ensure saving people money... the damage to pensioners livelihoods from the my honourable _ livelihoods from the m honourable friend is livelihoods from the mg honourable friend is right as the reminder of the direct her inheritance of this government has faced. spending commitment after spending commitment and has no idea how to pay for it from road and rail projects to a—levels to the rwanda deal. £22 billion of the unfunded commitments that the last government had no idea how to pay for. we will fix the foundations of the economy, rebuild britain and ensure working people are better off fixing the mess that the last government left. flan fixing the mess that the last government left.— government left. can the chancellor _ government left. can the chancellor confirm - government left. can the chancellor confirm that l government left. can the l chancellor confirm that the state pension increase will be announced at the budget and

will be equivalent to wage growth, inflation or two and a half percent, whichever is higher? half percent, whichever is hiuher? , ., higher? this government has committed — higher? this government has committed to _ higher? this government has committed to the _ higher? this government has committed to the triple - higher? this government has committed to the triple lock, j committed to the triple lock, notjust committed to the triple lock, not just for this year committed to the triple lock, notjust for this year but committed to the triple lock, not just for this year but for the duration of this parliament and that means that pensioners are £900 better off than they were a year ago and based on september earnings data and inflation data, we will operate pensions next year by whichever is higher, two and half percent inflation or average earnings. we are ensuring that pensioners get the pensions they are entitled to and have contributed to.- entitled to and have contributed to. , . , ., ., contributed to. ten years ago, the now chancellor _ contributed to. ten years ago, the now chancellor argued - contributed to. ten years ago, the now chancellor argued in l the now chancellor argued in this house that winter fuel payments should be this house that winter fuel payments should he means tested and cut four, and i quote, the richest pensioners. the

chancellormy ten year campaign has come to fruition and she proposed removing winter fuel payments for pensioners and just £13,000 per year. can i ask the chancellor that she still think that pensioners and £13,000 a year is rich?- £13,000 a year is rich? what has come — £13,000 a year is rich? what has come to _ £13,000 a year is rich? what has come to an _ £13,000 a year is rich? what has come to an end - £13,000 a year is rich? what has come to an end in - £13,000 a year is rich? what has come to an end in july i £13,000 a year is rich? what has come to an end in july is| has come to an end injuly is 14 years of conservative government that presided over appalling living standards, the highest tax burden in 70 years and a debt as a share of our economy of almost 100% and a £22 billion black hole in the public finances just this year and what we haven't heard is a front bench opposite any conservative member of parliament as an apology for the mess that they have left this country in that this government is now picking up. number six. thank you and i welcome the honourable member to this place. since taking office, the government is that

it was clean energy mission board to enable progress to 20 to 30 that will accelerate to claim home—grown power and boost energy dependence and security. we will set up a property owned energy company which will save families money by ensuring electricity bills are no longer exposed to gas price hikes. are no longer exposed to gas price hikes-— are no longer exposed to gas price hikes. over the last few weeks, i _ price hikes. over the last few weeks, i have _ price hikes. over the last few weeks, i have been _ price hikes. over the last few| weeks, i have been absolutely inundated by questions of people at winchester about the cancelling winter fuel allowance and it seems as though people are getting similar correspondence while i totally understand that there are many wealthy pensioners do not rely on winter fuel allowance to heat their homes there are a large proportion of pensioners who living on the poverty line and they can plunged into crisis this winter there's a huge strength of feeling all sides of the houses

and with the chancellor reconsider this decision and if not could be at least commit to to see how we best protect. l to see how we best protect. i have to go through in order paper _ have to go through in order paper i _ have to go through in order -a er. ., ~' have to go through in order --aer. . ~ ., ., .,, paper. i thank the honourable member is— paper. i thank the honourable member is the _ paper. i thank the honourable member is the chancellor - paper. i thank the honourable member is the chancellor set| member is the chancellor set out pensions and state pensions is £900 more this year than it was last year thanks to the triple lock and we maintain of the triple lock energy bills are lower this year and it is crucial for are lower this year and it is crucialfor him and are lower this year and it is crucial for him and other members around this house to support our goal is to increase the take—up of pension credits to make sure all those pensioners are eligible to take it up thereby receiving other benefits such as winter fuel payments which they are entitled to.—

payments which they are entitled to. , . entitled to. during the general election the — entitled to. during the general election the labour— entitled to. during the general election the labour party - election the labour party committed to bringing down energy bills by £300 and now the election is over energy bills are going up by some 10% and so on behalf of the british electorate and especially the 10 million pensioners who have their winter fuel payments taken away and the minister confirm to the house is still a policy and if it is housed £300 calculated and we will be delivered? l calculated and we will be delivered?— calculated and we will be delivered? ~' ,, ., ., delivered? i think the shadow minister for _ delivered? i think the shadow minister for his _ delivered? i think the shadow minister for his comment - delivered? i think the shadow minister for his comment and | minister for his comment and woken his to his new place there. he referred to the cost of energy and as we know the cost of energy this year is substantially lower than it was this time last year but we are under no illusions about how much more we need to do to make sure energy bills are affordable and we tackle the cost of living crisis and that's why we are set to work straightaway in establishing great british energy alongside another fund to invest in clean

energy sources and bring down energy sources and bring down energy bills for good. mr speaker. _ energy bills for good. mr speaker, we _ energy bills for good. m speaker, we know the government has inherited a mess and we know the centre of that mess is a £22 billion hole left in the public finances by the previous government, but that cannot be allowed to cover the measures that cause suffering for the most vulnerable in our society and she one of her colleagues in the lib dem benches talk with the hardship the scrapping of the winter fuel allowance will have on their constituents so can the chancellor assure us that she will give her full support to measures to boost the uptake of pension credit and most crucially, we should give this house the opportunity to have a proper debate and vote on this court there whenever such an impact on many? l whenever such an impact on man ? ., ~ whenever such an impact on man? . ~ ,, many? i thank the spokesperson for her comments _ many? i thank the spokesperson for her comments and _ many? i thank the spokesperson for her comments and for - for her comments and for recognising the state of the finances that £22 billion black hole that we need to address to

bra finances on a firm footing. it's essential to boost the updated pension credit as my friend the chancellor set out and 800,000 pensioners are not currently taking it up and we saw a lack of action under the previous government to drive that uptake and we are overseeing a campaign across government to increase the number of pensions accessing pension credit and winter fuel payments. l pension credit and winter fuel payments-_ payments. i welcome that response _ payments. i welcome that response but _ payments. i welcome that response but if _ payments. i welcome that response but if the - payments. i welcome that - response but if the government are asking us to make difficult sacrifices, then people need to know that the government is making vital investments to protect the vulnerable and help to deliver economic growth so will the chancellor agree with me that now is the time to work across government to launch an emergency home energy upgrade programme to provide free installation and heat pumps for low income households? fit, low income households? a crucial part of our manifesto since he brought into government is to increase

insulation in 5 million homes across this country and we will sit out further details about plans for insulation in due course but we know that as an investment which brings down energy bills for good. i thank the honourable memberfor the the honourable member for the question the honourable memberfor the question and with permission i would like to take this question with numbers 15 and 17. the government is focused on improving living standards across this country which is why growth is a creed priority. if income had grown from 2010 to 2023 at the same rate as in 1997 to 2010, it would have been £4000 higher last year. the approach of this government will centre on fostering good work and the government would reform employment support for moored people dignity and purpose in meaningful employment and it will have an ambitious agenda for a modern economy to deliver economic growth. we have a ministerial

task force on child poverty and update the lower pay commission to make recommendations on the national living wage. l to make recommendations on the national living wage.— national living wage. i thank the minister _ national living wage. i thank the minister for _ national living wage. i thank the minister for that. - national living wage. i thank the minister for that. many i national living wage. i thank| the minister for that. many in my constituency have contacted me regarding means testing and pension credit and thousands of my constituency do not receive pension credit and are potentially missing out on £3900 per year. what steps of this government taking to ensure all pensioners in my constituency and across the country receive what they are entitled to? l country receive what they are entitled to?— entitled to? i thank my honourable _ entitled to? i thank my honourable friend - entitled to? i thank my honourable friend for l entitled to? i thank my. honourable friend for his question and welcome him to his place and he is absolutely right to highlight how important it is to make sure all those eligible for pension credits that are not claiming it do sign up and receive the benefits to which they're entitled to include in the winter fuel payments. the government is undertaking a new to drive take—up and we are holding a pension credit week of action in the first week of

september were promotional activities will be supported by organisations including age uk and local authorities. there will be further action in the coming months including tv, press and radio i will be writing to 120,000 pensioners who receive housing benefits to encourage a claim where they may be eligible.— encourage a claim where they may be eligible. thank you. the economic chaos _ may be eligible. thank you. the economic chaos of _ may be eligible. thank you. the economic chaos of the - may be eligible. thank you. the economic chaos of the previous| economic chaos of the previous conservative governments pushed up conservative governments pushed up interest rates causing mortgage to rise by £500 per month forfamilies in barnet. what steps is the chancellor is taking to bring down rates so that families who have worked hard and saved hard can get the living standards boost they so desperately need? l living standards boost they so desperately need?— living standards boost they so desperately need? i thank my honourable — desperately need? i thank my honourable friend _ desperately need? i thank my honourable friend and - desperately need? i thank my. honourable friend and welcome his to his place and as he points out is the recklessness of the previous government which has had a direct impact on this constituents living standards as a new government we recognise many households

across the country have been facing higher mortgage costs in recent years and we have already taken action to fix the economic conditions with a new approach to growth with three pillars of stability, investment and reform and sustainable public finances are necessary for economic stability and long—term growth and so we will sit at the difficult decisions needed to secure public finances in the budget on october the 30th. ln budget on october the 30th. in north warwickshire, like my honourable friend, monthly mortgage costs rose by an average of 22% in the year following this government's disastrous mini budget. this made life really difficult for hard—working families in my constituency. what steps is a chancellor taking to ensure that such a devastating situation can never happen again to families in my constituency and across the country? l constituency and across the country?— constituency and across the count ? . ,, , ., ., country? i thank my honourable friend for her— country? i thank my honourable friend for her question - country? i thank my honourable friend for her question and - friend for her question and welcome her to her place and she is absolutely right to

highlightjust how much damage the conservatives caused families in north warwickshire and beyond. ministers decisions on leased economic turbulence and make people across britain people. rachel reeves said she wouldn't seeggla! across britain fee—er worse solved and our government and make people across britain worse solved and our government will hard—wire budget will hard—wire budget responsibility into government responsibility into government with a new fiscal lock and will hard—wire budget budget responsibility bill to responsibility int lock rernment will hard—wire budget responsibility int lock and nent with a new fiscal lock and budget responsibility bill to make sure the disaster we saw make sure the disaster happen two years ago can never happen two years ago can never happen again. doctor again. doctor studio: you been watching the studio: you been watching the treasury answer questions since treasury answer questions since the new labour government came the new labour government came to power but right from the to power but right from the start rachel reeves said that start rachel reeves said that any questions about tax would any questions about tax would have to wait for the budget in wouldn't specula! across . ,.,,,,,, have to wait for the budget in october but that did not stop october but that did not stop the first question from the the first question from the conservative opposition conservative opposition spokesperson being on tax spokesperson being on tax asking her to confirm that asking her to confirm that labour would not increase taxes labour would not increase taxes on pensions in the upcoming on pensions in the upcoming budget but he said it was after budget but he said it was after labour had promised more than labour had promised more than 50 times during the election 50 times during the election not to raise taxes for working not to raise taxes for working

people. rachel reeves said she people. rachel reeves said she wouldn't speculate that but that she was determined to make sure working people were better off. she did say she would use the budget to set out what she called a tax road map for businesses to encourage them to grow. a number of mps including two liberal democrats raised theissue two liberal democrats raised the issue of winter fuel payments and the fact that the government is removing it for around 10 million pensioners. mr darling said many of his constituents were concerned about making ends meet on the move was a complete shock to them and had no time to say. he asked what assurances rachel reeve could make to protect the vulnerable? she says she wants to make sure the lowest income pensioners get the support that they are entitled to and that she would encourage the uptake of pension credit and she said that she and the government was working with organised or organisations like age uk and local authorities to make that happen. you can get more on

what rachel reeves has said over on bbc parliament but stay with us now here on bbc news. i am joined by with us now here on bbc news. i amjoined by our with us now here on bbc news. i am joined by our business correspondent ben king who was watching what rachel reeves and her colleagues have had to say in the house of commons and, a lot of the questions about the fuel payments are going to be removed from millions of pensioners because of what labour call the £22 billion black hole left by the previous conservative government. that's correct. conservative government. that's correct- one _ conservative government. that's correct. one of _ conservative government. that's correct. one of the _ conservative government. that's correct. one of the title - conservative government. that's correct. one of the title is - correct. one of the title is frontally�*s questions was how many people were contacted by her constituents expressing concern about this decision to remove the winter fuel payment. that used to go to about 11 million pensioners but that will be cut to around i million pensioners but that will be cut to around 1 million orso will be cut to around 1 million or so and that should save a lot of money for the treasury but it's clearly something is causing a lot of concern. one

of the troubles with this policy is the winter fuel payment will be targeted for people who claim something content pension credit for low earning pensioners but lots of people entitled to that do not claim it so one of the point of the government is keen to emphasise as they will do everything they can to encourage people to claim this pension credit and therefore become entitled to winter fuel payments and that should preserve that benefit for some of the people who needed the most. {lil of the people who needed the most. .., , . most. of course, there were a number of _ most. of course, there were a number of mps _ most. of course, there were a number of mps asking - most. of course, there were a number of mps asking for - most. of course, there were a number of mps asking for a i most. of course, there were a l number of mps asking for a vote on this but the government has been strong up until now that they are not going to change their mind on this tax credit, this winter fuel payment. that's right. rachel reeves said again and again referring to this line that they have been repeating sincejuly to this line that they have been repeating since july that they say the government calls it a black hole in the finances and that this is a gap of £22

billion that they say the government was obliged to spend but hadn't budgeted for properly and they say this was a surprise and that has been forcing them to do things like cut the winter fuel payments that they don't want to do but they cannot afford to unpick. that was a line that was repeated many times and it will be surprising for the government to u—turn on this quite quickly but they have said they will put other support in place for pensioners who are struggling with their fuel bills, so i think it's a controversy that is likely to run and run.— controversy that is likely to run and run. the £22 billion black hole _ run and run. the £22 billion black hole was _ run and run. the £22 billion black hole was mentioned l run and run. the £22 billion black hole was mentioned a number of times, particularly by the members of the labour mps talking about it but in reverse i saw one tory mp call that figure questionable but it is that 22 billion that downturns our attention to the budget and rachel reeve saying

she wouldn't outline anything that was in the budget in terms of tax measures but as we have said, if they are not going to increase any of the income tax and vat, then there will have to be some form of tax rise in the budget, isn't there? that was the big _ the budget, isn't there? trial was the big unanswered the budget, isn't there? twat was the big unanswered question that we have been told there will be a painful budget at the end of october and of course, everyone listening would want to know what will happen in the budget and we had a question about pensions but the answer was we are not going to speculate about the budget until the time to deliver it has come. that was the really big question but now, there is a debate about how real that £22 billion figure is and some of those measures that make up the £22 billion and some experts say they were measures that could have been predicted before the election and therefore should have been discussed more clearly in the

election campaign but nonetheless that's where we are now and we have been won again and again that the budget will be painful and and again that the budget will be painfuland a and again that the budget will be painful and a £22 billion dossier is one of the reasons for the labour party advancing for the labour party advancing for not having discussed this earlier on and they say there were lots of surprises. nonetheless, i did there will be more questions and lots of wealthy individuals were warned that those with a broad shoulders will be the ones who hear the biggest burden in the bear the biggest burden in the forthcoming election and wondering what those measures will be and thinking about what they can do to try and protect their wealth before those measures are put into place. irate measures are put into place. we will all wait _ measures are put into place. we will all wait for that budget next month. that is banking. away from what we have been talking about in terms of the treasury questions i want to bring you a line of breaking news that we are getting in from leicestershire. five

children, including 312—year—olds and 214—year—olds have been arrested on suspicion of murder after an 80—year—old man died following a serious assault in a park and you can see this is the picture that the police have released of the cordoned off area in this park. the police say they launch them murder investigation after the elderly man died in hospital due to injuries he sustained in franklin park in leicestershire at around

80—year—old man died following a serious assault on a park and this is the picture that the police have released of the cordoned off area around the park. you can get more than a story on the bbc news website and app and you were watching bbc news and we will rejoin my colleague on the bbc news now and they are talking about the poohs and they are talking about the poor�*s a visit to indonesia and southeast probably outlining some of his priorities and we will get a good sense. help some of his priorities and we will get a good sense. how will be received. _ will get a good sense. how will be received. in _ will get a good sense. how will be received. in terms - will get a good sense. how will be received. in terms of - be received. in terms of indonesia _ be received. in terms of indonesia itself. - be received. in terms of indonesia itself. the - indonesia itself. the population is seen as relatively moderate and the government are seen as moderate but in terms of looking at other countries and standards globally, what is your

assessment of the wider population and perception of the store. it is going to a mosque in indonesia and is the largest mosque in southeast asia and the vatican said it can fit 120,000 people in the pope will hold a religious encounter there with muslims and buddhists.— there with muslims and buddhists. �* , ., ., buddhists. and several other representations _ buddhists. and several other representations but - buddhists. and several other representations but this - buddhists. and several other. representations but this mosque is located across the street from jakarta's catholic cathedral in the two share a parking lot and they are preparing to open a tunnel to connect the two structures underneath the ground and they're calling at the tunnel of friendship for people to go back—and—forth between the two structures in the parking lot that they will share and it's an interesting image of indonesian and vatican officials are using as a sign for the type of community the

pope encountered although it is majority muslim and trying to build ties of dialogue.- build ties of dialogue. josh, thank you — build ties of dialogue. josh, thank you very _ build ties of dialogue. josh, thank you very much - build ties of dialogue. josh, | thank you very much indeed build ties of dialogue. josh, - thank you very much indeed for being with us. russia's president has met his mongolian candidate in ulaanbaatar and it's his first visit to this country since an arrest warrant was issued for him last year. ukraine has condemned mongolia's decision not to arrest putin. the fop the head of volkswagen is going on trial in germany for his role in the diesel emission scandal which dates back to 2015. the car manufacturer has admitted putting many vehicles with softer the cheated tests to make them appear less

polluting. he is accused of fraud and manipulating the markets but he denies wrongdoing. a plant scientist is the quality of the pickled cabbage of south korea is threatened by climate change. it is traditionally made with cabbage, a variety that thrives in cool temperatures and is often planted in mountainous regions. scientist are just warmer weather is not affecting the crop with some chefs reporting of the cabbage's heart is more frequently going bad. phone companies in the uk are to meet with government ministers to discuss measures to tackle crime after the number of snatch thefts doubled in england and wales over the last year. the rise is down to an increase in demand for second—hand smartphones both in the uk and overseas. audacious, easy, quick snatch and is gone. pins and facial recognition help but is not

enough and many young people are targeted in places like parks and transport hubs. there's been work to try to crack down on thefts, but mobile phones are now the most—stolen items in england and wales, according to the latest figures. shouting. there are at least 200 snatch thefts every day. last year, 78,000 people had their phones or bags snatched. yet less than 1% resulted in a charge, and more than 80% of police investigations were closed before a suspect was found. for a while now, there have been calls for more to be done. the government's asking tech companies and manufacturers to work with it to find solutions, and end the illegal market for stolen phones. police chiefs will also be asked to gather intelligence on where the phones end up, in an attempt to end organised crime. what's in it for them is data. these days we have all our financial and banking apps on our phones and all manner of

passwords saved for every service we engage with and that is primarily what they are after, that attracts a high price in the dark web as people will pain many times the value of the handsetjust will pain many times the value of the handset just for the date of this on them. the advice for now — avoid using your phone on the street if you can, look around you if you can't avoid it, and that you're less likely to be targeted if you look confident and know where you're going. easier said than done, but it mightjust stop you from being the next victim. frances read, bbc news. breaking news coming to us from ukraine and it's been reported that 41 people have been killed after russian missile strike involved 180 people wounded and thatis involved 180 people wounded and that is as the strike partially destroyed a building of the institute of communications and it has been reported that the

president zelensky says 148 people have been killed there. a lot brighter out there that we saw through yesterday but enough cloud around to produce showers here and there, especially across eastern and the far west of the country but overall, a much better day than we saw through yesterday. showers will be across parts of east anglia in the south—east and it will be humid here and some across western scotland and northern ireland but western parts of northern ireland will brighten up. eastern scotland, northern and western parts of england and wales and many places are dry this afternoon and with light winds it still pleasant out there but we have got fresher when done we had a weekend. humid air and when done we had a weekend. humid airand look when done we had a weekend. humid air and look brighter breaks here and we could see temperatures between 24 and 26 degrees. this evening

and overnight, some showers continue to filter across the country in batches, particularly later on in northern ireland in south—west scotland but for southern scotland but for southern scotland in the northeast of england we could cease clearer and the temperatures will be down to around 45 degrees not assume it is less likely there across southern and eastern parts of england. the coolest of the wedge to begin with the best of the sunshine and enjoy the morning sunshine because there will be more showers cropping up as we go through the day. east anglia and the south—east and more widely across southern scotland and northern ireland and wales and littering and in particular and temperatures continuing to drop that bit more as well tomorrow 15-20 that bit more as well tomorrow 15—20 which will be nudged down on a usual september. it looks increasingly likely we will see pressure develop to the south of us in france which will strengthen eastern wins and bring rain across the southern half of the uk but also introducing or reintroducing i should say more in the wave humid air and you will see temperatures creep up

as we head towards the weekend. not there on thursday as a transition day with outbreaks of rain on england and wales and heaviest central wales but northern ireland would have one or two showers but is largely dry and temperatures creeping up dry and temperatures creeping up here compared with what we have seen during the next couple of days but as we go to the end of the week, rail or rain continues in the southern most part but it does look like we will have more sunshine in the north and west and you can see here the temperatures rising in the low to mid 20s. take care.

this is bbc news. i bbc investigation has found that a record number of illegal israeli settler outposts were set up in the occupied west bank last year. kamala harris and joe biden make their first joint campaign appearance since she accepted the democratic party's presidential nomination. a major new survey found almost 60% of young people in africa wanted to emigrate and many say they worry about unchecked corruption. the latest bbc analysis found that one in 20 libraries in the uk have been lost since 2016 and we find out how this affects local people. governments small