this is bbc news. the headlines... the government announces a £15 billion package in the face of the rising cost of living with all households to receive a £400 discount on energy bills. millions of the most vulnerable — including elderly people, those with disabilities and households on the lowest incomes — will also receive an extra one—off payment. whilst i can't solve every problem and no government could we want to show that we have on people's side and we will ease the burden where we can. —— we are on people's side. —— we are on people's side. the shadow chancellor hits out

at the government for delaying the windfall tax on oil and gas giants to fund payments. this government's dither and delay has cost our country dearly. prayers and vigils for the 19 children and two teachers killed in a school shooting in texas as the debate about gun control in the us continues. the cps charges actor and director kevin spacey with five counts of sexual assault against men. a review criticises "weak decision making" in child protection services in england saying they need to "change fundamentally" after the deaths of star hobson and arthur labinjo—hughes. and meet the abba—tars — the swedish supergroup prepare to take to the stage for the first time in a0 years — as digital avatars.

good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the chancellor rishi sunak has been setting out the government's measures to address the rising cost of living. the chancellor said his package is worth 15 billion pounds. it is expected to be partly paid by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies — something ministers had previously opposed. the measures includ. .. 8 million of the lowest income households will receive a one—off payment of £650. and from autumn 8 million pensioner households will receive an extra payment of £300. 6 million people on disability benefits will receive a one—off payment of £150. and each household in great britain will get a £400 grant towards their energy bills, with equivalent support pledged by the chancellor for households in northern ireland. the uk's energy regulator 0fgem says typical household energy bills are set to rise by £800 in october,

to £2,800 a year. but the chancellor said the government package "will provide significant support for the british people. 0ur political correspondent helen catt reports. as bills have gone up, so has the pressure on the government to do more than it has. the chancellor of the exchequer. this lunchtime, rishi sunak announced £9 billion worth of measures to help households. he scrapped a scheme which would have seen households have to pay back the £200 reduction on their energy bills during the autumn. so, for the avoidance of doubt, this support is now unambiguously a grant. and furthermore, and furthermore, we have decided that the £200 of support for household energy

bills will be doubled to £400 for everyone. we are on the side of hard—working families, with £6 billion of financial support. he announced extra one—off payments — £650 to those on the lowest incomes, 300 to pensioners and 150 to disabled people. and there was a major u—turn on how to pay for it. the new levy will be charged on profits of oil and gas companies at a rate of 25%. it will be temporary and when oil and gas prices return to historically more normal levels, the levy will be phased out with a sunset clause written into the legislation. a tax on the unexpectedly high profits of north sea oil and gas companies had been called for repeatedly by labour. madam deputy speaker, after today's announcement that there be no doubt about who is winning the battle of ideas in britain! it is the labour party! today it feels like the chancellor has finally realised the problem that this country is facing.

we first called for a windfall tax on oil and gas producers nearly five months ago. the snp and the lib dems had backed a windfall tax. the government had been resistant. the business secretary said this two days ago. do you support a windfall tax? i've been very clear about a windfall tax. i don't think it supports investment.'s necessarily the right thing but, as i always say, that's up to the chancellor. even at the weekend, downing street sources were indicating that a big announcement on windfall tax wasn't imminent. so, what's changed? well, the government is keen to move on from partygate fast. the announcement earlier this week by the energy regulator that the typical household bill will go up by £800 a year from october is likely to have sharpened its focus. sharpened the focus. with prices set to keep rising, will this be the last time that rishi sunak has to intervene?

helen catt, bbc news, westminster. earlier some early we got more details on the announcement from the chancellor. a third of all households, the most vulnerable, receiving around £1200 of help. there's also support for everyone because we promised we should stand by the british people and that's what we have done today. you by the british people and that's what we have done today. you are a hiuh what we have done today. you are a high spending. _ what we have done today. you are a high spending. high _ what we have done today. you are a high spending, high texan - high spending, high texan chancellor. here is another announcement that is high spending and high taxing. just how conservative are you? i and high taxing. just how conservative are you? i think what --eole conservative are you? i think what peeple want _ conservative are you? i think what peeple want and _ conservative are you? i think what people want and what _ conservative are you? i think what people want and what i _ conservative are you? i think what people want and what i am - conservative are you? i think what people want and what i am as - conservative are you? i think what people want and what i am as a i people want and what i am as a pragmatic chancellor to do the things that about the country both in shorts in the long term. i'm also a chancellor that has had to deal with a once in a sentry pandemic and

i would global inflationary shop the likes of which we haven't seen for decades so i have to take the world as i it is people can see, is that things have come along i have responded in a way i think will help the country support those who need it but also do it in a responsible way so we are building strength of the long—term. {line way so we are building strength of the long-term— the long-term. one of your colleagues _ the long-term. one of your colleagues has _ the long-term. one of your colleagues has called - the long-term. one of your colleagues has called it - the long-term. one of yourl colleagues has called it tripe the long-term. one of your - colleagues has called it tripe and another has said it is to socialists. what you say to them? i think it is imperative for a compassionate conservative government to stand by the country in times of need. that is what we did during the pandemic with interventions like that fellow which have helped as a sure now that we averted a jobs crisis, unemployment crisis unemployment is now down to a level lower than half a century on wallace's what we're doing again faced with a global inflationary shop likes of which we haven't seen the decade. there are many people in our society for whom this will be an incredible struggle and that is why we have targeted this post them where have received £1200 of help.

this is a third of all households, those in receipt of means tested benefits, for example, with further support for pensioners and others but also support for all households because i know this is a squeeze on ordinary working families and whilst i can't solve every problem no government code. we want to show we have on the people's side and where we can try and ease the burden of it we can try and ease the burden of it we will. —— we are on the people's side. we will. -- we are on the people's side. . . , ., . ., side. that was the chancellor talkin: side. that was the chancellor talking the — side. that was the chancellor talking the last _ side. that was the chancellor talking the last few _ side. that was the chancellor talking the last few hours - side. that was the chancellor talking the last few hours to l side. that was the chancellor i talking the last few hours to our political editor chris mason in just a flag in a few minutes' time i will be talking to the conservative mp who referred to the windfall tax is tripe. he is coming up but first we will get a few more thoughts from our economic correspondent andy verity. he has been following all of this today. we can start with this sheer scale of it. try to save ever more large sums involved in people and has abated?— more large sums involved in people and has abated? yes, fair to say. in the last cour>le _ and has abated? yes, fair to say. in the last couple of— and has abated? yes, fair to say. in the last couple of years _ and has abated? yes, fair to say. in the last couple of years we - the last couple of years we have been reduced to big fiscal

announcement outside of years we have been reduced to big fiscal announcement outside budget so when you look at these measures and look at the universal measures that can help everybody and that is something like £6 billion and largely expected... doubling of energy bill from £2400 and you have to pay it back and that is that cost. in addition to that you have targeted support of £9 billion and some of that wasn't expected so for example the amount they are given to people who receive means tested benefits, 8.4 million households were going to get 600 and 50p each but overdue payments, 1st ofjuly, second in awesome —— £650. —— substantial payments. very close to the kind of help anti—poverty campaigners were asking for like thejoseph rowntree foundation seen the social security system is the best way to target this, something the conservatives had instinctively resisted for quite a long time so this is one of a number of new terns, if you like,

certainly big changes in policy that she seen x has made —— u—turns. the windfall tax is another u—turn. expected to raise around 5 billion. something that had been resisted for quite long time. what you have when you look at this with a spring statement is big tax rises then a redistribution of wealth with a targeted way to the boys households which isn't something you'd be much more likely traditionally to expect from a labour chancellor. yes. more likely traditionally to expect from a labour chancellor. yes, very interesting- — from a labour chancellor. yes, very interesting. quick _ from a labour chancellor. yes, very interesting. quick thought - from a labour chancellor. yes, very interesting. quick thought about. from a labour chancellor. yes, very. interesting. quick thought about how it is all paid for because the windfall tax to pay for everything is inevitably going to be more borrowing, is there? welcome it de-ends borrowing, is there? welcome it depends on _ borrowing, is there? welcome it depends on how _ borrowing, is there? welcome it depends on how seriously - borrowing, is there? welcome it depends on how seriously we . borrowing, is there? welcome it i depends on how seriously we take borrowing, is there? welcome it - depends on how seriously we take the chancellor's fiscal goals. some people say they are arbitrary and why subordinates of esther policy to ease fiscal goal of trying to get into surplus anyway? what is so good about a surplus? why not keep the government in deficit because the reverse of the government being in debt as it is us having savings so that there are lots of arguments

that there are lots of arguments that say in order to pay for that you don't necessarily need to face the same level of taxes your spending. the same level of taxes your spending-— the same level of taxes your sendina. . ~ , . ., spending. thank you very much for now, our economic _ spending. thank you very much for now, our economic correspondentl spending. thank you very much for- now, our economic correspondent andy verity and has promised we can out of the conservative mp for south and craig mckinley, good evening c. d stand by your statement saying your tax and oil and gas companies is tried, as you have been saying? whenever we get rates of tax that are truly— whenever we get rates of tax that are truly penal and a 65% tax rate in any— are truly penal and a 65% tax rate in any industry in the uk to me does not give _ in any industry in the uk to me does not give a _ in any industry in the uk to me does not give a very good indication for doing _ not give a very good indication for doing business in the uk. i think that is_ doing business in the uk. i think that is excessive. we have been in these _ that is excessive. we have been in these levels of tax before in 2011. the supplemental tax levy on oil companies and actually did get tax rates _ companies and actually did get tax rates up _ companies and actually did get tax rates up to— companies and actually did get tax rates up to is 72% and came down and we have _ rates up to is 72% and came down and we have been— rates up to is 72% and came down and we have been with the 40% tax rate for some _

we have been with the 40% tax rate for some years now since 2016 but i 'ust for some years now since 2016 but i just don't— for some years now since 2016 but i just don't like rates of tax of 65%. i just don't like rates of tax of 65%. i don't _ just don't like rates of tax of 65%. i don't try— just don't like rates of tax of 65%. idon'l try to — just don't like rates of tax of 65%. i don't try to flog the oil companies, far from it, i don't try to flog the oil companies, farfrom it, but they lost huge — companies, farfrom it, but they lost huge amounts of money in the coded _ lost huge amounts of money in the coded period, £45 billion in this year— coded period, £45 billion in this year and — coded period, £45 billion in this year and here they are coming up witha_ year and here they are coming up with a new— year and here they are coming up with a new tax with a loss of complications i won't even try and explain _ complications i won't even try and explain to— complications i won't even try and explain to you how all companies are taxed _ explain to you how all companies are taxed and _ explain to you how all companies are taxed and it— explain to you how all companies are taxed and it is quite complicated but we _ taxed and it is quite complicated but we are — taxed and it is quite complicated but we are back up to a central rate of 65% _ but we are back up to a central rate of 65% but — but we are back up to a central rate of 65% but part of the measures the chancellor _ of 65% but part of the measures the chancellor did announce today as a means— chancellor did announce today as a means by— chancellor did announce today as a means by which if they invest, and we do want — means by which if they invest, and we do want them to invest and i worry— we do want them to invest and i worry about high rates of taxation and what — worry about high rates of taxation and what that does to investment plans. _ and what that does to investment plans, they will get quite a big tax relief_ plans, they will get quite a big tax relief if_ plans, they will get quite a big tax relief if they invest in the things that we — relief if they invest in the things that we want them to invest in and that we want them to invest in and that is_ that we want them to invest in and that is getting more and oil gas at the north— that is getting more and oil gas at the north sea system of the windfall tax is _ the north sea system of the windfall tax is indeed tempered and that is to the _ tax is indeed tempered and that is to the good. butjust having headline rates of 65% i'm afraid don't _ headline rates of 65% i'm afraid don't sit — headline rates of 65% i'm afraid don't sit very well with me but in terms _ don't sit very well with me but in terms of— don't sit very well with me but in terms of the measures that were

announced, very, very generous, 15 billion. — announced, very, very generous, 15 billion. very— announced, very, very generous, 15 billion, very much targeted at those at the _ billion, very much targeted at those at the lower end of the income section. — at the lower end of the income section, you are at the lower end of the income — section, you are at the lower end of the income section your total amount now is— the income section your total amount now is £1200 which is likely more than _ now is £1200 which is likely more than the — now is £1200 which is likely more than the vice we're currently experiencing and i certainly that the £800 potential faes for the winter— the £800 potential faes for the winter the head 0fgem has announced may be _ winter the head 0fgem has announced may be a _ winter the head 0fgem has announced may be a little premature. i am not entirely— may be a little premature. i am not entirely sure — may be a little premature. i am not entirely sure that will come to pass but there _ entirely sure that will come to pass but there is— entirely sure that will come to pass but there is obviously potential. it would _ but there is obviously potential. it would have been helped, of course, if we _ would have been helped, of course, if we had _ would have been helped, of course, if we had had more gas storage because — if we had had more gas storage because we have completely run down our gas _ because we have completely run down our gas storage facilities in the uk and we _ our gas storage facilities in the uk and we are — our gas storage facilities in the uk and we are currently exporting cheap. — and we are currently exporting cheap, cheapish, summer gas and will doubtless— cheap, cheapish, summer gas and will doubtless be importing very expensive gas because we've got nowhere — expensive gas because we've got nowhere to put it in the interim. that _ nowhere to put it in the interim. that has — nowhere to put it in the interim. that has been a failure of energy policy— that has been a failure of energy policy for— that has been a failure of energy policy for some time and i hope we are going _ policy for some time and i hope we are going to address some of those issues _ are going to address some of those issues but — are going to address some of those issues but all in all there is a lot of generous support for those who need _ of generous support for those who need it _ of generous support for those who need it. think it is going to be something more elegant like some of

the environmental levies which just adds to _ the environmental levies which just adds to the cost of your domestic energy _ adds to the cost of your domestic energy i'm — adds to the cost of your domestic energy. i'm interesting to see what you are _ energy. i'm interesting to see what you are going to do with the 0ns statistics— you are going to do with the 0ns statistics creates the public. 0ther tightly _ statistics creates the public. 0ther tightly be — statistics creates the public. 0ther tightly be deflationary and help the inflation _ tightly be deflationary and help the inflation rate because of the lack of all— inflation rate because of the lack of all this. — inflation rate because of the lack of all this, of course, is the bank of all this, of course, is the bank of england — of all this, of course, is the bank of england which will be determining what the _ of england which will be determining what the inflation rate is, what goes _ what the inflation rate is, what goes into— what the inflation rate is, what goes into the basket to calculate that and — goes into the basket to calculate that and will these measures help that and will these measures help that inflation rate or our payouts to all— that inflation rate or our payouts to all households are not counted towards _ to all households are not counted towards that so i think that is something we need to look out for. 0k, something we need to look out for. 0k. and _ something we need to look out for. 0k. and in— something we need to look out for. 0k, and in terms of the specific measures for she seen today i think you are saying you're broadly in favour of trying to help everyone in the face of the energy bills will know about. i think you are saying she is targeting the money the right people so if your place of that element of the policy you have certain reservations about the windfall tax but how else will you play through pay for it? if you think it is like these people should

be getting help in the coming months how will you pay for it if you weren't going to take some of that money from the gas and oil companies?— money from the gas and oil companies? money from the gas and oil com anies? , ., ., companies? everything. onto general taxation. companies? everything. onto general taxation- we — companies? everything. onto general taxation. we had _ companies? everything. onto general taxation. we had actually _ companies? everything. onto general taxation. we had actually moved - companies? everything. onto general| taxation. we had actually moved away over many years from trying to have these sort of ring fenced type the tickles —— these are ring fenced taxes. just not the policy we are pursuing. more creeping in now, national insurance rise a post because i don't think it should be taxing things that are good, ie jobs. that is broadly ring fenced into more money for the nhs and social care and here we are, a new ring fencing type idea of energy companies providing a third of the amount of this extra money. but there have been better tax receipts. we are in a better phase than we thought we might be. what is a budget responsibility didn't forecast we would have such good tax receipts and it has already been a big windfall on energy in terms of extra vat on our household energy that we have been supplied tax to

5%. a higher amount is officially going to face more tax. that is a lot more coming in on vat, pump fuel, petroland lot more coming in on vat, pump fuel, petrol and diesel so the government has already had quite a lot of windfalls out of the tax take so i'm not entirely sure what new and innovative schemes are entirely needed at this time. my main concern is rates of tax of 65% are not good news because this does not say to the international community, and we want them to invest in the uk is a great place to do business, i think where compensatory taxes can —— confiscating taxes can just emerge out of thin air i don't think they get a stable background for people to make investment decisions. i knew we do demonise the oil and gas companies. they have and a lot of money this past year but most pension forms, probably yours and my are reliant on dividend funds to keep the pensions flowing and they will find their way into most and

everyone's pension funds because they are sort of blue dividend players. these type of taxes don't help that either so there is lots wrong with this. —— blue—chip dividend payers. wrong with this. -- blue-chip dividend payers.— dividend payers. striking the chancellor's _ dividend payers. striking the chancellor's announcement l dividend payers. striking the | chancellor's announcement is dividend payers. striking the - chancellor's announcement is all happening after the sue gray report. is that cynical timing in your opinion? does by chance and still have your support? has opinion? does by chance and still have your support?— have your support? has had my throughout. _ have your support? has had my throughout, actually. _ have your support? has had my throughout, actually. we - have your support? has had my throughout, actually. we were l have your support? has had my l throughout, actually. we were all waiting _ throughout, actually. we were all waiting for the sue gray the postman will say— waiting for the sue gray the postman will say there wasn't a smoking gun in there _ will say there wasn't a smoking gun in there and — will say there wasn't a smoking gun in there and i think due apologies have _ in there and i think due apologies have been— in there and i think due apologies have been made yesterday by the pm, he answered one of my questions that i put he answered one of my questions that i put to— he answered one of my questions that i put to the _ he answered one of my questions that i put to the house yesterday and, no, i put to the house yesterday and, no. i_ i put to the house yesterday and, no. ithink— i put to the house yesterday and, no. ithink it— i put to the house yesterday and, no, i think it would be cynical to say that— no, i think it would be cynical to say that they are related. i would say that they are related. i would say governments do the right things at the _ say governments do the right things at the right time in this type of support— at the right time in this type of support to put people's minds at rest was — support to put people's minds at rest was urgently needed. i don't see this — rest was urgently needed. i don't see this as— rest was urgently needed. i don't see this as at all related to partygate. that was yesterday, that's _ partygate. that was yesterday, that's gone. this is today and we

are hopefully back to dealing with government because there is a lot of things— government because there is a lot of things to _ government because there is a lot of things to do — government because there is a lot of things to do with. the ukraine crisis — things to do with. the ukraine crisis and _ things to do with. the ukraine crisis and of course the cost—of—living crisis which i think the chancellor has done some good work _ the chancellor has done some good work in _ the chancellor has done some good work. in part, iagree the chancellor has done some good work. in part, i agree with him on some _ work. in part, i agree with him on some of— work. in part, i agree with him on some of what is done today and that is what _ some of what is done today and that is what we _ some of what is done today and that is what we should be here for. thank ou for is what we should be here for. thank you for new — is what we should be here for. thank you for now- mp _ is what we should be here for. thank you for now. mp for _ is what we should be here for. thank you for now. mp for south _ is what we should be here for. thank you for now. mp for south thanet. . let's go to bristol, where our reporter andrew plant is getting reaction to today's announcement from the chancellor. give us a sense of what people are saying. give us a sense of what people are sa inc. . . give us a sense of what people are sa inc. , , ,, ., saying. this is e street and the itedminster— saying. this is e street and the bedminster area _ saying. this is e street and the bedminster area for _ saying. this is e street and the bedminster area for a - saying. this is e street and the bedminster area for a place . saying. this is e street and the bedminster area for a place i l saying. this is e street and the i bedminster area for a place i had been to many tens of years, not in 211 that time lots of shops have been closing in the past few years. speaking to people today it is hard to find anyone who is not feeling the squeeze on household budgets and body speaking their problems all fit in the same categories, rising cost of the weekly food shop, extra

energy bills coming through the door and five to pay at the pumps. he tells thee of reading different things, shopping around for the cheapest deals in supermarkets, watching carefully how much hot water they are doing to try and run the boilerfor less time, really think about their carjourneys the boilerfor less time, really think about their car journeys too, do they really have to make those trips in their plans and money. earlier today have the chancellor made his announcement i thought to collect here and she receives disability living allowance. we chatted about how that extra money could help her but first you are going to hear from could help her but first you are going to hearfrom alan. he is a pensioner on a fixed income and he said despite the extra help coming this way is to balance his books something is still going to have to give and in order to pay his other bills he thinks sometime fairly soon he will properly have to give up driving his car altogether. well, i heard you mention £400 but they reckon it's going to go up

by £800, so £400 isjust not going to put it on top of what's already going to happen. it's still going to leave millions of people in sure poverty, no matter how you look at it. my car will probably have to go so that i will be able to fit the food and the energy. there also be an extra £150 for people receiving disability benefits. what do you think of that? that's great. that's really good, yeah. because i not only have partial sight, i have cerebral palsy, i as well, so i've got quite a lot of challenges, but i've tried . to stay happy and cheerful. do you think it's going to be enough? hopefully, yeah. please, god. interestingly, the only person i spoke to today said he wasn't feeling the squeeze was a builder working on a building site than the collar. he said there were too few people in this industry was meant hisjob people in this industry was meant his job was people in this industry was meant hisjob was in high demand and his wages had gone up as a result but he said mean the minority today and

people are concerned despite the news announced by the chancellor today there will not offset the rising chances at prices we have all seen and will continue to see this year. seen and will continue to see this ear. �* . . seen and will continue to see this ear, �* , ., ., " seen and will continue to see this ear. . , . ., ~ i. , year. and replant, thank you very much, year. and replant, thank you very much. just _ year. and replant, thank you very much. just to _ year. and replant, thank you very much, just to tell— year. and replant, thank you very much, just to tell you _ year. and replant, thank you very much, just to tell you that - year. and replant, thank you very much, just to tell you that we - year. and replant, thank you very much, just to tell you that we are going to take a few minutes to answer your questions about this whole cost of living issue and everything that rishi sunak has announced coming upjust after 5:30pm. ten more minutes to get in if you have these concerns. get in touch with the hashtag. two experts with me a little bit after half past five to go through your questions about the cost of living. borisjohnson is resisting more calls to resign, after a damning report by civil servant sue gray on government lockdown parties was released. in the last hour another conservative mp has confirmed he has submitted a letter of no confidence in borisjohnson. earlier today two more conservative

mps, john baron and david simmonds, publically called for borisjohnson to step down. stephen hammond said he 'cannot and will not defend the indefensible'. it's emerged that the teenager who killed 19 children and two teachers at a primary school in texas on tuesday wrote messages about the attack on facebook moments earlier. salvador ramos was shot dead by police after he barricaded himself inside a classroom. president biden is expected travel to the town of uvalde in the next few days, to meet the families of those killed. 0ur north america correspondent nomia iqbal reports from there. they came for the thoughts and prayers. families held each other tightly to try and make sense of the unimaginable. they sang and prayed. the mood was sombre, and their grief palpable. this couple told us their

eight—year—old grandson made it out of the school alive. i went and checked on my grandson. as soon as he saw me, he hugged me — he was so scared, and i cried with him also, so i told him, "it'll be ok." this is a community that's dealing with profound grief — and people came here inside the arena in their hundreds. usually rodeo shows happen here, but there was a prayer vigil, and people say this is their way of healing. the murder of 19 children and their two teachers has left this country reeling. xavier lopez was in his fourth year at primary school, as was elle garcia and ameriejo, just ten. theirteacher, eva mireles, died jumping in front of her students. they had all been barricaded in one classroom. how would you describe your daughter in a few words? how would you describe her? full of love and full of life. she would do anything for anybody.

and to me, she was a firecracker. it comforts me a little bit to think that she'd be the one to help her friends in need, there and then. the shooter was next door, and whenever i heard that i he was in room number 18j and the shooter was in 19, my heartjust dropped. i started panicking, crying. i was thinking that the shooter was shooting everywhere, - |that it was going to go through| one of the walls and shoot him. the man who cruelly took their lives was this local teenager, 18—year—old salvador ramos. he sent out messages on social media saying he was going to attack an elementary school. he was killed by police. it's the worst school shooting in a decade. the death of small children has reignited the polarising issue of gun control in america. and whilst politicians unite in grief, they quickly divide on the politics. when in god's name will we do what needs to be done to if not completely stop, fundamentally change the amount of carnage that

goes on in this country? republicans here say this isn't about guns. they say strict gun control infringes on american people's constitutional right to bear arms. it divides america deeply and even after a horrific shooting, that divide deepens. the second amendment is a part of our liberties to even be here in america. this is not about politics, gun control is not about politics. guns don't kill people, people kill people. president biden says he will visit the city in the coming days. will this be a turning point? in america, when it comes to tougher gun laws, the grim expectation is either little or nothing will change.

live images coming from michigan at the moment, students at a high school in michigan where there was another fatal shooting just last september and they have walked out of the classrooms today and come out in solidarity and are calling apparently for action on gun control following their own experiences back in november. bruce lee reminded i'm sure —— brutally reminded them, i am sure, of the shooting at the elementary school in texas. a protest about gun violence amongst high school students in michigan and will look at those images we can talk to our correspondent in southern texas. as these images show us, it is still so much anger and hurt and rawness after yet another fatal shooting. just

hurt and rawness after yet another fatal shooting.— hurt and rawness after yet another fatal shooting. just to let you know where i fatal shooting. just to let you know where i am — fatal shooting. just to let you know where i am right _ fatal shooting. just to let you know where i am right now _ fatal shooting. just to let you know where i am right now and - fatal shooting. just to let you know where i am right now and if - fatal shooting. just to let you know where i am right now and if you - fatal shooting. just to let you know| where i am right now and if you can hear me, i am obviously in you valley, i am hear me, i am obviously in you valley, iam in hear me, i am obviously in you valley, i am in the town square. —— in uvalde. this has turned into a commemorative space and around the fountain the 22 white crosses and on those crosses each person bears the name of the victim of the shooting, 19 school children and two teachers. a little boy came just for a moment to go and hug another crosses and these have been set up by the lethal comic lutheran church group, members come from all parts of america and i have also got within these beautiful golden retriever dogs and they say these are therapy dogs and this is about trying to bring some comfort to people. they want to try and help as much as possible. just want to let you know about something that has been reported here. police have been criticised for waiting too long to enter the school. we are now

getting reports that authorities are going to examine the response of police in that shooting. conflicting witness statements going to look at what steps they took reportedly to stop the gunmen. part of that is a timeline based on radio traffic so there is a video, that has been shown byjournalists and showed the onlookers were urging armed guards who were outside the school whilst the government was inside to go inside and there is a discrepancy over exactly how long the gunman was inside the school and law enforcement officials said between 40 minutes and an hour that they say it took to him to kill the number of people he did so that is just a report we're hearing it here the moment. . ~ report we're hearing it here the moment. ., ,, , ., report we're hearing it here the moment. ., ,, i. , moment. thank you. our correspondent in uvalde in southern _ moment. thank you. our correspondent in uvalde in southern texas. _ in uvalde in southern texas. apologies for a very slight problem

with the line but we certainly got the essence of the mood there and still dreadful, dreadful shock in that town as we have been hearing throughout the day. it is 28 minutes past five. we will return to domestic news and the bbc has announced some of the smaller broadcast channels online for the next few years and it is also the bbc has announced plans to close some of its smaller broadcast channels in the next few years and move content online. it also plans to merge its two rolling news channels — bbc world and the bbc news channel — into one 24—hour tv news channel. the changes mean £200 million pounds a year of cuts, as part of efforts to become what's described as being a "digital—first" organisation. 0ur media editor, amol rajan, joins me now. what does this mean for listeners and viewers? it what does this mean for listeners and viewers?— what does this mean for listeners and viewers? , ., , ., and viewers? it is a complicated and really detailed _ and viewers? it is a complicated and really detailed announcement - and viewers? it is a complicated and really detailed announcement and i l really detailed announcement and i think it is an attempt by the director—general on the bbc�*s leadership team and begin on the

challenge of the bbc faces. the licence fee has been frozen for two years in the bbc has to find big savings and obviously that happens mid cost—of—living crisis of the need to find £200 million of savings. the other big thing is a technological threat of the bbc is going to be around in ten or 15 years and needs a new generation to not just watch and years and needs a new generation to notjust watch and listen to the bbc but to pay for it so there is another £300 million being spent on new digital programming to try and appeal to let young audience but it does mean getting from here so they're some of the bbc�*s treasure programmes and services will changed. radio four extra and cvc which i'm addicted to not by choice or because my children watch it four won't stop existing but they will become digital services, but with the three years time. radio four long wave. in some programmes, don't yet know which ones, don't no timescale and will be cut. bbc world news, global news channel the bbc had a platform you may not be aware of, this channel will merge but the

specifics of how this to merge so that if you have in bangkok you are not watching rishi sunak on and if you're in, you know, a two—bedroom house in wolverhampton you are not watching something about bangkok, quite how that is going to work is still unclear.— still unclear. interned the digital element, still unclear. interned the digital element. it _ still unclear. interned the digital element, it is _ still unclear. interned the digital element, it is the _ still unclear. interned the digital element, it is the direction - still unclear. interned the digital element, it is the direction of. element, it is the direction of travel worldwide that things are moving online but in terms of trying to have universal service the problem is, isuppose, the timing is that the bbc has to make sure that everybody has access to digital services and good broadband and that is some of your problem, isn't it, with putting of a fitting online? bbc has got to keep if unhappy. news papers can quit doing print, netflix can quit during linear channels for the bbc has got to do a bit of everything for everyone in the bbc still loved and cherished for many people who listen to it on set top

boxes of radios in the kitchen and who have paid the licence fee for many years and expected to be good but it is also got to appeal to younger generation and i think in balancing the risk of annoying some older and cherished licence fee payers it is just losing an entire generation who are going to disney and amazon and netflix and all the others. i think the bbc�*s calculation as it has got to to survive it has got to persuade a new generation to pay and that links giving them lots them lots and lots of new programming to the iplayer, through bbc sounds, to persuade this licence fee is worth shelling out for. . ., ., ., for. thanks for mentioning. that takes us us to the weight of prospects. wherever you are in the country they are coming from stafford deny us.

bye— bye bye—bye megan we have high pressure nudging northwards and i will bring most of england and wales in parts of northern ireland and a lot of sunshine across the south and blustery showers across scotland in the far north of england and through the far north of england and through the afternoon, it will be cooler and some of the show was heavy for the south and burke had that sunshine and through the day, northerly winds across southern and western areas but will be turning cooler with increasing chances of showers particularly as we head into sunday. see you later. the headlines.

the government announces the £15 billion support package in the face of the rising cost of living with all households receiving a £400 discount of their energy bills. millions of the most vulnerable including elderly people, people with disabilities and household in the lowest income will also receive an extra one—off payment. i the lowest income will also receive an extra one-off payment. i cannot solve every — an extra one-off payment. i cannot solve every problem, _ an extra one-off payment. i cannot solve every problem, no _ an extra one-off payment. i cannot i solve every problem, no government could, we want to show that we are on the people side we tried to ease the burden wherever we can. hitting out of the government _ the burden wherever we can. hitting out of the government for _ the burden wherever we can. hitting out of the government for delaying i out of the government for delaying the windfall tax on oil and gas giants. the taxable will partly fund the payments. this giants. the taxable will partly fund the payments-— giants. the taxable will partly fund the -a ments. , ., �*, the payments. this government's did her and delay — the payments. this government's did her and delay has _ the payments. this government's did her and delay has cost _ the payments. this government's did her and delay has cost our— the payments. this government's did her and delay has cost our country i her and delay has cost our country dearly. her and delay has cost our country dearl . ., . . her and delay has cost our country dearl . ._ , ., , ., dearly. prayers and vigils for the 19 children _ dearly. prayers and vigils for the 19 children into _ dearly. prayers and vigils for the 19 children into teachers - dearly. prayers and vigils for the 19 children into teachers killed i dearly. prayers and vigils for the | 19 children into teachers killed in a school shooting in southern texas. as the debate continues in the us about gun control. kevin spacey has

been charged with five counts of sexual assault against men here in the uk. a review criticising decision—making and child protection services in england saying they need to change fundamentally after the death of hobson and hughes. and coming up in this hour, meet the abbatars, they take to the stage for the first time in 30 years as digital avatars. we are talking tennis. great britain's dan evans is in second round action at the french open. he's up against sweden's mikael ymer but he's lost the first set.

we'll bring you bang up to date in a moment. but first women's top seed iga swiatek has booked her place in the last 32. the 2020 roland garros champion was in a hurry as she thrashed american alison riske 6—0, 6—2 in a little over an hour. it's remarkably her 30th consecutive win. she now faces montenegro's danka kovinic in round 3. meanwhile a shock earlier today. last year's wimbledon finalist karolina pliskova has gone down in straight sets to the world number 227. france's leolia jeanjean dispatching the 8th seed 62 62. afterwards, pliskova admitted it was a difficult day at the office, but she didn't want to take anything away from her wildcard opponent. i think the score is a little too brutal because i think the beginning, i think i could play a bit different at some points and i could have many more games but, yeah, overall there was not many, i

don't have a horrible feeling but i'm not happy about it. but i think i'm not happy about it. but i think ijust want to i'm not happy about it. but i think i just want to give credit to her and i think she played a great match. elsewhere — daniil medvedev crusied through to round 3 with a straight sets win over serbia's laslo djere. he faces another serb, 28th seed miomir kecmanovic in the last 32. in the last few minutes simona halep has also been knocked out. as for dan evans he's looking to reach the third round on the parisian clay for the first time in his career, he lost the first set against ymer. his serve was broken twice. it's currently 5—2. former f1 boss bernie ecclestone has been arrested in brazil for illegally carrying a gun while boarding a private plane. the 91 year—old acknowedged owning the weapon and said he didn't realise it was in his luggage at the time. he was released after paying bail and was allowed to continue his journey to switzerland. ecclestone spent 40 years as the head of formula 1 before stepping down in 2017.

british gymnastics' head national coach amanda reddin has stepped down from her position with immediate effect. reddin had temporarily stepped aside in 2020 during an investigation into claims about her conduct. rio 2016 0lympian ruby harrold said reddin presided over a "culture of fear" at british gymnastics' camps. reddin "completely refuted" the claims, which were not upheld and her suspension was lifted, but another independent investigation is ongoing into "further historical complaints". mark cavendish's hopes of a second stage win at this year's giro d'italia were dashed by a four—man breakaway on stage 18. the flat run in to the finish in treviso looked set for a mass sprint, but four riders managed to hold off the chasing pack. dries de bont beat eduardo affini in a photo finish to win the stage. the peloton, including cavendish and overall race leader richard carapaz, finished 14 seconds behind. he still leads by three seconds with three stages to go.

players and coaches are calling for a limit to the number of 'back—to—back�* games to protect them from burn—out. almost nine in ten players who took part in a survey for globalfootballers' union fifpro believe that limit should be six matches or fewer. they say players should be involved in no more than 55 matches in a season. liverpool's mohamed salah and sadio mane could both play their 70th game of the season — including pre—season — at the champions league final on saturday against real madrid. that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those stories on the bbc sport website. welcome to your questions answered. you've been sending in your questions on the cost of living crisis

joining me to answer all of the questions you've been sending in is our personalfinance correspondent, kevin peachey. talking about the universal benefits. laura is interested on the £400 grant because as we understand it, it's for everyone who has energy bills and she says millionaires don't need this, but she essentially asking? this don't need this, but she essentially askinu? �* . . don't need this, but she essentially askinl? ., , asking? as a political ad'ustment from the chancellor _ asking? as a political ad'ustment from the chancellor and]- asking? as a political adjustment from the chancellor and also - asking? as a political adjustment from the chancellor and also forl from the chancellor and also for simplicity and speed as well. this is coming in and october were going to see a big rise in everybody�*s energy bills and so this grand £400 should be going to every body and you don't have to pay it back. we were in a position with every £2200 and they were appointed to pay it backin and they were appointed to pay it back in instalments. but no, this £400 going to go back to everybody

you live is a bit of a debate as to whether or not that should have been targeted as well as laura points out and i think one thing that did happen when we had £150 energy rebate throughout council tax bills which people are receiving at the moment, some said look, i don't need this, rationale for this and have chosen to donated to charities and people who help those who are really struggling to pay their bills and receipts clearly a personal decision if they want to do that. llp receipts clearly a personal decision if they want to do that.— if they want to do that. up you don't have _ if they want to do that. up you don't have to _ if they want to do that. up you don't have to apply _ if they want to do that. up you don't have to apply for- if they want to do that. up you don't have to apply for this - if they want to do that. up you i don't have to apply for this 400, if they want to do that. up you - don't have to apply for this 400, it willjust be credited to your bill. will be discounted from your energy bill from october over the course of six months and also if you are in a prepayment metre, remember, these are people who top of the for it. they will receive it either in the form of some kind of credit may be of boucher which they then use to get top ups. so, should be available for pretty much everyone.— for pretty much everyone. pauline has the next _ for pretty much everyone. pauline

has the next question. _ pauline wants to know whether attendance allowance will be included in the disability benefit 'umbrella'. it's usually not counted as a disability benefit. do you know whether or not this will be included?— do you know whether or not this will be included? yes, it will. good news for her because _ be included? yes, it will. good news for her because he _ be included? yes, it will. good news for her because he is, _ be included? yes, it will. good news for her because he is, and _ be included? yes, it will. good news for her because he is, and will- be included? yes, it will. good news for her because he is, and will in - for her because he is, and will in this umbrella of benefits, if you like, good list here and disability living allowance, personal independence, payment, attendance allowance which is the scottish disability benefits and independence payments, and were pension and mobility supplement and all of those if you are in receipt of this, you'll get this extra £150, one—off payment and that is in addition to these benefits in addition to that and so, you will have potentially hundreds of pounds really. find

and so, you will have potentially hundreds of pounds really. and the fact that people — hundreds of pounds really. and the fact that people are _ hundreds of pounds really. and the fact that people are wondering - fact that people are wondering whether or not people on pip would get it. whether or not people on pip would aet it. ,., ., , . get it. personal independence -a ments get it. personal independence payments is — get it. personal independence payments is another - get it. personal independence payments is another one - get it. personal independence| payments is another one which get it. personal independence i payments is another one which is get it. personal independence - payments is another one which is on the list and so, they receive there win not £50 as well. philip says what does the uk government mean by low income families? as i am a single person with a gross income of £10695 per year and pay rent and not able to claim any benefits as i rent my house from a family member. is it only family's on universal credit will get the £650? how does one define low income families? it how does one define low income families? . how does one define low income families? , , ., ., ~' families? it gives us when we look at the rules. _ families? it gives us when we look at the rules, the _

families? it gives us when we look at the rules, the benefits - families? it gives us when we look at the rules, the benefits are - families? it gives us when we look at the rules, the benefits are the i at the rules, the benefits are the gateway to a lot of these payments and so, if you are in receipt of these benefits, means tested benefits and things like universal credit, and i will give you access to the extra payment, the £650 payments which are being made and i think that raises the issue as well of benefits that are unclean. there are millions of pounds in unclaimed benefits every year and people looking to see that they claim what they are entitled to and with the chancellor did say is if there are people who fall through the cracks and admitted that there will be some, that's what he's put so many pounds into this and this is an extra fund which comes through your local counsel and helping people were struggling in people who may have fallen to the cracks and things like fuel vouchers in some cases and thatis like fuel vouchers in some cases and that is how you get this extra help

there and that extra £500 million into that from this winter. janet asks — do pensioners under state pension age receive the extra £300 if claiming a private pension. £300 if claiming a private pension? it's too young to receive the state pension and so, she will not receive the extra help for pensioners of £300, which is actually going to come to those and nearly all households with at least one person of pension age, in that household. and they will receive known as the winter fuel payment that's about £200 with your energy bills and you'll receive that but in addition, you'll receive that but in addition, you receive this extra £300 and the previous question raised as well, is

that there will be people who will look at some of those who are receiving this extra help in thinking, ijust missed out there. maybe they are on an income which is just above the threshold of receiving benefits and the thing, 0k, receiving benefits and the thing, ok, you know, i'm seeing people who were in quite a similar position to me yet not receiving hundreds of pounds in extra support and i think that may be an area where there may be some questions asked. by, that may be an area where there may be some questions asked.— be some questions asked. a final thou:ht. be some questions asked. a final thought- so _ be some questions asked. a final thought. so much _ be some questions asked. a final thought. so much focus - be some questions asked. a final thought. so much focus on - be some questions asked. a final| thought. so much focus on energy bills. but there's a question about people who live in communal blocks or tower blocks are lot of flats of any kind where the individual flat on her renter is not in a position to change to the supplier is and it's all based on one big system. a question that says,

a question that why is there no support for those of us who live in apartment blocks that are not protected with the government cap? there's approx 500,000 people that live in blocks with communal heating and thus households are not allowed to change/select supplier and also are not protected by the price cap meaning our costs are increasing. i don't fully understand why they are not protected by the price cap though i understand they do not have the power to choose which energy from that they use. timer;r the power to choose which energy from that they use.— the power to choose which energy from that they use. they don't get the bill directly _ from that they use. they don't get the bill directly from _ from that they use. they don't get the bill directly from the _ from that they use. they don't get the bill directly from the supplier. | the bill directly from the supplier. and therefore, they're not protected under others as well, 23 million people in england, wales and scotland were protected by the cap in northern ireland also doesn't have a price cap and so, people there seeing the bills rise and facing the same pressures that they should be receiving some of the support and it gets a bit complicated there, quite frankly. we obviously have to go through some the details of what was announced today by the smoke as though someone

like that would receive direct support. but they might be able to do is go to their counsel, explain the situation and have access to that support grant which i mentioned earlier and so, that support fund. they may be a direction there. clearly, they need to talk to is in control of their block. who's going to control the bills and whether it's justified to be sending them that kind of bill. it's quite difficult to look at specific areas there. but there are clearly people who are facing higher energy bills and not necessarily getting the same protection as everyone else. but! and not necessarily getting the same protection as everyone else.- protection as everyone else. and we can imagine — protection as everyone else. and we can imagine the _ protection as everyone else. and we can imagine the health _ protection as everyone else. and we can imagine the health and - protection as everyone else. and we can imagine the health and supportl can imagine the health and support groups are getting a flood of phone calls and we know about that, don't we. there a lot of help lines out there helping people and those are there helping people and those are the specific situations. thank you very much.

concerns raised by family members of two children who were later murdered by their parents�* partners weren't taken seriously enough by child protection professionals — according to a report into the case of 16 month old star hobson, and of 6—year—old arthur llabinjo—hughes. a child safeguarding review also says the two cases reflect wider problems with the child protection system in england. 0ur social affairs editor alison holt has the details. arthur, are you going to play for england? no, why not? arthur labinjo—hughes was six when he was murdered by his father's girlfriend after weeks of horrific abuse. today's report says whilst responsibility for his death lies with his abusers, mistakes were still made by the police and social workers who might have protected him.

his cousin find that hard to hear. arthur was a gorgeous child. he could have gone on to have such a wonderful future. he would have been encouraged to achieve all his goals and ijust think to say that a mistake is the reason we don't have him is not enough. and star hobson, here in the arms of her mother's partner, who would later kill her, was 16 months old. the report found with star, as with arthur, concerns raised by wider family were too often disregarded by child protection professionals. star's and and step great—grandfather say when family told those professionals they were worried even providing photos of bruising on star, they didn't investigate properly thought they being malicious. if social services had done theirjobs in the first place, we know star would still have been with us, because they'd have come down to see us,

they'd have seen there was a problem with star and said, right, yeah, we need to step in here. may if they'd sat down and spoke to us in person they might have actually thought, oh, hang on a minute, they are notjust being malicious. literally they just took their word for it that we were being malicious and they didn't bother hearing our side of what was going on. the report, carried out by a national panel of experts, concluded that in both arthur and star's cases, family concerns were disregarded, decision making by social workers and police was weak, information sharing poor, and that this reflected problems found in many parts of the country. the woman who led the review wants to see new expert teams bringing together social workers, police and others to investigate and oversee cases. i don't think we can ever exaggerate how complicated and how difficult it is to do this work and we must give every child every family, but also every practitioner

who is working in this area, the best possible chance of protecting children well and keeping them safe. and the report says the failings identified in arthur and star's cases need to lead to fundamental change that means other children are better protected in the future. the government says it will publish its plans later this year. alison holt, bbc news. let's hear now from one of the children in ukraine, russian forces have attacked more than 40 towns in the eastern donetsk and luhansk regions — officials say at least five civilians have been killed. two key cities have come under intense bombardment, and there's heavy fighting for a crossroads connecting ukrainian territory. 0ur ukraine correspondent joe inwood reports from kyiv. russia is trying to take the donbas with overwhelming force. these shots, released

by the ukrainian ministry of defence, show a thermobaric bombardment of their positions. russia's current targets are the twin cities of severodonetsk and lysychansk. they're not cut off — yet. but the only route to them has been under increasing bombardment for days. if it becomes impassable, thousands of ukraine's best soldiers may be cut off, along with civilians. towns across the region are emptying out. translation: idon't- know where we are going. we are just trying to get as far away as possible from the war, that is the main thing. the increasing human cost of this war has led to some people questioning whether it's worth ukraine giving up some land to save lives. recently the suggestion was made by former us secretary of state, henry kissinger, at the world economic forum. it's fair to say it did not go down well here in kyiv.

translation: no matter. what the russian state does, there's always someone who says, let's take its interests into account. this year in davos it was heard again. despite thousands of russian missiles hitting ukraine, despite tens of thousands of ukrainians killed, despite bucha and mariupol, despite the destroyed cities. and that destruction continues. this is kramatorsk, a key city in the donbas, for both the russians and ukrainians. people know that if, when, severodonetsk falls, their city will be next. yevgen isjust 13. distant bombing he barely flinches at the sound of shelling now. "i got used to it in my village," he says. "that was a 122 shell." the longer this war goes on, the greater the scars — notjust on the towns and villages of this country, but on the people that live there too. joe inwood, bbc news, kyiv.

the crown prosecution service has authorised sexual assault charges against us actor and producer kevin spacey. the 62—year—old has been charged for five counts of sexual assault against three men dating between 2005 and 2008. he has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. it's after a review of the evidence gathered by the met police's investigation. it's probably easier to talk you through the allegations, the charges that he is facing. there are two allegations of sexual assault against a man and that man is now in his 40s as the allegations were from allegedly march 2005 in london. kevin spacey is also facing another count of sexual assault against another man that was an march 2005 in london and against, and august 2008 in london and against the same man he is charged orfacing charges of causing a person to engage in

penetrative sexual activity without consent in the third alleged victim, he is facing allegations that he sexually assaulted this man who is now in his 30s of april 2000 2013 in gloucestershire. all those allegations are during the time that the actor was, the director of the 0rd vic theatre. he has denied all allegations of the sword and the crown prosecution says he must have the right to a fair trial. and now it is time for the weather. good evening to you. it is a bit of a mixed day with a lot of cloud across england and wales and parts of rain further north it's been one of rain further north it's been one of sunshine and blustery showers and quite heavy the shares continue in the north but it will turn drier and clear across the south this band of

rain weakening as it pushes southwards and then clear and dry to the south and for blustery showers continue mainly to the northwest of scotland quite heavy, and across the board which is typically seven to 9 degrees. high—pressure building and from the south and across much of england and wales, plenty of sunshine after a cool star and some sunshine after a cool star and some sunshine across and scotland and northern ireland will be few shelves into the afternoon most of the showers across central and northern scotland and some of them will be heavy across the north and west by blustering as well. with the winds quite a future. mid teens in the north and south east but it does turn cooler this weekend is to start to pick up northerly winds the best of the sunshine in southwestern is a chance of you shows developing particularly as we head into sunday. see you later.

today at six... the chancellor unveils a new £15 billion package to help millions of families through the cost of living crisis. rishi sunak says he wants to help those for whom the struggle is too hard. there's more than £1000 for the poorest households. this government will never stop trying to help people. to fix problems, to fix problems where we can, to do what is right. today it feels like the chancellor has finally realised the problems the country are facing. zoe is on universal credit. she's already wondering how she and her daughter will get through the summer, so has the chancellor come to the rescue? i am over the moon that— the government is finally making us feel like we are being listened to and i actually feel - like we are being taken

care of, for a change. i the chancellor is rasing some of the cash from a one—off tax