in a highly critical report, the spending watchdog, the national audit office, says the prison servicengland and wales. joining me now is 0liver lodge, the national audit office director. thank you very much for coming along to talk about this story. the ministry ofjustice says it will a lwa ys ministry ofjustice says it will always have enough prison places but does not stand up to scrutiny? the analysis in our report shows based on current projections, and these are highly uncertain projections based on the fact the government plans to recruit 20,000 more police officers, demand could outstrip the current capacity in the prison system by late 2022, early 2023. but what that analysis doesn't take into account as the government commitment last year to build a further 10,000 prison places but it does show that those prisons need to be built pretty soon and based on the government ‘s record of delivering on its last commitment in 2016 build 10,000 prison places, we've raised some risks that it needs to take on board and learn from. yes, the government has promised it is going to have 10,

as it has a history of hiking prices for consumers for its own good just a few days ago the national audit office revealed that electric bills were unnecessarily high fee yiss setting the public back $100000000.00 pounds annually but if it's all spread out equally for the good of the planet then 1st right well the royals wouldn't get the warmest reception on this one when prince charles hopped on his private helicopter producing c o 2 emissions to get to climate change conferences in order for him to undertake as many engagements as he does across the u.k. and around the world he sometimes has to fly as he has often said assume is there is a more sustainable way of making these journeys he will be the 1st to use it for the time being there are many proper trial turn to sound the flying around we think is fairly bright for me this whole. you can stop him to use such a thing and get that he's a boy and he needs to be. high security. yeah this makes sense for us to use it for a 1000 and for well it's hard to believe when buckingham palace tops the list for the most environmentally damaging buildings

the national audit office says 69 cases have been investigated in the past six years, but warns thatkely to be much higher. our correspondent helena wilkinson gave us this update earlier. we can now reveal that the government looked at 69 cases over the past six years, but i think crucially what this report also warns is that the number of cases where claimants have taken their own lives may be much higher. it's criticised the department for their way it investigates benefit—related deaths. it says that there are unclear structures within the department, so staff don't know when to investigate, and that may in turn have stopped other deaths were being reported. it also says until recently it's failed to actively seek information from coroners and families. well, we had a statement from a government spokesperson saying the department was urgently working to drive forward improvements, and learn the lessons of what it called these tragic cases. obviously, though, this is very concerning for any families who've been affected. a group of senior conservatives is urging fellow tory mps to

in a highly critical report the spending watchdog the national audit office says the prison service, the ministry ofjustice, has failed to provide safe, secure and decentjails across england and wales. there are currently more than 83,000 people locked up and the number is forecast to grow. the philharmonic dining rooms in liverpool have become the first victorian purpose—built english pub to be given a grade one listed status. though other inns and taverns have grade one status, the pub known locally as the fill, becomes the first purpose—built ale house erected during the golden age of victorian pub building to achieve the highest status. the labour mp tracy pravin has announced she is auctioning the off the shoulder dress that drew criticism after she worried in the house of commons. i'm seeking your advice on an urgent and important matter. this afternoon, accredited lobbyjournalist based in here in the house of commons were denied access to an important briefing with david frost, the prime minister ‘s europe advisor on post brexit trade plans. david frost is a civil servant and

charles nancarrow, director at the national audit office is here to talk.ch as unmanageable debts, relationship break—ups, and mental health problems. 55,000 children between the age of 11—16, so this is a very problem addressed by the gambling commission. so what then should the commission itself be doing? today's report finds that the commission has been more proactive in recent months and years in terms of enforcing the companies licence conditions and codes of practice, thatis conditions and codes of practice, that is making sure that they actually support consumers. but the pace of change in at this industry isa pace of change in at this industry is a very fast, so it's much easier now to gamble that in previous yea rs. now to gamble that in previous years. you can go on to your smartphones, place bets during sporting events, so it's much easier to gamble, there are new risks for consumers. we find that the gambling commission really needs to up its pace to keep up—to—date with developments and really protect consumers from the harms that can be associ

in a highly—critical report, the spending watchdog, the national audit office, says the prison service there are currently more than 83,000 people locked up and the number is forecast to increase. millions of british households will see a reduction in their energy bills from this april, after the regulator brings in better price caps. 0fgem says 15 million households will benefit. right now,over half of households about 11 million are on default tariffs, meaning they haven't shopped around and are relying on regulation to make sure they don't pay too much. at the moment if you're a dualfuel customer on a standard variable tariff, using a typical amount of energy, and you pay by direct debit, you'll pay about £1,179 a year. but today the energy regulator 0fgem has announced the new cap which will come in from the 1st of april — it means an average bill could go down by £17 to £1,162. although most will see the cap change as a good thing for consumers, there are concerns they could mislead people into thinking they're getting a good deal if they stay with their current provider. when in

fast forward to november 2019, a couple of months ago, the national audit office reported that none hadnvest that money in other affordable homes. last year we build more homes in this country than any yet... forgive me, my question was specific, if i may... let me answer your question first. we have promised in our manifesto a new start to first time owners and we launch that a week or so ago and within the first 100 days of this administration we are consulting on it now as we have to do... how many will you build? i want to set first—time buyers and key workers into those homes before the end of this year. we will be giving a 30% discount to first home buyers to get on the scheme and we are expecting tens of thousands to be built and bought on the years ahead. again now we're getting some numbers. give me the timeline. you're saying tens of thousands... i have given you the timeline. we have already published our plans within weeks of being elected. we are going to be consulting, legislating and then i wa nt to consulting, legislating and then i want to see people moving into those h

audit, before we announce the final official results. so it's a--it's a big task for the biggest state in the nation. damian: who makes these changes? is it your officer is it the individual registrars in the counties that say, "we want to do-- we want to vote this way this year"? alex: well, the voters choice act has been an option for counties. in 2018, there's 5 counties that made the transition. and we had records statewide turnout in 2018. the five counties that implemented the voters choice act all had even higher turnout. so, we know it's easier for the county, but it's better for voters too because of the additional options. this year, there's 15 counties doing it this way, and that covers more than half the voters in the state. so, we make it easier to register, easier to cast your ballot, keep things safe and secure, kind of leading the nation in strengthening our democracy. damian: because i got my ballot in the mail. and instead of going to my usual polling place, you can go to any number of places that are certified by the registrar, i guess, and drop off your ballot or vote there. alex: right, that's one of the questions that we've been