including in other countries. uk ministers are due to unveil further measures to help thousands of people living in buildings deemed unsafe since the grenfell tower disaster. six republican senators join democrats in voting to push ahead with donald trump's impeachment trial. and coming up this hour — the perils of the zoom call — a forlorn texas lawyer tells thejudge �*i am not a cat', as he's defeated by a kitten—filter. good morning and welcome to bbc news. england's deputy chief medical officer says it's "really worrying" that there's lower take up of the coronavirus vaccine among ethnic minorities in the uk. in the past hour, professorjonathan van—tam, has been answering audience questions about about vaccines and covid misinformation here on bbc news, and the asian network. it comes amid hesitancy in black and asian communities about vaccine uptake. i have concerns that uptake in the minority ethnic groups is not going to be as rapid or as high as in the indigenous white population of the uk. and this really concerns me because you know the big message i have for everyone listening is, look, this virus just doesn't care what ethnic background you are from. it just doesn't care about the colour of your skin or where you live in the world or any of these things. itjust cares that you are a human being, that you don't have immunity and that you are susceptible, and this is really worrying. and it's a massive concern to people who are older and people who have high—risk conditions. the virus just does not discriminate. the comments from england's deputy chief medical officer come as the transport secretary, grant shapps, has suggested that �*vaccine passports' could be introduced to help the tourism industry recover from the pandemic. he said the government had been talking to other countries about the possibility of an international system to check whether people have been immunised against coronavirus. whilst holidays are illegal essentialjourneys whilst holidays are illegal essential journeys are still happening. liz travelled to portugal when her father happening. liz travelled to portugal when herfather died happening. liz travelled to portugal when her father died and happening. liz travelled to portugal when herfather died and under strict rules coming into force on monday she will now need to spend ten days and a quarantine hotel at the cost of £1700 when she returns home. it the cost of £1700 when she returns home. , ., ., ., ~ home. it is extortionate. ithink it will be really _ home. it is extortionate. ithink it will be really depressing - home. it is extortionate. ithink it will be really depressing on - home. it is extortionate. ithink it will be really depressing on top i home. it is extortionate. ithink itj will be really depressing on top of being quite miserable anyway. we are coming back not from a nice holiday but from grieving from a loss. no families, i think that is to be considered and how they treat people. considered and how they treat eo - le. considered and how they treat --eole. ., , , considered and how they treat --eole. , ., people. under new measures or passengers _ people. under new measures or passengers will _ people. under new measures or passengers will have _ people. under new measures or passengers will have to - people. under new measures or - passengers will have to self-isolate passengers will have to self—isolate for ten days and be tested on day two and the eight. an angle and those arriving from the 33 countries on the red less money to quarantine any hotel at their own cost. if people violate the rule that could piece face large fines and ten years unpleasant. scotland has gone one step further and confirmed anyone returning from a blogger have to enter the quantity hotel. the idea is to stop variance getting a foothold by the airline industry is concerned the more restrictions are added to the longer they will take to remove. the added to the longer they will take to remove. ,., , added to the longer they will take to remove-— added to the longer they will take to remove. , , , , to remove. the body this is in place over several — to remove. the body this is in place over several months _ to remove. the body this is in place over several months over _ to remove. the body this is in place over several months over the - to remove. the body this is in place i over several months over the summer and into the autumn and be desperately need review periods so we can look at the implementation and effectiveness and once it is safe to do so opening up the sector. the health secretary says the travel rules will be relaxed and solicitous left now. —— as sooner that is traditional. —— a solicitous safety flocking some mps have been what it about the nature of the restrictions and length. we it comes to hotel quarantine the initial contracts with hotels suggest there would be an end date of the 31st of march however these contracts can be renewed on a rolling basis and that is some worry there may be difficult to unpick some of them. there are also concerns about the nature of the fines, the draconian £10,000 frame throw fine which is under fraudulent legislation and that has been some concerns about that and more concerned when the transport secretary was saying just as we are all freezing and the middle of winter as thoughts turn to summer holidays he is saying they may be some way off. it might be next year and not this. the key question could be, when will we be able to travel, when will we be able to do international travel? the answer is we don't know the answer to that question yet. it depends both on the level of vaccination here and critically elsewhere. and as i mentioned, i am just checking the figures this morning, we have done 13 million plus vaccinations which is just more than the whole of the eu put together. so we will need to wait for other countries to catch up as well in order to be able to do that wider international unlock because we can only control the situation here in the uk. we have to beat and to international travellers back in the genital topknot travel last summer and travel cargoes opened up based on s. level b internal pressure on government ministers to see what rebuke the criteria we are suggesting that mass vaccinations have to take place before we start easing some of those restrictions. add models. another issue is as that of vaccine passports, he was making it very clear the kind of vaccine passports were off the agenda, a domestic passport and other once the idea that if you have been vaccinated and had proof of residence that would allow you to escape some of the restrictions and go into pubs or cafe is without social distancing adhesives and know thatis social distancing adhesives and know that is none of that but he did say he was working with international partners talk at what would happen if people require to have proof of vaccination if they were travelling abroad and that was interesting because the vaccine minister at the weekend said that kind of policy would be divisive and the government was not looking at it at all. labour's main focus has been on the border policy saying there be blanket hotel quarantine but on the issue of vaccine passports the shuttle home secretary said the party had an open mane. a vaccine passport or some sort of certificate of immunisation, this is not new, that has been happening with other things like yellow fever and visiting other countries so off—course we will look at a proposal like that to facilitate safe travel and the future but that is not dealing with the urgency of the moment which is to get the comprehensive measures in place at the border and for the government not to be behind the curve. it was late and june, late on testing and they really have to catch up and get they really have to catch up and get the comprehensive hotel quarantine system and place. borisjohnson faces boris johnson faces questions borisjohnson faces questions at pm cues and over and we had a bit of a sneak preview the other. they are keeping an open mind on vaccine passports but this is suggesting the government should be even tougher on restricting people coming and to suppress the possibility of new variants spreading and i would be surprised possibly even shocked fact was not raised in the house of commons and an hour. let's speak now to paul charles, founder and chief executive of the travel consultancy company, the pc agency. are you assuming that foreign holidays will not be happening this summer? , ., ., , ., summer? there is no doubt that the rhetoric coming _ summer? there is no doubt that the rhetoric coming from _ summer? there is no doubt that the rhetoric coming from government i summer? there is no doubt that the l rhetoric coming from government has hardened. they are making a pretty clear that it is embarking on coordinated action across the world with other governments in terms of making sure that borders are closed one as long as necessary in order to stop new variants coming in and so what is happening as a tightening of border restrictions for longer than was anticipated at the start of this year and clearly that is something thatis year and clearly that is something that is deeply worrying for the airline and travel sector. [30 that is deeply worrying for the airline and travel sector. do you see anyway _ airline and travel sector. do you see anyway through, _ airline and travel sector. do you see anyway through, any - airline and travel sector. do you - see anyway through, any alternative to that coordinated vaccine plan that you think is afoot? looking back to last the travel for instance. i back to last the travel for instance-— back to last the travel for instance. ., , ., ., ., instance. i do see a way through and the are instance. i do see a way through and they are more _ instance. i do see a way through and they are more optimistic _ instance. i do see a way through and they are more optimistic than - instance. i do see a way through and they are more optimistic than some. i cannot believe we will have a sum of this year that is worse than last summer and an environment when 30 million british people have been vaccinated and edged do not think the latest people will stand for that having been unlocked in fossil long and then told the vaccinations are the way out and a route back to some form of normality i do not think they will accept not being allowed to travel across the uk and overseas. they will not be able to go to every country but there should be some european countries they can go to at the way out may be through some form of vaccination proof, digital health passport or certificate, various terms for that but i think when we get to may we will be an a very different place. the nhs will not be under pressure, the vaccination programme will have gone according to plan and the number of infections and mortalities will be much lower than it is today. when there is discussion about the vaccine programme opening up travel, it is unclear what that would mean because presumably it would mean both doses and we are not on course for everybody to have had both doses. particularly not children, i know you don't know the answer to this but these are questions that need to be answered, would it mean kids being vaccinated as well in which case foreign travel would be off the agenda for the long time. you have to go back think to the start of this pandemic and that fact has the most vulnerable who are at risk here. the government always are set out as other governments have done to vaccinate the most vulnerable and once they have been vaccinated with two doses then we should be in a position to open things up and i would hope the prime minister is going to outline that on tribute 22nd. —— february 22. looking forward to may once the most vulnerable have had two doses why isn't the economy opening up and the government threatening tens of thousands ofjobs and the travel sector and other sectors that rely on travel when most people had been vaccinated. eitherthe on travel when most people had been vaccinated. either the vaccine works on its does not, what is the answer? you said you could not envisage the summer being worse than last summer and obviously there were questions last year about how the travel companies could weather it. we are heading into another one, what do uc as the shape of the industry going forward and some might look and see it as effectively turning back the clock... sorry i am stowed i need to say goodbye to people on bbc two. thank you for your company on bbc two. goodbye. ok, to pick up on that thought, some might say it is actually an enforced way of turning back the clock on the fact there was that huge plate of cheap travel, not good for the environment going for the world is going to look different. is that a way of looking at it? what do you think of that? without doubt the sector is resetting and that is important that it does, they needs to be more responsible and sustainable. the pace of growth and the sector was not sustainable so yes and a funny way the pandemic may bring about better travel and building back better travel and building back better as some have been talking about. that is a good thing but at the moment i can assure you the travel sector is not any good mood, not a good place because you have governments which are restricting people moving around and those in the travel sector have to plan the flights for the future, plan how hotels and opening so on the one hand you have the government desperate for hotels to help with hotel quarantine and there are not many queueing up to do it and on the other hand you have the transport secretary saying we do not need hotels because you will not be able to go anywhere anyway. it is understandable that hotels and some of the sector are looking at mothball and to answer your question i think that will be many casualties notjust i think that will be many casualties not just small firms to watch across travel like told operators and travel like told operators and travel agents but some of the airlines are going to be at risk if there is no travel and the next six months. ., ~ there is no travel and the next six months. ., ,, , ., the prince of wales and the duchess of cornwall have had their first coronavirus vaccinations.the news from clarence house this morning, comes a month after the queen and prince philip received their coronavirus jabs. both prince charles and camilla are in the 70 and over age bracket who are being urged to come forward if they have not yet received the vaccine. the president of the european union has said the world has underestimated the difficulty of mass producing vaccines. ursula von der leyen has come under pressure over the slow roll—out of vaccines across the eu. she said manufacturers had to deliver according to a reliable schedule. indeed, industry has to match the ground—breaking pace of science. we fully understand that difficulties will arise in the mass production of vaccines. but europe has invested billions of euro in capacities in advance and we urge the member states to plan their vaccine roll—out. so now we all need predictability. hundreds of thousands of people living in buildings deemed unsafe since the grenfell disaster will find out this lunchtime how the government plans to help them. an estimated 700,000 people are still living in high—rise blocks with flammable cladding. the government announced £1.6bn building safety fund in 2020 to help. a committee of mps estimating the total cost of the crisis could run to £15bn. here's presenter of the bbc�*s grenfell tower inquiry podcast, kate lamble. the government has already agreed to pay for the removal of aluminium composite materialfrom pay for the removal of aluminium composite material from the outside of buildings, the same cladding used on grenfell and it has created a £1 billion fund for the removal of other types of flammable cladding but the full cost of all this work is estimated to be in the region of £15 billion to the question today is how far the government goes towards that and there are lots of questions within that. well any fund, just cladding removal or more work? we know there are many blocks have been given bills of hundreds of thousands of pounds for other fire safety were accessed as the installation of cavity to stop the spread of fire, will that be covered? well—defined coverjust will that be covered? well—defined cover just those will that be covered? well—defined coverjust those buildings above 18 metres on others as well? we know there are around 2000 high—rise residential buildings and england with flammable cladding still on it but there are many more mid and low rise buildings and the same situation at the residence and those blocks with probability see themselves covered entities announcement. —— covered in today's announcement. took custody of what is expected. —— took us through what is expected. —— took us through what is expected. it is still thought that more than half of buildings identified across the country are still covered and the country are still covered and the grenfell style flammable cladding and the key question remains as to who is going to pay for these media works. we are talking about thousands of buildings including high—rise mid and low—rise. last year £1.6 billion boating safety fund was set up to tackle the issue which is now thought to be more in the region of 15 billion and the government under huge pressure to address this issue as thousands of people are being had ljy as thousands of people are being had by higher insurance costs and other fire safety measures identified after the grenfell disaster and mortgage minders refusing to when money against property should not only are people trapped inside buildings which are deemed to be unsafe they also cannot sell those homes, effectively worthless. haley isjust homes, effectively worthless. haley is just one example, she homes, effectively worthless. haley isjust one example, she bought homes, effectively worthless. haley is just one example, she bought her flat at the age of 27, it had always been a dream of hers to own a home by the time she was 30 and by the time she was 28 she was bankrupt due to the test and moshi had to spend on service charges and money to the fire warden and she makes the point that she never chose the cladding, she was just left to pick up the bill. i asked my housing association, could i please rent it out and they were a bit, "mm, oh." and just, ijust felt trapped and nowhere to turn. it'sjust a nightmare, really and i'm not a special case. a lot of my neighbours and a lot of other people in buildings up and down the country, really, are all in my situation. it's a ticking time bomb, really. it's like dominoes. we have been begging and pleading for months, years, ages. no one has listened and now it's a point of emergency. i am bankrupt and a lot of other people are on the way to going bankrupt. two people have taken their lives, sadly. it's dreadful. it shouldn't have been allowed to go on for so long. at 1230 today we expect to hear from the housing secretary perry will get more details about government support because warnings are that unless the amount of direct funding is increased more and more of these costs will be passed on to leaseholders which is exactly what happened in 2017. let's discuss this in more detail with the conservative mp and father of the house, sir peter bottomley — who has campaigned on this issue on behalf of leaseholders. also i'm joined by labour's shadow housing secretary, thangam debbonaire. we are expecting the pot to go up to 5 billion that to deal with this issue,is 5 billion that to deal with this issue, is that enough? we 5 billion that to deal with this issue, is that enough? we will not know until — issue, is that enough? we will not know until we _ issue, is that enough? we will not know until we hear _ issue, is that enough? we will not know until we hear the _ issue, is that enough? we will not know until we hear the detail- issue, is that enough? we will not know until we hear the detail and l issue, is that enough? we will notj know until we hear the detail and i will be listening very carefully and responding to the secretary of state shortly but when will buildings be safe, will he keep his promise government has made 17 times and will he also protected taxpayer by making sure he goes after the industry to recoup the costs. will it help people like hayley? she mentioned her neighbours, there is natalie who i spoke to last week, will in the nhs, thousands of people across the country who are faced with bills of £50,000 and many of them all something not be able to cope with that. will it answer their questions? i also hope the government has heeded labour opposed my call for taking us out of party politics, putting it in the hands of an independent cladding task force urgently with specialist rick and get on with the job which the government has failed to do so far of assessing the risk said of an arbitrary number of 18 metres, assessing buildings by risk and putting a hard deadline of nextjune for getting this sorted. putting a hard deadline of next june for getting this sorted.— for getting this sorted. peter, do ou for getting this sorted. peter, do you understand _ for getting this sorted. peter, do you understand it _ for getting this sorted. peter, do you understand it says _ for getting this sorted. peter, do you understand it says it - for getting this sorted. peter, do you understand it says it to - for getting this sorted. peter, do you understand it says it to say l for getting this sorted. peter, doj you understand it says it to say it is a glance at the building is over 18 metres and loans if it is under? i have not had the announcement yet but if _ i have not had the announcement yet but if that _ i have not had the announcement yet but if that is— i have not had the announcement yet but if that is what comes it will be tested _ but if that is what comes it will be tested by— but if that is what comes it will be tested by parliament but the key point _ tested by parliament but the key point to — tested by parliament but the key point to a — tested by parliament but the key point to a residential lease tenant as they— point to a residential lease tenant as they read not responsible, they need _ as they read not responsible, they need their— as they read not responsible, they need their homes to be safe whether the ad _ need their homes to be safe whether the ad above or below 18 metres and it to be _ the ad above or below 18 metres and it to be saleable and not to carry the cross — it to be saleable and not to carry the cross and the end. the test will be globe _ the cross and the end. the test will be globe government provide the money, _ be globe government provide the money, will leaseholders not carry liability— money, will leaseholders not carry liability and get on to live their lives _ liability and get on to live their lives the — liability and get on to live their lives the way they thought they had until the _ lives the way they thought they had until the scandal of the way these unsafe _ until the scandal of the way these unsafe buildings were put up as late arrest _ unsafe buildings were put up as late arrest to _ unsafe buildings were put up as late arrest. to give a personal example we need _ arrest. to give a personal example we need to— arrest. to give a personal example we need to make sure... lives are not lost _ we need to make sure... lives are not lost either by fire or financial ruin _ not lost either by fire or financial ruin. ., ,., , ., ruin. you said the government is to ste u- ruin. you said the government is to step up now — ruin. you said the government is to step up now but — ruin. you said the government is to step up now but then _ ruin. you said the government is to step up now but then recoup - ruin. you said the government is to step up now but then recoup the i step up now but then recoup the costs. we are hearing it through the enquiry into the grenfell disaster how complicated it is going to be to unravel. exactly who carries the can in the end because there is a long chain going back different responsibilities. as government cash upfront effectively going to be cash lost to the taxpayer? the upfront effectively going to be cash lost to the taxpayer?— lost to the taxpayer? the fact that as complicated — lost to the taxpayer? the fact that as complicated as _ lost to the taxpayer? the fact that as complicated as exactly - lost to the taxpayer? the fact that as complicated as exactly why - lost to the taxpayer? the fact that as complicated as exactly why it i as complicated as exactly why it needs to be taken off the shoulders of leaseholders. the government is much more capable of taking on that complexity and what we know as three years on 50,000 people still living with exactly the same cladding and the scheme the government came up with last year is not working because most of the money is not out the door. this is about safety and justice and whether a complicated process is involved that should be a burden the government takes off the shoulders of leaseholders but also takes responsibility for making sure the taxpayer does not get landed with the bill. the the taxpayer does not get landed with the bill.— with the bill. the total bill is 15 billion is that _ with the bill. the total bill is 15 billion is that money _ with the bill. the total bill is 15 billion is that money that - with the bill. the total bill is 15 i billion is that money that should with the bill. the total bill is 15 - billion is that money that should be spent upfront by the government? part of the problem is the government has not done what they should have done three years ago and do a proper risk assessment to cover all sorts of fire risks. this is partly about cladding but also fire breaks and fire doors and alarms, the astronomical cost of insurance, the astronomical cost of insurance, the fact some people cannot sell and are left in financial ruin. the government is to heed the work done by the cross—party select committee but also take the initiative to do a proper assessment of risk and follow the illiberal example of suggestion for back labour suggestion of an independent task force and ticket out of party politics. this independent task force and ticket out of party politics.— out of party politics. this is nearly four _ out of party politics. this is nearly four years _ out of party politics. this is nearly four years since - out of party politics. this is - nearly four years since grenfell and as we have heard from various people stuck in difficult situations, at a something that has been hanging over them for a long time. ihthdi something that has been hanging over them for a long time.— them for a long time. and i think government _ them for a long time. and i think government has _ them for a long time. and i think government has the _ them for a long time. and i think government has the voice - them for a long time. and i think government has the voice to - them for a long time. and i think i government has the voice to listen to the _ government has the voice to listen to the all—party group and the site committee are tiscali liability from the enquiries will make sure the cost will— the enquiries will make sure the cost will have to be carried in the end by— cost will have to be carried in the end by builders, developers, cladding _ end by builders, developers, cladding manufacturers, possibly rockol _ cladding manufacturers, possibly rockol regulators, the insurance business — rockol regulators, the insurance business but leaseholders cannot wait for _ business but leaseholders cannot wait for that so the government is to organise — wait for that so the government is to organise the money, make sure the work is _ to organise the money, make sure the work is done _ to organise the money, make sure the work is done and chase others. let the leaseholders be safe and financially secure.— the leaseholders be safe and financially secure. thank you both. we are going _ financially secure. thank you both. we are going to be _ financially secure. thank you both. we are going to be healing - financially secure. thank you both. we are going to be healing from i financially secure. thank you both. | we are going to be healing from the housing minister and response in the comments after primer most as questions. now, you heard earlier that the prince of wales and the duchess of cornwall have had their coronavirus jabs. the uk government has set a target of vaccinating 15 million over—70s by the middle of this month. and two national treasures are doing their bit to encourage people to have a vaccine, as the national health service tries to meet the deadline. sir eltonjohn, who's 73, and the actor michael caine, who's 87, star in a new advert. eltonjohn, audition, take one. my name is eltonjohn!! cut there. little bit less showbiz, elton. my name is eltonjohn. bit more showbiz. my name is eltonjohn! go for your michael caine impression, just let's - see what it's like. as caine: my name is elton john. beautiful, cut there. the more people in society that get vaccinated, the more chance there is of eradicating the national covid pandemic. it's really important to know that the vaccines have all been through and met the necessary safety and quality standards. so this is the bit when you are - going to have a vaccine now, elton. |sojust kind of pretend that you'rej having the vaccine from the nurse. 0h! what was that, elton? that was me acting. 0k. let's cut that. and as you can see... # i'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah#. wow! 0k. thanks elton. we'll let you know. oh, well. at this short notice you won't find anyone bigger. thank you. hello. my name is michael cain. my name is michael caine. i've just had a vaccine for covid. it didn't hurt. not many people know that. and cut there. marvellous. fantastic. thanks, michael. 0k, let the little fella know he didn't get the job. - hello again. it looks like this cold weather is set to continue for a wee while yet. although, having said that, it also looks like something milder could be coming our way on sunday from the west. but today we continue with snow showers — not all of us seeing them. in between there will be some sunshine around and the wind not as strong as it was yesterday, but still feeling cold. for some, temperatures hardly getting above freezing. as we head on through evening and overnight, look how much the isobars space out. there'll still be some wintry showers in parts of the east, maybe some of those getting into the west tip of cornwall for a time, but it's going to be cold. first thing on thursday morning, these are the kind of temperatures that will greet you in towns and cities. in rural areas, of course, it will be lower than this. so, as we head through tomorrow, maybe some ice to watch out for first thing but a lot of dry weather. a fair bit of sunshine, still a peppering of showers across parts of the north and the east. sunshine turning hazy from the west as we see the arrival of some sleet and snow and then some rain. hello this is bbc news with joanna gosling. the headlines: england's deputy chief medical officer says he's worried about the lower take up of the coronavirus vaccine among ethnic minorities. but he says making the jabs mandatory isn't the answer. this virus just doesn't care what ethnic background you are from, it does not care about the colour of your scan or regular van it does not care about the colour of your skin or where in the world you are from or any of these things. it just cares that you are a human being. the government says "don't book any summer holildays just yet." ministers warn travel depends on �*everyone getting a covid—19 jab, including in other countries. an announcement is expected on further measures to help thousands of people living in buildings deemed unsafe since the grenfell tower disaster. six republican senators join democrats in voting to push ahead with donald trump�*s impeachment trial. the beloved pets who fell foul of dognappers — sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. here�*s jane. good afternoon. venus williams limped off court at the australian open, after her record 21st appearance in melbourne came to a painful end. she rolled her ankle on her way to losing the first set 6—1 against the italian qualifier sara errani. she was already carrying a knee injury and it looked as though she�*d have to retire, but she played on to the end, although she didn�*t win another game. world number one novak djokovic was really pushed by frances tiafoe in their second—round match — the american took the second set on a tie—break, and defending champion djokovic had to dig deep to come through in four sets. he always feels confident on his favourite court. i guess when you win a lot on a certain court you feel more confident each year to this court. it feels right. it feels like my living room to be honest. ifeel very comfortable playing here. yeah, it�*s only that i�*m not sitting on a couch in my living room running a lot of the place. the covid—19 —— there was a far rigorous quarantine programme in melbourne than the one being proposed for tokyo and drastic measures could necessary. i proposed for tokyo and drastic measures could necessary. i would be lookint measures could necessary. i would be lookin: at measures could necessary. i would be looking at the — measures could necessary. i would be looking at the olympic _ measures could necessary. i would be looking at the olympic games - measures could necessary. i would be looking at the olympic games and - looking at the olympic games and extending them so you can divide up the quarantine periods of all the different athletes are not put them in at the same time. they would be site specific areas where you have got your venues and competition spaces. we would not be able to do any other way. but i cannot see him being done any other way unless you are willing to accept a much higher level of risk of spreading the virus. yuriko koike told reporters she will sit out a four—way meeting with ioc, the japanese organizing committee, the government, saying constructive outcome is unlikely to come out of talks under this environment."| find it very very regrettable as head of the host city to have made so many people feel uncomfortable," koike said, noting that 97 city volunteers have submitted resignation in protest to mori�*s remark. they seem to grow daily, cutting into weakening support for the olympics and raising questions why elderly men dominate politics and boardrooms injapan.the governor said as of tuesday, the metropolitan government has received more than 1,400 complaints against mori�*s remarks via email and over the phone. it took a world record to beat her. from ethiopia the athletes at the new mark. and the hollywood takeover is official... film stars ryan reynolds and rob mcelhenney now have 100% control of wrexham. as well has investing two—million pounds, the pair have put together a mission statement. part of it being to always beat their great rivals chester — that will get any doubting fans on side, and in true welsh spirit, the pair have changed their twitter names in line with the town. that�*s all the sport for now. i�*ll have more for you in the next hour. thank you very much. from washington, our correspondent reports. in this vote, the yays are 56, the nays are 44. the first order of business was to decide whether the trial should even go ahead. donald trump�*s lawyers argued it was unconstitutional because he�*s no longer president. but the senate voted to proceed. and democrats previewed the case they plan to make — a visual and visceral account of the capitol riot, linking the president�*s fiery words with disturbing scenes of violence. senators, this cannot... voice cracks. ..be our future. this cannot be the future of america. we cannot have presidents inciting and mobilising mob violence against our government, in our institutions, because they refuse to accept the will of the people under the constitution of the united states. representative so—and—so seeks to walk back comments about... i forget what it was, something that bothered her. mr trump�*s lawyers got off to a rambling and rocky start. sources said he didn�*t sound pleased with their performance. they used their own video evidence to claim that democrats had long been on a mission to impeach the former president, and they dismissed the case as political theatre. i rise today, mr speaker, to call for the impeachment of the president of the united states of america. i continue to say, impeach him! they want to put you through a 16 | hour presentation over two days, | focusing on this as if it was some sort of blood sport. _ and to what end? for healing? for unity? for accountability? not for any of those. for surely there are much better ways to achieve each. _ it is again for pure, raw, misguided partisanship. | the partisan division in the senate held. most republicans voted against proceeding with the trial. they are wary of crossing donald trump. but democrats are determined to make them face in graphic detail the actions of mr trump and his supporters. barbara plett usher, bbc news, washington. buddhist monks, civil servants and students have joined a fifth day of demonstrations in myanmar against last week�*s military takeover. the unrest has continued despite the use of water canon, tear gas and rubber bullets by the security forces on tuesday. our east asia correspondent jonathan head is following developments from neighbouring thailand. he says demonstrators face the ever—present worry that the army will be eventually deployed against them. people are very angry. i mean, there�*s still a tremendous sense of outrage. yangon itself is really more of a festival. it is a defiance of military authority. the military, remember, its stronghold is in this place. it is probably more worried about what happens there. we have got civil servants out on strike on the streets today. but we haven�*t seen the very strong angry rallies we saw yesterday confronting the police. in yangon we�*ve had bare—chested body—builders, we have young women coming in in multicoloured floor length ball gowns. uniforms galore, there are doctors in the hospital grounds, engineers, teachers, again, with their white tops. it�*s very colourful, is very festive. the whole population comes out, holds up pictures of aung san suu kyi. i have a sense that for the moment, maybe the authorities willjust let this run but they will need at some point to decide how they bring it under control because it is a clear defiance of the coup, it�*s a defiance of the warning that laws will be enforced now, that there should be no gatherings of more than five people. and yet i suspect at the top they realise that at least they prefer not to go back to the way in which these sorts of uprisings were dealt with in the past, which involved a lot of bloodshed, huge international condemnation and then isolation for myanmar. but it is not unclear that the authorities who seized power have a game plan for theirs. we are not sure whether they are not just figuring out day—to—day. dog owners are being urged to be extra—vigilant as police warn dog thefts have risen during the last year. demand for puppies went up during lockdown as people spent more time at home and wanted the companionship of a pet. but this sent the prices of puppies higher — and inadvertantly made them more attractive to criminals. the national police chiefs council says it�*s still a rare crime — but dog thefts rose from 172 in 2019 to 465 in 2020. joining me now to discuss this is the director of operations for guide dogs, pete osborne. thank you forjoining us. people trying to steal guide dogs? it is ve rare trying to steal guide dogs? it is very rare that — trying to steal guide dogs? it is very rare that this _ trying to steal guide dogs? ut 3 very rare that this actually happens. we have only heard of a very small number of cases. when an attempt does happen, it is obviously very difficult. as a guide dog owner myself i would find it extremely difficult to lose my independence as well as losing my wonderful dog which is trying to get his hardest to get shot. igrate which is trying to get his hardest to get shot-— to get shot. we love to see men shot. obviously _ to get shot. we love to see men shot. obviously you _ to get shot. we love to see men shot. obviously you have - to get shot. we love to see men shot. obviously you have a - to get shot. we love to see men | shot. obviously you have a guide to get shot. we love to see men - shot. obviously you have a guide dog to counter and support you with your disability. does that make you particularly or anybody in that position, particularly vulnerable to somebody who might want to do what is unimaginable, trying to take away from you such an important support? i think it can do. thank fully our dogs are trained very well to come back and the recall is very good when they are out running about. they also have a bell on the colour like i do with him. so i know where he is. i think it is something we are aware of his guide dog owners but our dogs are very well trained to come back when they are out having a very well—deserved free run. j having a very well-deserved free run. ~ ., , ., , run. i know there is one case in particular— run. i know there is one case in particular you _ run. i know there is one case in particular you can _ run. i know there is one case in particular you can talk - run. i know there is one case in particular you can talk about. i particular you can talk about. maisie mcadam. they were out in basingstoke when somebody approached and attempted to take willow her dog. can you tell us what happened? we believe that they were approached as far as having a lead clipped onto the dog and an attempt to potentially take the dog away. which must have been incredibly frightening for both the dog and the guide dog owner. because the dogs are very used to being with as, working with us. and we have a very strong bond with our dogs, that must have been very frightening for both of them. �* ., .,, ., of them. and how was willow in the end stop from _ of them. and how was willow in the end stop from being _ of them. and how was willow in the end stop from being taken, - of them. and how was willow in the end stop from being taken, if- of them. and how was willow in the end stop from being taken, if the i end stop from being taken, if the lead had been clipped on? thankfully this tuide lead had been clipped on? thankfully this guide dog _ lead had been clipped on? thankfully this guide dog owner— lead had been clipped on? thankfully this guide dog owner has _ lead had been clipped on? thankfully this guide dog owner has a _ lead had been clipped on? thankfully this guide dog owner has a little - this guide dog owner has a little bit of vision unlike myself. this dog owner had some vision and challenged the individual who eventually left the scene. so the thankfully that came to a better ending than it could have done. it could have been so much worse. thankfully this is an extremely rare incident. we know very few across our 90 year history as guide dogs, where this has actually happened. so it is a challenge when it does happen but thankfully it is pretty rare. it happen but thankfully it is pretty rare. , , , ., ~ happen but thankfully it is pretty rare. , ,, ., ~ ., rare. it is upsetting to think that somebody would _ rare. it is upsetting to think that somebody would target - rare. it is upsetting to think that l somebody would target someone rare. it is upsetting to think that - somebody would target someone who is already vulnerable. what would you say to people about who have already described the importance of the guide dogs, but tell me more about the relationship between the owner and the dog. the relationship between the owner and the dog-— the relationship between the owner andthedot. , ., .y , ., , , and the dog. obviously my dog is my life in many — and the dog. obviously my dog is my life in many ways. _ and the dog. obviously my dog is my life in many ways. my _ and the dog. obviously my dog is myj life in many ways. my independence, he enables me to get out and about on my own terms and losing something like that, losing my dog nail would be almost like losing my arm. it would be impossible to imagine. i would be impossible to imagine. i would ask people to think really carefully about that. and the huge support that guide dogs give to their owners, such as myself. it is really important i think that we respect their space when we need to, as everybody is at the moment. i would like to thank everybody out and about who is doing that at the moment. when you see a guide dog out walking, the tendency is to go and have a fast and talk to the guy. i want to thank you for respecting our space and letting us exercise like everybody else does. it is important for us to focus on the bond that there is between us and our dog, their incredible life changing experience it is to own and work with our guide dog and so to lose a guide dog in any circumstances would be absolutely catastrophic. thank ou so be absolutely catastrophic. thank you so much _ be absolutely catastrophic. thank you so much for— be absolutely catastrophic. thank you so much forjoining _ be absolutely catastrophic. thank you so much forjoining us. - be absolutely catastrophic. thank you so much forjoining us. thank you. the headlines on bbc news... england�*s deputy chief medical officer says he�*s worried about the lower take up of the coronavirus vaccine among ethnic minorities. but he says making the jabs mandatory isn�*t the answer. the government says "don�*t book any summer holildays just yet." ministers warn travel depends on �*everyone getting a covid—19 jab, including in other countries. an announcement is expected on further measures to help thousands of people living in buildings deemed unsafe since the grenfell tower disaster. two leading charities say covid restrictions have made this year much tougher for young people dealing with a cancer diagnosis. the teenage cancer trust and clic sargent have written a letter to ministers in the uk�*s four nations to highlight the issue. they say too many young people are having to go alone to hospital checkups and treatment — sometimes for weeks at a time. our health correspondent jim reed reports. 21—year—old daniela alves is a make—up artist and dancer. in september, she was told she had a rare blood cancer. being a make—up artist, ijust thought, like, my hair�*s going to fall off. like, that wasjust, like, everything for me. and i feel like all the worst thoughts just went through my head. the pandemic has made the last year that much tougher for young people already dealing with a diagnosis of cancer. restrictions on hospital visits meant daniela had to go to appointments and treatments by herself. no—one knows you like your mum or a family member. it was just very, very scary. like, there were times where i�*d find myself crying my eyes out, basically, because i wanted a hand to hold. every year, around 4,000 children and young people in the uk receive a cancer diagnosis. today, two medical charities have written to ministers asking them to commit to young people that they should not have to hear the news they have cancer — or face their treatments — alone. it would make an enormous difference to young people's lives just to have somebody with you at the most difficult time with your cancer treatment, and the most difficult time during the global pandemic — to have somebody who you know, and who knows you. 18—year—old mikaela forrester had to go to hospital on her own for a stem—cell transplant. nhs england guidance does say patients like her should be able to have family supporting them. but cancer charities say, too often, that is simply not happening. it would have made, like, i a huge difference if my mum could have been there because there were days when i was up at, - like, six in the morning _ and they were having loads of tests done and it was justl really scary and i just wanted my mum to be there, but she obviously couldn't. i the government says it knows the pandemic is particularly difficult for people like mikaela and daniela. it says it is committed to making hospital visits possible, while managing the risk of infection. jim reed, bbc news. they�*re some of the most stunning images of nature from the last year — today the natural history museum has announced it�*s winners from the wildlife photographer of the year awards. the winning photo was taken by the son of wildlife conservationist steve irwin — robert irwin, who captured australia�*sthe wildfires in australia, by drone. my image depicts a bushfire and this shot was taken while on a trip up to the steve irwin wildlife reserve. i actually launched my drone and sent it over to the fire to get aerial shots. i only had a few minutes of battery left to spare when i finally got over there, so i took the drone right in the middle of it, right in the thick of the smoke, to capture this shot and i�*m really happy with how it turned out. i definitely hope that the audience can find inspiration from the shot and really be inspired to make a difference on the planet. i think that we�*ve seen with the fires, not only here in australia but also in the amazon, in the united states, all over the world, we are really starting to see that we are reaching the tipping point and it is up to us humans to make the difference and make a change for our environment. andy parkinson from derbyshire was one of the final five highly commended photographers in this year�*s competition, and hejoins us now. welcome. we will bring up your photograph. it depicts a mountain here encrusted a nice as she begins to groom, looking remarkably like a ball. it is a beautiful, beautiful photograph. tell us what you set out to achieve because that could not have been easy to take. whenever i thototra-h have been easy to take. whenever i photograph up _ have been easy to take. whenever i photograph up in _ have been easy to take. whenever i photograph up in the _ have been easy to take. whenever i photograph up in the highlands - have been easy to take. whenever i photograph up in the highlands of. photograph up in the highlands of scotland, i never have anything planned. one thing i can control is to be there when the weather conditions are perfect and that is what it was. in this particular winter i was up in scotland for five weeks, and we had one perfect day when we had a big dump of snow with high winds and freezing temperatures and that is what created this spin drift. this is a macro —— hare for a number of years. she is... we had the perfect hare and perfect conditions and then serendipity shone on me and took on this spherical ball shape. i like the icebreaking on her back, almost like tectonic plates. its, icebreaking on her back, almost like tectonic plates-— icebreaking on her back, almost like tectonic plates. a beautiful moment. it is tectonic plates. a beautiful moment. it is stunning- _ tectonic plates. a beautiful moment. it is stunning. she _ tectonic plates. a beautiful moment. it is stunning. she has _ tectonic plates. a beautiful moment. it is stunning. she has got _ tectonic plates. a beautiful moment. it is stunning. she has got use - tectonic plates. a beautiful moment. it is stunning. she has got use to - it is stunning. she has got use to you over the four years means you can get close to her, how close can you be? can get close to her, how close can ou be? , ., can get close to her, how close can ou be? , . ., . , , you be? they are an incredibly confidin: you be? they are an incredibly confiding species _ you be? they are an incredibly confiding species and - you be? they are an incredibly confiding species and if - you be? they are an incredibly confiding species and if you i you be? they are an incredibly i confiding species and if you were respectful with them, then these are animals and particular individuals of these animals are so confiding, it is almost like impossible to articulate. we could easily get within touching distance, we would never want to do that. i was probably about two or three metres away from how about i was lying next to this wild animal in these ferocious conditions for five hours. she was sitting there doing her thing, perfectly adapted to our environment and you have got this strange human being covered in the finer sort of arctic clothing trying to keep warm by doing press ups. it was an adventurous day. it is to keep warm by doing press ups. it was an adventurous day.— was an adventurous day. it is 'ust matical was an adventurous day. it is 'ust magical that fl was an adventurous day. it is 'ust magical that picture i was an adventurous day. it is 'ust magical that picture with i was an adventurous day. it isjust magical that picture with what. was an adventurous day. it isjust| magical that picture with what you call the spin drift filled the air. when we look at pictures like that, it is hard to believe it really is as you saw it. are you allowed to edit them?— edit them? basically the authenticity _ edit them? basically the authenticity of _ edit them? basically the authenticity of the - edit them? basically the | authenticity of the image edit them? basically the i authenticity of the image is critical. i have shopped for national geographic in the past, i like to shiver competitions and the great thing about competitions is that they authenticate their image so they ask for a raw file. we can increase the contrast slightly but increase the contrast slightly but in terms of the actual image, it has to be a completely authentic representation of what we saw. that is why it is nice because you can share with a wider audience an image thatis share with a wider audience an image that is so beautiful and yet is absolutely, that is exactly what we saw. not one single snowflake has been added or removed. that saw. not one single snowflake has been added or removed.— been added or removed. that is brilliant. we _ been added or removed. that is brilliant. we were _ been added or removed. that is brilliant. we were just - been added or removed. that is brilliant. we were just looking l brilliant. we were just looking through some of the other images while we were talking to you they are that made the final cut. they are that made the final cut. they are all stunning images. what does it mean to you as a photographer to have achieved theirs. i do not know how many submissions they get but i imagine it is a lot. thea;r how many submissions they get but i imagine it is a lot.— imagine it is a lot. they get 55,000. — imagine it is a lot. they get 55,000. there _ imagine it is a lot. they get 55,000. there are - imagine it is a lot. they get 55,000. there are wildlife l 55,000. there are wildlife photography competitions all over the world and there is one that stands all above all competitions, it is the pinnacle for well —— wildlife photographers. i have been entering it for 20 years and have an successful four years out of 20. incredibly difficult. it means the world because you get to share your images to a global audience. these mountain hares they are a critical conservation story in britain because they only exist 1% of the 19505 because they only exist 1% of the 1950s population and because of the images myself and other photographers have taken, we have been able to campaign to get them protection. from march this year, mountains —— mantin tos have protection. —— hares. mountains -- mantin tos have protection. -- hares.- mountains -- mantin tos have protection. -- hares. does she have a name? lady- _ protection. -- hares. does she have a name? lady. that— protection. -- hares. does she have a name? lady. that is— protection. -- hares. does she have a name? lady. that is a _ protection. -- hares. does she have a name? lady. that is a beautiful. a name? lady. that is a beautiful photograph _ a name? lady. that is a beautiful photograph and _ a name? lac that is a beautiful photograph and congratulations a name? lac. that is a beautiful photograph and congratulations for doing it. a lawyer in texas was left flummoxed when he discovered his face was appearing as a cat during a court session on zoom. as his assistant tried to rectify the isssue, rod ponton can be heard saying "i�*m here, i�*m not a cat". mark lobel has the story. meet the 69—year—old texan attorney who unintentionally addressed this virtual courtroom as a cat. mr ponton, i believe you have a filter turned on in the video settings. you might want to... uhh! we're trying to... we're trying... can you hear me, judge? i can hearyou, i think it�*s a filter. it is, and i don't know how to remove it. i've got my assistant here, she's trying to, but... 0h. i'm prepared to go forward with it. i'm here live, it's not — i'm not a cat. ican... i can see that. court attorney rod ponton pleaded his case of mistaken identity minutes after he logged on from his secretary�*s computer to defend the state of texas in this civil forfeiture case. everybody's face popped up except mine. mine was a cat. 0h. she had it there, the child had it there. she don't know and i don't know. it just... it just miraculously appeared. after that, the verdict of the judge was to release this normally secretive footage, now seen by millions. i'm here live, i'm not a cat. this latest internet star — who also appears on netflix representing possibly the biggest criminaljustice hoaxer in history — is not the type to let the cat out of the bag. but... you can't put toothpaste back in the tube. you know? if it's got out and it's gone viral, let it go! and that�*s "fur real"! mark lobel, bbc news. some of the classic zoom footage from this week. our political correspondent iain watson is at westminster waiting. what are you expect thing. as we tause what are you expect thing. as we pause from _ what are you expect thing. as we pause from the _ what are you expect thing. as we pause from the cat _ what are you expect thing. as we pause from the cat story, - what are you expect thing. as we pause from the cat story, our- pause from the cat story, our attention goes towards holidays. the transport secretary was suggesting that perhaps the prospect of a summer holiday may be some way off before if the vaccination programme in other countries has not caught up with iris. i might be looking out for conservative mps, back interest making some concern about the state of restrictions which have been introduced. perhaps in those £10,000 fines that people could potentially face if they lie about which countries they have been visiting when they come back into the uk. i am expecting the main thrust of the labour attack to be not so much on some of those details, but on the principle of hotel quarantine, the fact that the government is saying, this will apply to 33 countries on the moment on a red list were the variant have been spreading. labour will be renewing their argument that this may be ineffective for suppressing some of the new variants of the virus and they are calling for a blanket approach. the scottish government too has suggested anyone arriving there from abroad from whatever destination would have to face hotel quarantine, not quarantine at home. i think labour will also want to say given the fact that we don�*t yet know when we will get out of lockdown, they will probably want to furnish their credentials as being more pro—business these days and call for some help there. there is the issue of cladding which has been reported widely today. we are expecting the communities secretary to come up with a package of support for leaseholders who are stuck in flats where the cladding is potentially dangerous, similar to the cladding and grenfell tower. this is something that the labour leader was leading on for the past couple of weeks. so it may be that he may return to that subject as well but i think the main push will be on the borders and partly because there is discontent in the conservative ranks as well about the nature of some of the restrictions. i think labour will see that one is when they would like to exploit. haifa will see that one is when they would like to exploit.— like to exploit. how much clarity are we likely _ like to exploit. how much clarity are we likely to _ like to exploit. how much clarity are we likely to get _ like to exploit. how much clarity are we likely to get in _ like to exploit. how much clarity are we likely to get in terms - like to exploit. how much clarity are we likely to get in terms of. are we likely to get in terms of what the plan is for these measures for the endgame, what their timetable will be? i know the government will be setting out the sort of road map ahead in ten days or so, sort of road map ahead in ten days orso, but sort of road map ahead in ten days or so, but there are just so many questions that need to be answered around when they say that everyone needs to get the vaccine, what does that mean for travel? does that mean everyone is included with two doses. there are so many questions that people want the answers to. that is ri t ht. last people want the answers to. that is right. last summer, _ people want the answers to. that is right. last summer, basically - people want the answers to. that is right. last summer, basically travel corridors although they are a little bit volatile, that was based on the case numbers in britain and abroad. now it looks as though the goalposts have been shifted to include whether those countries and indeed the uk is as far ahead in the vaccination programme. changing that kind of criteria does raise questions. in the 22nd of this month we are expecting the prime minister to set out a road map for getting out of lockdown. he has said the first thing that would happen would be that schools would fully reopen again, maybe on march the 8th. beyond that we have very little clue as to what will happen next. what is making some conservatives mp restless is that there is an open—ended nature in some of the restrictions. we have seen documents that may take part in the hotel quarantine programme, it looks as if that scheme would run to the 31st of march but there is no guarantee it could stop then but it could be rolled over. i think people are pushing very hard to get questions as to the prime minister and to get firmer answers and the prime minister is opening prime minister�*s questions and taking the first question. over the last week thousands of people across field has done what has been asked and to get a test because of a small number of south african variant cases in the constituency. will the prime minister join constituency. will the prime ministerjoin me in thanking doctor justin vining and councillor in birmingham city council for everything they have done to be able to scale up mass testing and encourage anyone who hasn�*t had a test so far to get one at one of the designated sites with yes, indeed. i will thank him for raising and join in thanking the for scaling up surge testing. and i encourage everyone to get the vaccine when you are asked to do so. can i begin by thanking everyone involved in the vaccine roll—out? we have now vaccinated 12.6 million people are on course to vaccinate the first four priority groups by the first four priority groups by the end of this week. that is a truly amazing achievement. can the prime minister confirmed today that the government will extend business rate relief beyond march 31? i�*m rate relief beyond march 31? i'm afraid... rate relief beyond march 31? i'm afraid- -- i _ rate relief beyond march 31? i'm afraid... i am _ rate relief beyond march 31? i�*mi afraid... i am glad to hear him joining the praise of the vaccine roll—out, which is indeed, i think, tribute to the nhs staff and the army, the volunteers and many others. on his point about the extension of business rate relief, he knows this government is committed to supporting businesses and people and livelihoods and through the pandemic that is what we will continue to do but he should wait until the budget, for the chancellor to explain exactly what we will do. i chancellor to explain exactly what we will do. ~ ., ., , chancellor to explain exactly what we will do. ~ . ., , ., , we will do. i think that answer was that the prime _ we will do. i think that answer was that the prime minister _ we will do. i think that answer was that the prime minister cannot - we will do. i think that answer was | that the prime minister cannot give answer yet, that the prime minister cannot give answeryet, but that the prime minister cannot give answer yet, but hundreds of thousands of businesses are affected by this. the trouble is that businesses don�*t work as slowly as the prime minister. they need an answer now. as the british chamber of commerce says, businesses simply cannot wait until the march budget. let me try another vitally important question for businesses and for millions of working people. can the prime minister confirmed today that the furlough scheme will be extended beyond april? i the furlough scheme will be extended beyond april?— beyond april? i think most people in this country — beyond april? i think most people in this country are _ beyond april? i think most people in this country are aware _ beyond april? i think most people in this country are aware we _ beyond april? i think most people in this country are aware we are - beyond april? i think most people in this country are aware we are going | this country are aware we are going through a very serious pandemic in which rates of infection have been brought down thanks to the efforts of the british people. also members of the british people. also members of this house are familiar with the notion that in just a few days we will be setting out a road map for the way out of this pandemic. a road map that i hope the right honourable gentleman and his colleagues will support, their support tends to be transitory. one week we have it at the next we don�*t but he will not have to contain himself for very long. have to contain himself for very lont. , ~ , long. let me let the prime minster into a secret- _ long. let me let the prime minster into a secret. he _ long. let me let the prime minster into a secret. he can _ long. let me let the prime minster into a secret. he can take - long. let me let the prime minster| into a secret. he can take decisions for himself and doesn�*t have to leave everything till the 11th minute. i would say to businesses, we will support you now, protect jobs now, because of the cbi, the federation of small businesses, the institute of directors and the british chamber of commerce have all said the same thing. they all say they cannot wait until the budget. the prime minister may disagree with me but he is disagreeing with businesses. why does the prime minister think he knows better than british business? i minister think he knows better than british business?— british business? i think that most business people _ british business? i think that most business people that _ british business? i think that most business people that i _ british business? i think that most business people that i have - british business? i think that most business people that i have talked | business people that i have talked to, and i have talked to a great many in the last 12 months, would agree that there is no government around the world that has done more to support business, wrapping our arms around it, and i�*m delighted to hear this enthusiasm for business from the labour party when they stood on a manifesto to destroy capitalism as the last election and ed to dismantle the very pharmaceutical industry that has provided the vaccines on which we now rely. will he now repudiates that policy? we now rely. will he now repudiates that policy?— now rely. will he now repudiates that oli 7. ., ., ., . that policy? we all know what the prime minister _ that policy? we all know what the prime minister once _ that policy? we all know what the prime minister once said - that policy? we all know what the prime minister once said he - that policy? we all know what the i prime minister once said he wanted to do to business. we on these benches would rather listen to business. so we have no decision on business. so we have no decision on business rates, no decision on furlough no excuse for delaying this time because this has to be decided before the march budget and the prime ministers need to check with cancer. while the premise minister now commit to extending the evictions ban on residential properties beyond february 21? i have said repeatedly that what we will do in this government and throughout this pandemic is put our arms around the british people, support them throughout the pandemic, and make sure people are not unfairly evicted during the pandemic. that is what we will do. i hope very much that we may hear from the right honourable gentleman opposite that he not only is now a damascene conversion to the importance of business, but a damascene conversion to supporting all the government policies and to support businesses rather than sniping from the sidelines, why doesn�*t he get behind us and back us in our efforts to back business and the british people? i am in our efforts to back business and the british people?— the british people? i am not going to take lectures _ the british people? i am not going to take lectures from _ the british people? i am not going to take lectures from a _ the british people? i am not going to take lectures from a man - the british people? i am not going to take lectures from a man who i to take lectures from a man who wrote to my privations of every colour he ever wrote as a journalist, he proposed donald trump for a nobel peace deal on a per dominic cummings a pay rise. another area where they prime minister has now repeatedly delayed and changed his policy every day is now securing our borders against variants every week the prime minister comes here and says we have one of the toughest regimes in the world. we know his home secretary disagrees with him, we note the health secretary disagree. luckily, oxford university keep track of how top border restrictions are in every country. they state that there are at least 33 countries around the world which currently have tougher restrictions on the uk. 33, including canada, denmark, japan, israel. there are many others. in fact they say we are not even in the top bracket of countries for budget restrictions. 50 days after we first discovered the south african variant, how does the south african variant, how does the prime minister explained that? —— countries for border restrictions. -- countries for border restrictions.— -- countries for border restrictions. ., ,., restrictions. there are some countries — restrictions. there are some countries in _ restrictions. there are some countries in europe - restrictions. there are some countries in europe that - restrictions. there are some countries in europe that do | restrictions. there are some i countries in europe that do not restrictions. there are some - countries in europe that do not even have a hotel quarantine schemas such as the one we are putting in on monday. we have amongst the toughest audit regimes in the world and people should understand that on a normal day at this time of year you can expect about 250,000 people to be arriving in this country. we have it to about 20,000. 5000 of those are involved in bringing vital things into the country such as medicines and food, as we discussed last week and he agreed that was a goodidea last week and he agreed that was a good idea unless he actually wants to cut this country off from the rest of the world, and i think last week he didn�*t want to, unless he has changed his mind again. i think that this policy is measured, proportionate, getting tough it from monday. i hope he supports it. the truth is this- _ monday. i hope he supports it. the truth is this. the prime minister is failing to give security to british businesses and failing to secure our borders. the prime minister often complains that we never put forward constructive proposals, so here i2—macro. support businesses protect jobs now by extending furlough scheme, business rate relief and cuts for hospitality, second, it secure our borders with a comprehensive hotel quarantine on arrival. no more delays than you do it? ~ arrival. no more delays than you do it? . ., , arrival. no more delays than you do it? ~ ., , ., ., . ., it? we have 'ust announced that quarantine — it? we have just announced that quarantine policy _ it? we have just announced that quarantine policy which - it? we have just announced that quarantine policy which is - it? we have just announced that i quarantine policy which is amongst the toughest in the world. it is tougher than most other european countries certainly. i am delighted he is now supporting business in his latest stunt of bandwagon ink not a for which was famous before. he moves from one side to the other in the debate through this crisis. some people have said that this is a good crisis. some people have said this is a good crisis. some people have said... some people have said this crisis is a gift that keeps on giving, mr crisis... laughter those people sit under the labour front bench. i think it is disgraceful they should see those things. this is one of the biggest challenges this country has faced since the second world war thanks to one of the fastest vaccine roll—outs anywhere in the world i believe it is a challenge this country can meet and is meeting and i believe that fax e—mail that programme, this house and this country should be very proud. i house and this country should be very proud-— very proud. i think the prime minister by _ very proud. i think the prime minister by the _ very proud. i think the prime minister by the decisions - very proud. i think the prime minister by the decisions he | very proud. i think the prime - minister by the decisions he took last year which mean the vaccine programme is in such a good position this week. despite that success, it is vital that that programme keeps pace with the changing variants. he the house where the uk stands on ensuring that the uk supply chain is in place and that we don�*t get behind, as the virus mutates? my ritht behind, as the virus mutates? i’i right honourable behind, as the virus mutates? i’i1: right honourable friend behind, as the virus mutates? i’i1 right honourable friend asks behind, as the virus mutates? ii1: right honourable friend asks an extremely important question and thatis extremely important question and that is why we recently announced an agreement for 50 million doses with one manufacturer because we believe that may help us to develop a vaccine that can respond scaled new variants of the virus. as the house will have heard from the chief medical officer and deputy chief medical officer and deputy chief medical officer and others, i think we will have to get used to the idea of vaccinating and revaccinating in the autumn, as we come to face these new variants. iah the autumn, as we come to face these new variants-— the autumn, as we come to face these new variants._ thank - new variants. ian blackford. thank ou. new new variants. ian blackford. thank you. new research _ new variants. ian blackford. thank you. new research has _ new variants. ian blackford. thank you. new research has revealed i new variants. ian blackford. thank i you. new research has revealed that 1.3 million children underfive are living in poverty in the uk. this is a truly shocking figure that should make this tory government utterly ashamed. the scottish national party has repeatedly called for a financial package to boost household incomes and reverse this tory child poverty crisis. the prime minister has the power to tackle child poverty right now by making the £20 uplift you universal credit payments and by extending it to legacy benefits. the tory government has been stalling on this for months. will the prime minister finally act or will he leave millions of children out in the cold? i think that the whole _ children out in the cold? i think that the whole house _ children out in the cold? i think that the whole house and - children out in the cold? i think that the whole house and this i that the whole house and this country should be proud of the way we have tried to look after people, the poorest and neediest countries throughout the valleys for the country, notjust when universal credit which the party opposite would actually abolish, but by helping vulnerable people with their food and heating bills £170 million grant scheme, looking after people with free school meal vouchers, and we will put our arms around the people of this entire country throughout the pandemic. i people of this entire country throughout the pandemic. i have to sa , that throughout the pandemic. i have to say. that was _ throughout the pandemic. i have to say, that was pathetic. _ throughout the pandemic. i have to say, that was pathetic. that - throughout the pandemic. i have to say, that was pathetic. that was i throughout the pandemic. i have to say, that was pathetic. that was no answer. we are talking about 1.3 million children under five answer. we are talking about 1.3 million children underfive in poverty. let me quote. she cried on her doorstep because i gave her nappies, wipes and winter clothes for a child. i went away with a lump in my throat. these are the words of emily, a baby bank worker who is supporting families that the tories have pushed into poverty through a decade of cuts. they don�*t need more empty words from a prime minister who simply does not care enough to act. this morning a new report from citizens advice scotland warned that tory cuts could reduce the value of universal credit by as much as a quarter, just when people need the money the most. will the prime minister agreed to meet with me and other opposition parties ahead of the budget agent summit on tackling child poverty, or will he be yet another tory prime minister who leaves a generation of children languishing in poverty i must say that i reject entirely what the writer gentleman has just said because i don�*t believe any government could have done more to help the people of this country throughout this pandemic and we will continue to do so. and yes, of course we italy... we are bitterly lament and reject the poverty that some families unquestionably suffer and it is tragic that too many families have had a very, very tough time during this pandemic. we continue to support them in all the ways we have set up. i may say to the right honourable gentleman that there is a profound philosophical difference between him and me because the scottish nationalist party is morphing into ever more left—wing party, that believes... there you go. that believes fundamentally that it is the duty of the taxpayer to pay for more and more and more. we want to get people intojobs and it is on more and more. we want to get people into jobs and it is on that... more and more. we want to get people intojobs and it is on that... it is intojobs and it is on that... it is in that respect that the scottish nationalist party is, i�*m afraid, failing... nationalist party is, i'm afraid, failint . .. nationalist party is, i'm afraid, failint... ~ , failing... prime minister, we both know ou failing... prime minister, we both know you are _ failing... prime minister, we both know you are only _ failing... prime minister, we both know you are only teasing - failing... prime minister, we both know you are only teasing him - failing... prime minister, we both| know you are only teasing him and trying _ know you are only teasing him and trying to— know you are only teasing him and trying to lead up to wind up the leader— trying to lead up to wind up the leader of— trying to lead up to wind up the leader of the snp. let's drop it because — leader of the snp. let's drop it because lee anderson is waiting for you. because lee anderson is waiting for ou. ., ~' because lee anderson is waiting for ou. ., ~ 1 ., ~ because lee anderson is waiting for ou. ., ~' i., �* ,': because lee anderson is waiting for oh. ., " y., �* ,': .,, you. thank you. a new 3.4 the east midlands will _ you. thank you. a new 3.4 the east midlands will create _ you. thank you. a new 3.4 the east midlands will create over _ you. thank you. a new 3.4 the east midlands will create over 60,000 i you. thank you. a new 3.4 the east i midlands will create over 60,000 new jobs and provide a massive boost for engineers. after decades of neglect from labour mps we now feel a sense of hope in the red wall seats. my parents voted conservative at the first time at the last general election they were touched when the prime minister acknowledged that. could the prime minister please reassure my parents, my friend and my family and all my constituents that our area will never be let down again? if the facts change, the list should be extended and we need to friend is that we have had enjoyable time is that we have had enjoyable time is campaigning for the people —— failed and we will continue to do that and i can tell paul and jenny that our commitment to levelling up is absolutely rock solid throughout this country. we is absolutely rock solid throughout this country-— is absolutely rock solid throughout this count . . . , ., this country. we have 'ust heard the government — this country. we have 'ust heard the government claims _ this country. we have 'ust heard the government claims to — this country. we have just heard the government claims to have - this country. we have just heard the government claims to have a - government claims to have a levelling up agenda, underpinned by a research and development road map, the trouble is the tories track record on this is not good, in fact it is abysmal. wales receives the lowest research and develop spend per person of the four nations at around 40% of spend per head in england and westminster�*s obsession with the golden triangle of oxford, cambridge and london shows no sign of abating. will he now commit to a fairer devolved are andy funding settlement, orwill fairer devolved are andy funding settlement, or will he be content to have the road map as wales�*s road map to nowhere. i�*m have the road map as wales's road map to nowhere.— have the road map as wales's road map to nowhere. i'm afraid she think she is doing — map to nowhere. i'm afraid she think she is doing wales _ map to nowhere. i'm afraid she think she is doing wales down _ map to nowhere. i'm afraid she think she is doing wales down and - map to nowhere. i'm afraid she think she is doing wales down and the - she is doing wales down and the people of wales down on the ingenuity of wales down because i think about a quarter of the airline passengers in the world are borne aloft on the wings are made by the welsh aerospace sector at bridgend there will be one of the great centres of battery manufacturing in this country if not the world. wales is at the cutting edge of technology under this government�*s plan for a record spend on r and d, £22 billion by the end of the parliament and wales along with the rest of the uk will benefit massively. the wales along with the rest of the uk will benefit massively.— will benefit massively. the uk has fallen behind _ will benefit massively. the uk has fallen behind european _ will benefit massively. the uk has fallen behind european on - will benefit massively. the uk has fallen behind european on tapping the potential of geothermal heat and energy in places like crewe, lancashire. will the primaries to meet with me to talk about how geothermal will help us build back better with a revitalised set of ideas for the energy industry. i like the point he makes about crewe and the way it is at the front of a deep energy exploration and i�*m very happy to meet with him to discuss what we can do to further geothermal energy improvement, diary permitting. mr energy improvement, diary permitting-— energy improvement, diary permitting. mr speaker, this government _ permitting. mr speaker, this government said _ permitting. mr speaker, this government said that - permitting. mr speaker, this government said that no - permitting. mr speaker, this i government said that no council would be suffering as a result of the pandemic and the chancellor said that he would ensure everything, do whatever it takes to help them, yet the tory —controlled bolton council has just announced £35 million of cuts and an increase in the council tax budget of 3.8%. can the prime minister sure my constituents and my town that that money will be given town that that money will be given to them, or will thisjoin town that that money will be given to them, or will this join a long list of tory failed promises? i want to congratulate _ list of tory failed promises? i want to congratulate the _ list of tory failed promises? i want to congratulate the great - to congratulate the great conservative —controlled council of bolton for everything they are doing and continue to do throughout this pandemic to look after the people of bolton. i know what incredible work local officials do and i thank them very much for it and we believe, since we believe so strongly in local government, as a creature of local government, as a creature of local government, as a creature of local government myself, i am proud we have invested £4.6 billion in supporting local government so far in this pandemic.— supporting local government so far in this pandemic. from rainforest to coral reefs. — in this pandemic. from rainforest to coral reefs, the _ in this pandemic. from rainforest to coral reefs, the world's _ in this pandemic. from rainforest to coral reefs, the world's ecosystems| coral reefs, the world�*s ecosystems are at risk of catastrophic to that was the conclusion of the dasgupta review last week that my right honourable friend welcome. this threat to our biodiversity is not just a moralfailure, threat to our biodiversity is not justa moralfailure, it threat to our biodiversity is not just a moralfailure, it is economically short—sighted as well. when i asked the professor to carry out this work, he told me that it would not be complete until after the uk had hosted the cop 26 summit. but given that the summit has been delayed until later this year and it will take place alongside our presidency of the g7, does my right honourable friend agree with me that the uk has been presented with a unique opportunity to show global leadership on how we can better protect our most precious asset, nature? mt; protect our most precious asset, nature? ~ , protect our most precious asset, nature? y ., ., ., , nature? my right honourable friend is absolutely — nature? my right honourable friend is absolutely right _ nature? my right honourable friend is absolutely right and _ nature? my right honourable friend is absolutely right and i _ nature? my right honourable friend is absolutely right and i thank- nature? my right honourable friend is absolutely right and i thank him i is absolutely right and i thank him for what he is doing himself in this area. and i want the house to know that we want our un cop 26 summit to bea landmark that we want our un cop 26 summit to be a landmark event, notjust a tackling climate change but also on biodiversity and i think it is high time that the leaders of the world took a step to reverse the loss of habitats and species that we have seen over the last century. it is estimated _ seen over the last century. it is estimated that _ seen over the last century. it is estimated that over _ seen over the last century. it is estimated that over 400,000 people are living with the debilitating effects of long coronavirus and some of these who are nhs heroes who caught it in the first way. nearly a year later i heard from a doctor who says that she wonders if she will ever be able to walk unaided again, let alone manage a full day of work. does the prime minister recognised that for this group, longer covid is an occupational disease, and will he set up a compensation scheme similar to what we offer the armed forces so that we can ensure that those who have lost their livelihoods by saving lives are fully supported? i thank the honourable lady, because she is right to highlight the incredible sacrifice and effort of nhs staff, many of whom sadly have contracted covid in the course of their duties and a great many of whom who have sadly continued to be affected by that disease and we must study the long—term effects of covid and make sure we continue to look after our wonderful nhs staff throughout their careers. thank you, mr speaker- — throughout their careers. thank you, mr speaker- can _ throughout their careers. thank you, mr speaker. can the _ throughout their careers. thank you, mr speaker. can the prime _ throughout their careers. thank you, mr speaker. can the prime ministerl mr speaker. can the prime minister confirmed today that all students will be back in school no later than the 8th of march and commit to starting any phased return straight after half term, so the really damaging effects of being away from school are not drawn out for any longer than is absolutely necessary? i can certainly confirm that we will do everything we can, and i know thatis do everything we can, and i know that is the second part of most things in this lot house that we get schoolchildren back in march the 8th, if we possibly can and i will be setting out to my honourable friend as much as we can say on monday and on the week of the 22nd, we will be setting out a very grateful, mr speaker. having sat on the hs2 hybrid bill committee for 15 months i was sceptical as to the economic benefits of the project for the north—east, but hs2 is going ahead, at least in the south. it is therefore crucial that the eastern line of hs2 goes ahead, notjust for yorkshire and the east midlands, but also for the north—east. the prime minister has made repeated promises to the people of the north—east of his intention to level up and to connect and create opportunities for people in places here like gateshead, so as we try to recover from the damage done to so many families and businesses by the pandemic, will the prime minster begin to commit to work on the eastern leg of hs2, starting in the north—east to run simultaneously with construction in the south so our region does not have to wait a couple of decades for 20 seconds —— zist couple of decades for 20 seconds —— 21st century rail connectivity. i can confirm that we will develop the eastern leg as well as the whole of h52 eastern leg as well as the whole of hs2 and he will be hearing a lot more about what we will do with the national infrastructure revolution and about what we will do to improve not just and about what we will do to improve notjust rail transport, but road transport as well in the north—east. thank you, mr speaker. there is no shortage of commitment or compassion in my town of eastbourne in terms of people who are vulnerable and need complex support, however neighbouring brighton continues to send its homes to our town and we do not have the resources to meet this need. three homeless people have died, and i believe there will be inquests. brighton is not engaging with eastbourne council in any meaningful way and a further 51 placements have been made in recent weeks. will my right honourable friend join with me in urging immediate engagement from brighton and hove council leaders on this, as and hove council leaders on this, as a matter of urgency?— and hove council leaders on this, as a matter of urgency? yes, indeed, mr sneaker a matter of urgency? yes, indeed, mr speaker and — a matter of urgency? yes, indeed, mr speaker and i — a matter of urgency? yes, indeed, mr speaker and i thank _ a matter of urgency? yes, indeed, mr speaker and i thank brighton - a matter of urgency? yes, indeed, mr speaker and i thank brighton council i speaker and i thank brighton council for cooperating with eastbourne council in getting this done. there must be cooperation and no one in this country should be living rough or homeless as a result of this pandemic or indeed for any other cause. we have invested £700 million this year to help people off the streets and it continues to be a national priority and i�*m grateful to my right honourable friend the secretary of state for communities and local gunmen for what he�*s doing on the various task forces —— local government for what he�*s doing on the various task forces as we lift the various task forces as we lift the various task forces as we lift the restrictions. mr the various task forces as we lift the restrictions.— the various task forces as we lift the restrictions. mr speaker, at the dvla in swansea _ the restrictions. mr speaker, at the dvla in swansea there _ the restrictions. mr speaker, at the dvla in swansea there have - the restrictions. mr speaker, at the dvla in swansea there have been i the restrictions. mr speaker, at the i dvla in swansea there have been 526 cases of coronavirus since last september when the prime minister told us at prime ministers question time that all staff who can work from home are working from home, yet in march last year 250 people were working on site and now the numbers are in their thousands, facing a more infectious and widespread disease, and yesterday 90 people were sent home following the latest outbreak of coronavirus just before the weekend, so given that bt are on standby to install home secure technology to allow home working, will the prime minister meet with me and the union, pcs, ahead of the strike ballot next week so that workplace numbers can be reduced until the vaccine is rolled out to keep people safe and to avoid unnecessary strikes? i keep people safe and to avoid unnecessary strikes?- keep people safe and to avoid unnecessary strikes? i thank him for raisint this unnecessary strikes? i thank him for raising this again _ unnecessary strikes? i thank him for raising this again with _ unnecessary strikes? i thank him for raising this again with me, _ unnecessary strikes? i thank him for raising this again with me, and - raising this again with me, and thanks to the working from home strategy that the dvla has been pursuing of a workforce of 6000 there are currently, thankfully, only nine cases to the best of my knowledge of covid and three of those individuals are currently working from home and we are working on a huge number of lateralflow tests being distributed to the dvla, but the long—term solution, or the medium term solution, is to vaccinate and roll out the vaccination programme and that is what this government is doing in wales and across the country. families across west bromwich east have been affected by cancer, just like my own, and they know all too well that early diagnosis can save a life. according to research by macmillan cancer support there are over 70 people in my constituency and 50,000 people across the uk with and 50,000 people across the uk with a missing cancer diagnosis. cancer has not stopped during the pandemic so with this in mind will the prime minister make cancer diagnosis services reopening a top priority as restrictions begin to ease? i know this is an issue that is very close to her heart. this is an issue that is very close to her heart-— this is an issue that is very close to her heart. she is right to raise it because _ to her heart. she is right to raise it because of _ to her heart. she is right to raise it because of course _ to her heart. she is right to raise it because of course there - to her heart. she is right to raise it because of course there are i to her heart. she is right to raise | it because of course there are the pressures from covid but we are also worried that some people might not be coming forward for the cancer treatments that they need, so i urge everybody who needs to get their treatment to help the nhs to help you by coming forward and getting your treatment as you normally would. ~ , would. the prime minister said in november that _ would. the prime minister said in november that the _ would. the prime minister said in november that the £1.5 _ would. the prime minister said in november that the £1.5 billion . would. the prime minister said in i november that the £1.5 billion new homes grant would be extended to march 2022, yet in a written answer last week, his minister said that the money would not be carried over from this financial year to next. with just seven weeks to go, a paltry £71 million has been spent so far, so why is he cutting £1 billion from the green homes grant that he promised for businesses, homeowners and the environment. she promised for businesses, homeowners and the environment.— and the environment. she is onto something. _ and the environment. she is onto something. but — and the environment. she is onto something, but she _ and the environment. she is onto something, but she is _ and the environment. she is onto something, but she is barking - and the environment. she is onto something, but she is barking up| and the environment. she is onto - something, but she is barking up the wrong tree. the problem with the green homes grant is not that we are cutting it, the problem is there hasn�*t been enough take up, and we wanted to encourage people to take it up and make use of the opportunity to reduce the carbon emission of your homes. the prime minister has said, and he has written in his foreword to the environment white paper, that he has pledged to protect the countryside. mr speaker, the countryside is more thanjust a bit mr speaker, the countryside is more than just a bit of green belt around the home counties. in westgate and herne bay in my own constituency, andindeed herne bay in my own constituency, and indeed across much of the garden of england, there are plans to smother acres of prime agricultural land in housing that is not needed for local people. but is needed and required to grow the crops to reduce the amount of food that we import at a cost of carbon emissions, so if the prime minister is the friend of the prime minister is the friend of the countryside will be announce an immediate moratorium on the use of all farm land for housing while the whole policy is reviewed? i think ithinki i think ijust heard the honourable gentleman say he wanted an immediate moratorium on the construction of all housing. maybe i misunderstood. i don�*t think that to be realistic. i don�*t think that to be realistic. i can certainly tell him that we will take very seriously the point he makes. the secretary of state for commuters and local government will be glad to meet him again to discuss the subject he raises —— houses and communities. our commitment to the countryside is unmatched.— countryside is unmatched. thank you, mr speaker- — countryside is unmatched. thank you, mr speaker- i — countryside is unmatched. thank you, mr speaker. i had _ countryside is unmatched. thank you, mr speaker. i had a _ countryside is unmatched. thank you, mr speaker. i had a meeting - countryside is unmatched. thank you, mr speaker. i had a meeting recently| mr speaker. i had a meeting recently with pcs about public sector pay and heard from constituents in calderbank you work for uk departments. both are struggling to cover a real terms pay cut over decades. one has had to take partial early retirements of the lump sum could keep them going. what will the prime minister say to the chancellor to convince him of the need to properly reward all those who have been on the front line during pandemic and at the very least, the scottish government�*s read in fully funding a rise in public sector pay? we have seen above inflation increases in public sector pay and thatis increases in public sector pay and that is quite right and we support... we support particularly increases in investment in our nhs with the package we put in place for nurses but the single thing we can do for the best is to the living wage which this government introduced and which we have now increased by record amounts two years in a row and i see the scottish nationalist party grocery, national. i don�*t know if they are nationalists, that they can clear it up! eithera national nationalists, that they can clear it up! either a national party without being nationalists? a semantic point, mr speaker. they are trying to claim they pioneered the living wage. i don�*t think that is right. i seem to remember it was a certain mayoralty in london that massively increase in the living wage when they were not of the starting blocks! ih they were not of the starting blocks! . .. , �* , ., they were not of the starting blocks! . , �*, ., ., blocks! in which case, let's go down to somerset- _ blocks! in which case, let's go down to somerset. thank _ blocks! in which case, let's go down to somerset. thank you, _ blocks! in which case, let's go down to somerset. thank you, as - blocks! in which case, let's go down to somerset. thank you, as always. j blocks! in which case, let's go down | to somerset. thank you, as always. i welcome the — to somerset. thank you, as always. i welcome the local— to somerset. thank you, as always. i welcome the local elections - to somerset. thank you, as always. i welcome the local elections being . welcome the local elections being pushed ahead. but doesn�*t want to give the very top somerset county council which has been using covid money which has nothing to do with the pandemic. they —— ifear my right honourable friend has been misled. we need a referendum yet to test public opinion quickly. would my right honourable friend, a proud man of somerset, not agreed that the time has come to put our county back together, and that we have the whole of somerset being looked after by somerset? i know king arthur that would improve and i know the people of somerset will certainly support the prime minister if he supports us. ., ~' , us. i... i... ithank my right honourable _ us. i... i... ithank my right honourable friend, - us. i... i... ithank my right honourable friend, her - us. i... i... ithank my right| honourable friend, her great advocate of somerset and committed to his constituents and i thank him for what he is doing he has raised this now twice with me, i thank him for that, this now twice with me, i thank him forthat, but this now twice with me, i thank him for that, but may i humbly suggest the best way forward is for the consultation to proceed and for local people to decide what the best form of government, local government, is that they want? fiur government, is that they want? our final question _ government, is that they want? our final question from northern ireland _ final question from northern ireland. ., ~ final question from northern ireland. ., ., ~ , ireland. thank you. prime minister, we know the — ireland. thank you. prime minister, we know the problems _ ireland. thank you. prime minister, we know the problems we - ireland. thank you. prime minister, we know the problems we want - ireland. thank you. prime minister, i we know the problems we want about over many months before ireland protocol was introduced. these problems i scheduled to get worse from april. can you outline a timeline where people in northern ireland and all across the uk, as indicated in addition last week, when all of us can enjoy free trade across the nation, including from db to ni, as every other independent trading relationship enjoys? yes. trading relationship en'oys? yes, indeed. i have t trading relationship en'oys? yes, indeed. i have made _ trading relationship enjoys? yes, indeed. i have made it— trading relationship enjoys? ye: indeed. i have made it absolutely clear to our eu friends and partners that we want to make our relationship work but it is also absolutely essential that there should be free trade, exchange of goods, through all parts of the uk and we will do everything we can to ensure that is the case, including, as i have said in the chamber before, and to his honourable colleagues, including invoking article 16 of the protocol if that is necessary as that was prime minister�*s questions. they are taking a break for three minutes. there will be an announcement by the housing minister. the government has put aside £4.6 billion. we are expecting that financial support to be stepped up that financial support to be stepped up when robertjenrick speak shortly. it is not likely, it is not expected to be enough to cover the total estimated bill of £15 million. let�*s go to alice baxter. tell us more about what needs to be changed and how the figure stack up. ides more about what needs to be changed and how the figure stack up.— and how the figure stack up. as you said, it is nearly _ and how the figure stack up. as you said, it is nearly 3.5 _ and how the figure stack up. as you said, it is nearly 3.5 years - and how the figure stack up. as you said, it is nearly 3.5 years since - said, it is nearly 3.5 years since the grand full disaster and still the grand full disaster and still the key quest and remains, who remains further remedial works that everyone agrees needs to be done on thousands of buildings, mid—rise, high—rise and low—rise across the country which are still deemed to be unsafe. covered in flammable cladding. the government is coming under increasing pressure to address this issue. it is thought that thousands of people across the country are being slammed with high insurance costs to pay for this and other fire safety checks all identified in the wake of the disaster. mortgage lenders across the country, many of them are not lending money against these flats. not only are people trapped inside these unsafe buildings, they cannot sell them. they are worthless. this lady is one of those trapped in this situation. she bought herflat in leeds back in 2019. she had always had a dream to own our own home. a further 30. had a dream to own our own home. a further30. by had a dream to own our own home. a further 30. by the time she was 38, she was bankrupt due to the spiralling costs that she said she had to pay on our service charge and to the fire brigade, all because her building was deemed to be unsafe thanks to the cladding on it which she says she did not choose in the first place. this is her story. i asked my housing association, could i please rent it out and they were a bit, "mm, oh." and just, ijust felt trapped and nowhere to turn. it'sjust a nightmare, really and i'm not a special case. a lot of my neighbours and a lot of other people in buildings up and down the country, really, are all in my situation. it's a ticking time bomb, really. it's like dominoes. we have been begging and pleading for months, years, ages. no one has listened and now it's a point of emergency. i am bankrupt and a lot of other people are on the way it'sjust a nightmare, really and i'm not a special case. a lot of my neighbours and a lot of other people in buildings up and down the country, really, are all in my situation. it's a ticking time bomb, really. it's like dominoes. we have been begging and pleading for months, years, ages. no one has listened and now it's a point of emergency. i am bankrupt and a lot of other people are on the way to going bankrupt. two people have taken their lives, sadly. it's dreadful. it shouldn't have been allowed to go on for so long. hayley one of the thousands of people up and down the country in this position. last year the government put aside this building safety fund to help redress the situation but according to latest government figures, less than half of the buildings out there covered in this flammable material have actually had it removed. we also know now that other government ministers have gathered to say that they think that figure should be closer to £15 billion. what we do know is that the government is coming under increasing pressure, both from campaigners but also from conservative mps to address the situation. as they are warning that unless more direct funding is created and given, then what is going to happen is that private landlords are going to pass on these costs to leaseholders. they are going to continue that trend which is exactly what the housing minister backin is exactly what the housing minister back in 2017 said must not happen, that these costs should not be passed on to the leaseholders themselves. we are waiting to hear from robertjen rick any minute now to hear what further details or walk further support the government is going to give because ministers are saying that £1.6 million put into that building safety fund last year is simply not enough. that it should be closer to £15 billion.— be closer to £15 billion. there is an enquiry _ be closer to £15 billion. there is an enquiry under— be closer to £15 billion. there is an enquiry under way _ be closer to £15 billion. there is an enquiry under way into - be closer to £15 billion. there is an enquiry under way into what| be closer to £15 billion. there is i an enquiry under way into what led up an enquiry under way into what led up to the grenfell disaster and basically who was responsible for that unsafe cladding being used. it is a complicated chain. i can hear the speaker in my ear. let�*s stop talking and go to that statement from robertjenkins. on housing and building safety. beyond the covid—19 pandemic, the government want to build back better, better homes, better infrastructure and better communities. but the foundations of these ambitions and the mission of my department safety and fairness. we have all been moved by the stories we have heard and the people that we have met, homeowners placed in difficult, sometimes impossible situations. through no fault of their own. i appreciate the frustration, the worry, and at times the despair that they feel. i share their anger at the errors, omissions, the full promise is an even the outright dishonesty that came before us. built up over many decades, but which this government is determined to tackle. that is why, mr speaker, todayi is determined to tackle. that is why, mr speaker, today i am announcing an unprecedented intervention. clear plan to remove unsafe cladding, to provide certainty to leaseholders, to make the industry pay for its fault of the industry pay for its fault of the past. to create a world—class building safety regime. and to inject confidence and certainty back into this part of the housing market. firstly, we will finish the job that we have started on remediating unsafe cladding. after the tragedy of grenfell tower, the expert advice that this government received identified aluminium composite cladding, acm, the material on the tower, as by far the most unsafe form cladding. it should never have been used and our independent expert advisory panel recommended that this should be the focus of our remediation work. thanks to a very considerable effort, including during the pandemic, almost 25% of all high—rise buildings identified by the beginning of last year with unsafe ecm cladding have now been remediated or workers are on site now doing thejob. remediated or workers are on site now doing the job. that rises to 100% in social housing. and guided again by expert advice, the work to remove other types of cladding which are also unsafe, albeit less so than acm, where it poses a genuine risk to life is also under way. it was always our expectation, our demand, buildings owners and developers should step up to meet the cost of this work. when they haven�*t, or where they no longer exist, the government has stepped in, providing £1.6 billion to remediate unsafe cladding. however, it is clear that without further government intervention, many building owners will simply seek to pass these potentially very significant costs on to leaseholders, as this is often the legal position in the leases they signed. that would risk punishing those who have worked hard, who had bought their own home, but through no fault of their own have found themselves caught in an absolutely invidious situation. importantly, it also risks slowing down the critical works to make these homes safer. i am therefore, today, taking an exceptional intervention on the heart of the government and providing certainty that leaseholders in high—rise residential buildings will face no cost for cladding remediation works. —— under half of the government. we will make further funding available to pay for the removal and development unsafe cladding for all leaseholders in high—rise residential buildings of 18 metres and above or above six stories in england. we continue to take a safety led approach, and this funding will focus on me high—rise buildings where the independent expert advisory panel tells us time and again the overwhelming majority of the safety risk lies. in line the existing building safety fund amenities abated scope of the new building safety regulator that we are establishing and will shortly be legislating for. this will ensure we end the cladding scandal in a way thatis end the cladding scandal in a way that is fair and generous to leaseholders. secondly, the lower end medium rise blocks of flats, the risks are significantly lower and the remediation of cladding is less likely to be needed. in many cases, it will not be needed at all. but where it is, costs can still be significant leaseholders. which is why i am announcing today that the government will develop a long—term scheme to protect leaseholders in this situation, with financial support for cladding remediation and buildings between four and six stories. undera buildings between four and six stories. under a long—term low interest scheme, no leaseholder will ever pay more than £50 a month towards the removal of unsafe cladding. many, far less. taken together, this means the government is providing more than £5 billion, including a further £3.5 billion announced today, plus significant cost of the very generous financing scheme, which will run for many years to come. to ensure that all leaseholders in medium and high—rise blocks face no costs or very low costs if cladding remediation is needed. where it is, costs can still be significant leaseholders. which is why we want to take these important steps. we want to ensure that the government develops this long—term scheme, which will protect leaseholders with financial support. taken together, this means that the government helps leaseholders to move forwards with greater certainty and more confidence about the future. thirdly, whilst the problem is not one of leaseholders making, it is also the case that it cannot be right that the costs of addressing these issues falls solely on taxpayers. many of whom are not themselves homeowners and can only dream of getting on the housing ladder. the government has always expected the industry to contribute towards these costs, and some have done so. today i am announcing that we will introduce a gateway to develop a level that will be in permitted through the forthcoming building safety bill. the proposed levy will be targeted and only applies to when developers seek permission to develop certain high—rise buildings in england, helping to ensure the industry take a collective responsibility for historic building safety defects. introducing the levy, we will continue to ensure the homes our country needs get built. and that our small and medium—sized builders are protected. in addition, a new tax will be introduced for the uk residential property development sector in 2022. this will raise at least £2 billion every decade to help pay for cladding remediation costs. the tax will ensure the largest puppy developers make a fair contribution to the remediation programme in relation to the money they make from residential property. —— property developers. reflecting the benefits they derive from restoring confidence to the housing market. the government will consult on the policy design in due course. fourthly, i know there are many people across the country who are concerned about the safety of their home. in the actions we have taken and those that we take today, we have already prioritised very clearly public safety. however it is also important that we put the risk of a fire and in particular the risk of a fire and in particular the risk of a fire and in particular the risk of a fatalfire of a fire and in particular the risk of a fatal fire into context. it is low. last year, the number of people who died in fires in blocks of flats over 11 metres was ten. an all—time low. fire —related fatalities in dwellings in england have fallen by 29% over the last decade. by way of comparison, fs 1700 fatalities were reported on our roads in 2019. any death is one too many. the tragedy of grenfell tower lingers with us and it demands action. that is why it is right we address safety issues where they exist and are a threat to life. but do so in a proportionate way and guided at all times by expert advice. that is the approach we are taking to the building safety bill, the new building safety regulator, the fire safety bill, and the new national regulator of construction products that i announced in january. construction products that i announced injanuary. i am announced injanuary. iam determined announced injanuary. i am determined that we have a world—class building safety regime. lastly, we need everyone to follow their sensible, proportionate approach, so that this part of the housing market can now move forward. and homeowners are not disproportionately impacted. the royal institute of chartered surveyors have consulted our new guidance for valuers a ews one form should actually be record —— required. the government endorses its work to assure that assessors have a strong basis on which to make good proportionatejudgments have a strong basis on which to make good proportionate judgments about valuation risk. lenders have welcomed the progress on this guidance, which will help ensure over half a million leaseholders in blocks of flats over 11 metres well not need a separate ews one assessment to get a mortgage. this builds on the interventions we have already made to create and train many more assessors and we are doing so firmer so that they can access professional indemnity insurers to get on with the job. so today, in addition to providing certainty to leaseholders, we are also providing confidence to lenders. following discussions were by right honourable friend the chancellor and i have had with lenders, we expect all of the major banks and building societies to strongly support today�*s�*s intervention. it will provide greater certainty to the market and help to restore the effect of lending, purchasing and selling of properties as soon as. taken together, this exceptional intervention amounts to the largest ever government investment in building safety. we believe in homeownership, and today we firmly support the hundreds of thousands of homeowners who need our help now. i commend this statement to the house. six minutes in which to respond. thank— six minutes in which to respond. thank you — six minutes in which to respond. thank you i_ six minutes in which to respond. thank you. i thank the secretary of state foreign fansite of his statement. buying your first home should be a dream come true. for many, it has now been a nightmare for years. as a result of government choices, 3.5 years on from the grenfell tower to in which 72 people stay lives, hundreds of thousands of people are still trapped in unsafe homes. many more are unable to move. today�*s announcement is too late for too many. it is a repeat of undelivered promises and backtracks on the key one that leaseholders should have no costs to pay. the chancellor said last march all unsafe combustible cladding will be removed from every private and social residential building above 80 metres high, but has not happened. buildings have not been able to access the fund and £9 out of ten is still setting where it was. at every stage the government underestimated the problem and delays cost it to grow. they still do not know how many buildings are unsafe, where they are all of the danger. until we have answers, government will continue to make mistakes. offering piecemeal solutions that then have to be updated when they do not deliver. can the minister guarantee the funding will cover all buildings over 18 metres? what other consequential b for the devolved administrations, including wales? we cannot have a repeat of the first time, first serve freefall where the most dangerous locked risk being fixed last. well the government set “p fixed last. well the government set up an independent task force to prioritise buildings according to race, have powers to get the funds out of the door and go after the building owners who fail to get on with the work? government ministers have promised 17 times that leaseholders well not bear the cost. many will be listening today and the government has betrayed their promise that leaseholders would not pay for the building safety crisis. three and a half years on from grenfell, hundreds of thousands cannot sleep at night because they homes are unsaved. the government has chosen today to pile financial misery on them, this is an injustice. what does the housing secretary say to julie who lives in a flat with dangerous hpl cladding, herb lockers under 18 metres, so she is unable to access funding promised so far? she lives in the same developing test but things with the exact same cladding that over 18 metres, so they will be able to access defined. why should this arbitrary height limit mean the difference between a safe home and financial ruin? what other terms of the loans? what will the interest rate be edible leaseholders be required to pay the interest as well as the main cost? he says leaseholders will not pay more than £50 a month, does that stay with the current owners when they move with the home if the new owners is forced to pay? will it go up by inflation egf? what well government do have those homes remain unsaleable? how will they ensure that freeholders take up the loans? how will governments speed up remediation? the current stalemate cannot continue. there are others who do not have dangerous cladding but have been charged of pounds —— thousands of pounds to fix other safety issues, what does he say to them? the government should focus on securing our economy and rebuilding from covid—19, not saddling homeowners with further debt, because that means less money for our economic recovery, taking money away from local shops, it reinforces regional imbalances act makes young first—time buyers and pensioners pay money they cannot afford. the government should pursue those responsible fully to prevent leaseholders and taxpayers from carrying the can. the government has announced a levy and attacks which i welcome, those responsible should bear the cost, but how much does the government anticipate this will raise? well the government pursue others such as cladding manufacturers, also responsible? the government has missed every target for removing this cladding and there are still 50,000 people living in flats wrapped in it, this including as found in grenfell tower, so will the minister commit today to remove all dangerous cladding by 2022? as a secretary of state will know at least one first—time homeowner, hayley, has already been made bankrupt before she was even asked to pay for remediation on the extra cost, she asked to think about her former neighbours, when will leaseholders start receiving funding to pay for the round—the—clock fire patrols they will be charged hundreds of pounds each month? what about insurers? how will government get the market moving? they last announcement fell to pieces, and a simple question, more on average does he expect the leaseholder to be paying? government inaction and delay has caused a building safety crisis to spiral. people cannot continue to live in unsafe, unsaleable homes. they should not face bankruptcy to fix a problem they did not cause, and these proposals will still leave too many people struggling and facing loans instead of being givenjustice. i am instead of being given 'ustice. i am leased instead of being given 'ustice. i am pleased that t instead of being given 'ustice. i am pleased that she h instead of being givenjustice. i am pleased that she welcomes many of the proposals we set out today. this is an unprecedented intervention. it is an unprecedented intervention. it is one of the most generous if not the most generous of its kind anywhere in the world. she asks importantly why have we focused on high—rise buildings, because that is time again where all the independent expert advice leads us. we must make thesejudgments on the expert advice leads us. we must make these judgments on the basis of expert advice. with the greatest respect, i think we need to follow the expert advisers, not her own instincts. we are focusing on the buildings over 18 metres where the work needs to get done, and in those buildings we are ensuring that the leaseholder never pays. we want the building owners to step up and meet the cost, but where that is not possible and in many cases it isn�*t, because the building owners are no longer around, because the building owners are no longeraround, in because the building owners are no longer around, in those situations the taxpayer will step in and meet the taxpayer will step in and meet the cost with the advantage of the levy and tax to come to help recoup the costs. that must be the right approach. she asked whether enough progress has been made, but we have ended 2020 with 95% of buildings over 18 metres with the most dangerous form of cladding either having been remediated or the workers are on site doing the job, and that is 100% of the buildings in the social sector, a huge step forward, and i pay tribute to everyone who has been part of that over the course of the year, including keeping the works going during the pandemic, which many politicians, including labour politicians, including labour politicians, asked us not to do, that was the wrong judgments but we kept those works going. for lower rise buildings, those of 4—6 stories, we are bringing into play this important new financing scheme. that means those leaseholders who have at the moment and possible costs providing great worry and strain well now be able to have the reassurance that those costs are turned into manageable once, and they will never need to pay more than £50 a month, many will pay far less. only where the cladding really does need to come off to make sure that the building is safe. that will provide peace of mind to hundreds of thousands of leaseholders, and i think can be seen as a generous, affordable way forward for the taxpayer. you have to remember that when the prime minister and i came to office 18 months ago, there was