Now on bbc news, a look at tuesday in parliament. Hello again and welcome to tuesday in parliament, as the chancellor announces more help for millions of workers unable to do theirjobs. It is not their fault that their business has been asked to close, it is not their fault that they have been asked to stay at home. And that is why i established this scheme, to support these people and their livelihoods at this critical time. Looking to the future, will the uk have the prescription drugs it needs . Hows the government getting on with replenishing these stocks from imports so that we dont experience any shortages once the brexit buffer starts to run out . And as electronic voting arrives in westminster, a warning to mps tempted to delegate the task to staff or a loved one. Any attempt to allow anyone who is not a member to vote is likely to be a serious breach of privilege. But first, the chancellor, rishi sunak, has told mps that a scheme to pay the wages of workers on leave because of coronavirus will be extended to october. Employees will continue to receive 80 of their monthly wages up to £2,500. But he told mps said the government will Ask Companies to start sharing the cost of the scheme from august, and he warned that the expensive scheme could not continue indefinitely. Answering an urgent question from labour on his 40th birthday, rishi sunak said that more than a quarter of all workers 7. 5 millionjobs are now covered by the scheme. I can announce today that the Job Retention scheme will be extended for four months, until the end of october. By that point, we will have provided eight months of support to british people and businesses. Until the end ofjuly, there will be no changes whatsoever. Then from august to october, the scheme will continue for all sectors and regions of the uk, but with greater flexibility to support the transition back to work. Employers currently using the scheme will be able to bring furloughed employees back pa rt time and we will ask employers to start sharing with the government the cost of paying peoples salaries. Many of the over 6 Million People who are currently furloughed were taken aback by comments made in the media by government spokespeople suggesting that, for example, people needed to be weaned off an addiction to this scheme. We must acknowledge that people did not want to be furloughed, it occurred through no choice of their own, through following government advice about the closure of sectors. Therefore, its critically important that they are not penalised for that choice. The use of the word addiction is not one that i have ever used and not one that i agree with. Nobody who is on the furlough scheme wants to be on this scheme. People up and down this country believe in the dignity of their work, going to work, providing for their families. It is not their fault that their business has been asked to close, it is not their fault that they have been asked to stay at home. And that is why i established this scheme, to support these people and their livelihoods at this critical time. Does he recognise that removing or reducing wage support levels in the furlough scheme prematurely would increase universal credit claims, force workers back to work before its safe for them and risk a second peak . The Scottish Government have been clear that the stay at home advice has not changed, so will he commit today to ensuring that the Job Retention scheme will remain in place in scotland, wales and Northern Ireland if our lockdowns continue longer than england . Just to clarify, there will be no reduction in the level of support for those on the scheme. That is a commitment that i made earlier. Im not entirely sure whether i understood the question right, but its Crystal Clear that those on the scheme have that reassurance the level of support they will receive will not be changed. That will now be shared those wages and support by the government and employers. What we dont know yet is how big the share paid by employers will be. And the furlough scheme wont help everyone. Can i urge him yet again to look at those employees and self employed whove not been helped at all and who are in dire straits, people whove moved jobs, who were not on their employers payroll by mid march . Could he consider the new starters scheme i proposed in early april . And could he please review his refusal to properly help those self employed people who operate from limited companies and who have just been cut adrift . Mr speaker, the self employment scheme in this country remains one of the most generous and comprehensive anywhere in the world. It was designed to provide support to those people who have a different pattern of working. Many of my constituents in chesham and amersham work for British Airways, who, despite furloughing nearly 23,000 staff, have been threatening to make over 12,000 staff redundant. Can he send a clear message to British Airways today that with this extension, they should now remove all threat of redundancy, which has been adding to the anxiety and stress of so many of their hard working and, in many cases, long serving staff . And she is right to urge employers to do the right thing at this difficult time. The government has provided considerable support to companies to help them get through this crisis and she knows what will benefit her constituents, and i will continue to support her in those efforts, to make sure that we can protect as many of those jobs as possible. In wales, workplace restrictions have not been changed, as many parts of the country have not yet passed the peak of infection. The economic taps therefore must not be turned off in westminster before the Public Health emergency has subsided in wales. Will the chancellor ensure that the furlough scheme remains in place for as long as necessary and in such a form as to enable expert led Public Health guidance to be followed in each nation . Mr speaker, as ive just said previously as well, this is a uk scheme. It applies equally to all regions, nations and sectors of the country. It is generous in its length, extending all the way to october, and i believe that provides sufficient runway and support to businesses wherever they might be in this country. Rishi sunak. The health and safety executive says it has around 170 extra call handlers on standby in case theres a flood of complaints about Workplace Safety this week, as people start to return to theirjobs. As the lockdown is eased slightly in england, mps on the work and Pensions Committee were also told that the vast majority of employers should be able to put in place measures to protect their workers from covid 19 infection. We have made additional provision to be able to have more phone lines open, more phone operators. Normally, we only have around 30 people available to answer our phone and first line e mail queries, but weve made arrangements to have excess capacity so that up to 200 people can be available to answer calls. Can i just start with a blunt question . All the panels clear view is that it is safe for the 31 million or so people who work in this country to go back to work unless theyre in an activity that is specifically closed by the government. That is the view, that every workplace can be made safe. Is that correct . Sarah albon said that if an employer could not provide proper hygiene or social distancing, they shouldnt open. But our expectation would be that the vast majority of workplaces would find it possible and practical to implement the kind of social distancing and hygiene regimes that are set out in the guidance. I think the guidance thats been published is that employers must maintain social distancing in the workplace wherever possible. It doesnt say at all times. It isnt as if theres a sort of bright shield of two metres thats around everybody and if ever thats breached, then youre unsafe, and as long as its in place, then youre definitely safe. The two metre rule, as sarah says, is not sort of like an immediate, once you go below two metres, thats it. Its a very dangerous situation. Its a function of both distance and duration, so, yes, the risk will increase as you get closer to someone. But if youre close to somebody for a short period of time, then you can manage that risk. Similarly, the orientation between people is quite important. So, theres a big difference between two people facing each other and two people with their backs to each other. Could you just quantify the current risk . I mean, of the 31 million or so people who work or are self employed, how many, roughly, do you think currently have the virus in that kind of age and working group . Is it more or less than 1 of them . I think the view at the moment would be probably about 0. 25 . Sorry, if ive got a factory of a thousand people, there may be 2. 5 people, in theory, who have got that who shouldnt be coming to work . Thats roughly what youre saying . I think that would be of people who are symptomatic, and you have to remember that one of the biggest rules is that if people are symptomatic, they shouldnt be going to work. They should be staying at home. Should employers be doing temperature checks . Basically, temperature checking for people going into work is probably rather ineffective. There is good science on this. And theres science on it, particularly on airports. Anecdotally. I suppose i shouldnt do anecdotes, but talking to one or two very Large Companies which ive done recently who have done this, they said they find it very useful for reassuring staff. But, actually, they dont find anybody on it. Only 71 occupational deaths as a result of coronavirus exposure have been reported to you. Given that we know theres been over 100 Health Care Worker deaths, 29 care workers and 47 in transport for london, why is that figure so low when there is a requirement to report to you . And what are you doing to improve reporting . So, youre right that we have noticed that we think that its at least likely that weve had some significant under reporting, and that is particularly in nhs settings, where weve had very, very low numbers so far reported through to us. Theres a number of reasons why they may have been slow in coming through, but we are concerned that we arent getting the numbers wed expect, and weve been taking that up, both with the nhs at a sort of National Level and with individual health authorities. And we will pursue that. Sarah albon. Youre watching tuesday in parliament with me, david cornock. Still to come, Northern Ireland sets out its plan for lifting the lockdown. Eventually. Mps and peers have accused the government of urging people back to work without giving clear enough guidance on how to use public transport safely. New figures from the office for National Statistics have shown that taxi drivers and bus drivers are among those at greatest risk of dying from covid 19 in england and wales. In a statement to mps, the transport secretary urged people not to use public transport in england if at all possible, but if they had to, they should avoid peak times, use face coverings, and maintain social distancing. We continue to ask people to only go to work if they cannot do theirjobs at home. Thats because even as transport begins to revert to a full service, the two metre distancing rule will only leave effective capacity for one in ten passengers overall. One in ten. Therefore, its crucial that we protect our network by minimising pressures placed upon it and ensure it is ready to serve those who most need it. Instead, people should walk, cycle or drive if they have a car. At this most challenging of times, its more vital than ever that we think about the needs of others. Our transport operators, their staff are doing an incredible job to keep everyone safe. Follow their advice. From stations to bus interchanges. Be patient and considerate to fellow passengers and staff. The official advice has found wanting and will lead to confusion. The scenes we saw yesterday on public transport werent surprising when the government orders a return to work with 12 hours notice but without the guidance being in place on how people can be kept safe. The guidance for travellers and operators left too much to chance. It fails to protect front line workers, there is a Postcode Lottery on standards and protection, and there is far too much should, could, not always possible, as much as you can, rather than clear, directive guidance. For bus drivers, for instance, the guidance is that ppe should not be used but instead reserved for health and care staff. My appeal to the public to listen to the message, which is please avoid public transport unless you absolutely need to take it as a key worker and look for alternative means of travel, active or even through your car if you have one available. Can i ask him if he considers that we will have enough ppe supplies to give both our key workers and also our travellers their protection . And also seeing as were a stoic bunch and perhaps not used to wearing face coverings, will he consider giving these away free at terminal stations and places where people use transport so that we can ensure that people really do use them . The type of ppe that should be used is the type that you make at home based on the information which is now actually on the gov uk website which shows how to make ppe either from an old t shirt or sewing one. The snp turned the questions back to the guidance. And in relation to dealing with vulnerable workers, those with medical conditions that pose a serious risk, employers should offer support, should consider guidance for clinically Vulnerable People and so on, the word must does not appear once. Does he not agree that this language is too weak and needs to be strengthened, lest more vulnerable workers be put at risk . Grant shapps didnt answer that directly. Well, there was concern in the lords too over the clarity of the new transport guidance. And it is still very vague in terms of key issues such as face coverings, screens, and handling of money. It is not prescriptive. It is simply suggestions. That, my lords, is not good enough. What the operator guidance does is it sets out the absolutely key elements that the operators must consider. But the important element about all of this is that each operator will be coming up with their own specific Risk Assessment which is suitable for their environment and their workforce. And as importantly, they will be consulting with their workforce to make sure that the Risk Assessment is appropriate and that workers feel safe. My lords, i regret to say that one of those bus drivers who died was a friend and former neighbour of mine, a london bus driver. My lords, would it not be more sensible to proceed in the general encouragement to go back to work by very clear rules not simply advice on numbers, on social distancing, and above all, on facemasks for passengers and staff on public transport . It says two metre social distancing where possible and at some stages that will not be possible, at busier times and on busier routes, and at certain points in the journey. And the government is also advising that passengers should use face masks, or face coverings, in enclosed spaces, particularly for example on public transport. My lords, im not entirely sure how much clearer the government can be on that. Lady vere. Now, as we know, Northern Ireland like wales and scotland is sticking with the stay at home message rather than opting for borisjohnsons stay alert version. But the devolved government has published its own five point plan for lifting restrictions. The first minister and deputy first minister explained more in a joint statement to mlas at stormont. Unlike in england, theres no timetable for easing restrictions, but the first minister said she hoped to reach the final stage by december. As of today, we remain subject to restrictions which no one wants to last a day longer than is absolutely necessary. These are measures we would not contemplate in normal times. We know that they are having a significant effect on peoples ability to live their lives the way they and we want. So we wanted to set out for the Assembly Today our thoughts and how we may move forward when the time is right. We are appealing to the public to please to be patient. We understand that you want your family life back, to be able to socialise and visit with your friends and your families, to give your grandchildren a hug. We know that you crave more leisure time and being able to get out and about and exercise like you used to. We acknowledge the need for businesses to be able to open and operate safely so we can all get back to ourjobs. We understand that parents want their children to have the Education Opportunities they deserve and they thrive on. The five step plan will depend on medical advice. The first step includes changes to rules on exercise and churches being able to open for private prayer. But mlas were impatient for a timetable. The when is important and i think it wouldve been useful to have included timescales in this document with the proviso that the rules could be changed or moved due to circumstances. I think people are very understanding if the times need to change due to medical or scientific evidence. But without timescales, this could be seen as an almost aspirational document, and that may not satisfy the publics thirst for knowing when things might change. This is not the worst document in the world. I think compared to the other nations, this is a document that the community can look at. But as you can imagine, people will automatically say when will we go to stage i . There will be people today who will be asking that question. Were not going to get them dates, there is no point talking about that. We will do that when it is safe to do so. But there will be a number and a group of people concerned if we are starting to go back to work, what about childcare . What about education . We cant go to work unless our kids are looked after. I absolutely understand that the people. The desire to have a date. I want to have a date. I wish i could say on x date, this is going to happen. Unfortunately because its dependent on the science and dependent on the disease spread, we have to be very careful about that. Obviously, the fact that eachjurisdiction, each devolved administration has taken their own plan based on their own needs. How would you respond, first minister, to those who would say the United Kingdom is very much disunited in terms of how were dealing with these issues . Well, i dont see it like that. I see it as devolved reaction and i think, to be fair, the Prime Minister sees that as well even though theres been a lot of noise around this issue. Arlene foster. Back at westminster, the government says it is working tirelessly to secure vital supplies of medical equipment from overseas to meet demand during the pandemic crisis. But Opposition Mps have questioned whether stocks can be guaranteed. Some surgical gowns ordered from turkey amid a row over the procurement of personal protective equipment for the nhs did not meet british safety standards. The gowns were among a batch of 400,000 sourced by ministers last month and the raf flew out to collect them when they were not shipped on the expected date. A labour mp wondered about the governments whole approach to the supply of protective equipment. It is shameful that our National Stockpile of ppe dwindled during years of austerity. And the governments response since has been one of confusion and panic, missing Three Chances to join the eu scheme to bulk buy ppe and the recent fiasco of flying in unusable gowns from turkey. So, can i ask the minister what discussions are ministers having now with the governments of new zealand, singapore, and other countries of the wto to support global efforts to keep medical supply chains running during and beyond this crisis . We are, mr speaker, extremely active at wto and other fora, including the g20, to make sure that products flow. Mr speaker, weve delivered 1. 2 billion items of ppe to the nhs which is a tremendous achievement, including 40 million safety goggles, 1. 3 billion face masks the numbers are substantial, mr speaker. I think in terms of the action we are taking with the wto, we continue to lobby at all levels. Can ijust correct him on one point . And that is on turkey. The delivery of 400,000 turkish gowns. That represents a tiny proportion of the total and only a very tiny proportion of that was actually found to be defective. Were very thankful to turkish suppliers for what theyve done. One area where thankfully have not seen shortages to date is on the supply of prescription medicines thanks to the so called brexit buffer supplies built up in preparation for no deal brexit. But given that this buffer only provides somewhere between 3 6 months of supplies, can the minister of state tell us hows the government getting on with replenishing these stocks from imports so that we dont experience any shortages once the brexit buffer starts to run out . We are active on all available fora to make sure that the uk supply of prescription and non prescription medicines continues. My right honourable friend secretary of state has been very active for example with the indian trade minister following the restrictions that india put in place on the 3rd of march and getting almost all of those removed. We will continue to be very active at all of our trade partners, mr speaker, and making sure that products continue to flow to our nhs at this time. The trade minister, greg hands. Finally, more parliamentary history as mps held their first electronic vote after a two day debate on the covid 19 crisis and the vote came not before the speaker had given a little warning to any mp tempted to delegate their duty to a researcher or spouse. I ask all honourable members to pay careful attention to what the Procedure Committee says about the integrity of this system. As the committee states, any attempt to allow anyone who is not a member to vote is likely to be a serious breach of privilege. Mps usually vote by filing through one of two corridors either side of the chamber, so a chance to vote remotely was a big change one reason why the first vote was on a bland motion. The question is that this house has considered covid 19. The question falls to be decided by Remote Division. The clerk will now initiate the division on members. And the result of that historic vote . A landslide. Order. I can now announce the result of the Remote Division which hasjust taken place. The question was that the house has considered covid 19. The ayes were 363, the noes were 248. So the ayes have it, the ayes have it. Sir Lindsay Hoyle with a little house of commons history. That was tuesday in parliament. Thank you for watching. I do hope you canjoin me at the same time tomorrow for wednesday in parliament, Prime Ministers questions at westminster and first ministers questions in both the scottish and welsh parliaments. Until then, bye for now. Hello there. Well, we may well be heading towards the middle part of may, but im sure yesterday felt more like winterfor some. Take sennybridge in wales for example, with a temperature to start the day at 4. 7. It was the coldest may night for 25 years in wales. Further north, the wintery fun didnt stop there because in shetland we had some snow falling, and down south, relatively, in orkney, we had a bit of snow covering the grassy surfaces as well with that colder air arriving behind this cold front. Now, as we go through the next few hours, that is pushing southwards. Its weakening all the while, but its still going to be enough just enough to knock down the temperatures a few degrees across eastern parts of england. So it is going to feel a little bit cooler as we head into wednesday. As i say, though, the front itself is going to disintegrate, so any rain will tend to die away over the next few hours. And in many ways, its a reversal of fortunes compared with last night. England and wales, quite a lot of places frost free. Scotland, a sharp frost developing here. So, wednesday, a cold start to the day. Scotland, Northern England with some sunshine, a few showers across northern and eastern areas. And after a cloudy start across wales, parts of the midlands, east anglia, southern england, that cloud will probably tend to break up with some spells of sunshine coming through. And as for the wind, may sunshine is quite strong, so it probably will feel ok. But underneath those cloudier moments, and particularly where its breezy with the onshore winds, it will feel quite chilly. Now for thursday, weve got the winds turning more to a north westerly direction, not the warmest of directions, but it will be bringing some slightly less cold air in across scotland and Northern Ireland, with temperatures popping back up to around 12 14 degrees or so. It will be cloudy, therell be some patches of rain at times across the north west. Bright skies further south. And then for friday, again, weve got another weak weather front working into the north west of scotland, bringing a few patches of rain here. Otherwise, its a dry picture with cloud thinning and breaking at times to give some sunny spells. Temperatures rising, highs of 17 degrees in both london and cardiff. Now, into the weekend, our area of High Pressure thats been influencing the weather for a few days now begins to slip its way a little bit further southward whilst weakening. And that will allow these atlantic fronts to move in across Northern Areas of the uk. So, it will turn quite cloudy across northern parts, with the threat of some rain scotland, maybe Northern Ireland, too. England and wales, largely dry and bright and a bit milder for most as well. This is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. Im mike embley. needless deaths and suffering the warning from the leading white house adviser on infectious diseases, if controls are relaxed too soon. If that occurs, there is a real risk that you will trigger an outbreak that you might not be able to control. Keeping up the Financial Support for 7. 5 Million People the government in the uk extends itsjobs furlough scheme until october. After the lockdown, chinas economy is bouncing back and the communist party is claiming the credit