7,000 extra hospital beds this winter including in pop up sites the nhs in england unveils its plans to cope with expected pressures. and the shortlist is announced for hosting next year s eurovision song contest seven uk cities are in the running. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news channel. a drought has been declared across more than half of england, after the driestjuly on record in some areas of the country. it means water companies can impose stricter measures over how we use water at home and at work. a drought is defined by a lack of water due to extreme weather that has been built up over time. the four stages are normal, prolonged dry weather, drought and severe drought. eight areas have been moved to the third stage, including devon and cornwall, solent and south downs, kent and south london, herts and north london. as well as east anglia, thames, lincolnshire and northamptonshire, east midlands. in the wake of low rainfall and high temperatures, water c
should be movement on three fronts, one is reducing water demand, second is dealing with leakage, and third is dealing with leakage, and third is bringing forward more strategic investment in more infrastructure, water supply infrastructure. i believe the commission calculated that the country needed to spend £20 billion to make sure that we are in some way prepared. what would the cost be if we did not invest that money? cost be if we did not invest that mone ? ~ ., ., cost be if we did not invest that mone ? ~ . ., , ., money? well, there are a number of different ways money? well, there are a number of different ways you money? well, there are a number of different ways you could money? well, there are a number of different ways you could look - money? well, there are a number of different ways you could look at i different ways you could look at what the cost will be. we know that the cost will be big, if we get into a situation where there are severe water shortages, we nee