speaker: i call the leader of the snp here, ian blackford. >> thank you, mr. speaker.ter of seconds, at 12.16 p.m, a virgin atlantic aircraft is due to depart heathrow airport to go to warsaw to pick up 50 young orphans who have left ukraine. they are coming to spend the next period of their life in scotland, with the sanctuary we can offer them. i would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped to make sure that we can offer a new start to these young people, away from the war. in particular, the government in london and in edinburgh, and in particular, to thank the immigration minister, the member for torbay, and the refugee minister in the house of lords, lord harrington. this is a good day for those 50 young people, but let us hope that it is the beginning of something much more significant for many more young people we can offer sanctuary to. mr. speaker, this morning we have official confirmation that inflation is at its highest level in 30 years, but families don't need official confirmation to know that the cost of food and energy is now at

the leader of the snp, ian blackford. thank i of the snp, ian blackford.the house of lords _ refugee minister in the house of lords this — refugee minister in the house of lords. this is a good day for these 50 young — lords. this is a good day for these 50 young people but let's hope it is the beginning of something much more significant _ the beginning of something much more significant for many more young people — significant for many more young people that we can offer sanctuary to. people that we can offer sanctuary to mr— people that we can offer sanctuary to. mr speaker, this morning we have official— to. mr speaker, this morning we have official confirmation that inflation is at its _ official confirmation that inflation is at its highest level in 30 years. but families don't need official confirmation to know that the cost of food _ confirmation to know that the cost of food and energy are at a price they— of food and energy are at a price they simply cannot afford. at the very people who have borne the brunt of the _ very people who have borne th

but not represent what tory mps, as you are from the snp.— are from the snp.eir starmer, what do _ lot of tory mps! laura, what about keir starmer, what do you - lot of tory mps! laura, what about keir starmer, what do you think i lot of tory mps! laura, what about| keir starmer, what do you think he will focus on today 's know, i think we have got a few moments. you can go ahead. we have got a few moments. you can no ahead. ,, . go ahead. keir starmer might actually stay _ go ahead. keir starmer might actually stay away _ go ahead. keir starmer might actually stay away from i go ahead. keir starmer might| actually stay away from asking questions about partygate and the surrounding... t questions about partygate and the surrounding. . ._ and i know that the house stands with you and will give you the support you need to live freely as yourself. mr speaker, iwould support you need to live freely as yourself. mr speaker, i would like to thank donna 0ckenden and her team for the compassionate approach she has taken throughout this distressing review of maternity

snp spokesperson. thank ou. ministers tracked. snp spokesperson.lies and themselves for putting up families and themselves for putting up with an intolerable situation. this has been a long time coming, and i think there are lessons to learn. i think the foreign secretary, her officials deserve their moment on this. this has been a great achievement and i'm very happy to see that happen. but on the news that the historic debt is going to be paid as humanitarian aid, i propose that in november 2021. i am glad of the assurances that it will go to humanitarian purposes, and i will take that on trust which i think we are all entitled to do. but i have two questions. the first is, how many dual nationals are in iran in this situation? we don't know how many specifically there are. and the wider assessment of other dual nationals in his position elsewhere. and the concerns of the chair of the foreign affairs committee that there is a risk of moral hazard in this. we are all agreed that this is a direct debt that needed to be paid, others can take other l

are paying out, and it is deepiy— people who are paying out, and it is deeply regrettable that the snp oil and gas producers from labour's — shield oil and gas producers from labour's progressive measures. when i set labour's progressive measures. when i set out _ labour's progressive measures. when i set out... when i set out labour's piahs _ i set out... when i set out labour's plans for— i set out... when i set out labour's plans for a — i set out... when i set out labour's plans for a windfall tax in january, we estimated that it would have raised _ we estimated that it would have raised £1.2 billion. now, because of the continued rise in global oil and -as the continued rise in global oil and gas prices, — the continued rise in global oil and gas prices, it would today raise over— gas prices, it would today raise over £3— gas prices, it would today raise over £3 billion. that is money that could _ over £3 billion. that is money that could be _ over £3 billion. that is money that could be used to help families and pensioners and businesses, with a cut to _ pensioners and businesses

it is part of his sort of snp, the rhetoric part anyway vinegars into military adventures and i do worryt, we have had some very experienced people who dealt with before recently say things like he's gone off the rails and so do worry about his decision—making and whether he's getting the right information and whether it is a rational process underneath him, don't think it is. those are some ways but i don't think we've yet seen any operational indications that nuclear forces are being brought to bear. obviously that is an entirely different ball game if that happens but i don't think it is yet time to, you know, run and extremely panicky about those capabilities.- panicky about those capabilities. panicky about those caabilities. ., ~ , ., , capabilities. thank you very much indeed. _ capabilities. thank you very much indeed. in _ capabilities. thank you very much indeed. in any - capabilities. thank you very much indeed. in any war, . capabilities. thank you very - much indeed. in any war, human suffering and is inevitable that the un half a million people have no great ukraine since t

haslinda: that was snp global vice-chairman daniel yergin.reportedly shifting a drastic -- hong kong is considering a shift to covid-19 policy. government will focus on cutting the number of deaths as its top priority to hong kong -- top rdp hong kong 7-day average for deaths. 151 deaths reported on monday. a new study warns even a mild case of covid-19 can damage the brain and effect thinking. researchers found covered link brain damage months after infection including in the region that makes you smell. scientists found brain shrinkage equal to is much as a decade of normal aging. the uae's addition to i financial regulators gray list should not significantly hinder the economy. that is after the financial actions course added to a list of countries subject to greater monitoring citing the uae's shortcomings. snp warns additional checks could raise the cost of foreign funding and make transactions more onerous. those are your first word headlines. rishaad: we have prime minister modi looking set to retain power in india's most politically c

in the population in terms of people on benefits— population in terms of people on benefits and the snpught that up earlier today and a lot of the reaction we have had is from _ lot of the reaction we have had is from householders.— from householders. obviously, householders _ from householders. obviously, householders are _ from householders. obviously, householders are also - from householders. obviously, householders are also running| householders are also running businesses, have you got a feel for businesses, have you got a feel for business reaction to this, because obviously they incur transport costs as well? ~ ,,., , ., . as well? absolutely and the cut in fuel duty particularly _ as well? absolutely and the cut in fuel duty particularly helps - fuel duty particularly helps businesses outside of london and smatter— businesses outside of london and smaller businesses that are more aligned _ smaller businesses that are more aligned -- — smaller businesses that are more aligned —— reliant on vans and diesel— aligned —— reliant on vans and diesel and _ aligned —— reliant on vans an

coming up, snp pulls all its credit ratings on russian entities after a ban.e on that in russian debt next. this is bloomberg. ♪ dani: welcome back to "bloomberg daybreak: europe." i am dani burger. now to rush out where the rating agency s&p is withdrawing the grading on the credit for the companies. for more on this we are joined by catherine who leads our credit coverage in asia. this is perhaps no longer allowed, but what will be the impact of these companies no longer having a credit rating? reporter: obviously, it is all very moving. we had a moving target and unclear terrain and we had obviously various russian corporate debt being moved from a few weeks ago. it is all very fluid. obviously it does have an impact for holders. dani: there has also been some noise about a reuters report about or debt being played down for the longer term debt in russian debt. what's doing about that? -- what do we know about that? reporter: reuters reported that havens on a coupon worth $6 million on a bond maturing from the russian government, maturing in 2029, had reach

the mps did not give up there, they kept pressing, the snp - that.ial wall here in london. pete wishart said that many of those families would find that quite a difficult contrast. here is what he said. ., ., , ., ., said. you thought this was going to be ut said. you thought this was going to be put aside _ said. you thought this was going to be put aside and _ said. you thought this was going to be put aside and no _ said. you thought this was going to be put aside and no one _ said. you thought this was going to be put aside and no one would - said. you thought this was going to be put aside and no one would be l be put aside and no one would be interested — be put aside and no one would be interested. the _ be put aside and no one would be interested. the optics _ be put aside and no one would be interested. the optics of- be put aside and no one would bej interested. the optics of parading your mps— interested. the optics of parading your mps in— interested. the optics of parading your mps in front _ interested. the optics of parading your mps i

thank you for waiting —— snp. 830 year high and it will only get worse and energy bills will be reaching some £3000 a year by the autumn we will see a fall in living standards, the biggest since the 505 and it appears the chancellor's only response is to a tax cut on national insurance having already hiked it, and to take 5p per litre off petrol, having already since a situation where petrol tanks go up by 40p a litre. it is overwhelmingly a case of is that it and what planet is the chancellor living on. he has not delivered. he chancellor living on. he has not delivered-— chancellor living on. he has not delivered. . _ :::: delivered. he has increased by 500 million to £1— delivered. he has increased by 500 million to £1 billion _ delivered. he has increased by 500 million to £1 billion the _ delivered. he has increased by 500 million to £1 billion the household i million to £1 billion the household support, and rishi sunak said he had already come forward with a scheme to help people pay their energy bills not a

the leader of the snp, ian ltiackford-_ the leader of the snp, ian blackford. ., _, ., the leader ofn scotland. mr speaker, there is a plain ready and waiting in poland to bring these orphans to the uk on friday, but that flight will leave empty without the necessary paperwork from the home office. the polish authorities, edinburgh city council, the scottish government and the orphans' guardians are all working to bring these children to safety. i have worked with uk government ministers to try and make this happen and i want to commend lord harrington in particularfor his want to commend lord harrington in particular for his efforts. but one week on the home office is still proving to be the only obstacle in the way and risked leaving these children stranded. so i am pleading with the deputy prime minister, remove these obstructions before it is too late. will he work with me and the ukrainian authorities to guarantee that these 48 ukrainian orphans will get on that plane this friday? orphans will get on that plane this frida ? . . ~ orphans will get on that plane this frida ? ., .,

the snp said they were crass comments.ked about all this this morning, and he fairly uncomfortably tried to defend or explain the comments and said that what mrjohnson was doing was trying to talk about freedom more broadly, and he wasn't making a direct link between ukraine and brexit, he said. but a number of foreign and european leaders have been very angry about this as well. i should say, though, today, the ukrainian embassy in britain has tweeted approvingly of borisjohnson, saying "he is our good friend," congratulating him, praising him for standing with the ukrainian people and ukraine's ambassador here was actually at that speech, so clearly he doesn't share the interpretation that some have taken from these words. 0ther opposition politicians and others commentators, pointing out that ukraine wants tojoin the eu, or be part of it. exactly. i think there are lots of reasons why this upset people. it is the fact that ukraine wants tojoin the european union, but fundamentally, the fact that they are such totally di

on wednesday, the snp leader asked about the children's situation.m just delighted. i can honestly say that... i think for most people that come into politics, you come in to try to make a difference. you have a voice to try to assist others. all i've really done is assist the charity and i'm just... tonight i'm just so, so pleased, so pleased for all of them but most importantly so pleased for the children. the home office say they are working urgently with poland to ensure the children's swift arrival to the uk and then they can finish their long journey all the way from dnipro to edinburgh. i'm going to on to face time in poland just now and break the news to them and we will see how that goes. i'm looking forward to being able to tell them the good news. and looking forward to seeing them here in scotland? absolutely. catriona renton, bbc news. the war is creating a new fault line between the millions of ukrainians and russians who have family in both countries. with western news sources restricted in russia, families are becoming increasingly di

they'll be speaking to the snp it blots furred headed for poland. it is monday the 21st of march. , civilian casualties, at least four people are killed at a shopping center in the capital of kyiv is hit on russian shells. the race to rescue, a head is spotted a bucs the rubble as firefighters pulled people out of rubble from a destroyed building. we take you to the front line of the war in kharkiv near ukraine's border with russia. a special eyewitness report from her corresponded, john sparks. >> we're still inside the city but it's a war zone. it's a battlefield. takes that heavy armor bits. just about everywhere. >> the cost of living crisis, sky news reveals that two and a half million families will be refused poverty in april. there reports the new cut fuels. acoustic our chances are gets rising covid cases. the sprig program to show up our defense. labor divots that the company, piano reinstates 800 workers. also ahead on the program, shining a spotlight on the crisis, i'll be speaking to the head of a major theatrical fund-raisers for ukrain

the dow jones is ever so slightly on the plus side gaining 50 points, which is nice to see snp is upabout eight points. nasdaq, however, is down by about one half of 1. as americans shell out more money for everyday items from food to gas. president biden is warning of possible food shortages due to russian sanctions, which could push those prices even higher foxes. madeline rivera has more as americans struggle with the weight of higher prices. president biden warns things may get worse before they get better . the price of the sanctions is not just imposed upon russia. it's imposed upon an awful lot of countries as well. the president, adding the threat of a food shortage is real as a fighting in ukraine, a drags on russia and ukraine produce about 25% of the world's wheat supply. a decrease in output could strength global supply, pushing prices up, you get a burrito and a coke, and it's like $15 inflation is costing the president to a new poll shows 65% of americans disapprove of his handling of the economy up from 57% in december, and 68% say they're worried about gas prices. i b

expected criticism from the opposition, with parties like the snp calling the comments crass.rs parliament's select committee on defence, said that his comments "damage the standards of statecraft" and these were comments that were then retweeted and shared by france's ambassador to the uk. the tory peer lord barwell also made the point that ukraine wants to join the eu and criticised the prime ministerfor making these comments. but the comments have also received quite widespread criticism from significant figures in europe as well. donald tusk, for example, ex—president of the european council, calling them insulting to the ukrainian people. so certainly rather an awkward response at a time when europe and the west is trying to present a very much united diplomatic front in the face of russia's aggression towards ukraine. now, we haven't had any response so far to the criticism or comment from number 10 in response, but the prime minister has been out today with an interview to the sunday times saying that in his latest call, he would like to see countries like china, who ar

ian blackford is from the snp. is that your view that the prime minister must gal?st gal? what we know toda is minister must gal? what we know today is that _ minister must gal? what we know today is that parties _ minister must gal? what we know today is that parties took - minister must gal? what we know today is that parties took place . minister must gal? what we know today is that parties took place in | today is that parties took place in 10 downing street and we know that rules were _ 10 downing street and we know that rules were broken. the prime minister— rules were broken. the prime minister came to parliament and told us unequivocally that parties did not take — us unequivocally that parties did not take place and rules were not broken _ not take place and rules were not broken i— not take place and rules were not broken. i hate to say it but that was an— broken. i hate to say it but that was an absolute lie and there is the issue _ was an absolute lie and there is the issue but_ was an absolute lie and there is the issue but once again the prime minister

the snp have called any comments class, the liberal democrats have called them and insult.ed front towards the aggression in ukraine. number 10 have not commented on the widespread criticism to his remarks, but the prime minister has been out with a rather different message today, calling on china and other countries which have remained neutral so far to stop sitting on the fence and come out tojoin to stop sitting on the fence and come out to join the allies in condemning russia's invasion of ukraine. latafe condemning russia's invasion of ukraine. ~ ., ., , ., ukraine. we will wait to see how that goes- _ ukraine. we will wait to see how that goes. ione _ ukraine. we will wait to see how that goes. ione with _ ukraine. we will wait to see how that goes. ione with the - ukraine. we will wait to see how that goes. ione with the latest i ukraine. we will wait to see how| that goes. ione with the latest in that goes. lone with the latest in london. we're joined now by conservative mp, robert halfon, who is the chair of the education select committee. good morning to you. hell

on wednesday, the snp leader asked about the children's situation. that come into politics, you come in to try to make a difference. you have a voice to try to assist others. all i've really done is assist the charity and i'm just... tonight i'm just so, so pleased, so pleased for all of them but most importantly so pleased for the children. the home office say they are working urgently with poland to ensure the children's swift arrival to the uk and then they can finish their long journey all the way from dnipro to edinburgh. i'm going to on to face time in poland just now and break the news to them and we will see how that goes. i'm looking forward to being able to tell them the good news. and looking forward to seeing them here in scotland? absolutely. catriona renton, bbc news. three bids have been made to buy the english premier league footbal club, chelsea, which was put up for sale by its billionaire russian owner, roman abramovich, earlier this month. mr abramovich was sanctioned by the british government last week after officials said he had

the snp called for the chancellor to do more for people across the uk who are on benefits.st is doing what it can— within its limited budget to support people uprating the eight _ social security benefits - we control by 6%, increasing the scottish child payment to £20 a week, a lifeline to families. - this government should be doing the same. - the lib dems said the chancellor's announcement didn't match the scale of the problem. people are drowning with those higher energy bills, motoring costs, food bills, they needed a lifeboat they needed a lifeboat and the chancellor's utterly failed them. even before today's spring statement rishi sunak has been insisting that he has offered real help to hard pressed families, including a reduction in council tax for most households in england. he's also been meeting conservative mps privately, and some of them have been telling me they're not quite sure he's grasped the scale of the crisis. they'll be pleased at the prospect of tax cuts, but they'll also be closely scrutinising the chancellor's more immediate measures, though the ve

i hope you will have had what i have just said in my earlier a nswer to answer to the leader of the snpich can run into the hundreds of thousands but also a route by which in this country can offer a home to people fleeing ukraine and my right honourable friend will be setting that out in the course of the next few days. the minister will be acutely aware of the pressures facing households across the united kingdom including in northern ireland with the rapid increase in the cost of heating homes and running a motor vehicle. heating a home has increased, more than doubled for many households in northern ireland in recent weeks. will the prime minister commit to bring forward a package of measures designed to help households including a cut in vat, and home heating, fuel, reducing or cutting excise duty on fuel for motorists and will he ensure that those measures apply to northern ireland where the northern ireland protocol once again presents a problem in this government taking control over the affairs of all of the united kingdom. with a decision that the treasury take apply to the who

you can see that the dow jones is down by very close to 300 points down about three quarters of 1% snpalf of 1% nasdaq has clawed its way back to sea level after a drop at the start. let's talk about what is happening when it comes to housing. a new state audit finds california has not effectively used surplus properties owned by the state to help ease the affordable housing crisis. three years ago, governor newsom issued an executive order that prioritizes the use of state owned land. to support the creation of affordable housing. a recent audit found of the 92 properties that have been identified for development 19 have been made available so far. the audit recommends that more staff be hired to speed up the process. redfin reports a record percentage of us home buyers are looking to sell their property and moved to more affordable areas, the real estate brokerage firm says more than 32% of its users. we're looking for new places to live in january and february. the company says remote work is allowing people to sell their homes for record prices, then move somewhere else that's less

snp 500 companies 2001 earnings were up nearly 50% for the year and corporate profits margins reached a 70% year high. procter & gamble has repeatedly raised prices on its u.s. products during the pandemic. while raking in 21 billion dollars in profits in 2021 up 6% from the previous year. gross grocery giant kroger posted record earnings during the pandemic including 132 billion dollars in 2020. all while raising prices, decreasing wages paid to workers by 8.1%, authorizing billions in stock buybacks and its ceo taking a 6.4 million dollar raise. that's just the race. enough is enough. we are at war with this pandemic, war with this virus and during world war ii, war profiteer's were held accountable, the same should be applied to here today. we are absolutely a war and we have to take action, we will not tolerate corporate corporations taking advantage of american consumers by gouging prices. especially not during a pandemic. so the critical, this critical edges sleigh shun needs to be heard and ultimately passed and i want to thank our witnesses for being here today. and i now reco

we're joined now by snp's treasury spokesperson, alison thewliss. good morning.ity? good morning. first of all i think the chancellor is completely wrong to go ahead with the tax hikes in the face of everything being faced by individuals and businesses up and down these islands. as you heard from the previous report, florist, gemma, saying how much the pressure on her business are hurting it and making it difficult to keep going, thatis making it difficult to keep going, that is being faced by businesses across the board. they have got increased wage costs, increased produce costs for things coming in because of brexit and other chancellor is putting this tax on jobs. national insurance goes on employers. and in combination with all of these things, you have got social security payments not keeping pace with inflation. people who will not have any additional money in their pockets to spend are going to find it more difficult to pay for the very basics, putting food on the table and heating their homes. let’s table and heating their homes. let's talk about the _ t

the snp mp pete wishart asking the prime minister whether he would accept there had now been, except about the need to tackle energy prices, soaring energy prices, measures the government is doing with support payments and things like that, but particularly long—term energy issues, he talked about wind farms and nuclear power, but then he was pushed pretty hard on why there would be no more help in the chancellor's spring statement for those who were dependent on out of work benefits. and he was pressed on that several times and he said, basically we had to decide what to prioritise, who to target with government support, had the maximum economic benefit. he said, we think the way out of poverty is to help people into work, so defending his chancellor and the measures he took and we saw in a spring statement. damien, thanks for giving us that round—up. now to our top story today... a damning report into maternity services at shrewsbury and telford nhs trust has found "catastrophic failings" over 20 years. the inquiry, led by the senior midwife, donna 0ckenden, found that more than 20

now, how the prime and surpassed my response at the yvonne to my colleague from the snp but, given theian welcome? ., ,, , ., , . provide the same humanitarian welcome? ., ,, , . ., welcome? i thank you very much and i understand- — welcome? i thank you very much and i understand- i — welcome? i thank you very much and i understand. i know— welcome? i thank you very much and i understand. i know we _ welcome? i thank you very much and i understand. i know we want _ welcome? i thank you very much and i understand. i know we want to - welcome? i thank you very much and i understand. i know we want to help i understand. i know we want to help the 173 that she mentioned in ukraine. i think the arrangements that we have a very generous indeed and i think we should be proud of what the uk is already double double—take more vulnerable people since 2015 fleeing that any other country in europe. the since 2015 fleeing that any other country in europe.— since 2015 fleeing that any other country in europe. the nurses in my constituency — country in europe. the nurses in my constituency provide _