Tea m Lizzy Yarnold, she has been named as team gbs flag bearer. More from her later. Louise has the weather. that is 1; our l. That iseeeizz they that is ; they are they are glorious start, cold and frosty, 6 vii; fiifc in southern england. Unfortunately, the cloud has arrived and we have a weather front. It is the cloud has arrived and we have a weatherfront. It is bringing rain, if we look at the Lake District, we ¥ w 7 12 ; ii can see rain pushing east overnight. More coming up. Thanks, louise. Also coming up well be giving a warm handshake and not in any way a dodgy one to the head of the freemasons in england and wales. Hell tell us why he thinks theyre getting an unfair press. We always seem to talk in a negative way when we discuss seen on the ie Interest Rate rises, have seen on the banknotes, is the seeing eye, but for millions of savers efi ourselves z z ~ of course they are good news. They, at least, will take cheer from bank of england chief mark carneys suggestion that rates would need to rise earlier and more quickly if the economy remains on its current track. The bank voted unanimously to keep Interest Rates on hold at 0. 5 at their latest meeting. But some economists think the next rate rise could come as soon as may. If youve got a mortgage or loan of course, that does not come in the good news category. A surrounded our economics correspondent andy verity reports. If the whole economy performed like this manchester maker of branded clothing, its biggest problems would be almost solved. Its growing fast, exporting to europe and boosting productivity through investment. And while inflation caused by the weak pound boosted its costs, its been able to absorb out and carry on winning new orders. The last 12 months, weve grown in a strange environment, surrounded by scary things, we know giving them that teddy bear makes them feel more by 20 in the uk but europe has been co mforta ble, that teddy bear makes them feel more comfortable, makes them feel safer much stronger than that, in that environment. That is who we are, what we do. Im looking at you so we have more than doubled because theres something still the growth rate in the uk. About that word freemasonry that makes people feel uneasy. Its men im cautiously optimistic about the future. We are making Major Investments over the next 12 months in technology, which will allow us to increase only, that causes some suspicion. Productivity and efficiency, and improve quality its not men only. I am here to bust and service to our customers. The key to this companys myths today. Were not men only. Competitiveness is speed. Coming up with Branded Products much faster than you if you ordered them from china. There are two womens grand lodges the speed of growth in the wider economy had been slowing in the United Kingdom s, thousands but recently its growing faster of women freemasons. Wevejust than expected and today celebrated the hundredth anniversary the bank of england said of the suffragettes, two leading it is probably growing as fast as it can without overheating. Suffragettes 100 years of the suffragettes, two leading suffragettes100 years ago where lady freemasons and if you look at gdp growth is expected to average around one and three quarters percent over the forecast period, our twitter feed you can see who they were. We are showing pictures a little stronger than projected in november. To back up your point. One myth com pletely to back up your point. One myth completely busted. In terms of the while modest by historic standards, secrecy, completely busted. In terms of the this demand growth is still expected secrecy, why do you have the secret to exceed the diminished rate of supply growth over words and rituals . If you say, this the forecast period. Is us, nothing to hide, why hide anything . I dont think were a the key judgment for the bank of england is when the next rise secret organisation, i work in in Interest Rates comes. Headquarters in Covent Garden, a massive great building, for years today, its Monetary Policy committee weve had public tours going around Covent Garden every single day. We held the official rate at 0. 5 . But following the banks warning, bring the public in, show them, weve got a museum, library, they in the city theyre saying the next are welcome to see what we do. Up rise is likely in may. And down the country we are opening prices are still rising our masonic centres for the same faster than wages meaning on average your real income will thing. Question and answer sessions. Buy less and less. But the bank of englands big we wa nt thing. Question and answer sessions. We want to be known for who we are, judgment call is we will get bigger pay rises in the years to come. Not through this tired lens of what people think we do. Do you still if theyre right about that, the squeeze on Living Standards should start to ease. Wear blindfolds . Its part of our ceremony as well, yes, if you look the weaker pound has raised the cost of imported goods, including Raw Materials for firms at any of the things 300 years old, like this one, but because an Interest Rate rise the stuff that has evolved around the stuff that has evolved around the church, around the house of is now expected soon, lords, there are things that if you take them out of context and dont investors expect to make more Money Holding pounds. Understand why they are there, that that has pushed up the value is strange. Its not unique to of the pound by a cent this afternoon, if it stays stronger, freemasonry. Sate you are having one that should help to of your ceremonies and a member of contain inflation. The public wandered in and was andy verity, bbc news. Watching from the balcony above, and andy verityjoins me now. Would they think this is rather old we do always seem to have a negative and quaint or would they think this feel about higher Interest Rates, isa and quaint or would they think this is a bit edgy. This looks very but they are good news for some. Strange. I came in as a shy they go up for a good reason. What 18 year old, id never heard of the the banks make a judgment on is if freemasons before ijoined, ijoined ona whim, the banks make a judgment on is if the economy is growing within its freemasons before ijoined, ijoined capacity. If it goes too fast, it on a whim, friend of mine asked if i wa nted on a whim, friend of mine asked if i wanted to go along and it seems like good idea. Of course the ceremony overheats, thats inflation. If it you go through, the initiation, seem goes at its speed limit where a car strange at the time. When youve can manage, you wont get beenin information, you will get a nice strange at the time. When youve been ina strange at the time. When youve been in a couple of months, years, speed of the economy as you want. It starts to make sense. They are the bank has to work out whether the sweet morality plays which teach us to consider ourselves, reflect on economy is likely to grow faster our behaviour, to think of our thanit economy is likely to grow faster than it can produce the goods. If people demand more goods, the position within society, of those economy can produce, and you get less fortu nate. Position within society, of those less fortunate. And how we can help them. £33 million we race last year inflation. It wants to head that. The economy is growing faster, which out of our own membership to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Is good news, to prevent it out you are a doctor in hospital, growing, growing too fast, it has to someone you are a doctor in hospital, someone walks in, needs an headit growing, growing too fast, it has to head it off within interest rise. Operation, there is a list, a continuing your analogy, they are weight. If you were sitting next to driving in the rear view mirror, them the week before in a lodge working on the basis of what has happened. No one can forecast what meeting, did you help them in a way is happening next. It is a foggy you wouldnt have helped others . No, view ahead. The bank can only because we are based on integrity and morality and the oldest we take predict to some extent. It is honest in our ceremony say we must uphold about that. They say the economy is the law of the land that we live in Strong Enough for us to remove and the spirit and the moral aspects support. Nice plain in this on the of the law as well. That sort of bank of england website. It means, when you have Interest Rates low, it thing isnt tolerated, its a myth, supports the economy by making it it doesnt happen. Ill tell you something, i represent 200,000 easy to borrow money. There is nothing in the way of generating members in the uk. Are there are a few bad apples . Absolutely. If we Economic Activity if they want to. The support of having super cheap find out about them we expel them, credit is no longer as necessary, we dont tolerate that. Its they think. They have removed some outrageous the other 198,000 people support. We rarely talk about arejudged by the savers, but they have a different ta ke savers, but they have a different take on this. Back in 2009 when outrageous the other 198,000 people are judged by the same token. Think of Sherlock Holmes, there are Interest Rates were cut to an portrayals of freemasonry and these historic low of 0. 5 , the then governor said they would go back up. Rituals, very dark, very unpleasant. A decade later, they are at 0. 5 and does it strike you potty . Havent got any higher. The city absolutely, look at a mosque at midsummer murders, all of these thinks a rise is likely in may, and things, it makes great drama. For 20 yea rs or things, it makes great drama. For 20 there could be another one early years or so things, it makes great drama. For 20 years or so it has made great drama. Next. It could end up higher than enough is enough, its time for us was previously thought. You are to come out and say this is who we are, talk to us, look at our talking about affordable loans compared to 20 years ago. Andy, website, see what we do, who we thank you very much. Really are. Very good of you to talk dont forget you can let us know what you think tweet about it. Doctor david staples, good us using the hashtag, afternoonlive. To talk to you, thanks for coming low pay and overwhelming pressures all the ways to contact us on screen right now. Of work mean that adult care staying with the theme. Services in england can no longer fill key posts according to the National Audit office. It claims a lack of government planning and funding has undermined the sector, almost all Council Tax Payers in england face higher bills and charges from april, at a time when demand because local authorities for it is increasing. Say theyre struggling to make ends meet. Heres our social affairs correspondent, alison holt. A survey suggests around three quarters of councils its a busy lunchtime at northfields are planning an increase of at least 2. 5 . Nursing home in sheffield. That would mean more than demanding work for the care staff who are looking after residents £40 on the average bill. With a high level of need. Duncan kennedy reports and todays report outlines just how difficult it has become to find from guildford in surrey, the people needed to provide where the county council is facing this vital care. A budget shortfall of more than a £100 million. Joyce . Adult social care, childrens services, transport subsidies and infrastructure projects. These are all the cornerstone good afternoon. Services of our lives its only me. Sorry to bother you, darling. Tammy ardron is the nursing lead here. And council spending. Finding care staff generally is a problem but she says attracting but todays report says, in england, nurses has become a real issue for them. I dont think it is as attractive theyre all under pressure. As maybe the nhs, where youve got your salary packages, our reseach shows councils are enhanced rates of pay right on the edge financially. And sociable hours. And i think its hard work. They are keeping services its busy, its constant. Together but only doing that you got to be on the by whacking up council tax, ball 2a hours a day. Charging for everything they can the report also says, with councils and draining their reserves. Todays research by the local struggling with budget cuts, Government Information Unit heard from a third of English Councils and found nearly all of them plan to the money they pay for care doesnt cover costs. Increase council tax. With 95 of Authorities Saying and, according to the boss of this they expect taxes to rise. Home, some providers have had no choice but to close or risk 93 of councils say they expect the quality of care falling. To increase the price the only way that these operators can continue is to cut the standard of services they charge for, because fundamentally the funding and those figures come as eight in ten councils say they fear issue is impacting on the resources, the workers and the delivery of care. The National Audit office says, for their long term financial sustainability. Whilst working in care take surreys pothole bill, the council reckons it can be rewarding, many staff feel undervalued. Would take £300 million in 2016 17 more than half of the workforce was paid to fix all of its roads. £7. 50 an hour or less. And its got 1300 miles of roads in the same year, staff turnover was nearly 28 . And 6. 6 ofjobs were vacant. That need repairing. But it says there is no Government Strategy for tackling the problems. Only the department of health can it says it cant do everything. But when you tell people hear their council tax is about to go up, 6 , produce a work for strategy that the largest anywhere in england, well. Theres not always much support. The county council has voted to put up your council tax by 6 , what do you think . Speaks to the National Picture i think all of the councils are doing it, no one is pleased about the problems that we found because we dont have of low pay, low prestige and high enough money to go around turnover rates which is reducing the quality of service for people who are actually receiving care. And pay the other bills. In response, the department what do you think about the fact Surrey Council is putting up of health and social care says extra the council tax by 6 . Money is being put into social care and that it will soon publish its a liberty, a strategy for the health and care workforce. You dont agree . Alison holt, bbc news. Ina i dont agree at all. Nobody welcomes a tax rise but if it goes towards increased payment to carers, people will be ok with that. In a moment well have the business last week, northamptonshire county use, but first a look at the council banned all new spending headlines. The bank of england has and said its financial signalled Interest Rates could rise future was grave. Soon and earlier vaniteux at three months ago but for now the key lending rate remained unchanged. But the government says its financial settlement high Council Tax Bills on the way as for local authorities is balanced between pressures on Councils Local Authorities struggle to ends and strains on taxpayers. Meet. New figures from the nhs in its for individual councils to decide whats the right balance england say a thousand people have to strike between raising money to wait more than 12 hours for for Services People want to see, funding things like adult social treatment in accident and Emergency Departments last month. Hello im ben bland care, but making the tax rises are not excessive for constituents. Here to give you the business some have said councils are perilously close to financial collapse. Headlines on afternoon live. Resources, how to create them, how to spend them is as always at the heart of this debate. As youve just heard the bank of england gave its Interest Rate decision but it also upgraded its forecast duncan kennedy, bbc news. For the uks Economic Growth this year, to 1. 7 . Thats up from the previous january was one of the worst months forecast of 1. 5 . The bank says it may start to raise on record for hospital waiting times interst rates earlier than thought. It noted that the countrys economy in a e departments in england, was benefitting from a pickup according to the latest figures. In growth across the world. More than a thousand patients had to wait over 12 hours to be seen. Nhs england says the four hour it also thinks that uk wage growth will start to pick up, waiting time target was missed giving the economy a further boost. For the 13th month in a row. Debenhams is planning to cut 320 lets speak to our Health Correspondent nick triggle. In store management roles as part every hour that you wait, talk talk slashed its dividend and particularly if you are in considerable pain, of course, makes things difficult. These figures are devastating for them. Yes, what seems to have been particularly bad injanuary seems to have been particularly bad in january were trolley waiting. This is when a doctor decides they said it would sell £200 million of need to be admitted into hospital on shares on the Stock Exchange. Debenhams is planning to cut 320 in store management roles as part a ward, seriously ill but they cant of a programme to reduce costs find them a bed. It shows there were by £10 million. The high street retailer, record numbers waiting overfour which issued a profit warning injanuary, said it aimed hours for a bed, and record numbers to redeploy staff where possible. The move could hit 25 waiting over 12 hours. Overall, a e of store management roles ac