this is bbc news. the headlines this morning. britain's worst maternity care scandal 7 an investigation finds that more than 200 babies might have survived if they had received proper care at the shrewsbury and telford trust in shropshire one mother tells the bbc that her baby boy — jack — died when he was just 11 hours old... and i said, well, is that it? you don't know why he's died? and then they said, well, we don't know what else to tell you. and i was like, well, i want a postmortem because a babyjust doesn'tjust die. and shortly, we'll take you live to the press conference chaired by the head of the inquiry, donna ockenden, where she will outline the findings of the review. russia says it will drastically reduce military activity in parts of ukraine —

but ukraine's president says he'lljudge russia by its actions, not its words. and the met police says more fines could be issued on top of the 20 already announced, as part of the investigation into downing street parties that broke covid rules. a report into the largest maternity scandal ever seen in the nhs is expected to reveal serious failings in the care of hundreds of women and babies when it's published shortly. the five—year inquiry will conclude that 201 babies might have survived — if better maternity support had been provided by shrewsbury and telford hospital trust.

dozens of other children and mothers sustained life changing injuries as a result of the failure to provide proper treatment. the majority of cases cover a period of nearly two decades — between 2000 and 2019. we can go to the press conference. my we can go to the press conference. my name is donna 0ckenden and we can go to the press conference. my name is donna 0ckenden and i we can go to the press conference. my name is donna 0ckenden and i am the chair of this independent review. before we start formally today, i would like to pay tribute today, i would like to pay tribute to the families whose voices and stories are central to this review of maternity services. what happened to you and your families, of maternity services. what happened to you and yourfamilies, your babies, your wives, your daughters, your sisters, and your partners, really matters. and those experiences will ensure safe maternity care for all going

forward. leading this maternity review has been the biggest privilege of my life. it will remain with me forever and i would like to thank all of the families for the trust that they have put in my team and myself. my the families have asked me to thank the many journalists gathered here today, they have told me how important a role many of you have played in getting their voices and stories heard. they have asked me to thank you all for your professionalism and your kindness. they have told me that some of you cried along with them on hearing the accounts of what happened to them. your support has been so important to them and thank you on behalf of the families. in the circumstances and in this place, there are families who have bravely decided to attend, and i know that you will understand that they have a

reasonable expectation of privacy. may i ask all of you as journalists, particularly as far as photography is concerned, to please wait to be approached by families. thank you so much for understanding. i also want to pay tribute to my wonderful clinical review team. since the review started, we have had more than 90 midwives and doctors working within the review ensuring that the report you read to date is underpinned by hundreds of years of combined midwifery and medical expertise in delivering safe maternity care. thank you. the last two years have been the toughest in memory for our nhs. at a time when the pressures of covid—i9 have been unrelenting and teams including maternity teams have been stretched beyond all expectation. maternity services along with other nhs

colleagues tell me they are exhausted. 0ur nhs has endeavoured to give of its very best, looking at how it can deliver services in new ways to provide the best quality care for its patients. we are right to be proud of the nhs and staff, they have given so much of themselves over this time. today, i am here to describe a different scenario. i am am here to describe a different scenario. iam here am here to describe a different scenario. i am here to talk to you about the shrewsbury and telford hospital nhs trust, it crossed his maternity services failed both families across shropshire and sometimes their own staff over a prolonged period of time. this final report follows on from our first report follows on from our first report which was published in december 2020. report which was published in december2020. in report which was published in december 2020. in the first report we outlined the local actions for learning and immediate and essential actions to be implemented at the trust and across the wider maternity

system in england. this second and final report builds upon our first report. all the local actions aren't immediately essential actions that then our first report remain important must be progressed. for the second report, my independent maternity review team have identified a number of new themes which we believe must now be shared across all maternity services in england as a matter of urgency to bring about essential change which will in turn improve safety. from our review of all cases that make up this final report, we identified four key pillars to drive forward improvements in maternity services at shrewsbury and telford hospital nhs trust and all of the trust across england. these are safe staffing levels properly funded, a well—trained workforce, learning from incidents and listening to

families. whilst progress has been made on some of these areas, there must now be a fully funded and then a concerted effort by all nhs trusts across england to ensure these four pillars are the foundation, road map and the blueprint of all maternity services going forward. since the publication of our first report, the government has introduced a range of measures and invested very significantly in maternity and neonatal services across the country. this includes £127 million of funding announced last week. much of funding announced last week. much of this funding is for workforce expansion, improving training, and improving culture in maternity services. nhs providers are cited in the recent health select committee report has estimated the cost of full expansion of maternity services workforce to be between and 350 million of which is significantly

more than has been committed. we, the independent maternity review team fully endorse and support this view. 0urfinal report team fully endorse and support this view. our final report spans the period from 2000 to 2019. however, we are deeply concerned that families continue to contact the review team in 2020, and 2021, raising concerns about the safety of maternity care they have received at the shrewsbury and telford hospital nhs trust. some of these recent families contacted us with reports they wanted to share with us. we have not been able to include them fully within the review, but what we have seen is that the themes within the report seemed to echo concerns we have previously seen during this review. seeing these repeated teams as a cause for grave concern. it is clear that there are a number of areas of maternity care with the shrewsbury and telford hospital nhs

trust still has significant learning to undertake. as you may know, this review was commissioned by nhs improvement at the request of the then secretary of state for health and social care, jeremy hunt mp in 2017. the number of cases within this review grew from 23 to more than 1000 families. it has previously been reported that this review was considering 1862 family cases. however, after removing duplication of recording and excluding cases where they were unavailable hospital records or we could not get family consent for participation, the final number of families now included as 1486. some families now included as 1486. some families had multiple clinical incidents, therefore a total of 1592 clinical incidents involving mothers

and babies have been reviewed. this includes an early case from 1973 and the latest case from 2020. we now know that this is a trust that failed to investigate, failed to learn, and failed to improve. graded as having significant, category two, or major concerns, category two, or major concerns, category three, in the maternity care provided. when reviewing the stillbirth and neonatal deaths in the time period 2011 to 2019, the

review team found that 40% of the stillbirth reviewed by us did not have a trust investigation. in the same period, 43% of the neonatal deaths reviewed by us had not had a trust investigation. you will all know that without investigation, we cannot understand what may have gone wrong and we cannot learn. without learning, we cannot improve maternity care for the future. i would now like to talk you through a timeline of some events and clearly this is described in greater detail in the report. today, and with permission of our parents, i would first like to tell you about 0livia, who died shortly after her birth in 2002. her mother repeatedly tried to raise concerns about feelings at the

trust, hoping someone would do something. fouryears trust, hoping someone would do something. four years after her death in 2006, her mother went on the this morning show, she told me that over all those years raising concerns, she felt like a lone voice in the wind. at the same time as 0livia's mother was appearing on television, otherfamily 0livia's mother was appearing on television, other family suffered the death of their babies and only then did the health care commission review the trust. it failed to take the necessary action. this was a missed opportunity for the trust to learn. the external scrutiny of the trust had clearly failed and this is a theme that has been repeated again and again over many years. so many parents have told us they try to raise concerns but they were not listened to. through the tremendous

achievements of richard stanton and colin griffiths following the death of their daughters, kate and pippa, kate in 2009 and pepper and 2016, the required scrutiny has now taken place. the voices of families are now finally being heard. 0ur place. the voices of families are now finally being heard. our team want to highlight that in the eight months before baby kate died, there were two other incidents at the trust where babies also lost their lives. these babies have been named in a report and will be named today with the permission of their parents. they were called joshua and thomas. in the case of babyjoshua in 2008, almost identical mistakes were made in his mother's care and in his care as those that were made in his care as those that were made in the care and treatment of baby kate and her mother. with baby thomas in 2009, there were gross failings in the care provided. and

yet the trust did not tell the truth to the family. the review team is particularly concerned by the lack of transparency internally within the trust as well as the lack of honesty and transparency —— transparency shown to families. this is more concerning when it is clear that major issues of safety were apparent in midwifery led unit and consultant settings during the period leading up to the birth and death of kate and the birth and death of kate and the birth and death of babyjoshua and baby thomas. unfortunately, these cases were not isolated incidents and through the timespan of our review we have found repeated errors and care which lead to injury to either mothers their babies. we have fully reviewed the cases of 12 mothers who lost their lives giving birth at the trust. 75% of the cases of maternal

death have been greeted by our team as category two and three with significant or major concerns in the care provided. unfortunately, and over all, our report describes that a significant number of mothers and babies received care well below the standard expected and there is continued throughout the whole period of the review. the review team has found evidence of significant underreporting and cases that should have been investigated and were not. during the period this review looks at, we are aware of eight external bodies who inspected, visited, assessed the trust. there is also trust the significant problems and whilst independent and external reports often indicated that the maternity should improve its governance and investigatory procedures, this did not happen. the trust was of the belief that its

maternity services were good. they were wrong. the trust executive team and board had continual change and churn over the period of this review. with multiple different board chairs and chief executives over the time period be considered. this constant change led to an inability to deserve deliver service improvement, the trust board did not have oversight and did not have a full understanding of the issues and concerns within the maternity services. this resulted in a lack of strategic direction, no effective change or development of accountable implementation plans. 0ur implementation plans. our consideration of clinical governance processes and documents at the trust has shown that investigatory processes were not followed to a standard that would have been expected for the particular time the incident occurred. unfortunately,

the review believes failings have persisted in some investigations as late as 2019 and the cases we considered as part of this review. although independent and external reports consistently indicated that the maternity service should improve its procedures, governance and investigatory, this message was lost investigatory, this message was lost in the trust which was struggling with other concerns. this meant the consistently throughout the review period, lessons were not learnt, mistakes and care were repeated and the safety of mothers and babies was unnecessarily compromised as a result. we spoke to staff members at the trust and documentary evidence also considered by the review team showed us that following serious incidents, there would be no follow—up from recommendations made. 0ne staff member told us this was not just the 0ne staff member told us this was notjust the maternity unit in chaos and under pressure, that was a whole

organisation where it was difficult to find an area which was not under pressure. another member of staff told us there was a republic of maternity wear often the maternity service seem to consume its own smoke and did not like having oversight by the corporate team. we are very concerned that in very recent weeks, staff currently working at the trust have contacted the review team to express their concern about maternity services at the trust in the here and now. staff have described to us that they were frightened to speak to the maternity review team and were advised by trust managers not to participate in the staff voices initiative. 0ne staff member said to us, and this is a message for the families, i am sorry and i know that sorry is not enough. by engaging with this review, we hope that our voices will

finally be acknowledged and that change will happen so that there are robust and independent places for clinicians to speak out that acknowledge what we are saying, what needs changing and that we act on this without fearing reprisals. another said to us very recently, and by very recently i mean march 2022, if i could say anything to the families it would be that they were people who try to make changes, we try to escalate our concerns and be heard, but every process we used was set up not to acknowledge our voices or the problems we were highlighting. we were ignored and made out to be the problem but ultimately we failed to make ourselves heard. i am now going to turn to page 184 in the report because i would like to share with you a couple of things that staff have told us in recent weeks. in

fact, this was added to the report in the final days before printing. section 1.32 will tell you, staff members describe the cleat on the labour ward at the trust with the culture of undermining and bullying. staff members describe they were negatively and seriously affected their mental health. 0ther negatively and seriously affected their mental health. other staff members describe the behaviour on the labour ward was so bad that they had difficulty finishing their shifts and cried secretly whilst at work. the staff declined for their direct quotes to be used because they were fearful of being identified. section 1.35 on page 184, a current staff member and maternity services at the trust spoke to the review team in early 2022, describe themselves as fearful to do so. the staff member said i really had to think very carefully about approaching staff voices when

we were told not to speak out, but i will do it and take the consequences because it has the right thing to do. i am clear that there is no support for those that speak up. the trust has more than 60 local actions for learning arising from this final report. our review team examined every area of maternity care at the trust including antenatal, labour, postnatal, neonatal, mothers who have died and obstetric anaesthesia and find that improvements were needed for staffing levels, training, investigation and learning as well as listening to families. in addition we have actions for governance for maternity services at the trust as well as how it supports families, particularly the bereaved. in addition, they must improve how they support its own staff and shows that staff can raise concerns

without fear of reprisals. the trust must also ensure they continue to make progress on the local actions for learning and immediately essential actions from the first report. this is a trust with a significant amount of work to do to continually improve the safety of maternity care with their own staff coming forward in the last few weeks to tell me they wanted an assurance that the trust would still be monitored very closely and that in the words of a current member of staff, the trust must show real evidence of change, notjust say in the previous they have changed. some of the key local actions for learning, and they are included in more detail in the report, incidents must be graded appropriately with a level of harm recorded as the level of harm the patient actually suffered. correct investigation process in procedures and

terminology must be used in line with the relevant nhs serious incident free mark. all investigations must be undertaken by multi—professional team of investigators and never by one individual or a single profession. in view of the relatively high number of direct maternal deaths, the trust current man multidisciplinary team training for common obstetric emergencies must be reviewed in partnership with a neighbouring tertiary unit to ensure the training is fit for purpose. the trust must adopt a consistent and systematic approach to risk assessment at booking and throughout pregnancy to ensure women are supported effectively and referred to specialist services where required. all clinicians at the trust must work towards establishing a compassionate culture, where staff learn together rather than apportioning blame. staff must be encouraged to speak out when they

have concerns about care. can i stress, these are not nice to have or may be, these are must do. it is recognised that many of the issues highlighted in this report are not unique to shrewsbury and telford hospital nhs trust and had been highlighted in national reports into maternity services in recent years. this is why the review team has also identified 15 immediately essential actions which must be implemented by all trusts in england providing maternity services. these are focused on workforce funding, planning and sustainability, safe staffing, escalation and accountability, leadership, investigation of incidents and complaint handling, learning from the deaths of mothers, multidisciplinary training, complex antenatal care, preterm labour and birth term, obstetric anaesthesia,

postnatal care, bereavement care, neonatal care, and supporting families. what is essential is that the process of investigation learning and service change for maternity incidents is independently chaired and changes must be introduced into clinical practice within six months of an incident occurring. no longer should families have to chase for the results of investigations. that is not yourjob to do. there must be a reasonable timeframe on learning and practice change when clinical incidents occur. it is absolutely clear that there is an urgent need for a robust unfunded england white maternity workforce plan starting right now without delay and continuing over multiple years. this is essential to address the present and future requirements for midwives, obstetricians, anaesthetists, neonatal teams and equipment and all

the associated staff working in and around maternity services. without this very significant multi—year investment, maternity services cannot provide safe and effective care for women and babies. this plan must also focus on significantly reducing the attrition of midwives and doctors, those who leave, since increases in workforce numbers are of limited use if those already within the workforce continue to leave. this is best explained as you cannot fill a bath without the plug. if midwives and doctors continue to leave and maternity services and we do not improve working conditions for maternity teams, there is very little benefit in continuing recruiting more staff. to harness the learning from this report and bring together other learnings from across the maternity system, a working group, independent of the maternity transformation programme that has joint royal college leadership including midwives and

obstetrics and anaesthetist, the obstetrics and anaesthetist, the obstetric anaesthetists association plus paediatrics and child health must now be set up. the remit of this group must be to guide the maternity transformation programme around implementation of our immediate and essential actions and the recommendations of the reports currently being prepared. this investment and work must be progressed at pace and continued for as long as necessary to ensure no other family experiences the many tragedies described in our report. 0nly tragedies described in our report. only with the robustly funded well staffed and well—trained workforce can families and government be able to expect consistent delivery of safe and maternity care locally and across england. thank you for listening to me today. thank you.

donor opened in, the midwife who has spent the past five years along with her team reviewing maternity care at shrewsbury and telford hospital trust and as you will have heard from what she had to say, found it lacking. her review found that the deaths of 201 babies may have been avoided with better maternity care, better maternity support. she has set out quite a long list, at the very beginning of the news conference she talked about the four key areas to deal with, safe staffing levels, well funded, a well—trained workforce, learning from incidents investigated by

the neonatal deaths investigated by her team had not been investigated by the trust. of the 12 mothers who died in the period under investigation, 75%, so nine of those

mothers, raised significant or major concerns over the care provided, so 12 of the mothers who died, there were significant or major concerns over the care provided to them. we have heard from the health secretary, who says... donna 0ckenden's report... 0ur correspondent rob sissons has been listening to the news conference with donna 0ckenden. what she said painted a picture of some really harrowing stories, families

who have lost babies, lost mothers. she began by paying tribute to families, because it was thanks to the tenacity of some of the parents affected that all of this came to light, wasn't it?— affected that all of this came to light, wasn't it? yes, you are left wondering _ light, wasn't it? yes, you are left wondering if _ light, wasn't it? yes, you are left wondering if the _ light, wasn't it? yes, you are left wondering if the two _ light, wasn't it? yes, you are left wondering if the two families - light, wasn't it? yes, you are left| wondering if the two families who really got the ball running with this, they both lost baby girls a few years apart, and they started digging, they trusted their instincts that things had gone catastrophically badly for them, and they realised that the trust was lacking in so many areas. they started digging for more cases and they got 21 together, 23, including those two that campaigned, and went to the then health secretaryjeremy hunt and got this investigation going. priorto hunt and got this investigation going. prior to that, there had been investigations, but they had been in—house. this was the trust

investigating itself. and, as we heard in donna 0ckenden, the midwife leading the review, in her evidence and conclusionsjust leading the review, in her evidence and conclusions just now, leading the review, in her evidence and conclusionsjust now, a lot of them were downgraded, and not taken seriously as they should have been. so, the risk is, were it not for these two families, would be still be looking at a situation where this still going on? i think worrying any evidence that we heard as well, the conclusion of this review, was the idea that there are still people facing problems that chime with the themes earlier on, and you heard donna 0ckenden spell out that she doesn't have full confidence in the trust at the moment, to put it mildly. that they are lacking in quite a few ways, and that there are still significant work to do. she also set out come of course, that there are much wider ramifications for maternity services across england. for maternity services across en . land. ,, for maternity services across encland. ,, ,., ., for maternity services across encland. ,, ., ., , ., england. she said that a member of staff had told _ england. she said that a member of staff had told the _ england. she said that a member of staff had told the review _ england. she said that a member of

staff had told the review very - staff had told the review very recently that they wanted to see real evidence of change in the trust, notjust the trust real evidence of change in the trust, not just the trust saying that they had changed, in interviews with the media. and she talked about 60 local actions for learning, plus actions for governance, and how these must be shared across all maternity services in england as a matter of urgency. i know it is very early days, the news conference has just happened, but do you think that the parents affected here will believe that this will make a difference? do they feel this is going to stop other families going through what they have gone through? well, imagine the trauma, and i don't think many of us can, the trauma of losing a baby, the lifelong agony of that and the shattered dream. some people traumatised by that were not able to fully cooperate with the review, for

understandable reasons, given the trauma they have gone through. 0thers wanted to find the courage to speak up. why? well, to find answers. there are some today. but also to try to make this a defining moment in the history of maternity services. and stu try to affect a genuine change that improves the safety. we heard in the press conference that donna 0ckenden's view is that it is going to take much more money than the government has already pledged. but it wasn't just about money. it was about a culture of distrust. for quite a while they were lauded for shying away from cesarean sections, sometimes with catastrophic results. there had been a fixation, almost, i will use that word, with using cesarean sections as a last resort.

they were praised for that. at the same time as their cesarean section rates were really low, part of the period under investigation, their death rate was 10% higher than other comparable trusts for maternity and neonatal care. so, it is another example, i guess, neonatal care. so, it is another example, iguess, how neonatal care. so, it is another example, i guess, how this wasn't examined properly.— example, i guess, how this wasn't examined properly. yes. what you're hittinu examined properly. yes. what you're hittin: on examined properly. yes. what you're hitting on is — examined properly. yes. what you're hitting on is that _ examined properly. yes. what you're hitting on is that there _ examined properly. yes. what you're hitting on is that there are _ examined properly. yes. what you're hitting on is that there are so - examined properly. yes. what you're hitting on is that there are so many l hitting on is that there are so many strands to this. no wonder it has taken five years, not helped by the covid pandemic. that was delayed things. but the cesarean section things. but the cesarean section thing is interesting to stop historically, around 20 years ago there was a target reduce cesarean sections. and this trust went along with that. it was lauded for its progress that it made, and it attracted staff who had that same outlook as well. and so that became a bit of a vicious circle. what are the donna 0ckenden review is saying

is that women's voices need to be heard. women were not heard. they were sometimes made to blame. they were sometimes made to blame. they were also, many of them, left with guilt. the review heard from partners, men who said that they felt so guilty, powerless to protect their partner at a time, the most vulnerable time of their life. of course, donna 0ckenden said that the guilt was not theirs to carry, but i'm not sure that would stop them feeling that way, given the trauma they have endured.— feeling that way, given the trauma they have endured. finally, for the moment, they have endured. finally, for the moment. in _ they have endured. finally, for the moment, in terms _ they have endured. finally, for the moment, in terms of— they have endured. finally, for the moment, in terms of the _ they have endured. finally, for the l moment, in terms of the leadership, the governance of the trust, have there been major changes, significant changes in the period we are talking about? what are they saying? what is the trust saying right now in response to all of this? , ., ., ., , this? the trust are going to be aaivin a this? the trust are going to be giving a news _ this? the trust are going to be giving a news conference - this? the trust are going to be giving a news conference later| this? the trust are going to be - giving a news conference later this afternoon, where we should hear more about what they think about this report. they have, in the past,

offered an apology for what has happened. as we heard, it has taken a long time to come, this. for years, there has been denial, there has been investigations not properly carried out and dismissed, not even carried out and dismissed, not even carried out. and so, you know, there has also been ten changes of chief executive in 20 years. not stable management at all. which is another one of the strands of this shocking story. one of the strands of this shocking sto . ., , ., ~ one of the strands of this shocking sto. .,�* , one of the strands of this shocking sto. ,mg, , , story. rob, thank you very much, rob sissons after — story. rob, thank you very much, rob sissons after the _ story. rob, thank you very much, rob sissons after the news _ story. rob, thank you very much, rob sissons after the news conference - story. rob, thank you very much, rob sissons after the news conference on | sissons after the news conference on failings in maternity care at the shrewsbury and telford hospital trust between 2000 and 2019. if you have been affected by this news, details of organisations offering information and support are available. bbc.co.uk/actionline, or you can call for free, at any time to hear recorded information on 0800 077 077.

we will return to that story a little later. there appears to be a glimmer of hope following peace talks between russia and ukraine. the negotiations — in istanbul — were the first in two weeks. ukraine confirmed it was prepared to be a neutral country and abandon ambitions to join the nato military alliance. for its part, moscow announced what sounds like a change of military strategy saying its troops will drastically reduce their operations around the ukrainian capital kyiv. but ukraine's president zelensky says he'lljudge russia by concrete results. jon donnison has the latest. gunfire. if there are finally small hints of optimism in ukraine, it doesn't feel that way on the roads outside kyiv. here, the damage has been done. in this village, ukrainian soldiers are on the ground, having just retaken it from the russians, part of a pushback that may have forced a shift in tactics from moscow.

translation: i'm | fighting for my land. you know, no matter where i go, i am coming back home, and i always have this feeling, i'm back home now. after more than a month of fighting, many are weary. but for ukraine's president, progress in peace talks does not mean it is time to relax. translation: yes, we can call. positive the signals we hear from the negotiating platform. but these signals do not silence the explosion of the russian shells. of course we see all the risks. of course we see no reason to trust the words of certain representatives of a state that continues to fight for our destruction. ukrainians are not naive people. until now, the strategically important northern city of chernihiv has also been a target of the russians. but ukrainian and american officials are warning that moscow's pledge

to scale back its operation here, as well as around the capital kyiv, could just be a tactic designed to mislead. there's certainly no let up in russia's assault in the south—east. at least 12 people were killed yesterday in this strike on ukrainian government building. new satellite images show the extent of the damage in mariupol, still besieged by russian forces. the war, which has forced more than 10 million people from their homes, is far from over. jon donnison, bbc news. 0ur correspondentjonah fisher is in lviv in western ukraine. he's been explaining whether there's any chance of russia's words turning into actions. there was a ukrainian ministry of defence statement out overnight, which had suggested they had also seen some signs of this withdrawal from north of kyiv, and also around the city of

chernihiv. they didn't see this as a generous pull—back, it was more likely russia rotating forces, deploying them elsewhere, mostly to eastern ukraine. from the ukrainian side, there is a feeling that this statement about drastically reducing operations around kyiv is simply a reflection of the reality on the ground we have seen for the last few weeks, basically that russia has been getting nowhere in terms of advancing around ukraine's capital, in the last few days the russian forces around kyiv have lost territory. from a ukrainian point of view, this doesn't really feel like much of a concession, it is more of a tactical move from the russians. the un refugee agency says that more than four million people have now fled ukraine since russia launched its war on february 24. most of those refugees have gone to poland, but hundreds of thousands of people have also crossed the borders

into neighbouring countries hungary, moldova, slovakia and romania. we are seeing that there have been 28,300 applications received under the homes for ukraine scheme. people offering a place to stay, a home for a refugee from ukraine. 28,300 applications received under the homes for ukraine scheme, those are the latest figures. police say more fines could be issued as part of the investigation in to rule—breaking government parties held during lockdown. 20 fines have been have been handed out so far — with 12 gatherings being investigated. number ten said it would announce if the prime minister was among those issued with a fixed penalty notice. 0pposition parties are calling for borisjohnson to stand down over the parties. with the latest

from westminster — here's our chief political correspondent adam fleming. it has definitely upped the ante on the story because before we had reports of parties that broke lockdown rules in place in england at the time, lots of public anger as a result, then an investigation by a senior civil servant which accepted there had been failures ofjudgment and leadership but could not tell the whole story because there was a police investigation. and now we have the police confirming that crimes were committed, rules were broken, so i think that takes this story to another level. having said that, the government's response here in the uk has been pretty low—key. yesterday the prime minister's official spokesperson in a regular briefing forjournalists would not even accept the issuing of the fines meant that crimes had been broken. we may never know the identity of the people who get these fines, because the government policy is only that they will confirm if the prime minister gets one

and belatedly they have said if the country's most senior civil servant gets one. but policy is not to name anyone below that level or ask them as employees if they have received a fine. it could remain shrouded in mystery for a while yet. it could rumble on because the metropolitan police force had said they will continue to investigate the evidence and this is potentially the first batch of these fines. once the investigation draws to a close, whenever that is, we will get the final report from the civil servant sue gray who will spell out in much more detail over what happened in a series of events in 2020 and 2021. also, there's potentialfor people who received these fines to challenge them in court so this could absolutely not be the last word in this matter. a conservative mp says he's been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and announced he wants to be trans. jamie wallace who's the member of parliament for bridgend, made the announcement online. he said...

the prime minister borisjohnson said mr wallis had immense courage. the headlines on bbc news... an investigation finds that more than 200 babies might have survived if they had received proper care at the shrewsbury and telford trust in shropshire. russia says it will drastically reduce military activity in parts of ukraine — but ukraine's president says he'lljudge russia by its actions, not its words. and the met police says more fines could be issued on top of the 20 already announced, as part of the investigation into downing street parties that broke covid rules. a long—running survey of the public�*s attitude towards the health service has found that satisfaction with it has fallen to the lowest level in 25 years.

the british social attitudes poll, seen as the gold standard measure of public opinion, found 36% of the 3,100 asked were satisfied in 2021. that is a drop from 53% the year before — the largest fall in a single year. long waits for gp care and hospital services, as well as a lack of staff, were people's main concerns. unions have said the decision to end free hospital parking for nhs staff in england on friday is a "sickjoke". the measure was introduced during the pandemic because many workers were trying to avoid public transport — and it's cost £130 million over the past two years. ministers said the vast majority of hospital trusts would continue to offer free spaces for those staff who were most in need, such as nightshift workers. campaigners are urging the government to rethink proposed changes to social care funding — which would require disabled people to pay up to £85,000

towards their own care over their life time. ministers have defended the plans as fair, but critics say it could leave some people without protection from high care costs. mps will debate the proposals later today. 0ur disability correspondent nikki fox has been finding out what impact the changes could have on people's lives. i focus my energy and spend my days trying to be as productive as possible. nadia is 29 and lives with his parents. nadia is 29 and lives with her parents. she has cerebral palsy and is profoundly deaf, and so far she has struggled to get a job. i would love to work and hold down a paid long—term job. like thousands of others, she relies on full—time care, which is funded mainly by her local authority, but partly by nadia from her eligible benefits. under the government's proposals, only her contribution will count towards a new £86,000 cap, meaning nadia and others like her may spend the rest of their lives contributing

towards the support they need. i live a simple life as it is. i don't have lots of extravagances. i do not choose to have complex needs or to need care and support, and i wish i didn't need it, but my life is such that i do. i feel that by making me pay care charges, i am discriminated against because of my disability. chloe also needs a fair bit of support. she is a freelance writer and her first novel is due to be published this summer. i am really proud of my achievements, but what people don't see are the financial burdens i have as well, the things i have to pay for, like equipment, paying for my wheelchair. under the new proposals she will be able to build up more savings than in the past. but she feels as a young person who needs support, she doesn't have the same opportunities to progress as others who are

not disabled. as soon as i hit that threshold, i will be paying more and more in terms of contributions towards my care. it does make me feel worthless, because that is not an experience the non—disabled person faces, because they will never have to think of that dilemma in their mind of, well, if i accept this promotion, that means paying more for my care. obviously if i was a billionaire it would not touch me, but as someone who is striving for a career, in the early days of my career, that is where the costs add up. we have to remember that disabled people _ we have to remember that disabled people will be facing this charge from _ people will be facing this charge from the — people will be facing this charge from the age of 18. it is a cap for the aspirational, for the young. this was the government's one big chance to level up for disabled people. and it has not done that. the government says the cap is fair because everyone will pay the same

towards their care costs. it says it will provide certainty and reassurance. but campaigners say the proposals will leave those less well off still facing substantial costs, and ultimately, disadvantage working age disabled people trying to get on in life just because they need support to live. nikki fox, bbc news. a state memorial service to honour shane warne is being held at melbourne cricket ground. the legendary australian spinner died aged 52 in thailand earlier this month. his family and friends paid tribute to the cricketer at his private funeral in melbourne, but this is an opportunity for the wider public to pay their respects. the tower of london moat will be transformed into a huge field of flowers this summer, as part of the celebrations for the queen's platinum jubilee.

more than 20 million seeds are being planted — and organisers expect the first flowers to bloom in earlyjune. 0ur royal correspondent, sarah campbell, is at the tower. this moat has been used to some fairly spectacular displays over the years. in 2014, you will remember those ceramic poppies that filled the mat. and then in 2018, it was oil lanterns that were lit every night. and here for the platinum jubilee, 28 million seeds are being planted. this is going to be a sea of flowers in a couple of months. and the person in charge of planting all those seeds, 20 million of them, is leanne. i am staggered by the fact that you can plant 20 million in a week. you only started on monday. so what we have to do, the process is, we have had to bag all the seeds individually into different cell numbers, because the plan is all different cells. and each cell has a different mix within it. so what we have to do is, we mix it with sand so that helps

separate all the 20 million seeds so it makes it more evenly dispersed. is this what your colleagues are doing here today? yes, so they are putting all the lines in today and then they will be sowing the seeds, following sowing the seeds, then we roll it after. it's not like a wildflower meadow where you just scatter them. it is very organised. it is all very regulated, right? it is, yeah. so that's why it's very important that we get all the angles right, all the cells right, all the measurements, because each cell has a different quantity of seeds within it. i guess the weather is quite important here, that you are hoping for the right weather to let them germinate. because it is only two months until this is due to open. it is, yes. so we are up against the weather, especially this week. but we have been pushing on to get it through before all the bad weather comes. it is going to be colder for the rest of the week, good luck with that. and i'm going to speak to the... thank you... to the project director.

there really have been some spectacular, i mentioned the poppies, i mention the lanterns, and this is taking you one step further because not only is this for the platinumjubilee, it is going to carry on beyond that. yes, that's right, so we have - brought in 10,000 tonnes of soil and we have created a brand—new path network all the way round the moat. along with 2.4 kilometres - of drainage to make it all work. we obviously do not want to take that all out againi after the jubilee celebrations. i so we are going to create a muchl more diverse landscape down here. it will be a great home - for pollinators and wildlife as well as a new place for people to come and visit in london. - so this is going to be a long lasting... a long lasting legacy. we have to mention the slide because one way that people can get in, as well as the usual steps and ramp, there will actually be a slide. that's right, yes. we wanted to introduce a bit of fun. this is a celebration _ after all and what could be more fun than cheekily coming in to the tower via a slide? — sliding down into a sea of flowers. this is a sample of the sortl of things that will be around

when people are able to do that. it is quite hard to imagine - at the moment with all this brown soil, but it will be an absolutely- vibrant and beautiful sea of flowers come the platinum jubilee. and people will enter from over there. they'll wander round there. there are going to be sounds, is that right? there is going to be sculptures throughout as well as the flowers. so here in the morth moat where we started to do - a bit of topography, - you will also get a beautiful soundscape that has been composed for us by erland cooper— who is a scottish composer, - and he has put together this music which is partly based on a favourite of the royal family called - farewell to storness, a bit of a scottish lilti to it as well. so that will help with _ the contemplation and the beauty of the flowers as well. and when you get round to the east moat, we have got some insect- sculptures just to remind you of all the pollinatorsl that we are inviting to this royal banquet for the summer. - fantastic, well, after the poppies in 2014, the lanterns in 2018, they are quite big acts to follow, aren't they? are you confident that all those seeds are going to take? yes, i think so.

we have done so much work to make all the soil the right thing, _ |we have had soil scientists working on it, it been specially engineered, right to our specifications. we carefully laid it out, it has taken us monthsl to prepare everything, and so now, it isjusti up to the weather. fingers crossed. thank you very much indeed. well, fingers crossed, if all goes to plan, i think it is going to look absolutely fantastic. now a look at the weather. here is matt. hello. for some of you, it already feels like we step back a season today with a bit of snow on the ground. more widely, though, it's going to be about how the day feels, especially so in these areas where we saw the highest of the temperatures yesterday, 15 to 19 degrees with arctic air in place, a strong wind. this is how it will feel like this afternoon. a big, big turnaround. to go with it as well i said we've got a little bit of sleet and snow that continues

to fall in some parts of northern england especially, and more particularly over the hills that breaks of rain heading the way southwards and a bit of winteriness over the tops of higher ground here. more snow showers in northern scotland, but plenty of sunshine to southern scotland brightening up in northern ireland. 0h, we've got a bit more sunshine towards the south at times here, 11 degrees. but that cold air would be down with some outbreaks of rain into the midlands by the end of the afternoon. and these are the temperatures on thermometers, but it's already hinted at in the wind. it will feel colder than that some, especially in the north and the east, closer to freezing. and those winds will strengthen to the south through tonight, bringing that arctic air even further south with some heavy rain, as well to the southeast with a little bit of wintry to some extent, especially on the hills, nothing too much to trouble. there's a slight dusting of snow elsewhere as the showers continue across some eastern areas. but really, for most, it's a case of temperatures below freezing into tomorrow morning and a risk of ice as well. so a cold, frosty icy start, a bitter wind as well strongest, which was that far southeast corner throughout the day, bringing in some further wintry showers at times. between the showers will be some sunshine. some of you seeing a lot more sunshine than showers and certainly more

sunshine than today. but with that wind still coming in from the north or northeast direction, even though temperatures up a little bit on today's values, on the face of it, the wind will make it feel much, much colder, especially in that southeast corner where we could see winds get close to 40—50 mile hour gusts along the eastern english channel. as we go into thursday night, some sleet and snow, potentially in kent, but away from that's where the winds are a bit lighter. widespread frost to take us into friday morning. so a cold but bright start to friday for many, still some wintry flurries in the east, that risk still towards the southeast corner, particularly for kent, some sleet and snow and the strongest of the winds. we'll see cloud and rain spreading to northern scotland, later bringing a lift in temperature that will turn to snow over the higher ground. many, though, will continue to see some sunny spells and temperatures creep up a little bit. it stays on the colder side, though, for this stage of march, notjust friday, but throughout the weekend. lot of cold at times through this weekend, but a few glimmers of sunshine here and there, and just one or two showers.

the headlines at 11... an investigation finds that more than 200 babies might have survived if they had received proper care at the shrewsbury and telford trust in shropshire. senior midwife donna 0ckenden led the damning report. we now know that this is a trust that failed to investigate, failed to learn and failed to improve. this resulted in tragedies and life changing incidents for so many of our families. 0ne mother tells the bbc about her baby boy jack — who died when he was just 11 hours old. and i said, well, is that it? you don't know why he's died? and then they said, well, we don't know what else to tell you. and i was like, well, i want a postmortem because a babyjust doesn'tjust die.

russia says it will drastically reduce military activity in parts of ukraine — but ukraine's president says he'lljudge russia by its actions, not its words. the met police says more fines could be issued on top of the 20 already announced, as part of the investigation into downing street parties that broke covid rules. public�*s satisfaction with the nhs falls to the lowest level in 25 years. long waits for gp care and hospital services are people's main concerns. and a new study finds that children as young as five use social media. that's despite most platforms having rules users must be over the age of 13.

hello and welcome to bbc news. a review into the care of hundreds of women and babies has revealed serious failings in the worst maternity scandal ever seen in the nhs. the five—year inquiry — published in the last hour — found that more than 200 babies might have survived — if better maternity support had been provided by shrewsbury and telford hospital trust. the review, chaired by senior midwife donna 0ckenden, found an "appalling culture" at the trust, where mistakes were not investigated and there were repeated failures in basic skills. dozens of other children and mothers sustained life—changing injuries as a result of these failures to provide proper treatment. most of the cases cover a period of nearly two decades — between 2000 and 2019. the scale of failures uncovered is unprecedented in the history of nhs maternity care. the hospital trust has previously said it takes "full responsibility" for the failures in maternity care and said they offered their sincere

apologies for the distress and hurt which it had caused. donna 0ckenden started by praising and thanking all the families who came forward to highlight failures at the trust. i would like to pay tribute to the families whose voices and stories are central to this review of maternity services. what happened to you and your families, maternity services. what happened to you and yourfamilies, your babies your wives, your daughters, your sisters and your partners really matters. and those experiences will ensure safe maternity care for all going forward. leading this maternity review has been the biggest privilege of my life. donna 0ckenden went on to say that opportunities were missed time and time again to make things better at the trust.

through the timespan of our review we have found repeated errors in care which lead to injury to either mothers or their babies. we have fully reviewed the cases of 12 mothers who lost their lives giving birth at the trust. 75% of the cases of maternal death have been graded by our team as categories too and three were significant or major concerns in the care provided. unfortunately and overall our report describes that a significant number of mothers and babies received care that fell way below the standards expected and this continued throughout the whole period of the reviewed. the review team also found evidence of significant underreporting and cases that should have been investigated and were not. during the period this review looks at we are aware of eight external bodies who inspected, visited,

assessed or checked upon the trust. this was a trust with significant problems and whilst independent and external reports often indicated that the maternity service should improve its governance and investigatory procedures, this did not happen. the trust was of the belief that its maternity services were good. they were wrong. donna 0ckenden concluded by making recommendations for maternity services across england so that this didn't happen again. to harness the learning from this report and bring together other learnings from across maternity system, a working group, independent of the maternity transformation programme that has joint royal because leadership including midwives and obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthetists, the obstetric and egotist association plus paediatrics and child health must now be set up. the remit of this group must be to guide the maternity transformation programme

around implementation of our ieas immediate and essential actions, and the recommendations of other reports currently being prepared. this investment in work must be progressed at pace and continued for as long as necessary to ensure that no other family experiences the many tragedies described in our report. 0nly tragedies described in our report. only with a robustly funded, well staffed and well—trained workforce can families and government be able to expect consistent delivery of safe and compassionate maternity care locally and across england. 0ur correspondent rob sissons is outside the royal shrewsbury hospital. donna listing a damning trio of figures at the trust, that failed to investigate, fail to learn and fail to improve she said over the period under review, almost two decades. were it not for the persistence of

some bereaved parents, this may not have come to light even now. yes. have come to light even now. yes, aood have come to light even now. yes, good morning- _ have come to light even now. yes, good morning. the _ have come to light even now. 133 good morning. the courage of those two families, both lost girls, both got together to share their concerns but started digging and found another 21 cases that they presented to the then health secretaryjeremy hunt. he kick—started the investigation here today which has taken five years, not helped of course by the covid pandemic, so it has been a long wait for more answers for these families. many of us can't imagine the full enormity and trauma of losing a baby. but losing a baby at the centre of this trust which is now shockingly implicated in this review which paints a terrible picture of poor safety and people being let down, for 20 years almost in shropshire.

0ne for 20 years almost in shropshire. one of our viewers has been in touch to say the repeated use of the word trust sounds a bit anonymous, doesn't it, it hides the fact that there were people behind this making decisions, poor decisions clearly as we see from this review, you mention to me earlier that the trust is expected to give a news conference later but donna 0ckenden has made it clear that she has serious misgivings still about their ability to run services in the way she was to run services in the way she was to see them run, survey are going to be in for some really intense questioning, anthony? i be in for some really intense questioning, anthony?- be in for some really intense questioning, anthony? i am glad you icked that questioning, anthony? i am glad you picked that out _ questioning, anthony? i am glad you picked that out because _ questioning, anthony? i am glad you picked that out because that - questioning, anthony? i am glad you picked that out because that was - questioning, anthony? i am glad you picked that out because that was a i picked that out because that was a shocking aspect i think of the press conference, when we heard that they were still getting families, distraught families contacting them and their concerns echoed the themes of the earlier cases where babies died stop just to run through the

numbers, 201 babies died the report concludes were reasonably have survived had they had better appropriate care. there were 65 but had cerebral palsy, there were another 29 with severe brain injuries, and nine women died as well who it is thought would have survived had they got the right care. so truly shocking. add the trust investigated itself, or in some cases didn't investigated and downgraded cases, so big questions about the oversight of hospital trusts and what were the regulators doing? trusts and what were the regulators doinu ? ., ~ trusts and what were the regulators doinu ? . ~' ,, trusts and what were the regulators doinu? . ~' , trusts and what were the regulators doinu? ., , . , doing? thank you very much. the news conference was — doing? thank you very much. the news conference was held _ doing? thank you very much. the news conference was held there _ doing? thank you very much. the news conference was held there and - doing? thank you very much. the news conference was held there and he - doing? thank you very much. the news conference was held there and he has l conference was held there and he has been across all the details. we have had some reaction from the health secretary sajid. "donna 0ckenden's report paints

a tragic and harrowing picture of repeated failures in care over two decades, and i am deeply sorry to all the families who have suffered so greatly..." "since the initial report was published in 2020 we have taken steps to invest in maternity services and grow the workforce, and we will make the changes that are needed so that no families have to go through this pain again." let's speak to reverend charlotte cheshire. her son, adam, was included in the report that sparked the review. thank you so much forjoining us today. begin by telling us about adam, he is now nine, isn't he, who was born at the royal shrewsbury hospital, tells about the birth and what happened afterwards. mam hospital, tells about the birth and what happened afterwards. adam is now 11, not nine. _ what happened afterwards. adam is now“, not nine. i— what happened afterwards. adam is now 11, not nine. i beg _ what happened afterwards. adam is now“, not nine. i beg your- what happened afterwards. adam isj now 11, not nine. i beg your pardon, i have now 11, not nine. i beg your pardon, i have got — now 11, not nine. i beg your pardon, i have got is — now 11, not nine. i beg your pardon, i have got is a _ now 11, not nine. i beg your pardon, i have got is a drunk, _ now 11, not nine. i beg your pardon, i have got is a drunk, i _ now 11, not nine. i beg your pardon, i have got is a drunk, i do _ i have got is a drunk, i do apologise. i have got is a drunk, i do apologise-— i have got is a drunk, i do aoloaise. g , . _ ihave got isadrunk,|do aoloaise. . _ ., ., apologise. my pregnancy was normal and should have _ apologise. my pregnancy was normal and should have been _ apologise. my pregnancy was normal and should have been safe. - apologise. my pregnancy was normal and should have been safe. it - apologise. my pregnancy was normal and should have been safe. it was i and should have been safe. it was full term, 39 weeks, so they should have been a reasonable expectation

that things were 0k have been a reasonable expectation that things were ok for supper midwives checked me three times from the point might waters broke, before labour started, they kept saying me home and saying anything was fine even wasn't expressing any contractions and wasn't feeling any movement. by the time he was finally born i haemorrhaged so i nearly lost my own life. the next morning i had a full public split so there was some worry over whether or not i would ever walk again or with need surgery, but perhaps most importantly of all, adam ended up in neonatal intensive care fighting for his life against meningitis. he was in an induced,, he was on life support, he was having seizures, he was blue, it was horrific. nobody expected in deliberate. what was blue, it was horrific. nobody expected in deliberate.— expected in deliberate. what we heard from _ expected in deliberate. what we heard from donna _ expected in deliberate. what we heard from donna 0ckenden, i expected in deliberate. what we | heard from donna 0ckenden, and expected in deliberate. what we - heard from donna 0ckenden, and she focused on how parents were not listened to, and i know that in your case you raise repeatedly your concerns with staff that adam was unwell, and you say you were to listen to either.—

listen to either. that is correct. the first night _ listen to either. that is correct. the first night after— listen to either. that is correct. the first night after the - listen to either. that is correct. the first night after the birth i i the first night after the birth i slept through the night which at the time didn't strike me as all but it is odd, but the next morning from six o'clock on the saturday morning after his birth he was crying continually with a high—pitched cry and he wouldn't be comforted. i kept calling the midwives and saying i was concerned because it is one thing for a newborn to cry, it is another for them to cry without ceasing the did keep checking him but i never noticed anything wrong. despite the fact that at one point we actually recorded in his medical notes that he was grunting. he hadn't fed over the entire night, he was crying continually, he was recorded as grunting, and they still didn't think there was a thing wrong. didn't think there was a thing wronu. ~ ., didn't think there was a thing wron~.~ . , . , didn't think there was a thing wront.~ ., , . ,., didn't think there was a thing wronu. . , . ., wrong. whatever consequences of that time in a hospital— wrong. whatever consequences of that time in a hospital been _ wrong. whatever consequences of that time in a hospital been for— wrong. whatever consequences of that time in a hospital been for adam? - time in a hospital been for adam? ultimately he did survive clearly because he is 11 now, but he has multiple complex disabilities. he is

hearing—impaired, visually impaired, hearing—impaired, visually impaired, he is asthmatic, autistic, even though he is 11 years old he has developed middle—age of approximately three or four full 5°ppy approximately three or four full soppy will never live an independent life. he goes to special needs school. you still in nappies overnight for penes 20 four sevenths. in other words the level of harm that has happened to adam is utterly life changing, for me it was like changing for my husband before his death in 2020, and it is unequivocally life changing for my son. . ., i. son. something much about your waters breaking _ son. something much about your waters breaking and _ son. something much about your waters breaking and the - son. something much about your waters breaking and the point. son. something much about your. waters breaking and the point that happened because it happened 29 hours before you went into labour and that is a warning sign that something might be wrong, that there is a risk of group b strep and that wasn't picked up on either, was it? yes. the midwives at the telford midwifery unit checked me three times over that period and they also did to internal investigations,

exams, which increase the risk of infection but they didn't seem to notice that was an issue, on all three occasions they sent me home saying just wait. labour will start. finally by the third visit they did say that if labour didn't start naturally they would book me for an induction on the saturday morning, but that would have been far too late and the odds of adam living with have been very low, so thankfully in the end, labour started naturally but by the time i got to shrewsbury hospital in labour they couldn't find his heartbeat, so i am very fortunate in many ways that he survived, but there were so many opportunities i believe for them to pick up on the signs that something was wrong and was going wrong and getting worse and they just didn't. 50 wrong and getting worse and they 'ust didn't. . , wrong and getting worse and they 'ust didn't. ., , ., , just didn't. so many what ifs. i noticed you — just didn't. so many what ifs. i noticed you tweeted _ just didn't. so many what ifs. i noticed you tweeted earlier . just didn't. so many what ifs. i. noticed you tweeted earlier today that today is finally the day for answers, ? for that today is finally the day for answers,? for accountability, for answers, ? for accountability, for

making answers,? for accountability, for making sure no other families answers,? for accountability, for making sure no otherfamilies injure what we have. you have heard that was bought, what is your response to it? i was bought, what is your response to it? ., , ., ., ., ~ it? i am very grateful for the work of donna and _ it? i am very grateful for the work of donna and that _ it? i am very grateful for the work of donna and that she _ it? i am very grateful for the work of donna and that she has - it? i am very grateful for the work of donna and that she has very . of donna and that she has very clearly said that what happened that this trust was unacceptable and has to change. i am not entirely certain whether or not the trust actually has the ability to make the changes she mandates. i hope they will for obvious reasons but at least so far in the last 20 years they haven't shown any signs at being able to, i think it will be a case of watch this space and see what happens next. ~ ., , this space and see what happens next. ~ . _,, .., this space and see what happens next. we really appreciate you talkin: to next. we really appreciate you talking to us — next. we really appreciate you talking to us today. _ next. we really appreciate you talking to us today. best - next. we really appreciate you | talking to us today. best wishes next. we really appreciate you - talking to us today. best wishes to you and adam. with me now is rachel power, chief executive at the patient�*s association. thank you so much for your time today. i don't know if you are able today. i don't know if you are able to hear all of my previous guest and what she was saying but she was

describing how she wasn't listened to when she had concerns that her newborn son matt something was wrong with him, and then several hours later he was rushed to a neonatal intensive care unit and i know that is one of your big concerns coming out of this review as we heard from donna 0ckenden, that patients repeatedly or not listened to. i heard a little bit of charlotte's interview. the whole report is just shocking and heartbreaking to read. we really need to learn to listen to patients and act on what patients are telling them. i really want to upload all the families who took part in this review, because to relive the stories of what happened to their loved ones must be exceptionally difficult. what has come out there and what is really concerning to hear is that donna was hearing from staff at the unit even

in the last few months, that culture of not listening and working with patients and investigations and understanding what patients are telling them and just needs some clear national leadership to make this change happen. hat clear national leadership to make this change happen. not listening to atients, this change happen. not listening to patients, parents, _ this change happen. not listening to patients, parents, not— this change happen. not listening to patients, parents, not listening - this change happen. not listening to patients, parents, not listening to l patients, parents, not listening to staff, staff too frightened to speak out for the phrase donna 0ckenden used was someone mentioned to her there was a republic of maternity, it didn't like oversight. she also said she had serious misgivings about whether the trust recently was able to implement the changes that she has recommended. she has given a long list of actions both for the shrewsbury and telford hospital trust, nhs maternity services across england, d think the actions she has recommended will make a real difference, will ensure that

families don't have to go through what the families included in this review did?— what the families included in this review did? , ~ ., review did? yes, i think donna has done a fantastic _ review did? yes, i think donna has done a fantastic job _ review did? yes, i think donna has done a fantastic job and _ review did? yes, i think donna has done a fantastic job and i - review did? yes, i think donna has done a fantastic job and i now - done a fantasticjob and i now parents have paid tribute to her for the work she has put into this. there has to be significant positive change and there has to be a real scrutiny and ownership and leadership of the recommendations that donna has put into place. along with key milestones and measurements to make sure they are implement it, because that is the very least we can do with this families, to make sure that there is a legacy that happens now. sure that there is a legacy that happens now-— sure that there is a legacy that happens now. sure that there is a legacy that ha ens now. , ., ., happens now. very fundamental level, 'ust to no happens now. very fundamental level, just to go back— happens now. very fundamental level, just to go back to _ happens now. very fundamental level, just to go back to the _ happens now. very fundamental level, just to go back to the question - happens now. very fundamental level, just to go back to the question of- just to go back to the question of why, despite concerns being raised throughout these two decades, no one saw the need to make these changes sooner if that can persist for two decades, what faith are we to have that it will change now? it is

decades, what faith are we to have that it will change now?— that it will change now? it is a really good — that it will change now? it is a really good question - that it will change now? it is a really good question and - that it will change now? it is a really good question and i - that it will change now? it is a l really good question and i have that it will change now? it is a - really good question and i have to say sitting here right now i don't have faith in that, because there was a persistent failure there of clinicians to listen to patients and their families and this simply has to stop. time and time investigations have shown where clinicians, doctors and nurses have unpleasant to parents and patients, there has been catastrophic impact and injury and death and behind all these numbers individualfamilies these numbers individual families are these numbers individualfamilies are having to deal with that ongoing loss. so i do think that the responsibility lies with national leadership holding local trusts of accounts to ensure that everything, the patient association really believes that if services are designed in through partnership with patients then it will result in better outcomes for patients and having that shared decision—making, but what really got me here was the real lack of respect and kindness

and compassion that we know so many staff have for parents and patients and how is this so absent in the care that we saw these parents received? ., . , care that we saw these parents received? . . , , care that we saw these parents received? . _ , ., care that we saw these parents received?— care that we saw these parents received? . , , ., ., care that we saw these parents received? . _ , ., ., received? pregnancy is a time of 'oy and anxiety — received? pregnancy is a time of 'oy and anxiety and fi received? pregnancy is a time of 'oy and anxiety and for d received? pregnancy is a time of 'oy and anxiety and for any i received? pregnancy is a time of 'oy and anxiety and for any mothers h received? pregnancy is a time of joy and anxiety and for any mothers to l and anxiety and for any mothers to be and their partners listening to all of this, this full only add to the anxiety about the process of going into hospital wherever they are having their babies, preparing their birth plans and so forth, what would you say to them?— would you say to them? there are many thousands _ would you say to them? there are many thousands of _ would you say to them? there are many thousands of babies - would you say to them? there are many thousands of babies born i would you say to them? there are i many thousands of babies born safely in england and in england hospitals every year, but i have to say that is a question i have had in my head all morning. i'm lucky enough to have had two children were born safely in nhs hospitals but to be a parent, due now, it is a really worrying time and we just need to make sure that parents feel listen

to and make sure their voice is heard when they have these concerns and hopefully with these recommendations coming into play, with really good scrutiny, that parents will feel much safer. thank ou ve parents will feel much safer. thank you very much- _ and if you've been affected by this news, details of organisations offering information and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline, or you can call for free, at any time to hear recorded information on 0800 077 077. there appears to be a glimmer of hope following peace talks between russia and ukraine. the negotiations — in istanbul — were the first in two weeks. ukraine confirmed it was prepared to be a neutral country and abandon ambitions to join the nato military alliance.

for its part, moscow announced what sounds like a change of military strategy saying its troops will 'drastically reduce' their operations around the ukrainian capital kyiv. but ukraine's president zelensky says he'lljudge russia by concrete results. jon donnison has the latest. gunfire. if there are finally small hints of optimism in ukraine, it doesn't feel that way on the roads outside kyiv. here, the damage has been done. in this village, ukrainian soldiers are on the ground, having just retaken it from the russians, part of a pushback that may have forced a shift in tactics from moscow. translation: i'm | fighting for my land. you know, no matter where i go, i am coming back home, and i always have this feeling, i'm back home now. after more than a month of fighting, many are weary. but for ukraine's president, progress in peace talks does not mean it is time to relax. translation: yes, we can call positive the signals we hear i

from the negotiating platform. but these signals do not silence the explosion of the russian shells. of course we see all the risks. of course we see no reason to trust the words of certain representatives of a state that continues to fight for our destruction. ukrainians are not naive people. until now, the strategically important northern city of chernihiv has also been a target of the russians. but ukrainian and american officials are warning that moscow's pledged to scale back its operation here, as well as around the capital kyiv, could just be a tactic designed to mislead. there's certainly no let up in russia's assault in the south—east. at least 12 people were killed yesterday in this strike on ukrainian government building. new satellite images show the extent of the damage in mariupol,

still besieged by russian forces. the war, which has forced more than 10 million people from their homes, is far from over. jon donnison, bbc news. we can speak now to 0leksiy sorokin, political editor of the kyiv independent, ukraine's english—language news outlet. really good to have you with us today. i want to get a reaction first of all to what the russian side side in those talks in istanbul yesterday, saying that it was going to changes military strategy. clearly president zelensky is somewhat sceptical and do you think thatis somewhat sceptical and do you think that is the general view there in ukraine? , , ., g ukraine? yes. obviously we understand _ ukraine? yes. obviously we understand that _ ukraine? yes. obviously we understand that russia i ukraine? yes. obviously we| understand that russia can't ukraine? yes. obviously we i understand that russia can't be trusted on their words, but we do have signs that they are pulling out of the kyiv region. i think that is because russia understands that it now can't encircle kyiv, the capital

is well prepared and they are trying to ship troops to donbas and encircle ukrainian troops there. give us a sense of what life is like in kyiv right now and indeed in the surrounding suburbs. it is in kyiv right now and indeed in the surrounding suburbs.— surrounding suburbs. it is a bit odd, i surrounding suburbs. it is a bit odd. i would — surrounding suburbs. it is a bit odd, i would say _ surrounding suburbs. it is a bit odd, i would say that - surrounding suburbs. it is a bit odd, i would say that the i surrounding suburbs. it is a bit odd, i would say that the city | surrounding suburbs. it is a bit| odd, i would say that the city is trying to get back to normal as much as possible, while you can hear constant shelling and fighting just several commenters north—west of kyiv. every night we go to sleep and here ukraine's air defence, russian artillery, there is also troops on the ground here, the city looks like a fortress. meanwhile some people try to carry on with their lives. white it is a rather surreal contrast. white it is a rather surreal contrast-— white it is a rather surreal contrast. ., ., ., ., ., contrast. how far away are the areas where there — contrast. how far away are the areas where there is _ contrast. how far away are the areas where there is shelling _ contrast. how far away are the areas where there is shelling from - contrast. how far away are the areas where there is shelling from the i where there is shelling from the centre of kyiv?—

centre of kyiv? probably 20 kilometres, _ centre of kyiv? probably 20 kilometres, maybe - centre of kyiv? probably 20 kilometres, maybe 30. i centre of kyiv? probably 20 kilometres, maybe 30. not| centre of kyiv? probably 20 i kilometres, maybe 30. not very centre of kyiv? probably 20 - kilometres, maybe 30. not very far. it is ve kilometres, maybe 30. not very far. it is very close- _ kilometres, maybe 30. not very far. it is very close. yesterday _ kilometres, maybe 30. not very far. it is very close. yesterday i - it is very close. yesterday i visited my friends who live on the western part of kyiv and you can basically hear every shot fired even from non—artillery tanks and so on, so the war is very real here in kyiv but people try to carry on with their lives even if they hear constant shelling and air raids and sirens. ., . ~' constant shelling and air raids and sirens. ., ., ,, ., , sirens. you talk about life being relatively normal— sirens. you talk about life being relatively normal in _ sirens. you talk about life being relatively normal in kyiv, i i sirens. you talk about life being j relatively normal in kyiv, i know there is huge concern for the people of mariupol, those who remained there, what reports are you hearing from there?— from there? unfortunately the situation in _ from there? unfortunately the situation in mariupol— from there? unfortunately the situation in mariupol is - from there? unfortunately the i situation in mariupol is horrendous. people don't have food and water and medicine. we now still over 100,000

people are trapped in mariupol. they can't get out. russia is already, russian troops entered the city. there are pockets of resistance. the ukrainian army and ukrainian national guard is still present in the city. it is ongoing street fights and we also know that according to the deputy mayor 90% of all buildings in mariupol are either destroyed or severely damaged. looking more generally, how would you describe people's morale, how would you describe their determinations to continue with the resistance this far into the work was yellow? i resistance this far into the work was yellow?— resistance this far into the work was yellow? i think generally the morale is very — was yellow? i think generally the morale is very high _ was yellow? i think generally the morale is very high because i morale is very high because ukrainians understand why there fighting. it is a warfor ukrainians understand why there fighting. it is a war for basically the existence of ukrainian state, for our independence and for the

survival of the current ukrainian government and people around. i think all the people understand that. 0bviously ukraine once a ceasefire, ukraine once people to stop dying, ukraine once people from kharkiv to be able to leave, but nobody is going to surrender and no one will take an offer that doesn't suit the interests of the ukrainians.— suit the interests of the ukrainians. , ., ~ ., , ukrainians. do you think that they feel that abandoning _ ukrainians. do you think that they feel that abandoning that - ukrainians. do you think that they | feel that abandoning that ambition of becoming a member of nato, but as a price worth paying, if it was to lead to proper peace fire, solution? i think the main question here is what we will get in return, we understand ukraine wasn't able to join nato prior and wasn't able to join nato prior and wasn't able to join nato prior and wasn't able to join nato in the nearfuture, the one in nato was offering us a membership action plan, but —— no one in nato. it is important to

understand the key questions and thatis understand the key questions and that is what ukrainians are concerned about, donbas and crimea, the thing is we hear right now the ukrainian government and delegation is ready to basically freeze talks about donbas and crimea and that is what many people especially here in kyiv are afraid of.— kyiv are afraid of. thank you for talkin: kyiv are afraid of. thank you for talking to _ kyiv are afraid of. thank you for talking to us. _ police say there could be more fines issued on top of the 20 already announced, after covid laws were broken during lockdown in downing street. number 10 said it would announce if the prime minister was among those contacted with a fixed penalty notice. 0pposition parties are calling for borisjohnson to stand down over the parties. a conservative mp says he's been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and announced he wants to be trans. jamie wallace, who's the member of parliament for bridgend, made the announcement online.

he said... mr wallis went on to say he intended to keep it private — but added "being an mp and hiding something like this was always going to be tough." the prime minister borisjohnson said mr wallis had immense courage. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt. hello, there. the spring warmth has gone, arctic air is where there's arctic air is with us. a cold day for many today. some sleet and snow as well mixed in. if you've already got a covering, there'll be further snow showers the north of scotland, some across parts of northern england as well. outbreaks of rain, though spreading southwards from northern england, into the midlands, wales and also parts of east anglia. brightest conditions throughout towards the southwest. temperatures 11 to 12 degrees here. but further north we will see temperatures much, much lower and with it even a bit of sunshine.

that sunshine translates to clear skies tonight with a frost in places. icy conditions as the snow showers continue. outbreaks of rain and the cold gets into the south, and we could even see a little bit of sleet and snow here at times through the night into tomorrow. and indeed through tomorrow, strongest winds towards the south east corner. quite a breezy day across the board. a lot more sunshine between those wintry flurries, though. temperatures up a little bit on today's values. but factor in the wind, it's still going to feel very cold out there. a kittle less cold is we go through friday and into the weekend. temperatures still below average for the time of year, but plenty of cloud and one or two showers. bye for now. hello, this is bbc news with annita mcveigh. the headlines: an investigation finds that more than 200 babies might have survived if they had received proper care at the shrewsbury and telford trust in shropshire. russia says it will drastically reduce military activity in parts of ukraine — but ukraine's president says he'lljudge russia by its actions, not its words. the met police says more fines

could be issued on top of the 20 already announced, as part of the investigation into downing street parties that broke covid rules. public�*s satisfaction with the nhs falls to the lowest level in 25 years. long waits for gp care and hospital services are people's main concerns. and a new study finds that children as young as five use social media. that's despite most platforms having rules users must be over the age of 13. let's return to our top story today and the report into the serious failings by the shrewsbury and telford hospital trust. the report by maternity expert donna 0ckenden said that 201 babies might have survived if better support had been provided to hundreds of women and babies. with me now is emma priddey who gave

birth to twins in 2019 and suffered multiple health complications at princess royal hospital, telford. thank you so much forjoining us today and your story focuses on the implications for your health. i understand thankfully that your twins were fine after their delivery?— twins were fine after their delive ? , , ., , twins were fine after their delive ? , , . , ., , delivery? yes, they are very healthy two-year-olds- _ delivery? yes, they are very healthy two-year-olds. that _ delivery? yes, they are very healthy two-year-olds. that is _ delivery? yes, they are very healthy two-year-olds. that is wonderful, l two-year-olds. that is wonderful, but tell us — two-year-olds. that is wonderful, but tell us what _ two-year-olds. that is wonderful, but tell us what happened - two-year-olds. that is wonderful, but tell us what happened to i two-year-olds. that is wonderful, but tell us what happened to you. | two-year-olds. that is wonderful, i but tell us what happened to you. so i but tell us what happened to you. ’sr i had but tell us what happened to you. 5r i had a brilliant pregnancy, but what i wasn't aware of was that as a twin mum i had the choice to choose how i gave birth. that wasn't explained to me, so very late in the pregnancy my son went breach and i was very concerned about having to give birth both ways, one naturally and then having to be rushed down for a caesarean section. we were encouraged and told it would all be ok, that he would turn and everything would be fine. so i went

into labour naturally, i was pushing for half an hour and they realised that my daughter was stuck and she was never going to come out and i had to be rushed down for an emergency c—section. 50 had to be rushed down for an emergency c-section. so you at no oint emergency c-section. so you at no point were _ emergency c-section. so you at no point were told — emergency c-section. so you at no point were told you _ emergency c-section. so you at no point were told you could - emergency c-section. so you at no point were told you could really i point were told you could really demand for want of a better word that you would like to have a c—section? because clearly that was a huge concern for you with one of your baby is being breach, in the wrong position.— your baby is being breach, in the wrong position. yes, i remember askinu wrong position. yes, i remember asking three _ wrong position. yes, i remember asking three times, _ wrong position. yes, i remember asking three times, one - wrong position. yes, i remember asking three times, one of- wrong position. yes, i remember asking three times, one of them | asking three times, one of them while i was pushing, when they told me... when i was pushing, i remember asking the consultant, are you sure it is ok to go ahead with this? he said yes, the baby will turn. what i didn't realise is that as a multiple mother, it is my right to choose whether i have a c—section or go

naturally, and a lot of twin mums i have met since chose to have a c—section and had very safe births, wonderful birth stories but that wasn't the case for me.- wonderful birth stories but that wasn't the case for me. after the emergency _ wasn't the case for me. after the emergency c-section, _ wasn't the case for me. after the emergency c-section, what i wasn't the case for me. after the i emergency c-section, what happened emergency c—section, what happened to you then? i emergency c-section, what happened to you then?— to you then? i was very unwell very ruickl , to you then? i was very unwell very quickly. throwing — to you then? i was very unwell very quickly, throwing up, _ to you then? i was very unwell very quickly, throwing up, couldn't- to you then? i was very unwell very quickly, throwing up, couldn't hold| quickly, throwing up, couldn't hold my babies. i don't remember the first few days of their life. despite all of my family's efforts and my efforts to tell the team how unwell i was, i wasn't listened to. just short of 48 hours later, i had to be rushed back in for major surgery for which they realised that i had had a massive bleed on the uterus and the only way to save my life was to remove it, to have a hysterectomy. 50 life was to remove it, to have a hysterectomy-— life was to remove it, to have a hysterectomy. so huge physical consequences _ hysterectomy. so huge physical consequences for _ hysterectomy. so huge physical consequences for you, - hysterectomy. so huge physical consequences for you, emma l consequences for you, emma, and

psychological consequences as well because what you went through was hugely traumatic.— because what you went through was hugely traumatic. yes, when you have three children, _ hugely traumatic. yes, when you have three children, i _ hugely traumatic. yes, when you have three children, i have _ hugely traumatic. yes, when you have three children, i have three _ hugely traumatic. yes, when you have three children, i have three small- three children, i have three small children, i rememberthe gp three children, i have three small children, i remember the gp saying to me i would be in survival mode so this is a journey we are very much still working through now. it’s this is a journey we are very much still working through now. it's very interestin: still working through now. it's very interesting to _ still working through now. it's very interesting to hear, _ still working through now. it's very interesting to hear, is _ still working through now. it's very interesting to hear, is one - still working through now. it's very interesting to hear, is one of i still working through now. it's very interesting to hear, is one of my . interesting to hear, is one of my earlier guests said, that you won't listen to, which is what don 0ckenden was emphasising when she held the news conference earlier. —— donna. you will have heard what she had to say, her review after five years of investigation. do you think things will change in this room —— the shrewsbury and telford hospital trust, so that women won't have to do what you went through? bitter trust, so that women won't have to do what you went through? after what i have do what you went through? after what i have heard — do what you went through? after what i have heard this _ do what you went through? after what i have heard this morning, _ do what you went through? after what i have heard this morning, i _ do what you went through? after what i have heard this morning, i would i i have heard this morning, i would like to have faith but what i have heard this morning is very upsetting

and concerning. 0ne heard this morning is very upsetting and concerning. one of the things that got me through the last few years was hoping that what happened to me would have a big enough impact to me would have a big enough impact to prevent it happening to other mothers. so what i have heard this morning is worrying to me. just mothers. so what i have heard this morning is worrying to me.- morning is worrying to me. just to clari , morning is worrying to me. just to clarify. what _ morning is worrying to me. just to clarify. what did — morning is worrying to me. just to clarify, what did you _ morning is worrying to me. just to clarify, what did you hear- morning is worrying to me. just to clarify, what did you hear this i clarify, what did you hear this morning or not hear perhaps that makes you unsure about whether this will bring about change?— will bring about change? families are still coming _ will bring about change? families are still coming forward _ will bring about change? families are still coming forward now i will bring about change? families are still coming forward now that| are still coming forward now that couldn't be part of the review, still coming forward with worries and obviously they have things to say about their own birth stories that are of concern.— say about their own birth stories that are of concern. thank you so much for talking _ that are of concern. thank you so much for talking to _ that are of concern. thank you so much for talking to us _ that are of concern. thank you so much for talking to us and - that are of concern. thank you so much for talking to us and telling j much for talking to us and telling us your story. best wishes to you and your children. emma priddey. joining me now is beth heath, head of clinical negligence at lanyon bowdler, a shrewsbury—based law firm representing over 100 of the victims. thank you forjoining us to talk

about this story today. give us a sense of the stories of people you represent. taste sense of the stories of people you reresent. ~ , , ., ., ., represent. we represent a range of es of represent. we represent a range of types of cases, — represent. we represent a range of types of cases, ranging _ represent. we represent a range of types of cases, ranging from i represent. we represent a range of types of cases, ranging from birth i types of cases, ranging from birth injuries where a child may have suffered brain injury at or around the time of their birth or stillbirths where they die in utero or a baby dies shortly after being born. there was also a lot of cases similar to emma's where mothers have suffered injury, and some of them have died as well.— have died as well. what have your experiences _ have died as well. what have your experiences been _ have died as well. what have your experiences been in _ have died as well. what have your experiences been in terms - have died as well. what have your experiences been in terms of i have died as well. what have your. experiences been in terms of trying to deal with the trust, people at the trust, perhaps before they got lawyers involved? s, the trust, perhaps before they got lawyers involved?— lawyers involved? a lot of the after-care _ lawyers involved? a lot of the after-care so _ lawyers involved? a lot of the after-care so to _ lawyers involved? a lot of the after-care so to say _ lawyers involved? a lot of the after-care so to say that i lawyers involved? a lot of the after-care so to say that they| lawyers involved? a lot of the i after-care so to say that they have after—care so to say that they have had has been very poor and that a large reason they come and approach

us. the complete lack of compassion, lack of answers. the family want to know why it happened and they consistently don't get that information from the trust because of the complete lack of transparency. i strongly believe the trust have been burying their head in the sand about the quality of care they have been providing. also some of the stories i hear, mentioned in donna's report about comments made to grieving family members and mothers being made to believe that what happened and the loss of their child was their own fault, which is absolutely horrific. and some of the cases you are looking at date back to the 1980s. we are hearing there are cases that have happened in the last couple of years that are being looked into as well, which is clearly very concerning is our last guest was highlighting. the trust has paid out a significant amount of money in compensation, i hate to use that word, nothing can compensate for the

loss of a child. for some families of children with life changing injuries, clearly they will need money for care, but i imagine the people you are representing, what they really want is justice. absolutely. there are very few families that approach us wanting financial compensation. unfortunately that is the only official redress we can get them but most of the families come to us because they want answers and haven't been able to get them from their own meetings with the trust and the complaints process. but they also want accountability and reassurance that it won't happen again to other families. reassurance that it won't happen again to otherfamilies. i think reassurance that it won't happen again to other families. i think the report from donna 0ckenden has highlighted that mistakes have been repeated time and time again over the years so that obviously hasn't happened. as you say, compensation is important for the families who have now essentially become carers

for their child who have suffered a significant brain injury. they will require care, adapted accommodation which is all very expensive so we need to make sure this child is properly looked after for the rest of their life.— of their life. beth, thank you for talkin to of their life. beth, thank you for talking to us _ of their life. beth, thank you for talking to us today. _ beth heath, head of clinical negligence at lanyon bowdler. let's get more on the war in ukraine now. the un's refugee agency says that over the five weeks since the conflict began, more than 4 million people have fled ukraine. the overwhelming majority of them have headed west to moldova and the european union. among them are eugene zyablin, his wife, two daughters and newborn son. they left kharkiv shortly after baby 0liver was born, in the first weeks of the conflict. they travelled through hungary and austria, before arriving in germany. we can speak now to eugene from his new home in wiesbaden in west germany. thank you so much forjoining us today. what an extraordinary first

few weeks of 0liver�*s life. i read you had decided to call him 0liver, not the typical ukrainian name, because you said he was a child of the world, so well travelled at only a few weeks old. but what a traumatic experience for you all as a family. traumatic experience for you all as a famil . ,., ., ., , traumatic experience for you all as afamil . ., , a family. good morning. yes, so we fled from kharkiv _ a family. good morning. yes, so we fled from kharkiv about _ a family. good morning. yes, so we fled from kharkiv about a _ a family. good morning. yes, so we fled from kharkiv about a month i a family. good morning. yes, so we . fled from kharkiv about a month ago. so the war started on the 24th of february. we were walking up with my wife because of the loud noises outside so we understood what it was because we follow the news. we knew that there were tensions between russia and ukraine, and it wasn't a surprise. of course it was a shock but not actually a surprise. the surprise was when we realised

together with the people of ukraine that these were not only the military infrastructure targeted by putin and russians. so as soon as they started to bomb shelter and civil infrastructure, theatres and residential areas with let's say non—precise weapons, we decided for ourselves to leave our home behind. so my wife was pregnant then... irate so my wife was pregnant then... we are 'ust so my wife was pregnant then... we are just showing our view is a picture of you and your family minus baby 0liver who hadn't arrived at that point, but tell us more about the circumstances in which he arrived. , ., , arrived. yes, so we have been waiting for— arrived. yes, so we have been waiting for the _ arrived. yes, so we have been waiting for the operation, i arrived. yes, so we have been

waiting for the operation, the | waiting for the operation, the scheduled c—section operation, but we persuaded our doctor to make it a little bit earlier in order to have a chance to leave. so we were very correct in this decision because the child was born in the morning of the 1st of march. in the evening of the same day, there was a russian fighter aircraft just over the maternity house where we had been with my wife. and he put a few bombs in the vicinity, and the windows shattered out of the maternity house. so we spent a night in the basement. 50 house. so we spent a night in the basement-— house. so we spent a night in the basement. so his first... the first da of basement. so his first... the first day of his — basement. so his first... the first day of his life _ basement. so his first... the first day of his life was _ basement. so his first... the first day of his life was in _ basement. so his first... the first day of his life was in the - basement. so his first... the first l day of his life was in the basement. we can see the picture of your wife on a mattress on the floor with baby

0liver. on a mattress on the floor with baby oliver. , ., , oliver. yes, we have been recommended _ oliver. yes, we have been recommended by - oliver. yes, we have been recommended by doctors. oliver. yes, we have been i recommended by doctors to stay oliver. yes, we have been - recommended by doctors to stay at least one week in the maternity hospital in order to feel safe, but we made a decision. just we have been waiting for the curfew to be over, and in the morning of the next day, we took a suitcase, grabbed our older daughters and moved together with our neighbours from our house just to the west of ukraine with no definite thought wide to go. what definite thought wide to go. what was our definite thought wide to go. what was your route — definite thought wide to go. what was your route to _ definite thought wide to go. what was your route to germany? just briefly describe your route. irate briefly describe your route. we sent briefly describe your route. we spent four _ briefly describe your route. - spent four days travelling to the west of ukraine. it is not a big distance but a long time because of the checkpoints and the traffic

jams. we slept with strangers let's say in their houses. theyjust met us with mercy and compassion and let us with mercy and compassion and let us stay at their homes. and then we moved abroad because i saw that children were shocked and they were shocked when they heard the noise of aircraft. so the maternity house was close to our apartment building and they also witnessed this shocking atmosphere while they were sheltered in the basement of my multi story building. in the basement of my multi story buildin. �* ., i. in the basement of my multi story buildin. �* ., ,, ~' in the basement of my multi story buildin. �* ., i. ~ , building. and do you think there is a possibility _ building. and do you think there is a possibility you — building. and do you think there is a possibility you might _ building. and do you think there is a possibility you might stay - building. and do you think there is a possibility you might stay in i a possibility you might stay in germany or do you absolutely want to get back to ukraine as soon as possible? very briefly if you would.

i am willing to go home. we made some plans, but of course we need to return to a safe environment. we made plans like ordinary families, so my middle daughter had a birthday on the 1st of march as well so she spent a birthday in the basement with neighbours singing happy birthday to her and with no friends of course, just the neighbours. the elder daughterjust dreamt to visit the concept of louis tomlinson in july in kyiv. —— the concert. i don't know, we decided to stay with our friends here don't know, we decided to stay with ourfriends here in germany in wiesbaden because they offered help for us. and when the war will be

over, we will think how to return and rebuild our city and our country, because we left a lot of friends and things behind. eugene, thank ou friends and things behind. eugene, thank you so _ friends and things behind. eugene, thank you so much _ friends and things behind. eugene, thank you so much for— friends and things behind. eugene, thank you so much for talking i friends and things behind. eugene, thank you so much for talking to i friends and things behind. eugene, thank you so much for talking to us and good luck to you and your family. public satisfaction with the nhs has dropped to its lowest level for 25 years after a sharp fall during the pandemic, according to a survey by the british social attitudes poll. here with me now is dan wellings, who is a senior fellow at the kings fund. hello to you, and i guess if you are a hard—working member of the nhs, and aren't they all of course, you might be slightly affronted by these findings. might be slightly affronted by these findinus. , ., ., ., ., ., , findings. they are an extraordinary set of results _ findings. they are an extraordinary set of results and _ findings. they are an extraordinary set of results and i _ findings. they are an extraordinary set of results and i think— findings. they are an extraordinary set of results and i think they - findings. they are an extraordinary set of results and i think they have i set of results and i think they have been some time in the making. you mentioned the pandemic, clearly that has put the nhs under huge stress,

but it was already under stress with over [i but it was already under stress with over 4 million on waiting lists even before the pandemic hit, chronic staff shortages, so yes, it makes difficult reading but it is important we listen as well. at important we listen as well. of course doctors, nurses, other nhs staff would perhaps say to those expressing the dissatisfaction that that dissatisfaction should be directed elsewhere. they would say they are not getting the funding to run the services they want to. the findin . s run the services they want to. the findings very _ run the services they want to. tue findings very much run the services they want to. he findings very much speak run the services they want to. t'te findings very much speak to run the services they want to. tte findings very much speak to that. people are dissatisfied with different services from dentistry to gp services to hospitals but they are also clear on the reasons why and workforce shortages are one of the top reasons. it also drew eight out of ten people said the nhs has a major or severe funding crisis. as said, this is a decade of austerity and underfunding, and really baffling given that the public for a

long time now have been saying there is not enough staff and no coherent work strategy. if you look at the principles behind the nhs, comprehensive, available to all, primarily funded through taxation, free at the point of use, it is clear the public are behind those principles, they don't want a different model. theyjust want principles, they don't want a different model. they just want this one to work. different model. they 'ust want this to work.— different model. they 'ust want this one to work. how much attention do ou think one to work. how much attention do you think the — one to work. how much attention do you think the government _ one to work. how much attention do you think the government pays - one to work. how much attention do you think the government pays to i you think the government pays to this social attitudes survey? t this social attitudes survey? i suspect a great deal of this social attitudes survey? t suspect a great deal of attention because these are people who use services and they are voters. this is a key issue, people vote on the nhs and it's one of the most significant issues they vote on. we all know the nhs has a huge role in british society and one of the things we are proudest of sol british society and one of the things we are proudest of so i think the government will be listening and reflecting on what they mean. dan welinas, reflecting on what they mean. dan welings, good to get your thoughts on this.

dan wellings, a senior fellow at the kings fund. dissatisfaction now at its lowest level in 25 years. just to let you know that we are very soon going to be going to the house of commons for prime minister's questions. this comes the day after the metropolitan police announced that there would be 20 fines, fixed penalty notices issued over parties which were all breaking at downing street. we don't know any of the names of who those fines have been issued to yet although downing street said if the prime minister was to get one, they would reveal that. opposition parties are continuing in the wake of this and used to call for boris johnson to resign. but it is thought that most conservative mps are still

waiting on the final results from the sue gray report. let's get all the sue gray report. let's get all the latest head of prime minister's questions now, and we canjoin my colleaguejo coburn for questions now, and we canjoin my colleague jo coburn for the questions now, and we canjoin my colleaguejo coburn for the daily politics. let's welcome viewers on the news channel. it is just under ten minutes to midday and prime minister's questions, if of course it starts on time, that will be up to the speaker of the house. let's dip into the chamber and see what is going on as mp5 gatherfor the final chamber and see what is going on as mp5 gather for the final clash at mps gather for the final clash at the dispatch box between keir starmer and borisjohnson before the easter recess. we talked at the beginning of the programme about the dinner last night, a charm offensive you might call it, by the prime minister borisjohnson, to try and reset his leadership, just as the metropolitan police is issuing fines for rule breaking lockdown parties at downing street and whitehall. tory mps were invited last night. let's catch up with our political

editor laura kuenssberg. laura, has it worked, the charm offensive, with those tory mps, some of course had put in letters trying to trigger a vote of no confidence in minister? to a degree, but the efforts boris johnson _ minister? to a degree, but the efforts boris johnson has - minister? to a degree, but the j efforts boris johnson has made minister? to a degree, but the - efforts boris johnson has made two efforts borisjohnson has made two changes team, to sack some of his staff, to employ extra ministerial aides to try to improve communications between downing street and the backbenchers, i think some of that has had an impact and i think backbenchers are feeling a bit more love from the top. however, what is more realistic in terms of what is more realistic in terms of what has really changed the dial in terms of the pressure on him is rash's invasion of ukraine because, quite understandably and quite properly, it is those dramatic global events that have really changed the dial in westminster. that is what is sucking up the bandwidth in government, particularly in downing street, and thatis particularly in downing street, and that is what has changed the priorities are people in parliament. as we were reminded yesterday with the fact of that batch of fines

coming forward from the metropolitan police, that issue has not disappeared, it had faded but has not been forgotten. right now we are in a state of suspended animation because we know that yesterday was the first day of the met�*s official conclusions but it will certainly not be the last, and it is not until we firm conclusions of actually what it means for borisjohnson, it is not until then that the political implications will actually become clear. , , ., clear. interesting in terms of the d namics clear. interesting in terms of the dynamics of _ clear. interesting in terms of the dynamics of westminster - clear. interesting in terms of the dynamics of westminster with i clear. interesting in terms of the l dynamics of westminster with the conservative party as you say and the war in ukraine has honestly had a major influence, i don't know if we can show viewers, this is from the pollster, jamesjohnson, this tweet...

yes, andi yes, and i was speaking to somebody who knows borisjohnson very well yesterday, has worked with him at very close quarters and they were making that precise point. they were suggesting that when it gets to the general election in 2024, people are not likely to be voting at that stage based on what may or may not have happened in this big global powerplay between vladimir putin and the west. they would not be voting on however close borisjohnson seems to be to president zelensky from ukraine, they will not be voting on those kinds of foreign policy issues, they will be voting on the bread and butter issues that affect them. they will be voting, likely, and what looks like a pretty tough backdrop for people in terms of being able to make ends meet, and many mps do worry, and are aware, i think, that how they see it, that sort of thread between borisjohnson and the public, what his backers would say was a sort of golden thread, he was a politician who was able to bring in former labour

voters, new people to the tory tried, in that election in 2019 and there are mps who worry that that connection is not completely snapped, but it is certainly looking quite threadbare, and has certainly been fractured over all of this. it is probably a good day to remind people what we talk about on this programme, what people discuss in the square mile, is not necessarily exactly what people are really talking about their kitchen tables when they are thinking about what is going on in the world. that is not to say for a single second that the public isn't greatly concerned and has not paid attention to what is happening ukraine, but as the pollsterjamesjohnson suggests, pollster james johnson suggests, people pollsterjamesjohnson suggests, people have long memories so the mess around partygate may have faded for a while, but it hasn't been forgotten and it did do damage to borisjohnson's personal political brand, unquestionably. you boris johnson's personal political brand, unquestionably.— brand, unquestionably. you are sta inc brand, unquestionably. you are staying with _ brand, unquestionably. you are staying with us _ brand, unquestionably. you are staying with us up _ brand, unquestionably. you are staying with us up to _ brand, unquestionably. you are staying with us up to pmqs, - brand, unquestionably. you are l staying with us up to pmqs, what brand, unquestionably. you are - staying with us up to pmqs, what is your reaction to that? the staying with us up to pmqs, what is your reaction to that?— your reaction to that? the next aeneral your reaction to that? the next general election _ your reaction to that? the next general election will— your reaction to that? the next

general election will be - your reaction to that? the next general election will be fought | your reaction to that? the next i general election will be fought on issues _ general election will be fought on issues like the of living, the parties _ issues like the of living, the parties was not a record and issues like what _ parties was not a record and issues like what happened during lockdown will he _ like what happened during lockdown will he on _ like what happened during lockdown will be on peoples minds, and i don't _ will be on peoples minds, and i don't underestimate the anger of lots of— don't underestimate the anger of lots of my— don't underestimate the anger of lots of my constituents, but equally my constituents are very concerned about _ my constituents are very concerned about the _ my constituents are very concerned about the cost of living, how we get through _ about the cost of living, how we get through this, their energy bills, issues — through this, their energy bills, issues around planning, around and the houses, — issues around planning, around and the houses, school places, and people — the houses, school places, and people in— the houses, school places, and people in south northamptonshire, i’ilht people in south northamptonshire, right around the country, are looking — right around the country, are looking at— right around the country, are looking at a lot of different issues when _ looking at a lot of different issues when they— looking at a lot of different issues when they are looking at this government's track record. barry? laura is right _ government's track record. barry? laura is right about _ government's track record. barry? laura is right about the _ government's track record. barry? laura is right about the public - government's track record. barry? laura is right about the public not| laura is right about the public not forgetting these issues. i believe the next election will be covered not by the five year term, it will be governed by when borisjohnson thinks it is his best opportunity... but every prime minister does that. to save himself from his backbenchers and that is why all the problems with the cost of living is that andrea has just alluded to, and the pressure that has built up from his backbenchers, we are likely to

see a general election, probably at the end of this year or at the latest, may, next year, before the boundary changes have kicked in which conservative mps are not keen on fighting on the new boundaries, many of them, so the timeframe that low rates talking about is wrong. borisjohnson will say boris johnson, not the conservative party of the country but borisjohnson. t of the country but borisjohnson. i really don't agree with that, barry. i don't _ really don't agree with that, barry. i don't agree with your assessment on pining _ i don't agree with your assessment on pining i— i don't agree with your assessment on pining i don't agree that conservative mps don't like the boundary — conservative mps don't like the boundary changes and i certainly do not agree _ boundary changes and i certainly do not agree that boris will do what is i’ilht not agree that boris will do what is right for— not agree that boris will do what is right for boris. he really has a mission — right for boris. he really has a mission to— right for boris. he really has a mission to level up across the country. — mission to level up across the country, and i think you only have to look— country, and i think you only have to look at— country, and i think you only have to look at the red wall seats in the north— to look at the red wall seats in the north of— to look at the red wall seats in the north of england in places where labour— north of england in places where labour voters turn to the conservatives because they can see that boris— conservatives because they can see that borisjohnson really does have a mission — that boris johnson really does have a mission. ., , ., ~ , ., �* a mission. conservative mps don't reall like a mission. conservative mps don't really like boris _ a mission. conservative mps don't really like boris johnson _ a mission. conservative mps don't really like boris johnson very - a mission. conservative mps don't| really like boris johnson very much when _ really like boris johnson very much when they. — really like boris johnson very much when they. when _ really like boris johnson very much when they, when you _ really like boris johnson very much when they, when you talk - really like boris johnson very much when they, when you talk to - really like boris johnson very much when they, when you talk to him, i when they, when you talk to him, they don't— when they, when you talk to him, they don't trust _ when they, when you talk to him, they don't trust him, _ when they, when you talk to him, they don't trust him, trust - when they, when you talk to him, they don't trust him, trust will. when they, when you talk to him, they don't trust him, trust will be| they don't trust him, trust will be an issue. —

they don't trust him, trust will be an issue. and _ they don't trust him, trust will be an issue, and let— they don't trust him, trust will be an issue, and let me _ they don't trust him, trust will be an issue, and let me finish - they don't trust him, trust will be an issue, and let me finish this. an issue, and let me finish this point, — an issue, and let me finish this point. andrea _ an issue, and let me finish this point, andrea. trust— an issue, and let me finish this point, andrea. trust will- an issue, and let me finish this point, andrea. trust will be - an issue, and let me finish this| point, andrea. trust will be the most _ point, andrea. trust will be the most important _ point, andrea. trust will be the most important issue _ point, andrea. trust will be the most important issue at- point, andrea. trust will be the most important issue at the - point, andrea. trust will be the . most important issue at the most next election _ most important issue at the most next election and _ most important issue at the most next election and people - most important issue at the most next election and people do - most important issue at the most next election and people do not l next election and people do not trust _ next election and people do not trust boris _ next election and people do not trust borisjohnson, _ next election and people do not trust borisjohnson, and - next election and people do not trust borisjohnson, and with. next election and people do not i trust borisjohnson, and with good cause, _ trust borisjohnson, and with good cause, he — trust borisjohnson, and with good cause, he is— trust borisjohnson, and with good cause, he is toxic— trust borisjohnson, and with good cause, he is toxic in— trust borisjohnson, and with good cause, he is toxic in scotland - trust borisjohnson, and with good cause, he is toxic in scotland and. cause, he is toxic in scotland and the scottish— cause, he is toxic in scotland and the scottish conservative - cause, he is toxic in scotland and the scottish conservative party . cause, he is toxic in scotland and i the scottish conservative party will be in _ the scottish conservative party will be in the _ the scottish conservative party will be in the store _ the scottish conservative party will be in the store the _ the scottish conservative party will be in the store the new— the scottish conservative party will be in the store the new position. be in the store the new position with every— be in the store the new position with every single _ be in the store the new position with every single scottish - be in the store the new position with every single scottish tory. be in the store the new position- with every single scottish tory msp having _ with every single scottish tory msp having called — with every single scottish tory msp having called for— with every single scottish tory msp having called for his _ with every single scottish tory msp having called for his resignation, i having called for his resignation, they will— having called for his resignation, they will have _ having called for his resignation, they will have to _ having called for his resignation, they will have to go _ having called for his resignation, they will have to go round - having called for his resignation, they will have to go round the i having called for his resignation, i they will have to go round the doors in scotland — they will have to go round the doors in scotland and _ they will have to go round the doors in scotland and explain _ they will have to go round the doors in scotland and explain why- they will have to go round the doors in scotland and explain why they i they will have to go round the doors| in scotland and explain why they are putting _ in scotland and explain why they are putting his _ in scotland and explain why they are putting his manifesto _ in scotland and explain why they are putting his manifesto forward. - in scotland and explain why they are putting his manifesto forward. fire. putting his manifesto forward. are ou sa inc putting his manifesto forward. you saying this would be a good putting his manifesto forward.- you saying this would be a good time to have a leadership contest when there is pressure on cost of living and a war ongoing in ukraine? tt t and a war ongoing in ukraine? if i was a and a war ongoing in ukraine? if i wasa tory and a war ongoing in ukraine? if i was a tory mp which is i know how to imagine. _ was a tory mp which is i know how to imagine. i_ was a tory mp which is i know how to imagine, i certainly— was a tory mp which is i know how to imagine, i certainly would _ was a tory mp which is i know how to imagine, i certainly would not- was a tory mp which is i know how to imagine, i certainly would not boris. imagine, i certainly would not boris johnson _ imagine, i certainly would not boris johnson to— imagine, i certainly would not boris johnson to lead _ imagine, i certainly would not boris johnson to lead me _ imagine, i certainly would not boris johnson to lead me into _ imagine, i certainly would not boris johnson to lead me into the - imagine, i certainly would not boris johnson to lead me into the next i johnson to lead me into the next election — johnson to lead me into the next election, because _ johnson to lead me into the next election, because they— johnson to lead me into the next election, because they know i johnson to lead me into the next| election, because they know that johnson to lead me into the next i election, because they know that he is toxic— election, because they know that he is toxic and — election, because they know that he is toxic and they— election, because they know that he is toxic and they know _ election, because they know that he is toxic and they know that - election, because they know that he is toxic and they know that he - election, because they know that he is toxic and they know that he will. is toxic and they know that he will do them _ is toxic and they know that he will do them a — is toxic and they know that he will do them a lot— is toxic and they know that he will do them a lot of— is toxic and they know that he will do them a lot of damage. - is toxic and they know that he will do them a lot of damage. buil- is toxic and they know that he will do them a lot of damage.- is toxic and they know that he will do them a lot of damage. but you do not represent — do them a lot of damage. but you do not represent what _ do them a lot of damage. but you do not represent what tory _ do them a lot of damage. but you do not represent what tory mps, - do them a lot of damage. but you do not represent what tory mps, as i do them a lot of damage. but you do not represent what tory mps, as you j not represent what tory mps, as you are from the snp. but not represent what tory mps, as you are from the snp.— are from the snp. but i do talk to a lot of tory — are from the snp. but i do talk to a lot of tory mps! — are from the snp. but i do talk to a lot of tory mps! laura, _ are from the snp. but i do talk to a lot of tory mps! laura, what i are from the snp. but i do talk to a lot of tory mps! laura, what about| lot of tory mps! laura, what about keir starmer. _ lot of tory mps! laura, what about keir starmer, what _ lot of tory mps! laura, what about keir starmer, what do _ lot of tory mps! laura, what about keir starmer, what do you - lot of tory mps! laura, what about keir starmer, what do you think i lot of tory mps! laura, what about| keir starmer, what do you think he will focus on today 's know, i think

we have got a few moments. you can go ahead. we have got a few moments. you can no ahead. ,, . go ahead. keir starmer might actually stay _ go ahead. keir starmer might actually stay away _ go ahead. keir starmer might actually stay away from i go ahead. keir starmer might| actually stay away from asking questions about partygate and the surrounding... t questions about partygate and the surrounding. . ._ and i know that the house stands with you and will give you the support you need to live freely as yourself. mr speaker, iwould support you need to live freely as yourself. mr speaker, i would like to thank donna 0ckenden and her team for the compassionate approach she has taken throughout this distressing review of maternity care at shrewsbury and telford hospitals nhs trust. every woman giving birth has the right to a safe birth. my heart therefore goes out to the families for the distress and suffering that they have endured. friend—mac, the health secretary, will make a statement this afternoon setting out the government's response. this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues

and others. i shall have further such meetings later today. while our focuses rightly on ukraine, the prime minister will be aware of the great concern many people have across the baltic states. so can he outline the role the joint expeditionary force can play in countering russian aggression and improving defensive posture for allies in the baltics. ——? posture for allies in the baltics. ——7 | posture for allies in the baltics. ——? ithink posture for allies in the baltics. ——? i think in very much under the joint expeditionary force is an increasingly important grouping of the nordic countries, the baltic countries, the dutch and ourselves, who are committed to working together in an active way to counter russian aggression and to support our ukrainianfans. russian aggression and to support our ukrainian fans. we had a very successful meeting a couple of weeks ago and we will have further such meetings in the course of the next few weeks. we now come to the leader of the opposition, keir starmer.

thank— opposition, keir starmer. thank you, mr speaker. can ijoin the prime minister in his remarks in relation to the honourable member for bridgend? does the prime minister still think that he and the chancellor are tax—cutting conservatives? yes, mr speaker, i certainly, conservatives? yes, mr speaker, icertainly, i certainly do, because... i certainly do, because this is the government that has just introduced not only the biggest cut in fuel duty, ever, but the biggest, the biggest cut in income tax for working people in the last ten years. 70% of the population paying national insurance contribution will have a substantial tax code as a result of what the chancellor did. they don't like it, it's true. they always put up taxes, that's why. they love it. they love

putting up taxes. but if mike you take together what we are doing with income tax and national insurance, it is the biggest tax cut proposed by my right honourable friend, the chancellor, for 25 years. cut the nonsense. and treat the british people with a bit of respect. let me take them through this slowly. 15 tax rises, the highest tax burden for 70 years. for every £6 they are taking in tax rises, they are only handing £1 back. prime minister, is that cutting taxes, or is that raising taxes? mr speaker, i don't know where he has been for the last two years, but even by the standards... yes he has!

even by the standards of captain hindsight, mr speaker, to obliterate the biggest pandemic of the last century from his memory, to obliterate the 408 billion that we have had to spend to look after people up and down the country, is quite extraordinary. and they say is a government that is getting on with reducing the tax burden where ever we can. what we are doing, mr speaker, there is one measure i think he should be supporting command that is the health and care levy. to fund our nhs. that is the one they oppose. every other tax rise they are all in favour. mr speaker, i can only hope that his police questionnaire was a bit more convincing than that. this year, this year... this year, british

people face the worst fall in living standards on record. while they're counting every penny, the prime minister is hitting them with higher taxes. but in 2024, when they're just so happens to be a general election, they will introduce a small tax cut. that's not taking difficult decisions. it's putting the tory re—election campaign over and above helping people pay their bills. how did he find a chancellor as utterly cynical as he is? what we have, mr speaker, is a chancellor who took the tough decisions to look after the uk economy throughout the pandemic, and to protected people up and down the land with £408 billion worth of support. and by the way, if we had listened to them, if we had listened to captain... if we had listened to

captain hindsight, we would not have come out of a locked down injuly last year, mr speaker. we would have stayed in lockdown over christmas and new year, mr speaker. with the result of the uk economy would not be growing in the way that it is. and so we would not be able to make the investments that we now are. and under labour we would have to be taxed more and borrow more. and there cannot be trusted, mr speaker, with the economy. —— they cannot be trusted. the tough decisions? give me a break. we now come away now, we now... mr speaker, we know that those two always asked to pay income stealth tax. a tax on working people. tuition fee rate. a tax on working people. nice insurance hike, a tax on working people. all while oil and gas companies see unexpected bumper

profits. a windfall tax would raise billions and ease the burden on working people. mr speaker, the former ceo of bp, lord john browne, says a windfall tax is justifiable. the current ceo says they have, in his words, more cash than they know what to do with. why is the prime minister more interested in shielding oil and gas profits than supporting working people? that shielding oil and gas profits than supporting working people? that is a classic example _ supporting working people? that is a classic example of _ supporting working people? that is a classic example of what _ supporting working people? that is a classic example of what labour i supporting working people? that is a classic example of what labour has l classic example of what labour has got wrong in there, their period in office. the comedy, the oil and gas companies are now investing £20 billion in ensuring that we have long—term energy supplies. i remember the 1997 labour manifesto actually said there was no economic case for more nuclear power. well, we are now having to make good the historic mistakes of the labour

party, by investing in our long—term energy supply. that is what we are doing. everything that they are proposing would mean deterring investment, meaning higher prices for consumers and households up and down the land being worse off. keir starmer. there we have it. they are the party of excess oil and gas profits, we are the party of working people. mr speaker... talking of priorities... talking of priorities... talking of priorities... talking of parties, prime minister, he told the house no rules were broken in downing street during lockdown. the police have now concluded there was widespread criminality. the ministerial code says that ministers who knowingly mislead the house should resign. why is he still here?

hang on, hang on, hang on a minute... hejust changes position. sorry, mr speaker. we do at least expect some consistency from this human weather vane. it was only a week or so ago he was saying i shouldn't resign. what is his position, mr speaker? of course, the, the, the investigators must, must get on with theirjob. but in the meantime, in the meantime, in the meantime, in the meantime, in the meantime, in the meantime, in the meantime, mr speaker, we are going to get on with ourjob. and what we are focusing on is tackling the cost of living, helping people, helping people through the spike in fuel prices, the 9.1 billion the chancellor has set out, but also, mr speaker, i've mentioned nuclear power, mention tackling energy supplies, which labour totally

failed to do, what we are also doing, far more important than that perhaps, we are tackling and numeracy in our schools. we're investing billions in tutoring. that is what we are focusing on that i think that's what the people of this country want us to focus on. look, there are only two possible explanations. either he is trashing the ministerial code. 0r explanations. either he is trashing the ministerial code. or he is claiming he was repeatedly lied to by his own advisers, that he didn't know what was going on in his own house and his own office. come off it. he really does think there is one rule for him and another one for everybody else. that he can pass off criminality in his office and ask others to follow the law. that he can keep raising taxes and called himself a tax cutter. that he can hike tax during a cost of living crisis and get credit for giving a bit crisis and get credit for giving a hit back crisis and get credit for giving a bit backjust before an election.

when is he going to stop taking the british public for fools? mr speaker, this is the, this is the leader of the opposition who would have kept this country in lockdown and made it absolutely impossible... he has zero consistency on any issue, mr speaker. at one thing we know about is he would like to take us back into the eu and take us back into lockdown if he possibly could. thanks to what this government has done, we have unemployment back down to the levels it was before the pandemic. the economy bigger than it was. and we have record vacancies, mr speaker. the difference between them and us is they want, mr speaker, they want to keep people on benefits, we want to help people into work. that is what we are doing into work. that is what we are doing in record numbers. they want to raise taxes, we want to cut taxes. that is what we are doing, mr speaker. we are tackling, we are

tackling a literacy, they didn't give a damn, mr speaker. we are getting on with making this country, making this country the best place to live. last time i updated the house, mr speaker, and the number of unicorns that we had in this country. i said we had 100. i can inform you now, mr speaker, we have 1020. they don't want to hear it. that is more than france, that is more than germany, that is more than israel. it is more than france, germany and is well combined, mr speaker! that is what is happening under this comment. is happening because of the tough decisions we have taken. we take the tough decisions, we deliver, they play politics, mr speaker. the uk government's work connecting

rural areas— the uk government's work connecting rural areas like brecon and radnorshire to supercross broadband is going _ radnorshire to supercross broadband is going to _ radnorshire to supercross broadband is going to become harder tomorrow when _ is going to become harder tomorrow when the _ is going to become harder tomorrow when the rats government withdraws its funding _ when the rats government withdraws its funding for the scheme, forcing the cost _ its funding for the scheme, forcing the cost for— its funding for the scheme, forcing the cost for insulation back onto homes — the cost for insulation back onto homes and businesses in my constituency. whilst labour's decision— constituency. whilst labour's decision means my constituents will lose out— decision means my constituents will lose out as — decision means my constituents will lose out as a local authorities is ending — lose out as a local authorities is ending that continue to fund the scheme — ending that continue to fund the scheme. does my right honourable friend _ scheme. does my right honourable friend agree that broadband is critical— friend agree that broadband is critical for the growth of the rural economy? — critical for the growth of the rural economy? and will redouble his government's efforts to connect my constituents, despite welsh labour letting _ constituents, despite welsh labour letting us _ constituents, despite welsh labour letting us down? yes. _ letting us down? yes, mr speaker. we are spending 69 million already to support roll—out of superfast broadband in wales. and i wish that the welsh government had not withdrawn its broadband scheme, but we will do our best to make up the difference as fast as possible. we now come to the snp leader, ian blackford _ blackford. thank you, mr speaker. it blackford. — thank you, mr speaker. it is good to

see the memberfor thank you, mr speaker. it is good to see the member for bridge and thank you, mr speaker. it is good to see the memberfor bridge and in thank you, mr speaker. it is good to see the member for bridge and in the chamber this afternoon. i commend him for his statement. mr speaker, last night millions of families would have been desperately trying to figure out whether they could possibly afford the £700 energy price hike that will hit them this friday. mr speaker, the very same time tory mps were gathering across the street for a champagne bash in the street for a champagne bash in the park plaza. we all know... we all know that the tories party during lockdown... mrfabricant. during lockdown... mr fabrica nt. easter during lockdown... mrfabricant. easter is during lockdown... mr fabricant. easter is upon us. during lockdown... mrfabricant. easter is upon us. i mr fabricant. easter is upon us. i don't _ mr fabricant. easter is upon us. i don't need — mr fabricant. easter is upon us. i don't need you to ruin your easter. all of— don't need you to ruin your easter. all of you. — don't need you to ruin your easter. all of you, let's hear snp leader, ian blackford. you _ ian blackford. you can shout and scream when we

ran blackford. — you can shout and scream when we are raising the tory living crisis, mr speaker, because we all know that the tory party, during lockdown, and now they're parting through the cost of living emergency. last week the chancellor got it badly wrong. and ever since, the prime minister has been busy briefing against him, saying that more needs to be done. for once, i agree with the prime minister. so, if the prime minister really believes that more needs to be done, can he tell us exactly what he will order his chancellor to do, to help the millions of families facing a £700 price hike this friday? mr speaker, i thank him very much. he is an error in what he says. he is like me a living testament to the benefits of moderation in all things, mr speaker. and i can sue him that we are, this week —— but i

can assure him that we can get, that this week actually the living wage is going up again by a record amount and thanks to what the chancellor has done we are putting £9.1 billion into helping people up and down the country and what i might respectfully suggest is that actually the scottish nationalist government, with whom we work increasingly well, anything they can focus on for the long—term prosperity of scotland is the educational where i am sad to see, scotland's once glorious record falling behind. tah scotland's once glorious record falling behind.— scotland's once glorious record i falling behind._ -- falling behind. ian black with. -- blackford- _ falling behind. ian black with. -- blackford. what _ falling behind. ian black with. -- blackford. what a _ falling behind. ian black with. -- blackford. what a load _ falling behind. ian black with. -- blackford. what a load of- falling behind. ian black with. -- i blackford. what a load of absolute baloney. the prime minister is dangerously out of touch. food banks are warning that people are having to choose their food based on whether they can afford the gas to boil it. families are having to choose which room to heat or whether

they can turn on the heating at all. some in the tory cabinet clearly believe that better weather means that they can happily sit on their hands and do nothing until next winter. they obviously don't get or don't care that, in many parts of scotland, the weather will barely reach above freezing over the next week. the chancellor thinks his £200 loan which is forcing people into energy debt, is some consolation but it clearly isn't. so before the prime minister and his chancellor go off on their easter holidays, will be at the very least turn this loan into a grant and finally put some cash into people's pockets when they need it, right now? t cash into people's pockets when they need it, right now?— need it, right now? i thank him but we are doing _ need it, right now? i thank him but we are doing of _ need it, right now? i thank him but we are doing of course _ need it, right now? i thank him but we are doing of course everything i we are doing of course everything that we can comedy nine point million balance of cold weather payments, is right to draw attention to the problem, mr speaker. we are taking a huge investment in supporting people right now. another

1 billion through the household support fund to help vulnerable families. when he talks about the cost of energy in scotland, how absolutely preposterous that the scottish nationalist party should still be opposed to the use of any of our native hydrocarbons in this country, with the result that the europeans are importing oil and gas from putting's rusher, mr speaker, it is totally absurd. == from putting's rusher, mr speaker, it is totally absurd.— it is totally absurd. -- 'ust for the recor.d * it is totally absurd. -- 'ust for the record, it i it is totally absurd. -- 'ust for the record, it is i it is totally absurd. -- just for the record, it is national- it is totally absurd. -- just for. the record, it is national party. one _ the record, it is national party. one of— the record, it is national party. one of my— the record, it is national party. one of my most important campaigns is to secure provision of post—16 education within the bolsova constituency where there is currently none, young people in my constituency have to travel long distances at considerable cost to access education, will my right honourable friend meet with me to

discuss how we can right this wrong for the young people of the bolsova consistent that my constituency and give them the education they deserve? t give them the education they deserve? ., .. , give them the education they deserve? . ,, , . deserve? i thank him very much, he is a treat deserve? i thank him very much, he is a great champion _ deserve? ! thank him very much, he is a great champion for— deserve? i thank him very much, he is a great champion for bolsova, i deserve? i thank him very much, he is a great champion for bolsova, for| is a great champion for bolsova, for his constituents, and the subsidised travel to the students having so far to two of the three excellent colleges offering t—levels from 2023, but i will make sure that he gets a meeting with my right honourable friend the education secretary to discuss further what we can do. , ,, . ., secretary to discuss further what we cando. , ,, _, secretary to discuss further what we cando., can do. during the second world war, my grandmother _ can do. during the second world war, my grandmother like _ can do. during the second world war, my grandmother like countless - can do. during the second world war, my grandmother like countless othersj my grandmother like countless others across the country, opened her home to evacuees, gooding two german jewish boys, and over 70 years later the british people want to shelter desperate refugees again. two weeks ago i was speaking to refugee families on the ukraine: border, and some desperately wanted to come to our country. one elderly couple told me that they had been told that it

is just too complicated. now the government's own figures say the same. paperwork has been put ahead of people. mr speaker, when wealthy businessmen from over 50 countries can come to the uk visa free, why does the primers that insist that the traumatised ukrainian mother and child must first fill out a visa form? ~ ,,, ., ,, ., ,, , form? mr speaker, i thank him very much. he form? mr speaker, i thank him very much- he is — form? mr speaker, i thank him very much. he is right _ form? mr speaker, i thank him very much. he is right about _ form? mr speaker, i thank him very much. he is right about the - much. he is right about the generosity of this country and he is right to draw attention to his own family's generosity. everybody is pulling together, the number of people who have come forward to offer their homes is incredible. but, i really don't think that he should deprecate what the uk is offering. we have already given

25,000 people have already got visas, mr speaker, we are processing 1000 a day, and there is no limit, no upper limit, to the number we offer, and this is a country that has already been the most generous in taking people from afghanistan, 15,000, 104,000 in taking people from afghanistan, 15,000,104,000 applications from hong kong chinese, this is a country thatis hong kong chinese, this is a country that is overwhelmingly generous to people coming in fear of their lives, yet it is, mr speaker, and so is this government.— lives, yet it is, mr speaker, and so is this government. thank you very much, mr speaker. _ is this government. thank you very much, mr speaker. i— is this government. thank you very much, mr speaker. i don't - is this government. thank you very much, mr speaker. i don't think. much, mr speaker. i don't think anybody involved in partnering operations over the last nite 20 years can be operations over the last nite 20 years can he failed to be humbled by the extraordinary commitment to the ukrainian people and defending their country aided and abetted by the legal age in this country which they are all appreciative of this prime minister and his country being first out of the door deliver that. with the prime minister agree that whilst others may now begin to tire, now is

the time to double down on the aid that we give the ukraine, that actually we might end up breaking a pretty poor russian army and bring peace to that part of the world whilst concerning the likes of vladimir putin to the dustbin of history where he belongs. that is absolutely right _ history where he belongs. that is absolutely right and _ history where he belongs. that is absolutely right and i _ history where he belongs. that is absolutely right and i thank- history where he belongs. that is absolutely right and i thank him i history where he belongs. that is l absolutely right and i thank him for his own bravery in going to see for himself only the other day. yes, it is right we should double down on military defence of support in the way that we are, and by the way, can anybody imagine a labour government, eight of his front bench voted to get rid of our nuclear deterrent, can you imagine, yes they did, recently, can you imagine them doing the same? we will go on with our role, mr speaker, and i hope that we have the support of the opposition in this, and we will make sure that there is no backsliding on sanctions by any of our friends and partners

around the world, and we need to ratchet up the economic pressure on vladimir putin, and it is certainly inconceivable that any sanctions could be taken off simply because there is a ceasefire, mr speaker, that would be absolutely unthinkable, in my view. thank you, mr speaker- — unthinkable, in my view. thank you, mr speaker. households _ unthinkable, in my view. thank you, mr speaker. households are - mr speaker. households are experiencing soaring energy costs. we are in the middle of a global climate emergency. against this backdrop, norway can feed energy into their own are a national grid at a cost of £1 36 per megawatt hour, france pays 17p per megawatt hour, france pays 17p per megawatt hour, germany, the netherlands and luxembourg pay nothing to feed into our grid. can the prime minister then explain why scotland's renewables sector is being punished with grid connection charges of £7 36 per megawatt hour? mr speaker,

scotland's renewables _ 36 per megawatt hour? mr speaker, scotland's renewables sector - 36 per megawatt hour? mr speaker, scotland's renewables sector is i scotland's renewables sector is leading the world and i am grateful to the scottish government, for all of the help and support that they are giving and developing that incredible resource in the north sea. i think there is also a role by the way for hydrocarbons as we transition, mr speaker, but what we need to do is make sure that we have a great that enables us to take that electricity onshore and transmit it around the country, and that is what i will be setting out in the british energy security strategy, mr speaker, that is the investment, the long—term investment, this country needs, and which the parties opposite completely failed to address. ., .. opposite completely failed to address. ., ,, , ., ~ opposite completely failed to address. ., ~ address. thank you, mr speaker, last week following _ address. thank you, mr speaker, last week following a _ address. thank you, mr speaker, last week following a resident _ address. thank you, mr speaker, last week following a resident and - address. thank you, mr speaker, last week following a resident and parish l week following a resident and parish council led campaign the campaign for a new —— like the application for a new —— like the application for a new —— like the application for a new fora new —— like the application for a new mega— for a new —— like the application for a new mega— present my

constituency was refused but with my right honourable friend agree that with this being close to the site where hs2 crosses, this is a matter of fairness whereby community already suffering at the hands of the structure of big state infrastructure should not be asked to take more and will he instruct the ministry ofjustice not to appeal this planning decision? t appeal this planning decision? i thank my honourable friend who is a doughty campaignerfor thank my honourable friend who is a doughty campaigner for his constituency. he has made an important point about a planning matter about which i don't think i should comment, but i am sure that the relevant ministers will have heard them loud and clear. ltrrul’ith the relevant ministers will have heard them loud and clear. with the government — heard them loud and clear. with the government losing _ heard them loud and clear. with the government losing an _ heard them loud and clear. with the government losing an estimated i heard them loud and clear. with the government losing an estimated £4| government losing an estimated £4 billion in the scheme, surely the prime minister should have tackled that fraud in the furlough scheme, especially when in his own party, in north tyneside, furlough was claimed

for a member of party staff, even though he continued to work. tt for a member of party staff, even though he continued to work. if she is really saying _ though he continued to work. if she is really saying that _ though he continued to work. if she is really saying that we _ though he continued to work. if she is really saying that we should i though he continued to work. if she is really saying that we should not have rolled out the furlough scheme at the speed that we did, then i think that everybody in this country understands that it was an heroic thing. i remembertwo understands that it was an heroic thing. i remember two years ago mr speaker, they were clamouring for us to go faster, and we did, we produced a fantastic scheme and yes, fraudsters will be hunted down. we have put another 100 million into backing down fraud, £23 billion lost a year under labour in fraud. mr a year under labour in fraud. tjt speaker, thank a year under labour in fraud. m speaker, thank you. i was delighted to learn this week that 37 of the 39 state schools in bracknell constituency are now graded good or outstanding. will the prime minister joined with me in thanking our

fantastic teachers, staff, governors and pupils and does he agree that the new education white paper offers a blueprint for schools that we can all be proud of?— all be proud of? yes, i do, it is a fantastic white _ all be proud of? yes, i do, it is a fantastic white paper. _ all be proud of? yes, i do, it is a fantastic white paper. over i all be proud of? yes, i do, it is a fantastic white paper. over 2 i fantastic white paper. over 2 million tonnes _ fantastic white paper. over 2 million tonnes of— fantastic white paper. over 2 million tonnes of edible i fantastic white paper. over 2 million tonnes of edible food fantastic white paper. over 2 i million tonnes of edible food is wasted on farms and factories every year, and funding was introduced in 2019 to cover the cost of getting food to charities to reach those in need, but the prime minister will know that his government has now cut back critical funding to zero. mr speaker, funding for food waste diversion help support community projects like for example the three hills community supermarket in lascaux so can the prime minister explained why he is ignoring calls for feeding explained why he is ignoring calls forfeeding britain, goodwood scotland and fair share, to continue this worthwhile initiative and instead cutting off a lifeline to those struggling with the cost of living crisis? t

those struggling with the cost of living crisis?— living crisis? i thank him very much. ithink— living crisis? i thank him very much. i think he _ living crisis? i thank him very much. i think he is _ living crisis? i thank him very much. i think he is referring l living crisis? i thank him very. much. i think he is referring to living crisis? i thank him very i much. i think he is referring to the strategy we have for food waste. as far as i know, we continue to support it but i will be happy to update him by letter. luca; support it but i will be happy to update him by letter. can update him by letter. lucy alan. can i thank the — update him by letter. lucy alan. can i thank the prime _ update him by letter. lucy alan. can i thank the prime minister _ update him by letter. lucy alan. can i thank the prime minister for i update him by letter. lucy alan. can i thank the prime minister for his i i thank the prime ministerfor his earlier remarks concerning the donna 0ckenden report into avoidable maternity deaths and injuries at the shrewsbury and telford hospital trust? the report makes for devastating reading, but more so because women's voices were ignored. my because women's voices were ignored. my constituents hayley matthews begged staff for a c—section throughout her 36 hour labour, but was forced into a natural birth. her son, jack, arrived blue and floppy and within hours of his birth, he tragically died. will the prime ministerjoin me in offering heartfelt sympathies to all of the families affected and also grateful thanks to the 1862 women who shared

their experiences with the donna 0ckenden review, to ensure that maternity care is safer, kinder and more compassionate for the women that come after them? t more compassionate for the women that come after them?— that come after them? i thank my honourable _ that come after them? i thank my honourable friend _ that come after them? i thank my honourable friend for _ that come after them? i thank my honourable friend for her - that come after them? i thank my l honourable friend for her question. i think everybody will thank the women concerned for taking up the issue in the way that they have, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to the victims and their families for what they have suffered. it is very important that people get the answer is that they deserve, mr speaker, but also that we have the right approach to this issue in the future, and that is why we are investing very substantially in the maternity services and also of course substantially in midwives and in our nhs altogether. every day i hear from every day i hearfrom more every day i hear from more and every day i hearfrom more and more of my constituents who are struggling to put food on the table,

to keep their lights on, to fuel their cars. the office for to responsibility estimates the government's measures will only offset falling living standards by a third. this is the biggest financial squeeze since the 19505. prime minister, don't blame ukraine, don't blame covid. this is down to your government's policies and your political choices. how do you sleep at night? well, i do agree that people are facing very tough time the moment. and we've got to do everything that we... i don't agree with her analysis, but i think the courses are certainly to do with the inflationary impact of the world coming out of covid, and the energy price spike i5 coming out of covid, and the energy price spike is at the root of it. and what we are doing, mr speaker, i5 and what we are doing, mr speaker, is to help people with universal credit, which we have lifted by £1000, helped people with the living wage, which is going up now by a

record amount, mr speaker, and cutting taxes on working people in the way that we are. but of course we can't do everything, mr speaker, right now. and what we will do is ensure that we have a stronger economic performance and we have people in work. and the most important thing is that we have people getting into working out in a way that was not possible, certainly would not have been possible, if we stuck to the policies being proposed by the labour opposition. and that is why we have a strong economy, and thatis is why we have a strong economy, and that is the best recipe. better to be off benefit and into work. that is what we are doing. one of my earliest campaigns was to reopen staffordshire hall, so i'm delighted this iconic building is finally set to reopen this summer. so can i thank the government providing million in funding to

create a hub for small businesses in the shire hall? can i also ask my honourable friend to help regenerate the rest of stafford town centre and the rest of stafford town centre and the high streets to help level up the high streets to help level up the west midlands and support local businesses? t the west midlands and support local businesses? ., .. , the west midlands and support local businesses? . ,, , ., ., businesses? i thank my honourable friend for fantastic _ businesses? i thank my honourable friend for fantastic work _ businesses? i thank my honourable friend for fantastic work to - businesses? i thank my honourable friend for fantastic work to reopen i friend for fantastic work to reopen the shire hall. she is a passionate campaignerfor the shire hall. she is a passionate campaigner for stafford, for stafford. stafford was awarded over £14 million lately through the future high streets fund. my future high streets fund. my constituency has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the entire country, with too many already struggling between heating and eating. the government's recent real terms social security code will now push even more families, children and pensioners into desperation. does the prime minister agree the biggest squeeze on household finances since records began does not come out of the blue, but is due to conservative economics and emotion that while some may have the pleasure of us should suffer?

no, mr speaker, we are absolutely dedicated to levelling up across our entire country and making sure that we reduce poverty. and that's why i am proud that there are no half a million fewer kids, actually, in workless households, 200,000 fewer kids, 200,000 fewer in poverty, mr speaker, and 1.3 million fewer in absolute poverty. and the way we've done that, the way we have done that, the way we have done that, mr speaker, i5 that, the way we have done that, mr speaker, is by helping people into work. and we're going to go further. investing in more work coaches, in massively increasing our training budgets of people get the skills they need, that is our approach, mr speaker, helping people by getting them into work. so robert buckland. thank you, mr speaker. today's announcement by our serving united kingdom judges of their withdrawal from the hong

serving united kingdom judges of their withdrawalfrom the hong kong appeal is not the right decision, and i support it, as does my right honourable friend. does he agree with me that on this sad day for the people of hong kong, and at a time when the international rule of law is under unprecedented challenge, it is under unprecedented challenge, it is for us here in britain to stand up is for us here in britain to stand up for what is right, to be resolute in the face of tyranny, and to make sure that the international rules —ba5ed order is defended at every opportunity. i thank my right honourable friend very much. i know how passionately he has campaigned on this issue himself. and i can't tell him... and i want to thank the judges in hong kong's court for everything they have been doing. but i think they've evidently concluded that the constraints of the national security law make it impossible for them to continue to serve in the way that they would want. i appreciate and i understand their decision. it is vital that we all continue to make

our points to the chinese, as i did in my conversation with president xi the other day, about freedom in hong kong and the treatment of the uyghur two. catherine west. gas and electric prices and bills are through the roof, thejust prices and bills are through the roof, the just about managing your no longer managing. they coming to surgeries, queueing at food banks. la5t surgeries, queueing at food banks. last week the government at a golden opportunity to tackle this. why the devil didn't excite take that opportunity to do something and relieve the pressure on my constituents? —— why the devil didn't they do something? mr speaker, i understand the pressure people are under, but the, but the best, but the best thing we can do rather than endlessly taxing more and borrowing more, is make sure that we support people through this tough time, which we are, but also ensure that we have a strong and growing economy in which we get people into work, so, so, cutting

the cost of energy, but we are also taking the long term decisions, which the party opposite failed to do, to invest in our energy for the future. sir roger gale. mr speaker, today's updated government figures show that of 28,800 applications are submitted under the sponsorship scheme by people displaced in putin's were, just 2700 have been processed. can my right honourable friend please tell the house how many to date of those people have actually arrived in the united kingdom? and willie give his support to my noble friend, lord carrington, to cut through the home office red tape, simplify the application process and get people into the country? mr speaker, we are processing 1000 a day. and i think, ithink mr speaker, we are processing 1000 a day. and i think, i think that the country... 25,000 visas have already

been issued, as i'vejust told the house. almost 200,000 families, homes, have opened their arms to ukrainians coming in fear of their lives. and there is no limit on the scheme. i think we can be incredibly proud of what the uk is doing. we are going to leave prime minister's questions at that point. let me from april, the state pension will rise by less than half of the current inflation rate. how does the prime minister explain this abject betrayal of some of the most vulnerable people in our communities who are squeezed by rocketing urgent food prices on the one hand and the miserliness of the government on the other? �* . ., ,

miserliness of the government on the other? . . ., , ., , other? actually through the triple lock we have _ other? actually through the triple lock we have protected _ other? actually through the triple | lock we have protected pensioners other? actually through the triple i lock we have protected pensioners so that in their incomes are £720 higher than they would have been if we had just relied on inflation. a5 we had just relied on inflation. as it is, their incomes continue to increase with inflation and they have gone up faster and further than those in work. we look after elderly people and we always will. fin those in work. we look after elderly people and we always will. on monday the foreian people and we always will. on monday the foreign secretary _ people and we always will. on monday the foreign secretary agreed - people and we always will. on monday the foreign secretary agreed we i people and we always will. on monday the foreign secretary agreed we need| the foreign secretary agreed we need to expand our soft power capabilities in these times and yet the funding decision is about to be made that may see the closure of british county operations and its international footprint. will the prime minister intervened to ensure this doesn't happen, given that i know he understands and appreciates the important work the council does? i'm very happy to meet my honourable friend on this issue but i can tell

the british council for which friend on this issue but i can tell the british councilfor which i have a huge regard has received a massive grant and loan is to allow them to continue their activities.— continue their activities. thank ou, mr continue their activities. thank you, mr speaker. _ continue their activities. thank you, mr speaker. given - continue their activities. thank you, mr speaker. given the i continue their activities. thank i you, mr speaker. given the prime minister's preferences for peppa pig, he's very welcome to visit zogg playland. across the country the cost of living crunch is very serious. energy bills looking to double by the end of this year, food up double by the end of this year, food up to ten to 15% by the end of the year. it must be hard for the prime minister to stay in touch with financial reality given that donors and friends pay for flights and holidays and many of his bills. and we also have a $200 million man chancellor. $200 million chancellor,

who is so out of touch... so out of touch he is contactless! mr speaker, the public believes... you touch he is contactless! mr speaker, the public believes. . ._ the public believes... you will be sittin: the public believes... you will be sitting down. _ the public believes... you will be sitting down, so _ the public believes... you will be sitting down, so please. - the public believes. .. you will be sitting down, so please. i - the public believes... you will be sitting down, so please. i hope l the public believes... you will be i sitting down, so please. i hope we have _ sitting down, so please. i hope we have come — sitting down, so please. i hope we have come to the end of the question _ have come to the end of the question. prime minister. so have come to the end of the question. prime minister. so out of touch he is — question. prime minister. so out of touch he is contactless! _ question. prime minister. so out of touch he is contactless! mr - question. prime minister. so out of. touch he is contactless! mr speaker, the public believes... tbe touch he is contactless! mr speaker, the public believes. . ._ the public believes... be quiet and behave yourselves! _ the public believes. .. be quiet and behave yourselves! i _ the public believes... be quiet and behave yourselves! i hope - the public believes... be quiet and behave yourselves! i hope that i the public believes... be quiet and behave yourselves! i hope that is i behave yourselves! i hope that is the end _ behave yourselves! i hope that is the end of— behave yourselves! i hope that is the end of the question. i think the prime _ the end of the question. i think the prime minister got the gist because i certainly— prime minister got the gist because i certainly have. prime minister. much— i certainly have. prime minister. much as — i certainly have. prime minister. much as l — i certainly have. prime minister. much as i admire his style, i think it would be better as a light essay in the guardian! what we are doing, mr speaker, i5 tackling the cost of

living by dealing with the spike in energy prices and making sure we take the right long—term decisions to take this country forward, which right decisions that party opposite shirked. country forward which that party opposite completely shunned. t opposite completely shunned. i welcome what this opposite completely shunned. t welcome what this government is doing to help but it can with the cost of living crisis but across the south—west we have a housing crisis that needs urgent action. will he meet with me to better understand the severity and complexity of our housing shortage and potential steps the government may take. she is absolutely right _ the government may take. she is absolutely right and _ the government may take. she is absolutely right and about - the government may take. she is absolutely right and about the i the government may take. she is absolutely right and about the need to provide local homes for local people and we totally understand that and i am that is why we are building a record number of homes in spite of the difficulties we face and that is why we have introduced

higher rates of stamp duty on second homes, removed the second homes discount and are using 11 billion to build 180,000 affordable homes across the country. it is always the conservatives who build affordable homes will stop it is labour to talk about it. ., , homes will stop it is labour to talk about it. . , ._ homes will stop it is labour to talk about it. ., , ._ ., homes will stop it is labour to talk about it. . , ., ~ ,, ., homes will stop it is labour to talk about it. . , . ~ ,, . . about it. last friday at ms that had been an oil— about it. last friday at ms that had been an oil spill _ about it. last friday at ms that had been an oil spill enrichment - about it. last friday at ms that had been an oil spill enrichment park, i been an oil spill enrichment park, black waste oil and any distance can be seen along the what of course posing a serious threat to the fish and local wildlife. the environment agency and investigating but they are understaffed and underfunded will also battling what accompanies again sewage discharge. the government commit to strengthening the powers of the office of environmental protection so it is able to hold the government and public authorities to account of environmental damage and the same

way the european commission was able to. t way the european commission was able to. ~' ., . , , to. i know what is behind her question. — to. i know what is behind her question, the _ to. i know what is behind her question, the desire - to. i know what is behind her question, the desire to i to. i know what is behind her| question, the desire to return to. i know what is behind her. question, the desire to return at thejurisdiction of the question, the desire to return at the jurisdiction of the european union. we want to make sure we use our landmark environment bill to continue to improve the equality of rivers. we continue to improve the equality of rivers. ~ continue to improve the equality of rivers-- the _ continue to improve the equality of rivers.- the speaker - rivers. we will the speaker referring — rivers. we will the speaker referring to _ rivers. we will the speaker referring to a _ rivers. we will the speaker referring to a statement. rivers. we will the speaker referring to a statement byj rivers. we will the speaker- referring to a statement by the health secretary, sallyjavid, in response to the 0ckenden review which has been published this morning. that review by senior midwife donna 0ckenden into serious failings at the shrewsbury and telford hospital trust. in that report she said more than 200 babies might have survived, 201 babies to be precise might have survived if there had been better maternity support at the hospitals in that

trust. she said there had been failures to listen to parents about their concerns about their wellbeing and the wellbeing of their babies. we arejust and the wellbeing of their babies. we are just waiting on that statement from sajid javid. let me just briefly sum up for you what we heard in prime minister's questions. i think we can listen now to the health secretary... state for health. with permission i would like to make _ state for health. with permission i would like to make a _ state for health. with permission i would like to make a statement. state for health. with permission i would like to make a statement on the 0ckenden report, set up and response to concerns about nhs trusts. the scope is to cover the cases of 23 families but since it began sadly many more families have reported concerns. due to this

tragically high number of cases and the importance of this work to patient safety only conclusions were published in an initial report in december 2020. we accepted all the recommendations from this first report and the nhs is now taking them forward. today the second and final report has been published. this is one of the largest inquiries relating to a single service in the history of the nhs looking at experiences of almost 1500 families from 2000 — 19. i would like to update the house on the findings and return to the actions we are taking as it is up. this report paints a tragic and harrowing _ this report paints a tragic and harrowing picture of repeated failures — harrowing picture of repeated failures in care over two decades. which _ failures in care over two decades. which led — failures in care over two decades. which led to unimaginable trauma

first of— which led to unimaginable trauma first of many people rather than moments — first of many people rather than moments ofjoy and happiness, for these _ moments ofjoy and happiness, for these families their experience of maternity— these families their experience of maternity care was one of tragedy and distress. and maternity care was one of tragedy and distress— and distress. and the effects of these failures _ and distress. and the effects of these failures were _ and distress. and the effects of these failures were felt - and distress. and the effects of these failures were felt acrossl these failures were felt across families, communities and generations. the cases in this report are stark and deeply upsetting. 0f 12 cases where a mother had died, the report concludes that in three quarters of those cases, the care could have been significantly improved. it also examines 44 cases of hiv, a cancer caused by oxygen deprivation. two thirds of these cases featured significant and major concerns in the care provided to the mother. in

the care provided to the mother. in the report said for almost 500 cases of stillbirth, one in four were found to have major concerns in maternity care which if managed appropriately, might or would have resulted in a different outcome. when i met with donna 0ckenden last week, she told me about basic oversight at every level of patient care. including one case where important clinical information was kept on post—it notes which were then swept into the bin by cleaners with tragic consequences for a newborn baby and herfamily. in addition, there were repeated cases where the trust failed to undertake

serious investigation and where investigation to take place, they did not follow the standards that would have expected. these persistent feelings continued as late as 2019 and multiple opportunities to address them when ignored. including by the trust board who were accountable for the services. reviews from external bodies failed to identify the substandard care that is taking place and some of the findings give false reassurances about maternity services at the trust. the cqc only rated maternity services inadequate in 2018, which is unacceptable given the huge deficiencies in care that outlined in this report. the report also highlights serious issues with the culture within the trust. that instance, two thirds of staff were

surveyed and reported they had witnessed cases of bullying and some staff members withdrew their cooperation with the report within weeks of publication. the first report already concluded and i quote, there was a culture within the trust to keep the rates below because they were perceived as the essence of good maternity care, end quote. today's report adds many women thought any deviation from normality meant as cesarean section was needed and this was then denied to them by the trust. it is right that both the royal of obstetricians and gynaecologists and royal college of nursing have said recently they regret their campaign for so—called normal birth. it is vital that across maternity services we focus on safe and personalised care where the voice of the mother is heard

throughout. the report shows a systemic failure to listen to valued people, many of whom had been doggedly persistent in raising issues over several years. one mother said she felt like a lone voice in the wilderness. bereaved families told the report they were treated in a way that lacks sensitivity and empathy and appallingly, in some cases, the trust blamed these mothers for the trauma they had been through. in the words of donna ockenden, the trust failed to investigate, fail to learn and failed to improve. we entrust the nhs with our care, often when we had at our most vulnerable, in return we expect the highest standards. i have seen with my own i see great care in the nhs maternity

services can offer but when the standards are not met, we must act firmly on the failures of care and compassion that are set out in this report have absolutely no place in the nhs. to all the families that have suffered so greatly, i am sorry. the report clearly shows you were failed by a service that was there to help you and your loved ones to bring life into this world. we will make the changes that the report said are needed at both local and national levels. i know that honourable members and those families who have suffered would want reassurances that the individuals who are responsible for the serious and repeated failures will be held to account. i am sure the house will understand that it is not appropriate for me to name individuals at this stage, however, i would like to reassure all members

that a number of people who are working at the trust at the times of the incidents have been suspended or struck off the professional register and members of senior management have also been removed from their posts. there is also an active police investigation, which is looking at around 600 cases. given that this is a live investigation, i am sure honourable members will recognise that i am not able to comment further on that. today's report recognises that since the initial report was published in 2020, we have taken important steps to improve maternity care, this improves £95 million for maternity services across england to boost the maternity workforce, fun programmes for training and development and leadership. the second report makes a series of further recommendations, it contains 66 for the local trust,

15 for the wider nhs and three for mia secretary of state. the local trust, nhs england and the department of health and social care will be accepting all 80 for recommendations. earlier today spoke to the chief executive of the trust who was not in the post during the time period examined by this report. i made it clear how serious i take this report and the failure that were uncovered and i reinforce the recommendation must be acted on wrongfully. as the report identified, there are wider lessons that must also be learned and it contains a series of actions that should be considered by all that provide maternity services. i have asked nhs england to write all of these trusts instructing them to test themselves against these actions and nhs england will be setting out a new delivery that reflects these deliberations. i am

also taking forward the specific recommendation that donna 0ckenden asked me to put in place. the first is the need to further expand the maternity workforce. just a few days ago the nhs announced a 127 million pounds fund boosted for across england, this will boost the workforce and fund programmes for leadership for neonatal care. second, we will take forward the recommendation to create a working group independent of the transformation programme with joint leadership from the royal of midwives and the royal of gynaecologists and obstetricians. finally donna orton said she endorses proposals iron and steel general —— injanuary to create a special health authority to continue the investigation programme which is currently run by the health and

safety investigation branch. we will take the proposals forward and the branch will start its work from april next year. i would like to thank donna 0ckenden and her whole team for theirforensic thank donna 0ckenden and her whole team for their forensic and compassionate approach is taken throughout this distressing inquiry. this report has given a voice at last to those families who are ignored and so grievously wronged and it provides a valuable footprint for safety for maternity care for this country for years to come. finally, i would like to be tribute to the families whose tireless advocacy was instrumental to this review being set up in the first place. i cannot imagine how difficult it must have been for them to come forward and to tell their stories. this report is a testament to the courage and fortitude that they have shown in the most harrowing of circumstances. mr

speaker, this report is a devastating account of bedrooms that are empty, families that are bereft and loved ones taken before their time. we will act swiftly so that no families have to go through the same pain in the future. i commend the statement to the house. just to let you know that viewers can see the one o'clock news on bbc one in a few minutes but on the news channel we will stay with this statement in response to the 0ckenden review. shadow secretary. thank you. i thank the secretary — shadow secretary. thank you. i thank the secretary of _ shadow secretary. thank you. i thank the secretary of state _ shadow secretary. thank you. i thank the secretary of state for _ shadow secretary. thank you. i thank the secretary of state for advanced i the secretary of state for advanced eyes on this statement. i am pleased to be able to respond to the statement today not just a shadow minister but as a woman and a new mother. i would like to thank donna 0ckenden and her team for this report. i would like to thank the families, that have come forward, we

will not be here today without the persistence and resiliency have shown for over 20 years in their for justice. today marks an important milestone for hundreds of families who have been seeking justice. the report laid bear the harrowing truth of what those families had to face. and why their fight for justice of what those families had to face. and why their fight forjustice has been such a fierce one. cries for help going unheard, parents having to try and resuscitate their own children because there was no one there to help, women and babies die needlessly because they simply were not listened to. that women were silenced and ignored at the most vulnerable when they were relying on the nhs to keep them safe is shameful. no women, no women should ever have to face going into

hospital to give birth and not know whether she and her baby will come out alive. these were notjust one off or isolated incidents of negligence. this was institutional failure of a system which failed to take up the many opportunities to realise that it had a serious problem. we are aware we are today because of the persistence and resilience of those families and their refusal to give up the fight which expose those feelings. the only comfort we can offer them is that their voices have been heard. and that we commit today across this house to ensure these feelings are never repeated. forfar house to ensure these feelings are never repeated. for far too long patient safety issues and the voices of women have been an afterthought in health, leading to the kind of

crisis we saw in needs to change. patient safety must be a priority for both health professionals and ministers so today i welcome that the secretary of state has committed to the local actions for learning for shrewsbury trust, informed and all the immediate central actions on the wider systems. immediate central actions on the widersystems. so immediate central actions on the wider systems. so will the secretary of state come to the size later on this year to update on the progress being made on these actions? —— come to this house. the report makes it clear it cannot run a state service without a culture of transparency and accountability so will the secretary of state set out how he intends to ensure an open culture within the health service with a willingness to learn for maternity

services and for future feelings to be identified far more quickly? underpinning issues in maternity care is a case across so much of our nhs is the workforce. only ten months ago as a first—time mother, i experience just months ago as a first—time mother, i experiencejust how months ago as a first—time mother, i experience just how stretched to the limit the maternity services are. the nhs now losing more midwives, faster than it can recruit them. i recently pc survey showed that almost one quarter of women were unable to get help when they need it during labour. hundreds of pregnant women were turned away from maternity wards cheer because there were not beds available —— staff available to care for them. can the secretary of state tell the house what he believes to ensure the nhs recruits the midwives it needs and

what he's doing to keep the midwives we have