make sure you and the top one or 2% we will not be considered. but if you like you can

progress to the next level. but you are the first _ progress to the next level. but you are the first woman _ progress to the next level. but you are the first woman to _ progress to the next level. but you are the first woman to be - progress to the next level. but you l are the first woman to be appointed and i was asking why has it taken until 2021 for that to happen? we've had uirls until 2021 for that to happen? we've had girls officiating _ until 2021 for that to happen? we've had girls officiating at _ until 2021 for that to happen? we've had girls officiating at top _ until 2021 for that to happen? we've had girls officiating at top level - had girls officiating at top level before, in the premier league and the championship. but on the first referees so i am proud and it was a lot of hard work. happy to the first and i'm sure i will be the first of many. and i'm sure i will be the first of man. :, ., ., :,, and i'm sure i will be the first of man. :, ., ., :, ., many. congratulations again. the first female _ many. congratulations again. the first female appointed _ many. congratulations again. the first female appointed efl- many. congratulations again. the | first female appointed efl referee. time for a look at the weather, here's darren bett. for much of england and wales it is another one day for the time of year. we don't have the blue skies that we had yesterday as we have quite a bit of dust from the sahara desert in the air at the moment. most of the rain recently has come from that area of cloud, very wet in

the highlands of