this is bbc news. the headlines... borisjohnson denies claims made by dominic cummings, that the poor handing of the coronavirus pandemic, led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people. at every stage, we've been governed by a determination to protect life, to save life, to ensure that our nhs is not overwhelmed. the health secretary has also robustly defended claims against him from mr cummings, who said he is a liar, and should have been sacked. these unsubstantiated allegations around honesty are not true, and that i've been straight with people in public and in private throughout.

the prime minister says that he will be examining the data on easing of restrictions in england onjune 21st. i don't see anything currently in the data to suggest that we have to deviate from the road map, but we may need to wait. gps in england say they're facing a "tsunami of patients," as the country, emerges from lockdown. manchester united's marcus rashford suffers racial abuse on social media with "at least 70 slurs" after last night's europa league final loss to villarreal. and, a very special reunion. the friends get back together, for the first time in 17 years.

good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. borisjohnson has denied allegations made by his former top advisor, dominic cummings, that poor handling of the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people. he was speaking on a visit to a hospital in essex, and said an "incredibly difficult series of decisions, none of which we've taken lightly," had to be made at the start of the crisis. the health secretary, matt hancock, has also robustly defended his actions through the pandemic, following claims from mr cummings that he'd lied in private and in public. the shadow health secretary, jonathan ashworth, now says the public deserve the truth. here's our political correspondent, ben wright. whether to fully lift restrictions onjune whether to fully lift restrictions on june the whether to fully lift restrictions onjune the 21st, and this morning borisjohnson said they were seeing some signs that infections were increasing. he some signs that infections were increasing-—

some signs that infections were increasin-. ,. �* , increasing. he said he didn't see an hinu increasing. he said he didn't see anything the _ increasing. he said he didn't see anything the data _ increasing. he said he didn't see anything the data yet _ increasing. he said he didn't see anything the data yet that - increasing. he said he didn't see anything the data yet that would i anything the data yet that would stop unlocking onjune the 21st but he said we may need unfit for office, borisjohnson�*s he said we may need unfit for office, boris johnson's former adviser office, borisjohnson�*s former adviser dominic cummings earlier today. visiting a hospital in the south of england earlier today the payments to had to answer claims that his actions fail of it at the images that add up we did everything we could to protect the nhs and to protect care homes. i think that it's important faults to focus on what really matters to the people in this country and i think, if i may say so, that some of the commentary i've heard doesn't bear any relation to reality and what people want us to reality and what people want us to get on with is delivering the road map. with the government's handling of covid under renewed scrutiny, labour�*s leader said the buck stopped with the prime minister. very serious allegations from dominic— very serious allegations from dominic cummings about the chaos and incompetence in the decision—making incompetence in the decision—making in the _ incompetence in the decision—making in the government, and there are consequences to that in relation to those _ consequences to that in relation to those that— consequences to that in relation to those that have died.— consequences to that in relation to those that have died. when a cabinet minister wakes _ those that have died. when a cabinet minister wakes up _

those that have died. when a cabinet minister wakes up to _ those that have died. when a cabinet minister wakes up to this _ those that have died. when a cabinet minister wakes up to this in - those that have died. when a cabinet minister wakes up to this in the - minister wakes up to this in the morning, they usually on the ropes. yesterday, dominic cummings made the most serious allegations possible against the health secretary matt hancock during his demolition of the government's handling of covid. i’m government's handling of covid. i'm 'ust off government's handling of covid. i“n just off to drive forward the vaccine programme and then i'll be going to the house of coming and i'll answer questions there. thanks very much- — i'll answer questions there. thanks very much. boris _ i'll answer questions there. thanks very much. boris johnson's - i'll answer questions there. thanks very much. boris johnson's former| very much. borisjohnson�*s former adviser issues matt hancock of misleading parliament about testing, ppe and care homes. i misleading parliament about testing, ppe and care homes.— ppe and care homes. i think that the secretary of — ppe and care homes. i think that the secretary of state _ ppe and care homes. i think that the secretary of state for _ ppe and care homes. i think that the secretary of state for health - ppe and care homes. i think that the secretary of state for health should | secretary of state for health should have been fired for at least 15, 20 things— have been fired for at least 15, 20 things including lying to people on multiple _ things including lying to people on multiple occasions in meeting after meeting _ multiple occasions in meeting after meeting in the cabinet room and publicly — meeting in the cabinet room and publicly. in meeting in the cabinet room and ublicl . ., ., , , publicly. in the commons this morning. _ publicly. in the commons this morning, labour— publicly. in the commons this morning, labour wanted - publicly. in the commons this - morning, labour wanted answers. publicly. in the commons this _ morning, labour wanted answers. now, these allegations _ morning, labour wanted answers. now, these allegations from _ morning, labourwanted answers. firm-nu, these allegations from cummings either trail and, these allegations from cummings eithertrailand, if these allegations from cummings either trail and, if so, the secretary of state potentially sends a breach of the ministerial code in the nolan principles, —— stands in v-, the nolan principles, —— stands in

v., orthey the nolan principles, —— stands in v., or they are false and the primacy of brought a fantasist underlying into the heart of downing street. ~ . , u underlying into the heart of downing street. ~ . �* underlying into the heart of downing street. ~ . , ., ~ ~ �*, ., street. which is a? and mr's denial was firm. street. which is a? and mr's denial was firm- the _ street. which is a? and mr's denial was firm. the allegations _ street. which is a? and mr's denial was firm. the allegations that - street. which is a? and mr's denial was firm. the allegations that were ut was firm. the allegations that were put yesterday _ was firm. the allegations that were put yesterday and _ was firm. the allegations that were put yesterday and repeated - was firm. the allegations that were put yesterday and repeated by - put yesterday and repeated by venerable gentlemen are serious allegations and they welcome the opportunity to come to the house to put formally on the back that these unsubstantiated allegations around honesty and not true. and that i've been straight with people in public and in private throughout. every day since i began working on the response to this pandemic last january, i've got to be morning and asked, what must i do to protect life? ., , , asked, what must i do to protect life? ., ,, , ., , asked, what must i do to protect life? , ., life? perhaps the most serious claim made by dominic— life? perhaps the most serious claim made by dominic cummings - life? perhaps the most serious claim made by dominic cummings was - life? perhaps the most serious claim | made by dominic cummings was that covid spread like wildfire in care homes look as mr hancock falsely claimed patients were being tested before being discharged from hospital. today matt hancock says ministers follow the clinical advice and a former health secretary who quizzed mr cummings said these

remains allegations. we quizzed mr cummings said these remains allegations.— quizzed mr cummings said these remains allegations. we asked for evidence to _ remains allegations. we asked for evidence to be _ remains allegations. we asked for evidence to be provided _ remains allegations. we asked for evidence to be provided and - remains allegations. we asked for evidence to be provided and until| evidence to be provided and until such evidence is provided those allegations should be treated as unproven. allegations should be treated as unroven. , ., , ., unproven. over seven hours of testimony. _ unproven. over seven hours of testimony, dominic— unproven. over seven hours of testimony, dominic cummings j unproven. over seven hours of - testimony, dominic cummings savaged the government's confidence, a government he was at the heart of. the family is grieving the loss of loved ones, these latest claims of been hard to heat. fun whole's husband steve contracted covid just a few weeks after their wedding and died a day before his 66th birthday. if decisions had been made differently and the virus hadn't been allowed to spread the way that it did into care homes, into hospitals, into the community, i really think that steve might still be here, and it breaks my heart. borisjohnson wants to look forward, but dominic cummings' dynamite claims about past mistakes will need proper francis. ben wright, bbc news, westminster. —— will need

proper examination. and ben wright says the pressure on the health secretary hasn't gone away. really, the heat is still on matt hancock, who was singled out for fierce criticism by dominic cummings yesterday, and this morning we've seen the health secretary issue a broad denial in response the allegations made, but i think there are big, specific questions that he still needs to answer in detail — particularly around the decision around testing in care homes, and mr hancock will be answering questions at a downing street press conference later. but the fallout from yesterday does go far beyond just the health secretary. i mean this engulfs, really, a whole system of government that dominic cummings said was woefully unprepared for the pandemic and then made a series of lethal mistakes over many months. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, said all these claims painted a picture that had borisjohnson at its centre and that the buck stopped with him. and the government, of course, has promised a full public enquiry. labour says that cannot wait until next spring, as the government currently plans. now, the government has an immediate decision to make about what to do with the road map —

whether to fully lift restrictions onjune the 21st, and this morning borisjohnson said they were seeing some signs that infections were increasing. he said he didn't see anything of the data yet that would stop unlocking onjune the 21st, but he said we may need to wait. i'm joined by the conservative mp for worthing west, sir peter bottomley. sir peter, thank you very much for joining us this afternoon. how credible witness was dominic cummings yesterday?- credible witness was dominic cummings yesterday? well, he was half credible. _ cummings yesterday? well, he was half credible. he _ cummings yesterday? well, he was half credible. he described - cummings yesterday? well, he was half credible. he described some i cummings yesterday? well, he was half credible. he described some ofj half credible. he described some of the things he did. i've not met him so i don't want to comment too much because i've not had direct experience. but if he disregards by mr's questions time, if he disregards cabinets, he doesn't always go to globe cobra, he says he wants everything data driven but doesn't understand data himself, i think we have to take what he says with a degree of caution. but

what... anything _ with a degree of caution. but what... anything at all did he say that came as unexpected or alarming to you? because a lot of people feel that what they've lived through for the past year is borne out by what he said. we the past year is borne out by what he said. ~ ~' ., the past year is borne out by what he said. ~ ~ ., . ., ., he said. we know much of what he said is roughly _ he said. we know much of what he said is roughly right, _ he said. we know much of what he said is roughly right, because - he said. we know much of what he said is roughly right, because it. said is roughly right, because it was reported at the time. the question of when to have a lock and cable early. the question of whether it is a national shortage of ppe means no one was shorter everyone was sure it is a matter of semantics. i think dominic cummings try to create a forced storm. he may have got close to us on 4—6 but because the prime minster was answering questions in the middle of his testimony at the media didn't have a full 2a hours to mull everything over and i think both the prime minister and matt hancock are left witty and damaged by what dominic cummings has said. —— pretty undamaged. ultimately, both of them will give evidence to the formal

enquiry when it comes and we will learn more there. but what we really learn more there. but what we really learn from the six or seven hours testimony yesterday is that dominic cummings cannot answer all the questions you would expect him to answer. to give an example, he said the government fell apart monday. he didn't name the month, week or day... i think what one really has to say that dominic cummings, thank you for what you've done, and i hope we hear less of you until it's the enquiry and can hear all you have to say. but it's the enquiry and can hear all you have to say.— it's the enquiry and can hear all you have to say. but he did talk about the _ you have to say. but he did talk about the case _ you have to say. but he did talk about the case involved. - you have to say. but he did talk about the case involved. he - you have to say. but he did talk| about the case involved. he felt that the prime minister was unfit that the prime minister was unfit that the prime minister was unfit that the role. i do think, though, the borisjohnson and matt hancock will emerge unscathed on this? well. will emerge unscathed on this? well, whether they — will emerge unscathed on this? well, whether they emerge _ will emerge unscathed on this? -ii whether they emerge unscathed i think is one question. the question of whether dominic cummings contribution to trying to garden, i don't think it will. the risen thing i wanted to point out previously was that the person who sent her government other than the finest in

dominic cummings was michael gove and he wasn't mentioned by the witness of five and a half hours and thatis witness of five and a half hours and that is curious. i'm not trying to make michael gove, i'm just trying to say that if he is at the centre of government he should mention why. thus point it would make is that dominic cummings says that he had no power and yet you claim to change the cabinet secretary. either he had power or he didn't or he had it occasionally. if there was chaos around number ten then the person who calls the chaos was probably dominic cummings himself. loath? who calls the chaos was probably dominic cummings himself. why do you believe michael _ dominic cummings himself. why do you believe michael gove _ dominic cummings himself. why do you believe michael gove featured _ dominic cummings himself. why do you believe michael gove featured so... - believe michael gove featured so... well, so minimally in all of those hours? ~ ., , ., hours? well, ifi had been on the committee _ hours? well, ifi had been on the committee l _ hours? well, ifi had been on the committee i would _ hours? well, ifi had been on the committee i would have - hours? well, ifi had been on the committee i would have asked i hours? well, ifi had been on the. committee i would have asked and hours? well, ifi had been on the . committee i would have asked and it seems to me that if government is cabinet government and the person who has the office of the cabinet office is involved in most things, why? i'd love to know his answer. as i say, i know his strengths and it wouldn't necessarily know his a percent of michael gove because i know him, but i don't know dominic

cummings and don't know his rings out except for the budget vote. he claims he didn't have a real title at number ten and yet he claimed that he could change everything... —— brexit vote. he wants to change the health service, procurement, with research and development, where the aim is that it helps to stick around for longer than ten months to achieve things. i've been in parliament for some time. i know that the civil service. i got many friends and family have worked with it. they are and achieving as much as dominic cummings with less chaos. dominic cummings did say at one point that he wasn't qualified for what he was doing. if that was the case and he is popping not the only one who is in a position it may be raises eyebrows, what does that say about what needs to happen with the way these appointments get made and governance is done? well. way these appointments get made and governance is done?— governance is done? well, my view is ou need governance is done? well, my view is you need to — governance is done? well, my view is you need to have _ governance is done? well, my view is you need to have a _ governance is done? well, my view is you need to have a strong _ governance is done? well, my view is you need to have a strong civil - you need to have a strong civil service he will do what ministers are trying to achieve, and if ministers or that aids can tell you exactly how to do it things will go

badly wrong. ministers with a health care systems and advices, like dominic cummings, like nick timothy, like whoever it was advise david cameron in the same thing with the labour governments, if they can work out their ministers and the prime minister what they want to achieve, then the civil service will deliver. i think the kind of advisors you want people like those in the second world war and first world war the dough might as well who are people who are brilliant civil service is brought in from outside and can shape up. there are plenty of these people who can come in and do surprising things at short notice to avoid the kind of case which i suspect dominic cummings may have helped create when he was a number ten. . , helped create when he was a number ten. ., , ., ., ., ten. that is having to reach back a ve lona ten. that is having to reach back a very long way _ ten. that is having to reach back a very long way in — ten. that is having to reach back a very long way in history _ ten. that is having to reach back a very long way in history to - ten. that is having to reach back a very long way in history to pluck i very long way in history to pluck those candidates out of the archives! but one thought, though, is for those people, the covid family is great, he'll do very much

feel that their relatives, friends, died unnecessarily because of the inaction, the delay, the chaos that we had dominic cummings talk about. how do we acknowledge their suffering, their grief, and their concerns if dominic cummings didn't actually land a blow yesterday that is going to mean heads roll? weill. is going to mean heads roll? well, the two committees, _ is going to mean heads roll? well, the two committees, the - is going to mean heads roll? well, the two committees, the health i the two committees, the health committee and a science committee which were having hearings together and looking for lessons to be learned. modern history... his perception and hit this part of modern history. the best way of supporting the families who braved and the people who cared for them, the doctors, commissioners and nurses, the volunteers, is to actually have the proper enquiry in to try to work out what we should be preparing for in the future. i know quite a lot about the health service, because a member of my family was health minister for five

years and what they have to do is to look at the problems of today but also look at the problems of tomorrow and try to make things better. that was not the best way paying to those who died. for all of them, whatever government would have done. i don't think dominic cummings... done. i don't think dominic cummings. . ._ done. i don't think dominic cummings... done. i don't think dominic cumminus... , . ., cummings... print very much for your time. -- cummings. .. print very much for your time- -- thank— cummings... print very much for your time. -- thank you _ cummings... print very much for your time. -- thank you very _ cummings... print very much for your time. -- thank you very much - cummings. .. print very much for your time. -- thank you very much for- time. —— thank you very much for your time. the health secretary, matt hancock, and drjennie harries, the uk health security agency chief executive, will be holding a news conference later today,and you can see it live on the bbc news channel, from 5pm. gps in england say they're facing a "tsunami of patients," as the country emerges from lockdown. nhs figures show more than 28 million appointments were made in march — that's one of the highest on record. the royal college of gps is warning that without more resources they'll no longer be able to meet demand. here's our health correspondent, dominic hughes.

the start of another busy day and dr dean eggitt is already feeling the pressure. it's 8.30, bang on the dot, which is great, which means that we can start consulting now. and i've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine patients waiting for me. phone rings. hello? morning. it's dean speaking, dr eggitt. are you still seeing the guys up at the hospital? the easing of lockdown has released a huge amount of pent—up demand from patients needing help, many of them with multiple complex health problems. i've never experienced anything with the workload pressures that i've got at the moment, over the number of patients that i've got, the complexity of the patients that i've got, and the mental intensity of the workload. people are incredibly sick. is this how you saw your career? did you know that this would be the kind of pressure you worked under? people can't see what we're doing, so they think we're sat here twiddling our thumbs, when actually we're sat here holding our head in our hands, thinking how are we going to cope through the day? there is this hidden demand and hidden workload that nobody gets to see.

so, are you 0k to take i a call back this morning? in reception the phones are ringing constantly as patients try to get an appointment. busier than we've ever been. i can still hear the phonej ringing when i go to bed. but dr eggitt worries about those who can't get through. you know, in medicine, we're taught not to worry about the people who shout, we worry about the people who can't shout, but actually in the nhs they don't even get a voice, they don't get on the phone, they don't get through to us, they're just unheard. some people simply can't be assessed over the phone. do you want us to just keep an eye on you and keep you fit, rather than do anything to... that's right. 0k. so you've got a nerve and an artery up here. i'm just making sure there's not damage. back at the surgery, the appointments are put on hold. mitchell has walked in with a nasty cut above his eye. i'm going to stitch you back up. this minor surgery keeps mitchell out of a&e, but it adds to the time pressures dr eggitt already faces.

the nhs for the past few years has always been pretty constant. so instead of that massive winter peak and the summer lull, you've still got the massive winter peak, but you don't have a summer lull any more. you have got that constant work, so the ability to catch up has gone. that was before covid. then covid hit. and then it'sjust peak, peak, peak, peak, peak all the time. the department of health and social care in england says extra funding is available to help gps, and there's a commitment to expanding the workforce and delivering more appointments. in northern ireland, anyone over the age of 18 is now able to book a covid—i9 jab. it's the first part of the uk to offer the vaccine to all its adult population. more than five million people in melbourne, australia's second—biggest city, will enter a week—long lockdown from today to contain a new coronavirus outbreak. for the next seven days, people will be required to stay at home except for essential work, shopping, exercise, and caregiving, or to get a covid vaccine. so far, 26 new infections have been reported. 0ur sydney correspondent,

shaimaa khalil, has more details. melbourne has been here before. last year, an outbreak plunged it into a second wave of covid—i9, killing more than 800 people. this is a reminder of dark days that melburnians had hoped were now behind them. once again, we're faced with a challenge in our ongoing battle against covid. a challenge and a battle that we've faced many, many times, and on each occasion, together, we have overcome. there is a great deal of nervousness, as 5 million victorians go into another strict lockdown for the next seven days. panic buying has already started. although numbers are comparatively low here, the authorities have been quick to act, compared with other countries. officials have said that if they wait any longer, it could spiral out of control. and, once again, businesses have

to brace themselves. how often is the state government going to expect small business to pay for all of this? and, you know, it wasn't that long ago, in february, that they flicked the switch off, which was absolutely devastating for small business back then. there are 10,000 primary and secondary contacts to those who have tested positive. so a big potentialfor the number of community cases to increase. more crucially, not enough people have been vaccinated. for the past year, the numbers have told australia's success story in containing and, for a while, eliminating the virus. but they're telling a very different one when it comes to vaccinations. and all it takes is an outbreak like this to put that success at risk. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, sydney. police looking for a suspected victim of the serial killer fred west, say they haven't found any human remains while excavating a cafe in gloucester.

mary bastholm who was 15, worked at the �*clean plate' cafe before she went missing in 1968. police confirmed they'd completed the excavation of the cafe cellar and that "no items of significance" had been found. it's a decade since undercover filming by the bbc�*s panorama programme at a residential care unit near bristol shocked britain, revealing bullying and abuse at winterbourne view of people with learning disabilities and special needs. now the families of some of those affected have written to borisjohnson, warning there are still 2,000 people locked in in—patient units, and at risk of abuse and mistreatment. alison holt has that story. the images were deeply upsetting. undercover bbc panorama filming showed people with learning disabilities and autism being bullied and abused. that was ten years ago. government promises followed that all places like winterbourne view hospital would close in england, with better support provided for patients in the community.

winterbourne view has shut, but today, more than 2,000 people still live in similar institutions. among them, elliott. he was taken to a specialist hospital when he had a crisis. three years later, he's still there, to the distress of his sister. he says, "this is not my home, this is not my hospital. "when am i coming home?" and you're kind of fobbing him off, you can't give him a direct answer to say, "you're coming home in august." because giving him that guarantee and it not happening is difficult. the charity mencap has calculated that since 2015, an average of four people have been admitted to these hospitals each day. and since 2018, when data was first collected on restrictive practices, patients have been restrained, drugged or held in isolation more than 100,000 times. it's just wrong and...

anna's son simon faced some of the most distressing abuse at winterbourne view. she feels let down that government promises didn't mean change. they failed their own targets. and i find that astonishing, because we were talking at the highest possible level of government, and those changes did not happen. people didn't come out of units, and people continue to go in them. the government and nhs england have said the number of people with learning disabilities and autism in specialist hospitals has reduced significantly. and that providing more support in the community is a priority. alison holt, bbc news. the engineering giant, rolls royce, will today officially open a new aircraft engine testing facility, at its headquarters in derby. it will allow the very largest engines to be checked to destruction if necessary, while being monitored by an array of sensors, and even x—rayed in real time. the company says it will be a vital tool in developing more environmentally friendly engines

and fuels and help safeguard jobs at the plant. this report from theo leggett contains flashing images. it's taken three years to build and cost £90 million. this is the massive new aero engine test bed built by rolls—royce at its headquarters in derby. it's here that the company will put some of the biggest and most powerful aircraft engines in the world through their paces. if you want to test a really big engine like this one, you need a large facility on a grand scale, and that's what this place is. look at it! it's like a cathedral in here. it's huge, it covers more than 7,000 square metres — the size of a premier league football ground. and when it's in operation, vast quantities of air will be sucked in through this chamber, in through the engine, which will be running flat out, and then a stream of burning gases will come out the back, through that, which is the world's

largest exhaust pipe. so, in here, we're going to be doing all sorts of testing to simulate different loads and experiences an engine sees in flight. so, this isn't really a production test facility. we've got others of those in derby. this is where we'll test it and inject water into it, x—ray it real—time, put birds into it to test the engine throughout its flight envelope. in the aviation industry, keeping costs down is vital while environmental pressures are growing, so engines need to be both cheaper and cleaner to run. the real pursuit is to always be able to reduce the fuel consumption. in other words, make the engine ever more efficient, whilst keeping it as light as possible. because, of course, having a fuel—efficient engine on the wing is great. but if it's too heavy, then it's obviously going to not make the most of being efficient. like the rest of the aerospace industry, rolls—royce has had a dreadful year, slashing production and cutting thousands ofjobs. that led to questions being asked

over the very future of engine production in the uk. i think this is a huge rejection, actually, of the spirit - of pessimism and fears. i think it's a great i investment in derby, and, more importantly, _ it's a vote of confidence in the uk. the new test bed, the largest of its kind in the world, is a powerful statement of intent from rolls—royce. the company says it will provide a platform for developing new technologies for decades to come, and ensure a major part of its global operation will remain firmly based in its traditional british heartlands. theo leggett, bbc news. 17 years after they drank their last cup of coffee at central perk, the cast of friends has got back together for a one off special interview programme. james corden was the host and some of the show�*s famous fans also put in an appearance. here's our entertainment correspondent, colin paterson. the cast of friends! this is the day for which friends fans have been waiting 17 years, the six cast members back together in front of a camera.

my eyes, my eyes! it's not a new episode, rather, this reunion show features almost an hour and three quarters of them visiting the old sets... wow, does courtney still have her lines written on the table? getting a bit weepy... it was an incredible time. we became best friends. i'm gonna cry now. and paying homage to some of the series' most famous scenes, including the trivia game. each team will answer ten questions. rachel wrote ross a letter and demanded he read it before they got back together. how many pages was that letter? "18 pages!" 18 pages... front and back! front and back, is correct! and the cast explain what it's like to film in central perk. remember our marks, do you remember what colour you were? yellow. blue. i never looked down, i always used the corner of the... you looked! you tripped every time! fans in manchester had gathered together this morning, to make sure that they were the first people to watch the show.

just like the ultimate comfort blanket, you should enjoy it with your friends! i loved it, i actually feel a little bit emotional, it was quite an emotional ending, so, yeah, i loved it, loved every bit. spoiler alert — there are very few new revelations, butjennifer aniston and david schwimmer reveal that they almost became romantically involved. the first season, we... i had a major crush onjen. so we just channelled all of our adoration and love for each other into ross and rachel. audience: aw! is this blowing anyone else's mind? i'm starving! matthew perry says that the live recordings left him crippled with anxiety. i felt like i was going to die if they didn't laugh. and it's not healthy, for sure. but i would sometimes say a line and they wouldn't laugh and i would sweat, and just, like, go into convulsions. if i didn't get the laugh i was supposed to get,

i would freak out. it would take you down. yeah. you didn't didn't tell us that. no? no, i don't remember you ever saying that. oh, yeah. i felt like that every single night. lady gaga joins lisa kudrow for a version of smelly cat. # smelly cat, smelly cat... audience whooping. and at the end, courtney cox confirms that's it, as far as friends is concerned. there will be no new episodes and no film. this will be the last time that we're ever asked about the show us a group, that we will do this. like, we're not going to do this again in 15 more years. to sum it up friends—style, this is the one where the fans were not disappointed. colin paterson, bbc news, central perk. now it's time for a look at the weather with stav. hello, there. a ridge of high pressure will bring much of the

country are fine, settled sunny day today. temperatures reaching over 20 delays in the south of the country, something we haven't seen quite a while. this new weatherfront pushing into western areas will bring some patchy rain to northern ireland and western parts of scotland, england and wales by the end of the night. further north and east it should tend to be dry but there will be more cloud than generally saw mild night to come. bit of a disappointing day for friday because of this weather front. there will be smoke and generally, rain across some western areas which will tend to ease down, misty and murky areas too. we get sunny spells that a set of the heavy shower, but because of more cloud event the bridges will be quite as high as today. it stays fine, settled, sunny and warm the england and wales for the bank holiday weekend. 0n bank holiday mondays, the chance of thicker cloud and some shows in scotland and northern ireland. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines:

borisjohnson denies claims made by dominic cummings, that the poor handing of the coronavirus pandemic, led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people. the prime minister says that he will be examining the data on easing of restrictions in england onjune 21st. the health secretary, matt hancock has denied claims by dominic cummings that he repeatedly lied to colleagues and the public during the covid crisis. doctors in england are warning rising numbers of patients and a shortage of gps is threatening to overwhelm the system — as the country emerges from lockdown. 10 years after the winterbourne view scandal campaigners say they fear people with learning disabilities and autism are still facing abuse in long—stay hospitals. sport now and let's get a full round up from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. tottenham have held talks with former manager mauricio pochettino over a sensational return to the club. he was only sacked in november 2019,

despite leading them to the champions league final six months earlier. jose mourinho replaced him but left following a slump in results. and spurs have now returned to pochettino, who was only appointed as paris saint germain manager injanuary. the club missed out on the french league title to lille. it's believed there's been no official contact between ps6 and spurs. there's been a big managerial departure in spain — zinedine zidane has left real madrid. they won the title last season but lost out to rivals atletico this time. it's the first time in eleven years he's failed to win a trophy. real said zidane was one of the club's great icons and thanked him for his service but said they must �*now respect his decision.�* the department for education are looking into claims one of the racist messages recieved by marcus rashford after last night's defeat to villareal in the europa league final came from a teacher. the spanish side won 11—10

on penalties in poland, after drawing 1—1 at the end of extra time. our sports correspondent, joe wilson, reports. last night, manchester united lost a football match. commentator: and villareal win the europa league! i the circumstances were extraordinary. their goalkeeper missed the decisive penalty in a shootout where everyone else scored. as villareal and celebrated winning the europa league, manchester united's players, management and supporters shared a profound sense of deep disappointment. marcus rashford had to take a loser�*s medal. and then, online, he was racially abused. in the early hours of this morning, marcus rashford tweeted that he had "at least 70 racial slurs counted on my social accounts so far. for those working to make me feel any worse than i already do, good luck trying." he also said... "i am more outraged that one of the abusers that left a mountain of monkey messages in my direct messages is a maths teacher with an open profile, he teaches children and knows that he can freely racially abuse

without consequences." it is understood that account has been deleted and the abuser has been reported to police, but for campaigners, there is a weary sense of disgust about the abuse marcus rashford received. it was all—too—familiar, and predictable. this is notjust a new thing, it's a regular occurrence, it's absolutely happening after every match day. something extreme needs to happen now, in terms of how we move forward in situations like this. there was recently a social media boycott, manchester united's players took the knee before last night's match, villareal�*s didn't. united today condemned the abuse and also urged social media platforms and authorities to strengthen measures, to prevent this "disgusting behaviour." few sportspeople match marcus rashford's profile, a campaigner as well as footballer. instagram say they removed a number of comments and accounts after the latest abuse aimed at him, and are now introducing new online tools. what is clear is that

while black footballers play through every result and emotion, the abuse of their race persists. joe wilson, bbc news. the great britain women's squadfor the tokyo 0lympics has been named and 11 manchester city players are included . among them, england captain steph houghton, who was part of the side at london 2012. wales skipper sophie ingle is also in the line—up, one of only three non—english players in a squad of 18. tennis star, naomi 0saka, says she won't be taking questions from the media at the upcoming french open because of the impact on the mental health of players. the four—time grand slam champion says expecting them to talk after a defeat amounted to "kicking a person while they're down" and added "we're asked questions, that bring doubt into our minds and i'm just not going to subject myself, to people that doubt me." she said she expected to receive a considerable fine, which she hopes will go to a mental health charity.

that's all the sport for now. police say they've rescued more than 570 children during a week of operations against county lines drugs gangs across england, wales and scotland. more than a thousand arrests were made. county lines gangs are urban drug dealers, who sell to customers in more rural areas, often using children as couriers. angus crawford reports. holly, the sniffer dog, is busy looking for drugs... how much have you got there? is that a couple of grams? ..and the young people used to move them around the uk. police forces across the country, even here on the railways, are targeting county lines. they're looking for drugs, weapons, money. but what they really want to find are the children being exploited by these criminal gangs. how old are you? in a week of action across england, wales and scotland, police say they safeguarded more than 570 children involved in the trade.

just go down there a second. we know that young people are involved in this, but we haven't criminalised many of those. we don't seek to criminalise young people. what we do is we criminalise young people as a last resort, because we see them as victims. i was about ten, 11, in youth court... i like rhys, selling drugs when he should have been in primary school. i then started getting into trouble... - now a youth worker helping children take a different path. so when they've got you in there, you know, it can be simple things like threats of violence, _ you know, threatening your family members, your siblings. you're trapped in that i stage and there's no way, ionce you're in it, you're in it, | really, and that's why we tried to get to these young people before they're in it. - how old are you, boys? two teenagers, stopped in northampton with drugs and a knife. you're not missing, are you? later, one's found to be bruised and scarred. you're both going to be detained for a stop search. he had ligature marks around his neck, hand marks around his throat,

and he also had welts on his back from whatever other gang member he was aligned to, up in birmingham. so they've been punishing him? yes. forcing him to work? i believe so. there are fears too the pandemic has made things worse. more children missing school, making them even more vulnerable. and so the work goes on... police, police! ..searching for the dealers and the children they prey on. angus crawford, bbc news. new research suggests there s a a0 percent chance, that at least one of the next five years will be 1.5 degrees celsius hotter, than pre—industrial levels. the study, for the world meteorologicalorganisation, says rising temperatures mean more melting ice, higher sea levels and extreme weather patterns. 0ur science editor david shukman says that scientists were expecting a rise in temperatures.

for many it's not a huge surprise, but to the scientists doing the work it's confirmation of yet another step towards potentially dangerous levels of warming. what happened was that scientists at the met office and in ten other countries pooled the results of their modelling efforts to try to work out what's going to happen in the coming years and that's how they came up with this agreed conclusion that there is a 40% chance, a reasonable possibility, that one of the next five years will see that average level reaching 1.5 degrees above the preindustrial level. they point out that this will be a temporary situation, that natural fluctuations for example la nina in the pacific, could cool the temperature down again in the next few years. but they do say it's a step towards the paris agreement limit of global warming, which is 1.5 degrees, and of course that with every step that you take towards that, they say the impacts of global warming could potentially become more severe. and then it's just another argument, another piece of evidence,

why the world needs to listen to what scientists said some years ago, that the world needs to make dramatic cuts in the emissions of the greenhouse gases that are heating the planet and that of course puts more emphasis than ever before on the climate summit taking place in glasgow at the end of the year. the tv presenter dr christianjessen has been ordered to pay first minister arlene foster £125,000 in damages for a defamatory tweet alleging that she had an extra—marital affair. mrs foster sued drjessen for the tweet which was posted in december 2019 and taken down two weeks later. mrjustice mcalinden at belfast high court said, "it was an outrageous libel concerning an individual of considerable standing, attacking her integrity at a most fundamental level". drjessen was also ordered to pay mrs foster's legal costs. parliament has approved a motion

to suspend the conservative mp for delyn in north wales, rob roberts, for six weeks for breaching sexual misconduct rules. an independent panel found mr roberts sexually harassed a member of his staff. earlier, commons leaderjacob rees—mogg said he thought it would be "honourable" for mr roberts to resign. 0ur bbc wales westminster correspondent gave some of the background to this. rab correspondent gave some of the background to this.— correspondent gave some of the background to this. rob roberts on tuesday was _ background to this. rob roberts on tuesday was found _ background to this. rob roberts on tuesday was found to _ background to this. rob roberts on tuesday was found to have - background to this. rob roberts on| tuesday was found to have sexually harassed his former employee and an independent expert panel that was set up tojudge independent expert panel that was set up to judge cases like this in parliament recommended that he be handed a six week suspension from parliament. that has just been approved in the house of commons today but he is now facing significant calls to resign and that's because even though the six—week suspension has been approved he doesn't face a regal

petition which is something that could lead to a by—election and that's because sanctions handed out by this independent expert panel are separate from those handed out by parliament's own standards committee who tend to deal with cases like expenses abuses for example. he is notjust expenses abuses for example. he is not just facing calls expenses abuses for example. he is notjust facing calls to resign from opposition parties but also from senior conservative politicians as well. in the house of commons the leader of the is jacob rees mogg said it would be the honourable thing to do for him to stand down, something the chair of the standards committee chris bryant has also said underjacob rees mogg also said that he thought it was frankly ridiculous that we currently have a higher sanction in place for people misuse parliamentary envelopes than we do for sexual misconduct cases. so a significant call now for him to resign and i understand the uk government are looking at ways the law could be changed so that in future suspensions like this could lead to a regal position automatically. i also understand the labour party have been seeking advice from parliamentary counsel

about whether there is anything that can be done to try and push for a regal position in this case. it's also worth reflecting on some of the views of his constituents about the fact they won't currently get a say on whether or not he remains their mp. just read your couple of examples from messages i've had from some constituents today. calling a totally unacceptable, wrong, and safe, not fit. just some e—mails from constituents about how they feel that they won't have a say in a position about the future of him being their mp. as it stands, he has apologised for his conduct but he hasn't responded to any claims or any calls for him to resign today. let's return to the news that police say they've rescued more than 570 children during a week of operations, against county lines drugs gangs, across england, wales and scotland with more than a thousand arrests made. we can talk now to james simmonds—read who is

the prevention programme manager at the children's society. more than 170 children rescued in a week, what is the calculation of how many more are trapped in these county lines gangs? titer? many more are trapped in these county lines gangs? very difficult to sa . county lines gangs? very difficult to say. unfortunately _ county lines gangs? very difficult to say. unfortunately this - county lines gangs? very difficult to say. unfortunately this is i county lines gangs? very difficult to say. unfortunately this is an i to say. unfortunately this is an issue _ to say. unfortunately this is an issue that _ to say. unfortunately this is an issue that affects children across the country in every community and from _ the country in every community and from every— the country in every community and from every background. it doesn't only affect — from every background. it doesn't only affect teenagers who we might commonly think of but even children of primary— commonly think of but even children of primary school age and that the vulnerable — of primary school age and that the vulnerable age when they are transitioning to going to secondary school _ transitioning to going to secondary school. very hard to get figures and we don't _ school. very hard to get figures and we don't have consistent data and that is— we don't have consistent data and that is why— we don't have consistent data and that is why we are calling on government and the children's society— government and the children's society to announce a national strategy — society to announce a national strategy to tackle this issue so that we — strategy to tackle this issue so that we can make sure there is consistency and not a postcode lottery — consistency and not a postcode lotte . ., ., . consistency and not a postcode lotte . ., .,. , lottery. how do children get sucked in? it's lottery. how do children get sucked in? it's the — lottery. how do children get sucked in? it's the fact — lottery. how do children get sucked in? it's the fact that _ lottery. how do children get sucked in? it's the fact that all _ lottery. how do children get sucked in? it's the fact that all these i in? it's the fact that all these criminals _ in? it's the fact that all these criminals are _ in? it's the fact that all these criminals are very _ in? it's the fact that all these i criminals are very sophisticated. they— criminals are very sophisticated. they know— criminals are very sophisticated. they know how to get their hooks in

and they— they know how to get their hooks in and they know how to spot anyone ability _ and they know how to spot anyone ability so — and they know how to spot anyone ability. so they will slowly build up ability. so they will slowly build up a relationship with these children. _ up a relationship with these children, they will use the promise of status, — children, they will use the promise of status, wealth and a sense of belonging — of status, wealth and a sense of belonging or love. they will make that person think they are someone who they— that person think they are someone who they can trust and that is providing _ who they can trust and that is providing something they might not be getting at home. then slowly over time they— be getting at home. then slowly over time they start to threaten them, their— time they start to threaten them, their families, these children experience horrific violence and abuse — experience horrific violence and abuse. then they are made to commit crimes— abuse. then they are made to commit crimes and _ abuse. then they are made to commit crimes and they are the public face unfortunately, they carry the drugs and the _ unfortunately, they carry the drugs and the ones in the situations of extreme — and the ones in the situations of extreme danger. sometimes they have to carry— extreme danger. sometimes they have to carry them inside their bodies while _ to carry them inside their bodies while these criminals hide from view _ while these criminals hide from view. ~ ., ,., while these criminals hide from view. ~ ., ., , while these criminals hide from view. ., ., , , , view. what sort of shine signs should teachers _ view. what sort of shine signs should teachers and _ view. what sort of shine signs should teachers and parents l view. what sort of shine signs i should teachers and parents look view. what sort of shine signs - should teachers and parents look out for if they notice something? in order to really tackle this issue we

first need — order to really tackle this issue we first need to identify these children to make sure they get the i’ili'it children to make sure they get the right support. that is why at the children's— right support. that is why at the children's society we are running a campaign — children's society we are running a campaign called look closer which is about— campaign called look closer which is about not— campaign called look closer which is about notjust parents and professionals but everybody in the public _ professionals but everybody in the public playing the role in preventing exploitation and spotting the signs— preventing exploitation and spotting the signs of abuse and reporting them _ the signs of abuse and reporting them to— the signs of abuse and reporting them to the police. in terms of what to look— them to the police. in terms of what to look out— them to the police. in terms of what to look out for, they can look out for signs— to look out for, they can look out for signs such as children carrying large _ for signs such as children carrying large quantities of cash, children that seem — large quantities of cash, children that seem to be in controlled by another— that seem to be in controlled by another person who doesn't appear to be the _ another person who doesn't appear to be the parents, children travelling on their— be the parents, children travelling on their own late at night or during school— on their own late at night or during school hours and children displaying behaviour— school hours and children displaying behaviour that makes them concerned. whether— behaviour that makes them concerned. whether that the anxious behaviour or anger— whether that the anxious behaviour or anger and aggression. we don't often _ or anger and aggression. we don't often think— or anger and aggression. we don't often think of those are signs of abuse _ often think of those are signs of abuse but — often think of those are signs of abuse but actually anger and aggression are common signs of trauma — aggression are common signs of trauma so _ aggression are common signs of trauma. so we are act —— asking people — trauma. so we are act —— asking people to — trauma. so we are act —— asking people to look for those signs and report— people to look for those signs and report them immediately. they might

think they— report them immediately. they might think they don't have enough information but it could be crucial piece _ information but it could be crucial piece of— information but it could be crucial piece of the puzzle and they can visit our— piece of the puzzle and they can visit our website to find out more about— visit our website to find out more about what — visit our website to find out more about what to do. you visit our website to find out more about what to do.— visit our website to find out more about what to do. you mention you want a strategy _ about what to do. you mention you want a strategy to _ about what to do. you mention you want a strategy to ensure - about what to do. you mention you want a strategy to ensure there i about what to do. you mention you want a strategy to ensure there is i about what to do. you mention you | want a strategy to ensure there is a postcode lottery, what does that look like? it postcode lottery, what does that look like? ., ., postcode lottery, what does that look like? ~' look like? it looks like the government _ look like? it looks like the government providing i look like? it looks like the government providing a i look like? it looks like the - government providing a consistent and clear— government providing a consistent and clear vision for how to respond to this _ and clear vision for how to respond to this issue — and clear vision for how to respond to this issue. we are asking for things— to this issue. we are asking for things to — to this issue. we are asking for things to be joined together so that data is— things to be joined together so that data is consistently gathered so that we — data is consistently gathered so that we can get a true picture of the scale — that we can get a true picture of the scale of this problem. we want as part _ the scale of this problem. we want as part of— the scale of this problem. we want as part of that strategy for there to be _ as part of that strategy for there to be a _ as part of that strategy for there to be a clear commitment for every single _ to be a clear commitment for every single child — to be a clear commitment for every single child being exploited in this way. single child being exploited in this way they— single child being exploited in this way. they need access to an independent advocate so that they support _ independent advocate so that they support needs are being met because while parents might be fighting for the children we can't expect them to do that— the children we can't expect them to do that on— the children we can't expect them to do that on their own when we are talking _ do that on their own when we are talking about sophisticated organised criminals. we are just that asking the government to defy the child _ that asking the government to defy the child criminal exploitation in

law _ the child criminal exploitation in law we — the child criminal exploitation in law. we have the definition of a child _ law. we have the definition of a child sexual exploitation but not the criminal exploitation and they're — the criminal exploitation and they're asking that to be included in the _ they're asking that to be included in the upcoming police bill. eu foreign ministers have been meeting in lisbon to discuss economic sanctions against belarus, in response to the forced landing of a passenger plane in minsk and the detention of an opposition activist. roman protasevich was placed on a terrorism list last year and says he now fears the death penalty. the president of belarus, alexander lukashenko, has accused his critics of trying to �*strangle' his country as western nations impose sanctions. mr protesevich's mother has been talking to journalists in warsaw. i ask you to bring this information to the _ i ask you to bring this information to the countries _ i ask you to bring this information to the countries of— i ask you to bring this information to the countries of the _ i ask you to bring this information to the countries of the european i to the countries of the european union, _ to the countries of the european union, to— to the countries of the european union, to america, _ to the countries of the european union, to america, to— to the countries of the europeanl union, to america, to presidents to the countries of the european i union, to america, to presidents and leaders _ union, to america, to presidents and leaders i_ union, to america, to presidents and leaders i beg — union, to america, to presidents and leaders i beg you. _ union, to america, to presidents and leaders. i beg you, i—

union, to america, to presidents and leaders. i beg you, i ask— union, to america, to presidents and leaders. i beg you, i ask you - union, to america, to presidents and leaders. i beg you, i ask you for- leaders. i beg you, i ask you for help _ leaders. i beg you, i ask you for help i— leaders. i beg you, i ask you for help i call— leaders. i beg you, i ask you for help. i call upon _ leaders. i beg you, i ask you for help. i call upon you _ leaders. i beg you, i ask you for help. i call upon you to - leaders. i beg you, i ask you for help. i call upon you to save i leaders. i beg you, i ask you for help. i call upon you to save my son _ it's been a year since george floyd was killed in minneapolis while in police custody. it prompted black lives matter protests around the world and sparked conversations in the home — bringing people together but also creating division in some families. 0ur reporter ashleyjohn—baptiste has been speaking to people across the uk about how the movement has affected their relationship with loved ones. the black lives matter protests that took place across the globe following the death of george floyd last year rippled around the uk. this is adam and his jamaican grandmother, catherine. adam joined the march in stafford last summer. by going to the street and letting them know, the police and government, that we are not going to put up with it any more. despite adam's support of blm, the topic has been a divisive one in his family. my uncles still say they can't support black lives matter.

the audience in stafford was 90% white. they probably didn't experience that kind of support growing up and so they are kind of looking that anything that comes in with suspicion. we all have our own opinion. the first time we actually met in person was at the first i protest in manchester. this is tom malonejr with his family who you may recognise from the tv show gogglebox. he is currently in an interracial relationship with his girlfriend, briony brisco. it was comforting to know he values black people's lives. their vocal stance against racism has led to online abuse. a lot of people try to use it to divide us. someone in a comment referred to briony as my slave. _ it was disgusting. it's not the first time i've heard it, unfortunately. when you've got people saying the same things that were said 50, 100 years ago, you think

we would be further along. anna and jeff live in carlisle with their two children in a mainly white area and were surprised to see protests take place. the fact that someone had organised a black lives matter movement in carlisle was amazing and i went, not expecting to see 200 people there. you have a white husband. how has race played out in that relationship? it's something i've never admitted to anyone before, but i'm quite disappointed ifell in love with a white man! i thought that'd would be another way of claiming my heritage. i wanted children to have a similar experience as me, of being a blend. they are now more open about race. there is definitely an awareness from the other side, being a white person, and i don't want to feel like the colonialist, exploiting in some way. black lives matter has really united our family.

i'm realising it's not about who i marry and the colour of their skin, it's about how we work together for us to totally explore and engage with both of our cultural heritages. a year on since tom and briony met at a demonstration, they are back in manchester for another march. the fact we still have to be here protesting, we are a lot further away than we need to be. at the same time, it's nice that people are so passionate about wanting change. i think this is going to be a big part of who we are as a couple because it's something we're both passionate about. he may not have his driving licence yet, but 18 year old travis ludlow has his sights set rather higher, as he aims to become the youngest person to fly solo around the world. earlier this morning, he set off from high wycombe in buckinghamshire on the start of his 20,000 mile journey. jo black went to meet him

as he prepared for his trip. meet 18—year—old travis ludlow, he has onlyjust meet 18—year—old travis ludlow, he has only just finished meet 18—year—old travis ludlow, he has onlyjust finished his a—levels, hasn't got his driving licence but is just about to fly solo around the globe to attempt a world record. it's a dream he has harboured since he was just ten years old and now he will make thatjourney in this single—engine aircraft. mr; will make that journey in this single-engine aircraft. my only safety concerns _ single-engine aircraft. my only safety concerns are _ single-engine aircraft. my only safety concerns are i _ single-engine aircraft. my only safety concerns are i only i single-engine aircraft. my only safety concerns are i only have j single-engine aircraft. my only i safety concerns are i only have one engine and i'm going over vast expanses of wilderness and ocean and my longest trip is one of the longest —— last legs of the trip. the trip should take a0 days but it's about the age he will be when he finishes that will make him the youngest pilot. the current record—holder mason andries from the us completed his trip in 2018 when

he was 18 years and 163 days old. if travis returns before the 2ath of july he could achieve the record he craves. i july he could achieve the record he craves. . .,. july he could achieve the record he craves. ., .,. ., , july he could achieve the record he craves. ., ., , ., craves. i have faced a bit of criticism. — craves. i have faced a bit of criticism, people _ craves. i have faced a bit of criticism, people saying i craves. i have faced a bit of criticism, people saying it'sj criticism, people saying it's dangerous and stupid. flying is incredibly safe compared to driving. if you drove around the world it would be more dangerous than flying around the world.— around the world. travis will make 55 sto -s around the world. travis will make 5 stops in — around the world. travis will make 5 stops in nine — around the world. travis will make 55 stops in nine different - around the world. travis will make 55 stops in nine different countries and across three continents. after he takes off from wycombe in a pack he takes off from wycombe in a pack he will fly to the netherlands, then onto poland, estonia, russia, the us, canada, greenland, iceland and back the uk. guinness world record say the entire journey must be completed solo and surpass a distance of 2a,900 miles. turn on the ground it will be a nail—biting

six or seven weeks for his family. he is going to come back a different person _ he is going to come back a different person he — he is going to come back a different person. he is stilla he is going to come back a different person. he is still a young man. he is going to come back a different person. he is stilla young man. he is still— person. he is stilla young man. he is still a _ person. he is stilla young man. he is still a boy — person. he is stilla young man. he is still a boy. after he has taken off i is still a boy. after he has taken off i am — is still a boy. after he has taken off i am going to be nervous. we will be _ off i am going to be nervous. we will be able to track him and see where _ will be able to track him and see where he — will be able to track him and see where he is. i can text him and communicate with him. and he is very confident _ communicate with him. and he is very confident he— communicate with him. and he is very confident. he is a good pilot. travis— confident. he is a good pilot. travis knows not many 18—year—olds get opportunities like this and says he has been lucky with sponsors and having support from family and friends. you havejust finished having support from family and friends. you have just finished your a—levels. lots of students decide to take a break in the summer. you are not. what are your friends doing this summer? mr; not. what are your friends doing this summer?— not. what are your friends doing this summer? my friends think it's really cool- — this summer? my friends think it's really cool. right _ this summer? my friends think it's really cool. right now _ this summer? my friends think it's really cool. right now the - this summer? my friends think it's really cool. right now the have i really cool. right now the have finished a—levels and partying and having fun. i will party and have fun after i've flown around the world. i need to focus on this right now. are you not scared? not really.

i am more excited and scared. a bit of nerves and i'm really excited. good luck to him. there was a lunar treat for star gazers across the globe last night. a supermoon made an appearance, with the closest full moon to the earth of the year, making it appear larger and brighter than usual. in some parts of the world it coincided with a lunar eclipse, which gave it a red glow. heavy cloud shrouding the uk meant the view from here was obscured. now it's time for a look at the weather with stav. todayis today is a taste of what is hidden for the bank holiday weekend with increasing amounts of sunshine. it's going to feel warmer of late. for today as well, many places staying dry with plenty of sunshine. the cloud building up a little bit across eastern parts of england and eastern scotland and that could squeeze out the odd shower but they

will be isolated. this new weather from pushing into the far west will bring figure clout in northern ireland and the far south—west later but those temperatures responding with all the sunshine. as we head through the ceiling and overnight at weather front starts to push eastwards so it will be quite across northern ireland and western parts during the code of the night. further east it will stay dry. with more cloud around its going to be a milder night. for friday we have got this weather front pushing into high—pressure so it will fizzle out as we go through the day. it's going to bring a much cloudier day than what we have today with patchy rain in western scotland and northern ireland. the best of the dry weather and brighter weather will be in a northern and eastern areas. temperatures a degree or so down because of more cloud. for the bank

holiday weekend, high—pressure dominates so we will see some sunshine and it's going to feel much warmer as well. saturday will be variable amounts of cloud and some sunny spells, the odd shower but many places will be dry and winds will be like. the temperatures a little bit higher than friday. into sunday and it looks even better, less cloud around and we should see more sunshine, light winds so it's going to feel warmer and we could see the cloud building across the north west of scotland into parts of northern ireland later on in the day. but look at those temperatures, 20 celsius across parts of scotland, 21 or 2223 degrees across parts of england and wales. we could see more cloud on bank holiday monday but further south it stays warmer and sunnier.

this is bbc news. the headlines... borisjohnson denies claims made by dominic cummings, that the poor handing of the coronavirus pandemic, led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people. at every stage, we've been governed by a determination to protect life, to save life, to ensure that our nhs is not overwhelmed. the health secretary has also robustly defended claims against him from mr cummings, who said he is a liar, and should have been sacked. these unsubstantiated allegations around honesty are not true, and that i've been straight with people in public and in private throughout. the prime minister says

that he will be examining the data on easing of restrictions in england onjune 21st. i don't see anything currently in the data to suggest that we have to deviate from the road map, but we may need to wait. gps in england say they're facing a deluge of patients, as the country, emerges from lockdown. it's the cast of friends! and, a very special reunion. the friends get back together, for the first time in 17 years.

good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. borisjohnson has denied allegations made by his former top advisor, dominic cummings, that poor handling of the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people. he was speaking on a visit to a hospital in essex, and said an "incredibly difficult series of decisions, none of which we've taken lightly," had to be made at the start of the crisis. the health secretary, matt hancock, has also robustly defended his actions through the pandemic, following claims from mr cummings that he'd lied in private and in public. the shadow health secretary, jonathan ashworth, now says the public,deserve the truth. here's our political correspondent, ben wright. it's your birthday today? it is. then many happy returns. unfit for office claimed boris johnson's former adviser, dominic cummings, yesterday. visiting a hospital in the south of england today, the pm was having to answer charges that disastrous mistakes caused tens of thousands of deaths. we did everything we could to protect the nhs, and to protect care homes as well, and... did you test anyone being put into a care home?

and we did everything we could... i mean, you didn't, did you? we did everything we could to protect the nhs and to protect care homes. i think that it's important for us to focus on what really matters to the people of this country, and i think, if i may say so, that some of the commentary i've heard doesn't bear any relation to reality, and what people want us to get on with is is delivering the road map. with the government's handling of covid under renewed scrutiny, labour's leader said the buck stopped with the prime minister. very serious allegations from dominic cummings about the chaos and incompetence in the decision—making in the government, and there are consequences to that in relation to those that have died. camera shutters click. when a cabinet minister wakes up to this in the morning, they're usually on the ropes. yesterday, dominic cummings made the most serious allegations possible against the health secretary matt hancock during his demolition of the government's handling of covid. i'm just off to drive forward the vaccine programme, and then i'll be going to the house of commons

and i'll answer questions there. thanks very much. boris johnson's closest former adviser accused matt hancock of misleading colleagues and parliament about testing, ppe and care homes. i think that the secretary of state for health should have been fired for at least 15, 20 things, i including lying to everybody | on multiple occasions in meeting| after meeting in the cabinet room and publicly. shadow secretary of state, jonathan ashworth. in the commons this morning, labour wanted answers. now, these allegations from cummings are either true, and, if so, the secretary of state potentially stands in breach of the ministerial code and the nolan principles, or they are false and the prime minister brought a fantasist and a liar into the heart of downing street. which is it? the minister's denial was firm. mr speaker, these allegations that were put yesterday and repeated by the right honourable gentlemen are serious allegations and i welcome the opportunity

to come to the house to put formally on the record that these unsubstantiated allegations around honesty are not true. and that i've been straight with people in public and in private throughout. every day since i began working on the response to this pandemic last january, i've got up each morning and asked, what must i do to protect life? perhaps the most serious claim made by dominic cummings was that covid spread like wildfire in care homes because mr hancock falsely claimed patients were being tested before being discharged from hospital. today, matt hancock said ministers follow the clinical advice and a former health secretary who quizzed mr cummings said these remained allegations. we asked for evidence to be provided, and until such evidence is provided those allegations should be treated as unproven. 0ver seven hours of testimony, dominic cummings savaged the government's competence — a government he was at the heart of.

for families grieving the loss of loved ones, these latest claims have been hard to hear. fran hall's husband steve contracted covid just a few weeks after their wedding. he died a day before his 66th birthday. if decisions had been made differently and the virus hadn't been allowed to spread the way that it did into care homes, into hospitals, into the community, i really think that steve might still be here, and it breaks my heart. borisjohnson wants to look forward, but dominic cummings' dynamite claims about past mistakes will need proper answers. ben wright, bbc news, westminster. i'm joined by our political correspondent leila nathoo. how correspondent leila nathoo. likely is that that the minister how likely is that that the prime minister and the health secretary have done enough to back this away? i think what you've heard at the end of that report there was that clearly the time will come from

proper answers but both the prime minister and matt hancock think that now is not the time and they want to throw a head to the public enquiry in the spring of next year. you have had their responses to the claims of rejecting dominic cummings' allegations in the land but not engaging, really, with the specifics of the details of what dominic cummings allegedly yesterday in his select committee yesterday. certainly, labourare select committee yesterday. certainly, labour are still unhappy with what matt hancock said in the commons yesterday saying, look, the families of those who died deserve proper answers to those questions about testing, ppa and the policy around care homes but i think it is very clear when the message we're getting from senior ministers and the prime minister himself that he doesn't want to engage with the substance of those allegations at the moment and although this will rumble on for some time there is going to be evidence given by dominic cummings and to that site

committee and matt hancock himself will have the opportunity to appear before the community again to answer their questions directly so this will be ongoing but i think, for now, the strategy seems to be to not engage with exactly all the details that were laid on the table yesterday and just to reject the claims and say, look, we are still getting on with handling this pandemic which is very much on going. pandemic which is very much on anoin. . ~ pandemic which is very much on train, ., , . i'm joined now by lord sumption, who was a justice of the supreme court from 2012 to 2018. thank you very much forjoining us. we have written in the telegraph today about what you heard dominic cummings said yesterday. how convincing do think he was when you as he claimed that there was chaos and indecision at the heart of government? i and indecision at the heart of government?— and indecision at the heart of government? ~ ., . ., government? i think that did come over uuite government? i think that did come over quite convincingly _ government? i think that did come over quite convincingly mainly i over quite convincingly mainly because it is completely consistent with what we have witnessed over the

last 15 months, in particularly the allegation that the prime minister changes his mind every five minutes is well borne out by facts that we all know. but i think you've got to realise where dominic cummings is coming from. cummings is a natural autocrat. he believes in a top—down command style of government where, to use his own words, you can have a kind of dictator he will click his fingers and everything will move into place and people will, no questions asked, get on with what he wants done. that is not the way that english government, british governments have traditionally worked, and he's obviously very frustrated at any kind of opposition. you could see in the interview how frustrated he was by the fact that the health policy is a concern of the department of health and he couldn't simply, from 10 downing street, issue orders and get

them obeyed instantly. he had to go through the secretary of state. now, there are people, and may cummings is one of them, who believe that dictatorial government is much more efficient than consultative government, but all history shows that that is simply not true. dictatorial government is very inefficient. it has a minimum of comfort, consultation, a minimum of deliberation and that is a way to make mistakes. but deliberation and that is a way to make mistakes.— deliberation and that is a way to make mistakes. but he also talks about the fact _ make mistakes. but he also talks about the fact that _ make mistakes. but he also talks about the fact that in _ make mistakes. but he also talks about the fact that in his - make mistakes. but he also talks about the fact that in his view i about the fact that in his view there were far more deaths than there were far more deaths than there needed to be, if that is the right words, particularly when it looks at what happened in care homes, when we were promised that people will be shielded. there was no shielding policy. we were promised that people would be protected and they weren't and we've seen those deaths in those residential homes.- seen those deaths in those residential homes. ~ ., , residential homes. well, care homes is a big clock — residential homes. well, care homes is a big clock on _ residential homes. well, care homes is a big clock up. it's _ residential homes. well, care homes is a big clock up. it's a _ residential homes. well, care homes is a big clock up. it's a clock - residential homes. well, care homes is a big clock up. it's a clock up i is a big clock up. it's a clock up the other countries have made too but that's obviously been no excuse.

and clearly and obviously decanting people from hospitals without testing into care homes was a tragedy which should never have happened. i have no idea who was responsible for that. dominic cummings says that it was matt hancock and we will have to see. in terms of locked arms, though, you would have taken issue with the necessity in the scale of them, haven't you, in the past? but yet dominic cummings was very much of the view that everything was far too delayed and yet we are now hearing from the prime minister that we need to be cautious about the easing of further restrictions injune in england. what is your view on how they should proceed? 0n the 21st ofjune i think it is time that decisions were passed back to citizens. ~ ., ., .. ., ., to citizens. with a vaccination programme — to citizens. with a vaccination programme having _ to citizens. with a vaccination programme having got i to citizens. with a vaccination programme having got as i to citizens. with a vaccination programme having got as far| to citizens. with a vaccination l programme having got as far as to citizens. with a vaccination i programme having got as far as it has it seems perfectly absurd. you

have a one size six all series of command regulations applicable in the same as everyone when our position is a completely different —— one size fits all. people who have had the virus, as research fish, recent research has confirmed, and an even better degree of immunity even more long—lasting than it is likely to be available from the vaccines. a large proportion of the vaccines. a large proportion of the population have been vaccinated. the vaccine is a hugely, highly effective including against the new variants but if we are going to be blown off course by a variance by the like the indian variant when the vaccine is just as effective against it as it is against any other form of the disease then there is, frankly, no prospect of our ever escaping from the current top—down rules. we will have to go on forever, and there are certainly medical professions who would like to sales commanded to obey their

diktats indefinitely —— like to see us. diktats indefinitely -- like to see us. ~ , ., y diktats indefinitely -- like to see us. ~ , ., , ., ., us. why would they want that, thou . h, us. why would they want that, though. when _ us. why would they want that, though, when they _ us. why would they want that, though, when they know- us. why would they want that, though, when they know that l us. why would they want that, i though, when they know that there is a mental health and economic impact? why would they want to see is in perpetual nocturnal coming in and out of it? perpetual nocturnal coming in and outofit? , , perpetual nocturnal coming in and outofit? �* , perpetual nocturnal coming in and outofit? , ., , out of it? because they are only interested _ out of it? because they are only interested in _ out of it? because they are only interested in covid-19. -- i out of it? because they are only i interested in covid-19. -- perpetual lockdown. interested in covid-19. -- perpetual lockdown- we _ interested in covid-19. -- perpetual lockdown. we have _ interested in covid-19. -- perpetual lockdown. we have had _ interested in covid-19. -- perpetual lockdown. we have had all- interested in covid-19. -- perpetual lockdown. we have had all sorts i interested in covid-19. -- perpetual lockdown. we have had all sorts ofl lockdown. we have had all sorts of gps today saying — lockdown. we have had all sorts of gps today saying that _ lockdown. we have had all sorts of gps today saying that if _ lockdown. we have had all sorts of gps today saying that if very i gps today saying that if very concerned about the number of patients coming filled with long covid diseases. i’m patients coming filled with long covid diseases.— covid diseases. i'm not talking about gps. _ covid diseases. i'm not talking about gps, i'm _ covid diseases. i'm not talking about gps, i'm talking - covid diseases. i'm not talking about gps, i'm talking about l covid diseases. i'm not talking i about gps, i'm talking about people like matt hancock and people advising the government to persistently ignore the collateral costs of this, including the health costs. they have persistently ignore the fact that undiagnosed diagnosed cancers, heart disease and in particular dementia have rocketed as a direct result of lockdown, not of david, and you're quite right that

gps have been vocal in their complaints about this —— not of covid—19. and many other people too and absolutely right to complain. we appreciate you talking to us. thanks for much. the health secretary, matt hancock, and drjennie harries, the uk health security agency chief executive, will be holding a news conference later today,and you can see it live on the bbc news channel, from 5pm. wejust mentioned it there that gps in england say they're facing a "tsunami of patients," as the country emerges from lockdown. nhs figures show more than 28—million appointments were made in march, that's one of the highest on record. the royal college of gps is warning that without more resources they'll no longer be able to meet demand. here's our health correspondent, dominic hughes. the start of another busy day, and dr dean eggitt is already feeling the pressure. it's 8.30, bang on the dot, which is great, which means that we can start consulting now. and i've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine patients

waiting for me. phone rings. hello? morning. it's dean speaking, dr eggitt. are you still seeing the guys up at the hospital? the easing of lockdown has released a huge amount of pent—up demand from patients needing help, many of them with multiple complex health problems. i've never experienced anything with the workload pressures that i've got at the moment, over the number of patients that i've got, the complexity of the patients that i've got, and the mental intensity of the workload. people are incredibly sick. is this how you saw your career? did you know that this would be the kind of pressure you worked under? people can't see what we're doing, so they think we're sat here twiddling our thumbs, when actually we're sat here holding our head in our hands, thinking how are we going to cope through the day? there is this hidden demand and hidden workload so, are you 0k to take i a call back this morning? in reception the phones are ringing constantly as patients try to get an appointment.

busier than we've ever been. i can still hear the phonej ringing when i go to bed. but dr eggitt worries about those who can't get through. you know, in medicine, we're taught not to worry about the people who shout, we worry about the people who can't shout, but actually, in the nhs they don't even get a voice. they don't get on the phone, they don't get through to us, they're just unheard. some people simply can't be assessed over the phone. do you want us to just keep an eye on you and keep you fit, rather than do anything to... that's right. 0k. so you've got a nerve and an artery up here. i'm just making sure there's not damage. back at the surgery, the appointments are put on hold. mitchell has walked in with a nasty cut above his eye. i'm going to stitch you back up. this minor surgery keeps mitchell out of a&e, but it adds to the time pressures dr eggitt already faces. the nhs for the past few years has always been pretty constant. so instead of that massive winter peak and the summer lull, you've still got the massive winter peak, but you don't have a summer lull any more.

you have got that constant work, so the ability to catch up has gone. that was before covid. then covid hit. and then it'sjust peak, peak, peak, peak, peak all the time. the department of health and social care in england says extra funding is available to help gps, and there's a commitment to expanding the workforce and delivering more appointments. wales is on course to offer all adults a first dose of the covid—19 vaccine more than a month ahead of schedule. along with other uk nations, wales has committed to offering a first dose to all adults by the end ofjuly. the welsh government said more than half of 18—to—29—year—olds have already had a jab, and it expects to contact all people yet to be invited injune. two metropolitan police officers say they are "sorry beyond measure for the pain that they have caused" after sharing photographs from the crime scene of two murdered sisters. pc denis jaffer and pc

jamie lewis have appeared at westminster magistrates�* court charged with misconduct in a public office betweenjune 7 and june 23 last year. the officers had been assigned to protect the scene after nicole smallman and bibaa henry were stabbed to death at fryent country park in wembley, north—west london, in the early hours ofjune 6th. helena wilkinson is at westminster magistrates�* court. however, tell us what has not been happening there today.— happening there today. well, the sisters' bodies _ happening there today. well, the sisters' bodies were _ happening there today. well, the sisters' bodies were found i happening there today. well, the sisters' bodies were found last i happening there today. well, the i sisters' bodies were found last june sisters�* bodies were found lastjune in a park in wembley. as you say, their bodies were found next to each other. well, today, the two metropolitan police officers appeared here for a relatively short hearing him at westminster magistrates�* court. they were investigated last year by the independent 0ffice investigated last year by the independent office for police conduct. they had launched an enquiry after the officers were

accused of taking selfies by the dead bodies. well, the two officers both appeared in the dock here that westminster magistrates�* court and, through their lawyer, they apologise. their lawyer, their barrister said to the court that they are sorry beyond measure for they are sorry beyond measure for the pain that they have caused and their barrister went on to say that both defenders, both police officers will be indicating a guilty please. last year, the bbc spoke to the sisters�* mother, mean smallman, and she said that the alleged pictures taken by the officers had dehumanised her daughters —— mina. she said this has taken their belief to another place. the two police officers have been suspended pending these criminal proceedings and they said that they will appear at the old bailey next month onjune the 2ath and, separately, a 19—year—old,

daniel, who has said he is to face trial next month as well at the old bailey. he is accused of murdering the two sisters.— the two sisters. hello, thank you very much- _ a bbc news investigation has found that 0nlyfans is failing to prevent underage users from selling and appearing in explicit videos. the british website, which allows people to share photos and videos in return for a subscription fee, has become a global phenomenon during the pandemic and now has 120 million users worldwide. but bbc news has learned that under—18s have set up accounts by using fake identification. rianna croxford reports. it's it�*s a british website that has been during the pandemic, allowing people to post photos and videos in return for a subscription fee. it is popular with celebrities, who offer exclusive access into their lives, and now has more than 120 million

users worldwide. the site hosts a range of content, from music to beauty videos, but it is best known for pornography and users have to be over 18. for pornography and users have to be over18. but for pornography and users have to be over 18. but we found that 0nlyfans is failing to prevent some underage users from selling and appearing in videos. police say 11a—year—old used her grandmother�*s passport to sell explicit images. the mum of a 17—year—old said her daughter�*s bank account was frozen after she made 5000 from posing nude. these are the type of comment she received in some request more graphic comment and hope that she would meet up. she did sa that hope that she would meet up. she did say that originally _ hope that she would meet up. she did say that originally she _ hope that she would meet up. she did say that originally she was _ hope that she would meet up. she did say that originally she was only i say that originally she was only going to be doing pictures of her feet. , , ._ going to be doing pictures of her feet. , , _ ., feet. the girls mum, played by an actor to do _ feet. the girls mum, played by an actor to do might _ feet. the girls mum, played by an actor to do might protect - feet. the girls mum, played by an actor to do might protect the i actor to do might protect the teenager�*s identity, says she has since stopped posting on her account but her news have been leaked across the internet. she but her news have been leaked across the lnternet— the internet. she wants to go to colle . e the internet. she wants to go to college was _ the internet. she wants to go to college was of _ the internet. she wants to go to college was of is _ the internet. she wants to go to college was of is really - the internet. she wants to go to college was of is really bad i the internet. she wants to go to college was of is really bad with | college was of is really bad with anxiety. she won�*t go out any more.

she doesn�*t want to be seen. 0nlyfans said the girl had used a fake drivers license and there approving the account was an oversight during the transition to a more effective age verification system. all active subscriptions have now been refunded. but the uk�*s lead office of the child protection said 0nlyfans needs to be more to protect underage users. it is becoming — protect underage users. it 3 becoming increasingly clear that 0nlyfans is being used by children. children, on occasion, are being blackmailed and exploited. the company are not doing enough to put in place the safeguards that prevent children exploiting the opportunity to generate money but also for children to be exploited. 0nlyfans sa s there children to be exploited. 0nlyfans says there works _ children to be exploited. 0nlyfans says there works to _ children to be exploited. 0nlyfans says there works to stop _ children to be exploited. 0nlyfans says there works to stop children | says there works to stop children accessing the site limits the likelihood of them being exposed to blackmail of exploitation, and if it is notified about these behaviours that take swift action on disabled accounts. the site has grown massively across the world, including in the us, where we found a child featured on an account run

by an adult. in nevada, an 18—year—old so videos on 0nlyfans of her having sex with her 17—year—old boyfriend, in breach of the site�*s rules. friends say they earn $5,000 from one video alone. after we contacted 0nlyfans, they struck down the account and refunded all active subscriptions. latte the account and refunded all active subscriptions.— subscriptions. we are seeing child sex trafficking _ subscriptions. we are seeing child sex trafficking victims _ subscriptions. we are seeing child sex trafficking victims exploited . sex trafficking victims exploited and sold via 0nlyfans. than sex trafficking victims exploited and sold via 0nlyfans. an american watchdo: and sold via 0nlyfans. an american watchdog also _ and sold via 0nlyfans. an american watchdog also said _ and sold via 0nlyfans. an american watchdog also said it's _ and sold via 0nlyfans. an american watchdog also said it's receiving i watchdog also said it�*s receiving reports of missing children appearing in explicit videos. that reall hit appearing in explicit videos. that really hit our _ appearing in explicit videos. that really hit our radar— appearing in explicit videos. trust really hit our radar in 2019, where we saw a dozen or so children that were also linked with content on 0nlyfans, and that dramatically increased in 2020. we solve it almost tripled. in increased in 2020. we solve it almost tripled.— increased in 2020. we solve it almost tripled. in a statement, onl fans almost tripled. in a statement, 0nlyfans said _ almost tripled. in a statement, 0nlyfans said preventing i almost tripled. in a statement, i 0nlyfans said preventing underaged use of it site is something it takes very seriously. it said it constantly reviews its systems to ensure they are as robust as

possible, and manually reviews every application it receives. it added that it works with charities and organisations to raise any potential issues with the relevant authorities. in response to our findings, the government said that 0nlyfans had failed to properly protect children, and that the online safety bill would make sure there is no longer happens. but child protection campaigners say it�*s still unclear whether this new law will actually require only funds to do more than it currently does to protect children from harmful content. we are in news. —— bbc news. it�*s been a year since george floyd was killed in minneapolis while in police custody. in the wake of the black lives matter protests it prompted around the world, businesses pledged to tackle racism and improve diversity. one year on, what progress have they made? our business presenter victoria fritz has more. victoria? hi, yes, that is right. so, a victoria? hi, yes, that is right. so. a year— victoria? hi, yes, that is right. so. a year ago _ victoria? hi, yes, that is right. so, a year ago we _ victoria? hi, yes, that is right. so, a year ago we saw - victoria? hi, yes, that is right. so, a year ago we saw a i victoria? hi, yes, that is right. so, a year ago we saw a huge | so, a year ago we saw a huge outpouring from the corporate world in terms of public pledges to do

more, and there was a letter, i don�*t know if you are it, in the sunday times where there were 28 of some of the biggest companies that we have in britain, including the likes of sky and itv, john lewis, wpp, likes of sky and itv, john lewis, wpp, for example, all pledging to tackle systemic racism within their own firms. now, a year on, we�*ve gone back to them to find out what people are doing. 23 of the 28 on that letter did come back to us and explain what they were doing. in fact, only nine had committed to publishing a ethnicity public pay gap in their reporting. it is not a legal requirement, we should say, but, you know, nine years, to many people who were employed at these companies, pretty disappointing. there have been things like listening sessions, where staff felt that they have had their grievances aired on being heard. there�*s been unconscious bias training as well

and also an overhaul of recruitment practices, but it is quite patchy, the picture across the corporate world here, and there is a lot of scepticism about whether such measures actually make any meaningful change from the bottom up. and when you look at the top of the pyramid, there is still massive underrepresentation of the black community in leadership roles. in fact, only1.5% community in leadership roles. in fact, only 1.5% of leadership roles in the fibrous and public sector combined are held by people in the black community. —— private and public. that number has actually barely changed in a decade. it has gone up byjust not by 1% in the last ten years. so what do business leaders make of all of this? we can now speak to the founder and managing director of naturally... skin care. thank you very much for doing me today. you trained first in russia and came back with 2 degrees in pharmacy and were in the business for 20 years before you started your business. just explain to us, if you

can, what your experience as a black woman in business in the pharmacy sector was like few?— woman in business in the pharmacy sector was like few? well, thank you so much, victoria. _ sector was like few? well, thank you so much, victoria. i— sector was like few? well, thank you so much, victoria. i am _ sector was like few? well, thank you so much, victoria. i am a _ sector was like few? well, thank you so much, victoria. i am a proudly i so much, victoria. i am a proudly qualified pharmacist and went into entry level in the pharmaceutical industry in which my way up to leadership roles. for me, it was really about knowing that i had the skill set, knowing that i had the confidence, and being confident in myself and my abilities to the point where i stopped seeing barriers and it became, really had my own voice. but it is not to say that the issues are still not there. the figures that you mentioned are staggering to me. but in this day and age, yes, there�*s been awareness. diversity indie immunity inclusion is batted about everywhere in the last 18 months in particular, right? this is not a trend and is not going to go away. diversity, we know, improves outcomes role. yes, there is awareness like you�*ve talked about

but more action is required in the corporate world, small businesses and communities, in government, the responsibility falls on all of us. i am in aplin, i�*m an entrepreneur, and director on a few boards including black women in business was —— in a black women. i am british african and proudly british nigerian and as children and mixed race in venice in which we need to be doing in our communities and corporate world. we have to flip the narrative and, forgive my saying, we talk about diversity and inclusion quite a lot, but let�*s flip the narrative, which is what we�*re trying to do flip it slightly and talk about exclusion. exclusion create separation and separation creates fear. fear, interns, creates conflicts and anger. if you don�*t understand something, you�*re afraid of it and that�*s what we�*re seeing.

people are doing take back exercises and actually ticking boxes but we need to hold people accountable to publish results. —— tick box exercise. in a fan industry and across industries things are happening in the more women and people of diverse backgrounds we to see more. just make in the pharmaceutical industry. this in which much more to be done. we delete the angler in conflict if we have an inclusive mindset. a diverse way of thinking. then there will be no need to shout diversity and inclusion, just look for data and numbers. i could not agree more. numbers. i could not aaree more. . ~ ,, i could not agree more. thank you very much — i could not agree more. thank you very much for— i could not agree more. thank you very much for your _ i could not agree more. thank you very much for your time _ i could not agree more. thank you very much for your time and i i could not agree more. thank you very much for your time and your. very much for your time and your insights today. best of luck with your business. the founder and managing director of naturally tribal skin care. so, the people progress, of course, is in action. there might be, now, signatories to this letter however, you know, it�*s notjust this letter however, you know, it�*s not just the words that this letter however, you know, it�*s notjust the words that companies are prepared to stand by, it�*s the

action and that is where we�*re going to see long—term success in the future. to see long-term success in the future. a . ~ to see long-term success in the future. 1, . ~ ., v., to see long-term success in the future. ., . ., ., ., ,, future. back to you. victoria, thank ou ve future. back to you. victoria, thank you very much- _ future. back to you. victoria, thank you very much. the _ future. back to you. victoria, thank you very much. the weather- future. back to you. victoria, thank you very much. the weather now. | hello, there. a ridge of high pressure will bring much of the country a fine, settled sunny day today. just a slim chance of a shower here and there, and temperatures reaching around 20 or 21 degrees in the south of the country, something we haven�*t seen for quite a while. now, as we head on into this evening and overnight, this new weather front pushing into western areas will bring some cloud and patchy rain to northern ireland and into western parts of scotland, england and wales by the end of the night. further north and east it should tend to be dry, but there will be more cloud around generally, so a milder night to come. bit of a disappointing day for friday because of this weather front. there will be more cloud around generally, patchy rain across some western areas which will tend to ease down, misty, murky conditions too. best of any sunny spells will be across the north and east of the country, and where you get sunny spells that could set off the odd heavy shower.

but because of more cloud around, the temperatures won�*t be quite as high as what we�*ve had through today. it stays fine, settled, sunny and warm for england and wales for the bank holiday weekend. 0n bank holiday monday, there�*s athe chance of thick cloud, perhaps some showers for scotland and northern ireland. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: borisjohnson denies claims made by dominic cummings, that the poor handing of the coronavirus pandemic led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people. the prime minister says that he will be examining the data on easing of restrictions in england onjune 21st. the health secretary, matt hancock has denied claims by dominic cummings that he repeatedly lied to colleagues and the public during the covid crisis. doctors in england are warning rising numbers of patients and a shortage of gps is threatening to overwhelm the system as the country emerges from lockdown. 10 years after the winterbourne view scandal, campaigners say they fear people with learning disabilities and autism are still facing abuse in long—stay hospitals.

we are expecting to see the chancellor at around apm but that committee has heard from a senior official already. the treasury didn�*t know that greensill the finance company was struggling when lobbying efforts were launched by the former prime minister david cameron forfunds during the former prime minister david cameron for funds during the pandemic on greensill behalf. this is the second permanent secretary to the treasury telling that committee about the founder of greensill. we know about the problems he had funding his special purpose vehicles, we did not discuss whether his core business was in trouble. we knew about funding problems, we have no information about any threat to the solvency hobbies core business. that came much later. so that�*s the

second permanent secretary to the treasury speaking to the select committee and its on that subject of the health and what happened with greensill finance that we will hear the chancellor, rishi sunak, speak at around apm. we are also expecting to see michael gove appearing very shortly to talk about the vaccination programme in front of the public admin and constitutional affairs committee. so lots of scrutiny going on on various subjects at the moment. we will see if we can listen in to what michael gove is a saying in a moment. sport and let�*s get a full round up from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. tottenham have held talks with former manager mauricio pochettino over a sensational return to the club. he was only sacked in november 2019, despite leading them to the champions league final six months earlier. jose mourinho replaced him but left following a slump in results. and spurs have now returned to pochettino, who was only

appointed as paris saint germain manager injanuary. the club missed out on the french league title to lille. it�*s believed there�*s been no official contact between ps6 and spurs. that is it for now. sorry but we need to go to westminster way michael gove is giving evidence. he is going to be talking about the vaccination certification of covid—19. vaccination certification of covid-19-_ vaccination certification of covid-19. �*, , ., covid-19. let's listen in. i have also committed _ covid-19. let's listen in. i have also committed to _ covid-19. let's listen in. i have also committed to different i covid-19. let's listen in. i have. also committed to different types covid-19. let's listen in. i have- also committed to different types of public enquiry so that appropriate lessons can be learnt. finta public enquiry so that appropriate lessons can be learnt.— public enquiry so that appropriate lessons can be learnt. onto the main business. lessons can be learnt. onto the main business- how— lessons can be learnt. onto the main business. how long _ lessons can be learnt. onto the main business. how long has _ lessons can be learnt. onto the main business. how long has the - lessons can be learnt. onto the main business. how long has the idea i lessons can be learnt. onto the main business. how long has the idea of. business. how long has the idea of covid _ business. how long has the idea of covid certification been under consideration? it�*s covid certification been under consideration?— covid certification been under consideration? it's been under consideration _ consideration? it's been under consideration now _ consideration? it's been under consideration now for - consideration? it's been under consideration now for a - consideration? it's been under consideration now for a few i consideration? it's been under- consideration now for a few months because again we recognise that the example of israel, a country which

introduced a system, provided the potential for this country to be able to open up more of the activities that have been restricted in order to reduce the spread of the virus. 50 in order to reduce the spread of the virus. ., , ., in order to reduce the spread of the virus. .,, ., .., , ., ., virus. so there was no consideration by government _ virus. so there was no consideration by government before _ virus. so there was no consideration by government before the _ virus. so there was no consideration by government before the launch i virus. so there was no consideration by government before the launch of| by government before the launch of the review — by government before the launch of the review. it�*s by government before the launch of the review. �* , .., , ., , the review. it's the case that they have been — the review. it's the case that they have been debates _ the review. it's the case that they have been debates about - the review. it's the case that they have been debates about what i the review. it's the case that they| have been debates about what the best way might be of allowing venues in which people inevitably mix socially to reopen. so they will have been consideration of what the testing protocols might be or whatever the regimes might be in place to ensure that people who congregate can do so in a safe place. i will do my very best. when it�*s in the nature of policy advice thatis it�*s in the nature of policy advice that is given to that it should remain confidential. it�*s a long—standing principle. buti remain confidential. it�*s a long—standing principle. but i will certainly go back and would be more than happy to finish the committee

with the best available timeline of when different options were considered during the course of our response to the pandemic. the vaccination _ response to the pandemic. the vaccination programme has been a success— vaccination programme has been a success and — vaccination programme has been a success and began in december and lockdown— success and began in december and lockdown restrictions are being eased — lockdown restrictions are being eased so— lockdown restrictions are being eased. so why has the review perhaps come _ eased. so why has the review perhaps come later— eased. so why has the review perhaps come later in— eased. so why has the review perhaps come later in the day than it might have? _ come later in the day than it might have? ., , ., ., have? one of the things we wanted to do was to make _ have? one of the things we wanted to do was to make sure _ have? one of the things we wanted to do was to make sure we _ have? one of the things we wanted to do was to make sure we had - have? one of the things we wanted to do was to make sure we had the i have? one of the things we wanted to do was to make sure we had the best| do was to make sure we had the best possible assessment of evidence and arguments so certification is a tool and it�*s a means to ensuring that we can open up more of our economy and society. i mentioned the example of israel and i will be visiting israel to see how the system operates for. 0bviously to see how the system operates for. obviously there are cultural under the differences but it helped in the

opening up of israel�*s society so we want to see whether or not they were analogues to our approach from which we could learn. it is the case that there is a role for certification in opening up and we have also seen that as well as the benefits there are also challenges as well. iloathed that as well as the benefits there are also challenges as well. what is the methodology? _ are also challenges as well. what is the methodology? we _ are also challenges as well. what is the methodology? we have - are also challenges as well. what is the methodology? we have taken l are also challenges as well. what is i the methodology? we have taken more than 50,000 public— the methodology? we have taken more than 50,000 public responses - the methodology? we have taken more than 50,000 public responses but i than 50,000 public responses but what has been particularly useful has been an opportunity to see practically on the ground how israel's passes operated and to talk to the people who are in charge of the event —— venues where social mixing takes place. we have been informed all along by the scientific advice that is available to the government from the chief medical

officer and the debris chief medical officer and the debris chief medical officer and the debris chief medical officer and those with expertise in public health england. you mentioned israel, are public health england. you mentioned israel. are they _ public health england. you mentioned israel, are they still _ public health england. you mentioned israel, are they still using _ public health england. you mentioned israel, are they still using the - israel, are they still using the green — israel, are they still using the green pass in they have decided to suspend _ green pass in they have decided to suspend it — green pass in they have decided to suspend it but it's not say they not see the _ suspend it but it's not say they not see the need to spark up the infrastructure in the future but we believe _ infrastructure in the future but we believe the rate of vaccination has been _ believe the rate of vaccination has been sufficient and they now feel it has served — been sufficient and they now feel it has served its purpose. it was always — has served its purpose. it was always intended to be the case for any form — always intended to be the case for any form of certification in the uk that will_ any form of certification in the uk that will be to embrace it it would be for— that will be to embrace it it would be for the — that will be to embrace it it would be for the time—limited period. when will the _ be for the time—limited period. when will the review be published? we ho -e will the review be published? we. hope to will the review be published? - hope to update the house of commons when we return after the recess so there is an opportunity to consider some significant factors but we hope to be able to explain what our approach will be when house of commons returns. people have quite rightly linked certification to

stage four but there is no necessary ironclad link between the two but naturally as we contemplate reopening at stage four people will know —— want to know what our approach toward certification will be. i approach toward certification will be. , ., , , , be. i will bring in more witnesses as we 90- — be. i will bring in more witnesses as we 90- let's — be. i will bring in more witnesses as we go. let's go _ be. i will bring in more witnesses as we go. let's go to _ be. i will bring in more witnesses as we go. let's go to david - be. i will bring in more witnesses| as we go. let's go to david jones. as we go. let's go to david jones. some _ as we go. let's go to david jones. some of— as we go. let's go to david jones. some of our— as we go. let's go to david jones. some of our witnesses have expressed some scepticism — some of our witnesses have expressed some scepticism as _ some of our witnesses have expressed some scepticism as to _ some of our witnesses have expressed some scepticism as to the _ some of our witnesses have expressed some scepticism as to the utility- some of our witnesses have expressed some scepticism as to the utility of- some scepticism as to the utility of a system _ some scepticism as to the utility of a system of— some scepticism as to the utility of a system of covid _ some scepticism as to the utility of a system of covid status _ a system of covid status certification. _ a system of covid status certification. we - a system of covid status certification. we heard i a system of covid status - certification. we heard from professor— certification. we heard from professorjowell_ certification. we heard from professor jowell who - certification. we heard from professor jowell who said i certification. we heard from i professorjowell who said you certification. we heard from - professorjowell who said you can see behind — professorjowell who said you can see behind people's _ professorjowell who said you can see behind people's thinking - professorjowell who said you can} see behind people's thinking here professorjowell who said you can i see behind people's thinking here is the idea _ see behind people's thinking here is the idea that — see behind people's thinking here is the idea that if— see behind people's thinking here is the idea that if someone _ see behind people's thinking here is the idea that if someone has - see behind people's thinking here is the idea that if someone has a - the idea that if someone has a vaccine — the idea that if someone has a vaccine they— the idea that if someone has a vaccine they are _ the idea that if someone has a vaccine they are safe - the idea that if someone has a vaccine they are safe but - the idea that if someone has a vaccine they are safe but they| vaccine they are safe but they cannot — vaccine they are safe but they cannot pass _ vaccine they are safe but they cannot pass on _ vaccine they are safe but they cannot pass on the _ vaccine they are safe but they cannot pass on the infection l vaccine they are safe but they i cannot pass on the infection and vaccine they are safe but they - cannot pass on the infection and so they can _ cannot pass on the infection and so they can go — cannot pass on the infection and so they can go to _ cannot pass on the infection and so they can go to public— cannot pass on the infection and so they can go to public places. - cannot pass on the infection and so they can go to public places. but i cannot pass on the infection and sol they can go to public places. but we don't _ they can go to public places. but we don't know— they can go to public places. but we don't know that _ they can go to public places. but we don't know that at _ they can go to public places. but we don't know that at this _ they can go to public places. but we don't know that at this point, - they can go to public places. but we don't know that at this point, we - don't know that at this point, we don't _ don't know that at this point, we don't have — don't know that at this point, we don't have scientific— don't know that at this point, we don't have scientific evidence - don't know that at this point, wei don't have scientific evidence and it could _ don't have scientific evidence and it could he — don't have scientific evidence and it could be that _ don't have scientific evidence and it could be that the _ don't have scientific evidence and it could be that the vaccine - it could be that the vaccine certificates _ it could be that the vaccine

certificates should - it could be that the vaccine certificates should be - it could be that the vaccine - certificates should be dangerous and .ive certificates should be dangerous and give people — certificates should be dangerous and give people the _ certificates should be dangerous and give people the false _ certificates should be dangerous and give people the false impression - certificates should be dangerous and give people the false impression of. give people the false impression of safety— give people the false impression of safety when — give people the false impression of safety when they _ give people the false impression of safety when they are _ give people the false impression of safety when they are still _ safety when they are still infectious. _ safety when they are still infectious. similarly, - safety when they are still infectious. similarly, our| safety when they are still - infectious. similarly, our colleague david _ infectious. similarly, our colleague david davies— infectious. similarly, our colleague david davies said _ infectious. similarly, our colleague david davies said the _ infectious. similarly, our colleague david davies said the fundamentall david davies said the fundamental question— david davies said the fundamental question is— david davies said the fundamental question is what _ david davies said the fundamental question is what problem - david davies said the fundamental question is what problem you - david davies said the fundamental question is what problem you arel question is what problem you are trying _ question is what problem you are trying to— question is what problem you are trying to solve _ question is what problem you are trying to solve and _ question is what problem you are trying to solve and whether - question is what problem you are trying to solve and whether there question is what problem you are . trying to solve and whether there is an easier— trying to solve and whether there is an easier less — trying to solve and whether there is an easier less intrusive _ trying to solve and whether there is an easier less intrusive way- trying to solve and whether there is an easier less intrusive way of- an easier less intrusive way of doing — an easier less intrusive way of doing it — an easier less intrusive way of doing it so— an easier less intrusive way of doing it. so what _ an easier less intrusive way of doing it. so what is— an easier less intrusive way of doing it. so what is the - an easier less intrusive way of. doing it. so what is the problem would _ doing it. so what is the problem would you — doing it. so what is the problem would you say— doing it. so what is the problem would you say to _ doing it. so what is the problem would you say to which - doing it. so what is the problem i would you say to which certification is the _ would you say to which certification is the solution? _ would you say to which certification is the solution?— is the solution? certification can be a tool which _ is the solution? certification can be a tool which means _ is the solution? certification can be a tool which means that - is the solution? certification can be a tool which means that we l is the solution? certification can - be a tool which means that we reduce the risk of transmission and make venues and activities safer but i think both professor wolf and david davies are right to stress that there is a balance here. you can never make any venue or any activity completely safe and quite rightly it has been pointed out even to doses of vaccination doesn't automatically inoculate someone completely against the risk of infection or transmission. what it does do is

dramatically reduce the risk. if one can have confidence that people in a venue have been vaccinated or have immunity on the other way or have recently received a valid test which confirms their negative status, then you can know that venue will be safer. set against that has to be the question about the cost and indeed the hassle factor that certification will involve. so there has to be a balance between the two and both previous witnesses were right to stress that. you and both previous witnesses were right to stress that.— right to stress that. you said it would make — right to stress that. you said it would make the _ right to stress that. you said it would make the venue - right to stress that. you said it would make the venue safer. right to stress that. you said it | would make the venue safer but right to stress that. you said it . would make the venue safer but it won't _ would make the venue safer but it won't make — would make the venue safer but it won't make the _ would make the venue safer but it won't make the venue _ would make the venue safer but it won't make the venue safer- would make the venue safer but it won't make the venue safer for. would make the venue safer but it. won't make the venue safer for those who have _ won't make the venue safer for those who have already— won't make the venue safer for those who have already been _ won't make the venue safer for those who have already been vaccinated. i who have already been vaccinated. professor — who have already been vaccinated. professor wolf _ who have already been vaccinated. professor wolf made _ who have already been vaccinated. professor wolf made the _ who have already been vaccinated. professor wolf made the point - who have already been vaccinated. | professor wolf made the point that we still— professor wolf made the point that we still don't — professor wolf made the point that we still don't know— professor wolf made the point that we still don't know whether- we still don't know whether vaccination _ we still don't know whether vaccination will— we still don't know whether vaccination will stop- we still don't know whether vaccination will stop those i we still don't know whether. vaccination will stop those who we still don't know whether- vaccination will stop those who have been vaccinated _ vaccination will stop those who have been vaccinated from _ vaccination will stop those who have been vaccinated from being - been vaccinated from being infectious _ been vaccinated from being infectious so _ been vaccinated from being infectious so far— been vaccinated from being infectious so far as - been vaccinated from being infectious so far as other. been vaccinated from being -

infectious so far as other people are concerned _ infectious so far as other people are concerned. so _ infectious so far as other people are concerned. so if— infectious so far as other people are concerned. so if that- infectious so far as other people are concerned. so if that is- infectious so far as other people are concerned. so if that is the i are concerned. so if that is the case _ are concerned. so if that is the case would _ are concerned. so if that is the case would you _ are concerned. so if that is the case would you not _ are concerned. so if that is the case would you not agree - are concerned. so if that is the case would you not agree thatl are concerned. so if that is the i case would you not agree that the value _ case would you not agree that the value of— case would you not agree that the value of certification _ case would you not agree that the value of certification is _ case would you not agree that the value of certification is somewhat| value of certification is somewhat decreased — value of certification is somewhat decreased l— value of certification is somewhat decreased. ., �* value of certification is somewhat decreased-— decreased. i wouldn't say it was dubious but _ decreased. i wouldn't say it was dubious but it _ decreased. i wouldn't say it was dubious but it has _ decreased. i wouldn't say it was dubious but it has to _ decreased. i wouldn't say it was dubious but it has to be - decreased. i wouldn't say it was dubious but it has to be set - decreased. i wouldn't say it was i dubious but it has to be set against potential costs. we do know, again when it comes to science one of the points that has been made as we need to behave with a certain level of modesty and that means of course that science is the most robust and most rational way of making judgments but of course is new evidence emerges we have to refine thatjudgment. we do know that one dose of vaccine significantly reduces the risk of being infected, to doses even more so, but we also know that with the new indian variant there is a greater risk in some cases of transmissibility. and we are also attempting to find

exactly how much protection brings. these percentages attached tasks that are the product of sophisticated research but they are in themselves and can only ever be in themselves and can only ever he attempts to encapsulate knowledge at the moment rather than having a perfect and invaluable truth. if i am wrong in that analysis i know she will put me right. i have tried to explain it in general terms. irate will put me right. i have tried to explain it in general terms. explain it in generalterms. we know from the original— explain it in generalterms. we know from the original variant _ explain it in generalterms. we know from the original variant that - explain it in generalterms. we know from the original variant that was - from the original variant that was circulating — from the original variant that was circulating with high frequency in december and january circulating with high frequency in decemberand january and circulating with high frequency in december and january and february in this country— december and january and february in this country that the vaccine reduced _ this country that the vaccine reduced the risk of transmission to about— reduced the risk of transmission to about 50%~ — reduced the risk of transmission to about 50%. it also reduces the risk of asymptomatic infection in healthcare workers by 70% which

meant _ healthcare workers by 70% which meant if — healthcare workers by 70% which meant if you had dotted of the risk of transmission is not there either. however. _ of transmission is not there either. however, we are very cautious with the variant— however, we are very cautious with the variant that first arose in india — the variant that first arose in india because we do not have measures— india because we do not have measures of reduced transmission measures— measures of reduced transmission measures of reduced transmission measures of reductions in asymptomatic infection. we do know that to _ asymptomatic infection. we do know that to doses of the vaccines currently _ that to doses of the vaccines currently in use in the uk adequate protection — currently in use in the uk adequate protection against symptomatic infection but not asymptomatic and therefore _ infection but not asymptomatic and therefore we are learning more every day. therefore we are learning more every da . ~ ., , ., therefore we are learning more every da. ., ., day. when would you anticipate the s stem day. when would you anticipate the system could _ day. when would you anticipate the system could be _ day. when would you anticipate the system could be introduced - day. when would you anticipate the system could be introduced mr- day. when would you anticipate the i system could be introduced mr gove? ithink— system could be introduced mr gove? i think we _ system could be introduced mr gove? i think we could — system could be introduced mr gove? i think we could introduce _ system could be introduced mr gove? i think we could introduce the - i think we could introduce the system in stage iv but i think two of things as well, it is already the case that a significant number of people have downloaded the nhs covid

app. i think the number of 6 million now. it's also the case that as part of the event research pilots that we are undertaking at the moment we are using both the technology and the methodology that underpins potential certification in order to see how things might work. you certification in order to see how things might work. certification in order to see how thins miaht work. ., ., things might work. you mentioned the a i i l things might work. you mentioned the a- -, that i things might work. you mentioned the app. that i think _ things might work. you mentioned the app, that i think already _ app, that i think already incorporates— app, that i think already incorporates a _ app, that i think already incorporates a status i app, that i think already- incorporates a status certificate, isn't _ incorporates a status certificate, isn't that — incorporates a status certificate, isn't that right? _ incorporates a status certificate, isn't that right?— incorporates a status certificate, isn't that right? yes. i am looking at my own — isn't that right? yes. i am looking at my own one — isn't that right? yes. i am looking at my own one here _ isn't that right? yes. i am looking at my own one here and - isn't that right? yes. i am looking at my own one here and my - isn't that right? yes. i am looking at my own one here and my own i isn't that right? yes. i am looking . at my own one here and my own nhs app at my own one here and my own nhs app confirms the date and nature and batch number of my two vaccinations. given that you haven't finished your review— given that you haven't finished your review yet _ given that you haven't finished your review yet why _ given that you haven't finished your review yet why is _ given that you haven't finished your review yet why is it _ given that you haven't finished your review yet why is it that _ given that you haven't finished your review yet why is it that the - review yet why is it that the certificate _ review yet why is it that the certificate has _ review yet why is it that the certificate has been- review yet why is it that the i certificate has been introduced review yet why is it that the - certificate has been introduced as part of— certificate has been introduced as part of the — certificate has been introduced as

part of the app? _ certificate has been introduced as part of the app? isn't _ certificate has been introduced as part of the app? isn't that - certificate has been introduced asj part of the app? isn't that putting the cart _ part of the app? isn't that putting the cart before _ part of the app? isn't that putting the cart before the _ part of the app? isn't that putting the cart before the horse? - part of the app? isn't that putting the cart before the horse? hot. part of the app? isn't that putting the cart before the horse?- the cart before the horse? not at all. whatever _ the cart before the horse? not at all. whatever decision _ the cart before the horse? not at all. whatever decision is - the cart before the horse? not at all. whatever decision is taken, l all. whatever decision is taken, having the infrastructure in place as a requirement of being able to move ahead and also my experience has been that at the moment there is no requirement for people to download the app but the popularity of it shows the utility of the app and it serves many useful purposes. it is but so far as the status certificates _ it is but so far as the status certificates are _ it is but so far as the status certificates are concerned l it is but so far as the status l certificates are concerned the review — certificates are concerned the review has _ certificates are concerned the review has not _ certificates are concerned the review has not yet _ certificates are concerned the review has not yet been - certificates are concerned the - review has not yet been completed and i_ review has not yet been completed and i think— review has not yet been completed and i think a — review has not yet been completed and i think a lot _ review has not yet been completed and i think a lot of— review has not yet been completed and i think a lot of people - review has not yet been completed and i think a lot of people would i and i think a lot of people would feel rather— and i think a lot of people would feel rather uncomfortable - and i think a lot of people would feel rather uncomfortable that l and i think a lot of people would l feel rather uncomfortable that the 8pp feel rather uncomfortable that the app doesn't — feel rather uncomfortable that the app doesn't yet _ feel rather uncomfortable that the app doesn't yet include _ feel rather uncomfortable that the app doesn't yet include a - feel rather uncomfortable that the app doesn't yet include a status i app doesn't yet include a status certificate _ app doesn't yet include a status certificate. when _ app doesn't yet include a status certificate. when the _ app doesn't yet include a status i certificate. when the government itself _ certificate. when the government itself has — certificate. when the government itself has not _ certificate. when the government itself has not yet _ certificate. when the government itself has not yet made _ certificate. when the government itself has not yet made up - certificate. when the government itself has not yet made up its - certificate. when the government. itself has not yet made up its mind about— itself has not yet made up its mind about the — itself has not yet made up its mind about the instrument. _ itself has not yet made up its mind about the instrument. we - itself has not yet made up its mind about the instrument. we certainly know that international _ about the instrument. we certainly know that international travel - about the instrument. we certainly| know that international travel which we all hope to see return as quickly as possible will almost certainly

require proof of covid status certification and vaccination and it could be one of the most reliable wheels of providing that. it's a service the nhs provides. but there is no requirement. in service the nhs provides. but there is no requirement.— is no requirement. in terms of international— is no requirement. in terms of international travel, _ is no requirement. in terms of international travel, on - is no requirement. in terms of international travel, on the . is no requirement. in terms of. international travel, on the 28th is no requirement. in terms of- international travel, on the 28th of april the _ international travel, on the 28th of april the transport— international travel, on the 28th of april the transport secretary- april the transport secretary announced _ april the transport secretary announced pnh _ april the transport secretary announced pnh s— april the transport secretary announced pnh s —— - april the transport secretary announced pnh s —— nhs. april the transport secretary. announced pnh s —— nhs covid april the transport secretary- announced pnh s —— nhs covid app would _ announced pnh s —— nhs covid app would not _ announced pnh s —— nhs covid app would not be — announced pnh s —— nhs covid app would not be used _ announced pnh s —— nhs covid app would not be used for— announced pnh s —— nhs covid app would not be used for the _ announced pnh s —— nhs covid app would not be used for the coveted i would not be used for the coveted vacation _ would not be used for the coveted vacation but — would not be used for the coveted vacation but he _ would not be used for the coveted vacation but he actually _ would not be used for the coveted vacation but he actually said - would not be used for the coveted vacation but he actually said thatl vacation but he actually said that he was _ vacation but he actually said that he was in — vacation but he actually said that he was in the _ vacation but he actually said that he was in the process _ vacation but he actually said that he was in the process of- vacation but he actually said that. he was in the process of negotiating to have _ he was in the process of negotiating to have it— he was in the process of negotiating to have it recognised _ he was in the process of negotiating to have it recognised by— he was in the process of negotiating to have it recognised by other- to have it recognised by other countries _ to have it recognised by other countries. to _ to have it recognised by other countries. to date, _ to have it recognised by other countries. to date, no - to have it recognised by other| countries. to date, no country to have it recognised by other- countries. to date, no country has yet agreed — countries. to date, no country has yet agreed to _ countries. to date, no country has yet agreed to recognise _ countries. to date, no country has yet agreed to recognise it - countries. to date, no country has yet agreed to recognise it for- yet agreed to recognise it for entry — yet agreed to recognise it for entry so _ yet agreed to recognise it for entry. so again— yet agreed to recognise it for entry. so again don't - yet agreed to recognise it for entry. so again don't you - yet agreed to recognise it for. entry. so again don't you think these — entry. so again don't you think these things _ entry. so again don't you think these things should _ entry. so again don't you think these things should have - entry. so again don't you think these things should have beenj these things should have been resolved — these things should have been resolved before _ these things should have been resolved before introducing. these things should have beenl resolved before introducing the these things should have been- resolved before introducing the app in its current — resolved before introducing the app in its current form? _ resolved before introducing the app in its current form? i— resolved before introducing the app in its current form?— in its current form? i take the oint of

in its current form? i take the point of the — in its current form? i take the point of the question - in its current form? i take the point of the question but - in its current form? i take the point of the question but i - in its current form? i take the l point of the question but i think in its current form? i take the - point of the question but i think it would be worse if we agree the principle and then didn't have the infrastructure in place in order to be able to operate it at that moment. be able to operate it at that moment-— be able to operate it at that moment. �* ., , , ., be able to operate it at that moment. �* ., ,, ., , be able to operate it at that moment. �* ., , , ., , , moment. but the app cannot be used for the purpose _ moment. but the app cannot be used for the purpose of _ moment. but the app cannot be used for the purpose of international- for the purpose of international travel _ for the purpose of international travel as— for the purpose of international travel as we _ for the purpose of international travel as we speak _ for the purpose of international travel as we speak because - for the purpose of international travel as we speak because it l for the purpose of international. travel as we speak because it has not been — travel as we speak because it has not been agreed. _ travel as we speak because it has not been agreed. other- travel as we speak because it has not been agreed. other countries might— not been agreed. other countries might decide _ not been agreed. other countries might decide they— not been agreed. other countries might decide they want _ not been agreed. other countries might decide they want a - not been agreed. other countriesl might decide they want a different form of— might decide they want a different form of certification. _ might decide they want a different form of certification. if— might decide they want a different form of certification. if an - form of certification. if an agreement _ form of certification. if an agreement were - form of certification. if an agreement were reached | form of certification. if an . agreement were reached and form of certification.“ agreement were reached and we form of certificationm agreement were reached and we didn't have infrastructure of this kind that international travel would take longer to resume. yes that international travel would take longer to resume.— longer to resume. yes but if it is aareed longer to resume. yes but if it is agreed but _ longer to resume. yes but if it is agreed but rrot _ longer to resume. yes but if it is agreed but not in _ longer to resume. yes but if it is agreed but not in the _ longer to resume. yes but if it is agreed but not in the current - longer to resume. yes but if it is i agreed but not in the current form havent— agreed but not in the current form haven't we — agreed but not in the current form haven't we wasted _ agreed but not in the current form haven't we wasted an _ agreed but not in the current form haven't we wasted an awful- agreed but not in the current form haven't we wasted an awful lot - agreed but not in the current form haven't we wasted an awful lot ofl haven't we wasted an awful lot of time _ haven't we wasted an awful lot of time on _ haven't we wasted an awful lot of time on the — haven't we wasted an awful lot of time on the current _ haven't we wasted an awful lot of time on the current design- haven't we wasted an awful lot of time on the current design of- haven't we wasted an awful lot of time on the current design of the| time on the current design of the app? _ time on the current design of the app? bio — time on the current design of the a i i ? ., , . ., , time on the current design of the a?“ , 4' time on the current design of the a?“ .,, , ~' ., time on the current design of the a7u .,, , ~' ., time on the current design of the app? no because i think what the app rovides is app? no because i think what the app provides is authentic _ app? no because i think what the app provides is authentic and _ app? no because i think what the app provides is authentic and reliable - provides is authentic and reliable information that any citizen can use. cathy might say more about the work that we have been doing in parallel. work that we have been doing in arallel. ., .

parallel. the digital certificate are based on _ parallel. the digital certificate are based on the _ parallel. the digital certificate are based on the data - parallel. the digital certificate l are based on the data standards parallel. the digital certificate - are based on the data standards for covert— are based on the data standards for covert vaccinations and there are countries — covert vaccinations and there are countries that have said they will accept _ countries that have said they will accept both or one of those. obviously there is wider advised to travel— obviously there is wider advised to travel in _ obviously there is wider advised to travel in terms of things but there are countries that have said because we meet _ are countries that have said because we meet those standards they will accept — we meet those standards they will acce t. .. ~ . we meet those standards they will accet...~ . , we meet those standards they will accet...~ . we meet those standards they will acce-tm. . accept... which countries are those lease? accept... which countries are those please? examples _ accept... which countries are those please? examples would _ accept... which countries are those please? examples would be - accept... which countries are those j please? examples would be iceland which is on the _ please? examples would be iceland which is on the green _ please? examples would be iceland which is on the green list. - please? examples would be iceland which is on the green list. they - which is on the green list. they have _ which is on the green list. they have said — which is on the green list. they have said our certificates would be acceptable because of the meeting they are _ acceptable because of the meeting they are meeting latest standards. what _ they are meeting latest standards. what about the us? | they are meeting latest standards. what about the us?— what about the us? i should think that uiven what about the us? i should think that given america's _ what about the us? i should think that given america's actions - what about the us? i should think that given america's actions to - that given america's actions to ensure its citizens can travel to the uk and other parts of europe that an approach like the one we have outlined would serve us citizens. �* ,, ., , .,

have outlined would serve us citizens. �* ,, ., ., citizens. but the us has not agreed the a- - citizens. but the us has not agreed the an in citizens. but the us has not agreed the app in its _ citizens. but the us has not agreed the app in its current _ citizens. but the us has not agreed the app in its current form? - citizens. but the us has not agreed the app in its current form? no - citizens. but the us has not agreed the app in its current form? no butj the app in its current form? no but the app in its current form? no but the us is extremely _ the app in its current form? no but the us is extremely unlikely - the app in its current form? no but the us is extremely unlikely to - the app in its current form? no but the us is extremely unlikely to see that the nhs providing reliable digital documentation or paper documentation on vaccination is not adequate. just documentation on vaccination is not adeauate., , ., documentation on vaccination is not adeauate. , ., . ,, ., documentation on vaccination is not adeuate. , ., ., ., adequate. just on the back of that, the eu are hoping _ adequate. just on the back of that, the eu are hoping to _ adequate. just on the back of that, the eu are hoping to role _ adequate. just on the back of that, the eu are hoping to role of- adequate. just on the back of that, the eu are hoping to role of the - the eu are hoping to role of the travel— the eu are hoping to role of the travel certificate in july to travel freely— travel certificate in july to travel freely between other countries in the eu _ are they agreeing to use our certificate or are we agreeing to use theirs? we certificate or are we agreeing to use theirs?—

certificate or are we agreeing to use theirs? we hope that we will have a who _ use theirs? we hope that we will have a who compliant _ use theirs? we hope that we willj have a who compliant approach. use theirs? we hope that we will - have a who compliant approach. does that mean we — have a who compliant approach. does that mean we are _ have a who compliant approach. does that mean we are complying with the eu? lt— that mean we are complying with the eu? ., , , that mean we are complying with the eu? . , , ., that mean we are complying with the eu? _ eu? it means they are complying with us and others — eu? it means they are complying with us and others. so _ eu? it means they are complying with us and others. so the _ eu? it means they are complying with us and others. so the plans _ eu? it means they are complying with us and others. so the plans are - eu? it means they are complying with us and others. so the plans are to - us and others. so the plans are to have a travel _ us and others. so the plans are to have a travel certificate _ us and others. so the plans are to have a travel certificate which - have a travel certificate which would — have a travel certificate which would allow us to travel freely through— would allow us to travel freely through the eu. the would allow us to travel freely through the eu.— would allow us to travel freely through the eu. the aim would be that individual— through the eu. the aim would be that individual countries _ through the eu. the aim would be that individual countries or - that individual countries or jurisdictions would agree neutrally or unilaterally to recognise each other�*s certification much in the same way as they recognise the integrity of individual nation systems when it comes to regulating for example other health particles. you are tripping over yourself to saying _ you are tripping over yourself to saying that we need to agree with the eu _ saying that we need to agree with the eu l — saying that we need to agree with the eu. ., ., the eu. i love agreeing with the eu as much as — the eu. i love agreeing with the eu as much as l _ the eu. i love agreeing with the eu as much as i love _ the eu. i love agreeing with the eu as much as i love in _ the eu. i love agreeing with the eu as much as i love in group -- - as much as i love in group —— agreeing with you. i think it's an increasingly common.—

agreeing with you. i think it's an increasingly common. what cost benefit analysis _ increasingly common. what cost benefit analysis has _ increasingly common. what cost benefit analysis has been - increasingly common. what cost | benefit analysis has been carried out in _ benefit analysis has been carried out in relation _ benefit analysis has been carried out in relation to _ benefit analysis has been carried out in relation to the _ benefit analysis has been carried out in relation to the certificate i out in relation to the certificate system? — out in relation to the certificate system? will— out in relation to the certificate system? will the _ out in relation to the certificate system? will the results - out in relation to the certificate system? will the results he - system? will the results he published? _ system? will the results he published? the _ system? will the results be published?— system? will the results be ublished? ~ ., , ., published? we have been looking at eve state published? we have been looking at every stage at _ published? we have been looking at every stage at the _ published? we have been looking at every stage at the impact _ published? we have been looking at every stage at the impact that - every stage at the impact that certification might or might not have on the economy. if it's the case that we want to see the restoration of premier league football then in order for that to happen we would want to have the stadium fill —— full to maximum capacity. so in that sense the

deployment of certification and investment would enable the economic and social life of the country to return more quickly and safely. what return more quickly and safely. what are the costs? _ return more quickly and safely. what are the costs? it's _ return more quickly and safely. what are the costs? it's already _ return more quickly and safely. what are the costs? it's already the - return more quickly and safely. what are the costs? it's already the case l are the costs? it's already the case that the nhs _ are the costs? it's already the case that the nhs is — are the costs? it's already the case that the nhs is investing _ are the costs? it's already the case that the nhs is investing in - are the costs? it's already the case that the nhs is investing in this - that the nhs is investing in this technology but there are also potential costs as well if we have a form of certification. they will be costs in terms of testing for those people who have not received vaccination but wish to attend events. one of the points we have said throughout is that you can demonstrate you are a safer entrant to a venue either through vaccination or testing. so the cost of testing is a factor as well. tbtnd

of testing is a factor as well. and at present _ of testing is a factor as well. and at present do _ of testing is a factor as well. and at present do you _ of testing is a factor as well. and at present do you see a balance between — at present do you see a balance between the cost of the benefits? finely _ between the cost of the benefits? finely balanced.— between the cost of the benefits? finely balanced. what modelling has been carried — finely balanced. what modelling has been carried out _ finely balanced. what modelling has been carried out on _ finely balanced. what modelling has been carried out on the _ finely balanced. what modelling has been carried out on the different - been carried out on the different scenarios — been carried out on the different scenarios in _ been carried out on the different scenarios in terms _ been carried out on the different scenarios in terms of _ been carried out on the different scenarios in terms of results - been carried out on the different scenarios in terms of results of i been carried out on the different. scenarios in terms of results of the next stage — scenarios in terms of results of the next stage of— scenarios in terms of results of the next stage of easing? _ scenarios in terms of results of the next stage of easing? if— scenarios in terms of results of the next stage of easing? if we - scenarios in terms of results of the next stage of easing? if we have i scenarios in terms of results of the next stage of easing? if we have a | next stage of easing? if we have a vaccine _ next stage of easing? if we have a vaccine or— next stage of easing? if we have a vaccine or covid _ next stage of easing? if we have a vaccine or covid certificate - next stage of easing? if we have a vaccine or covid certificate versusl vaccine or covid certificate versus not~ _ vaccine or covid certificate versus not. ~ ~' ., vaccine or covid certificate versus not. ~ ,, ., ., ., ., ., not. we know that it would have an im act. not. we know that it would have an impact- but — not. we know that it would have an impact- but we _ not. we know that it would have an impact. but we must _ not. we know that it would have an impact. but we must be _ not. we know that it would have an impact. but we must be careful - not. we know that it would have an impact. but we must be careful not to overstate the effect. in response to overstate the effect. in response to john's to overstate the effect. in response tojohn's question, i want to refer tojohn's question, i want to refer to sue here. to john's question, i want to refer to sue here-— to sue here. the vast ma'ority of events to sue here. the vast ma'ority of nts that i

to sue here. the vast ma'ority of events that people h to sue here. the vast ma'ority of events that people go h to sue here. the vast ma'ority of events that people go to h to sue here. the vast majority of events that people go to our - to sue here. the vast majority of - events that people go to our smaller events _ events that people go to our smaller events and _ events that people go to our smaller events and meeting _ events that people go to our smaller events and meeting indoors, - events that people go to our smaller events and meeting indoors, that. events that people go to our smaller events and meeting indoors, that isi events and meeting indoors, that is where _ events and meeting indoors, that is where the _ events and meeting indoors, that is where the vast _ events and meeting indoors, that is where the vast majority _ events and meeting indoors, that is where the vast majority of - where the vast majority of transmission _ where the vast majority of transmission occurs. - where the vast majority of transmission occurs. but i where the vast majority of. transmission occurs. but the where the vast majority of - transmission occurs. but the risk of a large _ transmission occurs. but the risk of a large event — transmission occurs. but the risk of a large event both— transmission occurs. but the risk of a large event both travelling - transmission occurs. but the risk of a large event both travelling to - transmission occurs. but the risk of a large event both travelling to the| a large event both travelling to the events, _ a large event both travelling to the events, the — a large event both travelling to the events, the socialising _ a large event both travelling to the events, the socialising around - a large event both travelling to the events, the socialising around thel events, the socialising around the event _ events, the socialising around the event and — events, the socialising around the event and the _ events, the socialising around the event and the event _ events, the socialising around the event and the event itself, - events, the socialising around the event and the event itself, that i events, the socialising around the. event and the event itself, that can potentially — event and the event itself, that can potentially be — event and the event itself, that can potentially be reduced _ event and the event itself, that can potentially be reduced by— event and the event itself, that can potentially be reduced by the - event and the event itself, that can potentially be reduced by the use l event and the event itself, that can| potentially be reduced by the use of testing _ potentially be reduced by the use of testing and — potentially be reduced by the use of testing and vaccination _ potentially be reduced by the use of testing and vaccination or _ testing and vaccination or alternatively— testing and vaccination or alternatively knowing i testing and vaccination or i alternatively knowing people's infection — alternatively knowing people's infection status. _ alternatively knowing people's infection status. all— alternatively knowing people's infection status. all of - alternatively knowing people's infection status. all of those l infection status. all of those things— infection status. all of those things together— infection status. all of those things together are - infection status. all of those things together are likely i infection status. all of those things together are likely to| infection status. all of those - things together are likely to reduce the risk— things together are likely to reduce the risk of— things together are likely to reduce the risk of transmission _ things together are likely to reduce the risk of transmission by - things together are likely to reduce the risk of transmission by 30 i things together are likely to reduce the risk of transmission by 30 to i the risk of transmission by 30 to 50%~ _ the risk of transmission by 30 to 50%. , , ., ., ., .. , 50%. this is having a vaccine itself is likel to 50%. this is having a vaccine itself is likely to reduce _ 50%. this is having a vaccine itself is likely to reduce the _ 50%. this is having a vaccine itself is likely to reduce the risk - 50%. this is having a vaccine itself is likely to reduce the risk of - is likely to reduce the risk of transmission.— is likely to reduce the risk of transmission. , ., transmission. exactly. so based on the latest variant _ transmission. exactly. so based on the latest variant we _ transmission. exactly. so based on the latest variant we don't - transmission. exactly. so based on the latest variant we don't have i transmission. exactly. so based on| the latest variant we don't have the data but— the latest variant we don't have the data but again _ the latest variant we don't have the data but again a _ the latest variant we don't have the data but again a negative _ the latest variant we don't have the data but again a negative test i data but again a negative test shortly — data but again a negative test shortly before _ data but again a negative test shortly before entering - data but again a negative test shortly before entering the i data but again a negative test i shortly before entering the event reduces — shortly before entering the event reduces the — shortly before entering the event reduces the risk— shortly before entering the event reduces the risk of— shortly before entering the event reduces the risk of transmissioni shortly before entering the event i reduces the risk of transmission by about— reduces the risk of transmission by about 30 _ reduces the risk of transmission by about 30 to — reduces the risk of transmission by about 30 to 50%. _ reduces the risk of transmission by about 30 to 50%. obviously- reduces the risk of transmission by about 30 to 50%. obviously we i reduces the risk of transmission by. about 30 to 50%. obviously we know that if— about 30 to 50%. obviously we know that if you _ about 30 to 50%. obviously we know that if you had — about 30 to 50%. obviously we know

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judgments and estimates but they always have to be crucial.- always have to be crucial. i would sa that always have to be crucial. i would say that was _ always have to be crucial. i would say that was uncertain _ always have to be crucial. i would say that was uncertain because i always have to be crucial. i would say that was uncertain because if| say that was uncertain because if you take — say that was uncertain because if you take for— say that was uncertain because if you take for example _ say that was uncertain because if you take for example going i say that was uncertain because if you take for example going to i say that was uncertain because if you take for example going to al you take for example going to a football— you take for example going to a football match _ you take for example going to a football match people - you take for example going to a football match people are - you take for example going to aj football match people are going you take for example going to a i football match people are going to do that— football match people are going to do that on— football match people are going to do that on an _ football match people are going to do that on an infant _ football match people are going to do that on an infant —— _ football match people are going to do that on an infant —— infrequentl do that on an infant —— infrequent basis, _ do that on an infant —— infrequent basis, compared _ do that on an infant —— infrequent basis, compared to— do that on an infant —— infrequent basis, compared to going - do that on an infant —— infrequent basis, compared to going to- do that on an infant —— infrequent basis, compared to going to a i do that on an infant —— infrequentl basis, compared to going to a bar. small— basis, compared to going to a bar. small nightclubs _ basis, compared to going to a bar. small nightclubs are _ basis, compared to going to a bar. small nightclubs are not _ basis, compared to going to a bar. small nightclubs are not open i basis, compared to going to a bar. small nightclubs are not open at l basis, compared to going to a bar. i small nightclubs are not open at the moment— small nightclubs are not open at the moment and i suspect that is where people _ moment and i suspect that is where people are — moment and i suspect that is where people are more interested in knowing — people are more interested in knowing whether the modelling has been big _ knowing whether the modelling has been big. big events and cathedral —like venues where there is lots of air circulation are going to have less— air circulation are going to have less risk— air circulation are going to have less risk than sweaty nightclubs and basements where the sweat is dripping — basements where the sweat is dripping off the walls. i'm sure many— dripping off the walls. i'm sure many of— dripping off the walls. i'm sure many of us have been in those kinds of venues _ many of us have been in those kinds of venues a — many of us have been in those kinds of venues a different part of our lives _ of venues a different part of our lives is — of venues a different part of our lives. is there a risk assessment on those _ lives. is there a risk assessment on those kinds — lives. is there a risk assessment on those kinds of venues? the lives. is there a risk assessment on those kinds of venues?— those kinds of venues? the events research programme _ those kinds of venues? the events research programme is _ those kinds of venues? the events research programme is looking i those kinds of venues? the events research programme is looking up| those kinds of venues? the events l research programme is looking up at an testing _ research programme is looking up at an testing before _ research programme is looking up at an testing before the _ research programme is looking up at an testing before the events - research programme is looking up at an testing before the events and i research programme is looking up at an testing before the events and as. an testing before the events and as they move — an testing before the events and as they move into— an testing before the events and as they move into the _ an testing before the events and as they move into the next _ an testing before the events and as

they move into the next phase i an testing before the events and as they move into the next phase willl they move into the next phase will able to _ they move into the next phase will able to assess _ they move into the next phase will able to assess certification - they move into the next phase will able to assess certification with i able to assess certification with vaccination _ able to assess certification with vaccination and _ able to assess certification with vaccination and that _ able to assess certification with vaccination and that is - able to assess certification with vaccination and that is where i able to assess certification withi vaccination and that is where we will get — vaccination and that is where we will get the _ vaccination and that is where we will get the complete _ vaccination and that is where wei will get the complete information rather_ will get the complete information rather than — will get the complete information rather than the _ will get the complete information rather than the estimates - will get the complete information rather than the estimates that. will get the complete information| rather than the estimates that we have~ _ rather than the estimates that we have.~ rather than the estimates that we have. ~ , t, rather than the estimates that we have. ~ , a, , rather than the estimates that we have. ~ m , h, rather than the estimates that we have. ~ , h, t, m' have. will you be able to make coies have. will you be able to make copies available _ have. will you be able to make copies available of— have. will you be able to make copies available of some - have. will you be able to make copies available of some of - have. will you be able to makei copies available of some of the research — copies available of some of the research before... we copies available of some of the research before. . .— copies available of some of the research before... we will leave the cabinet office _ research before... we will leave the cabinet office and _ research before. .. we will leave the cabinet office and michael- research before... we will leave the cabinet office and michael gove - cabinet office and michael gove speaking in front of the constitutional affairs committee. talking there about these covid status vaccination is to visit —— certificates which mr gove believe will help us to further open the economy and society. that's it from that select committee but we will be hearing the chancellor in front of the treasury select committee after four o'clock. now let's take a look at the weather. hello, there. a ridge of high pressure will bring much of the country a fine, settled sunny day today.

just a slim chance of a shower here and there, and temperatures reaching around 20 or 21 degrees in the south of the country, something we haven't seen for quite a while. now, as we head on into this evening and overnight, this new weather front pushing into western areas will bring some cloud and patchy rain to northern ireland and into western parts of scotland, england and wales by the end of the night. further north and east it should tend to be dry, but there will be more cloud around generally, so a milder night to come. bit of a disappointing day for friday because of this weather front. there will be more cloud around generally, patchy rain across some western areas which will tend to ease down, misty, murky conditions too. best of any sunny spells will be across the north and east of the country, and where you get sunny spells that could set off the odd heavy shower. but because of more cloud around, the temperatures won't be quite as high as what we've had through today. it stays fine, settled, sunny and warm for england and wales for the bank holiday weekend. on bank holiday monday, there's athe chance of thick cloud, perhaps some showers for scotland and northern ireland.

this is bbc news. the headlines. borisjohnson denies claims made by dominic cummings, that the poor handing of the coronavirus pandemic led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people. at every stage, we've been governed by a determination to protect life, to save life, to ensure that our nhs is not overwhelmed. the health secretary has also robustly defended claims against him from mr cummings, who said he is a liar and should have been sacked. these unsubstantiated allegations around honesty are not true, and that i've been straight with people in public and in private throughout.

the prime minister says that he will be examining the data on easing of restrictions in england onjune zist. i don't see anything currently in the data to suggest that we have to deviate from the road map, but we may need to wait. gps in england say they're facing a deluge of patients, as the country emerges from lockdown. a bbc news investigation finds that onlyfans — a british website — allowing people to share photos and videos in return for a subscription fee — is failing to prevent underage users from selling and appearing in explicit videos. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news.

borisjohnson has denied allegations made by his former top advisor, dominic cummings, that poor handling of the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people. he was speaking on a visit to a hospital in essex, and said an "incredibly difficult series of decisions, none of which we've taken lightly," had to be made at the start of the crisis. the health secretary matt hancock has also robustly defended his actions through the pandemic, following claims from mr cummings that he'd lied in private and in public. the shadow health secretary, jonathan ashworth, now says the public deserve the truth. here's our political correspondent ben wright. it's your birthday today? it is. then many happy returns. unfit for office claimed boris johnson's former adviser, dominic cummings, yesterday. visiting a hospital in the south of england today, the pm was having to answer charges that disastrous mistakes caused tens of thousands of deaths. we did everything we could to protect the nhs, and to protect care homes as well, and... did you test anyone being put into a care home?

and we did everything we could... i mean, you didn't, did you? we did everything we could to protect the nhs and to protect care homes. i think that it's important for us to focus on what really matters to the people of this country, and i think, if i may say so, that some of the commentary i've heard doesn't bear any relation to reality, and what people want us to get on with is delivering the road map. with the government's handling of covid under renewed scrutiny, labour's leader said the buck stopped with the prime minister. very serious allegations from dominic cummings about the chaos and incompetence in the decision—making in the government, and there are consequences to that in relation to those that have died. camera shutters click. when a cabinet minister wakes up to this in the morning, they're usually on the ropes. yesterday, dominic cummings made the most serious allegations possible against the health secretary matt hancock during his demolition of the government's handling of covid. i'm just off to drive forward the vaccine programme, and then i'll be going to the house

of commons and i'll answer questions there. thanks very much. boris johnson's closest former adviser accused matt hancock of misleading colleagues and parliament about testing, ppe and care homes. i think that the secretary of state for health should have been - fired for at least 15, - 20 things, including lying to everybody on multiple occasions in meeting after meeting _ in the cabinet room and publicly. shadow secretary of state, jonathan ashworth. in the commons this morning, labour wanted answers. now, these allegations from cummings are either true, and, if so, the secretary of state potentially stands in breach of the ministerial code and the nolan principles, or they are false, and the prime minister brought a fantasist and a liar into the heart of downing street. which is it? the minister's denial was firm. mr speaker, these allegations that were put yesterday and repeated by the right honourable gentlemen are serious allegations and i welcome the opportunity to come to the house to put formally

on the record that these unsubstantiated allegations around honesty are not true. and that i've been straight with people in public and in private throughout. every day since i began working on the response to this pandemic last january, i've got up each morning and asked, what must i do to protect life? perhaps the most serious claim made by dominic cummings was that covid spread like wildfire in care homes because mr hancock falsely claimed patients were being tested before being discharged from hospital. today, matt hancock said ministers follow the clinical advice and a former health secretary who quizzed mr cummings said these remained allegations. we asked for evidence to be provided, and until such evidence is provided those allegations should be treated as unproven. over seven hours of testimony, dominic cummings savaged the government's competence — a government he was at the heart of. for families grieving

the loss of loved ones, these latest claims have been hard to hear. fran hall's husband steve contracted covid just a few weeks after their wedding. he died a day before his 66th birthday. if decisions had been made differently and the virus hadn't been allowed to spread the way that it did into care homes, into hospitals, into the community, i really think that steve might still be here, and it breaks my heart. borisjohnson wants to look forward, but dominic cummings' dynamite claims about past mistakes will need proper answers. ben wright, bbc news, westminster. the health secretary matt hancock and drjenny harries, the uk health security agency chief executive, will be holding a news conference this afternoon you can see it live on the bbc news channel, from 5pm. gps in england say they're facing a "tsunami of patients," as the country emerges from lockdown. nhs figures show more

than 28 million appointments were made in march, that's one of the highest on record. the royal college of gps is warning that without more resources they'll no longer be able to meet demand. here's our health correspondent, dominic hughes. the start of another busy day, and dr dean eggitt is already feeling the pressure. it's 8.30, bang on the dot, which is great, which means that we can start consulting now. and i've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine patients waiting for me. phone rings. hello? morning. it's dean speaking, dr eggitt. are you still seeing the guys up at the hospital? the easing of lockdown has released a huge amount of pent—up demand from patients needing help, many of them with multiple complex health problems. i've never experienced anything with the workload pressures that i've got at the moment, over the number of patients that i've got, the complexity of the patients that i've got, and the mental intensity of the workload.

people are incredibly sick. is this how you saw your career? did you know that this would be the kind of pressure you worked under? people can't see what we're doing, so they think we're sat here twiddling our thumbs, when actually we're sat here holding our head in our hands, thinking how are we going to cope through the day? there is this hidden demand and hidden workload that nobody gets to see. so, are you ok to take i a call back this morning? in reception the phones are ringing constantly as patients try to get an appointment. busier than we've ever been. i can still hear the phonei ringing when i go to bed. but dr eggitt worries about those who can't get through. you know, in medicine, we're taught not to worry about the people who shout, we worry about the people who can't shout, but actually, in the nhs they don't even get a voice. they don't get on the phone, they don't get through to us, they're just unheard. some people simply can't be assessed over the phone. do you want us to just keep an eye on you and keep you fit, rather than do anything to... that's right. 0k. so, you've got a nerve

and an artery up here. i'm just making sure there's no damage. back at the surgery, the appointments are put on hold. mitchell has walked in with a nasty cut above his eye. i'm going to stitch you back up. this minor surgery keeps mitchell out of a&e, but it adds to the time pressures dr eggitt already faces. the nhs for the past few years has always been pretty constant. so instead of that massive winter peak and the summer lull, you've still got the massive winter peak, but you don't have a summer lull any more. you have got that constant work, so the ability to catch up has gone. that was before covid. then covid hit. and then it'sjust peak, peak, peak, peak, peak all the time. the department of health and social care in england says extra funding is available to help gps, and there's a commitment to expanding the workforce and delivering more appointments. that was done. we've got the latest coronavirus data from the government. that's michael gove. the

uk has recorded 3542 new cases of covid—i9 in the last 2a hours, which is nearly 400 more covid—i9 in the last 24 hours, which is nearly 400 more than yesterday and nearly 700 more than this time last week. ten deaths have been reported in the latest 24—hour period, that people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—i9 test. yesterday the number was nine and this time last week it was seven. a couple more than we saw last week. wales is on course to offer all adults a first dose of the covid—i9 vaccine more than a month ahead of schedule. along with other uk nations, wales has committed to offering a first dose to all adults by the end ofjuly. the welsh government said more than half 18 to 29—year—olds have already had a jab, and it expects to contact all people yet to be invited injune.

in northern ireland, anyone over the age of 18 is now able to book a covid—i9 jab. it's the first part of the uk to offer the vaccine to all its adult population. more than five million people in melbourne, australia's second—biggest city, will enter a week—long lockdown from today, to contain a new coronavirus outbreak. for the next seven days, people will be required to stay at home except for essential work, shopping, exercise, and caregiving, or to get a covid vaccine. so far 26 new infections have been reported. our sydney correspondent shaimaa khalil has more details. melbourne has been here before. last year, an outbreak plunged it into a second wave of covid—i9, killing more than 800 people. this is a reminder of dark days that melburnians had hoped were now behind them. once again, we're faced with a challenge in our ongoing battle against covid. a challenge and a battle that we've faced many, many times,

and on each occasion, together, we have overcome. there is a great deal of nervousness as 5 million victorians go into another strict lockdown for the next seven days. panic buying has already started. although numbers are comparatively low here, the authorities have been quick to act, compared with other countries. officials have said that if they wait any longer, it could spiral out of control. and, once again, businesses have to brace themselves. how often is the state government going to expect small business to pay for all of this? and, you know, it wasn't that long ago, in february, that they flicked the switch off, which was absolutely devastating for small business back then. there are 10,000 primary and secondary contacts to those who have tested positive. so a big potentialfor the number of community cases to increase. more crucially, not enough people

have been vaccinated. for the past year, the numbers have told australia's success story in containing and, for a while, eliminating the virus. but they're telling a very different one when it comes to vaccinations. and all it takes is an outbreak like this to put that success at risk. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, sydney. a bbc news investigation has found that onlyfans is failing to prevent underage users from selling and appearing in explicit videos. the british website — which allows people to share photos and videos in return for a subscription fee — has become a global phenomenon during the pandemic and now has 120 million users worldwide. but bbc news has learned that under—18s have set up accounts by using fake identification. rianna croxford reports. it's a british website that's boomed during the pandemic... welcome to my onlyfans. ..allowing people to post photos and videos in return for a subscription fee.

it is popular with celebrities, who offer exclusive access into their lives, and now has more than 120 million users worldwide. the site hosts a range of content, from music to beauty videos, but it's best known for pornography, and users have to be over 18. but we found that onlyfans is failing to prevent some underage users from selling and appearing in videos. police say one 14—year—old used her grandmother's passport to sell explicit images. and the mum of a i7—year—old said her daughter's bank account was frozen after she made £5000 from posting nudes. these are the type of comments she received while promoting her onlyfans account on twitter. some request more graphic content and ask if she'll meet up. well, she did say that, originally, she was only going to be doing pictures of her feet. the girl's mum, who is played by an actor to protect the teenager's identity, says she has since stopped posting on her account,

but her nudes have been leaked across the internet. she wants to go to college, but she suffers really badly with anxiety. you know, she won't go out any more. she doesn't want to be seen! onlyfans says the girl had used a fake drivers license, and that approving the account was an oversight during a transition to a more effective age verification system. all active subscriptions have now been refunded. but the uk's lead officer for child protection says onlyfans needs to do more to protect underage users. it's becoming increasingly clear that onlyfans is being used by children. children, on occasion, are being blackmailed and exploited. the company are not doing enough to put in place the safeguards that prevent children exploiting the opportunity to generate money, but also for children to be exploited. onlyfans says their work to stop children accessing the site limits the likelihood of them being exposed to blackmail or exploitation, and if it's notified about these behaviours,

it takes swift action and disables accounts. the site has grown massively across the world, including in the us, where we found a child featured on an account run by an adult. in nevada, an i8—year—old sold videos on onlyfans of her having sex with her i7—year—old boyfriend, in breach of the site's rules. friends say they earned $5,000 from one video alone. after we contacted onlyfans, they shut down the account and refunded all active subscriptions. we are seeing child sex trafficking victims exploited and sold via 0nlyfans. an american watchdog also said it's receiving reports of missing children appearing in explicit videos. that really hit our radar in 2019, where we saw a dozen or so children that were also linked with content on onlyfans, and that dramatically increased in 2020 — we saw it almost triple. in a statement, 0nlyfans said

preventing underaged use of it site was something it takes very seriously. it said it constantly reviews its systems to ensure they are as robust as possible, and manually reviews every application it receives. it added that it works with charities and organisations to raise any potential issues with the relevant authorities. in response to our findings, the government said that 0nlyfans had failed to properly protect children, and that the 0nline safety bill would make sure this no longer happens. but child protection campaigners say it's still unclear whether this new law will actually require 0nlyfans to do more than it currently does to protect children from harmful content. rianna croxford, bbc news. the headlines on bbc news. borisjohnson denies claims made by dominic cummings, that the poor handing of the coronavirus pandemic, led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people. the prime minister says that he will be examining the data

on easing of restrictions in england onjune 2ist. gps in england say they're facing a deluge of patients as the country emerges from lockdown. police looking for a suspected victim of the serial killer fred west say they haven't found any human remains while excavating a cafe in gloucester. mary bastholm, who was 15, worked at the clean plate cafe before she went missing in 1968. police confirmed they'd completed the excavation of the cafe cellar and that "no items of significance" had been found. it's a decade since undercover filming by the bbc�*s panorama programme at a residential care unit near bristol shocked britain, revealing bullying and abuse at winterbourne view, of people with learning disabilities and special needs. now the families of some of those affected have written to borisjohnson, warning there are still 2,000 people locked in in—patient units,

and at risk of abuse and mistreatment. alison holt has that story. the images were deeply upsetting. undercover bbc panorama filming showed people with learning disabilities and autism being bullied and abused. that was ten years ago. government promises followed that all places like winterbourne view hospital would close in england, with better support provided for patients in the community. winterbourne view has shut, but today, more than 2,000 people still live in similar institutions. among them, elliott. he was taken to a specialist hospital when he had a crisis. three years later, he's still there, to the distress of his sister. he says, "this is not my home, this is not my hospital. "when am i coming home?" and you're kind of fobbing him off, you can't give him a direct answer to say, "you're coming home in august." because giving him that guarantee and it not happening is difficult.

the charity mencap has calculated that since 2015, an average of four people have been admitted to these hospitals each day. and since 2018, when data was first collected on restrictive practices, patients have been restrained, drugged or held in isolation more than 100,000 times. it's just wrong and... anne's son simon faced some of the most distressing abuse at winterbourne view. she feels let down that government promises didn't mean change. they failed their own targets. and i find that astonishing, because we were talking at the highest possible level of government, and those changes did not happen. people didn't come out of units, and people continue to go in them. the government and nhs england have said the number of people with learning disabilities and autism in specialist hospitals has reduced significantly. and that providing more support in the community is a priority. alison holt, bbc news.

a teacher who was suspended in west yorkshire after showing children a caricature of the prophet mohammed can return to the classroom. protests were held outside batley grammar school after the teacher showed the image during a religious studies lesson in march. an independent investigation found the teacher did not intend to cause offence. the school said it would offer more guidance and training for staff. the batley parents and community partnership group says it welcomes the lessons learnt from the investigation but they are "disappointed at the lack of clarity, transparency and rationale behind some of the findings." the batley and spen by—election will be held on the firstjuly. the seat was held by the labour mp tracy brabin, who won it after the murder of mpjo cox by a white supremacist. tracy brabin stood down after she was elected as the first mayor of west yorkshire. commons speaker lindsay hoyle made the announcement this morning. the tv presenter dr christianjessen

has been ordered to pay first minister arlene foster £125,000 in damages, for a defamatory tweet alleging that she had an extra—marital affair. mrs foster sued drjessen for the tweet which was posted in december 2019 and taken down two weeks later. mrjustice mcalinden at belfast high court said, "it was an outrageous libel concerning an individual of considerable standing, attacking her integrity at a most fundamental level." drjessen was also ordered to pay mrs foster's legal costs. at suggests that there is a chance the next five years will be 1.5 degrees hotter than preindustrial levels. the study, for the world meteorological organisation, says rising temperatures mean more melting ice, higher sea levels and extreme weather patterns. our science editor david shukman

says that scientists were expecting a rise in temperatures. for many it's not a huge surprise, but to the scientists doing the work it's confirmation of yet another step towards potentially dangerous levels of warming. what happened was that scientists at the met office and in ten other countries pooled the results of their modelling efforts to try to work out what's going to happen in the coming years and that's how they came up with this agreed conclusion that there is a 40% chance, a reasonable possibility, that one of the next five years will see that average level reaching 1.5 degrees above the preindustrial level. they point out that this will be a temporary situation, that natural fluctuations for example la nina in the pacific, could cool the temperature down again in the next few years. but they do say it's a step towards the paris agreement limit of global warming, which is 1.5 degrees, and of course that with every step that you take towards that, they say the impacts of global warming could potentially

become more severe. and then it's just another argument, another piece of evidence, why the world needs to listen to what scientists said some years ago, that the world needs to make dramatic cuts in the emissions of the greenhouse gases that are heating the planet and that of course puts more emphasis than ever before on the climate summit taking place in glasgow at the end of the year. 17 years after they drank their last cup of coffee at central perk, the cast of friends has got back together for a one off special interview programme. james corden was the host and some of the show�*s famous fans also put in an appearance. here's our entertainment correspondent, colin paterson. the cast of friends! this is the day for which friends fans have been waiting 17 years — the six cast members back together in front of a camera. my eyes, my eyes! it's not a new episode, rather, this reunion show features almost an hour and three quarters of them visiting the old sets...

wow, does courtney still have her lines written on the table? ..getting a bit weepy... it was an incredible time. we became best friends. yep, i'm gonna cry now. and paying homage to some of the series' most famous scenes, including the trivia game. each team will answer ten questions. rachel wrote ross a letter and demanded he read it before they got back together. how many pages was that letter? "18 pages!" 18 pages... front and back! front and back, is correct! and the cast explain what it's like to film in central perk. remember our marks, do you remember what colour you were? yellow. blue. i never looked down, i always used the corner of the... you looked! you tripped every time! fans in manchester had gathered together this morning to make sure that they were the first people to watch the show. just like the ultimate comfort blanket, you should enjoy it with your friends! i loved it, i actually feel a little bit emotional. it was quite an emotional

ending, so, yeah, i loved it, loved every bit. spoiler alert — there are very few new revelations, butjennifer aniston and david schwimmer reveal that they almost became romantically involved. the first season, we... i had a major crush onjen. so we just channelled all of our adoration and love for each other into ross and rachel. audience: aw! is this blowing anyone else's mind? i'm starving! matthew perry says that the live recordings left him crippled with anxiety... i felt like i was going to die if they didn't laugh. and it's not healthy, for sure. but i would sometimes say a line and they wouldn't laugh and i would sweat, and just, like, go into convulsions. if i didn't get the laugh i was supposed to get, i would freak out. it would take you down. yeah. you didn't didn't tell us that, though. no? no, i don't remember you ever saying that. oh, yeah. i felt like that every single night.

lady gaga joins lisa kudrow for a version of smelly cat. # smelly cat, smelly cat, what are they feeding you? audience whooping. and at the end, courtney cox confirms that's it, as far as friends is concerned. there will be no new episodes and no film. this will be the last time that we're ever asked about the show us a group, that we will do this. like, we're not going to do this again in 15 more years. to sum it up friends—style, this is the one where the fans were not disappointed. colin paterson, bbc news, central perk. the prince of wales and the duchess of cornwall have visited clapham to celebrate the high street and the retail sector as nonessential shops re—open. the prince of wales pulled a pint behind the bar of his namesake pub as he and the duchess of cornwall visited businesses in the area. the prince poured himself a glass of sambrook�*s bitter at the prince of wales pub in the old town area of clapham — and even pulled up his facemask to enjoy a sip.

now it's time for a look at the weather with stav. hello, there. a ridge of high pressure will bring much of the country a fine, settled sunny day today. just a slim chance of a shower here and there, and temperatures reaching around 20 or 21 degrees in the south of the country, something we haven't seen for quite a while. now, as we head on into this evening and overnight, this new weather front pushing into western areas will bring some cloud and patchy rain to northern ireland and into western parts of scotland, england and wales by the end of the night. further north and east it should tend to be dry, but there will be more cloud around generally, so a milder night to come. bit of a disappointing day for friday because of this weather front. there will be more cloud around generally, patchy rain across some western areas which will tend to ease down, misty, murky conditions too. best of any sunny spells will be across the north and east of the country, and where you get sunny spells that could set off the odd heavy shower. but because of more cloud around, the temperatures won't be quite

as high as what we've had through today. it stays fine, settled, sunny and warm for england and wales for the bank holiday weekend. on bank holiday monday, there's athe chance of thick cloud, perhaps some showers for scotland and northern ireland.

let'sjoin let's join the treasury select committee, where the chancellor, rishi sunak, is giving evidence about the greensill f air. shifter rishi sunak, is giving evidence about the greensill f air. after i had the very _ about the greensill f air. after i had the very brief— about the greensill f air. after i had the very brief call— about the greensill f air. after i had the very brief call with - about the greensill f air. after i | had the very brief call with david cameron, following his reach out to me. his private office officials were aware, and they were aware of the contact and there was a readout provided. did the contact and there was a readout rovided. , , ., the contact and there was a readout rovided. , v., _ the contact and there was a readout rovided. , v., . the contact and there was a readout rovided. , . . , provided. did you say at any point to anybody _ provided. did you say at any point to anybody in _ provided. did you say at any point to anybody in the _ provided. did you say at any point to anybody in the treasury, - provided. did you say at any point| to anybody in the treasury, listen, this is— to anybody in the treasury, listen, this is david — to anybody in the treasury, listen, this is david cameron, notjust anybody— this is david cameron, notjust anybody that has got in touch, therefore _ anybody that has got in touch, therefore it is clearly an important

nratter. _ therefore it is clearly an important matter, and we need to look at this particularly — matter, and we need to look at this particularly seriously? i matter, and we need to look at this particularly seriously?— particularly seriously? i think everyone _ particularly seriously? i think everyone knows _ particularly seriously? i think everyone knows who - particularly seriously? i think everyone knows who david i particularly seriously? i think - everyone knows who david cameron is themselves, but the matter that was important as providing finance to small and medium—sized companies, and that was a matter of enormous concern to me and the department during this period, so regardless of the identity of the person talking about it, that was a strand of work that both i and the department were engaged in in any case over the summer, because it was pressing importance to the economy and to many businesses across the uk. but ou didn't many businesses across the uk. but you didn't say to anybody at any point, _ you didn't say to anybody at any point, notwithstanding what you just said about _ point, notwithstanding what you just said about the importance of the issue _ said about the importance of the issue at— said about the importance of the issue at hand, look, this is david cameron, — issue at hand, look, this is david cameron, i— issue at hand, look, this is david cameron, i would like you to look very carefully therefore at this particular issue that he has raised as a former— particular issue that he has raised as a former prime minister? we look at the issue — as a former prime minister? we look at the issue and _ as a former prime minister? we look at the issue and i _ as a former prime minister? we look at the issue and i looked _ as a former prime minister? we look at the issue and i looked at - as a former prime minister? we look at the issue and i looked at the - at the issue and i looked at the issue on the merits of it, instead

of the identity of the person talking about it, it was not relevant to the amount of attention and the amount of diligence the issue got and required a map was driven by the circumstances we were facing at the time, with a huge finance need for small and medium—sized companies, so therefore it was entirely right that we are thinking about ideas. this was one of many strands of work, probably the one we spent the least time on over this period, nevertheless it was an avenue worth exploring in the context, and it was worth doing the work and ultimately concluding that it was not one that we should take forward, whereas we did take forward various other proposals. did forward, whereas we did take forward various other proposals.— various other proposals. did any officials at _ various other proposals. did any officials at any _ various other proposals. did any officials at any stage _ various other proposals. did any officials at any stage say - various other proposals. did any officials at any stage say to - various other proposals. did any officials at any stage say to you, when _ officials at any stage say to you, when it — officials at any stage say to you, when it comes to greensill, they have _ when it comes to greensill, they have been— when it comes to greensill, they have been some issues around greensiit, _ have been some issues around greensill, some of them in the public— greensill, some of them in the public domain, some of them that have _ public domain, some of them that have come — public domain, some of them that have come through for example from a foreign _ have come through for example from a foreign regulator pointing out that

there _ foreign regulator pointing out that there were control issues at greensiti— there were control issues at greensill and the connection between gupta _ greensill and the connection between gupta and _ greensill and the connection between gupta and greensill as well, was any of that— gupta and greensill as well, was any of that discussed with you, did officiais — of that discussed with you, did officials alert you to that, do you know _ officials alert you to that, do you know this — officials alert you to that, do you know this stuff already?- officials alert you to that, do you know this stuff already? there were multi - le know this stuff already? there were multiple questions _ know this stuff already? there were multiple questions in _ know this stuff already? there were multiple questions in the _ know this stuff already? there were multiple questions in the air, - multiple questions in the air, chair, so let me take them severally. we had inbound from a foreign regulator but much later in the year, october, that was when we had come the initial inbound was not from a regulator but from a foreign finance ministry. that happened much later in the year in october, regarding greensill, so it wasn't relevant to this period. you also asked about when i first became chancellor i was away at the situation at the bank and there was a resolution process i was engaged in, as i was consulted by the bank.

but obviously that is a completely separate and distinct entity from greensill. then to your third point about general issues, we were not really aware of things that were in the public domain but were not made aware of any specific regulatory concerns about greensill from regulatory authorities at the time that we were looking at these various proposals. mr; that we were looking at these various ro osals. g , . various proposals. my understanding is that an overseas _ various proposals. my understanding is that an overseas regulator - various proposals. my understanding is that an overseas regulator did - is that an overseas regulator did raise _ is that an overseas regulator did raise issues of concern about controlled failings at greensill in february— controlled failings at greensill in february 2020. is that something you were aware _ february 2020. is that something you were aware of? not february 2020. is that something you were aware of?— were aware of? not that i can recall. were aware of? not that i can recall- the — were aware of? not that i can recall. the main _ were aware of? not that i can recall. the main regulation i l were aware of? not that i can - recall. the main regulation i have of overseas people being in touch with us was late in the year, really in october. —— is a main recognition. is in october. -- is a main recognition.— in october. -- is a main recognition. in october. -- is a main recoanition. , . . recognition. is what you are saying to ask that — recognition. is what you are saying to ask that you _ recognition. is what you are saying to ask that you were _ recognition. is what you are saying to ask that you were aware - recognition. is what you are saying to ask that you were aware of- recognition. is what you are saying i to ask that you were aware of issues around _ to ask that you were aware of issues around the _ to ask that you were aware of issues around the gupta alliance, and also issues _ around the gupta alliance, and also

issues around violence bank, but he did not— issues around violence bank, but he did not connect any of those issues in the _ did not connect any of those issues in the middle part of 2020 without any particular problems for greensill itself —— wyelands bank. what _ greensill itself —— wyelands bank. what we _ greensill itself —— wyelands bank. what we did do and the relevant information we received from the bank is passed as appropriate to named individuals in the department of business in accordance with work they were doing. you will be aware of strict confidentiality around information of this nature but we received two pieces of information from and i believe may and july, and past those appropriately to the department of business. but again, the wider issue was a distinct issue from greensill. so the wider issue was a distinct issue from greensill.—

from greensill. so would it be fair to say that. _ from greensill. so would it be fair to say that, when _ from greensill. so would it be fair to say that, when it _ from greensill. so would it be fair to say that, when it came - from greensill. so would it be fair to say that, when it came to - to say that, when it came to greensiit, _ to say that, when it came to greensill, there was nothing that you were — greensill, there was nothing that you were aware of back at that time that would — you were aware of back at that time that would have caused you to have felt that _ that would have caused you to have felt that there was a looming, major problem _ felt that there was a looming, major problem for that business coming down _ problem for that business coming down the — problem for that business coming down the track, and of course we know _ down the track, and of course we know ultimately the business collapsed? there was nothing that point _ collapsed? there was nothing that point that — collapsed? there was nothing that point that lead you to think that? that is— point that lead you to think that? that is correct. we were not aware of any specific concerns with greensill at that time from the bank or others, other than what they have told us, which was a particular financing issue, the supply chain side of it. . ~ financing issue, the supply chain side of it. . ,, , ., financing issue, the supply chain side ofit. . g , side of it. thank you. just turning to the second _ side of it. thank you. just turning to the second issue _ side of it. thank you. just turning to the second issue i _ side of it. thank you. just turning to the second issue i raised, - side of it. thank you. just turning to the second issue i raised, the l to the second issue i raised, the amount— to the second issue i raised, the amount of— to the second issue i raised, the amount of time spent looking into this, _ amount of time spent looking into this, the _ amount of time spent looking into this, the bank, as you will know, and the — this, the bank, as you will know, and the permanent secretary and second _ and the permanent secretary and second permanent secretary to the treasury. _ second permanent secretary to the treasury, when asked the question, you know. _ treasury, when asked the question, you know, did you give this the same amount— you know, did you give this the same amount of— you know, did you give this the same amount of time you would have given this ntatter— amount of time you would have given this matter had it been brought to

your attention not by a former prime minister— your attention not by a former prime minister but — your attention not by a former prime minister butjust by your attention not by a former prime minister but just by somebody else, said, minister but just by somebody else, said. well, — minister but just by somebody else, said, well, yes, we didn't give it any special— said, well, yes, we didn't give it any special treatment, we didn't spend _ any special treatment, we didn't spend any— any special treatment, we didn't spend any more time on it than otherwise — spend any more time on it than otherwise would have done so. i mean come _ otherwise would have done so. i mean come in _ otherwise would have done so. i mean come in att— otherwise would have done so. i mean come in all honesty, do you feel that is— come in all honesty, do you feel that is a — come in all honesty, do you feel that is a credible position for the treasury— that is a credible position for the treasury and the bank to be taken? you've _ treasury and the bank to be taken? you've got— treasury and the bank to be taken? you've got here a former prime minister. — you've got here a former prime minister. a _ you've got here a former prime minister, a former conservative prime _ minister, a former conservative prime minister gets in touch directiv— prime minister gets in touch directly with the current conservative check back —— chancellor of the exchequer, pitches him, chancellor of the exchequer, pitches him. and _ chancellor of the exchequer, pitches him, and other treasury —— treasury ministers. _ him, and other treasury —— treasury ministers, goes to the very top of the civil— ministers, goes to the very top of the civil service at well, at one point _ the civil service at well, at one point in — the civil service at well, at one point in early april an absolute barrage — point in early april an absolute barrage of messaging going on. is it really— barrage of messaging going on. is it really credible for us to assume that that — really credible for us to assume that that had no impact, over and above _ that that had no impact, over and above that— that that had no impact, over and above that the approach just come from _ above that the approach just come from somebody else unknown to anybody. — from somebody else unknown to anybody, without a public profile, or a political track record that david — or a political track record that david cameron has? is that really a credible _ david cameron has? is that really a

credible position to be taken? i credible position to be taken? obviously credible position to be taken? i obviously can't speak for the chair, but with regards to the treasury i would agree with the permanent secretary and the second permanent secretary and the second permanent secretary and the second permanent secretary and indeed my own view of the situation is that actually, we spent the right amount of time on their situation to get to the right answer, and, in the context of what was going on in the economy, it was absolutely right to be looking at ways to provide finance and credit and liquidity to small and medium—sized companies. and we were aware of a looming financial crisis for the sector. many members of this committee themselves raised it with me in parliament, so this was clearly an issue that needed resolution. it was an important part of the treasury, so in spite of all the attention on this particular strand of the work, what i can say is that, of all the things that i spent time on during this summer, and the same would be for the second permanent secretary as well, of all

the things that we looked at to provide finance, credit liquidity to small and medium—sized companies, this probably occupied among the least amount of our time, it was a very small amount of my time, a very small amount of charles�*s time, compared to the multiple other interventions that we pursued at this time. and if you think about it, overthis this time. and if you think about it, over this timeframe, we introduced the seagulls loan scheme introduced the seagulls loan scheme in march. in april, we essentially had sea bills 2.0, to make it work better. we also introduced the cal bill scheme in april. then in may, we upsize to the cal bill scheme, we introduced the bounce back loan scheme and the future front, and then injune we provide the trade credit insurance fund, and on top of that, we did three call for evidence is regarding financing for small and

medium companies looking at other things, which we ultimately didn't take forward, and that was just on the providing a finance for business, let alone the half a dozen other policies we had to support businesses, whether that was furlough, vat cuts, business rate cuts, vat referrals and there was an enormous amount of work going on, to support businesses, rightly, and in the area private financing this was a very small part of that. ultimately we decided not to take this forward but it was absolutely right to diligence the options in the space, not least because it had been alerted to us that this particular segment of the market may be one that required intention. indeed, the bank of governor at one of your own hearings —— required attention. the bank of england —— the bank of england governor called out this area is one of interest. so it was entirely reasonable to be looking at this pace and entirely right to spend time to diligence

proposals that might help small and medium—sized companies, but in no way was their disproportionate effort on this particular set of proposals. it comprised a small amount of our work and crucially we didn't take it forward in the end, whereas we did take forward multiple other financing schemes. whereas we did take forward multiple otherfinancing schemes. isn’t whereas we did take forward multiple other financing schemes.— other financing schemes. isn't it the sense _ other financing schemes. isn't it the sense that _ other financing schemes. isn't it the sense that he _ other financing schemes. isn't it the sense that he didn't - other financing schemes. isn't it the sense that he didn't take - other financing schemes. isn't it the sense that he didn't take it i the sense that he didn't take it forward — the sense that he didn't take it forward part of the point here, and the fact— forward part of the point here, and the fact that all these other things were going on that took a huge amount— were going on that took a huge amount of time and generated a lot of pressure — amount of time and generated a lot of pressure also part of the point, because _ of pressure also part of the point, because if— of pressure also part of the point, because if you are under a lot of pressure — because if you are under a lot of pressure and you've got a crisis, you read — pressure and you've got a crisis, you read -- _ pressure and you've got a crisis, you read —— you need to really decide — you read —— you need to really decide what you're going to invest your time — decide what you're going to invest your time in. decide what you're going to invest yourtime in. it appears decide what you're going to invest your time in. it appears that this approach — your time in. it appears that this approach from greensill, certainly the reading of it, was that it did seem _ the reading of it, was that it did seem to — the reading of it, was that it did seem to be kind of doomed from the beginning. _ seem to be kind of doomed from the beginning, and yet it went through all these _ beginning, and yet it went through all these different iterations and ended _ all these different iterations and ended up with a call for evidence. it ended up with a call for evidence. it seems — ended up with a call for evidence. it seems that, in a way, rather a lot it seems that, in a way, rather a tot of— it seems that, in a way, rather a tot of time — it seems that, in a way, rather a lot of time was spent on something that wasn't— lot of time was spent on something that wasn't going anywhere, didn't io that wasn't going anywhere, didn't go anywhere, at the same time as you are saying _ go anywhere, at the same time as you are saying quite rightly there were an awful— are saying quite rightly there were an awful lot of other things that could _ an awful lot of other things that could usefully be occupying the

senior— could usefully be occupying the senior levels of the treasury? | senior levels of the treasury? i respectfully disagree again, this was not something we spent a lot of time on. it might look like that, because there is all this attention on it, and every e—mail and everything else is available, but of all the things we did, i can't keep stressing this, and i know charles and tom say the same, this occupied and tom say the same, this occupied a very small amount of our time and the department's time during this process. it was not much consumption of our time but it was right to diligence it properly. it is all well in hindsight to say because you didn't take it for what he shouldn't have done any work on it at all, i don't think you can say that, because it is right to diligence things. the amount of time it takes is determined by the merits of each case in the context of which you are operating in, and during this period, financing for companies for something that was acutely important. as i said, many members of this committee raised it with me in parliament and in otherforums,

so it is right that we put time to this, we provided lots of different schemes in the end but that policy making process led us to explore multiple things, some of which we took forward, some of which we don't, and at the beginning of the process you don't know where you're going to end up, right? at the beginning of this, i certainly did not think i would end up doing 100% loan guarantee programme for example. when it came to larger companies, as i think you probably heard from charles earlier, there were multiple options to try and solve the financing gap to larger companies, and we looked at a ccf minus, see bill plus minus —— see bill plus option. i did not know in order charles or anyone else at the beginning that that process, where policy—making process would end up. in this particular case the answer was not to take this proposal forward and the other interventions that we put in place did work but we

didn't know that at the beginning. bounce back then was something we only created... bounce back then was something we only created- - -_ only created... chancellor, thank ou. only created... chancellor, thank you- you — only created... chancellor, thank you- you have — only created... chancellor, thank you. you have made _ only created... chancellor, thank you. you have made that - only created... chancellor, thank you. you have made that point, l only created... chancellor, thank. you. you have made that point, that is a perfectly— you. you have made that point, that is a perfectly valid point. i suppose _ is a perfectly valid point. i suppose the feeling that may be the committee has is that 0k, suppose the feeling that may be the committee has is that ok, maybe at the beginning you are right, it would — the beginning you are right, it would not _ the beginning you are right, it would not necessarily have lead somewhere, but there was a point during _ somewhere, but there was a point during that — somewhere, but there was a point during that third wave that i think the treasury has referred to it, third _ the treasury has referred to it, third wave _ the treasury has referred to it, third wave of work, is leading to the call— third wave of work, is leading to the call for— third wave of work, is leading to the call for evidence, by which time it did _ the call for evidence, by which time it did feel— the call for evidence, by which time it did feel like it was pretty much a dead _ it did feel like it was pretty much a dead horse that was promptly being .one a dead horse that was promptly being gone back— a dead horse that was promptly being gone back to you to see if something could _ gone back to you to see if something could be _ gone back to you to see if something could be made of it. but you have made _ could be made of it. but you have made your— could be made of it. but you have made your point very clearly. in the interest— made your point very clearly. in the interest of— made your point very clearly. in the interest of time where will move forward — interest of time where will move forward and i will go to emma, thank you. forward and i will go to emma, thank ou. ., ., , ., forward and i will go to emma, thank ou. . . ., forward and i will go to emma, thank ou. ., .,, ., ., ., forward and i will go to emma, thank ou. . . ., ., forward and i will go to emma, thank you. emma has had to go off to her adjournment _ you. emma has had to go off to her adjournment base, _ you. emma has had to go off to her adjournment base, i _ you. emma has had to go off to her adjournment base, i am _ you. emma has had to go off to her adjournment base, i am next - you. emma has had to go off to her adjournment base, i am next in - you. emma has had to go off to her adjournment base, i am next in the queue _ adjournment base, i am next in the queue luke — adjournment base, i am next in the queue. luke anthony. _ adjournment base, i am next in the queue. luke anthony. she - adjournment base, i am next in the queue. luke anthony. she can - adjournment base, i am next in thel queue. luke anthony. she can come back in— queue. luke anthony. she can come back in after— queue. luke anthony. she can come back in after the _ queue. luke anthony. she can come back in after the adjournment - back in after the adjournment debate —

back in after the adjournment debate. chancellor, _ back in after the adjournment debate. chancellor, i- back in after the adjournment debate. chancellor, i have . back in after the adjournment - debate. chancellor, i have questions first of— debate. chancellor, i have questions first ofall— debate. chancellor, i have questions first of all about _ debate. chancellor, i have questions first of all about the _ debate. chancellor, i have questions first of all about the lobbying - first of all about the lobbying process — first of all about the lobbying process but _ first of all about the lobbying process but then _ first of all about the lobbying process but then about - first of all about the lobbying process but then about the l first of all about the lobbying - process but then about the lessons learned. _ process but then about the lessons learned. and — process but then about the lessons learned, and the _ process but then about the lessons learned, and the question- process but then about the lessons learned, and the question about i process but then about the lessonsi learned, and the question about the lobbying _ learned, and the question about the lobbying process _ learned, and the question about the lobbying process is _ learned, and the question about the lobbying process is we _ learned, and the question about the lobbying process is we know- learned, and the question about the lobbying process is we know that . lobbying process is we know that david _ lobbying process is we know that david cameron— lobbying process is we know that david cameron sent _ lobbying process is we know that david cameron sent a _ lobbying process is we know that david cameron sent a text - lobbying process is we know that| david cameron sent a text saying lobbying process is we know that . david cameron sent a text saying he is now _ david cameron sent a text saying he is now calling — david cameron sent a text saying he is now calling the _ david cameron sent a text saying he is now calling the chancellor, - david cameron sent a text saying he is now calling the chancellor, gove,| is now calling the chancellor, gove, everyone _ is now calling the chancellor, gove, everyone in— is now calling the chancellor, gove, everyone in this _ is now calling the chancellor, gove, everyone in this marriage _ is now calling the chancellor, gove, everyone in this marriage of- everyone in this marriage of engagement— everyone in this marriage of engagement with _ everyone in this marriage of engagement with the - everyone in this marriage of- engagement with the government, everyone in this marriage of— engagement with the government, and we know— engagement with the government, and we know that _ engagement with the government, and we know that he — engagement with the government, and we know that he did _ engagement with the government, and we know that he did then _ engagement with the government, and we know that he did then do _ engagement with the government, and we know that he did then do that, - we know that he did then do that, he'd talk— we know that he did then do that, he'd talk to— we know that he did then do that, he'd talk to you _ we know that he did then do that, he'd talk to you and _ we know that he did then do that, he'd talk to you and texted - we know that he did then do that, i he'd talk to you and texted michael gove and _ he'd talk to you and texted michael gove and sheraton _ he'd talk to you and texted michael gove and sheraton westlake - he'd talk to you and texted michael gove and sheraton westlake in - he'd talk to you and texted michael- gove and sheraton westlake in number ten, gove and sheraton westlake in number ten. one _ gove and sheraton westlake in number ten. one of— gove and sheraton westlake in number ten. one ofthe— gove and sheraton westlake in number ten, one of the senior— gove and sheraton westlake in number ten, one of the senior advisers - gove and sheraton westlake in number ten, one of the senior advisers to - ten, one of the senior advisers to the prime — ten, one of the senior advisers to the prime minister. _ ten, one of the senior advisers to the prime minister. what- ten, one of the senior advisers to l the prime minister. what happened after that? — the prime minister. what happened after that? did _ the prime minister. what happened after that? did you _ the prime minister. what happened after that? did you get— the prime minister. what happened after that? did you get approachedl after that? did you get approached by cabinet — after that? did you get approached by cabinet office, _ after that? did you get approached by cabinet office, number- after that? did you get approached by cabinet office, number ten, - after that? did you get approached by cabinet office, number ten, didj by cabinet office, number ten, did it all come — by cabinet office, number ten, did it all come back _ by cabinet office, number ten, did it all come back to _ by cabinet office, number ten, did it all come back to you? _ by cabinet office, number ten, did it all come back to you?— it all come back to you? anthony, everything. _ it all come back to you? anthony, everything. my — it all come back to you? anthony, everything, my interaction - it all come back to you? anthony, everything, my interaction with i everything, my interaction with david cameron has been disclosed through the various fois david cameron has been disclosed through the various f015 and other things so the sum total of my interaction with them is in the public domain, so the text messages he spoke to your committee, my replies i already disclosed, and the two pre—phone because we already had. i two pre-phone because we already had. . two pre-phone because we already had. , ., ., had. i 'ust wonder whether other arts had. i just wonder whether other arts of had. i just wonder whether other parts of government _ had. i just wonder whether other parts of government also - had. i just wonder whether other parts of government also came l had. i just wonder whether other| parts of government also came to you. _ parts of government also came to you. michael— parts of government also came to you, michael gove _ parts of government also came to you, michael gove number- parts of government also came to you, michael gove numberten? i parts of government also came to . you, michael gove numberten? that you, michael gove number ten? that

is where we — you, michael gove number ten? that is where we will _ you, michael gove numberten? is where we will end our coverage of the treasury select committee, with the treasury select committee, with the chancellor rishi sunak answering questions there about greensill capital, which filed for insolvency in march. he, like an official before him, has told the treasury, told the select committee, that the treasury didn't spend a lot of time assessing an application from greensill for government funds, despite approach is being made on their behalf by the former prime minister david cameron. they also said that they were not aware that greensill was in trouble. in a few minutes, we will hear from the health secretary matt hancock about coronavirus, the latest situation, and about the next steps of the road map for lifting lockdown. that is in the briefing from downing street we will bring to you live at 5pm. we have also had the latest data from the department of health in the last hour, with 3542 new cases of covid—19 recorded in the last 24 hours, and ten more deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive covert

test. let's speak now to the shadow home secretary, nick thomas—symonds, whojoins us home secretary, nick thomas—symonds, who joins us now. home secretary, nick thomas—symonds, whojoins us now. mr thomas—symonds, thank you forjoining us. to what extent are you concerned that we are going backwards with covid? because we are seeing the number of cases rising again. we are seeing the number of cases rising again-— rising again. well, i think that the action that is _ rising again. well, i think that the action that is needed _ rising again. well, i think that the action that is needed by _ rising again. well, i think that the action that is needed by the - action that is needed by the government now to try to make sure that we make that 2013 —— the 21st ofjune date is first around fixing the financial support so people don't have that terrible dilemma between doing the right thing for public health and their own family's financial circumstances, but secondly, the awful situation that we've got, in terms of our borders. now, the government has been slow on board is, frankly, throughout the pandemic. it was slow to a formal quarantining system, slow to hotel quarantining. we now have this shambolic situation of the amber list, which desperately needs to be

sorted out, because of course the presence of variance is another fact of the prime minister has to take in account when looking at that 21st of june date, so the government has to act now to make sure they are in the best position on 21st ofjune. taste best position on 21st ofjune. we have 'ust best position on 21st ofjune. we have just heard france is going to ban nonessential travel from the uk from monday because of their fears about the so—called indian variant of covid. when you talk about borders, what do you mean then, because we are expecting the traffic light blessed to be reassessed on the 7th ofjune. do you think more should be added to the red list? yes, absolutely. on the indian variant, the prime minister in my view made a catastrophic error by not adding india to the red list on the 9th of april, on the same day as pakistan and bangladesh. that leaving for two weeks really was a blunder of the first magnitude, and the government has to learn the lessons. so i say now, yes, of course, we all want to see that

growing green list and growing safely, but first we need to make sure that passengers from different types of countries, whether red, amber or green are not mixing together at our airports and the government has to supply support for that, but secondly and crucially we can't have an amber list that is totally ambiguous with cabinet minister saying different things, so in my view, yes, that small green list, but that amber list should frankly be in the red list, and we should have that hotel quarantining in place on a currency basis. you talk about _ in place on a currency basis. you talk about financial _ in place on a currency basis. you talk about financial support to allow people to do the right thing for society, that's not fellow, because we are not closing businesses down again, so what do you mean? is it sick pay people need to have access to?— to have access to? yes, well, i think there _ to have access to? yes, well, i think there are _ to have access to? yes, well, i think there are a _ to have access to? yes, well, i think there are a number- to have access to? yes, well, i think there are a number of. to have access to? yes, well, i - think there are a number of things, firstly the whole issue of the self—employed, who seem to me to be the forgotten people of the pandemic by this government, of course don't get the same level of support as those who are employed. specifically of course on self—isolation, yes, it is the level of sick pay, our level

of sick pay is among the very lowest in europe, if you compare it to sick pay in other countries, second, trying to make that one off £500 payment available too, so you've got, hence of coverage, that's the point, it's making sure that whatever people's circumstances are, they are not facing that awful dilemma of doing the best by their families all the best by public health. ., .., . . families all the best by public health. ., . . . health. how concerned are you that followin: health. how concerned are you that following what _ health. how concerned are you that following what dominic _ health. how concerned are you that following what dominic cummings i health. how concerned are you that. following what dominic cummings said about the health secretary yesterday, saying he should have been sacked on 15 to 20 occasions because he hasn't told the truth to the public or in private, that whatever he says from now on, and today we are expecting to hear from him at five o'clock, there will be a lack of trust in what he says? this is an extraordinarily _ lack of trust in what he says? try 3 is an extraordinarily serious set of allegations against the health secretary, that he misled colleagues with regard to personal protective

equipment. of course, hundreds of our nhs front line and indeed social care front line died because of that lack of personal protective equipment, and secondly, is said to have misled colleagues in cabinet even, it seems, listening to mr cummings, about patients being discharged from hospital into care homes without testing, and we know that thousands of people died in our care homes, so these are allegations of the utmost seriousness, and that is why now we have to get to the bottom of this urgently. mr cummings said yesterday at the joint committee meeting that he would be providing that evidence, now we need to look at that extremely carefully, because if those allegations were found against the health secretary, they are of the gravest consequence was that of they are of the gravest consequence was that ., .., , they are of the gravest consequence wastha. ., , they are of the gravest consequence wastha., , . they are of the gravest consequence wastha. , . was that of course, matt hancock has said there is — was that of course, matt hancock has said there is no _ was that of course, matt hancock has said there is no truth _ was that of course, matt hancock has said there is no truth in _ was that of course, matt hancock has said there is no truth in those - said there is no truth in those allegations and we have to wait for the public enquiry to hear more far—reaching evidence. but thank you

very much indeed for talking to us, nick thomas—symonds, mp. dominic cummings�*s evidence included some scathing criticism of the home secretary. leila natalie was at westminster. we are expecting to hear from the health secretary today. he will want to be talking about the road map, what happens in the next few weeks, but he is bound to face questions about that explosive testimony from dominic cummings yesterday.— explosive testimony from dominic cummings yesterday. yes, certainly. we have already _ cummings yesterday. yes, certainly. we have already had _ cummings yesterday. yes, certainly. we have already had a _ cummings yesterday. yes, certainly. we have already had a flavour - cummings yesterday. yes, certainly. we have already had a flavour of - we have already had a flavour of what matt hancock is going to say, because he was up in the commons earlier, labourforced an urgent question in the commons to try to ask about those claims from dominic cummings, trying to ask him specifically about the claims dominic cummings made about the government's approach towards care homes, in particular, ppe and the testing regime, but matt hancock was

quite resistant to getting drawn into the detail of the claims made by dominic cummings, basically saying that, look, unprecedented times led to unprecedented challenges, and he rejected what he called unsubstantiated allegations around honesty. so he wanted to refute what dominic cummings said but did not want to get drawn into the detail, labour as you are hearing saying, look, there are still serious questions to answer. matt hancock clear that he wants to focus, as he sees it, on still guiding the uk through the rest of the pandemic, ensuring the vaccine roll—out is completed. he had a message earlier for people, roll—out is completed. he had a message earlierfor people, again urging people to get their second jab if they haven't already, pointing towards evidence in bolton that showed that people with covid in hospital at the moment in bolton were those who had not had two doses of the vaccination, and i'm sure he will keen to trumpet the pace of the vaccine roll—out and likely talk about what the situation is, as we

have seen a slight rise in case numbers. but yes, there are still questions for the health secretary matt hancock, and the prime minister too, who was also keen to try to draw a line under it. i think the approach from government is they want to push their official response to the detail back if you like to the public enquiry next spring. matt hancock will appear before mps at the same select committee and a couple of weeks' time, but for now, they are not engaging with all that seven hours worth of detail that we heard from dominic cummings yesterday. heard from dominic cummings yesterday-— yesterday. the prime minister accused yesterday _ yesterday. the prime minister accused yesterday by - yesterday. the prime minister accused yesterday by dominic| accused yesterday by dominic cummings of being chaotic, of not having a plan, of delaying constantly, but today the prime minister was saying, look, we've got to wait and see whether we can lift restrictions further in england on zist restrictions further in england on 21st ofjune, it depends on the data. so maybe we'll have more reference to that from matt hancock today as well?— today as well? absolutely, this is the pressing _ today as well? absolutely, this is the pressing question _ today as well? absolutely, this is the pressing question for - today as well? absolutely, this is the pressing question for the - the pressing question for the government that they have been

waiting to see what the data will show about the spread of the variant of coronavirus first identified in india. you heard matt hancock saying, look, we will have to wait and see as well, we need more time to assess the impact of it. certainly the prime minister has been saying up until now that he has seen no evidence to suggest there would be to be any deviation from the road map, so the planned full reopening on the 21st ofjune. but today we heard him say, well, we may need to wait, but i think ministers will point you to the fact that they had already accounted for a big period between the last stage of the reopening and the proposed final stage of reopening, precisely to be able to assess the data as it goes on. certainly they will be watching closely whether this uptick in case numbers translates into hospitalisations, and the number of deaths going up as well. i think so far the signs are encouraging, they think, but certainly there are scientists, some scientists sounding a note of caution. but i think the

message we are getting is that, look, wejust message we are getting is that, look, we just need a message we are getting is that, look, wejust need a bit more message we are getting is that, look, we just need a bit more time to assess the data but i'm sure matt hancock will have some more to say about that, in particular in terms of the experience of areas that are being hit hard by this variant, like bolton. . ., ., . ,, bolton. leila, for the moment, thank ou ve bolton. leila, for the moment, thank you very much- _ bolton. leila, for the moment, thank you very much- we — bolton. leila, for the moment, thank you very much. we will— bolton. leila, for the moment, thank you very much. we will be _ bolton. leila, for the moment, thank you very much. we will be taking - you very much. we will be taking that press conference with matt hancock here on the bbc news channel. taking us there, the weather. today is a taste of what is a taste for the bank holiday weekend with increasing amounts of sunshine. it's going to feel warmer than of late. for today as well, many places staying dry with plenty of sunshine. the cloud building up a little bit across eastern parts of england and eastern scotland and that could squeeze out the odd shower but they will be isolated. most m ost pla ces most places will be dry. this new weatherfrom pushing into the far west will bring figure clout in northern ireland and the far south—west later but those temperatures responding

with all the sunshine. 20 or 21 degrees across the south, and a bit warmer north as well. as we head through overnight a weather front starts to push eastwards so it will be quite across northern ireland and western parts during the code of the night. further east it will stay dry. with more cloud around its going to be a milder night. for friday we have got this weather front pushing into high—pressure so it will fizzle out as we go through the day. it's going to bring a much cloudier day than what we have today with patchy rain in western scotland and northern ireland. the best of the dry weather and brighter weather will be in northern and eastern areas. but where we get any sunshine it is likely to spark off the odd heavy shower. the odd heavy shower. temperatures a degree or so down because of more cloud. for the bank holiday weekend, high—pressure dominates so we will see some sunshine and it's going to feel much warmer as well. saturday will be variable amounts of cloud and some sunny spells, maybe the odd shower,

but many places will be dry and winds will be like. and winds will be light. the temperatures a little bit higher than friday. into sunday and it looks even better, less cloud around and we should see more sunshine, light winds too, so it's going to feel warmer and we could see the cloud building across the north west of scotland into parts of northern ireland later on in the day. but look at those temperatures, 20 celsius across parts of scotland, 21 or 22—23 degrees across parts of england and wales. we could see more cloud on bank holiday monday but further south it stays warmer and sunnier. and indeed for the first week of june.

this is bbc news. the headlines. borisjohnson denies claims made by dominic cummings, that the poor handing of the coronavirus pandemic led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people. at every stage, we've been governed by a determination to protect life, to save life, to ensure that our nhs is not overwhelmed. the health secretary also defends claims against him from mr cummings, who said he is a liar and should have been sacked. these unsubstantiated allegations around honesty are not true, and that i've been straight with people in public and in private throughout.

the prime minister says that he will be examining the data on easing of restrictions in england onjune 21st.