acting as a good customer in the economy, which sets the tone for other large businesses. plan chemicals so this is a penalty, if you are try to get a government contract you are try to get a government contra - , _ you are try to get a government contra - , ,, , , you are try to get a government contra - , ,, contract they will say, unless you have been _ contract they will say, unless you have been paying _ contract they will say, unless you have been paying suppliers - contract they will say, unless you | have been paying suppliers within the promised time, we are not interested in doing business with the does that go far enough? that's only if you are tendering for a government contract. we only if you are tendering for a government contract. we hope they will brina government contract. we hope they will bring back _ government contract. we hope they will bring back the _ government contract. we hope they will bring back the name _ government contract. we hope they will bring back the name and - government contract. we hope they} will bring back the name and shame idea, which was stopped during covid, which more businesses, it's normally a missed balance of power, with a big customer that pays a lot of your income so, when they behave badly, you have nowhere to go, so now there is a small business commissioner, who is doing a lot better government is beginning to get its act together and this is good for it will transform the economy and add two to 3 billion to the economy, we think. it will save 50,000 small businesses a year for the that's massive for late payments but the other two areas are really interesting for them with business rates, big business wanted to see an inflationary freeze but they didn't get that, but small businesses did there will not be any of the 6.7% cpi september, which people were expected to be to their bill. they have also focused in on the sme relief or retail, hospitality and leisure bbc breakfast was talking to shops, bars and cafe this morning and they will be protected and keep their 75% relief, which is huge. that helps with the within wage on us. i will therefore this extra pay kuchma because their business rates are kept low. if kuchma because their business rates are kept lova— are kept low. if you are a pub, savin: are kept low. if you are a pub, saving nearly _ are kept low. if you are a pub, saving nearly £13,000 - are kept low. if you are a pub, saving nearly £13,000 patio, i saving nearly £13,000 patio, hospitality, but it hasn't panned, and it's those businesses which are the lifeblood of the company, retail, hospitality, small businesses which make up the vast majority of business, even though we tend to have big business being the largest. tend to have big business being the lamest. ,, ., ,, tend to have big business being the laraest. ,, ., ,, , tend to have big business being the laraest. ,, , , , largest. shops, bars, gyms, local small businesses _ largest. shops, bars, gyms, local small businesses do _ largest. shops, bars, gyms, local small businesses do really - largest. shops, bars, gyms, local small businesses do really good l largest. shops, bars, gyms, local- small businesses do really good work and don't often get thanked for it or helped in the system to date you saw the tax system move in their direction, changing how the tax system operates, incentivising people to go onto the high street and do business, and because a small business multiplier is for all small businesses, it is b2b, businesses supply other business will get help for them finally you have the self—employed, a massive national insurance cut, really important for the abortion class two, a small but you the abortion class two, a small but y°u pay the abortion class two, a small but you pay every week, and reducing class four, the fsb was set up because of the hike in national insurance and we are nearly 50 years old so to mark our 50th anniversary, to hear a chance to get up and talk about that, that was good to more needs to happen for the we don't have growth in the economy this is the way to get growth, to give small businesses a push, a real hope so they can go out and generate jobs and growth we all want to see the tip and growth we all want to see the ti ., ~' and growth we all want to see the ti -_ ., ~ , ., , . and growth we all want to see the ti_ ., , . ., tip thank you very much, craig beaumont. — tip thank you very much, craig beaumont, chief— tip thank you very much, craig beaumont, chief of _ tip thank you very much, craig beaumont, chief of external . tip thank you very much, craig - beaumont, chief of external affairs at the federation of small business built up they really are the lifeblood of this country, make up the vast majority of witnesses, small businesses and those who are self—employed. if you have questions about what you have heard today and how it affects you at your household finances, will endeavour to answer those for you for at 4:45pm, we are joined by two consumer experts, answering your questions we will answering your questions we will answer as many as we can throughout the afternoon. we will get through as many of those as we can to work out what the chancellor announced today and what it could mean for you. more the autumn statement shortly but i want to bring you up—to—date with some of the other main stories. let's return to the middle east. an agreement has been released to release 50 hostages from hamas. hamas, designated 0 organisation by the uk government says, in exchange, 150 palestinians will be freed from israeli prisons. the pause in the fighting is due to last for four days per. 47 days into this brutal war, much of gaza lies under rubble. in the latest deadly fighting, children are said to have been crushed here in an israeli strike which hit a family home. they are also morning here in khan younis. displaced people have heard news of a truce and desperately want it to stick. ~ ., , ., ., stick. we have been fleeing from one lace to stick. we have been fleeing from one place to another. _ stick. we have been fleeing from one place to another. we _ stick. we have been fleeing from one place to another. we hope _ stick. we have been fleeing from one place to another. we hope the - place to another. we hope the ceasefire would be good and that we will see positive solutions. we pray for people to live in peace so they can go back to theirjobs, houses and habitability. can go back to their 'obs, houses and habitability.— and habitability. israel's grabbed met late into _ and habitability. israel's grabbed met late into the _ and habitability. israel's grabbed met late into the mud _ and habitability. israel's grabbed met late into the mud to - and habitability. israel's grabbed met late into the mud to discussj and habitability. israel's grabbed - met late into the mud to discuss the agreement, only sign it off in the early hours. they agreed that at least 50 hostages will be released, all women and children from that will be overfour days all women and children from that will be over four days of fighting in gaza will be paused. the release of every additional ten hostages will result in one additional day of pause. now, these are some of the israeli children who could soon return home. he is four a clubs. this is the youngest hostage, just ten months of the top in tel aviv last night, campaigners stood together as ministers met. they have been keeping up public pressure to bring home their loved ones. nervously waiting for news, this man has seven relatives missing, including his younger children. thea;a including his younger children. they told me my — including his younger children. they told me my family _ including his younger children. tue: told me my family will including his younger children. tue told me my family will be including his younger children. tue1: told me my family will be in this deal. 0k there was a0 children inside gaza and they are going to release only 30 put up were of the others? i hope that everybody will be released. others? i hope that everybody will be released-_ be released. palestinian families are also expecting _ be released. palestinian families are also expecting to _ be released. palestinian families are also expecting to hear - be released. palestinian families are also expecting to hear about| are also expecting to hear about women and teenagers set to be released from israeli jails as part of the day of the an official responsible for prisoners believes it's an important step. this responsible for prisoners believes it's an important step.— it's an important step. this deal could settle _ it's an important step. this deal could settle a _ it's an important step. this deal could settle a change _ it's an important step. this deal could settle a change in - it's an important step. this deal could settle a change in the - it's an important step. this deal- could settle a change in the general atmosphere. this could calm the situation and create a new reality. a few hundred more lorry loads of eight expected during the truce should help improve the dire humanitarian situation inside gaza. more fuel, which has been in short supply, more fuel, which has been in short supply, is to be allowed in. for now, on all sides, there is cautious optimism. much more on that story on the bbc news website. police are trying to find out what caused the car accident which killed four teenage boys in north—west the fore edge between six and 18 were french from shrewsbury. it's believed they'd driven to wales on a camping trip the our correspondent reports from shropshire for the day with the news began to sink in. near where the crash happened, a moment to reflect. fouryoung the crash happened, a moment to reflect. four young lives lost in a crash in a remote corner of north wales. college friends from shrewsbury, jevon hirst, harvey 0wen, wilf henderson and hugo morris, went on a weekend camping trip and never came back that tips today, a candle marked the spot where they're still the ford fiesta left the road. it was felt upside down apostasy but a8 hours after they left wishing. in shrewsbury, friends are new to treatment were struggling to deal with the feelings that go with it. agrief struggling to deal with the feelings that go with it— that go with it. grief doesn't feel real to think— that go with it. grief doesn't feel real to think they _ that go with it. grief doesn't feel real to think they are _ that go with it. grief doesn't feel real to think they are not - that go with it. grief doesn't feel real to think they are not going l that go with it. grief doesn't feel| real to think they are not going to be here any more. and ifjust a horrible feeling, knowing that two lads who were seen every day, never going to see them again, never hear their voice. this going to see them again, never hear their voice. , , going to see them again, never hear their voice-— their voice. this is the college the bo s their voice. this is the college the boys attended _ their voice. this is the college the boys attended and _ their voice. this is the college the boys attended and students - their voice. this is the college the boys attended and students have | their voice. this is the college the - boys attended and students have been arriving arm in arm, some in tears, clearly struggling. the college has had its put in measures to help support them. writing on her business facebook page, harvey 0wen per soccer mum said, i feel like business facebook page, harvey 0wen per soccer mum said, ifeel like i'm in a nightmare i wish i could wake up in a nightmare i wish i could wake up from but i'm not the restaurant where harvey 0wen worked as pay tribute, calling him easy—going, warm, funny, gentle, bright, hard—working and humble. now the flowers and messages of tribute are beginning to collect in the hometown morning the four of its sons. sir chris whitty, the chief medical officer, has been given a second day of evidence to the chromic require it as he stated he didn't leave all parts all parts of number ten appreciate the urgency with each action needed to be taken in the early days of the pandemic that. what i think people were really not able to conceptualise was how exponential growth would turn from those apparently smaller numbers, each one a tragedy, but smaller numbers to really very large numbers in an extremely short period because of the doubling time, and this bit, i think, is a period where getting that through, i think, was not always straightforward. flan that through, i think, was not always straightforward. can you elaborate on — always straightforward. can you elaborate on which _ always straightforward. can you elaborate on which parts - always straightforward. can you elaborate on which parts of - always straightforward. can you elaborate on which parts of the | elaborate on which parts of the system, — elaborate on which parts of the system, in your view, elaborate on which parts of the system, in yourview, might not elaborate on which parts of the system, in your view, might not have -ot system, in your view, might not have got it? _ system, in your view, might not have got it? you _ system, in your view, might not have got it? you said, obviously, your task_ got it? you said, obviously, your task was— got it? you said, obviously, your task was to — got it? you said, obviously, your task was to make sure they didn't understand. that was one of your primary— understand. that was one of your primary functions, but there were plenty— primary functions, but there were plenty difficulties in getting the message across and it been received in a difficult — message across and it been received in a difficult manner. which parts of the _ in a difficult manner. which parts of the systems due sense was simply didnlm _ of the systems due sense was simply didnlm i_ of the systems due sense was simply didn't... i appreciate the emergency, the immediacy of the problem — emergency, the immediacy of the problem and the exponential growth. because _ problem and the exponential growth. because stock actually, it's a relatively— because stock actually, it's a relatively widespread lack of understanding of where we were heading — understanding of where we were heading |— understanding of where we were headina. .. understanding of where we were headina. ~ , ., , ., heading. i think the people who were heavily involved _ heading. i think the people who were heavily involved in _ heading. i think the people who were heavily involved in looking _ heading. i think the people who were heavily involved in looking at - heading. i think the people who were heavily involved in looking at this, i heavily involved in looking at this, and certainly mr cummings would be one, but there were many others, and realised by now that this was heading in a difficult direction. but i don't think everybody in the body did. this was not an individual, and i make this point repeatedly, this was a little people really not getting what exponential growth was actually going to mean. chris whitty, including his evidence to the inquiry to the this afternoon, the former deputy chief medical officer, jonathan van—tam, began giving his evidence admitted there were times that the pressure nearly led to him resigning from his role. . ., 4' .,, nearly led to him resigning from his role. ~ ., ~ ., ., , ., role. workload was horrendous for all of us at — role. workload was horrendous for all of us at the _ role. workload was horrendous for all of us at the beginning - role. workload was horrendous for all of us at the beginning it - all of us at the beginning it certainly was in the kind of 16 hours a day mark, and it certainly was seven days a week. it was very, very intense. where i think, it finally got to me, was the fact that i might have expected that, if a crisis happens, this was my responsibility to bear that kind of workload. i did not expect my family to be threatened with having their throats cut. i did not expect the police to have to say, when you move out in the middle of the night the middle of the evening, for a few days while we look at this and potentially mix arrests? we didn't move out because of the cat, as it happened. but it was a very stressful time indeed. my family didn't sign up for that, and i only make this point because i'm so worried that, if there is a future crisis, people will not want to sign up crisis, people will not want to sign up for these roles and these jobs because of the implications that come with them. if because of the implications that come with them.— come with them. if you want to follow events _ come with them. if you want to follow events at _ come with them. if you want to follow events at the _ follow events at the crowd:— follow events at the crowd: , 1 ., .., follow events at the crowd: , ., ., crowd: inquiry, you can do so on the ipla er or crowd: inquiry, you can do so on the iplayer or through _ crowd: inquiry, you can do so on the iplayer or through the _ crowd: inquiry, you can do so on the iplayer or through the website. - iplayer or through the website. there _ iplayer or through the website. there is— iplayer or through the website. there is the latest from that inquiry the tip four men have been jailed for life for the murder of a woman in her home in liverpool. it was if you involving her boyfriend to ashley dale, who was 28, was shot with a machine gun last august. james wootton, disappears and two other men, all in their 20s, were convicted at liverpool crown court. let's speak to nick garnett outside liverpool crown court. reminders of the background to the case. the 'udue the background to the case. tue judge described this as a cold and brutal murder of an innocent woman. this entities that were sent down today that you are planned for a message, he said, to the criminal underworld. last august, in the middle of august, a summers evening, a saturday evening and ashley dale was a 28—year—old in remic health officer at nearby knowsley council. she was in her home on her own at night, sitting on the sofa with her dog. she heard noises outside, and realised what was going on and was slightly concerned and then the front door of her house was literally kicked in. the central panel of the pvc doorjust literally kicked in. the central panel of the pvc door just fell to the floor and a man a masked man ran in and started firing the she dived to try and get out of the house and go into the back yard but, as she did, she was hit by a bullet. the gunman then went upstairs after shooting her shot more bullets into the wall in the bedroom before leaping, jumping in the car that was driven by one of the other men convicted and sent to prison, and they made off. they were all rested fairly shortly afterwards from a combination of reasons. he had left fingerprints on one of the bullets that will suit in the attack and there was all sorts of forensic evidence that links them. today, they were convicted on monday, but today we got to the sentencing hearing. the ministry ofjustice is carrying out a trial programme at the moment in which they allow the judges sentencing remarks to be broadcast, and that was what was going to be allowed to date the before that happened, however, we were able to hear from ashley dale bus for she isjulie and she talked in her statement to the court about the feelings about ashley dale's boyfriend, her daughter's boyfriend. he had been involved in criminality as well and it was a long—running feud between him and the drugs gang that would try to kill him for the day came into the house hoping he was home and unfortunately he wasn't and ashley dale still was. she was and ashley dale still was. she was an innocent victim of what happened. she went on to say in her statement that, when she was told her daughter had been killed, she said, i never ever give you. i hope my words, she said, looking straight at the gunmen, come a point you, and james with them, who pulled the trigger, when you go to sleep at night, i hope you also see my baby girl's face, as i do every single night. at that point, james whitham got up and ran out of the court and into a corridor at the back to try and hide, because he was overcome by what was happening to he was told to go back to his seat and he would set down to hear that the judge passing sentence they have been sent to between a1 and a7 years in prison. he will probably die in prison. at the end of it, thejudge said the sentence, 173 years in total for all those convicted today, was to send a message to the criminal underworld that this is not going to be allowed to continue and that things really do have to change.— to continue and that things really do have to change. thank you. thank ou for do have to change. thank you. thank you for that — do have to change. thank you. thank you for that update. _ do have to change. thank you. thank you for that update. those _ do have to change. thank you. thank you for that update. those are - do have to change. thank you. thank you for that update. those are our i you for that update. those are our other main stories we follow for you to david but the reason we are in westminster is because today the chancellor has unveiled his autumn statement, laying out the government plans for tax and spending in the year ahead. plans for tax and spending in the yearahead. crucial plans for tax and spending in the year ahead. crucial things we heard, a lot that we didn't have let's talk about some of them morgan wildly said of me, head of policy at citizens advice. let's talk about crucial things for individuals when it comes to things like national insurance and benefits. what stood out for you? icrib insurance and benefits. what stood out for you?— insurance and benefits. what stood out for you? crib to make one which should never— out for you? crib to make one which should never have _ out for you? crib to make one which should never have been _ out for you? crib to make one which should never have been in _ out for you? crib to make one which should never have been in doubt - out for you? crib to make one which should never have been in doubt to| should never have been in doubt to begin with, benefits increasing by september was a rate inflation, 6.7% thatis september was a rate inflation, 6.7% that is what was needed to keep people personal income roughly ready in real terms. the people personal income roughly ready in realterms— in real terms. the september figure, not october. — in real terms. the september figure, not october, and _ in real terms. the september figure, not october, and that _ in real terms. the september figure, not october, and that is _ in real terms. the september figure, not october, and that is because - in real terms. the september figure, not october, and that is because it . not october, and that is because it was a higherfigure. not october, and that is because it was a higher figure.— was a higher figure. september is the traditional _ was a higher figure. september is the traditional year _ was a higher figure. september is the traditional year for _ was a higher figure. september is the traditional year for increasing | the traditional year for increasing benefits, so you've had 12 points of inflation for if they just inflation, that would have been roughly a 2% real terms cut to people personal incomes. clank of let's talk about national insurance. we will all feel that we are paying a little less, but already criticism, given a lot of everything else, it'sjust criticism, given a lot of everything else, it's just a criticism, given a lot of everything else, it'sjust a little criticism, given a lot of everything else, it's just a little gift when actually the treasury is still taking a lot more than it has done in the past. the taking a lot more than it has done in the past-— in the past. the problem we think the chancellor _ in the past. the problem we think the chancellor should _ in the past. the problem we think the chancellor should be - in the past. the problem we think the chancellor should be trying i in the past. the problem we thinkj the chancellor should be trying to solve is how do you best help people who are struggling to make ends meet up who are struggling to make ends meet up and down the country people come to citizens advice typically this problem at the mound, their expenditure is higher than their income. we saw some things like restoration of local housing allowance, like the increase in benefits, and perhaps a change to national insurance, which will change with that equation, but it's not going to be enough to get the people that we see back into the black. ~ , ., ., ~ ., people that we see back into the black. ~ i. ., ~ ., , .,, black. when you talk of the people ou are black. when you talk of the people you are helping. — black. when you talk of the people you are helping, since _ black. when you talk of the people you are helping, since they - black. when you talk of the people you are helping, since they are - black. when you talk of the people i you are helping, since they are most concerned about gee you are helping, since they are most concerned abou— concerned about we know a cost of livina concerned about we know a cost of living crisis — concerned about we know a cost of living crisis has _ concerned about we know a cost of living crisis has affected _ concerned about we know a cost of living crisis has affected all - concerned about we know a cost of living crisis has affected all of - concerned about we know a cost of living crisis has affected all of us . living crisis has affected all of us in different ways, but is that a main worry? one big worry has been housing for the it's been welcome to see some action on housing spot today to tip the other has been energy and for me was the big thing missing from the chancellor statement. we are about to head into a really tough winter. last year there was support on hand for everybody with energy bills. this time round, we are going to see much less support some cost of living payments for the very poorest but much less in terms of actual protection during what is going to be a really tough winter. the accusation _ be a really tough winter. the accusation of _ be a really tough winter. the accusation of criticism of the help we got last year was it was not targeted, everybody got the same and it was for expensive and meant the government was spending a lot more. targeted support is more difficult to administer but is that what you would like?— to administer but is that what you would like? ~ ,,., , , .,, would like? absolutely the problem we have had — would like? absolutely the problem we have had is _ would like? absolutely the problem we have had is that _ would like? absolutely the problem we have had is that you _ would like? absolutely the problem we have had is that you either - would like? absolutely the problem we have had is that you either have | we have had is that you either have universal support for every bill payer or very targeted to put four people on means tested benefits. but there are a huge number of people in there are a huge number of people in the middle were struggling to get five that is why we have called, with others in the sector, for energy social tariff, which targets support more broadly than benefits and so answers that question of making sure we are hoping in the right way for the is making sure we are hoping in the right way for th— right way for the is also a real focus in this _ right way for the is also a real focus in this autumn - right way for the is also a real i focus in this autumn statement, right way for the is also a real - focus in this autumn statement, and we heard it from the prime minister and also the chancellor, but getting more people back into work the he talks about the long—term sick, getting them back into work and finding them of the health care they need to facilitate their return to work, and those were simply unemployed without a sick note, and he said, if you were going 18 months without working and therefore not seeking any work, those benefits would be stopped. is that the right approach? would be stopped. is that the right a- roach? .,, , would be stopped. is that the right auroach? , would be stopped. is that the right a- roach? .,, , _, ., would be stopped. is that the right auroach? , ., , approach? crop hits welcome to see the employment _ approach? crop hits welcome to see the employment support _ approach? crop hits welcome to see the employment support package i approach? crop hits welcome to see l the employment support package that we have seen today, helping disabled people find jobs where appropriate and possible and save for them to do so. for people who are long—term unemployed we have got the evidence now that sanctions just don't work. as a way of getting people into work. absolutely, it's right to get people into the labour market, but we are near records low unemployment and the tools that the government are planning to use just haven't worked before and there is no reason to think they will hear.— to think they will hear. thank you, moraan to think they will hear. thank you, morgan wild. _ to think they will hear. thank you, morgan wild, head _ to think they will hear. thank you, morgan wild, head of _ to think they will hear. thank you, morgan wild, head of policy - to think they will hear. thank you, morgan wild, head of policy at - morgan wild, head of policy at citizens advice to some of the concerns people have and perhaps still have as a result of what they have or haven't heard from the chancellor today for the there were some notable omissions. one thing that will be front and centre of many people smoke reminds is the lack of economic with, down rated economic growth, which will all feel, if the economy isn't growing, collectively we feel worse off, and inflation is above the 2% target from and that means a real terms cut in how far our money goes. let's talk about the other personal finance issues. good to see you. there was a lot in that statement, 110 pudsey mats. what was it that stood out for you which will help our own personal finances? stood out for you which will help our own personalfinances? tt stood out for you which will help our own personal finances? it was a better autumn _ our own personal finances? it was a better autumn statement _ our own personal finances? it was a better autumn statement and - our own personal finances? it was a better autumn statement and i - our own personal finances? it was a l better autumn statement and i think any of us would have expected two weeks ago. he made a few tweaks and changes to the isa regime, which will make a big difference for personal investors, and also changing the pension regime, talking up changing the pension regime, talking up that lifetime pension account, the idea being we have one account and take that with us. what difference would that make? it's that simplified things? they have this system in australia and i used to work there everyone suffered i worked in different place every three months and i'd turn up and give them a pension account and they pay into it. at the moment, our employer chooses for us so we don't have any say or choice in when we movejobs we get have any say or choice in when we move jobs we get a different pension for the problem is, people end up with these different little bits of pensions and it can be hard to keep track. i think it will give us choice and put us in the driving seat and i think it will force more competition, force pension providers to do much betterjob i'd say, hey, we want you to choose us. can come there was nothing really concrete on that. plan comes with a rise in the min wage, very welcome for those on the lowest incomes. of it goes up to £11. we heard about universal credit, increasing the at the national insurance cuts will mean we'll have more money in our pockets. what he has also done is try and encourage the isa regime, which people still feel nervous about. 50 out of every 100 brits as about. 50 out of every 100 brits as a stocks and shares isa and also competed sympathetic today to say we can have multiple isas of the same type from different providers to he has made them more like bank accounts. removing some restrictions to tip yet opened up what are called fractal investing, which might sound a bit technical, but it means we can own smaller bits of shares isas take apple, that costs $190 for one share for the if your chip into a stocks and shares isa of about £50 a month, there are a lot of shares that are not open to you at the moment. he has allowed us to hold cash and shares so again a small step but i think it makes isas more appealing for more people and more easy to understand. plunk some will be disappointed there was not much help for first—time buyers plan, disappointed there was not much help forfirst—time buyers plan, crepe or house—building, getting more houses but the there was a trick to planning rules but first—time powers might be disappointed? i think so but also he has to keep a few rabbits in the for next year there are a few things, inheritance tax people thought he might do something there than i think there is more it could do to simplify the lifetime isa, simply to help people under a0 saving for their first fat. but fingers crossed, from my perspective, he had just postponed that to the spring and we might hear more, but it was a market announcement we had but isas, pension reform, but not much for first—time buyers to pension reform, but not much for first-time buyers to— first-time buyers to thank you for trimesters the _ first-time buyers to thank you for trimesters the perhaps _ first-time buyers to thank you for trimesters the perhaps we - first-time buyers to thank you for trimesters the perhaps we had i first-time buyers to thank you for trimesters the perhaps we had to | trimesters the perhaps we had to wait until the start of next year in what could be a general election year to get any real gift or rabbits pulled out had to try and win us over before a general election. we are going to talk much more about the contents of an autumn statement. but let's pause and get the weather with chris fawkes. parts of england got a stunning start to the date with a spectacular sunrise like this. i say lucky, because there is a universal cover of cloud across the country and just a few cracks in that cloud sheet that opened up at the right time to allow the early morning sun rays underneath. so we have at sunrise. today, a warm front moving across the country and introducing milder air, and what that's doing in scotland and northern inc and is its pushing up temperatures in a big way. compared to yesterday, temperatures are up to 7 degrees higher but there is much less brightness across scotland and northern england today, the skies are rather grey and drab. we have spits and spots of light rain falling from the cloud here and the odd spot as well across parts of northern england, the midlands, east anglia, not amounted to much, and looking at temperatures into double figures for most. a mild day for the time of year. it will continue to be pretty mild overnight for northern ireland, england and wales to keep extensive cloud and if you bits of drizzle around there. some further aspects of brain running into scotland with heavier bursts in the highlands and western isles to the fore the most part, temperatures in double figures that is going to change. as we go through thursday and friday, we see weather front moving south and introducing cold air, and that means temperatures dropped like a stone. the drop comes behind this band of rain working across scotland through thursday the dip that the cold front and eventually it works into northern ireland and northern england. ahead of that, there could be a few club breaks and we keep mild air, with temperatures into double figures to find the conference, that change in scotland, with temperatures down into single figures pretty widely to the cold air will continue to move south through friday. showers across the north of scotland, one or two in east anglia, still with gales affecting the northern ireland and blustery winds extending to the eastern coast of scotland and england you can kiss goodbye to the double—figure highs, look at temperatures formally between six and eight celsius, and it's going to stay chilly through the weekend and well into next week. could be weather systems coming through, perhaps bringing ill snow. hello, i'm ben thompson, live at westminster. the chancellorjeremy hunt has announced a number of measures in what he has described as an autumn statement for growth. let's just take you through some of the key announcements he made this lunchtime. the most noteworthy measure was that the main employee national insurance rate will be cut by two percentage points from 12% to 10% — coming into effect from six january. the chancellor said workers on the average salary would save around £a50 a year. mr hunt said around two million self—employed people will benefit from the axing of class two national insurance and a cut to class four national insurance to 8%, saving them around £350 a year he also announced that the state pension will increase by 8.5% from april 202a to £221.20 a week, promising to honour the triple lock "in full". the chancellor also confirmed that universal credit and disability benefits will increase by 6.7%, in line with september's inflation rate. that is important, there was speculation that he could have chosen the lower rate of october's figure. but he also said that welfare recipients who do not find a job within 18 months will be forced to undertake work experience under plans to get more people into employment and said that those who do not comply with the rules will have their benefits, including access to free