Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20171212

And may the force be with you. The stars and fans flock to the london premiere of the latest star wars release the lastjedi. Good evening good evening and welcome to bbc news. The gap between the average increase in wages and the rise in the cost of living has widened, tightening the squeeze on household budgets. Rising food costs, bigger electricity bills and higher air fares have all helped push inflation to its highest level for almost six years. The Consumer Prices index the measure the government uses hit 3. 1 last month. Heres our economics correspondent, andrew verity. At this baker on the outskirts of barnsley, its notjust the bread rolls that are on the rise. Ingredients like butter and flour have shot up in the last year and a half, so its had to do everything it can to make sure its costs are covered. One of the things we have done with our suppliers, we have decided to take a radical approach which is pay all of our suppliers very early and demand better terms from them because we are paying them early, and thats helped mitigate some of the costs. If youre looking to warm yourself up in the cold weather, its not getting any cheaper. The price of food was up by 4. 4 in the year to november. Hot drinks like coffee, tea and cocoa up 5. 6 , and electricity costs 11. 4 more than it did last year. On high streets like this one in glasgow, your wages wont buy as much as they wouldve done last year. That renewed squeeze on Living Standards is starting to pinch. Very difficult to make ends meet, especially coming up towards christmas. Everything is going up. Money, rent, electricity, gas, telephone, everything is going up so we need someone to do something about it. You see a lot of things going up maybe a couple of pennies but if youre getting a few things, by the time you get to the cash desk you say, how did it come to that, you know. The pressure on prices comes partly from the weakness of the pound since the brexit vote which means it takes more pounds to buy the same imported goods, and partly from a recent surge in the price of oil. The Interest Rate setters here at the bank of england know inflation is now above target but that doesnt mean there will be an Interest Rate rise any time soon. The confident prediction is that inflation will come down next year and in the city, they are betting the next Interest Rate rise wont come until the summer of next year. The bank of england is navigating a pretty tricky course as it tries to work out how the economy will fare through the Brexit Process so its being ultra cautious and for that reason its unlikely they will make another rate move so soon after the november one so nothing until further into 2018 and probably one rate rise in 2018, and one in 2019. The hope is that down the line the inflationary effect of the weaker pound and Higher Oil Prices will fade. Inflation is now hitting its peak. If your wages buy less than they did last christmas, though, that is no more than a crumb of comfort. Andy verity, bbc news. Lets get some analysis on this story now. With me here in the studio is sampson low, head of policy at the trade union, unison. And im joined from our Central London studio by diego zuluaga, head of Financial Services at the institute of economic affairs. This is a trend, isnt it, which has been going on for some time, with the wages not keeping page with inflation. What is your solution to that . Well, as a trade union, workers have got to stick together and barringin together. Thats bargain together. Thats been true for many centuries. They dont get a fairshare of for many centuries. They dont get a fair share of the growing economy, u nless fair share of the growing economy, unless they stick together, bargain together otherwise the bosses take too much out in profit. Its not every boss that is a so called fat cat. Do you think all companies are as bad as each other when it comes to this . Not at all. Many of our Top Companies and Small Businesses bargain with trade unions. So its only when you start to Work Together that i think workers get a fair share. If they start negotiating with the boss individually, theyre a lot weaker. I think thats been shown over a long time that wages have not been, sorry, wages have not been keeping up with inflation for a long time. Were all feeling poorer year after year. That is a good point, people really are feeling the pinch, inflation is rising. Theres no sign of wages keeping pace. Its getting harder and harder for no sign of wages keeping pace. Its getting harder and harderfor people to make ends meet. Dont employers have some kind of responsibility to pay higher wages to do something about that . Well, i think, perhaps bargaining in the short term might have an effect on wages. In the long term there is no question that its only productivity growth that can grow wages. If you look at the underlying figures, you will see that the reason the cost of living is rising and the cost of a lot of these goods and services is rising is not because the bosses and the shareholders of firms are taking more away in profit, but rather because the devaluation of the pound has made it more expensive to import goods and services. Also because a numberof goods and services. Also because a number of regulations in the utility sector, in the Financial Services sector, in the Financial Services sector and Land Use Planning are raising the cost of operating a business. We shouldnt forget that employing people is 50 or more of the cost of business for a lot of firms. So you know, raising wages without a commence rat rise in produck tiffity will make the problem of inflation worse over time. The issue of producktivity is a problem weve had for a very long time. What is your answer to that . Cant you do something about that and reward workers in a fairway . There are fair way. There are people we see employed at the lower end of the spectrum. Thats a good thing because a lot of those people tended to be on welfare before, now they can earn an income, gain skills and raise their standard of living and raise their standard of living and their incomes. We should hopefully see that over time as incomes rise across the board. But there is a problem that we have that is persistent in the United Kingdom which is the productivity growth and productivity are lower than in europe or in the United States. And that has to do with the level of regulation of certain key components in business activity. I mention Land Use Planning is a big one. It is very difficult to gain permission for building. It is expensive to acquire land and operate and that discourages businesses from capital investment. That reduces productivity growth. Energy has become more expensive since about 2000. A lot of it has to do with various energy interventions that the government has introduced. Transport is increasingly becoming expensive as well. We saw yesterday news about rising rail fares. All of those things really affect a business bottom line. It is not reflected in the profit numbers that these companies are taking more away in profit. It has to be with the fundamentals of operating a business. Isnt that a fair enough point, that productivity is an ongoing problem. If youre going to have higher wages you need to get higher productivity and companies in business will say the minimum wage has been introduced and that has helped people. Well, i think British Business does need to be smarter about how it uses its resources, but we represent cleaners oii about how it uses its resources, but we represent cleaners on hospital shop floors, it feels rather academic. They feel poorer every month since the Public Sector pay freeze in 2010. They cant, dont feel part of a problem causing inflation. Theyre working harder than ever before. They dont feel like theyre a productivity problem. Directors pay in the Top Companies has been rising by 9 on average a year for every year since the Public Sector pay freeze came in in 2010. Cleaners are working harder, directors are taking more money out. Its quite simple. If you, employers in this country get supported through the tax Credit System for low paid workers, get through the tax Credit System for low paid workers, get top ups through universal and tax credits and theyve become addicted to using low pay and casualised labour. They need to get smarter. They need to pay their workers better and i think theyd get a more productive workforce and better results. Isnt that a point as well, theres almost a moral obligation from employers to make sure that their workers are getting a decent wage, where they can survive. Presumably that would lead to a happier workforce and maybe better productivity. lead to a happier workforce and maybe better productivity. I think sometimes it can lead to a happier workforce. 0ften sometimes it can lead to a happier workforce. Often times, however, even though these interventions are well intentioned, what they end up doing is excludeing people whose productivity doesnt reach the minimum levels that we want to reach. It excludes them from the labour force. This is reach. It excludes them from the labourforce. This is what reach. It excludes them from the labour force. This is what we see in france, whose people is below the minimum wage are not able to access the labour market. That is worse and leads to social deprivation that is more prolonged than even what we see in the uk today. So, i think, there isa in the uk today. So, i think, there is a moral obligation to ensure that eve ryo ne is a moral obligation to ensure that everyone has an adequate standard of living. We should provide that by giving people the income necessary to obtain that standard of living, but if were going to try and undertake that by intervening in business activity, often times will only pile cost upon cost in business. Nobody will be better off. Neither people as consumers, nor as workers, particularly those at the lower end of the income scale because they will simply be replaced by machines. 0k, we must leave it there. A fascinating discussion. Thank you both very much. And well find out how this story and many others are covered in tomorrows front pages police say a mother and her three Year Old Girl are fighting for their lives in hospital, following a suspected arson attack on a home in walkden, manchester, in which three children died. Three people remain in custody, held on suspicion of murder. Danny savage reports. A major crime scene where a house fire left three children dead. Today, forensics investigators examined the mid terraced family home in detail. A home Police Believe was deliberately set alight early yesterday morning. We have collected cctv from the area and now believe this to be a targeted attack on this house. We have a full team of detectives and specially trained officers working on this case. The victims were 14 year old demi pearson who died at the scene, her eight year old brother brandon and seven year old sister lacie died later in hospital. The head of their school says it was a senseless loss of precious life. Their 35 year old mother Michelle Pearson still doesnt know her children are dead. A fourth sibling, three year old lia, is still critical. Back at the scene a family friend told me how difficult it is for People Living here. What were they like . Nice, they were all good people. I think its a shock, it will affect the community for a long time. Ive cried loads of times when i think about it or drive past in the car. Last night a man and woman were filmed being arrested, three people remain in custody on suspicion of murder. Police officers are at work at other addresses as well as at the house where the pearson is lived. Its emerged extra security had been fitted to the family home including a special letterbox guard after previous incidents, so painstaking work is under way to try to establish how the fire was started. Details on trouble here before yesterday are sketchy though, police wont comment on previous contact with the family because those events will be looked at by the independent Police Complaints commission. Danny savage, bbc news, walkden in manchester. Its been another day of freezing cold disruption across the uk, with hundreds of schools remaining closed and drivers facing difficult journeys, as the icy conditions continue. The met office has issued a yellow warning for ice, with the worst affected areas likely to be scotland and the north of england. Temperatures down to minus 13 celsius in shawbury in shropshire last night. A bed of snow with freezing conditions, across parts of the midlands, its not been easy. Icy roads, School Closures and extremely cold temperatures. For the children, though, its been another day off school. Weve been obviously sledging, snowball fights. Weve been building snowmen. Here in shropshire, more than 200 schools we re shropshire, more than 200 schools were closed and in gloucestershire and herefordshire, almost 100 remain shut. It is pretty difficult, trying to find them things to do, you know, keep them occupied. When youve got child care issues and youre working fulltime, then obviously, it would be disruptive to you, because the schools are closing on a day to day basis and youre not knowing until that last minute, obviously its very disruptive to the home. Its bitterly cold here. The temperature is around minus four celsius. Theres no sign of this snow melting any time soon. As night falls, the temperatures are expected to plunge even further. In the west midlands, it was a similar story. More schools closed than open. Some councils have been criticised for advising them not to re open, even though many roads have been cleared. So the initial advice last friday was to all schools to close. Weve now changed that advice to say the decision should be made locally, depending on whether you can get School Transport to the school and whether or not its safe to do so, in consideration of the roads and other conditions. Yes or no answer though, do you think its a necessity to close all schools . Its not a necessity to close all schools. Some schools will need to close. More than 200 homes in the region were without power this morning. Tomorrow is likely to present its own challenges, with rain coming in from the west, some of the snow will be turned to ice, making roads and pathways even more slippery. The headlines on bbc news the squeeze on households incomes tightens, as inflation jumps the squeeze on households incomes tightens, as inflationjumps to its highest level in six years, but wage growth remains sluggish. Forecasters warn of more icy conditions to come, following the coldest night of the year so far. With World Leaders gathered in paris for a Climate Change summit, theresa may insists that lower Carbon Emissions wont hit the uks economic outlook. Sport now. And for a full round up, lets go to the bbc sport centre. Hello, good evening. Former heavyweight World Champion tyson fury and his cousin hughie are free to box again after accepting a backdated two year doping ban. Furys team had threatened legal action against uk anti doping, which the body claimed put them at risk of insolvency. In a statement, tyson fury said he would pursue the world titles again with everything he has. The backdated sanction, though, has drawn raised eyebrows. Nicole sapstead, the cheif executive of ukad, told us why it wasnt a longer, four year ban. When you back date a sanction, you have to consider whether an athlete has, for any of that period of time, been provisionally suspended. Thats taken into consideration. Now, mr fury was provisionally suspended for 18 months of that, but he has not fought for two years, so thats all those are the elements that we consider when we determine at what point the sanction has been served. The premier league is back with another round of midweek games. Antonio contes chelsea are looking to bounce back from defeat against relegation threatened west ham as they travel to face huddersfield. So far the defending champions are goalless. Just 17 minutes into that one at the john goalless. Just 17 minutes into that one at thejohn smith stadium. Burnleys match with stoke kicked off at 7. A5. That is goalless. Watford lead 1 0 at crystal palace. In the scottish premiership some Rugby Union News the longest serving director of rugby in the premiership, northamptons jim mallinder, has been sacked. Saints were champions three years ago, but lie tenth in the table and are on the brink of a european cup exit after defeat to 0spreys at the weekend. Mallinder had been in the role for ten years. Attack coach alan dickens will take temporary charge. Former northampton prop Alex Corbisiero believes mallinder has been the casualty of a collective failing. Its its obviously been tough and sad to watch from the outside. Jim is a very good man. But professional sport is ruthless. We reached the pinnacle in the domestic game in 2014, but unfortunately, there hasnt been a lot of real progression or change or evolution since then. I think the stagnation and the lack of change has probably led to this point now, with recent results probably affect, but the cause is really the lack of development over the last couple of yea Rs Development over the last couple of years as development over the last couple of yea rs as a collective. Englands cricketers are gearing up for the third test, that starts tomorrow night in perth. They are 2 0 down in the ashes series, so cant afford to lose at the waca. Theres been criticism of their performances, and they have also had to deal with off field disciplinary issues from bar room incidents. The most recent incdient saw england lion ben duckett suspended by the ecb after pouring a pint of beer overjimmy andersons head. Former england captain david gower, who was heavily fined along with his teamatejohn morris for their antics in a bi plane on the 91 ashes tour, says that results will temper how any off field indiscretions are reported. The key thing, as ever, in these situations is if you are producing the right results on the pitch, then people are very, very forgiving. We had, i remember one years ago at manchester, an international against new zealand. We were found to be in the win bar at new zealand. We were found to be in the win barat 1am new zealand. We were found to be in the win bar at 1am wine bar at 1am. Headlines were ready to go in the papers next day slamming us for being out of order. As we won the game, the headline wassic,ic hooray. Hic, hic, game, the headline wassic,ic hooray. Hic, hic, hooray. Thats all the sport for now. Ill have more for you in sportsday at 10 30pm. Brexit must work for animals too those are the words of environment secretary, michael gove, who today promised that Animal Welfare standards would improve after the uk leaves the eu. The government has published a new law that says it must treat animals as sentient beings when it makes laws. The draft bill also increases the maximum sentence for serious animal cruelty to five years injail. The move follows last months animal sentience row involving a celebrity backed social Media Campaign. This was after mps voted not to incorporate part of an eu treaty, recognising that animals could feel emotion and pain, into the eu withdrawal bill. The environment secretary was pressed at the time as to why the government wasnt doing more to protect animals. Well, we want to make sure that we have absolutely Gold Standard protection for animals. Were already taking action in order to ensure that anyone who is cruel towards animals faces the toughest possible criminal sanctions, and were also making sure that we take a stance to ensure that wildlife globally is better protected. For example, by banning ivory. And of course we must do more. And we will. We will make sure that in law there is appropriate protection for animals, which recognises that they are sentient, that they can feel pain, and that its our responsibility to make sure that their welfare is protected. Lets talk about how the news has been received by Animal Welfare charities with nick palmer the head of policy at compassion in world farming. S thank you for coming in to speak to us. Hello. What do you make of the announcement today, michael gove insisting that actually what hes doing is toughening up the uks Animal Welfare laws. Quite the opposite of what he was accused of a couple of weeks ago. Were very relieved by the decision. We were concerned that the government was leaving out the European Union definition of animals as sentient and more important than that, the regulation requiring that Decision Makers look at Animal Welfare as one of the considerations, when they consider new policies. This bill that he has announced today fills that he has announced today fills that gap. Were very relieved. That he has announced today fills that gap. Were very relieved. Now there was quite a social Media Campaign at the time about all of this, with conservative mps accused of voting against animal sent yens. Michael gove hit back on twitter today. He says so his point of view, hes saying that actually the uk can go further and be tougher. Is he right when he says that . Compassion in world farming is neutral on brexit membership. Were a charity, we cant really take a view. I think objectively the position is that when we leave, we will have greater freedom in both directions. We are very encouraged by what mr gove has said, that hed like to ban live exports, that hed like to maintain oui exports, that hed like to maintain our standards in the face of competition from the United States and other countries with lower welfare standards and that hes willing to use the agricultural subsidies to support farmers who actually look after their animals better. We need to see action as well. If we do, then i think potentially mr gove could be one of the most successful secretaries of state in recent years. But at the moment, its mostly words but the bill that weve seen today is the first concrete step which really makes a difference. You touch there on michael gove as environment secretary. Its been quite noticeable how the campaign that he and the conservative party have been running, clearly trying to tackle head on his critics on twitter and all the rest of it, after blue planet on sunday, conservative mps put out what seemed to be a coordinated number of tweets about environmental issues. Do you think michael gove is going to make defra, the department of environment, a different kind of place . We hope so. Michael gove has a history of getting engaged in the issues that his departments have been involved in. He isnt a passive minister who just lets things drift along. Thats made him very controversial, at times. But its also got a real potential for good. Were times. But its also got a real potentialfor good. Were hoping that well see that. And what use is made of it politically is not our problem. Compassion in world farming is there to look after the animals. Youre pleased you have a strong voice in cabinet talking about it . So far, yes. Thank you very much indeed. The pictures capture the aftermath. Some on the climbing frame to escape. 0thers dragged along the floor covered in blood. Ajudge read out parents accounts of that night. A girl was dragged around screaming said one. One child was covered in blood trying and unable to speak. Another witness saw the dog bite six 01 another witness saw the dog bite six or seven children, crying their eyes out, a man was kicking the dog, hard to stop, but it didnt. The staffordshi re to stop, but it didnt. The staffordshire bull terrier belonged to claire neil. Earlier that day it escaped from her home. Marley had done so before and it had attacked before. An aggravating feature in all this is that a month before the attacks, claire neil had been ordered by a court to hand the dog in to be destroyed. Thats because of its previous attacks on children. She failed to comply with that order. So it was that a month later, she still had the dog, it was still able to escape from her house and then run amok that evening in the play area. Northumbria police say lessons have been learned. Shouldnt be the police have gone and collected the dog and taken it away . I understand certainly the point of view, i think, i understand certainly the point of view, ithink, i dont i understand certainly the point of view, i think, i dont know the incident, it was something to do with the appeal process, that was only april 2016. This incident was obviously may 2016. So very close together. Im aware that internal procedures have changed in a way that we can monitor animals better now, which has led from this incident. So lessons and advice have been take fran that. Taken from that. Thejudge said been take fran that. Taken from that. The judge said that what happened wasnt the dogs fault or the polices fault, it was hers. She was jailed for four years and banned for life from owning a dog again. The man detained in new york yesterday, as he apparently attempted to set off a crude home made bomb, has been charged with three terror offences. Members of Akayed Ullahs family in bangladesh are also being questioned in connection with the incident at the citys bus station. The 27 year old suffered burns when a device hed strapped to his body went off prematurely. He is reported to be in a serious condition in hospital. Three other people were hurt. Voters are going to the polls in the us state of alabama normally a safe republican seat in whats been a hard fought race for the us senate. Donald trump has publicly endorsed the republican candidate, roy moore, a formerjudge Whose Campaign has been clouded by allegations of Sexual Misconduct towards teenagers and accusations of racism. His democratic rival is a former lawyer known for prosecuting white supremacists. Gary 0donoghue is in montgomery, alabama, and we can speak to him now. Gary, thanks forjoining us this evening. This has been a race that has divided the republican party, isnt it . How are they dealing with the fallout from this . Well pretty badly, at the moment. Youre right, they have completely been split over this one. The establishment began by wanting to run a mile from roy moore when the allegations came out. Then they came back at Donald Trump Endorsed the candidate. Here we are on election day with roy moore not so much taking the number eight bus to cast his vote this morning, but in traditional alabama style, taking his horse sassy to cast his vote, along with his wife there. Yeah, hes still very much in this race. The recent polls have had him neck and neck, dare i say it, with his democrat candidate rival. He ought to bea democrat candidate rival. He ought to be a country mile ahead. We will get the results in a few hours time. If hes located, then donald trump has a senate that looks the way it does at the moment, 52 to 48 in favour of the republicans. If he loses roy moore, it will be very close in the senate and donald trump will have a very difficult time getting key legislation through. Critics will say how can donald trump put his weight behind somebody, roy moore, who is accused of these things and how has roy moore managed to even be in the race considering the cloud hanging over him . Yeah, i mean, thats part of the wider question surrounding this whole campaign. There are these very serious allegations against him. Some of them involving children. One of them involving a 14 year old. She was 14 at the time. Now when you talk to people here in alabama, they say well, we dont believe those allegations or at least the roy moore supporters do we dont believe them, we dont believe those women would have come forward just 110w. Women would have come forward just now. That looks a bit suspicious to us. They dismiss that. But of course, the wider issue is will the electorate here in alabama send someone to the senate over whom there is this huge cloud, at a time when in all sorts of other areas, in the media, show business, in other parts of political life, these sorts of things are ending careers in a sense, rather than being at the beginning of a National Political career. So, its an interesting and key moment in that wider debate. Gary, thanks. Gary 0donoghue in alabama. Now, not for the faint hearted part of the ii; bird £4 bird made £51 bird made part dog is a giant fat bird made part of giant dog is a giant fat bird made part of giant fat burg is dog is a giant fat bird made part of. Giant fat burg is. Be dog is a giant fat bird made part of giant fat burg is. Be put had been clogging up the sewers it had been clogging up the sewers below white chapel in the capital. The museum says the display will show how modern living and high levels of rubbish are putting pressure on the arteries of londons victorian infrastructure. Lets get the weather with phil avery. Hello once again. A little bit of a change of weather tonight, but just so we have a concern for the new day, notjust exclusively in scotland and the north of england, but there could well be some icy stretches yet again. Im sure youre getting used to this by now. Sejust hearthat in. Mind , ~ the government considers plans to introduce presumed consent for Organ Donations in england. The proposed scheme involves people opting out of being a donor rather than opting in. And, may the force be with you. We know Organ Transplants can save lives and we know that there arent enough organ donors out there. The government wants to change that by re writing the rules so that well all be considered as potential donors unless we opt out. Its called presumed consent. The number of donors is rising, but not fast enough to meet the need. Ten years ago, there were just under 800 donors. This year, that figure has risen to over 1400. But, there are still 6500 people currently waiting for a transplant in the uk. Our health correspondent, Dominic Hughes, has met one patient who knows just how vital an increase in donors is. Just hanging the tubes up here. Keeping going, but going nowhere. Very honestly, i dont have a life. That is what i do at the moment, 24 hours a day. This is how 0dette stays alive while she waits for a pancreas and kidney transplant. Every night, hooked up to a dialysis machine. Nearly two litres of fluid repeatedly pumped in and out of her body. Theres days that it actually feels as if ive swallowed a demon. And obviously, on those days, i just cant sleep. I double over sometimes in pain. Good boy. 0dette is marking time. 0n four occasions shes been called to hospital for a transplant. Each time the organ wasnt suitable. The emptiness is just very, very, very, very big. Its just like. Theres nothing that anybody can do about it, i understand that. And there is nobody to blame, basically. So itsjust like what do you do . Shes one of 6,500 people waiting for a transplant of one kind of another. Around 450 of them die each year. Transplant teams know they need more organs, so the government in england wants to assume we are all willing to donate. An approach already adopted in wales two years ago, with scotland also planning to follow suit. But already the way teams identify donors and how they approach grieving families has been transformed thats seen the number of operations increase by more than 50 . The story of transplants in the uk over the past decade has been one of success more people are having operations and more people are willing to donate their organs. But there are those who worry that if we move to a system of presumed consent, well, that could actually do more harm than good. Its a quick fix for politicians. Doesnt happen that way. A lot of people who would potentially become organ donors object to it so strongly that theyjoin the opt out register. So far in wales, more than 200,000 people after being so sick. For such. A long 7 5, l 5. And thats all gone, its just like magically disappeared. I can see it in you, from the last time we spoke, you seem very different in yourself. I feel different, i feel totally different. Extremely grateful. Actually feeling as if youre alive. Its just overwhelming. That was Dominic Hughes reporting. We can now speak to anthony clarkson, assistant director of Organ Donation and nursing at nhs blood and transplant. Hejoins me from our salford studio. Also im joined by hugh whittall, director of the Nuffield Council on bioethics. Hejoins me from our norwich studio. Lets start with you, anthony clarkson. Presumably you welcome the fa ct clarkson. Presumably you welcome the fact that the government has decided that england should follow other parts of the United Kingdom in making this an opt out system . Well, i certainly welcome the debate that its creating. Its causing people to have a good discussion about Organ Donation. We know that 80 of the population supports Organ Donation. But only 30 of the population or on the organ donor register. This way, hopefully more families will have that discussion. Hugh whittle, do you think this is the best way of maximising organ the nations, which i think everyone agrees are desperately needed . Certainly everybody agrees that we need to optimise and increase the numbers of organs donated. The question is how to find the best way of doing that. Our concern is that actually presumed consent, there is no evidence at the moment that it does actually increase the numbers, whether it is in wales or in other countries. The risk is that it actually might undermine the system of altruism and consent and trust that weve built up at the moment. Sol that weve built up at the moment. So i welcome the debate, i think its great that families will talk to each other and let each other know their wishes, but i think we need to have that debate before we decide to go ahead with a knockout system, rather than, as decide to go ahead with a knockout system, ratherthan, as seems decide to go ahead with a knockout system, rather than, as seems to have happened, the government decided that they will do it and now we have a discussion. Do you think people feel they are being forced into it by the government, by the establishment to do it . Well, i think that some people might. The question really is looking at evidence. If we want to make the change, we want to be confident that there is good enough evidence that it will deliver that significant benefit, otherwise we are kind of taking aparta benefit, otherwise we are kind of taking apart a system that is built over a taking apart a system that is built overa numberof years taking apart a system that is built over a number of years where the discussion within families and actually the most important element of this is the availability of specialist nurses, counselling people, at the point of arriving at the treatment, so that families can talk about it in the knowledge of what the wishes of their loved ones are. Anthony clarkson, do you agree with that . Presumably you think that actually you need to have the conversations, but something more needs to be dones and do you know if there is any evidence from places like wales and other countries that it does work . The evidence in wales is early, we need to wait a couple of years before a definitive answer for that. You are right in that we need to encourage more people to come forward to donate. At the time when their loved one dies. The key to that is our specialist nurses working with the doctors and nurses on the icu, approaching families in a very sensitive and professional way about their nation. But the key for us is that if the families have had that discussion, more of them are likely to support Organ Donation. The most difficult decision for them is not knowing what their loved one would have wa nted what their loved one would have wanted to do. 0ver what their loved one would have wanted to do. Over 1000 what their loved one would have wanted to do. 0ver1000 families say no because they just wanted to do. 0ver1000 families say no because theyjust do know what their loved one wanted. Thats why we are encouraging people to have the discussion with or without the the discussion with or without the opt out. Hugh whittle, that is the issue really, isnt it . Of course in these circumstances it can be the worst of moments for families, and having that kind of conversation is incredibly difficult. Ameen, people even today discussing it as people have been, find it very difficult . This question will arise at the most difficult time of all. That is why it is so important to do it in advance, so we it is so important to do it in advance, so we can it is so important to do it in advance, so we can arrive at the point where so many people support Organ Donation, we know that, and we would like to keep a system going where peoples wishes are met and things are done in keeping with their values. That can only be no if we do talk about it. Actually, the legal basis on which its done, its not the critical factor. It really is those conversations between families, within families, and with those specialist nurses and medical teams at the point when the question arises. Anthony clarkson, do you think that actually just by discussing this, the kind of publicity theres been debate about this issue, this is a consultation, after all, i think at this stage, its that kind of thing and the powerful stories from people who are waiting from Organ Transplants and for those who have decided their family members should donate, they are the things that maybe change peoples minds. Are the things that maybe change peoples minds. These stories are incredibly powerful. The families that tell us about the comfort it brings knowing that their loved one donated organs to help peoples lives. And the recipients, and all of their lives, the familys lives and theirfriends of their lives, the familys lives and their friends have all been touched by that. These are the powerful stories that make people change their mind and support donation. We know that legislation change on it so when show the increase. Theres all the infrastructure in the nhs, and weve put a lot of that in blaze now. We must leave it there. A fascinating discussion which im sure will go on throughout this consultation period weve put a lot of that in place. Thank you both. The french president , emmanuel macron, has warned the world is losing the battle against Climate Change. President macron told World Leaders and heads of companies at the one planet summit in paris that action against Global Warming was not being taken fast enough. The world bank announced at the summit that it would stop Financing Oil and Gas Exploration and extraction from 2019. From paris, Lucy Williamson reports. The french president has a way of sending messages. This one involved a river cruise. His guests kings, Prime Ministers and Business Leaders may have different visions and different values, it seemed to say, but when it comes to the future of the planet, were all in the same boat. And, two years after the paris agreement, mr macron said, it was heading for a fall. Translation were losing this battle. Those who came before us had an advantage they could say, we didnt know, and it was true. But for the last 20 years or so, weve known, and were finding out more every day. The world bank has said it will stop funding oil and Gas Exploration from 2019. And there are new commitments from business on renewable energy. But how much will this commitment means without the worlds only superpower . Us President Donald Trump has said his country is pulling out of the paris agreement, and mr macrons show of solidarity is partly aimed at him. Just along the river from the summit venue is a reminder of frances long relationship with america. Its shared history, shared values. Emmanuel macron has been positioning himself as a Global Leader on human rights and democracy, and now on Climate Change. But this time at least, donald trump isnt here. Before the meeting, the british Prime Minister theresa may met mr macron at the elysee palace. Another bilateral relationship undergoing change. Battling Climate Change is one of the great challenges that we face. But also, mitigating the impact of Climate Change on some of the poorest countries in the world. And what were doing in the United Kingdom by phasing out coal, but also by the work were doing for our world leading electric cars, for example, is showing that we can actually deal with the issue of emissions. We can reduce emissions, but that can also be of benefit, done in a way that is of benefit to the economy. But few of the agreements most powerful leaders were here in paris. This meeting was less about policies, and more about a political message that with or without the United States, this agreement will survive. Lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. Police are appealing for witnesses and any dash cam footage as they investigate the death of a woman who was killed in a suspected hit and run by multiple vehicles. She is thought to have been struck by two lorries and two cars, and none of them stopped after the incident yesterday. A woman has died after a massive gas explosion that destroyed her house in leicestershire. It happened on monday evening in birstall, near leicester. Janet jasper was understood to be in her late 70s, her house was reduced to rubble and other houses nearby were badly damaged. An investigation is underway to find out what happened. House prices across the uk are rising, but not as quickly as earlier in the year. Fresh figures form the office for National Statistics also paint a mixed picture of how prices are faring in different parts of the uk. Im joined by our reporter, sebastian chrispin. What do these figures tell us about the Property Market . Well, these figures from the office for National Statistics do show a picture of growth. Property prices are growing. Average price is in the uk went up about 4. 5 in the year to october, but they are growing slower than they were in previous months. Whats interesting is if you break that National Average down and look at whats happening on a more regional level. We might be able to show now whats happening in different parts of the win. There, where you look at a regional basis, you can see a really different spread of how property prices are performing. The east midlands grew by about 70 7 in the year to october. But right down at the bottom, london, only growing by about 2. 1 . Away from that graft, there is a mixed picture when you look on a national level. Northern ireland grew by about 6 last year and scotland only grew by 2. 8 . Overall these figures show growth but it is a bit patchy. It doesnt show us that Housing Market is slowing down . That seems to be the anecdotal feeling amongst people. So are saying that suits brexit people have stopped moving and things are slowing down. That doesnt seem to be the case everywhere. If you look at the ons figures, there is a downward trend. The figures are down on last month on the previous month. But its important with Something Like house prices notjust to look at one set of figures. There are other organisations that provide Housing Price data. If you look at nationwide or halifax, they actually showed a slight increase in the year to october. Although of course those figures showed a slightly different picture after that. Its there to say that house prices are slowing, but the exact amount they are going down by is quite hard to say. But the exact amount they are going down by is quite hard to saym but the exact amount they are going down by is quite hard to say. It is striking that london is the bottom of that graft. It has been seen in the past is the place that has led the past is the place that has led the way when it comes to house price inflation. Thats not the case any more. If you were looking at house price growth, how much it has increased, london is down at the bottom of that english regional list, at 2. 1 . But as you say, house prices in london absolutely ballooned a few years ago. Many a nalysts ballooned a few years ago. Many analysts expected some form of correction, maybe we seem that now. Its correction, maybe we seem that now. Its one thing talking about how prices are growing, but if we look at where prices are, prices in london are still well ahead of prices elsewhere in the uk. The National Average to buy a house is about £225. In london, its more than double that, at £480,000. Outside of london it is £225,000. The headlines on bbc news . The squeeze on Household Incomes tightens, as inflation jumps to its highest level in six years, but wage growth remains sluggish. Forecasters warn of more icy conditions to come, following the coldest night of the year so far. With World Leaders gathered in paris for a Climate Change summit, theresa may insists that lowering Carbon Emissions wont hit the uks economic outlook. An update on the market numbers for you. Heres how london and frankfurt ended the day. And in the United States, this is how the dow and the nasdaq are getting on. The wholesale price of gas has jumped to a four year high after an explosion at a pipeline hub in austria which supplies europe with 10 of its gas. The incident compounded the problems caused by yesterdays shutdown of a major north sea pipeline while a crack is repaired. Its estimated the pipelines closure will cost the industry around £20 million a day, and its repair take at least a fortnight. Kevin keane reports from aberdeenshire. Its its normally buried, but today this small section of the 40s pipeline is opened up. It carries crude oilfrom the north sea to land at aberdeenshire and then on to grangemouth for processing. Save for the odd warning sign from its previous owner, bp, few people would normally notice that it was there. But its a crucial piece of infrastructure for the oil and gas industry. More than 80 platforms have had to halt production. The pipes on that say they have been trying to find the fault for some time. We send out equipment which inspects the pipeline from the inside, and that can tell us if theres any issue. We ran that equipment, and it found a small issue here, and weve gone in and excavated the site to take a close look at the pipe. Thats when we found a small crack. The shutdown is badly timed. An explosion and fire at the natural gas hub in austria has affected the flow of russian gas into europe. But scotlands Energy Minister says there are no threats to supplies. There are no plans to shut down grangemouth refinery and no impact arent as a beaded on fuel and gas supplies. There are sufficient stocks of crude oil to operations in the refinery for more than a week, and they are also developing contingency plans to import alternative supplies of crude oil should this be necessary to continue operations. The damage to the 40s pipeline seems to have been caused bya pipeline seems to have been caused by a rock putting pressure on the pipe. It could be out for some time. This is a remote location with just a handful of houses nearby. Some of those people have moved up temporarily. But thats where the bulk of the focus is now concentrating. Analysts say a prolonged shutdown and continued cold weather are likely to push up wholesale prices. But in the oz says it hopes to have the pipeline running again within weeks. Kevin keen, reporting scotland. The city of york has rejected ubers licence renewal on tuesday, citing concerns about the right hailing apples data breach and the number of complaints received. The move comes of complaints received. The move co m es after of complaints received. The move comes after company also had its operating licences in sheffield suspended. The firms appeal against the decision in london will be held in spring next year. Its hard to believe, but it was 40 years ago that the first Star Wars Film hit the cinemas. Film hit the cinemas spawning one of the most successful film franchises in history. And tonight the stars are out for latest instalment. The eighth film is called the lastjedi, and it has its european premiere in london tonight. The premiere, hosted in aid of the royal foundation, sees the stars of the films, including mark hamill, john boyega and daisy ridley, mixing with royals, as the duke of cambridge and prince harry will attend. Our entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba, was on the red carpet. A short time ago he sent us this update. Yes, and im here on the red carpet joined by a very familiar face to star wars fans. One of the stars, perhaps the star, of the star wars saga mark hamill, who plays luke skywalker. Thanks so much. Now, you were kind of back in the last movie, the force awakens. This is your real return. What was it like for you emotionally returning to the franchise that did so much for you . Well, it was. I mean, surreal we had no idea. We had a beginning, a middle and an end. I thought if they were going to do further Star Wars Films, they wouldnt need us, theyd have all new characters. But i can assure you my part in the lastjedi is twice as big as it was in the force awakens. Its a little more than twice as big. But star wars is such an important movie to fans. How important is the way its expanded and representation of all kinds to the cinema audience . Well, the films originally made for children. We never expected it to be embraced by the adult world. I guess we hit that sweet spot where its for children of all ages. But its basically escapism. People need that when reality is too harsh. Whether they go to hogwarts or middle earth or the land of oz, its just comforting to go to a galaxy far, far away, i guess. I always thought of it more as a fairy tale than actual science fiction. In ours, we had a princess and a pirate and a farm boy and a wizard, this isjust a continuation of all of that. Mark hamill, thank you very much for your time. From the premiere of star wars here at the royal albert hall, back to you. Louise ellman zampa. Louise ellman zampa. The recent heavy snow may have encouraged some of you to get building snowmen, but one man has taken his snow sculpting a step further. This is the igloo benjamin crutch built in his girlfriends garden in redditch in worcestershire after heavy snow on sunday. The igloo took eight hours to build using nearly 500 snow bricks. Well, we need to find out whether we are going to be building more igloos letsjoin phil avery with the ball close. What do you think, igloo is . never i think that telling word was girlfriend whether he would have done that if it was a wife and 25 yea rs of done that if it was a wife and 25 years of marriage, who could possibly come at moving on from the marriage guidance to answering the direct question, will there be more os . direct question, will there be more igloos . this is a clue behind me, some are seeing something a good deal more watery than has been the case. A picture from shropshire looks gorgeous, but it was also 30, as im sure you are the herd. This belt of weather is moving from west to east, you will get to see it eventually as im sure youve heard. It is a concern, not because of the snow, but because as this feature moves on through, for some, it will get rid of the some of the lying snow, but it will add more moisture, the skies were clear, temperatures will drop, and you will be in countering more ice, not necessarily where you saw it this morning, please bear that in mind. Ive highlighted scotland and the north ringwood, but that may not be the whole story given the temperatures. Here we first thing on wednesday morning. A lot of showers from the word go across northern and western parts of the british isles, and a wind implies is as well. A really u nco mforta ble and a wind implies is as well. A really uncomfortable mix of weather, and tricky conditions. Further south, its watery rather than wintry, falling onto lying snow, no notice the temperature in the birmingham area is two deg, weve got concerns about ice. North of the m4 corridor save for Northern Ireland there is a met Office Warning for ice right through until 11am, covering the school run and the commute. We are going to push this belt of whether further east, after the price. You will get some more rain. There is a lull in proceedings, and noticed these temperatures are up. There is milder air in this whole mix, but that doesnt stop the charge later today just in time for the commute for some, northern and western parts, significant snow falling at lower levels yet again. Tricky driving conditions certainly. On thursday, a mix of sunny spells and showers, with a noticeable exception of the central belt of scotland. We will watch this for the next 24 hours and i will bring you the latest. This time tomorrow, perhaps, if thats convenient for you. A lot of wind on thursday, especially across the south. A lot of wind on friday. It is going north to south, and the showers tend to gather at the shoulders of the british isles, and the cold air streams right on down the cold air streams right on down theice the cold air streams right on down the ice bars. Forget about 11 degrees, we will be back at three, five or six. See you later. Hello, this is outside source. We start with the election that could test president trumps brand of politics. All eyes are on this firebrand republican, will alabama voters choose to send him to the senate . President tells a Climate Change in paris that the world is losing its fight against Global Warming. Conditions against african migrants detained in libya, european governments are accused of complicity in their suffering. Scientists are beginning to unlock the secrets of a giant stormont jupiter that larger than the earth. Well be telling you what they found. A giant storm onjupiter