this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. as global oil prices rise, the cost of filling up a typical family car in the uk reaches an unprecedented high of £100. that's about $125. how big a squeeze is the cost of filling up your vehicle putting on you? are you making any changes to try to cut costs? tell me your story on twitter @annitabbc and use the the hashtag #bbcyourquestions. the age at which people can legally buy tobacco in england should gradually increase year after year, according to a government—commissioned review. we'll look at how the plans compare to other countries around the world. the uk's prime minister will promise to boost home ownership for people in england on lower incomes, suggesting housing benefit payments

could count towards a mortgage. the ukrainian city of severodonetsk under fire. president zelensky says the fighting there might decide the fate of the whole donbas region. democrats in the us house of representatives vote for new gun control measures, but they're unlikely to become law. it comes after a day of emotional testimony. he shot my friend that was next to me, and i thought he was going to come back to the room, so i grabbed the blood and put it all over me. millions of people in the uk were left without power last year because of storm arwen. now, the regulatorfor electricity tells power firms to improve their storm response.

hello, and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. new figures suggest the average cost of filling a typical family car with petrol in the uk has reached £100, or 125 dollars, today, as fuel prices continue to rise. the increase is largely blamed on the impact of the war in ukraine on global energy supplies. let's take a closer look at some of the figures. the data firm experian catalist has reported that the cost of filling an average family car topped £100, or 125 us dollars, on wednesday. it says that that the average price per litre has now gone up to 182 pence per litre. earlier this week, on tuesday, uk fuel pricesjumped by two pence a litre. they went up to an average of more than 180p a litre on tuesday.

that was the highest daily price rise in 17 years. and now they are up again. back in march, the uk government announced a five pence per litre cut in fuel duty, but motoring groups are concerned that retailers aren't passing on the cuts to customers. our business correspondent ben boulos took me through the impact the rise of fuel is having on everyday life. this is touching our lives in so many different ways, filling up the car to do essential journeys, be that to work, the shops, to school, that gets more expensive. for some there is no real viable alternative. for businesses, the cost of transporting goods around becomes more expensive, it costs more to put fuel in the trucks and lorries to get the goods to the shop. the goods to the shops. as a result the prices go up as well. the high oil price means airlines are paying more for theirfuel,

so we see the ticket prices that we pay go up as well. and some people whose businesses rely so much on fuel, such as taxi drivers, may look at what they are making, and what it is costing them to carry out their business, and they may decide that the profits are being so squeezed that it is not worth it any more, and so that may be why if you are try to hail a cab on the street, you may find you are to wait longer because some drivers have decided the business isn't worth staying in any more, so the impact is being felt in so many different ways. given the global factors lying behind all of this, ben, what solutions are there? well, we saw here, in the uk, the chancellor, the uk's top finance minister, took steps in march. a five pence cut in fuel duty was announced, but because the price, the wholesale prices

but because the prices, the wholesale prices kept going up and up, that has effectively been wiped out. the effect has been negated since then, so perhaps they may look at doing another, a further fuel duty cut. 0ne motoring expert i spoke to earlier today said one option might be to cut vat, that is sales tax on fuel. at the moment, the price you pay per litre, 30 pence is vat, or sales tax, so that may be an option that is looked at, but it is not an easy one to solve. individual governments in any country would struggle to solve this, because it is being driven by global factors, notably the price of a barrel of oil which keeps going up and up and up. let's speak to gordon balmer, the executive chairman of the petrol retailers association. thank you forjoining us today. you represent about 65% of forecourts in the uk. first, on that charge,

coming from motoring organisations and others, that retailers have not passed on that march five pence a litre cut in fuel duty to customer, what do you say to a? i litre cut in fuel duty to customer, what do you say to a?— litre cut in fuel duty to customer, what do you say to a? i think your revious what do you say to a? i think your previous speaker— what do you say to a? i think your previous speaker summed - what do you say to a? i think your previous speaker summed it - what do you say to a? i think your previous speaker summed it up i what do you say to a? i think your i previous speaker summed it up very. we unfortunately, it is not true, we have passed the increase on, however, product prices have overwhelmed us, they have gone up substantially since march and here we are today, with the eye—watering prices you have mentioned. 50 we are today, with the eye-watering prices you have mentioned.- prices you have mentioned. so are ou prices you have mentioned. so are you confident. _ prices you have mentioned. so are you confident, to _ prices you have mentioned. so are you confident, to be _ prices you have mentioned. so are you confident, to be clear - prices you have mentioned. so are you confident, to be clear on - prices you have mentioned. so are you confident, to be clear on this, | you confident, to be clear on this, that retailers are passing on that full five pence cut?— full five pence cut? yes, i am absolutely — full five pence cut? yes, i am absolutely confident - full five pence cut? yes, i am absolutely confident r - full five pence cut? yes, i am absolutely confident r so, i full five pence cut? yes, i am - absolutely confident r so, explain then, for absolutely confident r so, explain then. for our— absolutely confident r so, explain then, for our viewer, _ absolutely confident r so, explain then, for our viewer, how - absolutely confident r so, explain then, for our viewer, how that - then, for our viewer, how that supply chain work, and why you think more leaf isn't being given to the customer?— more leaf isn't being given to the customer? ~ , ,, , . ., customer? well, the supply chain works based _ customer? well, the supply chain works based on _ customer? well, the supply chain works based on our— customer? well, the supply chain works based on our members - customer? well, the supply chain works based on our members buy customer? well, the supply chain - works based on our members buy fuel on a wholesale pricing basis from fuel supplier, many of their sites

are branded up with companies brands, the oil companies add their add on to that which includes storage and handling, fuel card costs and cost of credit and debit cards and what they do, is they come up cards and what they do, is they come up with an average price that can be the previous day or week or in some cases with some of the larger retailers it can be a late price from the previous fortnight. that is subject to what has happened on the wholesale price markets, so for example we saw 2% jump in price last night, so we have seen an increased translate almost immediately into finished product. in terms of what could be done, i think that we need to engage more with the government, we have written to the government, i personally have written to all the major ministers several times requesting a meeting to get them to understand how the market works, and to try and agree what some sort of solutions could be put in place, to

help motorists, you mentioned... what do you want to government to do? ., ., . , ., do? you mentioned cuts to potentially _ do? you mentioned cuts to potentially cuts _ do? you mentioned cuts to potentially cuts to - do? you mentioned cuts to potentially cuts to vat, - do? you mentioned cuts to | potentially cuts to vat, fuel do? you mentioned cuts to - potentially cuts to vat, fuel duty, before the spring statement we wrote to rishi sunak saying he should follow the leads of other countries who cut their fuel duty more than the five pence. we would like to engage with government but we haven't heard back from them. we haven't heard back from them. no acknowledgement we _ haven't heard back from them. no acknowledgement we have - haven't heard back from them. no acknowledgement we have had i acknowledgement we have had accusement. — acknowledgement we have had accusement, they _ acknowledgement we have had accusement, they have - acknowledgement we have had accusement, they have read . acknowledgement we have had| accusement, they have read the letters but we haven't had any letters but we haven't had any letters coming back in streeting us to a meeting. letters coming back in streeting us to a meeting-— to a meeting. why are some forecourts — to a meeting. why are some forecourts charging - to a meeting. why are some forecourts charging slightly l to a meeting. why are some i forecourts charging slightly less than others, are those owners simply absorbing, receiving less profit, they have made a decision to make less profit? it they have made a decision to make less profit?— less profit? it depends on the way their wholesale _ less profit? it depends on the way their wholesale price _ less profit? it depends on the way their wholesale price is _ less profit? it depends on the way | their wholesale price is calculated. some can have their price based on a fortnightly lag basis some on a

weekly lag, a lot of members their prices are based on the previous day's price, so for example if petrol was what was it yesterday? 148.51, there would be the oil company add on that goes on top of that and that would form the basis of the price for the load they would have delivered tomorrow. are of the price for the load they would have delivered tomorrow.— have delivered tomorrow. are the retailers who _ have delivered tomorrow. are the retailers who are _ have delivered tomorrow. are the retailers who are members - have delivered tomorrow. are the retailers who are members of - have delivered tomorrow. are the | retailers who are members of your association noticing any drop off in sales, do you think that people are actively trying to avoid using their vehicles if they can, obviously, thatis vehicles if they can, obviously, that is not a possibility for many people, but are they noticing less business on the forecourts because of the increasing cost of fuel? ilirui’eiiii of the increasing cost of fuel? well i have literally _ of the increasing cost of fuel? well i have literally got _ of the increasing cost of fuel? -ii i have literally got the figures from this morning, this is from transactions made over the last week, and the average is round 83% less, sorry 83% of the prepandemic volume, so, daily sales, prepandemic

versus last week are showing 83%, so 17% down on where we were before the pandemic struck, so, to answer your question, yes there is a reduction in volume. it question, yes there is a reduction in volume-— in volume. it is possible to break that down _ in volume. it is possible to break that down any — in volume. it is possible to break that down any further? _ in volume. it is possible to break that down any further? you - in volume. it is possible to break that down any further? you are l that down any further? you are talking about prepandemic versus now, when people are we are still in a pandemic aren't we, but you know e people are out and about behaving much more normally, so is it possible to break that down any further? ~ ., , �* , ., further? well, no, it isn't, but all i can tell further? well, no, it isn't, but all i can tell you— further? well, no, it isn't, but all i can tell you we _ further? well, no, it isn't, but all i can tell you we have, _ further? well, no, it isn't, but all i can tell you we have, there - further? well, no, it isn't, but all i can tell you we have, there has| i can tell you we have, there has only been a couple of occasion where we have gone back to what we were selling before the pandemic struck, the more typical average is about 90%, so our members are having to operate with 10% less sales, their costs have gone up, particularly labour costs and energy cost, and it is pretty grim unfortunately. that is pretty grim unfortunately. that is a really interesting detail to get from you. thank you very much for that. get from you. thank you very much forthat. let get from you. thank you very much for that. let me read out a couple

of tweets from you. this is from lord martin. fuel prices are ridiculous, i only use my carfor work, my family live in bristol. my family are in sheffield. i can't see them as my budget won't allow it. tom says it cost me nearly £100 to do a fulfil up. i put in £25 because it is so high. considering other cuts to save money. this one as well. let me scroll down because i had a couple of others coming in a little while ago, this is from david, who asks why does the price of fuel differ so much at the pump in different parts of the country and locally, when you buy a loaf of bread the price is generally the imis a s surely the price should be the same anywhere, hopefully you heard the response from gordon from the petrol retailers association when i put that question to him. thank you for sending in your tweets. keep them

the legal age for people to buy cigarettes in england should rise every year by a further year, a government—commissioned review has recommended. it is part of a package of measures to achieve the government's ambition for england to be smoke—free by 2030. the idea has been compared to the �*new zealand model�* where today's generation of children and teenagers may never be allowed to legally buy tobacco products. smoking is a habit and an addiction that starts in youth _ amongst young people. if you can tackle it . in those early years, you prevent adults going on to smoke for the rest of their lives _ and suffer disability, early death. in america when the age of sale was raised, there was a 30% - reduction in smoking rates almost immediately, so we know it - does make a difference.

with me is our health correspondent, jim reed. so,jim, really so, jim, really interesting, looking at the detail of this review that has been carried out and javid khan who carried out the review say there were four critical interventions without which the ambition to get a smoke—free, generation smoke—free will not be met. take us there what he is saying. will not be met. take us there what he is saying-— he is saying. this is the report, 101 pages _ he is saying. this is the report, 101 pages published _ he is saying. this is the report, 101 pages published in - he is saying. this is the report, 101 pages published in the - he is saying. this is the report, 101 pages published in the last| he is saying. this is the report, - 101 pages published in the last half an hour. i 101 pages published in the last half an hour. ., ., 101 pages published in the last half an hour. . . ., , . , an hour. i have a one page summary. i haven't managed _ an hour. i have a one page summary. i haven't managed to _ an hour. i have a one page summary. i haven't managed to get _ an hour. i have a one page summary. i haven't managed to get through - an hour. i have a one page summary. i haven't managed to get through thej i haven't managed to get through the whole lot. it makes interesting read, the author was commissioned by the government by the health secretary to do this, he is a former boss of barnardo's, the children's charity, some of the proposals are radical. the government is going to look at this and decide whether to go ahead. the one that will get the most attention is essentially advocating what would be a complete

ban on the sale and purchase of cigarettes in england. and they are going to do this, they advocate doing this in the same way there are similar plans in new zealand, and denmark which as you said, you say that the children and young people of today who are under 18 will never be able to legally buy cigarettes and tobacco and you do that by increasing the age limit every year, so from 18, 19, 20, 21. adults who are still smoking would continue to be be able to buy them but the younger generation would never be able to buy tobacco, cigarettes or any product like that, and that would be a hugely radical move for the government to make, but that is that they are advocating this this document. ., . . . , . that they are advocating this this document. ., . , . . , document. how crucial is that early intervention. _ document. how crucial is that early intervention, the _ document. how crucial is that early intervention, the idea _ document. how crucial is that early intervention, the idea if— document. how crucial is that early intervention, the idea if you - document. how crucial is that early intervention, the idea if you stop . intervention, the idea if you stop someone from starting, smoking at a young age they never go on the smoke? mil young age they never go on the smoke? �* . . smoke? all the evidence and anti-smoking _ smoke? all the evidence and anti-smoking proponents - smoke? all the evidence and i anti-smoking proponents would smoke? all the evidence and - anti-smoking proponents would say anti—smoking proponents would say this, if you catch people early they

tend not to develop a regular smoking problem, ithink tend not to develop a regular smoking problem, i think the statistics are something like almost everyone who has a daily habit of smoking started under the age of 626. there are interesting figures so for example they are saying overall in england, and the uk, it is about one in nine adults who smoke, but if you take that younger age group, 18—24 it is high, it is one in three and that went up from one in three and that went up from one in three and that went up from one in four to one in three so it has been increasing which is why they are add kating this action. aha, they are add kating this action. a couple of things i want to ask you about. the case for investment now says javid khan provide a minimum investment of £125 million a year to fund comprehensive smoke—free interventions, is that money there? so he talks about different ways to raise the money. his preferred own option is to put an extra tax on tobacco company, those smoking

services are generally paid for by local councils, the public health grand grant which goes to local councils has been cut over the last five, six seven years so he is advocating what is called a polluter pay model where it would be the big companies a that have to pay for this rather than the taxpayer. {line this rather than the taxpayer. one of i his reform _ this rather than the taxpayer. one of i his reform location is promoting the use of vaping to help smokers quit. is that controversial? it might be, there is two ways that government could do this, one way which is what he mentions is to allow doctors to prescribe vaping is abuzz an anti—smoking treatment like abuzz an anti—smoking treatment like a nicotine patch. the other thing they could consider doing is at the moment there is a 20% vat charged on vaping product, some advocated dropping that down 5%, the amount thatis dropping that down 5%, the amount that is charged on things like nicotine patches.— that is charged on things like nicotine patches. thank you very much jim reed. _

people on lower incomes in england could be allowed to use housing benefit payments to apply for a mortgage under new government plans to be announced today. the prime minister will give details during a major speech in lancashire today. it's part of efforts to reset his leadership and move on from monday's bruising confidence vote for conservative mps. speaking to the bbc�*s today programme, the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, michael gove, said the plans were aimed at helping the poorest buy a home. home ownership is something special, as you quite rightly point out. the conservatives have always believed that giving people the chance to own their own home, to be part of their community, put down roots, to pass something on to the next generation, is an important, you know, desire of the human heart, that it is our mission to help more people fulfil. so what the prime minister is announcing today are a series of measures which will extend home ownership, allowing people in housing associations who haven't previously had the right to buy, to give them the right to buy that property, looking at the mortgage market

overall to make sure it works better for everyone, and looking also at the benefit system, in order to ensure that people who currently are receiving benefit which is goign to landlords can use that income in order to get on the property ladder. 0ur political correspondent, nick eardley, is in blackpool. he explained what is new in the government's new proposals on housing. that speech annita this morning in lancashire is going to be a big deal the prime minister hopes, i think the prime minister hopes, i think the part about benefits is new, yes. the idea the government is coming up with is if you get universal credit or housing benefit, rather than getting that money from the state, then paying it to a private landlord, you would use it instead to pay off a mortgage. now there are big questions about how exactly that would work in practise, how easity would work in practise, how easity would be to replenish housing stock, affordable housing stock, if you are

selling off housing association property r it would need to be negotiated with housing associations as well, so it is not simple. simple. but that part of the policy is an idea the government thinks can increase home ownership for people who maybe might not have been able to afford it in the past. the bit thatis to afford it in the past. the bit that is definitely not new and we have heard a lot about over the last few years from the government. all the way back to when david cameron was prime minister, is this idea of extending right to buy, to people in housing association properties, that is something that was in the 2015 manifesto for government now under borisjohnson wants to bring that in across the country, there has been pilots before, but there is questions too about how that is going to work, how the government is going to make sure that the housing stock is, stays at

a sustainable level in england, how they can make sure that housing associations sign up to this, so there is a lot of ideas, a lot of headline, some of the specifics are going to be really important too. just very briefly, if you would, nick, is this going to be the reset that the prime minister is looking for with his mps after the confidence vote on monday? == for with his mps after the confidence vote on monday? -- nick. that is the big _ confidence vote on monday? -- nick. that is the big question, _ confidence vote on monday? -- nick. that is the big question, annita, - that is the big question, annita, borisjohnson wants to show us all he is on the front foot. he can talk about policy as well as his own leadership. i suspect many of his own mps will be watching for details of what he is putting on offer, and look, those questions about his leadership for some aren't going to go way. let us speak now to catherine ryder. we can speak now to catherine ryder, director of policy and research at the national housing federation. they represent housing associations in england. thank you for your time today. as nick was saying a lot of headlines round this, but can i ask you has the government consulted you about launching this policy? we

the government consulted you about launching this policy?— launching this policy? we talk to officials all _ launching this policy? we talk to officials all the _ launching this policy? we talk to officials all the time, _ launching this policy? we talk to officials all the time, about - officials all the time, about housing policies, we have been working with the government previously, on right to buy pilots which was mentioned in the previous, from the previous speaker, but we haven't been directly involved in the announcement and the speech the prime minister is making today. so not directly involved. housing associations are private independent charities aren't they? thea;r associations are private independent charities aren't they?— charities aren't they? they are, es. charities aren't they? they are, yes. obviously. _ charities aren't they? they are, yes. obviously. obviously. - charities aren't they? they are, j yes. obviously. obviously. how charities aren't they? they are, - yes. obviously. obviously. how would that work, if— yes. obviously. obviously. how would that work. if you _ yes. obviously. obviously. how would that work, if you are _ yes. obviously. obviously. how would that work, if you are talking _ yes. obviously. obviously. how would that work, if you are talking about - that work, if you are talking about private independent charities how would you set about selling that property? i would you set about selling that ro -e ? ., would you set about selling that . ro .e ? ., ., would you set about selling that ro .e ? ., ., , would you set about selling that --roe ? . ., _, would you set about selling that --roe ? . . ,., ., , property? i mean that is a really interesting _ property? i mean that is a really interesting question _ property? i mean that is a really interesting question and - property? i mean that is a really interesting question and we - property? i mean that is a really interesting question and we are | property? i mean that is a really - interesting question and we are keen to talk to the government about their intention for how they will deliver this extension of right to buy, housing association homes but equally how they are intending to fund it so there is a lot detail we need to work through.— need to work through. because presumably _ need to work through. because presumably you _ need to work through. because presumably you wouldn't - need to work through. because presumably you wouldn't wantl need to work through. because i

presumably you wouldn't want to need to work through. because - presumably you wouldn't want to see housing association properties sold, if there was not a direct replacement for that property? i mean, of course we understand that people are very keen to buy their own home, and we welcome measures that will help people into home ownership, our concern is that there are already 4.2 million people who are already 4.2 million people who are effectively in need of social housing, previous pilots have shown when you sell a home through right to buy they are incredibly difficult to buy they are incredibly difficult to replace, and any overall loss of social housing will make providing homes for the 4.2 million people, many of whom are in overcrowded homes, any loss of social housing will make it more difficult to provide homes for them. find will make it more difficult to provide homes for them. and how would ou provide homes for them. and how would you see _ provide homes for them. and how would you see this _ provide homes for them. and how would you see this working - provide homes for them. and how would you see this working in - provide homes for them. and how l would you see this working in terms of tfl financials, we are hearing that the government is going to say that the government is going to say that housing benefit would count towards the cost of a mortgage, but then, would lenders be onboard with

this as well, we don't know that, do we? ~ ., �* ~' this as well, we don't know that, do we? ~ ., �* ,, . , this as well, we don't know that, do we? we don't, i think as i said there is a _ we? we don't, i think as i said there is a lot _ we? we don't, i think as i said there is a lot of _ we? we don't, i think as i said there is a lot of detail- we? we don't, i think as i said there is a lot of detail still- we? we don't, i think as i said there is a lot of detail still to l we? we don't, i think as i said. there is a lot of detail still to be worked through, when people buy their own home through right to buy, obviously they buy those homes at discount, because housing associations are independent charities, that discount would have to be funded by the government, so funded by taxpayers, but we do know that even when those homes are sold, in many areas, the value of those homes is not enough to build a replacement so there are particular challenges round extending the right to buy, we are very keen to talk to the government about how they intend to deliver this scheme and how they intend to fund it, and of course we would need to be talking to a housing association members about the challenges that they would see in extending right the buy to their homes. �* ., _, , . ., homes. and of course during cost of livin: homes. and of course during cost of living crisis — homes. and of course during cost of living crisis we _ homes. and of course during cost of living crisis we talked _ homes. and of course during cost of living crisis we talked to _ homes. and of course during cost of living crisis we talked to lots - homes. and of course during cost of living crisis we talked to lots of - living crisis we talked to lots of people, people on benefits, struggling to make ends meet, people who are working and in receipt of benefits and we think back to the

last financial crisis the subprime mortgages, the lenders who game mortgages, the lenders who game mortgages to people who couldn't afford to repay them. that must be a big concern as well. it afford to repay them. that must be a big concern as well.— big concern as well. it is. i mean, as i said big concern as well. it is. i mean, as i said we _ big concern as well. it is. i mean, as i said we completely _ big concern as well. it is. i mean, l as i said we completely understand that people want to buy their own home, we are supportive of measures that are intended to help people buy their own home but we need to make sure when people are buying a home they can afford to mortgage and they can afford all the associated costs with that, as i said, our priority is to build more social housing and we know there is a chronic shortage of social housing, we know what a huge difference it can make to people's lives so we are keen to protect the homes we have got but to build more social housing, to help those people in need. fiifi build more social housing, to help those people in need. ok, catherine, thank ou those people in need. ok, catherine, thank you very _ those people in need. ok, catherine, thank you very much. _ those people in need. ok, catherine, thank you very much. a _ those people in need. ok, catherine, thank you very much. a couple - those people in need. ok, catherine, thank you very much. a couple of - thank you very much. a couple of tweets on this story. sofia says how will the prime minister replenish the already dwindling social house stock, that is something that

catherine ryder mentioned. this from christina in london, she is saying mightjust add as a londoner in a decent paid job i still can't afford my housing association property. the cap on the amount of discount for londoners is a disgrace, she was talking about the different levels of discount. so keep sending in your thoughts on this story, all the other big stories we are covering today and i will try to read out more of your comments. ukraine's president zelensky said russia has suffered heavy losses in what he called a very fierce and difficult battle for the city of severodonetsk. in his nightly televised broadcast, he said in many respects the fate of the donbas region of eastern ukraine was being decided there. the regional governor says russian forces now control most of the city, with ukrainian fighters only in control of the industrial area on the outskirts of severodonetsk.

joe inwood is in kyiv for us. bring us up—to—date with the latest you are hearing about the fighting in their area? this you are hearing about the fighting in their area?— in their area? this is the city of sieve donetsk, _ in their area? this is the city of sieve donetsk, it's _ in their area? this is the city of sieve donetsk, it's the - in their area? this is the city of sieve donetsk, it's the crucial. in their area? this is the city of. sieve donetsk, it's the crucial city thatis sieve donetsk, it's the crucial city that is on the east bank of the river and it is can opportunity focal point of the russian invasion, the fighting is intense, heavy, huge amounts of artillery bombardment which has characterised this phase of the war, we understand it is street by street and both sides have suffering heavy casualty, it was interesting yesterday that president zelensky in his nightly address said the fate of this city will determine the fate of this city will determine the fate of the donbas, the reason thatis the fate of the donbas, the reason that is interesting, i think, is because it contradicts in some ways what we have heard from the governor, previously. which is that although the city of severodonetsk is important it is not strategically as important as its twin city which

sits on the other bank, the western bank of the river, that is because it is higher up, it is a vantage point from which they can defend the river and so i think there is some confusion as to what the president is referring to, maybe it is symbolically important because it is one of the last major centres in the luhansk region, and that is a major target for the russians. bud luhansk region, and that is a ma'or target for the russiansi target for the russians. and joe, another story _ target for the russians. and joe, another story we _ target for the russians. and joe, another story we have _ target for the russians. and joe, another story we have been - target for the russians. and joe, - another story we have been covering, the comments from the un secretary—general concerns is about food security because of course so much of the world's grain comes from ukraine, currently it is in silos mainly or still waiting to be harvested, what are the chances of getting that grain out of the country to where it is needed? probably quite slim. the issue you haveis probably quite slim. the issue you have is that ukraine's ports, which is how 90% of the grain gets out. it is how 90% of the grain gets out. it is easier to do them by sea than by rail or road. most of them are

completely either blockaded in the form of 0desa or been captured like mariupol. for ukraine there isn't a sea route out. it is partly because the russians are blockading the black sea but it is now also heavily mined. this has been a sea of naval conflict, there were concerns the russians would launch a naval attack on 0desa so the sea has been heavily mine and it easier to put mine in the sea than get them out again. thank you very much. the driver of a car which hit a school tour group in germany — killing a teacher and injuring 14 students — is thought to have mental health issues, according to berlin's interior affairs minister. the 29—year—old suspect was arrested at the scene of the crash, which happened in a popular shopping area in western berlin yesterday. a second teacher was also seriously injured. two people are still missing, after a boat capsized on a lake in devon yesterday.

four other people onboard were rescued — two were taken to hospital. roadford lake remains closed while a large—scale search—and—rescue a new study into the mental health of university students has found that almost a quarter of them feel lonely "most" or �*all the time'. the research is based on data from more than 10,000 students across uk and says 23% are struggling. the issue was compounded in students with disabilities, from the trans community or from minority backgrounds— with 32% of black students reporting loneliness. the us house of representatives has approved a series of gun control measures, but they're unlikely to become law because of a lack of senate support. congress earlier heard evidence from the survivors of the texas school shooting and the mother of one victim who claimed some people believed that guns were more important than children. republican congressmanjim jordan and the democratic speaker of the house nancy pelosi spoke ahead of the vote.

to those who a moment of silence is good enough, because you don't have the courage to take a vote to protect the children, i would say your political survival is totally insignificant compared to the survival of our children. the speaker stared by saying this bill is about protecting our kids. that is important, sure is, that is what she said, protecting our kids is important. yes it is, but this bill doesn't do it. what this bill does is take away second amendment rights, god given rights, protected by our constitution, from law—abiding american citizens. that is what this legislation does and that is why we should oppose it. 0ur north america correspondent, david willis, explained the more modest measures the us senate are planning to approve. it looks as they will consist of a limited extension of background checks,

juvenile records and so on, and the introduction, the federal introduction of red flag laws which enable officials to confiscate weapons if a person who owns them is deemed to be a risk to themselves or to other people, but all that is a long way, of course, from the sort of measures that president biden recommended, after the shooting, he called for a ban on assault weapons, for widespread background checks on those seeking to buy firearms. that is not going to happen, republicans in general oppose, as i mentioned, anything that will constrain the right of gun owners in this country to bear arms as the constitution puts it. the house committee investigating the attack on capitol hill last year is preparing to go public with its findings. members have interviewed more than 1,000 people and gathered more than 100,000 documents, piecing together a detailed account

of the day a mob of donald trump's supporters stormed congress. they say they have a gripping story to tell in a series of six hearings over the next few weeks — barbara plett usher reports. it was an astonishing attack on democracy. the capitol, stormed by supporters of a defeated president trying to overturn the 2020 election results. the investigation into how and why it happened is the most sweeping ever conducted by congress. but much is already known because these graphic scenes played out on television screens in real time. we are pulling away from motocross to the house of commons, the liberal democrats have asked an urgent question on government plans for the ireland protocol. mr question on government plans for the ireland protocol.— ireland protocol. mr speaker, as the foreian ireland protocol. mr speaker, as the foreign secretary _ ireland protocol. mr speaker, as the foreign secretary set _ ireland protocol. mr speaker, as the foreign secretary set out _ ireland protocol. mr speaker, as the foreign secretary set out to - ireland protocol. mr speaker, as the foreign secretary set out to the - foreign secretary set out to the house on the 17th of may, to respond to the serious situation in northern ireland, the government intends to bring forward legislation to fix the

northern ireland protocol. as she also set out, the government's view is that such a course of action is lawful and in accordance with international law. but in line with long—standing convention, we do not set out details of the internal deliberations regarding that view, but we will be setting out further details about the government's legal position in due course.— position in due course. thank you, mr speaker. _ position in due course. thank you, mr speaker. for— position in due course. thank you, mr speaker, for allowing - position in due course. thank you, mr speaker, for allowing this - position in due course. thank you, i mr speaker, for allowing this urgent question _ mr speaker, for allowing this urgent question. it was reported on tuesday evening _ question. it was reported on tuesday evening that sirjames eadie had not been consulted on the legality of the government's proposed legislation to override the northern ireland _ legislation to override the northern ireland protocol. this was denied directly— ireland protocol. this was denied directly by— ireland protocol. this was denied directly by the prime minister yesterday, in response to a question from the _ yesterday, in response to a question from the honourable member for foyle _ from the honourable member for foyle it — from the honourable member for foyle. it would now seem, at the least, _ foyle. it would now seem, at the least, the — foyle. it would now seem, at the least, the answer given was incomplete. we have learned in

subsequent reports that while sir james _ subsequent reports that while sir james was consulted on aspects of the proposals, he was in fact asked not to— the proposals, he was in fact asked not to give — the proposals, he was in fact asked not to give an opinion on whether the plan — not to give an opinion on whether the plan would breach international law, and _ the plan would breach international law, and was told to assume that there _ law, and was told to assume that there was— law, and was told to assume that there was a — law, and was told to assume that there was a respectable basis for there was a respectable basis for the government's position. can the minister— the government's position. can the minister confirmed the house that this information in the public is correct, — this information in the public is correct, was sirjames asked to give an opinion _ correct, was sirjames asked to give an opinion on — correct, was sirjames asked to give an opinion on the merits of the legal— an opinion on the merits of the legal advice that the government had been given— legal advice that the government had been given or not, and can the minister— been given or not, and can the minister tell the house why the request— minister tell the house why the request to sirjames was framed in this way? — request to sirjames was framed in this way? sirjames is understood to have volunteered that he found the argument _ have volunteered that he found the argument of one particular lawyer advising _ argument of one particular lawyer advising the government, quote, considerably easier to follow and more _ considerably easier to follow and more convincing. the lawyer in question— more convincing. the lawyer in question had said that it would be very difficult for the uk to argue that it _ very difficult for the uk to argue that it is — very difficult for the uk to argue that it is not breaching international law. mr speaker, it is

a matter— international law. mr speaker, it is a matter of— international law. mr speaker, it is a matter of fundamental importance to this _ a matter of fundamental importance to this house that members are being told by— to this house that members are being told by the _ to this house that members are being told by the government that the content — told by the government that the content of a bill is not in breach of international law, when that assertion — of international law, when that assertion is based on information that is— assertion is based on information that is incomplete and apparently intentionally so. mr speaker, the government has put the council in an almost _ government has put the council in an almost impossible situation. we are fortunate _ almost impossible situation. we are fortunate indeed that he has been willing _ fortunate indeed that he has been willing to — fortunate indeed that he has been willing to take his professional duties— willing to take his professional duties more seriously than those who sought— duties more seriously than those who sought his _ duties more seriously than those who sought his legal advice. we know the position— sought his legal advice. we know the position about the publication of government legal advice, but that relies _ government legal advice, but that relies on — government legal advice, but that relies on government acting in good faith, _ relies on government acting in good faith, and _ relies on government acting in good faith, and their legal advisers being — faith, and their legal advisers being free to give the best advice that their— being free to give the best advice that their professional skills allow — that their professional skills allow. this followed advice must be published _ allow. this followed advice must be published before the bill. the government _ published before the bill. the government is _ published before the bill. iia: government is confident that published before the bill. "ii2 government is confident that our actions are lawful under international law. and in line with

long—standing convention, we do not set out internal legal deliberations.- set out internal legal deliberations. . ~ deliberations. thank you, mr speaker- _ deliberations. thank you, mr speaker- may _ deliberations. thank you, mr speaker. may i _ deliberations. thank you, mr speaker. may i make - deliberations. thank you, mr speaker. may i make it - deliberations. thank you, mr speaker. may i make it clear| deliberations. thank you, mr i speaker. may i make it clear to deliberations. thank you, mr - speaker. may i make it clear to my i’i l ht speaker. may i make it clear to my right honourable friend that i voted for the _ right honourable friend that i voted for the withdrawal agreement and the protocol— for the withdrawal agreement and the protocol against my betterjudgment, protocol against my better judgment, and protocol against my betterjudgment, and so _ protocol against my betterjudgment, and so it— protocol against my betterjudgment, and so it has proved. if the government does not bring forward a bill which _ government does not bring forward a bill which holds out the serious prospect— bill which holds out the serious prospect of the restoration of power sharing _ prospect of the restoration of power sharing in— prospect of the restoration of power sharing in northern ireland, the restoration of the good friday agreement, i will vote against it. will he _ agreement, i will vote against it. will he undertake to make sure that his honourable and right honourable friends _ his honourable and right honourable friends understand that those who vote against such a bill of voting to wreck— vote against such a bill of voting to wreck the good friday agreement? mr speaker, my colleagues on the treasury benches will have heard the points you made. the question is narrowly focused on legal advice. we are confident our position as legal, but we can't discuss legal advice to

government. but we can't discuss legal advice to government-— but we can't discuss legal advice to government. but we can't discuss legal advice to rovernment. . ,, , ., , . ~ government. thank you very much, mr seaker, government. thank you very much, mr speaker. and — government. thank you very much, mr speaker. and happy — government. thank you very much, mr speaker, and happy birthday _ government. thank you very much, mr speaker, and happy birthday for- speaker, and happy birthday for today _ speaker, and happy birthday for today. britain _ speaker, and happy birthday for today. britain at _ speaker, and happy birthday for today. britain at its _ speaker, and happy birthday for today. britain at its best- speaker, and happy birthday for today. britain at its best as - speaker, and happy birthday for today. britain at its best as a i today. britain at its best as a country — today. britain at its best as a country that _ today. britain at its best as a country that adheres - today. britain at its best as a country that adheres to - today. britain at its best as a country that adheres to the l today. britain at its best as a i country that adheres to the rule today. britain at its best as a - country that adheres to the rule of law, sticks — country that adheres to the rule of law, sticks to— country that adheres to the rule of law, sticks to its _ country that adheres to the rule of law, sticks to its word _ country that adheres to the rule of law, sticks to its word and - law, sticks to its word and distrusted _ law, sticks to its word and distrusted around - law, sticks to its word and distrusted around the - law, sticks to its word and . distrusted around the world. law, sticks to its word and - distrusted around the world. but under— distrusted around the world. but under this— distrusted around the world. but under this government, - distrusted around the world. but under this government, the - distrusted around the world. but under this government, the rule| distrusted around the world. but . under this government, the rule of law is— under this government, the rule of law is being — under this government, the rule of law is being treated _ under this government, the rule of law is being treated with _ under this government, the rule of law is being treated with disdain, i law is being treated with disdain, whether— law is being treated with disdain, whether it — law is being treated with disdain, whether it is _ law is being treated with disdain, whether it is lawbreaking - law is being treated with disdain, whether it is lawbreaking partiesl law is being treated with disdain, i whether it is lawbreaking parties in number— whether it is lawbreaking parties in number 10, — whether it is lawbreaking parties in number10.all_ whether it is lawbreaking parties in number10, allthe_ whether it is lawbreaking parties in number 10, all the treaties- whether it is lawbreaking parties in number 10, all the treaties it - number 10, all the treaties it signed — number 10, all the treaties it signed up _ number 10, all the treaties it signed up to— number 10, all the treaties it signed up to just _ number 10, all the treaties it signed up to just a _ number 10, all the treaties it signed up to just a couple - number 10, all the treaties it signed up to just a couple ofl number 10, all the treaties it - signed up to just a couple of years ago. _ signed up to just a couple of years ago. the _ signed up to just a couple of years ago. the prime _ signed up to just a couple of years ago, the prime minister— signed up to just a couple of years ago, the prime minister knew- signed up to just a couple of yearsj ago, the prime minister knew that the brekit— ago, the prime minister knew that the brexit deal— ago, the prime minister knew that the brexit deal he _ ago, the prime minister knew that the brexit deal he negotiated - ago, the prime minister knew that. the brexit deal he negotiated would create _ the brexit deal he negotiated would create trade — the brexit deal he negotiated would create trade barriers _ the brexit deal he negotiated would create trade barriers in _ the brexit deal he negotiated would create trade barriers in the - the brexit deal he negotiated would create trade barriers in the irish- create trade barriers in the irish sea. _ create trade barriers in the irish sea. which _ create trade barriers in the irish sea, which have _ create trade barriers in the irish sea, which have stoked - create trade barriers in the irishj sea, which have stoked political tensions— sea, which have stoked political tensions in— sea, which have stoked political tensions in northern _ sea, which have stoked political tensions in northern ireland - sea, which have stoked political| tensions in northern ireland and placed _ tensions in northern ireland and placed a — tensions in northern ireland and placed a strain _ tensions in northern ireland and placed a strain on _ tensions in northern ireland and placed a strain on the _ tensions in northern ireland and placed a strain on the good - tensions in northern ireland and i placed a strain on the good friday agreement — placed a strain on the good friday agreement. rather— placed a strain on the good friday agreement. rather than - placed a strain on the good friday agreement. rather than seeking i agreement. rather than seeking workable — agreement. rather than seeking workable solutions, _ agreement. rather than seeking workable solutions, the - agreement. rather than seeking - workable solutions, the government is threatening — workable solutions, the government is threatening to _ workable solutions, the government is threatening to rip _ workable solutions, the government is threatening to rip up _ workable solutions, the government is threatening to rip up the - is threatening to rip up the agreement. _ is threatening to rip up the agreement, with _ is threatening to rip up the agreement, with no - is threatening to rip up the i agreement, with no concern is threatening to rip up the - agreement, with no concern for international— agreement, with no concern for international law— agreement, with no concern for international law or— agreement, with no concern for international law or what - agreement, with no concern for international law or what is - agreement, with no concern for| international law or what is best for the — international law or what is best for the people _ international law or what is best for the people of— international law or what is best for the people of northern - international law or what is best i for the people of northern ireland or the _ for the people of northern ireland or the rest— for the people of northern ireland or the rest of— for the people of northern ireland or the rest of the _ for the people of northern ireland or the rest of the uk. _ for the people of northern ireland or the rest of the uk. we - for the people of northern ireland or the rest of the uk. we are - or the rest of the uk. we are calling — or the rest of the uk. we are calling on— or the rest of the uk. we are calling on both _ or the rest of the uk. we are calling on both sides- or the rest of the uk. we are calling on both sides to - or the rest of the uk. we are calling on both sides to find i or the rest of the uk. we are| calling on both sides to find a solution. _ calling on both sides to find a solution, both— calling on both sides to find a solution, both the _ calling on both sides to find a solution, both the uk - calling on both sides to find a - solution, both the uk government and the eu _ solution, both the uk government and the eu must— solution, both the uk government and the eu must get— solution, both the uk government and the eu must get round _ solution, both the uk government and the eu must get round the _ solution, both the uk government and the eu must get round the table - solution, both the uk government and the eu must get round the table and l the eu must get round the table and do everything — the eu must get round the table and do everything possible _ the eu must get round the table and do everything possible to _ the eu must get round the table and do everything possible to solve - do everything possible to solve this _ do everything possible to solve this. solutions— do everything possible to solve this. solutions exist, _ do everything possible to solve this. solutions exist, and - do everything possible to solve this. solutions exist, and mustj do everything possible to solve i this. solutions exist, and must be found _ this. solutions exist, and must be found media _ this. solutions exist, and must be found. media reports _ this. solutions exist, and must be found. media reports suggest - this. solutions exist, and must bej found. media reports suggest that the government— found. media reports suggest that the government has— found. media reports suggest that the government has not— found. media reports suggest that the government has not only-

found. media reports suggest that| the government has not only been careless. — the government has not only been careless. but — the government has not only been careless, but that _ the government has not only been careless, but that the _ the government has not only been careless, but that the first - careless, but that the first treasury _ careless, but that the first treasury counsel, - careless, but that the first treasury counsel, the - careless, but that the first - treasury counsel, the government's independent — treasury counsel, the government's independent barrister— treasury counsel, the government's independent barrister on _ treasury counsel, the government's independent barrister on nationallyl independent barrister on nationally important — independent barrister on nationally important legal _ independent barrister on nationally important legal issues, _ independent barrister on nationally important legal issues, was - independent barrister on nationally important legal issues, was not. important legal issues, was not asked _ important legal issues, was not asked his — important legal issues, was not asked his opinion— important legal issues, was not asked his opinion on— important legal issues, was not asked his opinion on if- important legal issues, was not asked his opinion on if it - important legal issues, was not asked his opinion on if it would | asked his opinion on if it would break— asked his opinion on if it would break international— asked his opinion on if it would break international law. - asked his opinion on if it would break international law. it - asked his opinion on if it would i break international law. it would asked his opinion on if it would - break international law. it would be unprecedented _ break international law. it would be unprecedented for— break international law. it would be unprecedented for the _ break international law. it would be unprecedented for the first - break international law. it would be| unprecedented for the first treasury counsel— unprecedented for the first treasury counsel not— unprecedented for the first treasury counsel not to — unprecedented for the first treasury counsel not to be _ unprecedented for the first treasury counsel not to be consulted - unprecedented for the first treasury counsel not to be consulted on - unprecedented for the first treasury counsel not to be consulted on an . counsel not to be consulted on an issue _ counsel not to be consulted on an issue of— counsel not to be consulted on an issue of this — counsel not to be consulted on an issue of this importance. - counsel not to be consulted on an issue of this importance. this- counsel not to be consulted on an issue of this importance. this is. counsel not to be consulted on anl issue of this importance. this is an issue _ issue of this importance. this is an issue that — issue of this importance. this is an issue that runs _ issue of this importance. this is an issue that runs to _ issue of this importance. this is an issue that runs to the _ issue of this importance. this is an issue that runs to the heart - issue of this importance. this is an issue that runs to the heart of - issue that runs to the heart of whether— issue that runs to the heart of whether this _ issue that runs to the heart of whether this government - issue that runs to the heart of whether this government can| issue that runs to the heart of. whether this government can be trusted — whether this government can be trusted to— whether this government can be trusted to follow— whether this government can be trusted to follow the _ whether this government can be trusted to follow the rule - whether this government can be trusted to follow the rule of- whether this government can be j trusted to follow the rule of law. can the — trusted to follow the rule of law. can the minister— trusted to follow the rule of law. can the minister confirm, - trusted to follow the rule of law. can the minister confirm, yes i trusted to follow the rule of law. can the minister confirm, yes or| trusted to follow the rule of law. - can the minister confirm, yes or no, did they— can the minister confirm, yes or no, did they ask— can the minister confirm, yes or no, did they ask the _ can the minister confirm, yes or no, did they ask the first _ can the minister confirm, yes or no, did they ask the first treasury - did they ask the first treasury counsel— did they ask the first treasury counsel for— did they ask the first treasury counsel for a _ did they ask the first treasury counsel for a specific- did they ask the first treasury counsel for a specific legal- did they ask the first treasury - counsel for a specific legal opinion on whether— counsel for a specific legal opinion on whether plans _ counsel for a specific legal opinion on whether plans around - counsel for a specific legal opinion on whether plans around the - counsel for a specific legal opinion i on whether plans around the protocol would _ on whether plans around the protocol would breach— on whether plans around the protocol would breach international— on whether plans around the protocol would breach international law? - on whether plans around the protocol would breach international law? yes. would breach international law? yes or no? _ would breach international law? yes or no? ., , or no? the government is confident that our plans _ or no? the government is confident that our plans abide _ or no? the government is confident that our plans abide international. that our plans abide international law, the government will set out its legal position in due course, and in accordance with long—standing convention, we do not discuss legal advice. fish convention, we do not discuss legal advice. �* , .,

advice. an urgent question in the commons on _ advice. an urgent question in the commons on the _ advice. an urgent question in the commons on the northern - advice. an urgent question in the | commons on the northern ireland protocol, the set of arrangements that govern trade post—brexit. the question was asked by the lib dems, alistair carmichael, it concerns requests made to the first treasury counsel, the independent barrister, to assess the gunmen proposals to override the northern ireland protocol, potentially in breach of international law. that is what alistair carmichael said. looking at his twitter account, he has also said that it may seem to be a fairly opaque story, but this matter comes to the heart of both our obligations to the heart of both our obligations to international law and respect for the right of parliament to accurate information. so, james cleverly, for the government, you heard him repeat this several times, he said it was a long—standing convention that we do not publish details of legal advice to the government, and he went on to say that he believed the legal advice was that their plans were lawful and in accordance with international law. that was directly contradicted by labour, who said

that the government plans would rip up that the government plans would rip up international law and urged the government to look for solutions. the uk energy regulator 0fgem says thousands of customers were provided with an "unacceptable service" following storm arwen, last november. 4,000 households were left without power for more than a week in the aftermath of the storm. three network providers will now need to pay an extra £10.6 million in redress payments to the affected communities — on top of the 30 million they've already paid out. but the fact of the matter is, that network companies were not ready for this. there are lots of things they need improve the resilience of the network, to make sure that people are restored quickly and to make sure principally people are communicated to around what is going to happen to them. this report sets out clear actions with deadlines, and says to the network companies you need to pay back £44 million to those customers and communities that suffered as a result of those actions.

joining me now is 0li hands, oh and his family were severly affected by storm arwen — they were without power for five days. thanks very much forjoining us today. tell us a bit about how you coped during that time. good morning. _ coped during that time. good morning. yes- _ coped during that time. good morning, yes. well, - coped during that time. good morning, yes. well, it - coped during that time. good morning, yes. well, it was i coped during that time. good i morning, yes. well, it was quite a challenge. but we managed to get by, with a stove, and melted snow on that to get some water together. drinking water was provided by scottish water, and they were hot food vans going around as well, provided by ss. you food vans going around as well, provided by ss.— food vans going around as well, rovided b ss. ., . , ., provided by ss. you have three young children? that _ provided by ss. you have three young children? that is _ provided by ss. you have three young children? that is correct. _ provided by ss. you have three young children? that is correct. it _ provided by ss. you have three young children? that is correct. it must - children? that is correct. it must have been _ children? that is correct. it must have been tricky, _ children? that is correct. it must have been tricky, managing - children? that is correct. it must have been tricky, managing with| have been tricky, managing with three little ones?— three little ones? yes, i think it was a novelty —

three little ones? yes, i think it was a novelty for _ three little ones? yes, i think it was a novelty for the _ three little ones? yes, i think it was a novelty for the first - three little ones? yes, i think it| was a novelty for the first night. by was a novelty for the first night. by night five, it was starting to wear a little bit thin. imagine, everybody can imagine that. have you seen anything from these payouts? brute have you seen anything from these -a outs? ~ . . payouts? we received the first -a out payouts? we received the first payout after — payouts? we received the first payout after storm _ payouts? we received the first payout after storm arwen - payouts? we received the first payout after storm arwen for i payouts? we received the first i payout after storm arwen for the five or six days we had no power. we didn't receive a payout after the next two storms, and we were without power for five or six days again. so even though you were without power for a significant amount of time, you didn't receive anything for those storms. is that inconsistent, do you think? i those storms. is that inconsistent, do you think?— do you think? i don't think so, neighbours — do you think? i don't think so, neighbours are _ do you think? i don't think so, neighbours are saying - do you think? i don't think so, neighbours are saying the - do you think? i don't think so, . neighbours are saying the same thing, in the local village, it seems to be a bit inconsistent in terms of who has received compensation payments and what

amounts have been received, given that we were all without power for the same amount of time, there seems to be different amounts being paid out to some customers. 50. to be different amounts being paid out to some customers.— to be different amounts being paid out to some customers. so, do you auree out to some customers. so, do you agree with _ out to some customers. so, do you agree with 0fgem _ out to some customers. so, do you agree with ofgem when _ out to some customers. so, do you agree with ofgem when it - out to some customers. so, do you agree with ofgem when it says - out to some customers. so, do you agree with ofgem when it says that agree with 0fgem when it says that the service provided by energy companies was unacceptable? i think it was unprecedented, _ companies was unacceptable? i think it was unprecedented, in _ companies was unacceptable? i think it was unprecedented, in terms - companies was unacceptable? i think it was unprecedented, in terms of. it was unprecedented, in terms of the damage that was caused. and i think any company would have struggled to have dealt with the level of damage to the network. 50 level of damage to the network. so you are sympathetic, but you would expect them to learn lessons in preparation for another big storm? it would be reasonable to assume that lessons could be taken forward and procedures put in place. thank ou ve and procedures put in place. thank you very much- _ children in care have reported being groomed, sexually assaulted and given alcohol in homes and schools run

by a private company benefiting from public funding in england. a bbc news investigation has found calcot services for children had double the profit margin of other big care providers last year. our special correspondent, ed thomas reports. for six months, we've investigated the true scale of profits being made in the care and education of vulnerable children. where's the money going? not the places it should be. it's immoral. we've learned of the safeguarding failings... iran. grabbed her. we just fell to the ground. ..and spoken to whistleblowers, who reveal inadequate staffing levels. at calcot, it was just failure after failure. £3 million. we're bbcjournalists and we've looked at the accounts of calcot services for children, which runs nine homes and four schools. turnover, gross profit. we've learnt that some vulnerable children in its care have been failed. so for every pound of public money that's paid in,

the company's making... 40p. 40p profit? yeah. this is an all girls home, one of calcot�*s. a 17—year—old was groomed by a 28—year—old member of office staff at the company, who was redeployed here during covid, and began working shifts that included staying overnight. in text messages, he groomed her, calling her beautiful and saying he wanted to give her a cuddle and a kiss. soon they slept together. she later told a friend she felt used, manipulated and broken. calcot placed another girl here, a 16—year—old victim of sexual exploitation on what's called a deprivation of liberty order, an extreme measure that means she's judged at such risk she could be locked inside for her own welfare. but we've learned the girl was given alcohol by a worker, who even took her back to their home. the girl later went missing. we have this on a regular basis. we heard further evidence of another

young girl of high needs accepted by calcot being failed. felt like something was off. mo was a behavioural lead at a calcot school. the girl in crisis here was a high—cost placement. but we've been told that despite multiple warnings by staff about inadequate security, she was able to run away to this bridge. iran, grabbed her. we just fell to the ground and ijust held her there for a bit. and she was just sobbing. some of the kids had no business being in a school like that. the same girl alleged she was raped by a boy after they were able to abscond together from this calcot home. at calcot, it was just failure after failure. mia worked in two of the children's homes. she says there was chronic understaffing, which meant she was often left in charge of a girl, whose needs were so significant,

the local authority were paying for three members of staff to care for her in the daytime. nine times out of ten, she would never be on that three—to—one support. how dangerous was that? it was extremely dangerous. mia also says a 13—year—old boy alleged he was sexually assaulted after being found undressed and without supervision in an older girl's bedroom, an incident we've learned that was then not reported to 0fsted. how do you see calcot and the care they gave in the homes you were working in? neglectful, disgusting. and i feel, yeah, just completely let down of how they've treated these children. a number of pupils have been costed for a one—to—one support in the class, and they don't have them. maggie mccarthy was a teacher at a calcot school. while she was there in 2020, the company made 40% profit. this is money from the public purse that's meant to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in society. where's the money going? not the places it should be. it's immoral. the education and futures of these

children have been stolen. calcot�*s owners, who live here on this luxury estate, declined to be interviewed. in a statement, they said... the company is grateful to the bbc for highlighting what it considers to be safeguarding issues. all homes and schools are rated as outstanding or good and have the required number of staff. the company prioritises safeguarding all children in its care. it added... all incidents it is aware of are reported correctly, and profits appear to be high as a result of holding money in accounts during covid years. so we've looked at profits. but the bbc�*s learnt calcot made more than 30% profits in 2019 — pre—pandemic. the government says it expects all children's homes to provide the right care and protection. ed thomas, bbc news. an extra 160,000 pupils became eligible for free school meals in england betweenjanuary 2021 and january 2022, according to school census data just released.

it means thatjust under 1.9 million children — around 22.5% of all pupils — were claiming free school meals in england injanuary this year. joining me is dr nick capstick, head teacher of drove primary school in wiltshire and chairman of an independent working group, the school food review. thanks forjoining us today and for your time today. looking up the thread that has been running through many of our stories today, the cost of living crisis, it is not surprising that more children are eligible now for free school meals? i think you're absolutely right. i think they should also put this in perspective, the numbers that you are seeing are from january this year. so, that really was before the cost living increases impacted on ourfamilies, it was before

cost living increases impacted on our families, it was before we were seeing higher taxes and so on. so this is really the tip of the iceberg. we have already shown a distressing pattern from last year to this year, young people who now have to pre—game free school meals. sorry to interrupt, can i ask, you may not have the stats, but do you have a sense, give us an idea of, since january this year, whether that has risen significantly. in in april of this year, we know that many young people had food insecurity, a gap between the 1.9 that were eligible for free school meals. . . that were eligible for free school meals. . , . , , . , ., meals. there have been appeals to extend the — meals. there have been appeals to extend the provisional _ meals. there have been appeals to extend the provisional free - meals. there have been appeals to extend the provisional free school. extend the provisional free school meals, is that something that he would welcome?— meals, is that something that he would welcome? without a doubt. in northern ireland, _ would welcome? without a doubt. in northern ireland, the _ would welcome? without a doubt. in northern ireland, the threshold - would welcome? without a doubt. in northern ireland, the threshold for i northern ireland, the threshold for claiming free school meals is

£14,000 in a household. in england, it is 7400. in scotland and wales, they are free already. so, that increase, the universal free school meals, and for people in universal credit, that is important. share meals, and for people in universal credit, that is important.— credit, that is important. are you seeinr credit, that is important. are you seeing children _ credit, that is important. are you seeing children obviously - credit, that is important. are you seeing children obviously go - credit, that is important. are you - seeing children obviously go hungry? yes. we are seeing it increasingly. we are seeing young people with poor diet, having more time off school, poor dentition, i know one child thatis poor dentition, i know one child that is having 12 teeth taken out. that is a longer term issue, but it will not get any better with a poor diet and continuing lack of access to hot and nutritious meals. i just to hot and nutritious meals. i 'ust want to touch fl to hot and nutritious meals. i 'ust want to touch on i to hot and nutritious meals. i 'ust want to touch on the i to hot and nutritious meals. ijust want to touch on the provision - to hot and nutritious meals. ijust want to touch on the provision of those meals. i know that you are saying it is increasingly difficult to get catering organisations willing to get involved in the provision of school meals because of

the overheads, the costs. tell us more about that. the the overheads, the costs. tell us more about that.— the overheads, the costs. tell us more about that. the group that i work with contains _ more about that. the group that i work with contains academics - more about that. the group that i work with contains academics but| work with contains academics but also caterers and food suppliers. increasingly, the margins that are being paid per head, per school meal are so low that caterers come in all good faith, just cannot afford to provide what we need them to provide. i provide what we need them to rovide. . . . provide what we need them to rovide. . , , . , ., , provide. i am sure it is a story that we will — provide. i am sure it is a story that we will return _ provide. i am sure it is a story that we will return to. - provide. i am sure it is a story that we will return to. dr - provide. i am sure it is a story - that we will return to. dr capstick, thank you very much. so what do you do when you get knocked down...? you get up again! that is, of course, the famous chorus from chumbawamba's huge 1990s tune "tubthumping", and it's still a bit of an earworm years later. the song was a hit in the charts and in the headlines — and now, the band's formerfrontman has written a show about what happened next. abi jaiyeola reports. # he drinks a whiskey drink # he drinks a vodka drink # he drinks a lager drink # he drinks cider drink # he sings the songs that remind them of the good times # he sings the songs that reminds him of the better times.#

it was never part of the gameplan. it was never part of the plan at all to have a hit record. i would like to describe it as a happy accident. # i get knocked down # but i get up again # you're not ever gonna keep me down...# it was written by a leeds band about the resilience of ordinary people and tubthumping sold millions around the world. i think there were a couple of things when we thought we had definitely made it, or the song had reached a point where it had entered popular culture, and that was when it got played in the rovers return on coronation street, when it got played in the queen vic in eastenders. and then homer simpson sang it in the simpsons. # i get knocked down again # you ain't never going to knock me down.# # you're not ever gonna keep me down.# the top of the pops production team even invented a dance for the audience to do. it just felt as though that was one of those moments where you think,

i have no control over this whatsoever and we were just on this sort of roller—coaster of things that were happening. the band formed in 1982 and were explicitly political. at the brits in 1998, they voiced solidarity with liverpool dock workers by throwing water over deputy prime ministerjohn prescott. the fallout from that was pretty huge. it was obviously on the front all of the papers the next day. we got told if we had tried to garner that much publicity, it would cost us millions to get that much publicity so it was really funny that we became a household name because of that. now living in brighton, dunstan bruce has made a film and a one—man show about his life. the one—man show did come out of lockdown, basically. we actually finished editing the film and i was kind of thinking, what am i going to do next?

i know this is going to sound really cheesy, but... but it is about getting knocked down and getting up again. # i am invisible yet? # am i invisible? # thailand is moving from some of the world's strictest laws on drug use to the some of the most liberal. from thursday, it's legalising the cultivation of marijuana. it can now be used for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. it's after the nation became the first in south east asia to remove marijuana from its banned narcotics list. but recreational use remains illegal. and here's something to brighten your day, a festival of light has been taking place in singapore. it's returned to the city state after a break of two years and includes 20 different installations, from dancing fireflies to a walk through a inflatable whale. the festival also aims to promote sustainability, using energy saving lights and environmentally—friendly materials.

really gorgeous. you are watching bbc news. hello. some of us started the day with some sunshine, others with a lot of low cloud, mist and murk, and some rain. this area of low pressure has the remnants of tropical storm alex embedded in it and is drifting north eastwards. for the next few days it is going to be windy, more especially across the north west. the wind eventually easing on sunday. what we have today is the remnants of yesterday's front with some spots of rain pushing northwards, and then we have the new front coming in, introducing rain, most of which will be light. and after the sunny start in central and eastern areas, cloud will build. the breeze is going to pick up across the irish sea on the english channel through the day, with top temperatures up to 21. it's also

worth noting that if you have an allergy to grass or nettle pollen, the levels are high across eastern parts of england, as well as east anglia. through this evening and overnight, here is the same weather front, pushing eastwards, there will be a lot of cloud associated with it, some rain, hilland be a lot of cloud associated with it, some rain, hill and coastal mist and fog, and drizzle coming out of it. eventually it will become embedded in the south—east. the wind strengthening across the far north—west, with overnight lows between 11 and 15 degrees. so we start off with all of this cloud, some drizzle and murky conditions in the south. that will push away. but it may well come back in later in the day, bringing some ploughed into kent and also sussex. for most it is going to be a dry day but a blustery one. we will see some showers develop across northern ireland and scotland. some of those will be heavy and thundery. it's going to be a windy day, especially in the north west of scotland, but also northern ireland and northern england. into saturday, windy across the far west, if anything windier. we will also

have a lot of showers, some heavy and thundery with some hail across scotland, northern ireland and northern england. further south it is drier, just a light breeze we are looking at with highs of up to 22 degrees in the sunshine. you can see how the low pressure moves away, high pressure tries to establish itself but we do have some weather fronts moving around the top of that. so, that does mean that on sunday it will not be as windy and the north—west, but with a weather front close by we could see some rain in the far north. coming further south, rain in the far north. coming furthersouth, it rain in the far north. coming further south, it is less windy and dry.

this is bbc news, i'mjoanna gosling. the headlines at 11. it's been described as a �*truly dark day�* for drivers by one motoring organisation, as the cost of filling up a typical family car reaches an unprecedented high of £100 i suspect it's going to get worst so i suspect it's going to get worst so i suggest the government looks at how it's going to help ordinary people. the age at which people can legally buy tobacco in england should gradually increase year after year, according to a government—commissioned review. borisjohnson will set out plans to boost home ownership for people in england later — including allowing benefits to cover mortgage payments — in a speech to try and reset his leadership if you're on a lower income,

could you ever envisage putting your housing benefit payments towards a mortgage? tell me your story on twitter @bchoannag and use the hashtag #bbcyourquestions millions of people in the uk were left without power last year because of storm arwen. now the regulator for electricity tells power firms to improve their storm response. new figures suggest the average cost of filling a typical family car with petrol in the uk has today reached £100, as fuel prices continue to rise. the increase is largely blamed on the impact of the war in ukraine on global energy supplies. let's take a closer look at some of the figures. the data firm experian catalist has

reported that the cost of filling an average family car topped £100 on wednesday. it says that the average price per litre has now gone up to 182 pence. earlier this week, uk fuel prices jumped by 2p a litre. they went up to an average of more than 180p a litre on tuesday. that was the highest daily price rise in 17 years. and now they are up again. back in march, the uk government announced a 5 pence per litre cut in fuel duty — but motoring groups are concerned that retailers aren't passing on the cuts to customers. our business correspondent ben boulos took us through the impact the rise in fuel is having on everyday life. this is touching our lives in so many different ways, filling up the car to do essential journeys, be that to work, the shops, to school, that gets more expensive. for some people there is no real viable alternative. for businesses, the cost of transporting goods around becomes more expensive, it costs more to put fuel in the trucks and lorries to get

the goods to the shops. as a result the prices go up as well. the high oil price means airlines are paying more for theirfuel, so we see the ticket prices that we pay go up as well. and some people whose businesses rely so much on fuel, such as taxi drivers, may look at what they are making, and what it is costing them to carry out their business, and they may decide that the profits are being so squeezed that it is not worth it any more, and so that may be why if you are trying to hail a cab on the street, you may find you are having to wait longer because some drivers have decided the business isn't worth staying in any more, so the impact is being felt in so many different ways. let's speak to rod mckenzie of the road haulage association.

welcome and thank you forjoining us. what impact does this having on your members? it us. what impact does this having on your members?— your members? it simply cannot be underestimated. _ your members? it simply cannot be underestimated. to _ your members? it simply cannot be underestimated. to give _ your members? it simply cannot be underestimated. to give you - your members? it simply cannot be underestimated. to give you an - underestimated. to give you an example, the cost of filling up a single truck for one year has gone up single truck for one year has gone up by £20,000. so if you have a fleet of let's say five trucks, very typical for a fleet of let's say five trucks, very typicalfor a hauliers, that's an extra £100,000 on yourfuel bill every year. so we know, as motorists, how much we are feeling the pain at the pumps but that pain is much worse for the lorry industry on who we all depend because everything we get in britain comes on the back of a truck and of course if our costs are going up and inflation will increase because we are talking about companies with very small profit margins, typically around 3%. they simply cannot afford to do anything other than pass on costs and fuel inflation as a result. . �* .

costs and fuel inflation as a result. . �* , , costs and fuel inflation as a result. . �*, , ., costs and fuel inflation as a result. . �*, , . result. that's exactly what i was coin: result. that's exactly what i was auoin to result. that's exactly what i was going to ask. — result. that's exactly what i was going to ask, that _ result. that's exactly what i was going to ask, that £20,000 - result. that's exactly what i was going to ask, that £20,000 per| result. that's exactly what i was - going to ask, that £20,000 per truck per year is going straight on costs for consumers?— for consumers? that's right. as i said, for consumers? that's right. as i said. everything _ for consumers? that's right. as i said, everything we _ for consumers? that's right. as i said, everything we get - for consumers? that's right. as i said, everything we get in - for consumers? that's right. as i j said, everything we get in britain comes from a truck so whether it's our food comes from a truck so whether it's ourfood in comes from a truck so whether it's our food in the supermarkets, the goodsin our food in the supermarkets, the goods in our homes, or any of the other goodies we like to order online, close, whatever, there is a cost attached to it because the truck is needed to move the goods from the warehouse to your home. possibly via vans and other means but there's always a truck involved and that is where the cost is really biting. and hauliers are feeling an enormous pain here and we think actually something must be done about this, this is not a case of hauliers complaining about difficult working conditions and all the rest of it. this is something actually the government can influence and we think there is something the government can do to help. what

would that be? what we want is an essential user fuel duty rebate which is the sort of scheme they have a lots of european countries which acknowledges some vehicles need to be on the road not for pleasure, not for any other reason, for essential work. so we think if 15p per litre was given back by the government to hauliers, that would help control the costs. so how that would work as a haulier. his truck, 15p per litre we go back in a tax break, if you like, to the haulier which would mean he would not have to pass on costs to the customer which in turn would help control inflation so it's a win—win. it's actually a really good thing for all of us to sign up to this idea. haste of us to sign up to this idea. have ou had of us to sign up to this idea. have you had any _ of us to sign up to this idea. have you had any conversations - of us to sign up to this idea. have you had any conversations with government about that? we are talkin: to government about that? we are talking to the — government about that? we are talking to the treasury, - government about that? we are talking to the treasury, we - government about that? we are | talking to the treasury, we think government about that? we are i talking to the treasury, we think at

something, we have said for some months they should consider this in the forthcoming autumn budget and we think there is an urgent need for it now and it would help peg back inflation which i think we all... i'm sorry to cut in but you've been talking to the treasury, what's been the response? [30 talking to the treasury, what's been the response?— the response? do you think it's likel ? the response? do you think it's likely? they — the response? do you think it's likely? they haven't _ the response? do you think it's likely? they haven't said - the response? do you think it's likely? they haven't said yes i the response? do you think it'sj likely? they haven't said yes or the response? do you think it's - likely? they haven't said yes or no. i think it's fair to say they are listening. but we still need to do more, i think, listening. but we still need to do more, ithink, to listening. but we still need to do more, i think, to persuade them and to persuade them this is notjust a haulier thing, to persuade them this is notjust a haulierthing, it's to persuade them this is notjust a haulier thing, it's a general public, customerand haulier thing, it's a general public, customer and consumer thing and we all benefit from the idea. thank you. do let me know what's happening with you and the cost of fuel. if you think it's having an impact on you filling up your vehicle for personal use. the uk's health minister sajid javid says the government

will now carefully consider the reccomendations set out in the independent tobacco control review. the legal age for people to buy cigarettes in england should rise every year by a further year, a government—commissioned review has recommended. it is part of a package of measures to achieve the government's ambition for england to be smoke—free by 2030. the idea has been compared to the new zealand model where today's generation of children and teenagers may never be allowed to legally buy tobacco products. earlier, i spoke to louise ross, a clinical consultant on smoking, who said she supports the move to tackle smoking at a young age. smoking is a habit and an addiction that starts in youth, _ amongst young people. if you can tackle it i in those early years, you prevent adults going on to smoke for the rest of their lives, _ and suffer disability, early death. in america, when the age of sale was raised, there was a 30% - reduction in smoking rates almost immediately, so we know it - does make a difference. with me is our health correspondentjim reed.

how likely is this to happen? it's all art of how likely is this to happen? it's all part of a _ how likely is this to happen? it�*s all part of a government strategy set out in 2019 to make england as they call it smoke—free by 2030. definition isn't quite smoke—free, it's bringing smoking levels down to under 5% of the population. it's a pretty ambitious target, ahead of the rest of the eu and scotland which has set a target of 2034. what this report says and it has come through in the last 90 minutes or so, it sets out the ways which the government would have to act in order to get to that target. we will get and we will fall far short but the most eye—catching proposal is this change in the age at which people might be able to buy cigarettes. it's complicated, at one point we thought there would be a straight increase from 18 to 21 or 25 recommended but instead they've gone for saying overtime, think each

year, the minimum age should be increased from 18, 19, 20, and so on, so that would effectively mean children and young people today would never be able to legally buy cigarettes because the age we change. they have tried this in new zealand, plans to put this in place by 2026, other countries like denmark looking at it as well but it's the first time an influential group of people have called for this action in the uk or england. iagi’hat action in the uk or england. what are the statistics _ action in the uk or england. what are the statistics on _ action in the uk or england. what are the statistics on smoking now? the target is to get this down to 5% of the adult population, at the moment is roughly 13 or 14% of the aduu moment is roughly 13 or 14% of the adult population, it's more young people that smoke more, among under 24, it is much higher, one in three, it went up to one and three in the pandemic. what proponents of these strategies would say is you need to catch people early because once you

get to 26, 27, catch people early because once you get to 26,27, if you catch people early because once you get to 26, 27, if you have developed a smoking habit by that point that is where you will continue to have the habit going on and the health implications when you get older are pretty severe. the strategy is to focus on younger people. there are other things in the report, 110 pages, quite interesting. including advocating what's called a polluter tax, essentially a levy on big tobacco companies that would go pay for anti—smoking and smoking cessation legends. and also the idea there needs to be more promotion of vaping products. —— cessation lessons. making these available on prescription further down the line. in the united states they have banned the sale of some vaping products, some of the evidence isn't clear—cut but you see the direction of travel, you see where the experts said ministers need to go next if we

are to hit the targets.— people on lower incomes in england could be allowed to use housing benefit payments to apply for a mortgage under new government plans to be announced today. the prime minister will give details during a major speech in lancashire today. it's part of efforts to reset his leadership and move on from monday's bruising confidence vote for conservative mps. speaking to the bbc�*s today programme, the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, michael gove, said the plans were aimed at helping the poorest buy a home. home ownership is something special, as you quite rightly point out. the conservatives have always believed that giving people the chance to own their own home, to be part of their community, put down roots, to pass something on to the next generation, is an important, you know, desire of the human heart, that it is our mission to help more people fulfil. so what the prime minister

is announcing today are a series of measures which will extend home ownership, allowing people in housing associations who haven't previously had the right to buy, to give them the right to buy that property, looking at the mortgage market overall to make sure it works better for everyone, and looking also at the benefit system, in order to ensure that people who currently are receiving benefit which is going to landlords can use that income in order to get on the property ladder. on a visit to dublin this morning, the labour leader sir keir starmer said the policy was just a rehash of old ideas. i want as many people to own their own homes as want to, i think that's a great aspiration. i think the announcement today from the prime minister is the wrong approach. it is a reheated version of an idea that the government had back in 2015. they piloted it, it did not work and if ever you needed evidence that this divided government is completely out of ideas, it is this announcement today which is simply reheating an old idea. they piloted

it, it did not work, they really are at the end of the road. we can speak now to simon hill, an analyst at the new economics foundation. they're a left—of—centre organisation researching the economy and environmental policy. welcome and thank you forjoining us. your thoughts on expanding the right to buy and letting people use housing benefit to pay for their mortgages?— housing benefit to pay for their mortgages? housing benefit to pay for their mortauaes? ., ., ., mortgages? from our position, the riaht mortgages? from our position, the ri . ht to mortgages? from our position, the right to buy. _ mortgages? from our position, the right to buy. it _ mortgages? from our position, the right to buy. it is — mortgages? from our position, the right to buy, it is a _ mortgages? from our position, the right to buy, it is a failed _ mortgages? from our position, the right to buy, it is a failed policy - right to buy, it is a failed policy in enabling homeownership. the introduction in the 1980s, there was an increase in home ownership and what we seen increasingly as the right to buy homes is becoming privately rented homes. exceptionally high rents, furthering the squeeze on low income households within this cost of living crisis. when you say right to buy has become a failed policy in enabling homeownership, people have bought those homes, what do you think it

has failed to enable homeownership? alongside it initially, there were households who were fortunate enough to buy their homes but alongside that there were other changes to the market including localisation of mortgages and what that lead to was house prices massively increasing. then there was a burgeoning of landlords who could then use that housing wealth accumulated through right to buy to purchase other right to buy policies on other homes and transfer those into the private rented sector.— transfer those into the private rented sector. ., . ._ . , rented sector. you are saying it has led to some — rented sector. you are saying it has led to some individuals _ rented sector. you are saying it has led to some individuals being - rented sector. you are saying it has led to some individuals being able. led to some individuals being able to acquire more properties they are renting out and others still not having their main home... bud renting out and others still not having their main home... and it's all the cost — having their main home... and it's all the cost of _ having their main home... and it's all the cost of losing _ having their main home... and it's all the cost of losing affordable - all the cost of losing affordable ten years, social rent, the only genuinely affordable tenure. 2 million homes which were socially rented, tied to local incomes and provided a really good tenure to low

income households that have been lost through the right to buy with less than 10% of those replaced because these homes are sold at discount and it dis— incentivise as councils from building further homes and they lose cash in their budgets through the discounted sale. stare and they lose cash in their budgets through the discounted sale. are you are ideologically _ through the discounted sale. are you are ideologically opposed _ through the discounted sale. are you are ideologically opposed to - through the discounted sale. are you are ideologically opposed to right - are ideologically opposed to right to buy or are you saying it's a simple matter of factual economics? there's a point here about providing housing to low income households and what right to buy does is takes homes which are tied to local incomes and pushes them into either homeownership or eventually private rents. all of which in this current cost of living crisis is unaffordable.- cost of living crisis is unaffordable. . ., ,, unaffordable. saad al-hilli, thank ou. we unaffordable. saad al-hilli, thank you- we are _ unaffordable. saad al-hilli, thank you. we are asking _ unaffordable. saad al-hilli, thank you. we are asking for— unaffordable. saad al-hilli, thank you. we are asking for your - you. we are asking for your experiences. —— saad al—hilli.

we are expecting the details when the prime minister speaks this afternoon. 0ur political correspondent, nick eardley is in blackpool, lancashire for us. it is economics, it is politics, and it follows on from the leadership election so in terms of what it will deliver what's your analysis? it’s deliver what's your analysis? it's interesting. _ deliver what's your analysis? it�*s interesting, there's no doubt boris johnson once a bit of a reset today, he wants to try and persuade us all he wants to try and persuade us all he can get on with talking about ideas and notjust going over questions about his leadership. there are quite a lot of questions about how this policy is going to work in practice. if you take the idea of right to buy for a housing association and its tenants, those deals have not been negotiated with

housing associations yet. we don't know exactly when they will happen and where exactly they will be allowed to happen. michael gove suggested this morning there would be a cap on numbers but we don't know what that cap is yet and then there's the question of how you replenish the social housing stock when you have sold some of it off. again, the government says it will do that but we are not too sure how. at the moment, that side of things is definitely an idea that needs to be built up and remember it's an idea of the government has been talking about since 2015. when you take the benefits part of this announcement, again there are some questions about the practicalities of it. if you are someone on universal credit, you're only allowed to have £16,000 on saving before you stop getting benefits. the government �*s ideas he will be able to siphon off everything over 16,000 into a help to buy as a but that's pretty limited and it will

take time to say that up so some questions about the practicalities. and ijust wonder, might some questions about the practicalities. and i just wonder, might some tory mps be nervous about this this morning? we know some tory mps have criticised the prime minister for having headline announcements and ideas but not being that great when it comes to the delivery of some of those bold promises. and it feels a bit like that today, there is an idea, the delivery of it might be more complicated and probably will not happen for a year or two yet. yes, the prime minister today wants to tell us all he has ways to deliver on the housing shortage, to come up with ideas about how to reform the way that things work in the housing sector and as he put it, level up the country. but actually making that happen is going to be a bit trickier. . ~ making that happen is going to be a bit trickier. . ,, , ., . bit trickier. thank you. we will have coverage _ bit trickier. thank you. we will have coverage of _ bit trickier. thank you. we will have coverage of the - bit trickier. thank you. we will have coverage of the speech, . bit trickier. thank you. we will i have coverage of the speech, we expect it around 1pm. the uk energy regulator 0fgem says

thousands of customers were provided with an "unacceptable service" following storm arwen last november. 4,000 households were left without power for more than a week in the aftermath of the storm. three network providers will now need to pay an extra 10.3 million pounds in �*redress payments�* to the affected communities, on top of the 30 million they�*ve already paid out. but the fact of the matter is, that network companies were not ready for this. there are lots of things they need to do to improve the resilience of the network, to make sure that people are restored quickly and to make sure principally people are communicated to around what is going to happen to them. this report sets out clear actions with deadlines, and says to the network companies you need to pay back £44 million to those customers and communities that suffered as a result of those actions. earlier, we spoke with 0li hands. oh and his family were severely affected by storm arwen. they were without power for five days. we asked him if he�*d been compensated.

we received the first payout after storm arwen for the five or six days that we were off power then. we haven�*t received a payout after storms malik and corrie, and we were off power for five or six days again. 0ur neighbours are saying the same thing. in the local village, it seems to be a bit inconsistent in terms of who has received compensation payments and what amounts have been received, given that we were all off power for the same amount of time. there seem to be different amounts being paid out to some customers. i think it was unprecedented in terms of the damage that was caused, and i think any company would have struggled to have dealt with the level of damage to the network. ukraine�*s president zelensky said russia has suffered heavy losses in what he called a very fierce and difficult battle for the city of severodonetsk. in his nightly televised broadcast, he said in many respects

the fate of the donbas region of eastern ukraine was being decided there. the regional governor says russian forces now control most of the city, with ukrainian fighters only in control of the industrial area on the outskirts of severodonetsk. so this is the city of severodonetsk. it�*s the crucial city that sits on the east bank of the siverskyi donets river, and it�*s the current focal point of russia�*s invasion. now, we understand the fighting there is very intense, very heavy. huge amounts of artillery bombardment, which has really characterised this phase of the war. we understand it is street by street and that both sides are suffering heavy casualties. now, it was interesting yesterday that president zelensky, in his nightly address, said that the fate of this city will determine the fate of the donbas. and the reason that�*s interesting, i think, is because it contradicts in some ways what we�*ve heard from the governor, serhiy haidai, previously, which is that

although the city of severodonetsk is important, it�*s not strategically as important as its twin city, lysychansk, which sits on the other bank on the western bank of this river. and that�*s because lysychansk is higher up. it�*s a vantage point from which they can defend the river. and so i think there is some confusion as to what the president is referring to here, maybe that it�*s symbolically important, because it is one of the last major centres in the luhansk region, and that is a major target for the russians. a new study into the mental health of university students has found that almost a quarter of them feel lonely �*most�* or �*all the time�*. the research is based on data from more than 10,000 students across uk and says 23% are struggling. the issue was compounded in students with disabilities, from the trans community or from minority backgrounds with 32% of black students

reporting loneliness. children in care have reported being groomed, sexually assaulted and given alcohol in homes and schools run by a private company benefiting from public funding in england. a bbc news investigation has found calcot services for children had double the profit margin of other big care providers last year. our special correspondent ed thomas reports. for six months, we�*ve investigated the true scale of profits being made in the care and education of vulnerable children. where�*s the money going? not the places it should be. it�*s immoral. we�*ve learned of the safeguarding failings... iran. grabbed her. we just fell to the ground. ..and spoken to whistleblowers, who reveal inadequate staffing levels. at calcot, it was just failure after failure. £3 million. we�*re bbcjournalists and we�*ve looked at the accounts

of calcot services for children, which runs nine homes and four schools. turnover, gross profit. we�*ve learnt that some vulnerable children in its care have been failed. so for every pound of public money that�*s paid in, the company�*s making... 40p. 40p profit? yeah. this is an all girls home, one of calcot�*s. a 17—year—old was groomed by a 28—year—old member of office staff at the company, who was redeployed here during covid, and began working shifts that included staying overnight. in text messages, he groomed her, calling her beautiful and saying he wanted to give her a cuddle and a kiss. soon they slept together. she later told a friend she felt used, manipulated and broken. calcot placed another girl here, a 16—year—old victim of sexual exploitation on what�*s called a deprivation of liberty order, an extreme measure that means she�*s judged at such risk she could be locked

inside for her own welfare. but we�*ve learned the girl was given alcohol by a worker, who even took her back to their home. the girl later went missing. we have this on a regular basis. we heard further evidence of another young girl of high needs accepted by calcot being failed. felt like something was off. mo was a behavioural lead at a calcot school. the girl in crisis here was a high—cost placement. but we�*ve been told that despite multiple warnings by staff about inadequate security, she was able to run away to this bridge. iran, grabbed her. we just fell to the ground and ijust held her there for a bit. and she was just sobbing. some of the kids had no business being in a school like that. the same girl alleged she was raped by a boy after they were able to abscond together from this calcot home. at calcot, it was just failure after failure. mia worked in two of the children�*s homes.

she says there was chronic understaffing, which meant she was often left in charge of a girl, whose needs were so significant, the local authority were paying for three members of staff to care for her in the daytime. nine times out of ten, she would never be on that three—to—one support. how dangerous was that? it was extremely dangerous. mia also says a 13—year—old boy alleged he was sexually assaulted after being found undressed and without supervision in an older girl�*s bedroom, an incident we�*ve learned that was then not reported to 0fsted. how do you see calcot and the care they gave in the homes you were working in? neglectful, disgusting. and i feel, yeah, just completely let down of how they�*ve treated these children. a number of pupils have been costed for a one—to—one support in the class, and they don't have them. maggie mccarthy was a teacher at a calcot school. while she was there in 2020, the company made 40% profit. this is money from the public purse that's meant to improve the lives

of some of the most vulnerable children in society. where's the money going? not the places it should be. it's immoral. the education and futures of these children have been stolen. calcot�*s owners, who live here on this luxury estate, declined to be interviewed. in a statement, they said... it added... so we've looked at profits. but the bbc�*s learnt calcot made more than 30% profits in 2019 — pre—pandemic. the government says it expects all children�*s homes to provide the right care and protection.

ed thomas, bbc news. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again. some of us across central and eastern areas started off on a sunny note this morning, but cloud is going to build through the day as this weather front advances from the southwest, taking its rain with it and pushing northeastwards. the cloud building ahead of it. this morning�*s cloud and drizzle moving away from central scotland. and temperatures today 12 to about 21 degrees. but the wind�*s going to strengthen through the irish sea and the english channel. and tonight, the wind will continue to strengthen, particularly so across northwest scotland. here�*s our weather front, moving away. but by the morning, we could still have a lot of low cloud, mist and fog across parts of the southeast, as well as drizzle. not a cold night, though. temperatures falling away to between 10 and 14 degrees. tomorrow we start with the low cloud, mist and drizzle in the southeast, but that clears, could come back later into kent and sussex. a lot of dry weather.

it�*s going to be a blustery day. the strongest winds will be in the northwest and northern ireland. here, too, we�*ll see some showers. some will be heavy with thunder and lightning. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: it�*s been described as a �*truly dark day�* for drivers by one motoring organisation, as the cost of filling up a typical family car reaches an unprecedented high of one hundred pounds. the age at which people can legally buy tobacco in england should gradually increase year after year, according to a government—commissioned review. borisjohnson will set out plans to boost home ownership for people in england later, including allowing benefits to cover mortgage payments, in a speech to try and reset his leadership. millions of people in the uk were left without power last year because of storm arwen. now the regulator for electricity tells power firms to improve their storm response.

sport now, and a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good morning. we will start with some breaking news in the last hour. the chief of paris police, didier lallement, has admitted the way in which supporters were handled at the champions league final was a �*failure�*. the final was delayed by over 30 minutes as supporters were stuck outside and denied entry despite having genuine tickets. videos from the stadium also showed fans being pushed and being pepper sprayed, something which lallement admits he has �*sincere regrets�* over, although did pay tribute to the french police, adding a �*tragedy could have happened without them.�* 0ther other news to bring you from the last half an hour... the premier league has suspended its six—year tv deal with russian broadcasters match tv. the deal — worth £43 million — was due to start at the beginning of next season. however, with russia�*s invasion of ukraine ongoing, the premier league felt they had no

option to suspend the contract. it�*s not clear how long the suspension will run for or if the deal will be scrapped completely. in the nations league, gareth bale says wales must learn the �*dark arts�* of football after they conceded a last minute winner to the netherlands last night. wales looked on course for a memorable draw against the netherlands after a stoppage time equaliser from rhys norrington—davies, only for the dutch to go straight up the other end, with burnley�*s wout weghorst heading home the winner. afterwards, bale suggested someone could have brought down an opposition player to stop the attack. a week on from losing their world cup play—off match against ukraine, scotland got back to winning ways. they beat armenia 2—0. anthony ralston with scotland�*s opener. england�*s cricketers have named an unchanged side for their second test against new zealand, which begins tomorrow at trent bridge. that means spinner jack leach keeps his place despite suffering concussion in the first match at lords. victory would ensure england go 2—0 up and win the series, with just one match left to play.

the future of golf could be changed forever in just a few hours�* time, as the most controversial and lucrative tournament in the sport�*s history gets under way this afternoon. major champions like phil mickelson, sergio garcia and dustinjohnson are getting paid huge amounts to appear in the liv series, and will play for the £3.2 million top prize at the centurion club in hertfordshire. but all competitors have faced questions about the ethics of a series funded by saudi arabian money, with the country�*s human rights record called into question. i�*m trying to provide for my family, which is the first and foremost thing that i want to do. i come to work to play golf, and that is my job, at the end of the day. it is a magnificent opportunity that i�*m really looking forward to. with wimbledon just around the corner, there�*s some good news for the british tennis number one emma raducanu. she is expected to be fit for the tournament, which starts at the end of the month.

there had been concerns after raducanu pulled out of the nottingham 0pen earlier this week, managing to play only seven games, because of a side strain. champion jockey 0isin murphy says he drank so much alcohol that he had blackouts and feared it could end his racing career. murphy was given a 14—month ban in february for breaking covid rules and two alcohol breaches. there was a lot of low days, most days were low, in fact. i am fully sober now, and i want to maintain how i am. that is day by day. i suppose when i return to the saddle, i�*ve got to be sure i am still feeling this way. i can�*t really live with the idea of failing another breath test. you know, that is why i�*m still going to aa and getting help from my counsellor. that�*s all the sport for now.

more for you later. back to you, joanna. thank you very much. as we werejust hearing... the police chief in paris has expressed his sincere regrets to british and spanish supporters who were at champions league final last month. head of paris police prefecture didier lallement says what happened at the stadium was a �*failure�*, adding that he will do everything he can to track down the officers who attacked supporters. let�*s go to our paris correspondent hugh schofield. wow, that is a change in tone. tell us more. well, is it? is change in tone. tell us more. well, is it? is it? — change in tone. tell us more. well, is it? is it? i— change in tone. tell us more. well, is it? is it? | don't— change in tone. tell us more. well, is it? is it? i don't think— change in tone. tell us more. well, is it? is it? i don't think we - is it? is it? i don�*t think we should necessarily read this as a climb—down or an admission of guilt or responsibility in the kind of larger sense. or responsibility in the kind of largersense. he or responsibility in the kind of larger sense. he said what the minister said a week ago, which is that he genuinely feel sorry for those fans who were caught up in it

and who were evidently wrongly at the receiving end of tear gas and so on, but there is no particular apology for the way the police operation was held. he said he would stand by the decisions of that evening and would do the same again. what he says happened was a kind of failure of information, which led to the problems that followed, the availability of information that he and the police did not know personally that there would be such a large turnout of ticketless liverpool fans at the outer rim of the stadium precinct in the 2—3 hours ahead of the match. this, attached to the fact that there was attached to the fact that there was a strike on one of the underground lines to the station, led to the huge crush of people at one particular entry point, which then led to the police having to pull back and to the scenes of chaos on the esplanade itself. but he said that what the police did in

decisions —— and decisions he took that evening where once he stood by. he said the use of tear gas, for example, was one dollar and a decision he would take again. he said they were two methods of clearing a crowd, charging them or using tear gas. charging them was not a possibility and would have led to devastating consequences, so he stood by the use of tear gas, even though he did say, as you mention at the beginning, that ordinary people had been caught up in this and he sincerely regretted that. so i don�*t think there is a huge sort of hands in the air, we got it wrong approach on the part of the police. i think he has not differ that much from what the minister said before. so where does this leave concerns around... where does this leave concerns around- - -_ where does this leave concerns around. . .- do _ where does this leave concerns around. . .- do you - where does this leave concerns around. . .- do you need i where does this leave concerns| around. . .- do you need to around... sarri. do you need to answer that. — around... sarri. do you need to answer that, hugh? _ around... sarri. do you need to answer that, hugh? you - around... sarri. do you need to answer that, hugh? you have i around... 62“. do you need to answer that, hugh? you have turned it off. all right. where does this leave concerns about other big sporting events coming up in france? well, indeed, a lot of people in the senate hearing where this took place are not happy with what didier

lallement said. they are not convinced this explanation holds water, or that this figure of 30,000 - 40,000 water, or that this figure of 30,000 — 40,000 ticketless liverpool fans arriving, 2—3 hours ahead of the match, holds water. it is interesting, because the chief of police did sort of give way there. for the first time, we saw him say, well, when i said 30,000 — 40,000, that�*s what i came up with on the night, but maybe it was not that, maybe it was 20,000. so there is a sense that many of these figures i may be just sort of plucked out of the air, there we stand by the broader picture that they were ticketless fans turning up that because the problem. of course, people looking forward to the rugby world cup at the olympics are asking about security around the stadium, and what is clear from all of this is that one of the big problems was less the policing here, which was problematic, but the fact that there were, as he said, around 300—400

local delinquents mixed in with the fans who were able to run rampage, causing such fear and anguish among fans right at the end of the match in particular, and one of the big questions is, how do you keep that element out when there are these huge sort of crowds forming outside venues like this? thank you, hugh. a vigil has been held outside the brazilian embassy in london following the disappearance of a british journalist and a brazilian indigenous affairs expert during a trip into the rainforest. investigative journalist dom phillips and bruno araujo pereira, who was acting as his guide, were last seen in the javari region of amazonas state nearly the peruvian border, just days after receiving threats. the 57—year—old is working on a book about the environment and is believed to have been attempting to make contact with indigenous people living in the region.

dom�*s sister sian addressed reporter, where she asked why it took brazilian authorities so long to start the search after local indigenous leaders raised the alarm. we are so grateful that this vigil is happening today, and we thank you all for being here. we had to come this morning to ask the question, where is dom phillips, where is bruno parreira, and we are here also for my brother�*s wife, alexandra sound power. we are brother�*s nieces and sister—in—law too. we are here because dom is missing, he is lost, doing important world job of investigative journalism. we are here to make the point that, why did it take so long for them to start the search for my brother and for bruno? the the family were joined at the vigil

by friends of phillips as well as several human rights and environmental organisations such as greenpeace who wanted to highlight the increasing violence by loggers in the region. i think, you ithink, you know, the i think, you know, the disappearance of dom and bruno really comes in the context of this rising violence in indigenous lands in brazil. under president bolsonaro, we have seen this real kind of climate of violence, a rollback of indigenous rights, a rollback of environmental protections, so it�*s impossible to ignore that context. dom and bruno were dedicating a lot of their work to shining a light on that, to working alongside indigenous communities, to really advocating for the protection of rights and the environment, so it�*s really important that we are standing in solidarity here today and really emphasising that as well as keeping that urgent focus on the need for resources that the search mission. the us house of representatives has approved a series of gun control measures — but they�*re unlikely to become law because of a lack of senate support. congress earlier heard evidence from the survivors of the texas school shooting and the mother

of one victim who claimed some people believed that guns were more important than children. republican congressmanjim jordan and the democratic speaker of the house nancy pelosi spoke ahead of the vote. to those who a moment of silence is good enough, because you don�*t have the courage to take a vote to protect the children, i would say your political survival is totally insignificant compared to the survival of our children. the speaker stared by saying this bill is about protecting our kids. that is important, sure is, that is what she said, protecting our kids is important. yes, it is, but this bill doesn't do it. what this bill does is take away second amendment rights, god—given rights, protected by our constitution, from law—abiding american citizens. that is what this legislation does and that is why we should oppose it. 0ur north america correspondent, david willis, explained the more modest measures the us senate

are planning to approve. it looks as though they will probably consist of a limited extension of background checks, juvenile records and so on, and the introduction, the federal introduction of so—called red flag laws which enable officials to confiscate weapons if a person who owns them is deemed to be a risk to themselves or to other people. but all that is a long, long way, of course, from the sort of measures that president biden recommended after the uvalde shooting. he called for a ban on assault weapons, for widespread background checks on those seeking to buy firearms in this country, and so on. that is not going to happen. republicans in general oppose, as i mentioned, anything that will constrain the right of gun owners in this country to bear arms, as the constitution puts it. the house committee investigating the attack on capitol hill last year is preparing to go public with its findings. members have interviewed more than 1,000 people and gathered more

than 100,000 documents, piecing together a detailed account of the day a mob of donald trump�*s supporters stormed congress. they say they have a gripping story to tell in a series of six hearings over the next few weeks. barbara plett usher reports. it was an astonishing attack on democracy. the capitol stormed by supporters of a defeated president trying to overturn the 2020 election results. the investigation into how and why it happened is the most sweeping ever conducted by congress. but much is already known, because these graphic scenes played out on television screens in real time. we fight like hell, and if you don�*t fight like hell, you�*re not going to have a country any more. and president trump�*s fighting words that day echoed around the world. what happened here was shocking. it was dramatic, and it was a year and a half ago. americans have a lot of other things on their minds right now. so the committee is hoping to grab their attention

with a blockbuster event with video and testimony and new details, arguing that the threat to democracy still remains. the committee is determined to shape the narrative of that tumultuous day. it�*s focused on what the president did and when he did it. we were getting ready to win this election. frankly, we did win this election. from the point when he refused to accept thatjoe biden had won the election and took steps to "stop the steal", to the day when congress gathered to certify the vote, what was his goal? did he want his supporters to go this far? and were the militias who marched to the capitol part of a conspiracy directed from the top? more than 800 of the rioters have been charged. the big question is whether the president will also be prosecuted. the committee only has the power to recommend legal action. i think that the committee believes he has committed crimes. a federaljudge has actually ruled that he likely committed a felony conspiracy to do what he did.

but whether the justice department takes that view, i think that�*s going to be a much longer story. the story is also about the role played by trump�*s aides and loyalist republican lawmakers. the committee has examined their private communications. they rejected subpoenas to testify. and after initial criticism, the party has rallied around trump. john bresnahan was inside the capitol building the day of the riot. to see a crowd of americans openly attacking us capitol police is just stunning. he�*s reported on the investigation since, but in this toxic partisan atmosphere, what can be achieved? it�*s important still for congress to do this. ido... whether or not it changes anything, congress has to put down a marker. there can�*t be an attack on the capitol and congress doesn�*t respond. the political stakes are high because democrats could lose their congressional majority in midterm elections. they�*ll be trying to persuade voters to hold republicans accountable for the capitol attack. barbara plett usher,

bbc news, washington. the headlines on bbc news... it�*s been described as a �*truly dark day�* for drivers by one motoring organisation, as the cost of filling up a typical family car reaches an unprecedented high of one hundred pounds. the age at which people can legally buy tobacco in england should gradually increase year after year, according to a government—commissioned review. millions of people in the uk were left without power last year because of storm arwen. now the regulator for electricity tells power firms to improve their storm response. an extra 160,000 pupils became eligible for free school meals in england last year, according to school census data released today. it means thatjust under 1.9 million children — around 22.5% of all pupils — were claiming free school meals in england injanuary this year. were claiming free school meals

earlier, we spoke with dr nick capstick, head teacher of drove primary school in wiltshire and chairman of an independent working group, the school food review, about the new figures. i think we also should put this in perspective. the numbers you are seeing are from this january, and so that really was before the cost of living increases really impacted on ourfamilies. it really living increases really impacted on our families. it really was before we were seeing higher taxes and so on, so this is really the tip of the iceberg, but it already shows a distressing pattern from last year to this year of about 160,000 young people who now have to claim for free school meals. so in april of this year, we know that 2.4 million young people had at least one day of food insecurity or food young people had at least one day of food insecurity orfood poverty young people had at least one day of food insecurity or food poverty in the month of april. that is quite a gap between the 1.9 million that were actually eligible for free school meals. in northern ireland,

the threshold for claiming free school meals is £14,000 in a household. in england, it is 7400, so again, we have a discrepancy. in scotland and wales, they are free already. so that increase, and the universal claim for universal free school meals, and certainly the people on universal credit, it is important. patients in wales are spending longer being treated in hospital than those in england. research by the nuffield trust charity found the average hospital stay in the country is seven days, compared to four across the border. bbc wales investigates has spent five months following frontline staff at one health board to see the pressures first hand, as jenny rees reports. during five months filming with the nhs in north wales, bbc wales saw the pressures hospital staff face and continue to face right across the country. so this patient that�*s coming in now has been on the ambulance for 13 hours. that gentleman over there�*s been on the ambulance for ten hours, so we�*re going to get a medic to come down and see him now.

but an assessment in the hospital isn�*t a guarantee of a bed space. they might have to go back out again, but at least we can get them seen. it�*s not ideal, but there�*s no space anywhere. started having chest pain, then the nursing staff seen to me, and then theyjust called an ambulance, and then i ended up here, and there's obviously a lot of work to do, there's other people in there, so you just have to wait, unfortunately. patients outside will be getting regular reviews from the nursing team to check that they are comfortable and checking for any signs of deterioration and if there is, then patients are brought in, but literally, there was a lack of space overnight, meaning that we could just knock meaning that we could just not get those patients into the department. then there would have been occasions when some patients turned up who were more unwell, meaning they needed to be brought in ahead of the more stable patient outside. this morning, we had three patients that had been

in the department for over two days. you know, we know that we are falling short, but we are a victim of the system. often, we are parked on the car park or down onto the main road with patients in the back, so patients are just deteriorating outside to a point where they have to go in, and we're seeing that on numerous occasions, where critical incidents are happening and there's nothing we can do about it. the pressures have intensified because patients who are medically well enough to be discharged often can�*t be because of a shortage of social care workers in the community to support them. but that�*s not all. bbc wales investigates as the nuffield trust to look at key bbc wales investigates asked the nuffield trust to look at key data on nhs performance. they found the length of time it takes for a patient to be treated, a key measure of efficiency, averages seven days in wales, compared to just overfour in england. that�*s a massive difference, and that really matters to the running of a health service, and there hasn�*t been much improvement in wales over the last decade either, so i think we need to look seriously into the possibility that wales is simply not succeeding in treating

patients safely at the speed they could be treated as in england. that means despite having more nurses and despite having more beds, it�*s not seeing the same increase in its ability to actually treat more patients. there is also a staffing problem, with fewer consultants per head of population compared to england. it is a hugely complex system. i think we need to do increasing work to ensure that we are focusing on improving lengths of stay. that isn't something that the nhs can do on its own. i think there are enormous pressures in different parts of wales, and we are focused on addressing those pressures. i do think that there are challenges, but actually, every day, hundreds if not thousands of people have good care from the nhs. under new goals for urgent and emergency care, the welsh government says an extra £25 million has been made available to increase capacity and get the right care to people

in the right place first time. that was jenny rees reporting. so what do you do when you get knocked down...? you get up again! that is, of course, the famous chorus from chumbawamba�*s huge 1990s tune "tubthumping", and it�*s still a bit of an earworm years later. the song was a hit in the charts and in the headlines — and now, the band�*s formerfrontman has written a show about what happened next, as abi jaiyeola reports. it was never part of the gameplan. it was never part of the plan at all to have a hit record. i would like to describe it as a happy accident. # i get knocked down # but i get up again # you�*re never gonna keep me down...# it was written by a leeds band about the resilience of ordinary people and tubthumping sold millions around the world. i think there were a couple

of things when we thought we had definitely made it, or the song had reached a point where it had entered popular culture, and that was when it got played in the rovers return on coronation street, when it got played in the queen vic in eastenders. and then homer simpson sang it in the simpsons. # i get knocked down again # you ain't never going to knock me down.# # you�*re not ever gonna keep me down.# the top of the pops production team even invented a dance for the audience to do. it just felt as though that was one of those moments where you think, i have no control over this whatsoever and we were just on this sort of roller—coaster of things that were happening. the band formed in 1982 and were explicitly political. at the brits in 1998, they voiced solidarity with liverpool dock workers by throwing water over deputy prime ministerjohn prescott. the fallout from that

was pretty huge. it was obviously on the front all of the papers the next day. we got told if we had tried to garner that much publicity, it would cost us millions to get that much publicity so it was really funny that we became a household name because of that. now living in brighton, dunstan bruce has made a film and a one—man show about his life. the one—man show did come out of lockdown, basically. we actually finished editing the film and i was kind of thinking, what am i going to do next? i know this is going to sound really cheesy, but... but it is about getting knocked down and getting up again. # i am invisible yet? # am i invisible? # i like that last line! now it�*s time for a look at the weather with carole. hello again. some of us started today with some

sunshine, but others with a lot of low cloud, mist and murk and some rain. this area of low pressure which has got the remnants of tropical storm alex embedded in it is drifting north—eastwards, but for the next few days, it�*s going to be windy, more especially across the north west, the winds eventually easing om sunday here. what we have today, though, is remnants of yesterday�*s found with some spots of rain pushing northwards. then we�*ve got this new front coming in, introducing rain, most of which will be light, and after the sunny start in central and eastern areas, the cloud will build through the course of the day. the breeze is also going to pick up across the irish sea and the english channel through the day, with top temperatures up to 21. also worth noting that if you have an allergy to grass or nettle pollen, the levels are high across eastern parts of england as well as east anglia. through this evening and overnight, here�*s our same weather front pushing eastwards. there will be a lot of cloud associated with it, some rain, some hill and some coastal mist and fog. some drizzle coming out of it, and eventually, it will become

embedded in the south—east. the winds strengthening across the far north—west with overnight lows between 11—15. so we start off with all this cloud, some drizzle, some murky conditions in the south. that will push away, but it may well come back in later in the day, bringing some cloud into kent and also sussex. for most, it�*s going to be a dry day, but a blustery one, but we will see some showers develop across northern ireland and scotland. some of those will be heavy and thundery. and it�*s going to be a windy day, especially in the north—west of scotland, but also northern ireland and also northern england. into saturday, still windy across the far north—west. if anything, a bit windier, and we�*ll also have a lot of showers, again some heavy and thundery with some hail across scotland, northern ireland and northern england. pull further south, it�*s drier, it�*s just a light breeze we are looking at with highs up to 22 degrees in the sunshine. and then as we move on from sunday into the early part of the week, you can see how that low pressure moves away. high pressure tries to really establish itself, but we do have some weather fronts moving around

the top of that, so that does mean that on sunday, it won�*t be as windy in the north—west, but with a weather front close by, we could see some rain in the far north. further south, it�*s less windy and it�*s drier.

this is bbc news, the headlines... it�*s been described as a �*truly dark day�* for drivers by one motoring organisation, as the cost of filling up a typical family car reaches an unprecedented high of £100 it is truly a dark day for drivers, the thoroughly depressing threshold of £100 per tank for drivers has been crossed. the age at which people can legally buy tobacco in england should gradually increase year after year, according to a government—commissioned review borisjohnson will set out plans to boost home ownership for people in england later — including allowing benefits to cover mortgage payments — in a speech to try and reset his leadership if you�*re on a lower income, could you ever envisage putting your housing benefit payments towards a mortgage? tell me your story on twitter @bchoannag and use

the hashtag #bbcyourquestions millions of people in the uk were left without power last year because of storm arwen, now the regulator for electricity tells power firms to improve their storm response new figures suggest the average cost of filling a typical family car with petrol in the uk has today reached £100 as fuel prices continue to rise. the increase is largely blamed on the impact of the war in ukraine on global energy supplies. let�*s take a closer look at some of the figures. the data firm experian catalist has reported that the cost of filling an average family car topped £100 pounds on wednesday. it says that the average price per litre

has now gone up to 182 pence. earlier this week, uk fuel pricesjumped by two pence a litre. they went up to an average of more than 180p a litre on tuesday. that was the highest daily price rise in 17 years. and now they are up again. back in march the uk government announced a 5 pence per litre cut in fuel duty — but motoring groups are concerned that retailers aren�*t passing on the cuts to customers. our business correspondent ben boulos took us through the impact the rise in fuel is having on everyday life this is touching our lives in so many different ways, filling up the car to do essential journeys, be that to work, the shops, to school, that gets more expensive. for some people there is no real viable alternative. for businesses, the cost of transporting goods around becomes more expensive, it costs more to put fuel in the trucks and lorries to get the goods to the shops. as a result the prices go up as well. the high oil price means airlines

are paying more for theirfuel, so we see the ticket prices that we pay go up as well. and some people whose businesses rely so much on fuel, such as taxi drivers, may look at what they are making, and what it is costing them to carry out their business, and they may decide that the profits are being so squeezed that it is not worth it any more, and so that may be why if you are trying to hail a cab on the street, you may find you are having to wait longer because some drivers have decided the business isn�*t worth staying in any more, so the impact is being felt in so many different ways. we�*re joined by simon williams who is fuel spokesman for the rac motoring organisation. we saw you describing this some moments ago as a dark day for drivers but how concerned are you about the impact of this? the impact

is re about the impact of this? the impact is pretty bad — about the impact of this? the impact is pretty bad and _ about the impact of this? the impact is pretty bad and obviously _ about the impact of this? the impact is pretty bad and obviously drivers i is pretty bad and obviously drivers have been putting up with rising prices for some time. we saw the long term record of 140 2p and 140 7p long term record of 140 2p and 140 7p being broken, we did not think those prices would be broken and we are far above that, people having to find money to put fuel into vehicles and businesses are struggling. we have reached the stage for drastic government intervention is badly needed. and we are hoping the silence coming from government on theissue silence coming from government on the issue will mean something interesting will happen in the next few days. i interesting will happen in the next few da s. , interesting will happen in the next fewda s. , ., interesting will happen in the next few da s. , ., few days. i spoke to the road haula . e few days. i spoke to the road haulage association - few days. i spoke to the road haulage association earlier i few days. i spoke to the road i haulage association earlier and few days. i spoke to the road - haulage association earlier and what they want to see is a fuel rebate, 15p per litre returned in the form of tax breaks for businesses, your thoughts? it of tax breaks for businesses, your thou:hts? ,., , of tax breaks for businesses, your thou:hts? , , thoughts? it sounds good. basically, somethin: thoughts? it sounds good. basically, something needs _ thoughts? it sounds good. basically, something needs to _ thoughts? it sounds good. basically, something needs to happen - thoughts? it sounds good. basically, i something needs to happen benefiting both businesses and consumers so

therefore reducing fuel duty is probably the best way of doing that and that is what the chancellor has already elected to do by cutting 5p already elected to do by cutting 5p a litre off in his spring statement in march but that was swallowed up by a wholesale price increase straight so i think, if that is the route he is choosing, to go further, it�*s happening elsewhere in ireland and other countries. we need more to help drivers here because we know how important driving is to this country. how important driving is to this count . ~ ., how important driving is to this count , ,,.. how important driving is to this count , ,,. country. would you be specific about what ou country. would you be specific about what you think? _ country. would you be specific about what you think? you _ country. would you be specific about what you think? you talked - country. would you be specific about what you think? you talked about. country. would you be specific about| what you think? you talked about the 5p what you think? you talked about the 5p per litre cut but it was swallowed up and no one noticed it. it's swallowed up and no one noticed it. it�*s difficult because prices are going higher, 10p, 15p, as faras you can go i think we should go because the price of oil is predicted to go higher, $130 a barrel, 135 is talked about being the trend for some time and prices at the pump have gone up, 32p a litre from unleaded since russia

invaded ukraine and 35p for diesel. something needs to be done to help drivers and businesses and it needs to be done now. you drivers and businesses and it needs to be done now.— to be done now. you said you think it should help _ to be done now. you said you think it should help everybody, - to be done now. you said you think i it should help everybody, businesses and individual users and what you would suggest is 10—15p per litre off the cost of fuel duty for everybody? i off the cost of fuel duty for everybody?— off the cost of fuel duty for eve bod ? ~ ,., �*, off the cost of fuel duty for eve bod ? ~ �*, . everybody? i think so. there's also the anomaly _ everybody? i think so. there's also the anomaly of— everybody? i think so. there's also the anomaly of vat _ everybody? i think so. there's also the anomaly of vat because - everybody? i think so. there's also the anomaly of vat because the i the anomaly of vat because the higher the wholesale price goes on top of that you have retailer margin and delivery, then you have vat so you have a tax on a tax and at the moment, vat equates to 30p a litre and that has gone up 5p since russia invaded ukraine as well. so we are just in a situation that does not help either. and probably the fact when you look at it, the tax taken for the chancellor has increased since he made a 5p duty cut. bap

for the chancellor has increased since he made a 5p duty cut. 30p a litre currently _ since he made a 5p duty cut. 30p a litre currently in _ since he made a 5p duty cut. 30p a litre currently in vat, _ since he made a 5p duty cut. 30p a litre currently in vat, what - since he made a 5p duty cut. 30p a litre currently in vat, what should | litre currently in vat, what should happen with that as far as your concern? i happen with that as far as your concern? . . happen with that as far as your concern? , , ., . ., , concern? i guess the chancellor is iioin to concern? i guess the chancellor is going to do _ concern? i guess the chancellor is going to do one — concern? i guess the chancellor is going to do one or _ concern? i guess the chancellor is going to do one or the _ concern? i guess the chancellor is going to do one or the other. i concern? i guess the chancellor is going to do one or the other. the | going to do one or the other. the vat cut would probably help consumers, regular drivers more. arguably the duty cut would be better because vat, lots of businesses can claim that back so add cut seems to be the way the chancellor has chosen to deal with it but the vat side of it seems pretty wrong as well because the treasury is making more money all the time the higher the price goes. where is the tipping point, when people stop using their cars? people are iiettin people stop using their cars? people are getting frustrated, _ people stop using their cars? people are getting frustrated, we _ people stop using their cars? people are getting frustrated, we are - are getting frustrated, we are receiving a lot of e—mails at the rac. it is getting extremely hard. if you can switch out of your vehicle and take an active form of transport like walking or cycling, that would be good but we know many

people especially in rural areas rely on their cars to get around and it�*s very difficult, particularly when you are moving more than yourself around, you are going shopping, transporting stuff, you need a car. unfortunately that is increasing in cost of the time. its, increasing in cost of the time. a quick thought, can any changes wait until the budget, do you want to see something happening sooner? it�*s until the budget, do you want to see something happening sooner? it's got to ha en something happening sooner? it's got to happen sooner— something happening sooner? it's got to happen sooner than _ something happening sooner? it's got to happen sooner than the _ something happening sooner? it's got to happen sooner than the budget, i something happening sooner? it's got to happen sooner than the budget, it. to happen sooner than the budget, it will be to late by then. people will be in financial pain by then, we need something to happen sooner. we are hoping, the silence we hearfrom government will actually result in something imminently. you government will actually result in something imminently.— government will actually result in something imminently. you have said that a couple — something imminently. you have said that a couple of— something imminently. you have said that a couple of times, _ something imminently. you have said that a couple of times, is _ something imminently. you have said that a couple of times, is that - that a couple of times, is that because you have had a conversation which led you to believe there may be a sudden announcement of an emergency cut? ila. be a sudden announcement of an emergency cut?— emergency cut? no, it's 'ust the fact we aren-t * emergency cut? no, it's 'ust the fact we aren't hearing i emergency cut? no, it'sjust the fact we aren't hearing anything i emergency cut? no, it'sjust the i fact we aren't hearing anything from fact we aren�*t hearing anything from government on the issue and it�*s clearly getting worse. it�*s apparent it�*s getting worse and therefore i think they must surely be thinking about what they can do.—

think they must surely be thinking about what they can do. thank you for “oinini about what they can do. thank you forjoining us- _ about what they can do. thank you forjoining us. let _ about what they can do. thank you forjoining us. let us _ about what they can do. thank you forjoining us. let us know- about what they can do. thank you forjoining us. let us know how i about what they can do. thank you | forjoining us. let us know how the increasing cost of fuel is affecting you. a review commissioned by the government has recommended that the age at which people can legally buy tobacco in england should rise every year by one year. it would mean that in effect, children now would never be allowed to legally buy tobacco products. a review commissioned by the government has recommended that the age at which people can legally buy tobacco in england the report also says vaping products should be recommended to help people quit smoking. the health secretary sajid javid says the government will now carefully consider the recommendations. earlier today, louise ross, a clinical consultant on smoking, said she supports the recommendations smoking is a habit and an addiction that starts in youth, _ amongst young people. if you can tackle it i in those early years, you prevent adults going on to smoke for the rest of their lives, _ and suffer disability, early death. in america, when the age of sale was raised, there was a 30% i reduction in smoking rates almost immediately, so we know it -

does make a difference. 0ur health correspondent jim reed spoke to me earlier about the strategy to make england smoke free to make england as they call it smoke—free by 2030. the definition isn�*t quite smoke—free, it�*s bringing smoking levels down to under 5% of the population. it�*s a pretty ambitious target, ahead of the rest of the eu and scotland which has set a target of 2034. what this report says and it has come through in the last 90 minutes or so, it sets out the ways which the government would have to act in order to get to that target. we will fall far short but the most eye—catching proposal is this change in the age at which people might be able to buy cigarettes. it�*s complicated, at one point

we thought there would be a straight increase from 18 to 21 or 25 recommended but instead they�*ve gone for saying over time, they think each year, the minimum age should be increased from 18, 19, 20, and so on, so that would effectively mean children and young people today would never be able to legally buy cigarettes because the age would change. they are trying this in new zealand, plans to put this in place by 2026, other countries like denmark looking at it as well but it�*s the first time an influential group of people have called for this action in the uk or england. what are the statistics on smoking now? the target is to get this down to 5% of the adult population, at the moment it�*s roughly 13 or 14% of the adult population, it�*s more young people that smoke more, one in 9 across the uk adult population, among under 24s,

it is much higher, one in three, it went up to one in three in the pandemic. what proponents of these strategies would say is you need to catch people early because once you get to 26, 27, if you have developed a smoking habit by that point that is where you will continue to have the habit going on and the health implications when you get older are pretty severe. the strategy is to focus on younger people. there are other things in the report, 110 pages, quite interesting. including advocating what�*s called a polluter tax, essentially a levy on big tobacco companies that would go to pay for anti—smoking and smoking cessation lessons. and also the idea there needs to be more promotion of vaping products. making these available on prescription further down the line. in parts of the united states they have banned the sale

of some vaping products, some of the evidence isn�*t clear—cut but you see the direction of travel, you see where the experts said ministers need to go next if we are to hit the targets. the uk energy regulator 0fgem says thousands of customers were provided with an "unacceptable service" following storm arwen last november. 4,000 households were left without power for more than a week in the aftermath of the storm. three network providers will now need to pay an extra £10.3 million in �*redress payments�* to the affected communities on top of the 30 million they�*ve already paid out. but the fact of the matter is that network companies were not ready for this. there are lots of things they need to do to improve the resilience of the network, to make sure that people are restored quickly and to make sure principally people are communicated to around what is going to happen to them. this report sets out clear actions with deadlines, and says to the network companies you need to pay back £44 million

to those customers and communities that suffered as a result of those actions. you�*re watching bbc news... if you are watching us on bbc two, it is time to say goodbye. have a good afternoon. people on lower incomes in england could be allowed to use housing benefit payments to apply for a mortgage under new government plans to be announced today. the prime minister will give details during a major speech in lancashire later this morning. it�*s part of efforts to reset his leadership and move on from monday�*s bruising confidence vote by conservative mps. speaking to the bbc�*s today programme, the secretary of state for levelling up, housing & communities michael gove said the plans were aimed at helping the poorest buy a home. home ownership is something special. as you quite rightly point out, the conservatives have always believed that giving people the chance to own their own home, to be part of their community, put down roots, to pass something on to the next generation, is an important, you know, desire of the human heart, that it is our mission to help

more people fulfil. so what the prime minister is announcing today are a series of measures which will extend home ownership, allowing people in housing associations who haven�*t previously had the right—to—buy, to give them the right—to—buy that property, looking at the mortgage market overall to make sure it works better for everyone, and looking also at the benefits system, in order to ensure that people who currently are receiving benefit which is going to landlords, can use that income in order to get on the property ladder. on a visit to dublin this morning, the labour leader sir keir starmer said the policy was just a rehash of old ideas. i want as many people to own their own homes as want to. i think that�*s a great aspiration. i think the announcement today from the prime minister is the wrong approach. it is a reheated version of an idea that the government had back in 2015. they piloted it, it did not work and if ever you needed evidence that this divided government is completely out of ideas, it is this announcement today which is simply

reheating an old idea. they piloted it, it did not work, they really are at the end of the road. the national housing federation represents housing associations in england. they�*ve worked on a previous scheme involving right—to—buy but say the government hasn�*t discussed this announcement with them. i mean, of course we understand that people are very keen to buy their own home, and we welcome measures that will help people into home ownership. 0ur concern is that there are already 4.2 million people who are effectively in need of social housing. previous pilots have shown that when you sell a home through right—to—buy, they are incredibly difficult to replace, and any overall loss of social housing is going to make providing homes for those 4.2 million people, many of whom are in overcrowded homes or temporary accommodation, any loss of social housing is going to make it more difficult to provide homes for those people. when people buy their own home through right—to—buy, obviously,

they buy those homes at discount. because housing associations are independent charities, that discount would have to be funded by the government, so funded by taxpayers, but we do know that even when those homes are sold, in many areas, the value of those homes is not enough to build a replacement, so there are particular challenges around extending the right—to—buy, and as i said, we are very keen to talk to the government about how they intend to deliver the scheme and how they intend to fund it, and of course, we would need to be talking to our housing association members about the challenges that they would see in extending right—to—buy to their homes. 0ur political correspondent nick eardley is in lancashire for the pm�*s speech. it�*s interesting, there�*s no doubt borisjohnson wants a bit of a reset today, he wants to try and persuade us all he can get on with talking about ideas and notjust going over questions about his leadership. there are quite a lot of questions about how this policy is going to work in practice.

if you take the idea of right—to—buy for a housing association tenants, those deals have not been negotiated with housing associations yet. we don�*t know exactly when they will happen and where exactly they will be allowed to happen. michael gove suggested this morning there would be a cap on numbers but we don�*t know what that cap is yet and then there�*s the question of how you replenish the social housing stock when you have sold some of it off. again, the government says it will do that but we are not too sure how. at the moment, that side of things is definitely an idea that needs to be built up and remember it�*s an idea the government has been talking about since 2015. when you take the benefits part of this announcement, again there are some questions about the practicalities of it. if you are someone on universal credit, you�*re only allowed to have £16,000 in savings before you

stop getting benefits. the government�*s idea is you will be able to siphon off everything over 16,000 into a help to buy isa but that�*s pretty limited and it will take time to say that up so some questions about the practicalities. and ijust wonder, might some tory mps be nervous about this this morning? we know some tory mps have criticised the prime minister for having headline announcements and ideas but not being that great when it comes to the delivery of some of those bold promises. and it feels a bit like that today, there is an idea, the delivery of it might be more complicated and probably will not happen for a year or two yet. yes, the prime minister today wants to tell us all he has ways to deliver on the housing shortage, to come up with ideas about how to reform the way that things work in the housing sector and as he put it, level up the country. but actually making that happen is going to be a bit trickier.

we�*re expecting the prime minister�*s speech shortly after one o�*clock. we�*ll bring it to you live here on the bbc news channel. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. the premier league has suspended its six—year tv deal with russian broadcasters match tv. the deal — worth £43 million — was due to start at the beginning of next season. however, with russia�*s invasion of ukraine ongoing, the premier league felt they had no option to suspend the contract. it�*s not clear how long the suspension will run for or if the deal will be scrapped completely. england have named an unchanged side for their second test against new zealand, which begins tomorrow at trent bridge. and that means spinner jack leach keeps his place despite suffering concussion in the first match at lords. victory would ensure england go 2—0 up and win the series, with just one match left to play. the future of golf could be changed forever in just a couple of hours�* time,

as the most controversial and lucrative tournament in the sport�*s history gets underway this afternoon. major champions like phil mickelson, sergio garcia and dustinjohnson are getting paid huge amounts to appear in the liv series and will play for the £3.2 million top prize at the centurion club in hertfordshire. but all competitors have faced questions about the ethics of a series funded by saudi arabian money, with the country�*s human rights record called into question. i�*m trying to provide for my family, which is the first and foremost thing that i want to do. i come to work to play golf, and that is my job, at the end of the day. it is a magnificent opportunity that i�*m really looking forward to. champion jockey 0isin murphy says he drank so much alcohol that he had blackouts and feared it could end his racing career. murphy was given a 14—month ban in february for breaking covid rules and two alcohol breaches.

there was a lot of low days, most days were low, in fact. i am fully sober now, and i want to maintain how i am. that is day by day. i suppose when i return to the saddle, i�*ve got to be sure i am still feeling this way. i can�*t really live with the idea of failing another breath test. you know, that is why i�*m still going to aa and getting help from my counsellor. that�*s all the sport for now. i will have more for you later this afternoon. thank you. we will see you later. the rise in the cost of living is having a negative impact of people�*s health, according to organisations representing the majority of frontline healthcare workers. the bbc has been told of cases where people are skipping meals or cutting back on medication because of money worries. the royal college of nursing says people are having

to make choices that are compromising their health and wellbeing. they are warning that existing inequalities in health between the rich and poor risk getting worse. professor sir michael marmotjoins me now. he�*s director of the ucl institute of health equity which aims to tackle inequalities in health welcome. this has been your life �*s work so where do you see we are now that the cost of living crisis will impact people�*s health and well—being? it impact people's health and well-being?— impact people's health and well-beini? , . . ., . well-being? it is a ma'or health threat, a survey i well-being? it is a ma'or health threat, a survey was i well-being? it is a major health threat, a survey was done i well-being? it is a major health| threat, a survey was done which well-being? it is a major health i threat, a survey was done which was published some weeks ago, more than half of the population claimed the cost of living has had a negative impact on their health and well—being. 58% of people in the lower half of the income distribution but more than 50% of people in the upper half of the income distribution. this is really challenging. and we asked how does

it impact on health? firstly, we need to distinguish between absolute poverty and relative poverty. absolute poverty is literally you do not have enough money for the basic necessities of life. you cannot afford food, we know food insecurity has gone up, you cannot afford to pay the rent, you cannot afford to buy children issues. absolute inequalities will go up with the cost of living crisis. relative inequalities are more subtle but in a way more important. they mean that you cannot take your place in public because you have not got enough money to have social arrangements. your kids say every other kid on the street has got the new football strip and i have not. you cannot have a birthday party for your children. you cannot participate fully in society and that has a very

damaging impact on mental health and physical health. the damaging impact on mental health and physical health-— physical health. the cost of living crisis will pass _ physical health. the cost of living crisis will pass at _ physical health. the cost of living crisis will pass at some _ physical health. the cost of living crisis will pass at some point. i physical health. the cost of living | crisis will pass at some point. the cost of living will come back down again and things will get more affordable but in terms of the impact on people, however long it goes on for, what is the impact and how long does that last, does it ever go away? the how long does that last, does it ever go away?— how long does that last, does it ever go away? how long does that last, does it everioawa ? , , ever go away? the impact can be very long-standing- _ ever go away? the impact can be very long-standing. let's _ ever go away? the impact can be very long-standing. let's look— ever go away? the impact can be very long-standing. let's look at _ long—standing. let�*s look at children first. the stress of not being able to make ends meet in parents has a damaging impact on children�*s development. we note that children�*s development. we note that children who are raised in poverty perform less well in school. they have less good health and well—being in adult life so there is a major impact on children that will persist. now that�*s not necessarily irreversible, if we can improve living conditions for parents, you

can reverse that impact on children but that�*s the first major problem. the second, we know that when under real pressure of scarcity, decision—making suffers. if you are focusing purely on how can i put food on the table this evening, how can i pay the rent on friday, you cannot think about other things, you cannot think about other things, you cannot think about other things, you cannot think what would be a good diet for the future that would reduce my risk of diabetes and heart disease and cancer and improve outcomes for my children? you cannot think about those things because you are too focused on how you get through the day and the week and that can of course have long—term impacts on health and well—being. can the government completely mitigate the rising cost of living for the worst of, should it, and what are your thoughts on individual

agencies in improving 1�*s own situation? agencies in improving 1's own situation?— agencies in improving 1's own situation? , ., ,. , agencies in improving 1's own situation? , ., , situation? the first thing to say is if ou situation? the first thing to say is if you look — situation? the first thing to say is if you look at _ situation? the first thing to say is if you look at the _ situation? the first thing to say is if you look at the average - situation? the first thing to say is if you look at the average current | if you look at the average current income, overthe if you look at the average current income, over the decade before the pandemic, we had a decline from 2007 “p pandemic, we had a decline from 2007 up to 2019, a decline in the real incomes of employed people. so things were not getting better for the average and they were getting worse for the poor. then the pandemic exposed and exaggerated those inequalities. so there is a long—term problem that needs to be dealt with and then the short—term problem of the cost of living crisis. the chancellor �*s announcement recently, two weeks ago, very welcome as trying to deal with the short—term problem but it leaves the long—term problem and the impact of the pandemic not addressed.— impact of the pandemic not addressed. �* , ., , addressed. i'm sorry to come in but does that cut _

addressed. i'm sorry to come in but does that cut to _ addressed. i'm sorry to come in but does that cut to what _ addressed. i'm sorry to come in but does that cut to what you _ addressed. i'm sorry to come in but does that cut to what you said i does that cut to what you said earlier about when you looked at the impact on well—being, it�*s notjust the people in the lower income distribution who are affected, it�*s 50% of people in the upper half of distribution income as well? {line 50% of people in the upper half of distribution income as well? one of the key themes _ distribution income as well? one of the key themes about _ distribution income as well? one of the key themes about work, - distribution income as well? one of the key themes about work, if i distribution income as well? one of the key themes about work, if you . the key themes about work, if you classify people by where they live and classify where they live by level of deprivation, poor people of course have worse health than everybody else but it�*s a gradient. people in the middle of the distribution have worse health than people at the top, better health than people at the bottom so it runs all the way from top to bottom. so the fact that people in the middle are feeling the squeeze, that�*s likely to damage their health as well. ~ . ., , . ., , well. what does it mean for society in terms of — well. what does it mean for society in terms of the _ well. what does it mean for society in terms of the cost _ well. what does it mean for society in terms of the cost of _ well. what does it mean for society in terms of the cost of dealing i well. what does it mean for society in terms of the cost of dealing with | in terms of the cost of dealing with theissues in terms of the cost of dealing with

the issues that arise from it and also, life expectancy, actually? we have seen obviously increasing life expectancy so when does that start to change? expectancy so when does that start to chance? ~ . ., expectancy so when does that start to chane? . ., ., it i expectancy so when does that start tochanie? . ., ff: , to change? what we saw from 2010 up to change? what we saw from 2010 up to 2020, to change? what we saw from 2010 up to 2020. before — to change? what we saw from 2010 up to 2020, before the _ to change? what we saw from 2010 up to 2020, before the pandemic- to change? what we saw from 2010 up to 2020, before the pandemic crashed | to 2020, before the pandemic crashed upon us, that life expectancy increases stalled, it stopped improving for the population as a whole. and it went down for the poorest people. then, in 2018—2020, including the first year of the pandemic, life expectancy went down for the whole population and dramatically went down for the most deprived 40% of the population. wow. that is really dramatic. and that performance in the uk, in england, scotland, northern ireland, wales,

that performance was worse than any other rich country except the united states. so life expectancy had stopped improving, it went down during the pandemic, the inequalities increased, a major challenge. so that is where we are now. we have got to deal notjust with the acute problem but the build—up of these problems from the last 12 years. this is a crisis. stand last 12 years. this is a crisis. and this is a conversation _ last 12 years. this is a crisis. and this is a conversation that could keep running but we are out of town for now. it�*s been absolutely fascinating to talk to you, professor. thank you so much for your time. professor. thank you so much for your time-— the remains of europe�*s largest ever land—based predator, a 10 metre long dinosaur, has been found on the isle of wight. the creature, which lived 125 million years ago, was two—legged and had a face similar to a crocodile. experts say the bones — which included pelvic and tail vertebrae — show the predator was an "immense creature". it would have lived at the beginning of a period of rising sea levels,

and searched lagoons and sandflats for food. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with tomasz. that is just what it would have been like! exactly like that! yes, the weather today is a little mixed. it has certainly clouded over and over many western parts of the uk. this rain bearing clouds on the satellite picture is linked to a low pressure which is just brushing satellite picture is linked to a low pressure which isjust brushing us. it is actually to the north—west, and all tropical storm, but nothing too dramatic. 16 degrees, western scotland. 20 degrees in norwich and in hull. here is that weatherfront, is that old tropical storm there, very far to the north—west of us, which means that we are in for a breezy night. the breezy list of the weather will be around the north—west of us, which means that we are in for a breezy night. the busiest of the weather will be around the north west of the uk.

these are the temperatures. 12 in stornoway, 15 first thing in london, so i mild night. tomorrow a blustery day, particularly in the north—west. gusts of 40—50 mph, with frequent showers for scotland and northern ireland, but england and wales should have a blustery but bright day with temperatures up to around 23. actually decent temperatures all along that north sea coast. goodbye. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: a further squeeze on motorists as the cost of filling up a typical family car reaches an unprecedented high of 100 pounds. it is truly a dark day for drivers. the thoroughly depressing threshold of £100 per tank for drivers has been crossed. the age at which people can legally buy tobacco in england should gradually increase year after year, according to a government—commissioned review. borisjohnson will set out plans to boost home ownership for people in england later, including allowing benefits to cover mortgage payments, in a speech

to try and reset his leadership. millions of people in the uk were left without power last year because of storm arwen. now the regulator for electricity tells power firms to improve their storm response. back now to one of our main stories, on that review commissioned by the government that has recommended that the age at which people can legally buy tobacco in england should rise every year by one year. it would mean that, in effect, children now would never be allowed to legally buy tobacco products. joining me now is hazel cheesman, deputy chief executive of the campaigning public health charity action on smoking and health. welcome. thank you very much for joining us. your reaction to this, then? its joining us. your reaction to this, then? . . , joining us. your reaction to this, then? , . , ., joining us. your reaction to this, then? , . , . , then? its really great this review has been published. _ then? its really great this review has been published. it's - then? its really great this review has been published. it's got i then? its really great this review| has been published. it's got quite then? its really great this review i has been published. it's got quite a has been published. it�*s got quite a wide—ranging set of recommendations on the government absolutely need to listen to all of them as they have

pledged to make the country smoke—free by 2030, and we have seen almost no plan since that was announced. something like 300,000 children under the age of 16 have started smoking since the government said they wanted to make the country smoke—free, so it�*s really, really great to see this ambitious review published in the government now needs to listen. 0n the specific idea about raising the age of sail, it�*s something we�*ve been looking out for some time. more than 60% of the public would support raising the age of sailfrom the public would support raising the age of sail from 18 to 21. what we have got to remember is that this is a lethal product, a completely unique product which kills one into lifetime users, so really, thinking about innovative, bold things that we can do to stop people from ever starting smoking is absolutely crucial if we�*re going to turn off the tap of new smokers and achieve our vision of being smoke—free. and so on that point, you mentioned there the number of young children

smoking has increased, and also when you look at the overall statistics, where one in 9% of the adult population —— micro one in nine of the adult population smoke, for under 24s, the adult population smoke, for under24s, it the adult population smoke, for under 24s, it is one in three, and that actually went up from before the pandemic. so when you talk about innovative, bold things to do to stop young people smoking, what would they be? well, i definitely think that now is the time to have this debate about what the age of sail should be stop this is a unique product, as i said... , ., .y this is a unique product, as i said... , ., _ . ,. this is a unique product, as i said... , ., _ . ., said... obviously, that is a part of it, but said... obviously, that is a part of it. but clearly _ said... obviously, that is a part of it, but clearly the _ said... obviously, that is a part of it, but clearly the age _ said... obviously, that is a part of it, but clearly the age limit - it, but clearly the age limit doesn�*t stop young people smoking currently, so what else can take things beyond that? no, you are absolutely right. no single measure is going to solve this problem for us, so yes, one part of thejigsaw this problem for us, so yes, one part of the jigsaw is to look at that age of sail. but we have also... 0ne that age of sail. but we have also... one of the recommendations made is really significant investment into services and really

importantly, mass media campaigns. if you go back a decade, we have lots and lots of campaigns on tv that were really driving that only people quitting, stopping smoking, which is really, really important, but dissuading young people from taking up cigarettes, so investing in those sorts of measures is going to be really important to achieve this goal, but we can do it on a shoestring. we absolutely need new funding to be able to do this stuff, and as the review says, if the government cannot find that money, it should levy it from the tobacco industry, considering the uk makes around £900 million in profit —— considering it makes that profit in the uk each year. so we can invest in a whole range of things to make smoking obsolete. we should be having this conversation in eight years�* time and smoking will be a rarity in this country, but only if we invest in the right interventions now. but what has already been done, the cost of a packet of cigarettes, you tell me, what is it now? it is over a tenner, isn�*t it? it

tell me, what is it now? it is over a tenner, isn't it?— a tenner, isn't it? it is over £10. it really depends _ a tenner, isn't it? it is over £10. it really depends on _ a tenner, isn't it? it is over £10. it really depends on what - a tenner, isn't it? it is over £10. it really depends on what you i a tenner, isn't it? it is over £10. | it really depends on what you are smoking, of course. hand—rolled tobacco is cheaper and we would definitely like to see that equalised. 50 definitely like to see that equalised-— definitely like to see that equalised. definitely like to see that eiualised. . . ., equalised. so the average back, over a tenner. equalised. so the average back, over a tenner- you — equalised. so the average back, over a tenner. you can't _ equalised. so the average back, over a tenner. you can't smoke _ equalised. so the average back, over a tenner. you can't smoke indoors, i a tenner. you can�*t smoke indoors, it is anti—social in terms of where you can actually smoke. 0n the packets of cigarettes, there is very clear indication of the health impact of smoking. they are not on public display. why haven�*t those measures taken the numbers down, and why is it that so many young people are currently smoking?— are currently smoking? well, those measures have _ are currently smoking? well, those measures have absolutely - are currently smoking? well, those measures have absolutely brought. measures have absolutely brought rates down. measures have absolutely brought rates down-— measures have absolutely brought rates down. , . , ., rates down. they have brought them down, but rates down. they have brought them down. but why _ rates down. they have brought them down, but why not _ rates down. they have brought them down, but why not below— rates down. they have brought them down, but why not below that, i rates down. they have brought them down, but why not below that, and i down, but why not below that, and why our young people taking up smoking when they are... you know, they are people of a generation when it was very different in terms of awareness and in terms of accessibility and whether it was socially acceptable or not. those things have really changed for young people now, and yet so many are still smoking. why?— still smoking. why? they have absolutely _ still smoking. why? they have absolutely changed, _ still smoking. why? they have absolutely changed, and i still smoking. why? they have absolutely changed, and we i still smoking. why? they have - absolutely changed, and we haven't got there, so we need to keep doing

new things. the lessons are that we introduced policies that are evidence—based, they have an impact on people's behaviour and reduce smoking preference, but if you don't keep doing things, the rates don't keep doing things, the rates don't keep falling. we have been really successful in this country. we had more than two decades of progress and that has been because we have consistently looked at the horizon is to see what we need to do next, to keep bringing smoking rates down. if you look to other european countries, germany or france, they didn't seem the same rate of progress that we did —— see the same rate of progress, because they didn't put the same measures in place. that is changing in france now. if we want to make smoking obsolete, if we are, as the government has said, committed to saying this is something we want to be a footnote in history, then we have to keep looking at new ways to address smoking. and the other point i would make is, children being born today in our most affluent communities are not being exposed, by and large, to their parent

smoking, to people smoking around them. you know, smoking is much, much rarer in the kind of affluent bits of our community. the kids that are being exposed are those in poorer households, in social housing. where smoking rates are much higher and it is much, much more common. so we have got to get the investment up so that we can really invest in those communities, because you know, it is not that people want to continue smoking if you were living in those circumstances, but we need to give them extra support to help them to stop, because they find it more difficult to quit. so the fact that we have this big difference between smoking rates among rich and poor is a massive driver of inequality, and the investment that has been recommended today would really make a difference to that, and in the cost of living crisis, on average, smokers are spending about £2000 a year on smoking. this is an enormous amount of household income. thank you, hazel cheesman, and i

should just point out the health secretary sajid javid. ireland's foreign minister has warned the eu's stance on the northern ireland protocol has "hardened" in the face of the government's threat to unilaterally scrap part of the arrangements. simon coveney urged downing street to step back from its plan to publish legislation that would override elements of the post—brexit protocol which governs trade between great britain and northern ireland. let's get more from our political correspondent damian grammaticas. damien. yes, so this was speaking toda in damien. yes, so this was speaking today in dublin, _ damien. yes, so this was speaking today in dublin, and _ damien. yes, so this was speaking today in dublin, and the _ damien. yes, so this was speaking today in dublin, and the irish - today in dublin, and the irish foreign minister was reflecting comments made by the irish taoiseach in the past they or so where he said if the government goes ahead, thought to be next week, with publishing the legislation to scrap parts of that brexit deal, the irish taoiseach said that would be a historic low in relations. the irish foreign minister today talking, he

said, simon covertly, that in the eu there was a view that the british government is not serious about getting a negotiated solution. —— simon coveney. visiting dublin today, the labour leader keir starmer was asked about this. here's what he had to say. with flexibility on both sides, with good faith, statecraft, and trust around the negotiating table, we can deal with the remaining issues. my concern is that we have a prime minister who doesn't have those attributes. trust is very important in all of this, and this prime minister does not have the trust, i fear he doesn't have the trust, to negotiate in the way that i actually think would lead to a solution to these problems. we have faced bigger problems than this. mr starmer went on to say that the prime minister was taking a wrecking ball, he said, to international relations. now interestingly, in the commons today, we have had an urgent question from the opposition parties

about this very issue, about the very specific point of reports that the government did not ask its senior independent barrister for his view on whether this proposed legislation is illegal, but that he may well have suggested that he thought it could be. for the government, the europe minister james cleverley said he believed that the government thought this was legal, but it would not publish legal, but it would not publish legal advice. opposition there in the commons very clear, saying again that, repeating that point, saying that, repeating that point, saying that this goes to the heart of whether the government can be trusted. talked about the lawbreaking in matters of international law. also, the point was made that in an economic recovery, northern ireland and london are the only part of the uk that have seen their economies recover to be higher than pre—pandemic levels, and that is in northern ireland's case put down to the protocol. so questions about why the protocol. so questions about why

the government was seeking to do this, the government says that, well, it needs to protect the good friday agreement, that there have been problems with trade, that has caused problems for the unionist community will not go back into power sharing a northern ireland. that's what they seek to do. but on the other side, little voices saying the other side, little voices saying the government knew all about this gel with these issues with the cheques when it signed the deal and the deal was done to protect the gfa. so that issues will likely come to a head next week and we will determine whether this is all legal. thank you. sorry... let me tell you that we are going to be hearing from boris johnson after one o'clock, and that is where he will be speaking, in blackpool. we will bring you his speech when it happens. ukraine's president zelensky said russia has suffered heavy losses in what he called a very fierce and difficult battle

for the city of severodonetsk. in his nightly televised broadcast, he said in many respects the fate of the donbas region of eastern ukraine was being decided there. the regional governor says russian forces now control most of the city, with ukrainian fighters only in control of the industrial area on the outskirts of severodonetsk. our correspondent in kyiv, joe inwood, has the latest. so this is the city of severodonetsk. it's the crucial city that sits on the east bank of the siverskyi donets river, and it's the current focal point of russia's invasion. now, we understand the fighting there is very intense, very heavy. huge amounts of artillery bombardment, which has really characterised this phase of the war. we understand it is street by street and that both sides are suffering heavy casualties. now, it was interesting yesterday that president zelensky, in his nightly address, said that the fate of this city will determine the fate of the donbas. and the reason that's interesting, i think, is because it contradicts in some ways what we've heard from the governor, serhiy haidai, previously, which is that although the city of severodonetsk

is important, it's not strategically as important as its twin city, lysychansk, which sits on the other bank on the western bank of this river. and that's because lysychansk is higher up. it's a vantage point from which they can defend the river. and so i think there is some confusion as to what the president is referring to here, maybe that it's symbolically important, because it is one of the last major centres in the luhansk region, and that is a major target for the russians. a vigil has been held outside the brazilian embassy in london following the disappearance of a british journalist and a brazilian indigenous affairs expert during a trip into the rainforest. investigative journalist dom phillips and bruno araujo pereira, who was acting as his guide, were last seen in the javari region of amazonas state nearly the peruvian border, just days after receiving threats. the 57—year—old is working on a book about the environment

and is believed to have been attempting to make contact with indigenous people living in the region. dom's sister sian addressed reporters, where she asked why it took brazilian authorities so long to start the search after local indigenous leaders raised the alarm. we are so grateful that this vigil is happening today, and we thank you all for being here. we had to come this morning to ask the question, where is dom phillips? where is bruno pereira? and we are here also for my brother's wife, alessandra sampaio. we are here with my brother's nieces and sister—in—law too. we are here because dom is missing, he is lost, doing important world job of investigative journalism. we are here to make the point that, why did it take so long for them

to start the search for my brother and for bruno? the family were joined at the vigil by friends of phillips children in care have reported being groomed, sexually assaulted and given alcohol in homes and schools run by a private company benefiting from public funding in england. a bbc news investigation has found calcot services for children had double the profit margin of other big care providers last year. our special correspondent ed thomas reports. for six months, we've investigated the true scale of profits being made in the care and education of vulnerable children. where's the money going? not the places it should be. it's immoral. we've learned of the safeguarding failings... iran. grabbed her. we just fell to the ground. ..and spoken to whistleblowers, who reveal inadequate staffing levels. at calcot, it was just failure after failure. £3 million.

we're bbcjournalists and we've looked at the accounts of calcot services for children, which runs nine homes and four schools. turnover, gross profit. we've learnt that some vulnerable children in its care have been failed. so for every pound of public money that's paid in, the company's making... 40p. 40p profit? yeah. this is an all girls home, one of calcot�*s. a i7—year—old was groomed by a 28—year—old member of office staff at the company, who was redeployed here during covid, and began working shifts that included staying overnight. in text messages, he groomed her, calling her beautiful and saying he wanted to give her a cuddle and a kiss. soon they slept together. she later told a friend she felt used, manipulated and broken. calcot placed another girl here, a i6—year—old victim of sexual exploitation, on what's called a deprivation of liberty order, an extreme measure that means

she's judged at such risk she could be locked inside for her own welfare. but we've learned the girl was given alcohol by a worker, who even took her back to their home. the girl later went missing. we have this on a regular basis. we heard further evidence of another young girl of high needs accepted by calcot being failed. felt like something was off. mo was a behavioural lead at a calcot school. the girl in crisis here was a high—cost placement. but we've been told that despite multiple warnings by staff about inadequate security, she was able to run away to this bridge. iran, grabbed her. we just fell to the ground and ijust held her there for a bit. and she was just sobbing. some of the kids had no business being in a school like that. the same girl alleged she was raped by a boy after they were able to abscond together from this calcot home. at calcot, it was just failure after failure.

mia worked in two of the children's homes. she says there was chronic understaffing, which meant she was often left in charge of a girl, whose needs were so significant, the local authority were paying for three members of staff to care for her in the daytime. nine times out of ten, she would never be on that three—to—one support. how dangerous was that? it was extremely dangerous. mia also says a is—year—old boy alleged he was sexually assaulted after being found undressed and without supervision in an older girl's bedroom, an incident we've learned that was then not reported to ofsted. how do you see calcot and the care they gave in the homes you were working in? neglectful, disgusting. and i feel, yeah, just completely let down of how they've treated these children. a number of pupils have been costed for a one—to—one support in the class, and they don't have them. maggie mccarthy was a teacher at a calcot school. while she was there in 2020, the company made 40% profit.

this is money from the public purse that's meant to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in society. where's the money going? not the places it should be. it's immoral. the education and futures of these children have been stolen. calcot�*s owners, who live here on this luxury estate, declined to be interviewed. in a statement, they said... it added... all incidents it is aware of are reported correctly, and profits appear to be high as a result of holding money in accounts during covid years. so we've looked at profits. but the bbc�*s learnt calcot made more than 30% profits in 2019 — pre—pandemic.

the government says it expects all children's homes to provide the right care and protection. ed thomas, bbc news. in a moment, we'll have the weather with tomasz schafernaker, but first: the police chief in paris has expressed his sincere regrets to british and spanish supporters who were at champions league final last month. head of paris police prefecture didier lallement says what happened at the stadium was a �*failure�*, adding that he will do everything he can to track down the officers who attacked supporters. our paris correspondent hugh schofield has been following this story. i don't think we should necessarily read this as a climb—down or an admission of guilt or responsibility in the kind of larger sense. he said what the minister said a week ago, which is that he genuinely feel sorry for those fans who were caught up in it and who were evidently wrongly at the receiving end of tear gas and so on, but there is no

particular apology for the way the police operation was held. he said he would stand by the decisions of that evening and would do the same again. what he says happened was a kind of failure of information, which led to the problems that followed, the availability of information that he and the police did not know personally that there would be such a large turnout of ticketless liverpool fans at the outer rim of the stadium precinct in the 2—3 hours ahead of the match. this, attached to the fact that there was a strike on one of the underground lines to the station, led to the huge crush of people at one particular entry point, which then led to the police having to pullback and to the scenes of chaos on the esplanade itself.

but he said that what the police did, and the decisions he took on that evening, were ones he stood by. he said the use of tear gas, for example, was one decision he would take again. he said they were two methods of clearing a crowd, charging them or using tear gas. charging them was not a possibility and would have led to devastating consequences, so he stood by the use of tear gas, even though he did say, as you mentioned at the beginning, that ordinary people had been caught up in this and he sincerely regretted that. so i don't detect a huge sort of hands in the air, "we got it wrong" approach on the part of the police. i think he has not differ that much from what the minister said before. where does this leave concerns about other big sporting events coming up in france? well, indeed, a lot of people in the senate hearing where this took place are not happy with what didier lallement said. they are not convinced this explanation holds water, or that this figure of 30,000— 40,000 ticketless liverpool fans arriving, 2—3 hours ahead

of the match, holds water. it is interesting, because the chief of police did sort of give way there. for the first time, we saw him say, well, when i said 30,000—40,000, that's what i came up with on the night, but maybe it was not that, maybe it was 20,000. so there is a sense that a lot of these figures are just sort of plucked out of the air, but he stands by the broader picture that there were ticketless fans turning up that caused the problem. of course, people looking forward to the rugby world cup and the olympics are asking about security around the stadium, and what is clear from all of this is that one of the big problems was less the policing here, which was problematic, but the fact that there were, as he said, around boo—a00 local delinquents mixed in with the fans who were able to run rampage, causing such fear and anguish among fans right at the end of the match in particular, and one of the big questions is, how do you keep that element out

when there are these huge sort of crowds forming outside venues like this? hello. well, this afternoon, we've got a little bit of sunshine in the east of the country, but for many areas, it has clouded over now. there's also some patchy rain moving in. nothing too heavy, and it doesn't last for very long. there is a low pressure which will be brushing the north—west of the british isles over the next couple of days. this is actually an ex—tropical storm. it's bringing breezy conditions. here's the weather front, the rain—bearing clouds earlier on moving across northern ireland and reaching western areas end of the afternoon, but out towards the east and the far north—east of the uk, we have got some clear weather. late afternoon, temperatures typically in the high teens, about 20 or so in hull and also in london. also, where we have clearer weather, that's where the pollen levels remain high today,

so these are the pollen levels. high there in east anglia, even very high in some areas. so through the course of the night, that band of cloud and patchy rain moves across the country. then we are left with clear spells overnight, but very blustery weather here in the north west of the uk. gale force winds around coasts, and the temperatures typically between 11 degrees for our friends in lerwick there to 15 in london, and tomorrow's weather forecast, a blustery day on the way. a bright and blustery day with occasional showers, most frequent showers in northern ireland, and also across western and central scotland. maybe not so many there in the borders. and actually, a generally dry day across england and wales, but remember that gusty, gusty wind lasting all through the day throughout the country as a result of this low pressure, this ex—tropical storm, which is brushing the north by this stage on saturday. so here's a look at saturday's weather forecast. high pressure tries to build

into southern areas of the uk, so lighter winds and more sunshine, whereas here in the north—west, that breezy weather with frequent showers continues, and actually, fairly cool there in stornoway. only 13 degrees, whereas in the south and the south—east, temperatures could be in the low 20s. so here's the outlook into next week, and actually, it doesn't look too bad. the best of the weather is expected across many southern and eastern areas. bye—bye.

the cost of filling up an average family car with petrol hits £100 for the first time. the rising cost at the pumps is being driven by the war in ukraine, but there are concerns that a cut in fuel duty is not being passed on to customers. extremely expensive. it makes me think twice about having a car and using alternative transport. it's something that's really impacting me. when's it going to go down? that's question, isn't it? we'll have all the latest on the those rising prices. also this lunchtime... current and former staff at a group of children's homes tell the bbc vulnerable young people have been let down. the police chief in charge of security at the champoins league of security at the champions league final in paris admits there were failings but says his aim was to save lives.

children in england today should never be allowed to legally buy