illness in scotland. the youngest pupils in scotland and wales are beginning a phased return to face—to—face teaching today. borisjohnson will announce his road map for lifting lockdown in england in just over an hour, as infections decrease and the vaccine programme continues to roll out. the government confirmed this morning that all pupils will return to school in england on march 8th. phased returns are planned in the rest of the uk — younger children are going back today in scotland and wales, with northern ireland's schools partially reopening in march. the pm is also expected to announce that from march 29th, six people or two households can meet outdoors, including in private gardens. outdoor sports could also return. this morning, mrjohnson said on twitter that his priorities would be schooling, and reuniting people with loved ones — but added that decisions "will be made on the latest data at every step." he will share his plans in full with mps in the house of commons at 3.30 this afternoon, followed by a press conference at seven this evening. helen catt reports. the current lockdown has again silenced classrooms, closed all nonessential shops and kept families and friends apart. this afternoon, the government will explain her restrictions in england will gradually be eased through the spring and into summer. but although the vaccine roll—out is going well, hospitalisations remain high and caution is the watchword in government. we have to make sure we are able to, you know, protect the nhs by not allowing the reopening of the economy to allow for another spike that would then cause many more people to go to hospital. that is ultimately the balance. these days downing street is quiet and cabinet meetings happen virtually. but borisjohnson�*s ministers spent the morning hearing about his 60—page road map and the likely stages for lifting restrictions. the first of those is march the 8th, when all schools in england will reopen to all pupils. a different approach to the phased return of scotland, wales and northern ireland. outdoor clubs and activities run by schools can restart too. care home residents will be allowed to see one regular visitor indoors. and the rules around meeting one other person outside will be eased a bit. there will be no need to be exercising while meeting for coffee. later in this first stage, in march 29, it's understood groups of six or two households will be able to meet up outside. sports like golf and tennis are expected to start again too. and that is the point the stay at home order may be lifted. the government has long said getting children back to school has been the priority. but teaching unions say it is reckless, returning all pupils to classrooms at once. labour too has concerns. we will continue to push to put in place of those measures around testing, ventilation, guidance and mask wearing, because the last thing we want is to reopen schools for all pupils and their many peoples are sent home because we have significant outbreaks of the virus. a minority of tory mps have been pushing for a quicker reopening of the economy. but number 10 has chosen a much more tentative strategy. ministers say their decisions will be driven by data about the vaccine roll—out, hospitalisations, infection rates and any new variants of covid. they want this lockdown to be the last. that could mean it is still many weeks before nonessential shops, hospitality and pubs reopen. we need a long—term recovery plan. we don'tjust need a date to reopen. we want to reopen softly, safely and we want to stay open. we are a people industry and we miss people. but we must keep people safe. with the prospect of all adults being offered their first vaccine by earlyjuly, there is hope in government that shuttered shops and separated families will be a thing of the past. our political correspondent damian grammaticas is in westminster. we keep hearing the word caution... we keep hearing the word caution... we do, and it is the driving force threw everything we are going to hear from when the prime minister stands up and a half to when he then addresses a press conference, or addresses a press conference, or addresses people later. and i think, if you think back over the course of the pandemic, you understand why. we now are at a stage when we have around 120,000 to tests, the third lockdown that we have had, the government is now looking to lift. backin government is now looking to lift. back in april, the prime minister stood outside downing street after he had been unwell himself and said, when considering about lifting the first lockdown that he wanted to be cautious because he didn't want to see a return to lockdown at that point, what she said could be disastrous for the economy. and we have had many thousands of those deaths are just in the past few weeks, even as a vaccine programme is running out. so, very cautious at the state, saying he will be guided by the data, which means we know that the first point is going to break the reopening of schools coming in england, and then coming down the line in march, the tentative opening up again a little bit more. public interactions, and beyond that, for the stats but unclear exactly how that will progress at this stage. all of that, as you say, marked by caution. keeping expectations down, but does that suggest that this government has learned from previous mistakes of overpromising? in this case the date that may back up a call to open things a little earlier than suggested. i things a little earlier than suggested-— things a little earlier than su~ested. ~ ., , ., ., suggested. i think that is going to be the pressure, _ suggested. i think that is going to be the pressure, yes, _ suggested. i think that is going to be the pressure, yes, because - suggested. i think that is going to l be the pressure, yes, because they don't want to be in a position of overpromising and then having to be seen as under delivering. the vaccine programme is a pretty good example of the difference, by meeting or exceeding targets. and we have seen previous points, like the reopening of schools after christmas and then reopening pretty much the same day. —— and then re—closing pretty much the same day. this time, with this very long—term plan, it does mean that if you look forward, particularly for a lot of businesses— headdresses and entertainment businesses — they are looking at many more weeks, possibly into may and june and into the summer, before they are looking at really reopening, and i think that is where the pressure will come, particularly among the backbenchers. if they see evidence coming from the roll—out of the vaccine that that is working to suppress transmission of the virus, the pressure make them grow to speed up some of that plan. half are streaky in to mp, and then everything is well tonight. yes. half are streaky in to mp, and then everything is well tonight.- everything is well tonight. yes, a ublic everything is well tonight. yes, a public statement. _ everything is well tonight. yes, a public statement. so, _ everything is well tonight. yes, a public statement. so, an - everything is well tonight. yes, a public statement. so, an address this evening which will lay out the plan for people to hear, so that is where there will be questions asked as well. so, a chance to sort of propane widely too about the plan, and some of those questions about the caution, the speed of this, whether the indicators to come if they show it, and show progress and show the effects of the vaccine programme, the question will be but that mean that this plan is flexible enough to bring things forward? also, what does it mean for people's guidance about working from home? what about travel and travel further afield to see friends and family? all of that is very unclear about when that might be happening, so lots more questions to be answered. damian, thank you very much. teachers�* unions have warned it would be �*reckless' to allow millions of pupils and staff in england to go back to school at once. they've called for a more �*cautious' and �*phased' return, to guard against another spike in infections. here's the plan so far. in england, the government confirmed this morning that all schools will open for all pupils on march eighth. in scotland, schools opened today to primary shool children in years p1 to p3, and senior pupils who have to carry out practical assignments. a phased approach is also being taken in wales, where children aged three to seven returned today. it's hoped older primary children and secondary school pupils with exams can return on march 15th. and in northern ireland, primary school years 1—3 will return on 8th march and secondary school years 12—14 on 22nd march. danjohnson has this report on the arguments over england's full return. the morning covid test is already part of the routine for those children still in school, but head teachers in england now have to be ready for at least more secondary pupils to go through this when they return in a fortnight. scaling that up to test all of our pupils on the 8th of march itself is going to be a significant challenge. it is one we are going to have to adapt to. i think looking further ahead, once the children are back it is really about making sure we work out where the gaps are in their knowledge from the learning they have been doing. these children with key worker parents haven't had the experience of home learning during this lockdown. so what do they think of their classmates coming back? it is believing that i will be able to see everyone again. but i will also miss them. i am quite worried about everyone going back in schools opening again because i'm afraid that the cases will rise again and we will be back in lockdown and there will be a whole cycle going round and round again. many parents felt the pressure, juggling childcare, education and work all in the same space, day after day, week after week now. it has been extremely tough. we are practically living on top of each other. we have just tried to stay positive and make it work where we can but it has been difficult. i am a little bit apprehensive however that is the date so i suppose i have to go through with it. so there is a date but there isn't yet the detail of how this will be managed, in terms of filling up classrooms and spaces like this again and the logistics of testing every pupil. and some feel it is just not realistic to have all that in place for everyone to come back at the same time. children should be back and we want children back in school as quickly as possible. whether that is a big bang of throwing the gates open or slightly more measured approach is up for debate today. no teacher likes to label children but there is recognition that some of the most disadvantaged have missed lots of learning and getting back on track will need time and effort. we have really missed that buzz in the classrooms and the playgrounds. once the children are back, we know from last time they can bounce back very quickly. they can make rapid progress. we have also got to be really aware of the challenges around their mental health and well—being. billions is already being spent on catch—up tuition, but will it be enough? will it reach the right kids? teachers also want to know how they will give grades this year in place of exams. lots to work out. at least now they know when they can make a start. danjohnson, bbc news, stratford. today's roadmap will outline the four conditions that must be met for lockdown in england to be eased. downing street said the four tests are currently being met, so the first stage on march 8th can go ahead — but the government will look at the data in between every phase of lifting lockdown to assess the impact of previous changes. the four conditions that must be met are... let's speak now to professor stephen reicher, member of the sage subcommittee advising on behavioural science. he is is a professor of psychology at the university of st andrews and a fellow of the royal society of edinburgh — and is a member of independent sage. i'll stop there! thank you for your time this afternoon. this is an approach, softly stop you, step—by—step, that you think is what is merited at the moment? what step-by-step, that you think is what is merited at the moment?— is merited at the moment? what we heard from boris _ is merited at the moment? what we heard from boris johnson _ is merited at the moment? what we heard from boris johnson it - is merited at the moment? what we heard from boris johnson it will - heard from borisjohnson it will back as he wanted to be cautious in order to make the reopening are reversible, and i entirely agree with that, i think most people agree with that, i think most people agree with that. there is no point lifting restrictions if all that is going to happen is infections will spike, and we go again in and out of restrictions. but i think in order to make these changes irreversible, cautious as one aspect of it, but we have also got to ask the question that, as we race the restrictions, as we allow people to mix more, what are we going to do to keep infections down? that is a site of the story i don't think we are eating enough about. in many ways, not how we can restrict people but how can we help people to abide by measures which deal with covid 19. measures which deal with covid19. there are a number of long—standing issues i would like to hear about and we have still not heard about. one of those was improving the test and trace system, and in particular, improving self adulation. so, if people get infected, they are taken out of the chain of transmission. how are we going to support people to make that possible? financially, with accommodation? because it is very difficult to self—isolate if you live in a crowded household. another aspect is, how are we going to make our environment safer so people don't get infected in the first place? how are we going to change the school environment so that classrooms are not as crowded. to take another example— nobody would suggest that you say to restaurants and bars, make your kitchen is safe so people don't get food poisoning. we take it for granted, they will be inspected, they are certified in order to make sure that the meat hygiene standards. why are we doing the same for covid? why aren't we making sure all public spaces are inspected and certified to be covid safe so we limit the spread of infection? so as i say we need both sides of the story— what we are going to left and the sustainable measures we can live with to make the inspection in state law. when they are low enough, then what you can do is instead of responding to infections with a blunt instrument of lockdown, but you have to do when there are too many infections, you can deal with them in much more targeted and local ways. that is the way to ensure that what is going to happen at the end of lockdown is genuinely irreversible. mil of lockdown is genuinely irreversible.— of lockdown is genuinely irreversible. �* , , irreversible. all the figures seem to be going _ irreversible. all the figures seem to be going on — irreversible. all the figures seem to be going on the _ irreversible. all the figures seem to be going on the right - irreversible. all the figures seem | to be going on the right direction, and of course we do have a vaccination programme that seems to be going better than was planned. so, is the prime minister right to say it is the right time to start to ease restrictions, and i will wait to see the data before we move into a second, third, orfourth phase? the story of vaccinations is a huge success story, not only we have met targets, we have exceeded them. in very many ways, that is due to the fact that the vaccination programme, unlike test and trace, is rooted in the nhs, and the nhs has been quite magnificent. i think we can learn from that, and perhaps transform our test and trace system to be more located in a local nhs structures which are known and trusted and very effective indeed. that is great news. but well vaccinations as part of the story, part of the way in which we bring infections down, for now at least, it is not the whole way. for now, we have only vaccinated a reasonably small proportion of the public, and what's more, if you were to allow infections to stay high, that means the virus has got more chances to replicate, more chances to mutate, more chances to find firms which are evading the vaccine. so, the vaccines and measures to suppress infection are not to counter post. the vaccine doesn't take away the need for them. they need to go together. we need an integrated strategy of which vaccines are a part but not the only part in bring infections low and keeping them low. what about behaviour? are we getting to a point where people will frankly have had enough and will not flout the rules, but mayjust decide, this has gone on long enough, and we are going to do our thing?! has gone on long enough, and we are going to do our thing?— going to do our thing? i have been asked that question _ going to do our thing? i have been asked that question for— going to do our thing? i have been asked that question for over - going to do our thing? i have been asked that question for over a - going to do our thing? i have been| asked that question for over a year now, and every time i have responded with the same things, which is that by and large the public response has been very good. the problem is not people wilfully breaking the rules when they can follow them, not only has compliance been high throughout, in many ways it is higher now than it was before in terms of things like special distancing, mask wearing, hygiene and so on. the one place where it is law is where things are difficult to do, and that brings me back to the issue of self isolation. it is very difficult to do, you need support. when we talk about behaviour, we often think the problem is motivation, actually this pandemic shows that it has been the lack of support for people to do the things you want to do. to take another example, every day, three or 4 million people who want to stay at home and work from home and are able to work from home are not allowed to by their employers. and so, what we could be doing much more to allow people to do the things that would keep them safe and which keep their community safe, and that is in many ways where the problem lies. if the government was to support us to do the right thing, then i think it would also be in a strong position to ask us to take responsibility seriously, which indeed we have to do. so, if the government takes its responsibility seriously to make all environments are safe, then i think we would be much more likely to think about how we can make your own environment, our domestic environment, our domestic environment, save. and we need to get more guidance on those terms. this is very much about a partnership, when the government takes its responsibility seriously, the public will be more likely to take the responsibility seriously, and such a partnership that we are more likely to be successful in dealing with the pandemic. i don't want to ask _ dealing with the pandemic. i don't want to ask you _ dealing with the pandemic. i don't want to ask you another _ dealing with the pandemic. i don't want to ask you another question | dealing with the pandemic. i don't i want to ask you another question you have been asked for the last year! is the one question, when you finish these questions, you say, they didn't ask that? is it a question you wish you had been asked? that's a really difficult _ you wish you had been asked? that's a really difficult question! _ you wish you had been asked? that's a really difficult question! i _ you wish you had been asked? that's a really difficult question! i think- a really difficult question! i think you have stopped me on that one. to me, we need to change we look at that pandemic. we need to stop thinking that the public are the problem. in many ways, the public have been ahead of the government. there were just looking appalling today which also people are not clamouring for a looser restriction. in many ways, they are asking for more effective restrictions. so, for instance, 74% of voters, including 71% of conservative voters, believe they should be supporting self isolation. i if you look at the issue of international borders, because in many ways we want to reopen domestically, but that doesn't mean we need to be more careful about international borders. only 18% of people support the government's plans, or rather their policy, to have quarantine for people only from the red list of countries. 78% of people won't know to be limits on all countries. so come in many ways, the public understand these issues. the public is willing to abide by restrictions if they are effective, and if they will get us out of this mess. so, let's stop seeing the public as part of the problem unless ask questions and look at things in terms of, how can we enhance public understanding to be more part of the solution. really good to talk to you, and thank you very much for your time. no problem. ok, goodbye. firms across the country are waiting to learn when they will be able to reopen. for many struggling with their bottom line, the end of lockdown can't come soon enough. but business owners say the government's approach must offer them stability — without the threat of another shutdown in the future. nina warhurst reports. preparing for the best, braced, once again, for the worst. in normal times, there would be 12 busy staff in melissa's bustling manchester salon. but for 25 weeks since lockdown one started, these doors have been closed. it has been really tough being on and off, and keeping in check your staff's well—being, your well—being, your clients�* well—being. when i was doing the calculations, we've had a £10,000 vat bill, a £6,000 rent bill. so as you can imagine, that hits the bank balance very hard. could this drizzly beer garden in stockport soon be welcoming customers? it costs more than £600 every week to keep it mothballed. they need paying customers and soon. it's not easy for the government. they want to give businesses like this the chance to breathe without risking having to shut them down again. and that stopping and starting is tortuous for businesses, some saying they cannot afford to keep second guessing what might come next. there are massive implications and cost. we are dealing with perishable goods. obviously the fresh food we make every day is just completely written off. the last time we closed in november we were ready to go, a minute's notice, rug pulled out from under us, massive cost to the brewery. again, making beer ourselves, we need time frames. then it goes off. we need to be able to know what we are doing. it would be great if boris could organise the sunshine for us because that would make a massive difference, but at the minute, would you go out? yes, it is great we will be open, but is it enough to keep going? dorothy has seen the seasons come and go in chesterfield store for three years. but how can she now plan what to stock when she doesn't know when she will open? we had just gone into the sales when we closed, so it's very difficult. in march or april it will be spring, summer. a completely different colour and style. i'm very optimistic that things will come right again. we have some very loyal customers and i'm sure it will come back. when, and for how long this time — the question businesses are tired of asking. clarity and fairness. clarity on clear rules that are in place. and if it is going to be a tiered system, what that entails for hairdressers. and fairness, because last time there was a lot of misunderstanding and a lot of stress, time and money wasted on unclear rules. government support has been extraordinary. but so have the challenges. now patience and bank balances are wearing thin. nina warhurst, bbc news, stockport. here is a large picture of number ten. borisjohnson leaving around 3pm to address the mps in the house of commons at 3:30pm with his plans for an easing of lockdown in england, and we will of course be taking their life to the house of commons for that. that is enough of downing street. i think i can show you a shot of the bbc. no. we were quite well be are ahead. let's speak to our business presenter ben thompson. of course, every business wants to get back to normal as soon as possible, but equally, they don't want a full start on this. —— a false start on this. want a full start on this. -- a false start on this.— want a full start on this. -- a false start on this. no, and i think what ou false start on this. no, and i think what you heard — false start on this. no, and i think what you heard there _ false start on this. no, and i think what you heard there really - what you heard there really underlines what businesses want. they want clarity, they want fairness, and i think i would add to that list— to one advance notice about what could happen and when, because we saw in the previous two lockdowns that they made lots of plants, lots of changes come out at great expense, and things change once again at the last minute that meant that money was in many respects wasted. they also need to planned reopening, because whether you are a retail store, you need to plan what stock you happen. a lot of them had summer stock and when it again in winter, so the need to know that. in hospitality, you have to speak to suppliers about getting in food and drink and all sorts of things. but you also need to retrain staff, may be reopen the premises and in many cases have been shot for “p and in many cases have been shot for up to a year. i spoke to one boss of a chain of restaurants in london yesterday, and he told me they had been operating a takeaway service from some of their branches, and he said he was doing that at a great loss, but he was doing it because it kept his staff employed, kept them with their finger on the pulse a little bit, kept up the training, and it meant those premises were being used rather than sitting there either. hospitality, one of the most badly affected. it is the third largest employer in the uk. but whether you are hospitality retail or travel and tourism, you will be keeping a really close eye on what the prime ministers says later to get any indication about when you can start to reopen. but as you have been searching on, even when they can reopen, we are not going to see if your skill back to normal. in hospitality, we might see a return to some of those limits that we saw over the summer. perhaps may be fewer people able to get in there. we are not talking about curfews, nonetheless, we are not going to have full restaurants, and that means that even with the reopening, businesses may be only able to make up businesses may be only able to make up to about 40% of their normal revenues. they need about 70% just to break even. so, yes, the reopening, good news, a welcome step on a process, but it is a long, long process to get back to any sort of normality. process to get back to any sort of normali . �* , ., , , . normality. and the problem is, after a ear, normality. and the problem is, after a year. and — normality. and the problem is, after a year. and many — normality. and the problem is, after a year, and many months _ normality. and the problem is, after a year, and many months of - normality. and the problem is, after a year, and many months of not - a year, and many months of not bringing any money in our tour, there is going to be a day of reckoning— if the loans, the bill sets are piled up, they will need paying. sets are piled up, they will need -a inc. . sets are piled up, they will need .a in._ ., sets are piled up, they will need -a inc. . ., paying. yeah, i spoke to uk hosoitality _ paying. yeah, i spoke to uk hospitality this _ paying. yeah, i spoke to uk hospitality this morning, . paying. yeah, i spoke to uk hospitality this morning, a i paying. yeah, i spoke to uk - hospitality this morning, a group that represents all the bars and restaurants, and they said that one in five businesses only has enough money to get them through until march, and especially when we are looking at a time tip that could involve april, may, june before any sort of reopening in any meaningful fashion, that means there is a lot of problems coming down the line. we know already, of course, the unemployment rate is creeping higher as more and more businesses go under. the ones that have taken all the headlines of late are being retail businesses. as we move away from the high street, i think what we will see in hospitality as it those firms who have been trying to put a bit of money in to keep the business ticking of a pilot has been closed, but the longer that they stay close, they more money it is costing them. but because it is quite easy for all of us to think that you shut the doors and the bill stop, but they're having to pay a lot of rent and rates in some cases. rent, if they have not been able to negotiate a reduction. there is also course for things like their staff, evenif course for things like their staff, even if the unfurlough, they have to pay national insurance contributions, for example. and there are costs of keeping the business ticking over the hope that they can reopen. some figures that you can hospitality have put they say that pubs have spent £10,000 collectively every month they are not open. for restaurants with high cost, it is about £20,000, before you even talk about hotels with much bigger premises that they have got to pay for. the cost rack up, and as you scots might get, they have no feasible way of getting any sort of income or return to normality. i hope your hairdresser open soon! me too. hope your hairdresser open soon! iie: too. it is going off the screen, isn't it?! . ~ too. it is going off the screen, isn't it?!— too. it is going off the screen, isn't it?! then, thank you very much. scientists say the first study of the uk vaccination programme suggests it is having a �*spectacular�* impact on preventing serious illness in scotland. researchers found that in the fourth week after the initial dose, hospitalisations were reduced by up to 85% and 94% for the pfizer and astrazeneca jabs respectively. our health correspondent jim reed has the details. this is the first glimpse of the data that scientists have been waiting for. solid evidence that our vaccination programme is now starting to have an effect. i don't like needles myself. this research looked at hospital admissions in scotland between the start of december and mid february. it showed that in the fourth week after people were given the pfizer and astrazeneca jab, they were 84% less likely to need hospital treatment for covid than those who had not yet been vaccinated. among the key group of over 80s most at risk of the disease, the combined figure was a reduction of up to 81% in hospital admissions using both jabs. we are absolutely thrilled with these results, the fact we are looking at the entire population and demonstrating that there are these effects, particularly among the high—risk populations. we should also see similar data on the effectiveness of vaccines in england this afternoon, head of that announcement on lockdown easing in the house of commons. the vaccination programme clearly is having an impact. the oxford team put out some data that two thirds of transmissions, you know, lowering transmission by two thirds because of the vaccination programme. there'll be more data that the prime minister will share with the nation both in parliament today and this evening. but doctors warn the protection from any covid vaccine is still not 100%, and we don't yet know the full impact of the new variants of the virus if they start spreading more quickly. even if people have had their first dose, the advice is still to act cautiously and stick to the rules. jim reed, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather, with nick miller. more rain and wind on the way across parts of the uk for the next couple of days so i hope you have the best of days so i hope you have the best of the start of the week. rain in eastern england across parts of east anglia and the southeast this evening. that will clear and it will turn quite chilly for a time in the east with a touch of frost in a few spots but tempers rise later in the night, the winds pick up on your comes the rain to northern ireland, western scotland, parts of wales in eastern england to end the night. very wet weather on the way especially across parts of scotland where the met office has an amber morning from tuesday until wednesday as reign over 100 millimetres in some spots brings the likelihood of further flooding, some spots brings the likelihood of furtherflooding, but notjust some spots brings the likelihood of further flooding, but notjust very wet in scotland, in northern ireland for a time, wet in scotland, in northern ireland fora time, into wet in scotland, in northern ireland for a time, into cumbria, other topics of rain across parts of wales and western areas of england, central and eastern england staying mainly dry and all areas windier, but particularly in scott's northern ireland, destructive winds gusting near to 70 mass per hour in some struts, mild or very mild in eastern england. hello this is bbc news with simon mccoy. the headlines: the prime minister is to unveil his plan for the lifting of lockdown, with school children in england returning to their desks on march eighth and more outdoor socialising. the first study of the uk vaccination programme suggests it's having a �*spectacular�* impact on preventing serious illness in scotland. the youngest pupils in scotland and wales are beginning a phased return to face—to—face teaching today. sport now. and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here'sjohn watson. good afternoon. outdoor sports will return from the 29th march as prime minister borisjohnson prepares to release details of his road map for the easing of lockdown restrictions in england. sports such as golf, tennis and football were halted back in earlyjanuary, but under proposals outlined later outdoor sports will return sooner than indoor activities such as swimming. tennis and basketball courts could reopen, while organised adult and children's sport — including grassroots football — could also return. in scotland non contact outdoor sports are currently permitted. france's six nations match with scotland this weekend is in doubt after five further positive covid tests in the french camp. captain charles ollivon is one of those, taking the total number of cases amongst the players to ten. nine of those featured in the french matchday squad against ireland. training resumes on wednesday with testing set to take place every 2a hours in the lead up to this weekend's fixture. new zealand beat austalia in the first of their 5—match t20 series in front of nearly 10,000 fans in christchurch. a minute's silence was held before the game as the city marked ten years since 185 lives were lost in the earthquake of 2011. when the match got under way, devon conway was the star of the show. he just missed out on his century scoring an unbeaten 99 as new zealand posted a target of 185. australia made a fast start in reply but were eventually bowled out for 131. the next game will be in dunedin on thursday. england bowlerjames anderson says he's frustrated at being rested for matches but understands why with a total of 17 tests this year. the 38—year—old didn't feature in the defeat to india, after england's victory in the first test. the third of four matches is a day—night game in ahmedabad starting wednesday there will be times when we are frustrated, when we want to play, but the coaches and medical team are taking the thought process that we want to keep everyone as fit as possible so we can pick and choose who can play at certain times and hopefully it will benefit those players having a rest every now and then. novak djokovic says he will adjust his schedule as he looks to overhaul roger feder and rafa nadal�*s record haul of 20 grand slam titles. he beat russia's daniil medvedev to win his 18th yesterday, his ninth on the hard courts in melbourne, despite carrying a muscle injury through the tournament. the world number one says he was hurt by criticism after trying to improve the conditions for players in quarantine at the start of the tournamnet. ijust accept i just accept the fact that i can't, you know, please everyone or be someone's favourite tennis player. someone will always look for negatives and anything i do or say and that is ok. it does frustrate me, of course, have feelings like anybody else and i don't enjoy when someonejudges or anybody else and i don't enjoy when someone judges or criticises or behaves unfairly, i think, before checking certain things. and olympicjudo bronze medallist sally conway said the postponment to last year's olympics has prompted her retirement from the sport. having won bronze at rio 2016 she says she would have competed in tokyo last year had the games gone ahead as planned. despite the rearranged event now just six months away, the 34—year—old said now feels like the right time to retire. conway also won medals at world and european level. that's all the sport for now. prince william has said the duke of edinburgh is �*ok' after his grandfather spent a sixth night in hospital. william was asked about prince philip's health during a visit to a covid—19 vaccination centre in norfolk. �*they�*re keeping an eye on him,�* the prince said. the annual commonwealth day service — which was due to be held on march eighth — will not take place due to the pandemic, westminster abbey has said. instead, the queen will share her annual message in a bbc one programme, a celebration for commonwealth day, on sunday march 7th. it's the same day that meghan and harry's interview with oprah winfrey is expected to air. let's get more on the prime minister's plan to exit lockdown in england. he'll share his finalised with mps at 3.30pm today and then lead a news conference at seven tonight from downing street. let's look at the plans in more detail. from the 8th of march, all schools will open and two people will be able to meet outdoors to socialise in a public place. from the 29 march, outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed. it's understood this will include gatherings in private gardens. outdoor sport facilities such as tennis or basketballs will also reopen and organised sport can restart. steps after that will be determined by the vaccine roll—out, infections, hospitalisations, deaths and new variants. i'mjoined by adam finn, professor of paediatrics at bristol university, and a member of the government's joint committee on vaccination and immunisation. he's speaking to us in a personal capacity. good afternoon to you. eliminate hello, simon, how are you? i'm fine. we are going in the right direction at the right pace, do you think? it is a delicate balance getting this right but certainly things are moving very rapidly in the right direction now in terms of the number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths which is very encouraging. i think most of that is down to the lockdown which has brought things down, but we are now seeing evidence coming through today that suggest the vaccine programme is beginning to contribute to that and that is extremely encouraging. the thing that seems _ extremely encouraging. the thing that seems to _ extremely encouraging. the thing that seems to worry _ extremely encouraging. the thing that seems to worry people - extremely encouraging. the thing that seems to worry people most | extremely encouraging. the thing i that seems to worry people most is the possibility of new variants appearing and that is why the urge caution in terms of allowing infections to spread. it is fine having inoculations, fine you are cutting down hospitalisations, but you are not preventing the possible emergence of new variants. yes. you are not preventing the possible emergence of new variants. yes, the more completely _ emergence of new variants. yes, the more completely and _ emergence of new variants. yes, the more completely and more _ emergence of new variants. yes, the more completely and more rapidly i emergence of new variants. yes, the | more completely and more rapidly we can drive down viral circulation, not only here in the uk but around the world, but the more we can slow down the emergence and evolution of the virus, so that is certainly true. it does mean that we have to see the bigger picture. we cannot just look at the immediate situation right now. the virus is still adapting to the human host, it is getting better at transmitting itself and it will start to adapt to the immunity we are all now developing because of the programme, so we will have to keep a close eye on things and we may need to give boosters later in the year, we may need to readjust the vaccines to optimise their effectiveness going forward, but for now, things are going well. forward, but for now, things are going well-— forward, but for now, things are ioini well. , . going well. there is confidence in government _ going well. there is confidence in government that _ going well. there is confidence in government that schools - going well. there is confidence in government that schools can - going well. there is confidence in government that schools can be l government that schools can be openedin government that schools can be opened in england all at once. do you share that optimism? if you talk to people anecdotally, there is some concern that getting 10 million people out into schools, whether it is staff, parents, whatever, that you are asking for trouble. well, it is a hard call. _ you are asking for trouble. well, it is a hard call, for _ you are asking for trouble. well, it is a hard call, for sure, _ you are asking for trouble. well, it is a hard call, for sure, and - you are asking for trouble. well, it is a hard call, for sure, and one i is a hard call, for sure, and one has to make these calls from time to time. my sense is that the risks of opening primary schools in particular are pretty low and certainly, as a paediatrician, i am very concerned about the impact on children's welfare, mental health and education of keeping the schools closed, but i likewise am concerned, too, that we should be able to keep schools open once we are open and not close them again, so suddenly that needs to be done in a careful way and one hopes that it will go forward and there will be stability going forward. forward and there will be stability going forward-— forward and there will be stability oiini forward, . ., ., ., , , going forward. what sort of examples have ou going forward. what sort of examples have you seen — going forward. what sort of examples have you seen of _ going forward. what sort of examples have you seen of youngsters - going forward. what sort of examples have you seen of youngsters are - have you seen of youngsters are really being affected mentally by this? ~ ., , ., , this? well, to be quite honest with ou, i this? well, to be quite honest with you. i normally _ this? well, to be quite honest with you, i normally work _ this? well, to be quite honest with you, i normally work as _ this? well, to be quite honest with you, i normally work as a - this? well, to be quite honest with you, i normally work as a clinician, j you, i normally work as a clinician, but i have been so buried in vaccine research over the last year that i have not been really in contact with patients as much as i would normally be, but through colleagues, it is very clear that children, particularly children who have been having to shelter because of chronic disease, are really struggling as a result of this isolation that has been imposed on them and, of course, out there, the whole of the paediatric population and all the children in the country are suffering for a lack of being able to go to school, socialise and learn, so it is a very clear price we are paying at the moment and we do need to try and bring that to an end if we can. so do need to try and bring that to an end if we can-— do need to try and bring that to an end if we can. so the prime minister sa s he end if we can. so the prime minister says he does — end if we can. so the prime minister says he does not _ end if we can. so the prime minister says he does not want _ end if we can. so the prime minister says he does not want to _ end if we can. so the prime minister says he does not want to return - end if we can. so the prime minister says he does not want to return to l says he does not want to return to lockdown. the only reason that would ever happen is if there were a third way. how likely is that, do you think? i way. how likely is that, do you think? ~' way. how likely is that, do you think? ~ . way. how likely is that, do you think? «i . . , . think? i think a third wave is a very real _ think? i think a third wave is a very real possibility _ think? i think a third wave is a very real possibility if- think? i think a third wave is a very real possibility if we - think? i think a third wave is a very real possibility if we do i think? i think a third wave is a l very real possibility if we do not do this right because the vaccines that we have deployed so far have been very much targeted at high risk people, elderly people, people with chronic disease, who have actually been sheltering themselves and protecting themselves and isolating themselves and we have not yet deployed the vaccine on a mass scale in the general population where the transmission of viruses going on, so for sure, transmission of viruses going on, so forsure, if transmission of viruses going on, so for sure, if we were to rapidly normalise things right now in a complete way, we would have a third wave because there are plenty of people out there who have neither had the infection nor the vaccine so far, so we do need to be careful to avoid that, otherwise, of course, the impact is worse if we open up now and have to close down again. i am intrigued, you said you were involved in vaccine research, so that will be an image of you sitting in a room by yourself staring at a computer, but i imagine there are moments where, eureka moments, if you like, where you say, gosh, that is important. what have been the highlights, medically, for you over the last year?— highlights, medically, for you over the last year? well, i actually have been a bit involved _ the last year? well, i actually have been a bit involved in _ the last year? well, i actually have been a bit involved in the - the last year? well, i actually have been a bit involved in the trials - been a bit involved in the trials themselves, so i have been in some of the clinics we have run where we have been immunising people. really the sensational moment for all of us was when we got the headline figures from the oxford vaccine, a lot of people who were recruited here in bristol to that programme, and that was a very exciting morning for all of us because actually up until that point, we had no real idea whether these vaccines were going to work at all, and not only do they work, but they work really much better than we had expected. so that has been extremely exciting and now right here today, actually, we are hearing the first results of the real world effectiveness studies, some data out from scotland, some more from public health england and are study in bristol will be releasing later this week as well and all are showing that the programme is having a real impact on hospitalisations, debts. i want to pick up on this, particularly in elderly people. ron is going to have to change his mind because the astrazeneca is shown to work on over 65 is better than anyone could have hoped for. —— president macron. irate anyone could have hoped for. -- president macron.— anyone could have hoped for. -- president macron. we should have caution, president macron. we should have caution. these _ president macron. we should have caution, these are _ president macron. we should have caution, these are not _ president macron. we should have caution, these are not randomised j caution, these are not randomised trials, they are observational and they are subject to bias and i think some of the estimates we are hearing today are probably actually higher than reality. we cannot expect one dose of the vaccine to have such a very high effectiveness in very old, very high effectiveness in very old, very frail people. vaccines just do not work that well, but they are working, they are having an effect and i think that is extremely encouraging for we have extrapolated, if you like, that if we saw effectiveness in younger people, there would be effectiveness in older people and that is now panning out to be the case which is really great news.— really great news. professor adam fink, really great news. professor adam fink. thank _ really great news. professor adam fink. thank you — really great news. professor adam fink, thank you so _ really great news. professor adam fink, thank you so much _ really great news. professor adam fink, thank you so much for- really great news. professor adam fink, thank you so much for your | fink, thank you so much for your time. . ~ fink, thank you so much for your time. . ,, ,, fink, thank you so much for your time. . ,, _ _ scotland's youngest pupils have returned to the classroom for the first time since the christmas break. it marks the start of a phased reopening of schools that will also see the return of some senior school students. clinical data will be closely monitored to assess the impact on virus transmission. the education secretaryjohn swinney said he was confident today's return would be safe, but scotland would not follow england in letting everyone back at once. alexandra mackenzie reports. it's time to get up for school, darling. yay! an early start for those heading back to school this morning. good morning, welcome back. there was an abundance of enthusiasm at the school gates as children aged between four and eight are learning in the classroom for the first time since before christmas. it's perfect timing for becky whose third baby is due tomorrow. nothing replicates a classroom. they need to be back in, they need interaction with their friends and they need the hands—on learning. i'm so excited, so happy to meet all my friends. i've missed it 100% and i've missed my friends 2000% i and i've missed miss 10%. and how has home—schooling been? horrible. staff said they are less anxious this time around because all the precautionary measures are already in place and they're fully prepared for classroom learning. i think it's a good idea to have a phased return and let the primary 1—3 come in. we know they're the children who are at least risk, however i think this feeling in our school is that the sooner the better for the children, the 4—7 returning. the priority is to get all children back into the classroom, but this is a cautious and phased approach. the scottish government wants to see what impact it has on the number of coronavirus cases before allowing more pupils to return. some senior secondary school pupils are also back today, but only for practical lessons, like this drama class at holyrood secondary school in glasgow. it feels great to be backjust because you kind of miss the teachers and everything, like, when you are stuck in the house. this is an encouraging step forward, but with a strong note of caution. the first minister said it is not a signal that things are getting back to normal quite yet. in northern ireland, ministers have played down the prospect of relaxing restrictions before easter, although there are plans for the youngest pupils to return to school on the 8th of march. in wales, children aged three to seven are starting a phased return to classes for the first time since december. here's tomos morgan. a history and nature lesson in dinosaurs this morning, as today marks another historical date during the pandemic in wales, with the youngest returning to the classroom again. children aged seven and under are back in what will be a phased return of ages this time around. so that means six—year—old zac is back, but eight—year—old ellis stays at home for now — at least until the 15th of march. i like learning, i like playing with my friends at school. i'd say i'm glad that i'm not going back. i kind of like it at home. it's been a really difficult couple of months trying i to teach an eight—year—old i and a six—year—old at home. too many distractions at home. it's not the best - learning environment. but the school's been really good, putting some online classes- and some virtual classes on, l so that's been really beneficial in their education, - but we are a bit concerned at them being set back- from where they should be. this phased return of the youngest children coming back to the classroom first is being done so the welsh government can monitor what impact more pupils returning to the classroom at any one time has on coronavirus rates. however, the current plan does mean that it's looking unlikely that all high school children will be back in the classroom before the easter holidays. i think every teacher, if you ask them, would want all the children back as soon as possible, and i think, you know, anyone who works in this profession would feel the same, but i think it's about safety and about making sure that we take the right steps at the right time. the other main difference in welsh schools compared to september is that facemasks will now be mandatory for anyone over 11 in schools when social distancing isn't possible. the rest of primary age children will return along with exam grade years in high school by the middle of next month, as long as vaccine numbers continue to rise consistently and virus rates don't spike. although home—schooling has provided some educational stability at home, according to the teachers and parents here this morning nothing can truly replace the classroom environment. tomos morgan, bbc news, llandow. the first banker to be jailed for rigging interest rates, has told the bbc he believes fresh evidence that's emerged since his trial will show his conviction was unsafe. the evidence raises questions over legal rulings in tom hayes�* trial which have also been used to prosecute more than 20 other traders, some of the only bankers to be prosecuted since the financial crash. his case is now being examined by the criminal cases review commission, the body set up to review allegations of miscarriages ofjustice. in his first ever tv interview, he spoke to our economics correspondent andy verity. tom hayes, released from jail and reunited with his family. prosecutors called him the ringmaster of an international conspiracy to rig interest rates. he says he is the victim of a miscarriage ofjustice. today, i have been released from prison after being sentenced for 11 years for following bank practice and doing myjob the way i was trained to do it. after a traumatic sentence, i begin the process of rebuilding my life. tom hayes went from being a star trainer at ubs to being the first defendant to be found guilty of manipulating libor, the benchmark interest rate that tracks what banks are paying to borrow cash. why can�*t you accept the jury�*s verdict? i don�*t blame the jury for it, but they were presented with a false narrative and they reached a conclusion based on those facts that i believe, had they seen the full evidence, full disclosure, they would have reached a very different conclusion. you know, at the time, it was expedient for political reasons that a banker went to prison. and i was that banker and i was given an egregious sentence and my life was destroyed. to get libor, 16 banks would answer a question each day — at what interest rate could they borrow money from other banks? they would submit their answers and an average would be taken, libor. the evidence against tom hayes was messages asking for those rates to be put in high or low in the hope it might help his bank make money on trades that went up or down with libor. i sent e—mails and i made phone calls in full knowledge that all these things are recorded and i did it with abandon because i did not believe i was doing anything wrong. on any given morning, a bank wanting to borrow money might see several different offers, one from hsbc at one rate, another from barclays at another rate, perhaps another from lloyds at a slightly different rate and all of those, the traders say, were accurate answers to the libor question, at what rate could you borrow? all they were doing, they say, was choosing from among those accurate answers which rate was best for their bank. but a key prosecution witness, john ewan, told the court any attempt to move libor to help a bank�*s trades was wrong. the former libor manager at the british bankers association said... if he had... tom hayes says a transcript has emerged since the trial of a meeting of the body that supervises libor casts doubt on that evidence. i was going through piles of paperwork in my cell and i couldn�*t quite believe what i was reading. a man named john ewan said in that conversation, "i don�*t know whether this was based on the bank of any derivatives trading going on, but the rates are representative, so from that point of view, i�*m fine." it is absolutely in complete contrast to the rulings made by the court, to the evidence given at my trial. we asked john ewan to comment, but received no response. afterjohn ewan�*s evidence, mrjusticejeremy cook said that putting in a rate that took account of the bank�*s commercial interest was unlawful. and that applied even if the rate was accurate. a senior independent appeal court lawyer question is whether traders could be fairly expected to have known that that was against the law at the time. i expected to have known that that was against the law at the time.— against the law at the time. i think that does defend _ against the law at the time. i think that does defend certain _ against the law at the time. i think that does defend certain legal - against the law at the time. i thinkl that does defend certain legal ideas of certainty and not creating retrospectively rules that make certain — retrospectively rules that make certain conduct illegal that no one at the _ certain conduct illegal that no one at the time would have realised was the case _ at the time would have realised was the case. ,, ., , . , . the case. the serious fraud office commented _ the case. the serious fraud office commented only _ the case. the serious fraud office commented only by _ the case. the serious fraud office commented only by noting - the case. the serious fraud office commented only by noting that i the case. the serious fraud office i commented only by noting that tom hayes was convicted by a jury with the verdict upheld on appeal. the common cases review commission will soon decide whether to refer the case back to the appeal court. the transport secretary has temporarily banned boeing 777 aircraft with a certain type of engine from entering uk airspace. it follows an incident at the weekend when a boeing 777 with pratt & whitney 4000—112 engines caught fire on a united airlines flight from denver, colorado on saturday. large pieces of debris fell on a residential area. the federal aviation administration in the us has ordered an increase in inspections as it tries to determine how this happened. united airlines is the only us airline flying this model of 777 with the same engine as the denver plane — and it has grounded the 2a planes it has in—service. japan�*s two main airlines — ana and japan airlines — have grounded their combined fleet of 32 aircraft. the only other airline to run the planes is korean airlines — and it too has grounded its six planes. keith hayward is an aerospace writer and analyst and says this sort of incident is rare. well, it is a little unfair to blame boeing for this one. it is an engine failure and although boeing clearly has a dog in this particularfight, it cannot be blamed for a weakness in the engine which might have been due to age or might have been down to the airline not following procedures. who knows at this stage? but it is very unlikely to be attributable to a design problem with the aircraft. this particular incident looks dramatic and, indeed, it is dramatic. it looks from the reports i have read so far like the fan blades have failed and they have been ingested into the engine which is likely to have caused the fire. it is very unusual that pieces from the engine end up on the ground. again, the aircraft is designed and the cells encasing the engine are designed to take most of an explosive incident into the engine, so this is a very rare event. not unusual, but very rare in itself. in an hour�*s time, borisjohnson will be unveiling his plans for the exit of lockdown in england. he is expected to come out later and will share the road map with ministers later, then to the house of commons and then hosting a press conference at 7pm. his road—mac initially will come out of downing street, turn right onto whitehall, through parliament square into the house of commons and then he will interest mps. we will bring you that live your bbc news and live coverage also of the news conference tonight. that is still to come and we will be back injust a moment. first, the weather. maureen and wind on the way across parts of the uk over the next couple of days so i hope you have made the most of what is a fine start to the weak bar a few showers in north—west scotland and the reigning eastern england, still across parts of east anglia and the far east of england. it will turn quite chilly for a time. in the east, a touch of frost and a few spots with temperatures rising later in the night, here comes the rain to northern ireland, west of scotland, parts of wales in western england to end the night. very wet spell of weather on the way, especially across parts of scotland where the met office has an amber warning from tuesday to wednesday with reign of over 100 mil metres in some spots brings a likelihood of further flooding, metres in some spots brings a likelihood of furtherflooding, but notjust in scotland, into northern ireland, cumbria, outbreaks of rain in parts of wales and eastern england staying dry but all areas windier, particular in scotland and northern ireland with winds gusting near to 70 mph in some spots. mild, very mild with hazy sunshine in eastern england. this is bbc news. the headlines... the prime minister is to unveil his plan for the lifting of lockdown, with school children in england returning to their desks on march 8th and more outdoor socialising. outdoor sports, including golf and tennis, are due to return at the end of march but there�*s been no comment on when gyms could reopen. pubs, hairdressers, and hospitality venues will have to wait — as the government urges caution at every step. we have to make sure we are able to protect the nhs by not allowing the reopening of the economy to allow for another spike that would then cause many more people to go into hospital. the first study of the uk vaccination programme suggests it�*s having a �*spectacular�* impact on preventing serious illness in scotland. the youngest pupils in scotland and wales are beginning a phased return to face—to—face teaching today. borisjohnson will announce his road map for lifting lockdown in england in just over an hour, as infections decrease in just over half an hour, as infections decrease and the vaccine programme continues to roll out. the government confirmed this morning that all pupils will return to school in england on march 8th. phased returns are planned in the rest of the uk — younger children are going back today in scotland and wales, with northern ireland�*s schools partially reopening in march. the pm is also expected to announce that from march 29th, six people or two households can meet outdoors, including in private gardens. outdoor sports could also return. this morning, mrjohnson said on twitter that his priorities would be schooling, and reuniting people with loved ones — but added that decisions �*will be made on the latest data at every step�*. he will share his plans in full with mps in the house of commons at three thirty this afternoon, followed by a press conference at seven this evening. ben wright reports. the current lockdown has again silenced classrooms, closed all nonessential shops and kept families and friends apart. this afternoon, the government will explain how restrictions in england will gradually be eased through the spring and into summer. but although the vaccine roll—out is going well, hospitalisations remain high and caution is the watchword in government. we have to make sure we are able to, you know, protect the nhs by not allowing the reopening of the economy to allow for another spike that would then cause many more people to go to hospital. that is ultimately the balance. these days downing street is quiet and cabinet meetings happen virtually. but borisjohnson�*s ministers spent the morning hearing about his 60—page road map and the likely stages for lifting restrictions. the first of those is march the 8th, when all schools in england will reopen to all pupils. a different approach to the phased return of scotland, wales and northern ireland. outdoor clubs and activities run by schools can restart too. care home residents will be allowed to see one regular visitor indoors. and the rules around meeting one other person outside will be eased a bit. there will be no need to be exercising while meeting for coffee. later in this first stage, in march 29, it�*s understood groups of six or two households will be able to meet up outside. sports like golf and tennis are expected to start again too. and that is the point the stay at home order may be lifted. the government has long said getting children back to school has been the priority. but teaching unions say it is reckless, returning all pupils to classrooms at once. labour too has concerns. we will continue to push to put in place of those measures around testing, ventilation, guidance on mask wearing, because the last thing we want is to reopen schools for all pupils and their many peoples are sent home because we have significant outbreaks of the virus. a minority of tory mps have been pushing for a quicker reopening of the economy. but number 10 has chosen a much more tentative strategy. ministers say their decisions will be driven by data about the vaccine roll—out, hospitalisations, infection rates and any new variants of covid. they want this lockdown to be the last. that could mean it is still many weeks before nonessential shops, hospitality and pubs reopen. we need a long—term recovery plan. we don�*tjust need a date to reopen. we want to reopen softly, safely and we want to stay open. we are a people industry and we miss people. but we must keep people safe. with the prospect of all adults being offered their first vaccine by earlyjuly, there is hope in government that shuttered shops and separated families will be a thing of the past. let�*s ta ke let�*s take you to downing street, because the prime minister�*s car has just pulled up, and we are expecting borisjohnson to head to the house of commons to address mps, and to outline his finalised road map, which we will unveil to the mps before going on television tonight at 7pm. but we are expecting up to six people, or to households, being able to meet outdoors from the 29th of march. rules will be lifted in stages, and for conditions must be met at each stage. we are going to keep that a shot for you. we will keep that a shot for you. we will keep an eye on the door of number ten. it will not be long before he leaves. i am joined now from newcastle by professor andrew hayward. he�*s director of the ucl institute of epidemiology and a member of sage the committee of scientists which advises the government. as we await the prime minister�*s departure, is this cautious approach the right one?— the right one? absolutely. i think it is iood the right one? absolutely. i think it is good to _ the right one? absolutely. i think it is good to see _ the right one? absolutely. i think it is good to see the _ the right one? absolutely. i think it is good to see the government| it is good to see the government have learnt, really, from some of its past mistakes about opening up to early, and i think sometimes being overly optimistic about the future. in this case, we have more to be optimistic about, particularly with this news of the vaccine working effectively against hospitalisations and deaths, and so it is a critical time for us to get the straight and not open up so quickly that we throw away the chances of getting more of the population vaccinated. irate chances of getting more of the population vaccinated.- chances of getting more of the population vaccinated. we had a iuestion population vaccinated. we had a question coming _ population vaccinated. we had a question coming in _ population vaccinated. we had a question coming in from - population vaccinated. we had a| question coming in from atlanta, white is a vaccination not clearly credited with the drop of deaths in hospital admissions? credited with the drop of deaths in hospitaladmissions? i5 credited with the drop of deaths in hospital admissions?— credited with the drop of deaths in hospital admissions? is that fair? i think it is initially _ hospital admissions? is that fair? i think it is initially hard _ hospital admissions? is that fair? i think it is initially hard to - hospital admissions? is that fair? i think it is initially hard to see - think it is initially hard to see the difference, because we have got two things going on, this research are going down because of the lockdown, and then on top of that, the vaccinations. i think what we can start to see is that rates are going down faster in the older age groups, under hospitalisations and deaths are going to fasten those groups. and the data from scotland seems to confirm that as protection against hospitalisation and death. so it is both lockdown and faxing. 0f so it is both lockdown and faxing. of course, there are still plenty of people who have not been vaccinated yet, and who still have a reasonable chance of getting severe disease. martin asked, nobody talks about the bubble any more. it would help to mention it for those who live alone. what going to be allowed? that is what we are waiting to hear, isn�*t it? what we are waiting to hear, isn't it? , ., .,, ., it? yes, and it looks as though, riihtl , it? yes, and it looks as though, rightly. they — it? yes, and it looks as though, rightly. they are _ it? yes, and it looks as though, rightly, they are putting - it? yes, and it looks as though, rightly, they are putting a - it? yes, and it looks as though, i rightly, they are putting a priority on being able to catch up with loved ones say they haven�*t seen for a long time. initially cautiously, and having an emphasis on outside contact. i think outside contact, practically with a degree of social distancing, is and always has been relatively safe, so that is certainly a safe thing to be looking at. ~ , , , at. the prime minister is 'ust emergingfi at. the prime minister is 'ust emerging now. fl at. the prime minister is 'ust emerging now. the �* at. the prime minister isjust emerging now. the difficulty| at. the prime minister isjustl emerging now. the difficulty a at. the prime minister isjust - emerging now. the difficulty a lot of people... that is me a prodrug. that wasn�*t the prime minister. what seems to be the fear is of new variants, more than anything else, and it is at increased risk of transmission that they are desperate to avoid. i think new variants are something to be concerned about, precisely because we don�*t really understand the potential impact. we know that some of the new variants that come from south africa and brazil have avoided immunity from natural infection and vaccination. we are not quite sure exactly how effective the vaccines will be a preventing hospitalisations and as for those, so keeping a close eye on them is really important.— them is really important. there seems to be — them is really important. there seems to be some _ them is really important. there seems to be some concern - them is really important. there i seems to be some concern about them is really important. there - seems to be some concern about the idea around sports re—emerging into our lives. david says, i am treating about potential risks sports such as golf and tennis are considered to have, which forces them to remain close. i have, which forces them to remain close. ~ have, which forces them to remain close. ,, ., ., ., have, which forces them to remain close. ,, ., , , close. i think the outdoor sports have always _ close. i think the outdoor sports have always been _ close. i think the outdoor sports have always been certainly - close. i think the outdoor sports have always been certainly less| have always been certainly less risky than indoor sports. i think a lot of the concern has been around the activities of outdoor sports rather than the sports themselves, and the socialisation that goes on around them. generally speaking, any activity that is going on in the open air is going to be far less risky than any activity indoors. the issue of schools is the one that seems to have a lot of people concerned. some criticism that opening everything up on day one is a risk we needn�*t take, and indeed other nations within the uk are doing things differently. is this the right approach, do you think? i certainly have concerns about that. i think the big difficulty in schools is that there is no real possibility to ensure meaningful social distancing. so, transmission will definitely start to occur from day one. and rates of disease and infection in children will increase over that time. i think that is fairly certain. of course, children are very unlikely to get severe disease, extremely unlikely, in fact, answer the question is how will that transmission work its way up will that transmission work its way up through the age groups. hopefully it will be slow enough to have vaccinated more people, but having a staggered approach, for example, opening primary schools first, like they are planning on in scotland, would certainly buy more time to get more people vaccinated. lise would certainly buy more time to get more people vaccinated.— would certainly buy more time to get more people vaccinated. use the word ho-efull , more people vaccinated. use the word hopefully. and — more people vaccinated. use the word hopefully, and that _ more people vaccinated. use the word hopefully, and that is _ more people vaccinated. use the word hopefully, and that is not _ more people vaccinated. use the word hopefully, and that is not a _ more people vaccinated. use the word hopefully, and that is not a word - more people vaccinated. use the word hopefully, and that is not a word we i hopefully, and that is not a word we have heard for many months, hopper. but the figures are all pointing in the right direction. there is cause for optimism, isn�*t there? i the right direction. there is cause for optimism, isn't there?- for optimism, isn't there? i think there is a lot _ for optimism, isn't there? i think there is a lot of _ for optimism, isn't there? i think there is a lot of cause _ for optimism, isn't there? i think there is a lot of cause for- for optimism, isn't there? i think. there is a lot of cause for optimism as move towards a summer, and with a higher proportion of the population vaccinated and protected. and also seasonality in respect of 30 —— and respiratory infection. i think the summer does help reduce transmission. on the other hand, there are things we can be concerned about— some segments of the population with low levels of vaccine uptake, particularly in a non—white ethnic groups and in poorer parts of the country, and in some geographical neighbourhoods, there may be still possibilities for high mortality outbreaks, so we also need to bear that in mind. and high mortality outbreaks, so we also need to bear that in mind.— high mortality outbreaks, so we also need to bear that in mind. and as we watch izioris — need to bear that in mind. and as we watch boris johnson _ need to bear that in mind. and as we watch boris johnson get _ need to bear that in mind. and as we watch boris johnson get into - need to bear that in mind. and as we watch boris johnson get into his - watch borisjohnson get into his car, heading off to the house of commons. going back to your first point, what you don�*t want to see is what we have seen in the past, which is a whole issue of overpromising. i think that is right, and that is why i have also been a little bit cautious about terms like, make this irreversible, or that this needs to be the last ever lockdown, because i think we always need to be in a position where we can respond things not being as we expect, and particularly with new variants, we do need to not cast in stone the fact that we are never going to take severe action again, because we never know exactly what is on the cards. and i think the more that you have language that ties you into doubt, the harder it is to make the decisions that you need to make in a timely way. hopefully, we won�*t need to make them, but maybe we will. thank you very much for your time this afternoon. and we have just seen borisjohnson heading to the house of commons. someone tweeted we are being treated to look at your door at the moment. fascinating! firms across the country are waiting to learn when they will be able to reopen. for many struggling with their bottom line, the end of lockdown can�*t come soon enough. but business owners say the government�*s approach must offer them stability — without the threat of another well, we can speak now to gemma tetlow, who is the chief economist at the think tank institute for government. this is risky. we are entering a period that obviously is going to be different for different aspects of the economy. a certain acceptance that some businesses are just going to have to wait and see? this that some businesses are 'ust going to have to wait and see?_ to have to wait and see? this is obviously _ to have to wait and see? this is obviously the — to have to wait and see? this is obviously the third _ to have to wait and see? this is obviously the third time - to have to wait and see? this is obviously the third time that i to have to wait and see? this is| obviously the third time that the government has tried to bring england out of lockdown, and really this time round they need to try to avoid some of the mistakes they made last time. and partly that should be about being clear what their objectives are and what metrics they will be looking forward to guide the approach to easing some of the restrictions that are currently in place. and hopefully for businesses around the country, that will give them a much clearer steer of what they need to be looking out for to understand when they are going to be able to go back to something more like normality. that means the government needs to steer clear of being very precise about come on the state, we are going to be able to open x, y, z businesses, but give more guidance about the numbers they are going to be looking at, but we need to see in terms of case numbers, hospitalisations or death rates, or progress with the vaccination programme to guide that easing of the lockdown. ii vaccination programme to guide that easing of the lockdown. if you vaccination programme to guide that easing of the lockdown.— easing of the lockdown. if you were advisini easing of the lockdown. if you were advising the — easing of the lockdown. if you were advising the prime _ easing of the lockdown. if you were advising the prime minister, - easing of the lockdown. if you were advising the prime minister, what i advising the prime minister, what would you say? tiara advising the prime minister, what would you say?— would you say? two things i think are ioiin would you say? two things i think are going to _ would you say? two things i think are going to be — would you say? two things i think are going to be important. - would you say? two things i think are going to be important. one i would you say? two things i think are going to be important. one is| would you say? two things i think. are going to be important. one is to make sure that the whole of the cabinet has bought into the road map thatis cabinet has bought into the road map that is laid out today, and that means all parts of government policy appealing and the same direction, and at the same consideration to our guiding that. in particular, for businesses and households across the country, one thing that will be important as the policies for the treasury, and this includes the chance to�*s budget announcements next week, are consistent with the rest of government�*s approach to easing the lockdown, so leaving and press the support programme is likely furlough scheme, they business loan scheme where social restrictions remain in place, and then moving on to different policy ponchos can be ease, for example. the hope is a government learned from its mistakes, but what particular mistakes argue most... i am not going to see better, but much of the ones you don�*t want to repeat the same? for of the ones you don't want to repeat the same? ., . , . ., the same? for example, at the end of last summer. — the same? for example, at the end of last summer, when _ the same? for example, at the end of last summer, when the _ the same? for example, at the end of last summer, when the treasury i the same? for example, at the end of last summer, when the treasury and i last summer, when the treasury and the government first tried to launch the government first tried to launch the economy back to something like normality, the treasury had the eat certain help out scheme, which encourage people to eat meals together in restaurants, and with the benefit of hindsight, and to be honest even epidemiological evidence at the time, suggested that was risky. those indoor social activities are the ones that are likely to risk increasing the transmission of the disease. so, making sure the government�*s pro system is more coherent in terms of understanding and communicating to the public which activities are more risky in terms of disease transmission, and therefore why the government is encouraging them or telling them they can�*t or cannot do certain activities at certain times. the fear appears to be particular about any new variant, hence they need, despite this very successful vaccination programme, just try and keep the infections at the level they are at, if not lower. i think that is one _ they are at, if not lower. i think that is one thing _ they are at, if not lower. i think that is one thing that _ they are at, if not lower. i think that is one thing that will- they are at, if not lower. i think that is one thing that will be i they are at, if not lower. i think. that is one thing that will be good to see the prime minister being very clear about today, it is clear the government�*s objectives have shifted from where we were last may, when the first published a strategy for easing the lockdown, and in particular the rise of new variants seem to be a factor in that, so the prime minister should spell out what the risk is that they perceive from these new variants, how does that translate into their caution in easing the restrictions at the moment?— easing the restrictions at the moment? ., , ., , , . moment? the irony of course is that while the focus _ moment? the irony of course is that while the focus is _ moment? the irony of course is that while the focus is on _ moment? the irony of course is that while the focus is on data, _ moment? the irony of course is that while the focus is on data, people i while the focus is on data, people really do want a sense of dates. i can understand why the public want that sense of dates. the difficulty is that, as your previous guest said, the government cannot stick to a rigid timetable simply because there are too many unknowns that remain about the risk of the disease, the risk of new variants, the effectiveness of the vaccine programme, and so i think the government needs to find a better way of expending to the public what information they have, how they are judging the risks on the basis of that, what their objectives are and therefore how new information and guide their approach. it is not quite as much certainty as sin, he will be able to do these activities on this particular date in the future, but hopefully that will give people a stronger sense of what is going to guide the government�*s approach and what they need to look out for to start getting an idea of thing when —— when things will change for them. let�*s speak to our business presenter ben thompson. businesses are very keen to hear dates, but they don�*t want a situation will be face another lockdown. they don�*t want that ever. no, and they don�*t want that in and out of restrictions that we have seen pretty much on and off over the last 12 months, and that is because businesses have been trying to adapt their premises to make sure that they are covid say. in many cases, they are covid say. in many cases, they have spent a lot of time and money coming up with ways of operating within the rules, whether they hope that ultimately they can�*t reopen and that that would be money well spent. whether you are a bar or a restaurant or a retail outlet or a travel firm, they will all be looking really closely at what the prime minister says this afternoon to get a sense of when they can start to bottom customers back. and if you look at hospitality, for example, one of the worst affected sectors, it has tried all sorts of things to make their premises serve, reducing the number of people in those premises, training staff, offering different facilities, may be taken ways and click and collect and all of that sort of stuff. they found it increasingly difficultjust to make and meet, because with those restrictions in place, even if they are able to open their doors, we are able to make revenues ofjust 30% or 40%. able to make revenues ofjust 30% or a0%. they need about 70% just to break even. and so we are led to believe, perhaps, that the pubs will believe, perhaps, that the pubs will be able to start offering drinks outside and a beer garden. figures suggest is 40% of premises have outside space command that might just be a couple of tables on the pavement. it is not a big beer garden, and so many businesses will find it really difficult to operate even as the rules start to be eased, and it is only when we get back to some sort of normality, which could be many months from now, as can they start to make the numbers add up. you can understand the frustration of business owners who say they have it vaccination programmes successful, and at the current rate, the population who needs it will have a jab, surely we can get some dates at this point? but they are not going to get that? ila. dates at this point? but they are not going to get that?— dates at this point? but they are not going to get that? no, and the prime minister _ not going to get that? no, and the prime minister has _ not going to get that? no, and the prime minister has been _ not going to get that? no, and the prime minister has been clear- not going to get that? no, and the prime minister has been clear the| prime minister has been clear the changes will be ruled by the data and not specific dates. but here in lies the problem, because what businesses want is a bit of advance notice to start making plans, because you cannotjust throw open the doors and expect customers to come back in. for a start, there is a stock issue, whether you are a retail store or even a restaurant or bar, you need to have yourfood retail store or even a restaurant or bar, you need to have your food and drink auditand bar, you need to have your food and drink audit and many weeks in advance. one would imagine there will be a huge rush on that when restrictions are lifted, so they will have to cope with those limitation. but also, there is a big issue of consumer confidence too, because even in the summer, as you are hearing from the previous guest talking about the heat out to help out scheme, that encouraged us back out scheme, that encouraged us back out trying to encourage us it was safe to go to restaurants once again. but even then, occupancy was still way down on what it would be normally. people were still careful, cautious, fearful of going out. and so there will be a big period of readjustment for people and consumer confidence need to be brought up again before people are able to go out and start spending again. so, despite what this scientist messy and the government may say, fundamentally, consumers are driven by psychology, for that if your conference and come from going out to a shop or bar or restaurant and picking that fight or taking that holiday, there are so many other issues at play here other than just simply the science, the vaccination programme or indeed what the government says we can do. so, taken together, it is pretty difficult to plan if you are a business owner to work out what you are going to do over the coming weeks and months. and consumers and business owners are taxpayers. at some point there she extent that we have built up has got to be paid for. stand she extent that we have built up has got to be paid for.— got to be paid for. and there is a bud i et got to be paid for. and there is a budget coming — got to be paid for. and there is a budget coming up. _ got to be paid for. and there is a budget coming up. yeah, - got to be paid for. and there is a budget coming up. yeah, a i got to be paid for. and there is a i budget coming up. yeah, a budget on mastercard. — budget coming up. yeah, a budget on mastercard, when _ budget coming up. yeah, a budget on mastercard, when the _ budget coming up. yeah, a budget on mastercard, when the chancellor i mastercard, when the chancellor would traditionally lay out his tax and spending plans. we also know there are astronomical figures at there are astronomical figures at the chancellor has to try to square away somehow. we are not even at the end of this financial year gets it. that ends at the end of march, and we are already £220 billion... we borrowed tell you more than we did last year, and the year is not over. he is looking at where he makes his money, and we nominate that on vat, and businesses paying tax on profits, and from income tax, all of us paying taxes on our earnings. all of those, we expect they have fallen pretty substantially, so he will see a shortfall in a0 megs also, he is having to spend a lot more in terms things like the furlough scheme, business support schemes, grants to smaller businesses, the vat cut, rent and rates relief. in so many levels, there are a lot of numbers that need to be a crunch to try to make them add up and work out who is going to pay for all of this. there are a few expectations perhaps it will be slightly higher taxes on business, he will be probably reluctant to add too many taxes to individuals given that we on the whole are all facing a bit of a squeeze on incomes. he has got to try to work out pretty good suck money from, and it could be many many years that we are all paying this back. we should just say, one thing in its favour is that interest rates are very low right now, it is very cheap to borrow on the international market, so we are not racking up as much debt as we would have done in previous decades, but nonetheless, there is a lot of money being borrowed, and at some point it needs to be paid back.— needs to be paid back. thank you very much- _ scientists say the first study of the uk vaccination programme suggests it is having a �*spectacular�* impact on preventing serious illness in scotland. researchers found that in the fourth week after the initial dose, hospitalisations were reduced by up to 85% and 9a% for the pfizer and astrazeneca jabs respectively. our health correspondent jim reed has the details. this is the first glimpse of the data that scientists have been waiting for. solid evidence that our vaccination programme is now starting to have an effect. i don�*t like needles myself. this research looked at hospital admissions in scotland between the start of december and mid february. it showed that in the fourth week after people were given the pfizer and astrazeneca jab, they were 8a% less likely to need hospital treatment for covid than those who had not yet been vaccinated. among the key group of over 80s most at risk of the disease, the combined figure was a reduction of up to 81% in hospital admissions using both jabs. we are absolutely thrilled with these results, the fact we are looking at the entire population and demonstrating that there are these effects, particularly among the high—risk populations. we should also see similar data on the effectiveness of vaccines in england this afternoon, ahead of that announcement on lockdown easing in the house of commons. the vaccination programme clearly is having an impact. the oxford team put out some data that two thirds of transmissions, you know, lowering transmission by two thirds because of the vaccination programme. there'll be more data that the prime minister will share with the nation both in parliament today and this evening. but doctors warn the protection from any covid vaccine is still not 100%, and we don�*t yet know the full impact of the new variants of the virus if they start spreading more quickly. even if people have had their first dose, the advice is still to act cautiously and stick to the rules. jim reed, bbc news. as we wait to hear the prime minister�*s statement in the house of commons on the government�*s plans to exit lockdown in england, let�*s have a look at the plan — as we know it so far — in a bit more detail. from the 8th of march, all schools will open and two people will be able to meet outdoors to socialise in a public place. from the 29 march, outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed — it�*s understood this will include gatherings in private gardens. outdoor sport facilities such as tennis or basketballs will also reopen — and organised sport can restart. steps after that will be determined by the vaccine rollout, infections, hospitalisations, deaths and new variants. our political correspondent damian grammaticas is in westminster. the prime minister minutes from making what is an historic moment, one that will be watched by literally everyone. it one that will be watched by literally everyone.- one that will be watched by literally everyone. it will be very, very closely. _ literally everyone. it will be very, very closely, because _ literally everyone. it will be very, very closely, because what i literally everyone. it will be very, very closely, because what she i literally everyone. it will be very, i very closely, because what she says will have implications for everybody�*s lives in your social life, and your education of your children, your working life too, and how this will unfold. remember, this is the third time now he has been addressing this issue of lifting lockdowns, and they want to get it as writers they can come as safe as they can, and that is a reason for caution. the reason that we are going to see there is a five—week spacing of each of these steps as we go through each phase here. the first step, just opening up some schools, that sort of limited social contact. then timed just before the easter holiday to allow a bit more social contact. we know the priorities are our children back in school, and families allowed to meet up school, and families allowed to meet up again. only later down the line, from march, april, may onwards, will be seen those sort of stepped openings for businesses and services, and meetings and cultural events, sporting events, things like that. all of that detail will come and will be laid out. but what we are being told, the guidance here is that these are earliest possible dates, and it will depend on the progress between each step here how quickly the next one happens. the guidelines will be given, the dates will be indicated, but people see as we go through for that we can keep to that. , ~ , . to that. does the prime minister had full cabinet support? _ to that. does the prime minister had full cabinet support? can _ to that. does the prime minister had full cabinet support? can you - to that. does the prime minister had full cabinet support? can you still. full cabinet support? can you still hear me? oh, that�*s not looking good. we will try to re—establish contact with damian. just to let you know, the house isjust a journal, so we are expecting in the next few minutes the prime minister will take to the podium there... and about five minutes�* time. we will take you over to that in the next few minutes. as i said, people try to re—establish contact with damien. in the meantime, let�*s catch up with the meantime, let�*s catch up with the weather forecast. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with nick miller we are seeing out the end of meteorological winter with mild air with parts of the uk turning very mild. we�*re looking at wednesday�*s temperatures and as you can see, the warmest weather of the year so far. dry with hazy sunshine. but to the north and west, still mild but temperatures not as high because here, we are about to get yet maureen. these are rain totals now for the rest of the week, turning very wet for a time particularly in cumbria and parts of scotland from an area of low pressure bringing in this weather front which will hang around for tuesday until wednesday as well, so a prolonged period of heavy rain for some of us, but the particular concern where the met office has an amber warning in force in these parts of scotland where there is the greatest like we had of getting some flooding with some areas receiving over 100 millimetres of rain. we are not there yet and for today, this is the view from scotland, the sunshine with the old shower in the north west, skies over northern ireland and wales and for northern england, just east anglia and the south—east with cloud and some patchy rain around, temperatures into double figures. as we go into tonight under clear skies, quite chilly for a time especially in eastern parts with a toast of frost around, but temperatures rise later in the night with the breeze picking up an especially where the rain comes in and for some of us in wales and the western parts as well as holland and northern ireland. into tomorrow, the rain will be at it heaviest into northern ireland and across much of scotland, turning much wetter in cumbria as well, other parts of western england, the north and west of wales at times. turning windier in all areas but especially in northern ireland and scotland with gusts of 50—60 mouse power were closer to 70 so those wins could be disruptive but through central and eastern england, staying mostly dry with temperatures edging up. into wednesday, many of the same area seeing outbreaks of rain, perhaps easing a little from parts of northern ireland and scotland for a time and to the east of that weather system, we see the warmest weather of the year so far. all of these big weather contrasts across the uk argon on thursday and into the weekend with high—pressure building for us all as the weather settles down. you are watching bbc news with simon mccoy. we are waiting for the prime minister to address the house of commons. he will share his finalised road map with ministers and mps he is also scheduled to be addressing the nation at 7pm tonight and will be taking questions as well, but we will get a clear idea of what his proposalfor will get a clear idea of what his proposal for the lifting in will get a clear idea of what his proposalfor the lifting in phases of lockdown in england will be, so thatis of lockdown in england will be, so that is the scene in the house of commons. we have re—established links with damien, our political correspondence in westminster. i have put 50p in the metre and we have put 50p in the metre and we have him! what i asked and i lost you was does borisjohnson have full cabinet support with what he is about to announce?— cabinet support with what he is about to announce? yes, generous of ou to to- about to announce? yes, generous of you to top up — about to announce? yes, generous of you to top up the _ about to announce? yes, generous of you to top up the metre, _ about to announce? yes, generous of you to top up the metre, simon. i about to announce? yes, generous ofj you to top up the metre, simon. yes, it seems so. this has all been sort of thrashed out. they have looked at all of the scientific data and agreed this plan. interestingly, two, there is broad agreement from the opposition, so the labour party is also talking about a cautious plan being the right one here. what the government is saying is that they absolutely do not want to be in a position where they have to reimpose a lockdown in future with all of the implications that would have for our social life and businesses and work life as well. the area they may find pressure is from the backbenchers and if they continue to see the indicators in terms of the impact the virus programme —— the vaccination programme —— the vaccination programme is having on the spread of the virus, transmission of the virus and on hospitalisations, that may lead to pressure to try and speed things up, but i think what we can say is that the government will want to resist that and stick to its idea that the sequencing, the sort of phasing of this, is that outdoor activities are safer and would happen first, so social activities outdoors followed by things that businesses and services that you could access outdoors, then moving slowly indoors, so they may face pressure, yes, but! slowly indoors, so they may face pressure, yes, but i think they will resist that as they wait to see what the evidence is of each step taken, the evidence is of each step taken, the evidence is of each step taken, the evidence that produces off the impact on transmission of the virus at each stage. it is impact on transmission of the virus at each stage-— at each stage. it is the nature of these events — at each stage. it is the nature of these events end _ at each stage. it is the nature of these events end of _ at each stage. it is the nature of these events end of this - at each stage. it is the nature of- these events end of this government that we tend to have a rough idea of what the prime minister will say before he says it, but what we absolutely know is that schools will be open in england on the 8th of march and for many, i am watching and the primers to has taken his seat, and i thing we want to go over now because the speaker is calling him. �* ., .., him. before i call the prime minister _ him. before i call the prime minister to _ him. before i call the prime minister to address - him. before i call the prime minister to address the i him. before i call the prime i minister to address the chamber, i would _ minister to address the chamber, i would like — minister to address the chamber, i would like to point out there is a british— would like to point out there is a british sign language interpretation available _ british sign language interpretation available to watch on the parliament live tv _ available to watch on the parliament live tv i_ available to watch on the parliament live tv. i now, the prime minister to his _ live tv. i now, the prime minister to his statement.— to his statement. with your permission. _ to his statement. with your permission, i— to his statement. with your permission, iwill_ to his statement. with your permission, i will make i to his statement. with your permission, i will make a l to his statement. with your- permission, i will make a statement on the road map that will guide us cautiously but irreversibly towards reclaiming our freedoms while doing all we can to protect our people against covid. these will apply in england but we are working closely with the devolved administrations as they set out similar plans. the threat remains substantial with the numbers in hospital only now beginning to fall below the peak of the first wave in april. but we are able to take these steps because of the resolve of the british public and the extraordinary success of our nhs in vaccinating more than 17.5 million people across the uk. the data so far suggests both vaccines are effective against the dominant strains of covid. public health england has found that one dose of the pfizer vaccine reduces hospitalisations and deaths by at least 75% and early data suggests that the oxford astrazeneca vaccine provides a good level of protection, though since we only started deploying this vaccine last month at this stage, the size of its effect is less certain. but no vaccine can ever be 100% effective. not everyone will take them up and like all viruses, covid—19 will mutate. so as the modelling released by sage today is shows, we cannot escape the fact that lifting lockdown will result in more cases, more hospitalisations and, sadly, more deaths and this would happen whenever lockdown is lifted, where now or in six or nine months because there will always be some vulnerable people who are not protected by the vaccines. there is therefore no credible route to a zero covid britain or a zero covid world and we cannot persist indefinitely with restrictions that debilitate our economy, our physical and mental well—being and the life chances of our children. and that is why it is so crucial that this road map should be cautious but also irreversible. we are setting out on what i hope and believe is a one—way road to freedom and this journey is made possible by the pace of the vaccination programme. in england, everyone in the top four priority groups was successfully offered a vaccine by the middle of february. we now aim to offer a first dose to all those in group 5—9 by the 15th of april and i setting another stretching target to offer a first dose to every adult by the end of july. as more of us are inoculated, so the protection afforded by the vaccines will gradually replace the restrictions and today�*s road map sets out the principles of that transition. the level of infection is broadly similar across england, so we will ease restrictions on all levels at the same time. the sequence will be driven by the evidence, so outdoor activity will be prioritised as the best way to restore freedoms while minimising the risk. at every stage, our decisions will be led by data, not dates, and subjected to four tests. first, that the vaccine deployment programme continues successfully. second, that evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths. third, that infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the nhs. and forth, that our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of covid that cause concern. before taking each step, we will review the data against these tests and because it takes at least four weeks for the data to reflect the impact of relaxations in restrictions and we want to give the country a week�*s notice before each change, there will be at least five weeks between each step. the chief medical officer is clear that moving any faster would mean acting before we know the impact of each step which would increase the risk of us having to reverse course and reimpose restrictions. i will not take that risk. step one will happen from the 8th of march, by which time those in the top four priority groups will be benefiting from the increased protection they receive from their first dose of the vaccine. mr speaker, all the evidence shows that classrooms are the best places for our young people to be and that is why i have always said that schools would be the last to close and the first to reopen. based on our assessment of the current data against the four tests, i can tell the house that two weeks from today, pupils and students in all schools and further education settings can safely return to face—to—face teaching supported by twice—weekly testing of secondary school and couege testing of secondary school and college pupils. families and childcare bubbles will also be encouraged to get tested regularly. breakfast and after school clubs can also reopen and other children�*s activities including sport can restart where necessary to help parents to work. students on university courses requiring practical teaching, specialist facilities or on—site assessments will also return, but all others will also return, but all others will need to continue learning online and we will review the options for when they can return by the end of the easter holidays. from the end of the easter holidays. from the 8th of march, people will also be able to meet one person from outside their household for outdoor recreation such as a coffee on a bench or a picnic in a park in addition to exercise, but we are advising the clinically extremely vulnerable to shield until at least the end of march. every care home residents will be able to nominate a named visitor able to see them regularly provided they are tested and where. and finally, we will amend regulations to enable a broader range of covid secure election activities for local elections on the six of may. as part of step one, we will go further and make limited changes on the 29th of march when schools go on easter holidays. it will become possible to meet in limited numbers outdoors where the risk is lower. so the rule of six will return outdoors including in private gardens and outdoor meetings of two households will also be permitted on the same basis so that families in different circumstances can meet. outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts and open—air swimming pools will be able to reopen and formally organised outdoor sports will return subject to guidance. from this point, the 29th of march, people will no longer be legally required to stay—at—home. many lockdown restrictions will remain. people should continue to work from home when they can and minimise all travel wherever possible. step two will begin at least five weeks after the beginning of step one and no earlier than the 12th of april with an announcement at least seven days in advance. if analysis of the latest data against the four test requires a delay then this and subsequent steps will also be delayed to maintain the five—week 93p- be delayed to maintain the five—week gap. in step two, nonessential retail will reopen, as will personal care including hairdressers, ironclad to say, and nail salons. indoor leisure activities such as gyms will reopen, as will holiday lets, but only for use by individuals or households groups. we will begin to reopen our pubs and restaurants outdoors and honourable members will be relieved that there will be no curfew and the scotch egg debate will be over because there will be no requirement for alcohol to be accompanied by a substantial meal. zoos, theme parks and driving cinemas will be open, as will public libraries and community centres. step three will begin no earlier than the 17th of may, providing the data satisfies the most tests. most restrictions on activities outside will be lifted up to a limit of 30 people and you will be able to see friends and family indoors subject to the role of six or a meeting of two households. we will also reopen pubs and restaurants indoors along with cinemas and children�*s play areas, hotels, hostels and b&bs, theatres and concert halls will reopen their doors and the turnstiles of our sports stadium will once again rotate subject to capacity limits depending on the size of the venue. and we will pilot larger events using enhanced testing with the ambition of further easing of restrictions in the next step. step four will begin no earlier than the 21st ofjune. with appropriate mitigations, we will aim to remove all legal limits on social contact and on weddings and other live events. we will reopen everything up to and including nightclubs and large events such as theatre performances above the limits of step three potentially using testing to reduce the risk of infection. mr speaker, ourjourney back towards normality will be subject to resolving a number of key questions, but to do this, we will conduct four reviews. one will assess how long we need to maintain social distancing and facemasks. this will also inform guidance on working from home which should continue wherever possible until this review is complete. and it will be critical in determining how parliament can safely return in a way that i know honourable members would wish. a second review will consider the resumption of international travel which is vital for many businesses which have been hardest—hit including retail, hospitality, tourism and aviation. a successor to the global travel task forces will report by the 12th of april so that people can plan for the summer. the third review will consider the potential role of covid status certification in helping venues to open safely, but mindful of the many concerns surrounding exclusion, discrimination and privacy. and the fourth review will look at the safe return of major events. mr speaker, as we proceed through the steps, we will benefit from the combined protection of our vaccines and the continued expansion of rapid testing. we will extend the provision of free test kits for workplaces until the end ofjune and families, small businesses and the self—employed can collectibles tests from local testing sites. mr speaker, in view of these cautious about, i hope, irreversible changes, people may be concerns about what these changes mean for the various support packages for livelihoods, for people and for the economy. i want to reassure the house that we will not pull the rug out. for the duration of the pandemic, the government will continue to do whatever it takes to protectjobs and livelihoods across the uk. my right honourable friend the chancellor will set out further details in the budget next wednesday. finally, mr speaker, we must remain alert to the constant mutations of the virus. next month, we will publish an updated plan to responding to local outbreaks with a range of measures to address variants of concern including search pcr testing and enhanced contact tracing. we cannot, i am afraid, rule out reimposing restrictions at regional or national level if it is suggested they are required to suppress a new variant which escapes the vaccines. mr speaker, i know there will be many people who will be worried that we are being too ambitious and that it is arrogant to impose any kind of plan upon a virus and! impose any kind of plan upon a virus and i agree that we must always be humble in the face of nature and we must be cautious. but i really also believe that the vaccination programme has dramatically changed the odds in our favour and programme has dramatically changed the odds in ourfavour and it programme has dramatically changed the odds in our favour and it is programme has dramatically changed the odds in ourfavour and it is on that basis that we must now proceed and, of course, mr speaker, there will be others who believe that we could go faster on the basis of the vaccination programme and i understand their feelings and i sympathise very much with the exhaustion and the stress that people are experiencing and the businesses are experiencing after so long in lockdown. but to them and to them all, i say that today, there really is —— the end really is insight and a wretched year will give way to a spring and a summer that will be very different and incomparably better than the picture we see around us today and in that spirit, mr speaker, icommend we see around us today and in that spirit, mr speaker, i commend this statement to the house. i spirit, mr speaker, i commend this statement to the house.— statement to the house. i now call the leader — statement to the house. i now call the leader of _ statement to the house. i now call the leader of the _ statement to the house. i now call the leader of the opposition. i statement to the house. i now call. the leader of the opposition. thank ou, mr the leader of the opposition. thank you. mr speaker- — the leader of the opposition. thank you, mr speaker. can _ the leader of the opposition. thank you, mr speaker. can i _ the leader of the opposition. thank you, mr speaker. can i thank i the leader of the opposition. thank you, mr speaker. can i thank the i you, mr speaker. can i thank the prime ministerfor you, mr speaker. can i thank the prime minister for advanced sight of his statement and for the telephone call between us earlier today? mr speaker, this is the third time the prime minister has announced a plan to come out of national lockdown. in the past, we have emerged without sufficient caution, without a clear plan and without listening to the science. we cannot afford to make those mistakes again. this has to be the last lockdown. the vaccine roll—out has been remarkable and i want to pay tribute to everybody involved. it is the light at the end of the tunnel, but if we are going to get there, we have to tread very carefully, so i am glad the prime minister spoke today of caution, of this being irreversible, of assessing the data and following the evidence. those are the right guiding principles and i have to say it is a welcome change from some of the language the prime minster has used in the past and i urge the prime minister now to stick to that. turning to the substance of the matter, first schools. we all agree that the priority must be for all children to be back in school as quickly as possible and to stay in school. we want that to happen on march the 8th and the government has promised. confidence of parents, teachers and school staff will be critical, so can the prime minister please confirm that the chief medical officer and chief scientific officer support the full reopening of all on march the 8th and will he commit to publishing all the relevant medical evidence on this issue? can the prime minister also indicate what the government is doing to overcome the huge logistical challenges this presents? the prime minister touched en masse testing in his statement, but there was nothing on nightingale classrooms at extra capacity. this is a huge problem particularfor schools with taller buildings, so can the prime minister update the house on how he will deal with this injust over house on how he will deal with this in just over two weeks�* time? let me turn to a linked issue. within weeks of school is returning last autumn, thousands of teachers and school staff were self isolating, causing huge disruption to the running of schools and children�*s learning. we do not want that again. that is why we cold for the early vaccination of all teachers and school staff. in my own constituency, the crick institute which has been doing amazing work, has been vaccinating hundreds of people a day. they have been very clear to me and publicly that they could be doing more and it is obvious to me that over one weekend, they could have vaccinated all teachers and school staff in camden if they had been allowed to do so and without bumping anyone else from the priority list. there are similar examples across the country, so will the prime minister say what more can be done to speed up say what more can be done to speed up the vaccination of teachers and school staff to ensure that children, and young people, not only return to school on march the 8th but stay in school having returned? let me turn then to isolation support. as we release health measures, however gradually, there is a risk that infection rates will go up. the prime minister made that clear in his statement. therefore, it is more important than ever that test, trace and isolate is working and working well. one of the most concerning figures in a recent sage report is that only three in ten people who should be self isolating are actually doing so and it is obvious that one of the main drivers of this is insecurity at work. as the chair of test and trace have said, people are afraid to take the test because they cannot afford to self—isolate. that is not only harms are health response, but costs the economy, too, and must be fixed. we propose that the £500 isolation payments, which is currently only available to one in eight workers, be made available to everyone who needs it. all the prime minister consider that? needs it. all the prime minister considerthat? because needs it. all the prime minister consider that? because if we do not shift in the three in ten figure, there will be a huge hole in our defences. third, economic support, the prime minister announced a road map today, but it will not have escaped businesses that many of them will not be able to open until mid april at the earliest and many until mid—june. iam not april at the earliest and many until mid—june. i am not questioning the health basis for that decision, which i support. but i am reiterating what we have always said, that health restrictions must be accompanied by proper economic support and it makes no sense to announce today that businesses will be closed for many more weeks or months without announcing new economic support at the same time. the prime minister says, well, the budget will be next week, but there is nothing stopping him saying today that business rates relief will be extended, that furlough will be extended, that furlough will be extended, or that the vat cut for hospitality and leisure will also be extended. businesses are crying out for that certainty and the prime minister should give it to them today. prime minister should also announce proper support for the 3 million self—employed who have been left out of all support for last year. this morning on lbc, i was asked about this again by a self—employed businesswoman who is at her wits end at the lack of government support. this road map means that she may not be able to get up and running again in her business until mid—june, so surely the prime minister needs to act now to close the gaps were these 3 million. we support the twin principles the prime minister has set out today, that lifting of restrictions must be both cautious and irreversible, buti restrictions must be both cautious and irreversible, but i know the prime minister will come under pressure from those on his own benches to go faster and to throw caution to the winds. last week, it was reported that around 60 of his own members of parliament called for the end of all restrictions by the end of april. i am sure there will be similar calls this afternoon. i hope the prime minister takes the opportunity to face this down because if this road map is to work, he needs to listen to the chief scientific officer and the chief medical officer, not the honourable members for wycombe or the forest of dean. if the prime minister does, if the prime minister does, he will have our support and we will secure a majority in the house stop if he does not, we will waste all the sacrifices of the last 12 months. . ~ the sacrifices of the last 12 months. . ,, , ., the sacrifices of the last 12 months-— the sacrifices of the last 12 months. . «i , . «i months. thank you, mr speaker. prime minister. i grateful— months. thank you, mr speaker. prime minister. i gratefulfor_ months. thank you, mr speaker. prime minister. i grateful for the _ months. thank you, mr speaker. prime minister. i grateful for the overall i minister. i grateful for the overall su- iort minister. i grateful for the overall support for— minister. i grateful for the overall support for the — minister. i grateful for the overall support for the road _ minister. i grateful for the overall support for the road map - minister. i grateful for the overall support for the road map and, i support for the road map and, indeed, i welcome his support for the vaccine roll—out and i unsure many people will be glad to hear what he says, though i can�*t help but be reminded that the right honourable gentleman did vote to stay in the european medicines agency which would have made a vaccine roll—out at this speed impossible. he is right to say that it is a priority to get schools back safely and i am delighted that he agrees with that and i can certainly say that that plan for march the 8th is supported by the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser and it would be a good thing if he could perhaps persuade some of his friends in the unions to say so as well. finally, to say that schools are safe. he mentions self isolation, the importance of self isolation, the importance of self isolation, and we will continue to support those who are asked to self—isolate and, indeed, increase our package of support for them. as for support for business, for the self—employed, which he rightly raises, we will continue to put our arms around businesses and livelihoods around the country, as we have done throughout the pandemic and the chancellor, who has been extremely creative and this is, will be setting out the details in the budget next week as you would expect. overall, ithink budget next week as you would expect. overall, i think we can safely say that we have had cautious support from the leader of the opposition today, but bitter experience has taught me that his support is very far from irreversible. who knows what he will be saying next week? but i am glad of it today. i had ihada i had a house to my entry and the members — i had a house to my entry and the members register. i welcome the statement today, i particularly welcome the return to schools, but there _ welcome the return to schools, but there is _ welcome the return to schools, but there is another sector which is important — there is another sector which is important forjobs in my constituency, fundamental to our economy— constituency, fundamental to our economy and critical for global britain. — economy and critical for global britain, the aviation sector. he says— britain, the aviation sector. he says it — britain, the aviation sector. he says it will— britain, the aviation sector. he says it will be a task force report by the _ says it will be a task force report by the 12th — says it will be a task force report by the 12th of april so people can plan for— by the 12th of april so people can plan for the summer. that will not allow— plan for the summer. that will not allow people to plan. at every stage. — allow people to plan. at every stage, the government has taken weeks _ stage, the government has taken weeks from these reports to actually provide _ weeks from these reports to actually provide certainty to the industry. the industry needs three man's preparation from the point of certainty— preparation from the point of certainty so i ask my right honourable friend to look again at the timetable and bring it forward so that— the timetable and bring it forward so that we can open up an international air travel and make sure _ international air travel and make sure britain is open for business. i am grateful— sure britain is open for business. i am grateful to my right honourable friend. _ am grateful to my right honourable friend, and she is quite right, a doughty— friend, and she is quite right, a doughty campaigner for the aviation industry. _ doughty campaigner for the aviation industry, and all it brings to our country — industry, and all it brings to our count . �* . industry, and all it brings to our count . . . , country. and what i can tell her is that we will _ country. and what i can tell her is that we will continue _ country. and what i can tell her is that we will continue to _ country. and what i can tell her is that we will continue to support i that we will continue to support that we will continue to support that industry throughout these difficult times, but i believe that setting a deadline of april to 12 for the report of the travel task force, the newly reconstituted task force, the newly reconstituted task force, hugger people time to make their plans for the summer, and if things go well, if we can meet those dates, then i do believe that is every chance of an aviation recovery later on this year.— later on this year. that said to the leader of the _ later on this year. that said to the leader of the snp, _ later on this year. that said to the leader of the snp, ian _ later on this year. that said to the leader of the snp, ian blackford. l leader of the snp, ian blackford. the success of the vaccine roll—out, met by— the success of the vaccine roll—out, met by our— the success of the vaccine roll—out, met by our incredible _ the success of the vaccine roll—out, met by our incredible nhs - the success of the vaccine roll—out, met by our incredible nhs staff- the success of the vaccine roll—out, met by our incredible nhs staff is. met by our incredible nhs staff is something — met by our incredible nhs staff is something to _ met by our incredible nhs staff is something to behold _ met by our incredible nhs staff is something to behold and - met by our incredible nhs staff is. something to behold and something met by our incredible nhs staff is- something to behold and something we are thankful— something to behold and something we are thankful for. _ something to behold and something we are thankful for. for— something to behold and something we are thankful for. for the _ something to behold and something we are thankful for. for the first _ something to behold and something we are thankful for. for the first time i are thankful for. for the first time in many— are thankful for. for the first time in many months. _ are thankful for. for the first time in many months, people - are thankful for. for the first time in many months, people across i are thankful for. for the first time i in many months, people across these islands— in many months, people across these islands are _ in many months, people across these islands are genuinely _ in many months, people across these islands are genuinely hopeful - in many months, people across these islands are genuinely hopeful for i in many months, people across these islands are genuinely hopeful for an l islands are genuinely hopeful for an end to _ islands are genuinely hopeful for an end to the — islands are genuinely hopeful for an end to the current _ islands are genuinely hopeful for an end to the current level _ islands are genuinely hopeful for an end to the current level of - end to the current level of lockdown _ end to the current level of lockdown. but _ end to the current level of lockdown. but people i end to the current level ofj lockdown. but people also end to the current level of - lockdown. but people also know end to the current level of _ lockdown. but people also know there is one _ lockdown. but people also know there is one major— lockdown. but people also know there is one major threat _ lockdown. but people also know there is one major threat that _ lockdown. but people also know there is one major threat that could - lockdown. but people also know there is one major threat that could undo i is one major threat that could undo much _ is one major threat that could undo much of— is one major threat that could undo much of this— is one major threat that could undo much of this hope _ is one major threat that could undo much of this hope — _ is one major threat that could undo much of this hope — the _ is one major threat that could undo much of this hope — the spread i is one major threat that could undo much of this hope — the spread of. much of this hope — the spread of new international— much of this hope — the spread of new international variants - much of this hope — the spread of new international variants of i much of this hope — the spread of new international variants of thisi new international variants of this fund _ new international variants of this fund now— new international variants of this fund now poses _ new international variants of this fund now poses the _ new international variants of this fund now poses the single - new international variants of this. fund now poses the single biggest threat _ fund now poses the single biggest threat to— fund now poses the single biggest threat to finally— fund now poses the single biggest threat to finally getting _ fund now poses the single biggest threat to finally getting out - fund now poses the single biggest threat to finally getting out of - threat to finally getting out of this pandemic. _ threat to finally getting out of this pandemic. that _ threat to finally getting out of this pandemic. that is - threat to finally getting out of this pandemic. that is why. this pandemic. that is why quarantine _ this pandemic. that is why quarantine measures- this pandemic. that is why quarantine measures for. quarantine measures for international _ quarantine measures for international arrivals - quarantine measures for international arrivals are quarantine measures for. international arrivals are so important _ international arrivals are so important. you _ international arrivals are so important. you simply- international arrivals are so . important. you simply cannot international arrivals are so - important. you simply cannot afford to get— important. you simply cannot afford to get this _ important. you simply cannot afford to get this wrong _ important. you simply cannot afford to get this wrong. and _ important. you simply cannot afford to get this wrong. and that - important. you simply cannot afford to get this wrong. and that is - important. you simply cannot afford to get this wrong. and that is why . to get this wrong. and that is why the scottish— to get this wrong. and that is why the scottish government - to get this wrong. and that is why the scottish government has - to get this wrong. and that is whyi the scottish government has taken tough _ the scottish government has taken tough but — the scottish government has taken tough but absolutely _ the scottish government has taken tough but absolutely necessary - tough but absolutely necessary action — tough but absolutely necessary action. those _ tough but absolutely necessary action. those arriving - tough but absolutely necessary action. those arriving in- tough but absolutely necessary l action. those arriving in scotland on an— action. those arriving in scotland on an international— action. those arriving in scotland on an international flight - action. those arriving in scotland on an international flight have i action. those arriving in scotland on an international flight have to| on an international flight have to quarantine — on an international flight have to quarantine any _ on an international flight have to quarantine any hotel— on an international flight have to quarantine any hotel for- on an international flight have to quarantine any hotel for ten - on an international flight have to| quarantine any hotel for ten days. in quarantine any hotel for ten days. in england. — quarantine any hotel for ten days. in england. the _ quarantine any hotel for ten days. in england, the policy— quarantine any hotel for ten days. in england, the policy only- quarantine any hotel for ten days. | in england, the policy only applies to people — in england, the policy only applies to people travelling _ in england, the policy only applies to people travelling from - in england, the policy only applies to people travelling from red - in england, the policy only applies to people travelling from red list l to people travelling from red list of countries _ to people travelling from red list of countries. but _ to people travelling from red list of countries. but mr _ to people travelling from red list of countries. but mr speaker, i to people travelling from red listi of countries. but mr speaker, the evidence — of countries. but mr speaker, the evidence show— of countries. but mr speaker, the evidence show that _ of countries. but mr speaker, the evidence show that people - of countries. but mr speaker, the evidence show that people acrossi of countries. but mr speaker, the - evidence show that people across the united _ evidence show that people across the united kingdom — evidence show that people across the united kingdom are _ evidence show that people across the united kingdom are demanding - united kingdom are demanding stronger— united kingdom are demanding stronger measures _ united kingdom are demanding stronger measures to _ united kingdom are demanding stronger measures to prevent i united kingdom are demanding . stronger measures to prevent the threat — stronger measures to prevent the threat of— stronger measures to prevent the threat of any — stronger measures to prevent the threat of any new— stronger measures to prevent the threat of any new variant. - stronger measures to prevent the threat of any new variant. falling | threat of any new variant. falling last week— threat of any new variant. falling last week showed _ threat of any new variant. falling last week showed that _ threat of any new variant. falling last week showed that only - threat of any new variant. falling last week showed that only 18% i last week showed that only 18% support— last week showed that only 18% support the _ last week showed that only 18% support the uk_ last week showed that only 18% support the uk government's . last week showed that only 18% . support the uk government's rules last week showed that only 18% - support the uk government's rules of quarantine, _ support the uk government's rules of quarantine, while _ support the uk government's rules of quarantine, while a _ support the uk government's rules of quarantine, while a massive - support the uk government's rules of quarantine, while a massive 72%- quarantine, while a massive 72% across— quarantine, while a massive 72% across the — quarantine, while a massive 72% across the united _ quarantine, while a massive 72% across the united kingdom - quarantine, while a massive 72%l across the united kingdom prefer quarantine, while a massive 72%- across the united kingdom prefer the scottish— across the united kingdom prefer the scottish government's _ across the united kingdom prefer the| scottish government's comprehensive approach _ scottish government's comprehensive approach. prime— scottish government's comprehensive approach. prime minister, _ scottish government's comprehensive approach. prime minister, your- scottish government's comprehensive approach. prime minister, your plan l approach. prime minister, your plan to end _ approach. prime minister, your plan to end lockdown _ approach. prime minister, your plan to end lockdown will— approach. prime minister, your plan to end lockdown will be _ approach. prime minister, your plan to end lockdown will be worthless . approach. prime minister, your plan to end lockdown will be worthless if| to end lockdown will be worthless if you're _ to end lockdown will be worthless if you're insufficient _ to end lockdown will be worthless if you're insufficient quarantine - you're insufficient quarantine nreasures— you're insufficient quarantine measures allow— you're insufficient quarantine measures allow a _ you're insufficient quarantine measures allow a new - you're insufficient quarantine| measures allow a new variant you're insufficient quarantine - measures allow a new variant and through— measures allow a new variant and through the — measures allow a new variant and through the back _ measures allow a new variant and through the back door. _ measures allow a new variant and through the back door. people . measures allow a new variant and l through the back door. people right across— through the back door. people right across the _ through the back door. people right across the united _ through the back door. people right across the united kingdom - through the back door. people right across the united kingdom are - across the united kingdom are continuing _ across the united kingdom are continuing to _ across the united kingdom are continuing to make _ across the united kingdom are continuing to make huge - across the united kingdom are - continuing to make huge sacrifices. chitdren— continuing to make huge sacrifices. children are — continuing to make huge sacrifices. children are not _ continuing to make huge sacrifices. children are not yet _ continuing to make huge sacrifices. children are not yet physically - continuing to make huge sacrifices. children are not yet physically at i children are not yet physically at school, — children are not yet physically at school, farmers _ children are not yet physically at school, farmers are _ children are not yet physically at school, farmers are isolating, i children are not yet physically at. school, farmers are isolating, there is atone _ school, farmers are isolating, there is atone in— school, farmers are isolating, there is atone in this _ school, farmers are isolating, there is alone in this epidemic. _ school, farmers are isolating, there is alone in this epidemic. people i is alone in this epidemic. people are realty— is alone in this epidemic. people are really and _ is alone in this epidemic. people are really and this _ is alone in this epidemic. people are really and this cannot - is alone in this epidemic. people are really and this cannot all- is alone in this epidemic. people are really and this cannot all bei are really and this cannot all be for nothinq~ _ are really and this cannot all be for nothing. do— are really and this cannot all be for nothing. do not— are really and this cannot all be for nothing. do not leave - are really and this cannot all be for nothing. do not leave the l are really and this cannot all be i for nothing. do not leave the back door open — for nothing. do not leave the back door open do— for nothing. do not leave the back door open. do not _ for nothing. do not leave the back door open. do not risk— for nothing. do not leave the back door open. do not risk all- for nothing. do not leave the back door open. do not risk all the - for nothing. do not leave the back| door open. do not risk all the hard work, _ door open. do not risk all the hard work. att— door open. do not risk all the hard work. all the — door open. do not risk all the hard work, all the sacrifices _ door open. do not risk all the hard work, all the sacrifices that - door open. do not risk all the hard work, all the sacrifices that have l work, all the sacrifices that have been _ work, all the sacrifices that have been made _ work, all the sacrifices that have been made. given _ work, all the sacrifices that have been made. given all— work, all the sacrifices that have been made. given all that - work, all the sacrifices that have been made. given all that is- work, all the sacrifices that have been made. given all that is at l been made. given all that is at stake. — been made. given all that is at stake. can— been made. given all that is at stake. can you _ been made. given all that is at stake, can you explain - been made. given all that is at stake, can you explain why- been made. given all that is at stake, can you explain why the been made. given all that is at. stake, can you explain why the uk government— stake, can you explain why the uk government is— stake, can you explain why the uk government is failing _ stake, can you explain why the uk government is failing to _ stake, can you explain why the uk government is failing to introduce| government is failing to introduce the strong — government is failing to introduce the strong quarantine _ government is failing to introduce the strong quarantine measures. government is failing to introduce i the strong quarantine measures that the strong quarantine measures that the public— the strong quarantine measures that the public across _ the strong quarantine measures that the public across the _ the strong quarantine measures that the public across the united - the strong quarantine measures that| the public across the united kingdom are demanding? _ the public across the united kingdom are demanding? brother— the public across the united kingdom are demanding? brother prime - are demanding? brother prime minister— are demanding? brother prime minister think— are demanding? brother prime ministerthink again— are demanding? brother prime minister think again and - are demanding? brother prime i minister think again and introduce the scottish— minister think again and introduce the scottish government's - the scottish government's comprehensive _ the scottish government's comprehensive approach i the scottish government's i comprehensive approach for international _ comprehensive approach for international travellers? - comprehensive approach for international travellers? leti comprehensive approach for i international travellers? let us comprehensive approach for - international travellers? let us all do what _ international travellers? let us all do what we — international travellers? let us all do what we need _ international travellers? let us all do what we need to _ international travellers? let us all do what we need to in _ international travellers? let us all do what we need to in order- international travellers? let us all do what we need to in order to - international travellers? let us all. do what we need to in order to drive down _ do what we need to in order to drive down the _ do what we need to in order to drive down the spread _ do what we need to in order to drive down the spread of _ do what we need to in order to drive down the spread of the _ do what we need to in order to drive down the spread of the virus, - do what we need to in order to drive down the spread of the virus, to - do what we need to in order to drive down the spread of the virus, to geti down the spread of the virus, to get us att— down the spread of the virus, to get us all to— down the spread of the virus, to get us all to a _ down the spread of the virus, to get us all to a position _ down the spread of the virus, to get us all to a position where _ down the spread of the virus, to get us all to a position where we - down the spread of the virus, to get us all to a position where we can - us all to a position where we can reverse — us all to a position where we can reverse lockdown _ us all to a position where we can reverse lockdown and _ us all to a position where we can reverse lockdown and begin - us all to a position where we can reverse lockdown and begin to l reverse lockdown and begin to restore — reverse lockdown and begin to restore social— reverse lockdown and begin to restore social interaction - reverse lockdown and begin to restore social interaction for. reverse lockdown and begin to| restore social interaction for all of wett— restore social interaction for all of well beinq _ restore social interaction for all of well being. we _ restore social interaction for all of well being.— restore social interaction for all of well being. restore social interaction for all ofwellbeinu. ~ . . ., , of well being. we have amongst the tou . hest of well being. we have amongst the toughest quarantine _ of well being. we have amongst the toughest quarantine measures - toughest quarantine measures anywhere in the world, as a right honourable gentleman well knows, including the mandatory incarceration in hotels, appointed by the government. if you return from one of the 33 red listed countries, as he well knows. and we will continue to impose very, very tough controls on people coming into this country. he should also know that the new variants, we are confident that all our vaccines are effective in reducing death and serious disease, and we have no reason to doubt that they are effective in reducing death and serious disease with the new variants as well. and he should also know that over the course of the next few months, we will see new vaccines to defeat these vaccine escaping variants, and that is something that is evolving the whole time. otherthan something that is evolving the whole time. other than that, something that is evolving the whole time. otherthan that, mr speaker, i was delighted by the unaccustomed note of optimism by what satan gentleman began. he is not often noted for his optimism in this house, he is rolling his eyes, but i rather liked it when he began with optimism. i think it suits them. more optimism, i think, from the right honourable gentleman would be nice to hear. mr right honourable gentleman would be nice to hear. ~ ,,, ., ,, ., ,, ., nice to hear. mr speaker, talking of o timism, nice to hear. mr speaker, talking of optimism. the _ nice to hear. mr speaker, talking of optimism, the approach _ nice to hear. mr speaker, talking of optimism, the approach seems - nice to hear. mr speaker, talking of| optimism, the approach seems very similar— optimism, the approach seems very similar to _ optimism, the approach seems very similar to harold wilson, who said he was _ similar to harold wilson, who said he was an— similar to harold wilson, who said he was an optimist but one who always— he was an optimist but one who always carried a raincoat. his caution — always carried a raincoat. his caution is _ always carried a raincoat. his caution is absolutely right in the face of— caution is absolutely right in the face of these new variants, when we are potentially so close to the finishing — are potentially so close to the finishing line. but as we get there, will he _ finishing line. but as we get there, will he recognise the brilliant work of health— will he recognise the brilliant work of health and care staff by building back better for them? potentially in next week's budget? by announcing that we _ next week's budget? by announcing that we will find it should be a training — that we will find it should be a training enough doctors and nurses for the _ training enough doctors and nurses for the long—term workforce plan and giving _ for the long—term workforce plan and giving the _ for the long—term workforce plan and giving the social care sector a ten year plan — giving the social care sector a ten year planjust as giving the social care sector a ten year plan just as we give the giving the social care sector a ten year planjust as we give the nhs are ten— year planjust as we give the nhs are ten years ago? yes year plan just as we give the nhs are ten years ago?— year plan just as we give the nhs are ten years ago? yes indeed, mr seaker. are ten years ago? yes indeed, mr speaker- i — are ten years ago? yes indeed, mr speaker- i pay _ are ten years ago? yes indeed, mr speaker. i pay tribute _ are ten years ago? yes indeed, mr speaker. i pay tribute again, - are ten years ago? yes indeed, mr speaker. i pay tribute again, as . are ten years ago? yes indeed, mr speaker. i pay tribute again, as i l speaker. i pay tribute again, as i have many times before, to the incredible work notjust of nhs stop at our social care staff, who really have borne the brunt of the pandemic and done fantastically well, and we will certainly be bringing forward reforms of social care in addition to the massive investments that we have already made. mr to the massive investments that we have already made.— to the massive investments that we have already made. mr speaker, the road map to — have already made. mr speaker, the road map to recovery _ have already made. mr speaker, the road map to recovery will— have already made. mr speaker, the road map to recovery will put - have already made. mr speaker, the road map to recovery will put people had hardest by this pandemic first, not those — had hardest by this pandemic first, not those people with learning difficulties. they have died at rates — difficulties. they have died at rates more than three and a half times— rates more than three and a half times the — rates more than three and a half times the rest of the population, yet many— times the rest of the population, yet many are still not being prioritised for vaccination. jo witey— prioritised for vaccination. jo witey has _ prioritised for vaccination. jo wiley has spoken powerfully about how hideously unfair it was to be offered _ how hideously unfair it was to be offered the vaccine before her sister — offered the vaccine before her sister frances, who is now in hospital— sister frances, who is now in hospital with covid after an outbreak in her care home. and i know— outbreak in her care home. and i know many— outbreak in her care home. and i know many other carers across the country _ know many other carers across the country feet— know many other carers across the country feel the same while our loved _ country feel the same while our loved ones remain so vulnerable to this virus — loved ones remain so vulnerable to this virus. so will the prime minister— this virus. so will the prime minister tell us why and, on his road _ minister tell us why and, on his road map. _ minister tell us why and, on his road map, everyone with a learning disability— road map, everyone with a learning disability well have been offered at their first _ disability well have been offered at their first jab? disability well have been offered at theirfirst jab? the disability well have been offered at their first jab?— their first jab? the right honourable _ their first jab? the right honourable gentleman l their first jab? the right| honourable gentleman is their first jab? the right - honourable gentleman is entirely right to draw attention to the particular suffering endured by vulnerable groups throughout this pandemic, and that is why those with learning disabilities, particular vulnerabilities to appear high up in thejcvi priority list, which i'm sure it is exactly what you would expect. mr sure it is exactly what you would exect. ~ ,,, ., ,, sure it is exactly what you would exect. ~ , sure it is exactly what you would exect. ~ .,~ , ., sure it is exactly what you would exect. ~ , ., ., expect. mr speaker, first of what can i congratulate _ expect. mr speaker, first of what can i congratulate the _ expect. mr speaker, first of what can i congratulate the prime - can i congratulate the prime minister— can i congratulate the prime minister for his incredible board decision— minister for his incredible board decision last year to is due to that and getting the vaccine roll—out qettinq — and getting the vaccine roll—out getting on that we are now looking at the _ getting on that we are now looking at the eventual end to this covid nightmare. he deserves all the prodiqy— nightmare. he deserves all the prodigy gets for that, and more. but but i prodigy gets for that, and more. but but i agree _ prodigy gets for that, and more. but but i agree with his caution, and going _ but i agree with his caution, and going back— but i agree with his caution, and going back to being unlocked, but 'ust going back to being unlocked, but just to _ going back to being unlocked, but just to say— going back to being unlocked, but just to say that the hospitality sector — just to say that the hospitality sector is— just to say that the hospitality sector is the biggest employer of the poorest in society, and it is who— the poorest in society, and it is who has— the poorest in society, and it is who has suffered the most. nearly half of _ who has suffered the most. nearly half of those businesses are talking about _ half of those businesses are talking about closing ijust wonder what the depay— about closing ijust wonder what the depay minister would be able to review _ depay minister would be able to review a — depay minister would be able to review a game the nature of opening up review a game the nature of opening up inside _ review a game the nature of opening up inside those restaurants and pubs and checking that there is no real risk beyond any of the other elements that she is opening up? and if it is— elements that she is opening up? and if it is a _ elements that she is opening up? and if it is a case, — elements that she is opening up? and if it is a case, take that board decision— if it is a case, take that board decision as _ if it is a case, take that board decision as and when the data dictates — decision as and when the data dictates it. | decision as and when the data dictates it— dictates it. i thank my right honourable _ dictates it. i thank my right honourable friend _ dictates it. i thank my right honourable friend for - dictates it. i thank my right honourable friend for what l dictates it. i thank my right i honourable friend for what he dictates it. i thank my right - honourable friend for what he said, and i totally understand where he is coming from, and the urgency those in the hospitality sector who want to open up as soon as possible, as indeed we all do. everybody wants that to happen, but we are also understanding the risk of another surge, and the consequent risk of another lockdown, which i don't think anybody wants to see, least of all the businesses concerned. what we have in this road map are dates, admittedly they are not the full dates, but the addicts to which businesses can now work. april to 12 for outdoor hospitality, may a 17th for outdoor hospitality, may a 17th for indoor hospitality. that gives at least some certainty. and i think in this very, very difficult time, with these difficult trade—offs, i think people will be prepared to trade some urgency and some haste for more certainty and more reliability, and that is what we aim to give. reliability, and that is what we aim to cive. ~ ., ,, , reliability, and that is what we aim to cive. ~ ., ,, reliability, and that is what we aim toive.~ , to give. workers across the uk still face a hepeless _ to give. workers across the uk still face a hopeless choice _ to give. workers across the uk still face a hopeless choice - _ to give. workers across the uk still face a hopeless choice - self- face a hopeless choice — self isotatinq _ face a hopeless choice — self isolating and suffering loss of earnings, are going to work where they risk— earnings, are going to work where they risk spreading the virus. eight months _ they risk spreading the virus. eight months ago, i raised this very probtem — months ago, i raised this very problem of the year keep us unfair sick pay— problem of the year keep us unfair sick pay system with the prime minister. — sick pay system with the prime minister, but there are still people in work— minister, but there are still people in work who cannot afford to self—isolate. ahead of the project, by the _ self—isolate. ahead of the project, by the prime minister commit to raising _ by the prime minister commit to raising and expanding statutory sick pay once _ raising and expanding statutory sick pay once and for all, as a key tonq-term _ pay once and for all, as a key long—term lesson to be learned from this pandemic? 0r long—term lesson to be learned from this pandemic? or is he content for a communities to be blighted by iii-health— a communities to be blighted by ill—health now and quite possibly aqain— ill—health now and quite possibly again in— ill—health now and quite possibly again in future? | ill-health now and quite possibly again in future?— again in future? i think the right honourable _ again in future? i think the right honourable lady. _ again in future? i think the right honourable lady. we _ again in future? i think the right honourable lady. we repeat- again in future? i think the rightj honourable lady. we repeat the again in future? i think the right - honourable lady. we repeat the point i have made to her many times before, but i'm grateful to herfor losing it again. we will continue to look after people throughout the pandemic. we have increased benefits, there is a payment of £500, and other payments that we will make available and are undertaking as to make sure that we protect people whether they are self isolating or for that they are forced not to be able to work throughout the duration of the pandemic, and you will be hearing more about that from the chancellor on muscle third.— on muscle third. thankfully, my riuht on muscle third. thankfully, my right honourable _ on muscle third. thankfully, my right honourable friend - on muscle third. thankfully, my right honourable friend has - on muscle third. thankfully, my i right honourable friend has clearly stated _ right honourable friend has clearly stated today that an extreme zero covid _ stated today that an extreme zero covid approach is impractical. can he confirm — covid approach is impractical. can he confirm that most if not all of his key— he confirm that most if not all of his key scientific advisers now accept — his key scientific advisers now accept that our strategic goal must be and _ accept that our strategic goal must be and is _ accept that our strategic goal must be and is a — accept that our strategic goal must be and is a practical vaccine based methods— be and is a practical vaccine based methods of— be and is a practical vaccine based methods of controlling covid, like any other— methods of controlling covid, like any other serious respiratory virus, such— any other serious respiratory virus, such as _ any other serious respiratory virus, such as influenza? my any other serious respiratory virus, such as influenza?— such as influenza? my right honourable _ such as influenza? my right honourable friend _ such as influenza? my right honourable friend is - such as influenza? my right - honourable friend is completely without end the analogy he draws, and the only reason i am able to say, mr speaker, to the country, is that we must learn to live with covid as we live with the flu, mr speaker, and the long—term, is of course because we have this vaccination programme and the capability to evolve our vaccine. thank you, mr speaker. as well as markinq _ thank you, mr speaker. as well as marking the — thank you, mr speaker. as well as marking the success of the vaccination programme, i want to emphasise — vaccination programme, i want to emphasise that is a lack of sufficient financial support for self isolation. there is, in the words — self isolation. there is, in the words of— self isolation. there is, in the words of one of the government's on advisors. _ words of one of the government's on advisors. a _ words of one of the government's on advisors, a huge, gaping hole in the prime _ advisors, a huge, gaping hole in the prime minister's covid strategy. the payments _ prime minister's covid strategy. the payments aren't enough and are not reaching _ payments aren't enough and are not reaching the right people. as well as fixinq _ reaching the right people. as well as fixing for that once and for all, but he _ as fixing for that once and for all, but he also — as fixing for that once and for all, but he also took this opportunity to respond _ but he also took this opportunity to respond with the seriousness it deserves— respond with the seriousness it deserves to the high court ruling on friday— deserves to the high court ruling on friday that — deserves to the high court ruling on friday that the secretary of state acted _ friday that the secretary of state acted unlawfully by failing to publish — acted unlawfully by failing to publish covid contracts? no one has ever suggested the minister did not need to— ever suggested the minister did not need to act fast to secure ppe and other— need to act fast to secure ppe and other contracts, but transparency matters _ other contracts, but transparency matters even in a crisis. if the government has nothing to hide, but he now— government has nothing to hide, but he now publish details of who benefited from the vip lane, who tifted _ benefited from the vip lane, who lifted the — benefited from the vip lane, who lifted the velvet ropes for the favoured companies, what price brother— favoured companies, what price brother pitt, and why were they chosen? — brother pitt, and why were they chosen? parliament and the country a i’ili'it chosen? parliament and the country a right to _ chosen? parliament and the country a right to know. —— what price were they— right to know. —— what price were they paid? — right to know. —— what price were they paid? gf right to know. -- what price were they paid?— they paid? of course we will continue _ they paid? of course we will continue to _ they paid? of course we will continue to look _ they paid? of course we will continue to look after - they paid? of course we will continue to look after those | they paid? of course we will - continue to look after those who are self isolating and to improve the support barbican, as i said. as for the contracts that she has just mentioned, all of the details are on the record, and of course it was right to work as fast as we possibly could to get the ppe for this country. i could to get the ppe for this count . ., ~' could to get the ppe for this count . ., ,, ., ., ,, country. i would like to thank the medics and _ country. i would like to thank the medics and volunteers _ country. i would like to thank the medics and volunteers who - country. i would like to thank the medics and volunteers who have | medics and volunteers who have fought _ medics and volunteers who have fought so — medics and volunteers who have fought so hard in providing covid19 vaccines— fought so hard in providing covid19 vaccines across the kingdom. in this area atone, — vaccines across the kingdom. in this area alone, more than 87,000 vaccines— area alone, more than 87,000 vaccines have been administered. the vaccine _ vaccines have been administered. the vaccine roll—out is a fundamental thinq _ vaccine roll—out is a fundamental thing ensuring we are now able to return— thing ensuring we are now able to return to — thing ensuring we are now able to return to normality, and properly fottowed — return to normality, and properly followed the path be outlined by the prime _ followed the path be outlined by the prime minister right now. i am concerned _ prime minister right now. i am concerned that vaccine disinformation had specifically targeted ethnic minority groups, teadinq — targeted ethnic minority groups, leading to some refusing the vaccine when _ leading to some refusing the vaccine when offered. can my right honourable friend the prime minister outtined _ honourable friend the prime minister outlined what steps the government is taking _ outlined what steps the government is taking to encourage payment qroups— is taking to encourage payment groups to — is taking to encourage payment groups to receive the vaccine when offered? _ groups to receive the vaccine when offered? i — groups to receive the vaccine when offered? . ., ., , offered? i am grateful to my right honourable _ offered? i am grateful to my right honourable friend. _ offered? i am grateful to my right honourable friend. i _ offered? i am grateful to my right honourable friend. i congratulate l honourable friend. i congratulate him on his spectacular throne, and when she appears to be sitting, mr speaker! but she and i, not so long ago, were together and the community centre in his constituency, and i thank all those involved, and did community groups are pinned on the land who an instant outstanding job. he raises a very important point, and i think everybody is doing to promote vaccinations for everybody. my promote vaccinations for everybody. my constituents are seeking explanations. most of them have lost income. _ explanations. most of them have lost income, many have lost theirjobs, all are _ income, many have lost theirjobs, all are facing varying degrees of stress _ all are facing varying degrees of stress from the very severe to the concern _ stress from the very severe to the concern about their lives. many local _ concern about their lives. many local small businesses have closed for goods — local small businesses have closed for goods because they see no future, — for goods because they see no future, and they are not getting the support— future, and they are not getting the support that they need. yet, mr speaker, — support that they need. yet, mr speaker, i— support that they need. yet, mr speaker, i think answers are required _ speaker, i think answers are required from the prime minister. £105— required from the prime minister. {10.5 billion of nhs contracts were awarded _ {10.5 billion of nhs contracts were awarded without tender, how a further— awarded without tender, how a further 99% of all nhs contracts were _ further 99% of all nhs contracts were awarded again without tender, and that— were awarded again without tender, and that last week the court found that the _ and that last week the court found that the secretary of state for health — that the secretary of state for health had not acted legally in the awarding _ health had not acted legally in the awarding of these contracts. and so, i awarding of these contracts. and so, i asked _ awarding of these contracts. and so, i asked the _ awarding of these contracts. and so, i asked the prime minister to do two thinqs- _ i asked the prime minister to do two things— while he earned this scandalous privatisation of our nhs, which _ scandalous privatisation of our nhs, which is _ scandalous privatisation of our nhs, which is happening before our very eyes? _ which is happening before our very eyes? and — which is happening before our very eyes? and while he also replaced the health _ eyes? and while he also replaced the health secretary will somebody who will stand _ health secretary will somebody who will stand by and obey the law and publish _ will stand by and obey the law and publish in — will stand by and obey the law and publish in advance all contracts that are — publish in advance all contracts that are due to be lured? so that the public— that are due to be lured? so that the public and see how their money is being _ the public and see how their money is being spent? to the public and see how their money is being spent?— is being spent? to the best of my memo , is being spent? to the best of my memory. the _ is being spent? to the best of my memory, the labour— is being spent? to the best of my memory, the labour party - is being spent? to the best of my memory, the labour party were l memory, the labour party were advocating during the earlier stages of the crisis that we should secure ppe from a theatrical impresario who specialised in capes and accounts, and if it will age and who claim to be able to get horde skirts called of mars. we went as fast as we possibly could to get ppe, and those who are not denouncing us for going too fast for those who were complaining back then that we were not going fast enough. mr; complaining back then that we were not going fast enough.— not going fast enough. my right honourable _ not going fast enough. my right honourable friend _ not going fast enough. my right honourable friend and _ not going fast enough. my right honourable friend and the - not going fast enough. my right - honourable friend and the government have rightly been unapologetic throughout this pandemic and determination to safeguard children's education opportunities and well—being. can the prime minister— and well—being. can the prime minister confirm that once all schools — minister confirm that once all schools reopen on the 8th of march, the government will be putting in place _ the government will be putting in place all— the government will be putting in place all the measures necessary to keep them — place all the measures necessary to keep them open, working with academy trust and _ keep them open, working with academy trust and crucially local authorities, to avoid any further disruption — authorities, to avoid any further disruption to our children's education?— disruption to our children's education? , ~ .,~ education? yes, indeed, mr speaker. that is exactly — education? yes, indeed, mr speaker. that is exactly why _ education? yes, indeed, mr speaker. that is exactly why we _ education? yes, indeed, mr speaker. that is exactly why we wish _ education? yes, indeed, mr speaker. that is exactly why we wish to - education? yes, indeed, mr speaker. that is exactly why we wish to take i that is exactly why we wish to take this cautious but irreversible approach in order to make sure that we don't have to go back into measures that would keep kids out of school again. measures that would keep kids out of schoolagain. he measures that would keep kids out of school again. he is quite right in what he says. school again. he is quite right in what he says-— school again. he is quite right in what he sa s. ., ,, ~ .,~ what he says. thank you, mr speaker. can i what he says. thank you, mr speaker. can i welcome — what he says. thank you, mr speaker. can i welcome the _ what he says. thank you, mr speaker. can i welcome the prime _ what he says. thank you, mr speaker. can i welcome the prime minister- what he says. thank you, mr speaker. can i welcome the prime minister and| can i welcome the prime minister and government's progressive road map, which _ government's progressive road map, which of— government's progressive road map, which of course is underpinned by the incredibly successful roll out of the _ the incredibly successful roll out of the vaccine. can the prime minister— of the vaccine. can the prime minister confirm that we have not supply— minister confirm that we have not supply issues, and are on target to -et supply issues, and are on target to get the _ supply issues, and are on target to get the second owes it to all of those — get the second owes it to all of those on — get the second owes it to all of those on the nhs front line who are due the _ those on the nhs front line who are due the second dose within the next few weeks? and can the prime minister— few weeks? and can the prime minister assured us that this will not adversely affect the continued supply _ not adversely affect the continued supply and availability of vaccines for informal carers of those who are shielded? _ for informal carers of those who are shielded? mr for informal carers of those who are shielded? ~ ,, , ., ,, for informal carers of those who are shielded? ~ ., ., shielded? mr speaker, the honourable centleman shielded? mr speaker, the honourable gentleman is — shielded? mr speaker, the honourable gentleman is completely _ shielded? mr speaker, the honourable gentleman is completely right - shielded? mr speaker, the honourable gentleman is completely right to - gentleman is completely right to raise theirs, and to care deeply about supply. we have no supply issues at the moment. we are confident that we can meet our targets. confident that we can meet our taraets. a, confident that we can meet our taraets. u. . ., targets. may i congratulate the prime minister _ targets. may i congratulate the prime minister on _ targets. may i congratulate the prime minister on the - targets. may i congratulate the prime minister on the fact - targets. may i congratulate the prime minister on the fact that | prime minister on the fact that there _ prime minister on the fact that there are — prime minister on the fact that there are some scratch sum that our plans _ there are some scratch sum that our plans are _ there are some scratch sum that our plans are now but that he is right to say— plans are now but that he is right to say that — plans are now but that he is right to say that the threat and insubstantial, because while we are unlocking, — insubstantial, because while we are unlocking, at the suit, only one third _ unlocking, at the suit, only one third of— unlocking, at the suit, only one third of the _ unlocking, at the suit, only one third of the adult population has been _ third of the adult population has been vaccinated. so what will the government be doing to minimise the threat _ government be doing to minimise the threat of— government be doing to minimise the threat of another lockdown? such as strengthening the track and trace and isolate up operations, providing covid _ and isolate up operations, providing covid service basis so it is easier for people — covid service basis so it is easier for people to self—isolate to uninfected, and to deploy testing capacity— uninfected, and to deploy testing capacity more effectively, such as testinq _ capacity more effectively, such as testing schoolchildren twice a week in schools. — testing schoolchildren twice a week in schools, as we are already going to be _ in schools, as we are already going to be testing teachers? my in schools, as we are already going to be testing teachers?— to be testing teachers? my right honourable _ to be testing teachers? my right honourable friend _ to be testing teachers? my right honourable friend is _ to be testing teachers? my right honourable friend is absolutely l honourable friend is absolutely right in the idea is that he puts forward. test track and trace has been improving the whole time over the period of the pandemic, and he is right to draw attention to the potential of a lateral flow testing not just potential of a lateral flow testing notjust in schools, where as he says people doing it twice a week for secondary school pupils after the first couple of weeks. but also, rolling it out in companies for local areas, local communities to take it up as an additional support, an additional way of fighting the disease. j an additional way of fighting the disease. ~ ., ~ , disease. i know the prime minister was in my right — disease. i know the prime minister was in my right honourable - disease. i know the prime ministerl was in my right honourable friend's insurgency— was in my right honourable friend's insurgency to see the vaccine being rolled _ insurgency to see the vaccine being rolled out _ insurgency to see the vaccine being rolled out by the health board, so i 'oin rolled out by the health board, so i join with— rolled out by the health board, so i join with him and thanking all welsh nhs staff— join with him and thanking all welsh nhs staff who are working so hard by rolling _ nhs staff who are working so hard by rolling out _ nhs staff who are working so hard by rolling out the vaccine programme in this way _ rolling out the vaccine programme in this way. however, i wonder if the prime _ this way. however, i wonder if the prime minister agrees with me and many— prime minister agrees with me and many people across the north that every— many people across the north that every single penny of public money must _ every single penny of public money must be _ every single penny of public money must be accounted for, and also, what _ must be accounted for, and also, what is _ must be accounted for, and also, what is he — must be accounted for, and also, what is he going to going to say to his heatth— what is he going to going to say to his health secretary, who according to the _ his health secretary, who according to the courts creatures legal obligation by not publishing details within— obligation by not publishing details within 30 days of contracts being signed? — within 30 days of contracts being signed? we have had two attempts to -et signed? we have had two attempts to get the _ signed? we have had two attempts to get the prime minister to answer, so i'm get the prime minister to answer, so i'm hoping _ get the prime minister to answer, so i'm hoping it's a sort term lucky. i'm hoping it's a sort term lucky. i'm going — i'm hoping it's a sort term lucky. i'm going to— i'm hoping it's a sort term lucky. i'm going to ruthlessly repeat what i'm going to ruthlessly repeat what i said before, i'm going to ruthlessly repeat what isaid before, but i'm going to ruthlessly repeat what i said before, but is that i believe it was absolutely right for this country to secure ppe as fast as we possibly could, and just as it has been right to rule out a vaccine programme as fast as we possibly can, and it was great to be in the constituency to see what they are doing there. and that is thanks to the dynamic work of the nhs, and indeed of everybody in the department of health and social care, including the health secretary. care, including the health secretary-— care, including the health secretary. care, including the health secreta . ~ , ., secretary. prime minister, today i hosted a call— secretary. prime minister, today i hosted a call between _ secretary. prime minister, today i hosted a call between bottom - hosted a call between bottom lotteries's restaurant on the minister— lotteries's restaurant on the minister for small businesses. can the prime — minister for small businesses. can the prime minister and shall be businesses enough time to improve our hospitality's operating data, and make — our hospitality's operating data, and make the dates and 2021 are totally _ and make the dates and 2021 are totally delectable? | and make the dates and 2021 are totally delectable?— totally delectable? i thank my honourable — totally delectable? i thank my honourable friend _ totally delectable? i thank my honourable friend for - totally delectable? i thank my honourable friend for what - totally delectable? i thank my honourable friend for what he | totally delectable? i thank my i honourable friend for what he is doing to help local business and to rally them, and i would just say to them that, if they can stick to this road map, and i believe that we can, there is not long to go now for those businesses. for hospitality in bolton, there are two dates, outdoor hospitality on april 12, and an indoor, with all its potential, on may the 17th. i do believe that gives some dates for us all to think about for business to work towards, and i hope that will be of some reassurance to them.— and i hope that will be of some reassurance to them. some eminent members of — reassurance to them. some eminent members of sage — reassurance to them. some eminent members of sage have _ reassurance to them. some eminent members of sage have indicated - reassurance to them. some eminent| members of sage have indicated they are concerned about the resurgence with the _ are concerned about the resurgence with the return of children to schools. _ with the return of children to schools, so can the prime minister so poor— schools, so can the prime minister so poor that — schools, so can the prime minister so poor that the chief medical officer, — so poor that the chief medical officer, the chief scientific officer. _ officer, the chief scientific officer, support reopening schools in their— officer, support reopening schools in their entirety on the 8th of march? — in their entirety on the 8th of march? because during the last term, many— march? because during the last term, many schools suffered an enormous amount _ many schools suffered an enormous amount of— many schools suffered an enormous amount of disruption because staff were off— amount of disruption because staff were off isolating. it is not the best— were off isolating. it is not the best way— were off isolating. it is not the best way to prevent that happening in the _ best way to prevent that happening in the future to ensure that all school — in the future to ensure that all school staff are vaccinated? he and i have school staff are vaccinated? he and i have classed _ school staff are vaccinated? he and i have classed many _ school staff are vaccinated? he and i have classed many times - school staff are vaccinated? he and i have classed many times over- i have classed many times over issues in london, but i think he uncommonly so if you to follow what i already said in my answer to the right honourable gentleman. the (mo and the csa have _ right honourable gentleman. the (mo and the csa have both _ right honourable gentleman. the (mo and the csa have both approved - right honourable gentleman. the (mo and the csa have both approved of. and the csa have both approved of reopening in full.— reopening in full. more than anything. — reopening in full. more than anything. the _ reopening in full. more than anything, the nation's - reopening in full. more than - anything, the nation's businesses need _ anything, the nation's businesses need certainty in order to plan, today— need certainty in order to plan, today short provides uncertainty in reopeninq — today short provides uncertainty in reopening schools is a welcome and critical— reopening schools is a welcome and critical element within it. there the prime — critical element within it. there the prime minister agreed that navigating lockets on a canal, it is important — navigating lockets on a canal, it is important we proceed sequentially as fast as— important we proceed sequentially as fast as possible, but also not always — fast as possible, but also not always in _ fast as possible, but also not always in a forward direction? mr always in a forward direction? speaker, as always in a forward direction? iji speaker, as anybody always in a forward direction? m speaker, as anybody who has steered eight narrow boat or a canal boat on a barge will know, and a canal, the important thing is not to oversteer one way and then be forced to correct, and bump the sides of the canal as you go. and that is what we trying to do this avoid. that is why be embarking on a cautious but irreversible approach. i will be embarking on a cautious but irreversible approach. i will lead to another— irreversible approach. i will lead to another term _ irreversible approach. i will lead to another term to _ irreversible approach. i will lead to another term to ask - irreversible approach. i will lead to another term to ask the - irreversible approach. i will lead| to another term to ask the prime minister— to another term to ask the prime minister by he didn't have adequate ppe socks _ minister by he didn't have adequate ppe socks given exercise sickness in 2016 stipulated the need to increase our ppe _ 2016 stipulated the need to increase our ppe stockpile, but i wish about the health — our ppe stockpile, but i wish about the health secretary's tone on the major— the health secretary's tone on the major brand yesterday, where he seemed — major brand yesterday, where he seemed to infer that he had done nothing _ seemed to infer that he had done nothing wrong and the judge was actually— nothing wrong and the judge was actually the one that was making the mistake _ actually the one that was making the mistake. this is not how a healthy democracy— mistake. this is not how a healthy democracy works, so i repeat the questions — democracy works, so i repeat the questions of my honourable friend the member for brighton pavilion— but he _ the member for brighton pavilion— but he published all outstanding contracts, because there are outstanding contracts that have not been published, bring an end to the emergency— been published, bring an end to the emergency procurement powers, and re—introduce a tender process? mr re—introduce a tender process? speaker, i can re—introduce a tender process? m speaker, i can see that there is a concerted attempt to make a point here today about this, but i must say that i do think every effort was made by the government to secure ppe as fast as we possibly could, and i think that is what the people of this country wanted. we ended up with 32 billion items of ppe, and we now have the capability, which i think will reassure her constituents more than anything else, the capability in this country, thanks to the ppe task force and others, to make 70% of our ppe needs in this country. it make 70% of our ppe needs in this count . , , ., , make 70% of our ppe needs in this count . , , . , ., country. it is brilliant news that we have vaccinated _ country. it is brilliant news that we have vaccinated one - country. it is brilliant news that we have vaccinated one in - country. it is brilliant news that| we have vaccinated one in three aduits— we have vaccinated one in three adults now— we have vaccinated one in three adults now in the uk. a huge testament to british science, the nhs _ testament to british science, the nhs, my— testament to british science, the nhs, my right honourable friend the member— nhs, my right honourable friend the member for west suffolk and has taught— member for west suffolk and has taught him and everybody involved in the vaccination programme, not least my right— the vaccination programme, not least my right honourable friend the prime minister~ _ my right honourable friend the prime minister. but does the prime minister— minister. but does the prime minister agree with me that because of his— minister agree with me that because of his swift— minister agree with me that because of his swift roll—out of the vaccine programme, we are in a much stronger position— programme, we are in a much stronger position now— programme, we are in a much stronger position now to start easing restrictions and putting us back on the party— restrictions and putting us back on the party to some form of normality much _ the party to some form of normality much sooner than bits have been possible — much sooner than bits have been possible without the vaccination programme?— possible without the vaccination programme? yes, of course. my honourable — programme? yes, of course. my honourable friend _ programme? yes, of course. my honourable friend is _ programme? yes, of course. my honourable friend is completelyl honourable friend is completely right. i thank you very much for what he has just said. the only reason this road map is possible, and we are one of a tiny number of countries around the world that have been able to set out a road map with the dates and millstones this far ahead, it is only possible because of the vaccination roll—out programme. of the vaccination roll-out programme-— of the vaccination roll-out programme. of the vaccination roll-out roramme. ., , programme. people of this country have endured _ programme. people of this country have endured so _ programme. people of this country have endured so much _ programme. people of this country have endured so much in _ programme. people of this country have endured so much in the - programme. people of this country have endured so much in the last l have endured so much in the last year, _ have endured so much in the last year, including personaltragedies amongst — year, including personaltragedies amongst the hi's acts as a tester, 'ob amongst the hi's acts as a tester, job tosses. — amongst the hi's acts as a tester, job losses, but they have also seen the prime _ job losses, but they have also seen the prime minister's closest adviser, _ the prime minister's closest adviser, dominic cummings break the regulations, _ adviser, dominic cummings break the regulations, the home secretary broke _ regulations, the home secretary broke the — regulations, the home secretary broke the ministerial code, and now the secretary of state... going forward, — the secretary of state... going forward, what you end the system of one iaw _ forward, what you end the system of one law for _ forward, what you end the system of one law for your tory pals and another— one law for your tory pals and another for the rest of us? | one law for your tory pals and another for the rest of us? i think contained within _ another for the rest of us? i think contained within that _ another for the rest of us? i think contained within that question - another for the rest of us? i think| contained within that question was possibly another suggestion that we could have done things differently with the procurement of ppe. while i will a contract so they are on the record for everybody to see, and i think most people in this country will understand it in very difficult if not desperate times last spring, we had to work as fast as we possibly could. i we had to work as fast as we possibly could.— we had to work as fast as we possibly could. we had to work as fast as we ossibl could. . ., possibly could. i welcome the prime minister's statement, _ possibly could. i welcome the prime minister's statement, especially - possibly could. i welcome the prime minister's statement, especially on | minister's statement, especially on schools _ minister's statement, especially on schools. he is right to be driven by the evidence. a professor told the science _ the evidence. a professor told the science and technology committee last week — science and technology committee last week that during the whole year. _ last week that during the whole year. and — last week that during the whole year, and i quote, there has been very. _ year, and i quote, there has been very. very— year, and i quote, there has been very, very little evidence of any transmission outdoors happening in the uk _ transmission outdoors happening in the uk so. — transmission outdoors happening in the uk. so, my right honourable friends _ the uk. so, my right honourable friends continue to look at the evidence — friends continue to look at the evidence and see what it is possible to bring _ evidence and see what it is possible to bring back outdoor activities like sports during the weeks ahead? i like sports during the weeks ahead? i know— like sports during the weeks ahead? i know what to spring weather coming, — i know what to spring weather coming, that will be a great spin to millions— coming, that will be a great spin to millions across the country. gf millions across the country. of course, millions across the country. course, he is millions across the country. of course, he is right to raise a point about auto transmission, and that is why, on march the 8th, but the return of schools, we are also going to be seen school sport, which is great, plus outdoor recreation, one—on—one, and the way i described, and then on march the 29, it is a rule of six cluster two households together, plus more sport outdoors, of all kinds up to and including, i think, rugby with a tackling but without the scrums, as i understand the guidance. without the scrums, as i understand the guidance-— the guidance. good afternoon. anal sis the guidance. good afternoon. analysis by — the guidance. good afternoon. analysis by the _ the guidance. good afternoon. analysis by the royal- the guidance. good afternoon. analysis by the royal college i the guidance. good afternoon. | analysis by the royal college of the guidance. good afternoon. - analysis by the royal college of gps for nhs _ analysis by the royal college of gps for nhs england's vaccination figure shows— for nhs england's vaccination figure shows that people of black ethnicity are less _ shows that people of black ethnicity are less than half as likely as white — are less than half as likely as white people to get vaccinated and people _ white people to get vaccinated and people of— white people to get vaccinated and people of asian ethnicity are two thirds _ people of asian ethnicity are two thirds is — people of asian ethnicity are two thirds is likely to accept vaccination. what specific steps will he — vaccination. what specific steps will be prime minister take to encourage uptake of the vaccine in this communities? the encourage uptake of the vaccine in this communities?— this communities? the number of --eole this communities? the number of peeple receiving _ this communities? the number of people receiving the _ this communities? the number of people receiving the vaccine - this communities? the number of people receiving the vaccine has l people receiving the vaccine has actually increased in all communities on roughly the same gradient but he is right to raise the concern which i think everyone has about uptake in some communities. it is now going faster and what we have done is roll—out a network of community champions, about £23 million to support community champions for hard to reach vaccine resistant communities and the most important thing is for everyone to give across the message that the vaccine is a wonderful thing, everyone should get it, get your vaccine when you get a message from the nhs. can i welcome very strongly the reopening of schools after what we put them through over the past few years, it is important we prioritise our children and young people. the we prioritise our children and young --eole. ~ , ., , , people. the prime minister also sets out a programme — people. the prime minister also sets out a programme based _ people. the prime minister also sets out a programme based on - people. the prime minister also sets out a programme based on data, - people. the prime minister also sets out a programme based on data, not datesi _ out a programme based on data, not dates. and _ out a programme based on data, not dates, and that must be right, but will he _ dates, and that must be right, but will he please publish the precise criteria _ will he please publish the precise criteria for each of those stages to be criteria for each of those stages to he met— criteria for each of those stages to be met and, finally, when the renewai— be met and, finally, when the renewal of emergency powers is due, will he _ renewal of emergency powers is due, will he undertake to bring that vote to the _ will he undertake to bring that vote to the house before the easter recess — to the house before the easter recess and not after?— to the house before the easter recess and not after? yes, indeed, mr speaker. _ recess and not after? yes, indeed, mr speaker, there _ recess and not after? yes, indeed, mr speaker, there will _ recess and not after? yes, indeed, mr speaker, there will be - recess and not after? yes, indeed, mr speaker, there will be a - recess and not after? yes, indeed, | mr speaker, there will be a massive data dump is the words i have been quoted. today, as my colleagues may have already seen, some of the data thatis have already seen, some of the data that is available underpinning the road map that we have set out and there will, of course, be another vote in this house about these measures before easter and then those measures in turn elapse on june the 21st in the way i have described. june the 21st in the way i have described-— june the 21st in the way i have described. �*, ., ., described. let's head to rachel hokins. hopkins. local council public health hopkins. — local council public health teams will continue to be pivotal in controlling the virus, but the government's decade of austerity and cuts has _ government's decade of austerity and cuts has damaged them with the grant of last— cuts has damaged them with the grant of last year— cuts has damaged them with the grant of last year being 22% or lower per head _ of last year being 22% or lower per head in— of last year being 22% or lower per head in reat— of last year being 22% or lower per head in real terms compared to 2015-16, — head in real terms compared to 2015-16, so head in real terms compared to 2015—16, so all the prime minister tell the _ 2015—16, so all the prime minister tell the public health grant allocation for this year will be announced and whether it will include — announced and whether it will include a _ announced and whether it will include a significant real terms increase — include a significant real terms increase to ensure councils can continue — increase to ensure councils can continue to _ increase to ensure councils can continue to keep communities safe? madam _ continue to keep communities safe? madam deputy speaker, i and very grateful to councillors and especially public—health officials for the incredible work they have done the last year. absolutely amazing work that they have done. we are supporting them with another £4] billion, are supporting them with another £4.7 billion, as she knows, to support our local councils in everything they do and we will continue to offer support throughout the pandemic. irate continue to offer support throughout the pandemic-— thank you, madam deputy speaker. before _ thank you, madam deputy speaker. before his _ thank you, madam deputy speaker. before his statement and further precautionary approach that he is pursuing — precautionary approach that he is pursuing to lifting the lockdown. it is clear— pursuing to lifting the lockdown. it is clear that the impact of covid will he — is clear that the impact of covid will be here for a long time and i would _ will be here for a long time and i would thus— will be here for a long time and i would thus be most grateful if he could _ would thus be most grateful if he could confirm his plan is coordinated and synchronised with the measures that the chancellor will announce in the budget and there _ will announce in the budget and there will— will announce in the budget and there will be ongoing support for both badly affected businesses and sectors _ both badly affected businesses and sectors such as hospitality and for those _ sectors such as hospitality and for those people who are relying on the £20 uplift _ those people who are relying on the £20 uplift to universal credit? thank — £20 uplift to universal credit? thank you, madam deputy speaker. of thank you, madam deputy speaker. of course, we will make sure that we continue to look after people throughout the pandemic as we have done since the beginning, and the chancellor will be setting out exactly what we're next week. irate exactly what we're next week. we have been under local restriction since _ have been under local restriction since the — have been under local restriction since the end ofjune and it has been _ since the end ofjune and it has been a — since the end ofjune and it has been a long few months or can i welcome — been a long few months or can i welcome the road map out of lockdown and also _ welcome the road map out of lockdown and also the _ welcome the road map out of lockdown and also the success of the vaccine? as somebody who has just shaken off lon- as somebody who has just shaken off long covid _ as somebody who has just shaken off long covid symptoms 11 months after contracting covid, can i ask him not to forget— contracting covid, can i ask him not to forget those still struggling in the many more who will develop long covid as— the many more who will develop long covid as a _ the many more who will develop long covid as a consequence of the latest wave of— covid as a consequence of the latest wave of the — covid as a consequence of the latest wave of the virus? as the economy switches _ wave of the virus? as the economy switches back on and live return to normal, _ switches back on and live return to normal, will— switches back on and live return to normal, will he also commit to do more _ normal, will he also commit to do more of— normal, will he also commit to do more of those who still do not have access _ more of those who still do not have access to _ more of those who still do not have access to long covid clinics, who still do _ access to long covid clinics, who still do not — access to long covid clinics, who still do not have access to support or help. _ still do not have access to support or help. so — still do not have access to support or help, so no one is left behind? madam _ or help, so no one is left behind? madam deputy speaker, i am delighted to see the honourable gentleman back on fighting form, someone who has enjoyed a lively on—screen debate in the past and it is good to see him backin the past and it is good to see him back in shape. he is right to draw attention to long—term consequences of the disease and we will do everything we can to alleviate suffering and to continue to invest in support for those who need it. can i first of all thank the prime minister— can i first of all thank the prime minister for the measures to get our children— minister for the measures to get our children back—to—school on march the 8th? that _ children back—to—school on march the 8th? that is _ children back—to—school on march the 8th? that is very welcome and something we have called for anything he should be congratulated on that— anything he should be congratulated on that and also for the speed of the vaccine — on that and also for the speed of the vaccine roll—out? can i press him a _ the vaccine roll—out? can i press him a little — the vaccine roll—out? can i press him a little on the thought behind vaccinating groups 1—9, everyone over— vaccinating groups 1—9, everyone over 50, — vaccinating groups 1—9, everyone over 50, and those 16—64 with a health— over 50, and those 16—64 with a health condition that makes them vulnerable to covid. those groups account _ vulnerable to covid. those groups account for— vulnerable to covid. those groups account for 99% of deaths and around 80% of _ account for 99% of deaths and around 80% of hospitalisations, so for what reason, _ 80% of hospitalisations, so for what reason, once they have been vaccinated and protected from covid by the _ vaccinated and protected from covid by the end _ vaccinated and protected from covid by the end of april at the latest is there _ by the end of april at the latest is there any— by the end of april at the latest is there any need for restrictions to continue? — there any need for restrictions to continue? he there any need for restrictions to continue? ., ~ , there any need for restrictions to continue? . ~ , ., . continue? he makes an excellent oint. continue? he makes an excellent point- the _ continue? he makes an excellent point. the difficulty _ continue? he makes an excellent point. the difficulty is _ continue? he makes an excellent point. the difficulty is that, - continue? he makes an excellent point. the difficulty is that, of. point. the difficulty is that, of course, there will be at least a significant minority who either have not taken up the vaccine in those vulnerable groups for the reasons that the house has been discussing or who, that the house has been discussing orwho, having had that the house has been discussing or who, having had the vaccine and not given sufficient protection. we believe the protection is very substantial, but there will be a large minority who will not have sufficient protection and the risk is that if you let the brakes off, madam deputy speaker, then the disease could surge up in such a way as, again, to rip through a large number in those groups in a way that, alas, i do not think anybody in this country would want to see, so i am afraid it is pure mathematics. there is still a substantial body of risk and we also need to wait and see exactly what the results of the vaccine are. there are some promising data, but i think what the country would want it this time is caution and certainty and irreversibility and that is what we aim to provide.— and irreversibility and that is what we aim to provide. thank you, madam deu we aim to provide. thank you, madam deputy speaker- _ we aim to provide. thank you, madam deputy speaker. throughout _ we aim to provide. thank you, madam deputy speaker. throughout this - deputy speaker. throughout this crisis. _ deputy speaker. throughout this crisis. the — deputy speaker. throughout this crisis, the government has been slow to offer— crisis, the government has been slow to offer the _ crisis, the government has been slow to offer the financial support that people _ to offer the financial support that people need from 3 million people excluded _ people need from 3 million people excluded from any support to thousands of people feeling to self—isolate because they cannot afford _ self—isolate because they cannot afford to — self—isolate because they cannot afford to miss work, it is clear we need _ afford to miss work, it is clear we need to— afford to miss work, it is clear we need to do— afford to miss work, it is clear we need to do more. to get through the next few— need to do more. to get through the next few months, can the prime minister— next few months, can the prime minister confirmed that the budget will bring _ minister confirmed that the budget will bring forward adequate financial support for everyone who cannot _ financial support for everyone who cannot work due to the pandemic including — cannot work due to the pandemic including those who are self isolating rather than the current system — isolating rather than the current system which sees too many people fall through the cracks? yes, system which sees too many people fall through the cracks?— fall through the cracks? yes, i certainly can _ fall through the cracks? yes, i certainly can confirm - fall through the cracks? yes, i certainly can confirm that - fall through the cracks? yes, i certainly can confirm that and | fall through the cracks? yes, i. certainly can confirm that and she should wait to see what the chancellor has to say no to week and i think colleagues on all sides of the house would concede that the programme of support that the chancellor has brought forward have been extremely effective and generous by virtually all international comparisons. flan generous by virtually all international comparisons. can i welcome the — international comparisons. can i welcome the prime _ international comparisons. can i welcome the prime minister's i welcome the prime minister's statement? those of us who represent constituencies where retail, hospitality and tourism is an absolute _ hospitality and tourism is an absolute lifeblood will really welcome the dates and the fact that domestic— welcome the dates and the fact that domestic holidays in england are open _ domestic holidays in england are open as— domestic holidays in england are open as normal for the summer but could _ open as normal for the summer but could i_ open as normal for the summer but could i ask— open as normal for the summer but could i ask the prime minister to -ive could i ask the prime minister to give a _ could i ask the prime minister to give a little more detail on the global— give a little more detail on the global task forces which reports by the 12th _ global task forces which reports by the 12th of april and that it will set out — the 12th of april and that it will set out the requirements regarding testing. _ set out the requirements regarding testing, vaccination certificates, social _ testing, vaccination certificates, social distancing and facemasks and, i social distancing and facemasks and, i hope. _ social distancing and facemasks and, i hope. and _ social distancing and facemasks and, i hope, and ends towards quarantine? yes, i hope, and ends towards quarantine? yes. indeed, — i hope, and ends towards quarantine? yes, indeed, the traveltask i hope, and ends towards quarantine? yes, indeed, the travel task forces will be looking at all those things, quarantine, destinations and so on and so forth. i think at the moment one consideration is that we need to make sure that there are countries that will be willing to accept british tourists in the way that we would like to see. some of them have stepped forward and said that they will, but there are currently not very numerous.— will, but there are currently not very numerous. thank you, madam deu very numerous. thank you, madam deputy speaker- — very numerous. thank you, madam deputy speaker. lateral— very numerous. thank you, madam deputy speaker. lateral flow - very numerous. thank you, madam l deputy speaker. lateral flow testing essential _ deputy speaker. lateral flow testing essential to the prime minister's educational reopening plans, so can he explain _ educational reopening plans, so can he explain why our only real world published — he explain why our only real world published figures from the student asymptomatic testing programme in scotland _ asymptomatic testing programme in scotland is before christmas showed almost _ scotland is before christmas showed almost 30% of positive tests turned out to _ almost 30% of positive tests turned out to be _ almost 30% of positive tests turned out to be false when confirmed? considering the financial, educational and mental health impact of isolation, does the prime minister— of isolation, does the prime minister share my concern is that a lot of— minister share my concern is that a lot of students will be told to self—isolate for no reason? i do lot of students will be told to self-isolate for no reason? i do not reconise self-isolate for no reason? i do not recognise that _ self-isolate for no reason? i do not recognise that figure, _ self-isolate for no reason? i do not recognise that figure, madam - self-isolate for no reason? i do not l recognise that figure, madam deputy speaker, and lateralflow recognise that figure, madam deputy speaker, and lateral flow tests are extremely valuable in isolating asymptomatic positive tests and in helping schools to restart and that is why we are pursuing them. thank ou, is why we are pursuing them. thank you. madam — is why we are pursuing them. thank you. madam deputy _ is why we are pursuing them. thank you, madam deputy speaker. - is why we are pursuing them. thank you, madam deputy speaker. i- is why we are pursuing them. thank you, madam deputy speaker. iwelcome the statement today and the prudent and cautious measures to reduce lockdown— and cautious measures to reduce lockdown restrictions. we have all had our _ lockdown restrictions. we have all had our role to play in combating this virus— had our role to play in combating this virus and a role which will continue — this virus and a role which will continue for some time. with the prime _ continue for some time. with the prime ministerjoined me in saying thank— prime ministerjoined me in saying thank you — prime ministerjoined me in saying thank you to all my constituents in stourbridge for their continued patience — stourbridge for their continued patience and resilience, to the fabulous — patience and resilience, to the fabulous dudley nhs, are care homes, mary stevens hospice, to the unsung heroes. _ mary stevens hospice, to the unsung heroes. the _ mary stevens hospice, to the unsung heroes, the teaching facility, the vaccinated — heroes, the teaching facility, the vaccinated and all key workers and essential _ vaccinated and all key workers and essential workers who have kept us fed and _ essential workers who have kept us fed and watered? all truly heroic efforts— fed and watered? all truly heroic efforts by— fed and watered? all truly heroic efforts by one and all. | efforts by one and all. i congratulate my honourable friend on her brilliant question and i planned my flag firmly on everything that she has just said and my flag firmly on everything that she hasjust said and echo it sincerely. i add she hasjust said and echo it sincerely. iadd my she hasjust said and echo it sincerely. i add my thanks notjust to the people of stourbridge for their patience and resilience but to their patience and resilience but to the people of the entire country. thank you very much, madam deputy speaker~ _ thank you very much, madam deputy speaker. too often, children and young _ speaker. too often, children and young people have been an afterthought during this pandemic aside _ afterthought during this pandemic aside from lost learning, many children— aside from lost learning, many children are feeling anxious and lonely— children are feeling anxious and lonely due to not seeing their friends. — lonely due to not seeing their friends, missing out on play and other— friends, missing out on play and other activities. we know one in four— other activities. we know one in four have — other activities. we know one in four have self hard in the past year. — four have self hard in the past year, eating disorder rates are soaring — year, eating disorder rates are soaring and demand for acute beds is reaching _ soaring and demand for acute beds is reaching crisis point. some of the prime _ reaching crisis point. some of the prime minister please commit to providing — prime minister please commit to providing a ring fenced resilience funds— providing a ring fenced resilience funds for— providing a ring fenced resilience funds for schools, as proposed by young _ funds for schools, as proposed by young minds to ensure young people are given _ young minds to ensure young people are given the mental health support that they— are given the mental health support that they so desperately need? she is that they so desperately need? we: is absolutely that they so desperately need? s“i;e: is absolutely right that they so desperately need? s“i9: is absolutely right to that they so desperately need? s“i9 is absolutely right to draw attention to the insurance that... the things we have asked young people to put up with over the last 12 months, there cannot have been a generation like it that has experienced so much disruption to their education, and she is right to draw attention to the pressures, the stress that that has caused and so we have invested massively in mental health provision, provision particularly for young people's mental health and is one of the things we have done is appoint a young people's mental health ambassador in the form of alex george, but the top priority for the government is now notjust to get kids back into school on march the 8th but to make sure that we remediate their education with a programme worth much more than £l programme worth much more than £1 billion and the secretary of state for education will be setting out more about our plans to help those pupils later this week.— pupils later this week. thank you, madam deputy — pupils later this week. thank you, madam deputy speaker. - pupils later this week. thank you, madam deputy speaker. the - pupils later this week. thank you, l madam deputy speaker. the people pupils later this week. thank you, - madam deputy speaker. the people of the country are desperate to be set free as _ the country are desperate to be set free as soon as possible will stop as my— free as soon as possible will stop as my right honourable friend knows, many _ as my right honourable friend knows, many of _ as my right honourable friend knows, many of the — as my right honourable friend knows, many of the tourism and hospitality businesses in derbyshire dales have been hit _ businesses in derbyshire dales have been hit heavily by this pandemic. can he _ been hit heavily by this pandemic. can he please encourage the country to book _ can he please encourage the country to book a _ can he please encourage the country to book a self catered, self—contained accommodation for holidays _ self—contained accommodation for holidays in — self—contained accommodation for holidays in places such as derbyshire dales this summer where families— derbyshire dales this summer where families are able to minimise mixing with other— families are able to minimise mixing with other people but to have some fun? . . with other people but to have some fun? ,, , . :, , , with other people but to have some fun? . , _, , , ., with other people but to have some fun? ,, , , , ., fun? she is completely right and, as she will have — fun? she is completely right and, as she will have her _ fun? she is completely right and, as she will have herjust _ fun? she is completely right and, as she will have herjust now, - fun? she is completely right and, as she will have herjust now, the - she will have herjust now, the option to book a holiday, all being well, is now therefore april the 12th and i cannot imagine there are many destinations lovelier than the derbyshire dales.— many destinations lovelier than the derbyshire dales. thank you, madam deu derbyshire dales. thank you, madam deputy speaker- _ derbyshire dales. thank you, madam deputy speaker. following _ derbyshire dales. thank you, madam deputy speaker. following the - derbyshire dales. thank you, madam deputy speaker. following the high | deputy speaker. following the high court ruling that the secretary of state _ court ruling that the secretary of state for — court ruling that the secretary of state for health and social care act is unlawfully by failing to comply with transparency rules, what the prime _ with transparency rules, what the prime minister now publish the names of the _ prime minister now publish the names of the companies awarded contracts that were _ of the companies awarded contracts that were introduced to high priority— that were introduced to high priority lanes by ministers, honourable members, peers and officials — honourable members, peers and officials and set out any material, financial— officials and set out any material, financial relationships between each company— financial relationships between each company and the persons responsible for that— company and the persons responsible for that introduction to the priority— for that introduction to the priority lane? | for that introduction to the priority lane?— for that introduction to the priority lane? for that introduction to the riori lane? . . ., priority lane? i am grateful, madam deu priority lane? i am grateful, madam deputy speaker. — priority lane? i am grateful, madam deputy speaker, and _ priority lane? i am grateful, madam deputy speaker, and i _ priority lane? i am grateful, madam deputy speaker, and i repeat - priority lane? i am grateful, madam deputy speaker, and i repeat the i deputy speaker, and i repeat the answer i have given several times that all these contracts are published in the normal way. published in the normalway. thank ou, published in the normalway. thank you. madam _ published in the normalway. thank you. madam deputy _ published in the normalway. thank you, madam deputy speaker. - published in the normalway. thank you, madam deputy speaker. i- published in the normal way. thank you, madam deputy speaker. iwelcome the prime _ you, madam deputy speaker. iwelcome the prime minister's statements and we all— the prime minister's statements and we all recognise the huge work that has been _ we all recognise the huge work that has been done to make the vaccine roll out— has been done to make the vaccine roll out a _ has been done to make the vaccine roll out a success, but can i press him upon — roll out a success, but can i press him upon why some of the dates are set as— him upon why some of the dates are set as no— him upon why some of the dates are set as no earlier than the? if we believe — set as no earlier than the? if we believe in — set as no earlier than the? if we believe in the vaccine and believe in the _ believe in the vaccine and believe in the programme and the data, isn't the logic— in the programme and the data, isn't the logic that if the data shows that we — the logic that if the data shows that we can move to reopen sectors of the _ that we can move to reopen sectors of the economy sooner, we should not hold them _ of the economy sooner, we should not hold them backwards should now not be more _ hold them backwards should now not be more flexibility there? we hold them backwards should now not be more flexibility there?— be more flexibility there? we need to see the data, _ be more flexibility there? we need to see the data, we _ be more flexibility there? we need to see the data, we need _ be more flexibility there? we need to see the data, we need to - be more flexibility there? we need to see the data, we need to see i be more flexibility there? we need | to see the data, we need to see the effect of each successive relaxation and as i explained to the house, we need four weeks to assess whether on not the relaxation has caused a surge in the virus because that is the time it takes between the unlocking of or the opening of schools until the 12th of april, we need to assess that and then we need a week to give people gene notice and the same onwards through to may the 17th and during the 21st and so on and the reason for that cautious but irreversible approach is that i think people would rather have certainty rather than urgency and we are going as fast as we reasonably and responsibly can, but if it is a trade—off between haste and certainty, i think people would prefer certainty.— certainty, i think people would refercertain . . ., prefer certainty. thank you, madam deu prefer certainty. thank you, madam deputy speaker- — prefer certainty. thank you, madam deputy speaker. the _ prefer certainty. thank you, madam deputy speaker. the prime - prefer certainty. thank you, madam j deputy speaker. the prime minister will appreciate parts of my constituency and others in west yorkshire — constituency and others in west yorkshire have been on heightened restrictions and higher tiers since last summer when others had much more _ last summer when others had much more freedoms. our people and businesses have paid a disproportionately high price in the national— disproportionately high price in the national effort to tackle covid and because _ national effort to tackle covid and because of this, many areas are building — because of this, many areas are building back from a more challenging position, so can the prime _ challenging position, so can the prime minister confirmed today that funding _ prime minister confirmed today that funding packages will address this specific— funding packages will address this specific inequality and that there will be _ specific inequality and that there will be no — specific inequality and that there will be no return to regional tears, ensuring _ will be no return to regional tears, ensuring our— will be no return to regional tears, ensuring our recovery from covid is truly— ensuring our recovery from covid is truly a _ ensuring our recovery from covid is truly a national recovery? yes, ensuring our recovery from covid is truly a national recovery?— truly a national recovery? yes, she should wait — truly a national recovery? yes, she should wait to _ truly a national recovery? yes, she should wait to see _ truly a national recovery? yes, she should wait to see what _ truly a national recovery? yes, she should wait to see what the - should wait to see what the chancellor says next week and we will make sure that we go forward as a one nation together. flan will make sure that we go forward as a one nation together. can i congratulate _ a one nation together. can i congratulate all— a one nation together. can i congratulate all of - a one nation together. can i congratulate all of the - a one nation together. can i congratulate all of the staff| a one nation together. can i - congratulate all of the staff and volunteers, particularly at the baltimore surgery in often done in my constituency where i had the privilege — my constituency where i had the privilege ofjoining them as a martial— privilege ofjoining them as a martial in— privilege ofjoining them as a martial in the car park on friday afternoon — martial in the car park on friday afternoon as they administered more than 500 _ afternoon as they administered more than 500 vaccines? my right honourable friend says he is led by data and _ honourable friend says he is led by data and not dates, yet his statement mentions many dates, so will he _ statement mentions many dates, so will he commit to publishing the thresholds of data that will determine the easing of lockdown measures? . .., measures? yes, indeed, he can examine all— measures? yes, indeed, he can examine all the _ measures? yes, indeed, he can examine all the data _ measures? yes, indeed, he can examine all the data that - measures? yes, indeed, he can examine all the data that we . measures? yes, indeed, he can l examine all the data that we have published today and i have set out the criteria by which we will proceed and i thank him for what he is doing to martial people in the car parks. is doing to martial people in the car arks. :. ~ is doing to martial people in the car arks. . ~ i. is doing to martial people in the car arks. . ~ ., is doing to martial people in the cararks. . ., ,, , car parks. thank you, madam deputy seaker. car parks. thank you, madam deputy speaker- 0h — car parks. thank you, madam deputy speaker- oh the _ car parks. thank you, madam deputy speaker. on the 18th _ car parks. thank you, madam deputy speaker. on the 18th of— car parks. thank you, madam deputy speaker. on the 18th of february, . speaker. 0n the 18th of february, the uk _ speaker. 0n the 18th of february, the uk government announced £18.5 million _ the uk government announced £18.5 million for— the uk government announced £18.5 million for four research projects to better — million for four research projects to better understand the causes, symptoms and treatment of long covid _ symptoms and treatment of long covid. however, the linkage between sepsis _ covid. however, the linkage between sepsis and _ covid. however, the linkage between sepsis and covid and long sepsis and lon- sepsis and covid and long sepsis and long covid _ sepsis and covid and long sepsis and long covid as evidenced by the uk sepsis _ long covid as evidenced by the uk sepsis trust was not mentioned. what the prime _ sepsis trust was not mentioned. what the prime minister please outline his plans — the prime minister please outline his plans to make sure this very important — his plans to make sure this very important information will be included _ important information will be included in these research projects? of course. _ included in these research projects? of course, we will look at sepsis, of course, we will look at sepsis, which i know is a deeply distressing condition, and whether it has any association with covid.— condition, and whether it has any association with covid. thank you, madam deputy — association with covid. thank you, madam deputy speaker. - association with covid. thank you, madam deputy speaker. i - association with covid. thank you, madam deputy speaker. i thank . association with covid. thank you, i madam deputy speaker. i thank the prime _ madam deputy speaker. i thank the prime minister for setting out these measures— prime minister for setting out these measures today and i know everyone is keen— measures today and i know everyone is keen to _ measures today and i know everyone is keen to start socialising in a safeway— is keen to start socialising in a safeway as soon as possible. can i ask the _ safeway as soon as possible. can i ask the prime minister to allow pubs to reopen _ ask the prime minister to allow pubs to reopen their gardens as quickly as possible? if six people can buy alcoholic— as possible? if six people can buy alcoholic drinks from a shop and meet _ alcoholic drinks from a shop and meet in — alcoholic drinks from a shop and meet in a — alcoholic drinks from a shop and meet in a park, then i hope that pubs _ meet in a park, then i hope that pubs will— meet in a park, then i hope that pubs will be given a chance to provide — pubs will be given a chance to provide a _ pubs will be given a chance to provide a takeaway service for consumption in their gardens as soon as possible — consumption in their gardens as soon as ossible. . ., consumption in their gardens as soon as possible-— as possible. yes, indeed, and that is why april _ as possible. yes, indeed, and that is why april 12 _ as possible. yes, indeed, and that is why april 12 is _ as possible. yes, indeed, and that is why april 12 is the _ as possible. yes, indeed, and that is why april 12 is the date. - as possible. yes, indeed, and that is why april 12 is the date. thank l is why april 12 is the date. thank ou, is why april 12 is the date. thank you. madam _ is why april 12 is the date. thank you, madam deputy _ is why april 12 is the date. thank you, madam deputy speaker, i is why april 12 is the date. thank. you, madam deputy speaker, last month— you, madam deputy speaker, last month was the worst on record for new aircraft — month was the worst on record for new aircraft orders in the aerospace sector— new aircraft orders in the aerospace sector which— new aircraft orders in the aerospace sector which is so important to my constituency. along with tourism, travel. _ constituency. along with tourism, travel, aviation, as we has heard, will suffer— travel, aviation, as we has heard, will suffer a — travel, aviation, as we has heard, will suffer a long time after these strictures— will suffer a long time after these strictures are lifted so will the prime — strictures are lifted so will the prime minister commit to continuing support— prime minister commit to continuing support for— prime minister commit to continuing support for those areas of the economy— support for those areas of the economy the drive so much of the value _ economy the drive so much of the value in— economy the drive so much of the value in the — economy the drive so much of the value in the economy but will suffer from a _ value in the economy but will suffer from a much longer lag before they are able _ from a much longer lag before they are able to — from a much longer lag before they are able to pick up again? he is uite are able to pick up again? he is quite right. _ are able to pick up again? he is quite right, that _ are able to pick up again? he is quite right, that is _ are able to pick up again? he is quite right, that is why - are able to pick up again? he is quite right, that is why we - are able to pick up again? he is quite right, that is why we have done everything we can to try to look after the aviation sector though it has been incredibly hard for that sector which matters a great deal to our country. the best way forward for them is to get people flying again. as i have said, i know it is a bit of time to wait, but the travel task force will be reporting on april 12 and siam hopeful we will be able to make progress this summer but we will have to wait and.— progress this summer but we will have to wait and. thank you, madam deu have to wait and. thank you, madam deputy speaker- _ have to wait and. thank you, madam deputy speaker- as _ have to wait and. thank you, madam deputy speaker. as an _ have to wait and. thank you, madam deputy speaker. as an animal- have to wait and. thank you, madam | deputy speaker. as an animal welfare champion. _ deputy speaker. as an animal welfare champion. i— deputy speaker. as an animal welfare champion, i was delighted to hear the prime — champion, i was delighted to hear the prime minister mention zoos, but before _ the prime minister mention zoos, but before we _ the prime minister mention zoos, but before we can get out there and go to the _ before we can get out there and go to the pubs and visit these places, i to the pubs and visit these places, i heard _ to the pubs and visit these places, i heard him — to the pubs and visit these places, i heard him describe certainty being more _ i heard him describe certainty being more important than urgency and his concern _ more important than urgency and his concern for— more important than urgency and his concern for the unprotected, unvaccinated element of the population who potentially could be holding _ population who potentially could be holding the rest of us back. what's more _ holding the rest of us back. what's more can— holding the rest of us back. what's more can we do to encourage people who might _ more can we do to encourage people who might not have taken up the vaccine _ who might not have taken up the vaccine to— who might not have taken up the vaccine to make sure they get jabbed and let— vaccine to make sure they get jabbed and let the _ vaccine to make sure they get jabbed and let the rest of us out? | vaccine to make sure they get jabbed and let the rest of us out? i am rateful and let the rest of us out? i am grateful and — and let the rest of us out? i am grateful and of _ and let the rest of us out? i am grateful and of course - and let the rest of us out? i am grateful and of course we - and let the rest of us out? i —n grateful and of course we must encourage everyone to take the vaccine which, as i say, is a wonderful thing. vaccine which, as i say, is a wonderfulthing. one vaccine which, as i say, is a wonderful thing. one of the problems is that at the moment we are not, as he knows, vaccinating children. children are not approved for the vaccine and though they are possible vectors of the disease and there are people, as my right honourable friend knows, who are vulnerable to the disease even though they may have been vaccinated there will be at least a percentage so we must make sure we proceed with caution but in a way that we do not have to go back on. but in a way that we do not have to go back on-— but in a way that we do not have to no backon. . ~ ., , , , go back on. thank you, madam deputy seaker. go back on. thank you, madam deputy speaker- does — go back on. thank you, madam deputy speaker. does the _ go back on. thank you, madam deputy speaker. does the prime _ go back on. thank you, madam deputy speaker. does the prime minister- go back on. thank you, madam deputy speaker. does the prime minister and | speaker. does the prime minister and his government intend to do anything at all for— his government intend to do anything at all for the 3 million or so people _ at all for the 3 million or so people who have been excluded from financial— people who have been excluded from financial support since the start of this pandemic? we financial support since the start of this pandemic?— this pandemic? we have provided about £15 billion _ this pandemic? we have provided about £15 billion for _ this pandemic? we have provided about £15 billion for the _ about £15 billion for the self—employed and will continue to look after them in anyway we can. thank you, madam deputy speaker. i welcome _ thank you, madam deputy speaker. i welcome the prime minister setting out this— welcome the prime minister setting out this road map as promised and it is great _ out this road map as promised and it is great to— out this road map as promised and it is great to see that schools will be returning. — is great to see that schools will be returning, including, importantly, with sporting activities, but with this in— with sporting activities, but with this in mind, the 8th of march would also have _ this in mind, the 8th of march would also have been the optimum time to reintroduce, for everyone, noncontact sport such as golf which is scientifically proven to be able to be _ is scientifically proven to be able to be participated in safely during the pandemic, so could the prime minister— the pandemic, so could the prime minister set out why it has not been possible _ minister set out why it has not been possible to — minister set out why it has not been possible to do this at this stage, as it _ possible to do this at this stage, as it will— possible to do this at this stage, as it will leave millions of people having _ as it will leave millions of people having to — as it will leave millions of people having to wait another five weeks before _ having to wait another five weeks before they can return to their favourite — before they can return to their favourite form of exercise? my favourite form of exercise? honourable favourite form of exercise? m honourable friend favourite form of exercise? m: honourable friend is favourite form of exercise? m; honourable friend is quite right to vent his frustration. i share his frustration as somebody who yearns to go out and play sport myself, i understand exactly how he feels. we must face the fact that the virus remains... compared to any last year, the virus remains very prevalent in our country and we have to continue to keep it under control and what we are trying to do is a cautious but irreversible approach and he only has to wait for another three weeks beyond march the 8th to be able to hit a golfball with a friend. :. ~ be able to hit a golfball with a friend. . ~' , :, , be able to hit a golfball with a friend. . ~ i. , . ., friend. thank you very much, madam deu friend. thank you very much, madam deputy speaker- _ friend. thank you very much, madam deputy speaker. the _ friend. thank you very much, madam deputy speaker. the prime _ friend. thank you very much, madam | deputy speaker. the prime minister's handling _ deputy speaker. the prime minister's handling of— deputy speaker. the prime minister's handling of this pandemic has been marked _ handling of this pandemic has been marked by— handling of this pandemic has been marked by false promises and inconsistent messaging. hospitality was covid _ inconsistent messaging. hospitality was covid secure, yet they were imposed — was covid secure, yet they were imposed with an arbitrary curfew and then close _ imposed with an arbitrary curfew and then close down. today, this industry. _ then close down. today, this industry, which is the lifeblood of coastal— industry, which is the lifeblood of coastal tourist towns like mine, have _ coastal tourist towns like mine, have heard that people can meet outside _ have heard that people can meet outside in — have heard that people can meet outside in a park yet outdoor areas of safe. _ outside in a park yet outdoor areas of safe, regulated pubs, bars and restaurants cannot open until april. he simply— restaurants cannot open until april. he simply cannot see the logic behind — he simply cannot see the logic behind this. can the prime minister explain _ behind this. can the prime minister explain where he found it? the loic, explain where he found it? the logic. madam _ explain where he found it? i“i9 logic, madam deputy explain where he found it? t“i9 logic, madam deputy speaker, lies in containing a pandemic and i think people in this country understand that, but i deeply sympathise with the businesses in her constituency. all the hospitality sector across the country have a date now to work for, to look forward to for outdoor hospitality and for indoor hospitality and for indoor hospitality and for indoor hospitality and i think people would rather have certainty than anything else. :. ~ rather have certainty than anything else. . ~ , :, rather have certainty than anything else. . ~ ., rather have certainty than anything else. :, :, ,, , else. thank you, madam deputy seaker. else. thank you, madam deputy speaker. further _ else. thank you, madam deputy speaker. further to _ else. thank you, madam deputy speaker. further to my - else. thank you, madam deputy speaker. further to my question else. thank you, madam deputy i speaker. further to my question to the prime — speaker. further to my question to the prime minister, on the 27th of january. _ the prime minister, on the 27th of january. i— the prime minister, on the 27th of january, i have had representations from medway mps, medway will now have a _ from medway mps, medway will now have a mass vaccination centre and i thank— have a mass vaccination centre and i thank the _ have a mass vaccination centre and i thank the prime minister and the government for that. the impact of covid-19 _ government for that. the impact of covid-19 on — government for that. the impact of covid—19 on the mental health and well—being of young people has been repeatedly raised with me by local schools _ repeatedly raised with me by local schools and the local university. the children's commissioner has suggested that all schools should have a _ suggested that all schools should have a dedicated mental health worker— have a dedicated mental health worker in— have a dedicated mental health worker in school. is that something the government will be looking to take forward or will there be specific— take forward or will there be specific alternative support for young — specific alternative support for young people and with that i think the prime — young people and with that i think the prime minister for his recent response — the prime minister for his recent response to me with regards to a report— response to me with regards to a report i_ response to me with regards to a report i sent him from king's college — report i sent him from king's college london on mental health and covid-19 _ college london on mental health and covid-19 |_ college london on mental health and covid-19. _, ., ., ., covid-19. i congratulate him and the --eole of covid-19. i congratulate him and the people of his — covid-19. i congratulate him and the people of his constituency _ covid-19. i congratulate him and the people of his constituency on - covid-19. i congratulate him and the people of his constituency on the - people of his constituency on the vaccination centre and all that they are doing. on mental health, he is completely right to raise it but thatis completely right to raise it but that is why we are investing massively and supporting children's and adult�*s mental health and i have recently appointed alex george to be a mental health ambassador for young people. a mental health ambassador for young --eole. :. ~ a mental health ambassador for young --eole. . ~' ,, a mental health ambassador for young --eole. . ~' , a mental health ambassador for young --eole. :. ~ , . a mental health ambassador for young --eole. . ~ , . ., people. thank you very much, madam deu people. thank you very much, madam deputy speaker- _ people. thank you very much, madam deputy speaker- as — people. thank you very much, madam deputy speaker. as the _ people. thank you very much, madam deputy speaker. as the prime - deputy speaker. as the prime minister— deputy speaker. as the prime minister charts his road map out of this third _ minister charts his road map out of this third national lockdown, undoubtedly he has presided over a disastrous— undoubtedly he has presided over a disastrous response to the pandemic, one of— disastrous response to the pandemic, one of the _ disastrous response to the pandemic, one of the worst in the world. the sluggishness, double mindedness and mixed _ sluggishness, double mindedness and mixed messaging has led to billions of pounds _ mixed messaging has led to billions of pounds of taxpayer money going into crony— of pounds of taxpayer money going into crony contracts, to firms with links— into crony contracts, to firms with links to _ into crony contracts, to firms with links to the — into crony contracts, to firms with links to the tory party. we have one of the _ links to the tory party. we have one of the worst — links to the tory party. we have one of the worst major economic crisis in the _ of the worst major economic crisis in the world — of the worst major economic crisis in the world of any major economy and the _ in the world of any major economy and the worst death toll within europe — and the worst death toll within europe. we are more than 100,000 people — europe. we are more than 100,000 people who _ europe. we are more than 100,000 people who have died including members of my family, so with a prime _ members of my family, so with a prime minister like to take this opportunity to apologise to the british— opportunity to apologise to the british people and reassure them that the — british people and reassure them that the steps he is now taking will not lead _ that the steps he is now taking will not lead us — that the steps he is now taking will not lead us into net another lockdown?— not lead us into net another lockdown? , :, lockdown? the purpose of the road ma is to lockdown? the purpose of the road map is to be _ lockdown? the purpose of the road map is to be cautious _ lockdown? the purpose of the road map is to be cautious but _ map is to be cautious but irreversible and if i take it from what he has just said that he supports that road map, that i am glad to have his support.- supports that road map, that i am glad to have his support. thank you, madam deputy _ glad to have his support. thank you, madam deputy speaker. _ glad to have his support. thank you, madam deputy speaker. i _ glad to have his support. thank you, madam deputy speaker. i fully - madam deputy speaker. i fully support — madam deputy speaker. i fully support my right honourable friend's rashas _ support my right honourable friend's rashas approach to the lockdown, however. — rashas approach to the lockdown, however, he will no coastal resorts have _ however, he will no coastal resorts have been— however, he will no coastal resorts have been particularly badly hit as they rely— have been particularly badly hit as they rely to a considerable extent on the _ they rely to a considerable extent on the hospitality sector. that said. — on the hospitality sector. that said, northern lincolnshire and the humber— said, northern lincolnshire and the humber can playa said, northern lincolnshire and the humber can play a major part in the post pandemic economic recovery. can the prime _ post pandemic economic recovery. can the prime minister given assurance that the _ the prime minister given assurance that the government will continue to support— that the government will continue to support both established and new businesses in the area? yes, indeed, we will make — businesses in the area? yes, indeed, we will make sure _ businesses in the area? yes, indeed, we will make sure we _ businesses in the area? yes, indeed, we will make sure we support - we will make sure we support businesses throughout the pandemic and siam absolutely certain that the hospitality industry in cleethorpes and the surrounding area will bounce back very strongly indeed. the prime minister... simon: _ back very strongly indeed. the prime minister... simon: we _ back very strongly indeed. the prime minister... simon: we will— back very strongly indeed. the prime minister... simon: we will leave - back very strongly indeed. the prime minister... simon: we will leave the| minister... simon: we will leave the house of commons _ minister... simon: we will leave the house of commons there _ minister... simon: we will leave the house of commons there where - minister... simon: we will leave the house of commons there where we | minister... simon: we will leave the - house of commons there where we have heard the layout of the road map out of lockdown in england. you are watching bbc news with me, ben brown. the headlines: coming out of lockdown in england — the prime minister sets out his road map with the aim of lifting all restrictions byjune. the end really is in sight, mr speaker, and a wretched year will give way to a spring and a summer that will be very different and incomparably better than the picture we see around us today. step one will be march 8 — all children in england will return to school and two people can meet outside for recreation. from the end of march, gatherings of six people or two households will be able to meet outdoors, including in people's gardens. from april 12, nonessential shops, gyms and