simonjack reports. amount businesses could produce rocket, using machines that did the work of thousands. it was a leap in productivity that in recent years has slowed to a crawl, and that matters. if you can increase productivity, you can pay workers more, they feel better off, and crucially they pay more tax. otherwise none of those good things happen which is why the biggest challenge for the chancellor this week is to persuade businesses to invest in the machines and the skills of the future. in order to improve it, the government outlined plans today to spend £2.3 billion on research and development, with a further £1.7 billion to improve links between cities, hoping improved connectivity will drive greater productivity. a new revolution is at hand, being driven by technology companies like google, who today opened a digital garage in manchester, a drop—in centre for those looking for digital skills. when you look at economies that are online, relative to those who are not, there is productivity bo

that's all with our business editor, simonjack. you're with business live from bbc news.st results and profits are down for the second period in a row. our business correspondent theo leggett joins us from the business newsroom with the details. what do these figures look like tu? at first glance, they don't look great. the second six months in a i’ow great. the second six months in a row in which profits have fallen, underlying pre—tax profits dropping to £508 million from £615 million a year ago. but you have to bear a couple of things in mind. the figures for a year ago were flattered by a 100 year pounds bonus from selling off a stake in visa europe. take that out, and in fact the company made a profit this time round. also, nationwide which is a mutual building society, it started paying extra money into its employees' pension fund, and it also had to set aside a little bit of money for bad loans. so overall it is not that bad, these are pretty healthy figures. so could there be trouble ahead for nationwide? that is what nationwide is warning, yes. it says that there

simonjack, bbc news, manchester.s in southern california, by his group of young followers — has died at the age of 83. manson had been in prison in california for more than four decades. in 1969 his cult — known as the manson family — targeted several people including the hollywood actress sharon tate. our correspondent david willis reports from los angeles. once described as a metaphor for evil, charles manson took the trappings of the ‘60s hippie subculture and reframed them as tools of mass murder. a charismatic criminal who set up camp at this sprawling branch in the californian desert, he attracted people who shared his passion for sex and drugs. young, mainly middle—class women who bought in to manson's delusional claims that he was the reincarnation of christ. around 100 of them in total, they became known as the manson family. in the summer of 1969, charles manson assembled some of his most ardent followers and sent them on a killing spree that horrified and mesmerised america, in roughly equal measure. the m

simonjack has simon jack has been simonjack has been talking to the head of mexico's state oil firm.the us and mexico we re friction between the us and mexico were to spread to the energy market, both countries would suffer. here is simon jack. we buy a lot of gas from the united states. i am a firm believer that trade is good for two people. it is not win — lose. we both win. ayes you must admit the tone of the relationship has changed. the idea of building a wall, if not a physical one, a trade one, nafta is creaking at the seams. is donald trump's bark worse than his bite? we export about 800,000 barrels of oil a day. mostly to the united states. we import 500,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel. mostly barrels of gasoline and diesel. m ostly fro m barrels of gasoline and diesel. mostly from the united states. we import2 mostly from the united states. we import 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas, mostly from the united states. and that is advantageous to both of us. if somebody wants to get in the middle of this trade, there are going to be lots of people who will be unhappy about

our business editor simonjack reports. a rapturous reception for the latest iphone.s the most popular and profitable consumer product of all time. it's generated hundreds of billions in profits for apple since it was introduced ten years ago. what these papers show is just how determined apple has been to keep the tax on those profits as low as possible. and how keen some governments, lawyers, and advisers have been to help them do it. for many years, apple sent profits made outside the americas to ireland where an elaborate corporate structure meant it paid nearly no tax on the billions it was making. taxes that would have been due to the united states where politicians started applying pressure to a defiant apple ceo tim cook. we pay all the taxes we owe, every single dollar. we not only comply with the laws but we comply with the spirit of the laws. we don't depend on depend on tax gimmicks. so, no more fiendishly complicated tax arrangements, right? wrong. documents obtained from the law form appleby based in bermuda show that when ireland shot that a scheme down

our business editor simonjack reports.r the bleak diagnosis of slowing growth and poor productivity it received last week. the government's plan to incentivise investment arrives at a time when businesses are wary of brexit uncertainty. we are the place that is going to be able to take a lead in these new industries of the future. at a time when companies are making investments and in the context of brexit, to set that out with a clarity that we have i think is all the more important. the way it's supposed to work is basically this. the government invests money in research and development. academic institutions work in partnership with business to provide skills and know—how. the government provides test beds for new products like faster trials of new drugs or public roads for driverless cars, then hey presto, private companies invest. this gene therapy company in oxford likes the approach. this new strategy is very important for business like ours. it allows us to look at what we can work on in the future, look at the gra

he was speaking to our business editor simonjack.rom the united states so, you know, i am a firm believer that trade is good for two people, it is not win lose. we both went. you must admit, however, that the tone of the relationship has changed. the idea of building a wall, is not a physical one, a trade one in nafta is creaking a little bit of the scenes that it is donald trump, is his bark worse than his bite? i can say this. we exported around 800,000 barrels of oil every day. mostly to the united states. we import 500,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel. mostly from the united states. we import 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas, mostly from the united states. that is advantageous to both of us. now if somebody wants to both of us. now if somebody wants to get in the middle of this trade, there are going to be many people who will be unhappy about it because manyjobs are who will be unhappy about it because many jobs are associated who will be unhappy about it because manyjobs are associated with it on both sides of the border.

our business editor simonjack reports. a rapturous reception for the latest iphone.t's the most popular and profitable consumer product of all time. it's generated hundreds of billions in profits for apple since it was introduced ten years ago. what these papers show is just how determined apple has been to keep the tax bill on those profits as low as possible. and how keen some governments, lawyers, and advisers have been to help them do it. for many years, apple sent profits made outside the americas to ireland, where an elaborate corporate structure meant it paid nearly no tax on the billions it was making. taxes that would have been due to the united states, where politicians started applying pressure to a defiant apple ceo tim cook. we pay all the taxes we owe, every single dollar. we not only comply with the laws but we comply with the spirit of the laws. we don't depend on depend on tax gimmicks. so, no more fiendishly complicated tax arrangements, right? wrong. documents obtained from the law firm appleby, based in bermuda, show that when ireland shot that sc

simonjack, bbc news, manchester.abinet committee that the government should increase the financial offer to the eu as the uk leads, but only in return for the uk moving in december two talks about future trade deal, and an implementation phase after the uk's departure in 2019. we are hearing there was no substantive discussion of possible amounts, and there were tensions about the future role of the european court ofjustice. we will bring you more on that as we get it. the queen and the duke of edinburgh are marking 70 years of marriage today. the bells of westminster — where elizabeth married prince philip — rang out in celebration of their platinum wedding anniversary. it's been a low—key affair, with the royals making private plans to mark the occasion. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. ringing out from westminster abbey, a peal of bells to mark a 70th wedding anniversary. it was to the abbey on this day in 19a7, that the then princess elizabeth came for her wedding to lieutenant colonel mountbatt

simonjack reports. a rapturous reception for the latest iphone. and profitable consumer product of all time. it's generated hundreds of billions in profits for apple since it was introduced ten years ago. what these papers show is just how determined apple has been to keep the tax on those profits as low as possible. and how keen some governments, lawyers, and advisers have been to help them do it. for many years, apple sent profits made outside the americas to ireland where an elaborate corporate structure meant it paid nearly no tax on the billions it was making. taxes that would have been due to the united states where politicians started applying pressure to a defiant apple ceo tim cook. we pay all the taxes we owe, every single dollar. we not only comply with the laws but we comply with the spirit of the laws. we don't depend on depend on tax gimmicks. so, no more fiendishly complicated tax arrangements, right? wrong. documents obtained from the law form appleby based in bermuda show that when ireland shot that a scheme down, the company went

as one the key challenges for the chancellor ahead of wednesday's budget, as our business editor simonjacksinesses could produce rocket, using machines that did the work of thousands. it was a leap in productivity that in recent years has slowed to a crawl under that matters. if you can increase productivity, you can pay workers more, and crucially they pay more tax. otherwise none of those good things happen which is why the biggest challenge for the chance of this week is to persuade businesses to invest in the machines and skills of the future. in order to improve it, the government outlined plans today to spend research and development with a further £1.7 billion to improve links between cities hoping improved connectivity will drive greater productivity. a new revolution is at hand, being driven by technology companies like google who today opened a digital garage in manchester, a drop—in centre for those looking for digital skills. when you look at economy is relative to those who are not, there is a substantial untucked opportunity to go online. the majority of advertising is not on

our business editor, simonjack, reports.rous reception for the latest iphone, the most popular and profitable consumer product of all time, generating hundreds of billions in profit for apple since it was introduced ten years ago. what these papers show is just how determined apple has been to keep the tax bill as low as profitable and how keen some governments, lawyers and advisers have been to help them do it. for many years, apple sent profits made outside of the americas to ireland where an elaborate corporate structure meant it paid nearly no tax on the billions it was making. taxes that would have been due to the us where politicians started applying pressure to a defiant apple ceo. we pay all the taxes we owe, every single dollar. we not only comply with the laws, we comply with the spirit of the laws. we don't depend on tax gimmicks. no more fiendishly complex tax arrangements, right? wrong. documents obtained from the law firm appleby based in bermuda showed that when ireland shut the scheme down, the company went s

simonjack has the story.ine the economy needs after the bleak diagnosis of slowing growth and poor productivity it received last week. the government's plan to incentivise investment arrives at a time when businesses are wary of brexit uncertainty. we are the place that is going to be able to take a lead in these new industries of the future. at a time when companies are making investments and in the context of brexit, to set that out with a clarity that we have i think is all the more important. the way it's supposed to work is basically this. the government invests money in research and development. academic institutions work in partnership with business to provide skills and know—how. the government provides test beds for new products like faster trials of new drugs or public roads for driverless cars, then hey presto, private companies invest. this gene therapy company in oxford likes the approach. this new strategy is very important for business like ours. it allows us to look at what we can work on in t

first though, i'm joined by our business editor, simonjack.orld's reaction to the budget? the brief is don't stand on any landmines when he went after the self—employed trying to put up national insurance. he didn't put fuel duties on diesels. he didn't lower that vat threshold. when you have to register. he didn't ditch the 17% corporate tax. there were arguments for doing that. he did bring forward a lowering of the rate at which business rates go up. there has been a big bearfor business. that will be worth £2.3 billion. they were pleased about that. he put some more money in this mega fund for productivity enhancements he has talked about from £23 billion to £31 billion. there was a plan to sell off the government's stake or a big chunk of the government's stake in rbs that will give them £15 billion to play with. that will be sold as a big loss. it was a rescue rather than investment. he hopes it will give a better return than the rbs shares and improve the long run performance of the economy. laura kuenssberg is in westminster. what does

here's our business editor simonjack.medicine the economy needs after the bleak diagnosis of slowing growth and poor productivity it received last week. the government's plan to incentivise investment arrives at a time when businesses are wary of brexit uncertainty. we are the place that is going to be able to take a lead in these new industries of the future. at a time when companies are making investments, and in the context of brexit, to set that out with a clarity that we have i think is all the more important. the way it's supposed to work is basically this. the government invest money in research and development. academic institutions work in partnership with business to provide skills and know—how. the government provide test—beds for new products like faster trials of new drugs or public roads for driverless cars, and hey presto, private companies invest. this gene therapy company in oxford likes the approach. this new strategy is very important for a business like ours. it allows us to look at what we can work on

consortium of investigativejournalists, which includes the bbc‘s panorama, as our business editor simonjackrapturous reception for the latest iphone. it's the most popular and profitable consumer product of all time. it's generated hundreds of millions in profits for apple since it was introduced ten years ago. what these papers show is just how determined apple has been to keep the tax on those profits as low as possible. and how keen some governments, lawyers, and advisers have been to help them do it. for many years, apple sent profits made outside the americas to ireland where an elaborate corporate structure meant it paid nearly no tax on the billions it was making. taxes that would have been due to the united states where politicians started applying pressure to a defiant apple ceo tim cook. we pay all the taxes we owe, every single dollar. we not only comply with the laws but we comply with the spirit of the laws. we don't depend on depend on tax gimmicks. so, no more fiendishly complicated tax arrangements, right? wrong. documents obtained from the law form appleby based in bermuda

our business editor simonjack asks why productivity levels in the uk are so poor — and what can be donemprove them. it's the word of the week. maybe the decade. it means the value of work done per worker per hour. if it goes up, the economy grows and so do pay and living standards. when it doesn't, they don't. right now, it isn't. now, when people hear our productivity is low, some people wonder, are workers being accused of being lazy? but it's not really that at all. i could be the best typist in the world, the hardest working person, but there will be a limit to how many letters, for example, i could write. to really get things done, to be more productive, i need one of these. better equipment and better training is a need recognised by britain's biggest companies. i mean all the data suggest we do have a productivity problem. it has flat lined largely for the last few years. and i think everybody recognises that. and i think both companies and government and, indeed, education in general, we all have a stake in making that, fixing that, making that better. the government's answer ha

our business editor simonjack reports. a rapturous reception for the latest iphone.s generated hundreds of billions in profits for apple it‘s generated hundreds of millions in profits for apple since it was introduced ten years ago. what these papers show is just how determined apple has been to keep the tax on those profits as low as possible. and how keen some governments, lawyers, and advisers have been to help them do it. for many years, apple sent profits made outside the americas to ireland where an elaborate corporate structure meant it paid nearly no tax on the billions it was making. taxes that would have been due to the united states where politicians started applying pressure to a defiant apple ceo tim cook. we pay all the taxes we owe, every single dollar. we not only comply with the laws but we comply with the spirit of the laws. we don‘t depend on tax gimmicks. so, no more fiendishly complicated tax arrangements, right? wrong. documents obtained from the law form appleby based in bermuda show that when ireland shut that scheme down, the company went sho

our business editor simonjack reports. a rapturous reception for the latest iphone.itable consumer product of all time. it's generated hundreds of billions in profits for apple since it was introduced ten years ago. what these papers show is just how determined apple has been to keep the tax on those profits as low as possible. and how keen some governments, lawyers, and advisers have been to help them do it. for many years, apple sent profits made outside the americas to ireland where an elaborate corporate structure meant it paid nearly no tax on the billions it was making. taxes that would have been due to the united states where politicians started applying pressure to a defiant apple ceo tim cook. we pay all the taxes we owe, every single dollar. we not only comply with the laws but we comply with the spirit of the laws. we don't depend on tax gimmicks. so, no more fiendishly complicated tax arrangements, right? wrong. documents obtained from the law firm appleby show that when ireland shut that scheme down, the company went shopping for a new way to keep their

simonjack spoke to the chief operating officer of sse and asked him whether consumers should be concernedodd companies in the market will compete fiercely. the number of people switching is up massively. and we think that by being more efficient as an organisation we can price better and also in the future develop new products to meet customers‘ needs and it gives variety and opportunity in the future. that was tony keeling from sse. now, let‘s have a look at the markets, because it is a busy time? it is. with merger news like that, you would expect it to be up, and it was up. and then they delivered yet more news. marks & spencer is, profits are still happening at marks & spencer is, but some concerning news saying that food sales are slowing. and food has always been a bright spot for marks & spencer. when you think you understand the markets, you don‘t, it is weird how people respond? plenty more from you later. thank you, rachel. let‘s have a look at the weather. a lot of cloud around today. as you can see from the satellite picture we have had this slice of sunshine today across cent