Hello and welcome to wednesday in parliament. Coming up, the labour leader challenges borisjohnson over the way millions of pounds of government contracts have been awarded during the covid 19 pandemic. There is a real question about the way the contracts are being awarded. About basic transparency in the end of the Prime Minister doesnt like that. But the Prime Minister says its the private sector which provides protective equipment and testing kit. If the private sector, no matter how much the Party Opposite may hate them, its the private sector provides the scientific breakthroughs. Also on this programme, calls for the government to keep Homeless People off the streets as the coronavirus pandemic continues. And as mps mark Remembrance Day one former soldier reckons theres more to be done to support women serving in the military. Whilst there are no great opportunity is the journey to success opportunity is the journey to success is often paved with discrimination, harassment and bullying. But first. The day in the commons began with a short ceremony to mark armistice day. Sir Lindsay Hoyle led whats thought to be the first ever Remembrance Service in the chamber the speaker said it was more important than ever to commemorate the heroes of the first world war, especially as so Many National events on remembrance sunday were either scaled back or cancelled because of covid restrictions. The spea kers chaplain, who normally leads prayers behind closed doors, stepped up to the clerks bench and invited mps tojoin her in remembering those who had given their lives. Approaching the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, i invite you to rise and to be still as we remember those who died for their country in war. And she invited mps tojoin her in prayer. We pray for all who are in bereavement, disability and pain continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror. We remember in thanksgiving and sorrow, those who live in world wars and conflicts past and present have been given and taken away. The speaker, sir Lindsay Hoyle then read from Laurence Binyons 1914 poem, for the fallen. It shall not weary them, nor the years condemn at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will rememberthem. We will rememberthem. Because of the current coronavirus restrictions only 50 mps are allowed into the chamber, but those who were able to attend stood heads bowed in two minutes silence. When Prime Ministers questions got under way a little later, the labour leader began by praising the work of Veterans Charities such as help for heroes and the Royal British legion. Like many other charities, they have seen significant drops in theirfunding during this pandemic and not have to take very difficult decisions about redundancies and keeping open recovery centres for veterans. So, can the Prime Minister commit today that the government will do whatever it can to make sure our armed force charities have the support that they need so they can carry on supporting our veterans. In these difficult times, Many Charities are, of course, finding it tough and in addition to what the government is doing to support charities through cutting Business Rates in the premises and on their shops, mr speaker, i would also urge everybody whenever possible to make online contributions to charities that are currently struggling. Sir keir starmer moved on to draw attention to some of the ways the government was spending money. Specifically the way millions of pounds of government contracts have been awarded during the pandemic. He pointed to the news that more than £600,000 had been spent on outside Pr Consultants for the vaccine task force. We have all seen this weekend that the government can find £670,000 for Pr Consultants. Thats the tip of the iceberg. They have some of the government has spent, at least £130 million of taxpayers money on pr companies and that is this year alone. Does the Prime Minister think that it is a reasonable use of taxpayers money . Mr speaker, i think he is referring to the task force, and after the days which the labour party has attacked the vaccine task force, i think you should pay tribute to them for securing the doses and expenditures which he refers was to raise awareness of the vaccine to fight the anti vaxers, mr speaker and to persuade the people of this country, 300,000 to take part in trials without which we cannot have vaccines, mr speaker. So, i think he should take it back. Theres a real question as to how these contracts being rewarded. About basic transparency and responsibility under the Prime Minister does not like that. This is not the Prime Ministers money, this is taxpayers money. Let me illustrate the lax attitude towards taxpayers money. Earlier this year, the government made paid can the Prime Minister told the house how many facemasks were provided to nhs workers under that contract . We were in the middle of a global pandemic, which this government has so far secured and delivered 32 billion items of personal protective equipment. And yes, it is absolutely correct, mr speaker, that it has been necessary to work with the private sector, with manufacturers who provide equipment such as this. Some of them more effectively than others, mr speaker. But it is the private sector in the end that makes the ppe. They provide the testing equipment and they provide, no matter how much the Party Opposite ahead of them, it is the private sector that provides the vaccines and scientific breakthroughs. The answer is none. Not a single facemask. At a cost of 150 million. But he said that was not an isolated example. There is a sharp contrast between the way the government sprays money at companies that dont deliver and their reluctance to provide Long Term Support to businesses and working people at the sharp end of this crisis. The chancellor spent months saying that extending furlough was, these were his words, not the kind of certainty that british businesses or british workers need. 0nly businesses or british workers need. Only then to do a u turn at the last minute. Yesterdays on employment figures show the cost of that delay. Redundancy is up bya cost of that delay. Redundancy is up by a record 181,000 in the last quarter. What is the Prime Ministers message to those that have lost theirjobs because of the chancellors delay . Mr speaker, with Great Respect to the right honourable gentleman, he knows full well that the furlough programme has continued throughout this pandemic. It went right the way through to october. It is now going through to march. It is one of the most generous programmes in the world. 80 of income supported by this government. An overall package of £210 billion, mr speaker, going in to supportjobs, families and livelihoods throughout this country. I think this country can be very proud of the way we have looked after the entire population. And we are going to continue to do so. And he should bear in mind that the net effect of those furlough programmes, all the provision that we have made, is disproportionately beneficial for the poorest and neediest in society, which is what one nation conservatism is all about, what one nation conservatism is allabout, mr what one nation conservatism is all about, mr speaker. The snp ship said the latest figures showed there was a growing tory unemployment crisis. It is now beyond doubt that the chancellors last minute for the u turn came far too late for the thousands who have already lost their jobs for the thousands who have already lost theirjobs as a result of tory cuts and delays that took place. Uk unemployment has now risen to 4. 8 . Redundancies are at a record high. Nearly 800,000 fewer people are in employment. To support those who have lost their incomes, will be Prime Minister now commit to make the £20 uplift to universal credit permanent, and extended to legacy benefits, so that no one, no one, Prime Minister, is left behind . Im delighted that the right honourable gentleman is now supporting universal credit, because he was opposed to it at the last election. Yes, of course, that uplifting continues, mr speaker, until march. And im delighted to say that the furlough scheme is being extended right the way through to march as well. That is for people across our whole united kingdom, protecting jobs and livelihoods in exactly the way that he and i would both want. A labour mp raised the result of the us election. The Prime Minister spoke for many of us when he took a call yesterday to congratulate president elect biden and president elect biden and president elect biden and president elect harris on their emphatic win in the us president ial election. So does the Prime Minister now have any advice for erstwhile best friend, President Trump, whose continuing refusal to accept the result is both embarrassing for him and dangerous for american democracy . Well, mr speaker, i had and have a Good Relationship with the previous president. I do not resile from that. It is the duty of all british Prime Ministers to have a Good Relationship with the white house. Im delighted to the many areas in which the incoming Biden Harris Administration is able to make common cause with us. Boris johnson. Mps have criticised the government for not doing enough to provide help for Homeless People during the lockdown in england. At the start of the pandemic in the spring, ministers launched a scheme called everyone in. Almost 15,000 Homeless People moved into safe emergency accommodation, such as hotels. Charities are calling for the strategy to be repeated. The government insisted it was now building on the success of the scheme with new funding. But labours shadow housing minister wasnt satisifed. Many brought off the streets have returned, and of record high 50 increase in young people since last year. What has changed since march . It is colder and the Cold Weather Fund is lower than last year. Can the minister tell the house why the government has lowered it . Government has provided neither the leadership nor the funding to ensure all Homeless People have a safe place. Over 266 million is being provided to local authorities in order to move on to the next step of accommodation with over hundred 50 million of that invested into Long Term Support. And accommodation for rough sleepers. In scotland we have a government that has a bit more foresight than this bumbling British Government. The snp government in scotland has had the ability to extend that ban on evictions until march. We are committed to further extend that until september. Will the minister do likewise . It was that issue of evictions that concerned several labour mps. The governments decision was welcome but it is not working. Can the minister outlined what steps the government is going to ta ke steps the government is going to take to ensure the ban is legally enforced . It is not happening on the ground. To e nforce happening on the ground. To enforce eviction guidance has fio enforce eviction guidance has no basis in law. It doesnt protect against bailiffs, despite the government saying. People are living in fear of eviction. There is a six month stay on possession proceedings in court to the 30th of september. It is true that only the most egregious cases will be taken forward in regards to anti social behaviour and crime. And that is something that we are committed to. We have made it clear that we are not expecting any evictions to be taking place. And if we are required, 01 place. And if we are required, or need to take further action, iam sure or need to take further action, i am sure that we will find the tools to do that. The government has a golden opportunity, having supported 29,000 people this year, to achieve its ambition of ending rough sleeping by the end of the parliament. With my honourable friend to commit to not only ensuring that those who need help will continue to get the support, but that anyone in risk in the coming months will get the support they need . We are developing practices and policies in order to make sure that we are able to make sure that we are able to reach our commitment on ending rough sleeping by the ending rough sleeping by the end of this parliament and significantly reducing it. In the lords the health minister, lord bethell, told peers that private operators may be involved in the roll out of a covid 19 vaccination programme. Earlier this week, the pharmaceutical companies, pfizer and biontech, announced that early results showed the vaccine theyve been developing could prevent more than 90 of people from getting the virus. A liberal democrat peer pointed out that a wide range of people could administer the jab. Vaccination into muscle does not need to be administered by clinicians. Anyone of us could be trained to do it. Which organisations are the government working with to make this happen . And can the minister confirm that there will be no need to take out contracts with the private sector but use the military, local resources such as public health, fire and Ambulance Services and trained volunteers . The challenge of administering so many vaccines in such a short amount of time will indeed require the involvement of a very large range of people. And we are putting in the recruitment and training necessary to ensure that happens. We are not allergic, though, to using the private sector in this matter. And we will be explaining the detailed terms of our arrangements at a later date. I would really like the noble lord the minister to show us what the government is doing as part of the preparation for this to build Public Confidence in the vaccine and to counter the anti vaccine campaigns. And following on from my noble friends question earlier, i would really be grateful if the noble lord could share with the house the plans for which reaching the harder to reach communities to get the information they need and their access to the vaccine when the roll out starts. Whilst there will be millions of people who will come forward very emphatically to get the vaccine, there will be some who are either disengaged with the British Government or who are actively hostile towards the thought of a vaccine. We take very seriously the disruption caused by those who either seek to profit from money or profit politically from the confusion and distress of anti vaccine. It is not appropriate for me to discuss at the despatch box the detailed measures we are putting in place in order to deal with the anti vaccine message but can i reassure the noble baroness that those are very focused and energetic and are proving to be effective . There are challenges in delivering an Effective National vaccination programme, as melinda mas said in the report at the royal academy, pointed out not the least is an honest, transparent, free from hyperbole public communication. Does the minister agree with that and if he does, who does he think would be best face to lead the public communication of the programme . The minister told lord patel that the deputy chief medical officer, Johnathan Van tam, was the face of the vaccine as he put it and would remain an important voice. Youre watching wednesday in parliament, with me, alicia mccarthy. Peers have voiced reservations about new legislation giving undercover agents a legal right to engage in criminal conduct. Introducing the covert human intelligence sources bill was the new advocate general for scotland, lord stewart, who was only sworn into the house of lords on monday. So his opening remarks on these controversial measures doubled up as a maiden speech. The covert human intelligence sources criminal conduct bill seeks to ensure that there is a clear and consistent statutory basis to authorise participation in conduct which could otherwise be criminal where this is necessary and proportionate to what is sought to be achieved. He said it provided an express power to authorise agents to participate in criminal activity. This is known as a criminal conduct authorisation. The effect of an authorisation is to make the conduct lawful for all purposes. And i recognise that this is a departure from the existing approach whereby authorised criminality can still be considered for prosecution by the prosecution services. When i was in the police, we used to call most covert human intelligence sources informants, who were mainly criminals who were recruited and run by handlers. The way handlers used, rewarded and authorised informants to participate in crime was controlled by controllers. I used to be a controller. He said that, in making all criminal conduct lawful, the bill went too far. For example, had this bill been enforced at the time, the Undercover Police officer who was authorised to form a relationship with an environmental activist could have argued that sleeping with her was incidental to what he had been authorised to do. And that he therefore couldnt have been sued. My lords, status quo is this, the Crown Prosecution Services examines what happens in such cases after the event and independently decides, a, whether a crime has been committed, b, whether there is a 51 or more chance of conviction, and c, whether prosecution is in the public interest. Lord hain is a friend of kate wilson, the environmental activist referred to by lord paddick. I was targeted by undercover officers for some 30 years. Including when i was an mp. But what troubles me most is the clear abuses practised by undercover officers involving people i know well. Ecological activist kate wilson is not a criminal, she is a principled, radical activist. She was at Primary School in london with my two sons. Ourfamilies shared holidays and often visited each others home. She was targeted by undercover officer mark kennedy, who formed an intimate and what she described afterwards as an abusive relationship with her over seven years. He even reported back to his superiors on contact with my family when i was a cabinet minister. He said there was a need for undercover officers but the legislation should tackle how to stop legitimate police work sliding into illegitimate investigations. Finally, lets end the programme where we began, with events in the commons to mark rememberance day. In a special debate, the defence minister recalled his own time in the army, serving in iraq and afghanistan. When you are behind the wall and the rounds are hitting the other side, or an ied has just gone up, and off, you know you have to stand up and close with the enemy and do your duty, it is a moment when you realise a lot about yourself. It is also a moment when, sadly, people dont always return at the end of it. And their loss is something that i feel so keenly every time that i pause and reflect on my experiences in iraq and afghanistan. A conservative mp and former British Army Officer remembered the men killed under his command at ballykelly in Northern Ireland on 6 december 1982. 17 people died that day, six of them civilians. He recounted what hed found when he went into the bombed droppin well disco. Almost the first person i saw was a girl, lying on the ground. I was horrified. She had been critically injured. I said, are you hurting . She said, no. I said to her, how are you feeling . She said, i dont know. Whats happened . I said, there has been a bomb. Oh, she said. Am i hurt . I said, you are hurt. She said, am i hurt very badly . I said, you are hurt very badly. She said, am i going to die . Forgive me, i said, yes. I could see no other. There was blood everywhere. She said, am i going to die now . And i said, i think you are. And she said, will you hold me . And i held her and she died within two minutes. I wept. She died in a state of grace. I was a soldier back in the 80s and 90s when women joined a specific core within the three services. I was in the womens royal army corps, and im pleased to say the military has moved on at pace. Today, around 13 of our reserve and regular armed forces are women. That is nearly 21 and a half thousand women in military uniform. She said things had improved for serving women but hoped to chair a committee looking at womens experiences in the military. Whilst there are now great opportunities, the journey to success is often paved with discrimination, harassment and bullying. Whilst the door to equality has been open across the house, we must make sure that those doors are not shut by the ingrained and laddish, culture of the military, and laddish culture, madam deputy speaker, arent my words. They are the words used by the chief Defence Staff to acknowledge there is a problem. Many mps told personal stories. The lib dem leader remembered his grandmother left at home while her husband went to fight. It is her stories of looking after evacuees from londons east end that have for some reason always stuck with me. Stories of how she had to give up her own rations to feed and care for the children, her own, my mother, but children of strangers, of how she took up smoking to calm her nerves, of her ten mile cycle ride to the factory making radios for submarines. Submarines her younger brother were serving on my uncle sam. When my grandmother died at age 90, i was so proud when, from a congregation of 12, two of her evacuees came to say thank you. A labour mp told the story of her great grandmother in 1915. She was six months pregnant. She had a two year old, and was going home to ireland to give birth to her child. As she stepped off that boat, she was given a telegram which told her that her husband had died. He had died in battle in the modern day iran, a mesopotamia campaign. He was major reginald bond, my great grandfather. So my grandmother never knew her father, my own mother never knew her grandfather. And she remains extremely sad and feels the loss of that to this day. Because the effect of war carries on through generations. Madam deputy speaker, the scottish poet newman row wrote, sweet bears sleep now, wherever they are lying. Far though they be from the hills of their home. We will rememberthem. David linden speaking in that debate to mark rembrance day. And thats it from me for now but dojoin me next time for our round up of the week at westminster. But for now from me, alicia mccarthy, goodbye. Hello there. The weather will quieten down for a day or so before it turns more unsettled as we move towards the end of the week and the weekend. But todays dry and settled weather is thanks to a ridge of High Pressure. But it wont last long as cloud and showers start to push into Western Areas. Now thats the overnight wind and rain clearing away from the east coast. This ridge of High Pressure settles things down briefly before the next low pressure moves into the west of the uk through the afternoon. So we could have a hang back of clouds and showers for a time across the east, hanging around shetland pretty much all day. And much of the country is dry with plenty of sunshine around, but youll see the clouds thickening up out west. Outbreaks of rain pushing in here, more prolonged rain pushing in for western scotland by the end of the day, along with the strengthening winds. Temperatures down on what we had yesterday, 10 13 celsius. Now its dry for much of central and eastern parts of the country as we head through the course of the night, but this band of rain, some of it heavy, and strong winds slowly pushing eastwards followed by some blustery showers. Very windy conditions across the northwest of scotland, but a pretty blustery night for most areas. Those temperatures generally in single figures high single figures, mind you, we could see 9 10 celsius across the south of england. So this is the pressure chart for friday, low pressure to the north west of the uk, lots of isobars in the northwest, so very windy here. But it will still be quite gusty with this band of rain lying through central parts of the country for friday morning. That should eventually clear way to the north sea, and skies will brighten up for most of the afternoon. But therell be lots of showers rattling into northern and Western Areas some of these will be heavy and quite frequent with rumbles of thunder across the northwest of scotland. Those temperatures 10 13 celsius, and with the wind it will feel on the cool side, despite it being fairly mild. The low pressure really dominates the scene as we head to the weekend. You can see lots isobars on the chart, particularly across the south of the country, and plenty of weather fronts indicating some rain. After the last few cool days, it looks like itll turn milder again into the weekend, particularly on saturday. Something slightly cooler pushing in from west as we head through sunday, especially across the north of the uk. So a pretty wild weekend in store, some heavy rain around, strong winds, gales across the south coast. Very mild for a time on saturday, feeling a little bit fresher on sunday. Welcome to bbc news my name is mike embley. Our top stories. Us president Electjoe Biden names a key appointee to his administration longtime aide ron klain will serve as white house chief of staff. As President Trump still holds back from conceding defeat officials in georgia confirm theyll recount the votes cast in the state. Pro democracy lawmakers in hong kong resign en masse, after four of their colleagues are expelled by china for backing independence. As americas covid 19 cases climb to a record high