after emergency surgery on his legs following car crash in la. thousands of women will be offered do—it—at—home smear tests in an nhs england trial to boost cervical cancer screening numbers. and the preserved ornamental garden from the 16th century found at an hs2 high—speed rail building site in warwickshire. good afternoon. it's being hailed as a victory for people power. tens of thousands of people with learning disabilities are now eligible for a coronavirus vaccine immediately. the decision by thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation means an extra 150,000 people will be fast—tracked for a jab. the radio 2 presenter, jo whiley, whose disabled sister contracted the virus and has been campaigning for the move, says it's a "great day". 0ur health correspondent sophie hutchinson reports. dj jo whiley with her sister frances who was admitted to hospital with covid. frances has a learning disability and she caught the virus after an outbreak in her care home. an appearance on the mark show on sundayjo whiley meant an impassioned plea for those with learning disabilities to be vaccinated. there should be no debate, forget the classifications and just protect these people who are so vulnerable and have no way to fight for themselves. get them and their carers going into the home, this is how it spreads, get them vaccinated. a report last year showed people with a learning disability are six times more likely to die from covid and those aged 18 to 3a were 30 times more at risk. until now, only people with downs syndrome or those with severe and profound learning disabilities have been eligible for vaccines but today the government told gps everyone on the learning disability register should be invited for a jab, even those who are madly affected. —— mildly affected. this will include about another 150,000 or so individuals with learning disabilities. however there is no evidence at all that the individual risk of someone with mild learning disabilities is any different from that of someone else of their age. health secretary matt hancock has welcomed the new advice and asked the nhs to implement it immediately. scotland has already announced it would prioritise all people with learning disabilities, and charities say they are delighted. there is so welcome, such good news and it will relieve the anxiety of thousands of people with a learning disability and their families who have been so worried and been so badly impacted throughout covid. it is great news. this is a great day and i'm so happy for all those people who have been living in fear. i'm grateful to the government for listening. frances is recovering well from covid but it has hoped others with learning disabilities will now avoid the illness with the protection of a vaccine. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. thejohnson & the johnson & johnson vaccine thejohnson &johnson vaccine is highly affected against covid—19 including the south african and brazilian variants. this has come from the us food and drug administration. in large clinical trials, the efficacy was 89.5% in the united states, 81.7% in south africa and 86.7% in brazil. that's the johnson & africa and 86.7% in brazil. that's thejohnson &johnson vaccine. 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 to see you again. whilst we got that breaking news, anything like that breaking news, anything like that gives you a greater sense of confidence that we are seeing many lights at the end of this long tunnel. , ~ . ., tunnel. yes, i think in particular the important — tunnel. yes, i think in particular the important word _ tunnel. yes, i think in particular the important word in _ tunnel. yes, i think in particular the important word in your - the important word in your announcement was severe. what we're seeing increasingly is that these vaccines retain their ability to prevent severe illness even in these different variants in clinical settings. i think that is very important because our objective at the moment as you say is to save lives and prevent hospitalisations in this early phase of the programme. it is extremely good news and i think it has implications but one of the vaccines are likely to see retaining that effectiveness going forward. see retaining that effectiveness going forward-— see retaining that effectiveness auoin forward. �* _ going forward. after the campaign by jo wile and going forward. after the campaign by jo wiley and others _ going forward. after the campaign by jo wiley and others about _ going forward. after the campaign by jo wiley and others about those - going forward. after the campaign by jo wiley and others about those with | jo wiley and others about those with learning disabilities accessing their vaccine now, it affects people you will have worked with them for. that is another positive step isn't it? ~ , that is another positive step isn't it? ~ y a, g, , , it? absolutely, and more broadly what is great _ it? absolutely, and more broadly what is great as _ it? absolutely, and more broadly what is great as there _ it? absolutely, and more broadly what is great as there is - it? absolutely, and more broadly what is great as there is such - what is great as there is such enthusiasm from so many groups now to get vaccinating. what we're seeing in this country is that people are very concerned to get the protection these vaccines provide. and that is leading to very high and uptake. in terms of coverage of people with learning disabilities, there are very clear data that people with severe learning problems do have an increased risk of severe covid—i9. the problem operationally is that they are not very well classified. it is very easy to define what somebody�*s ages. it's less easy to define exactly what degree of severity of learning to disability they've got. it's just not reliably recorded very well. the jcb | not reliably recorded very well. the jcb i advised to government —— their joint committee on vaccination and immunisation to government has been to include more broadly people with learning disabilities to ensure that we get those high—risk individuals. are you all right to stick with us for a couple of minutes do you want to go and have a glass of water and come back? i to go and have a glass of water and come back?— in i come back? i think i'm all right. in terms of the _ come back? i think i'm all right. in terms of the whole _ come back? i think i'm all right. in terms of the whole vaccination - terms of the whole vaccination programme, and also what this shows is that the advice is there, but also there is a government that appears to be listening and active. yes, i think the government is listening to the committee and the committee is listening to the evidence we get in and that is constantly changing. it shouldn't be fixed in stone. as new information comes in, we would expect and predict to adapt to the programme to make it work more efficiently. the key is to make the most out of the vaccine doses we got at the moment by directing them to the people who most need them in the first instance. and then in the fullness of time, we can make them available to everybody once we have the vaccine available to do that and we have got the most high—risk people covered. we have got the most high-risk people covered. ~ ., have got the most high-risk people covered. ~ . ., ., have got the most high-risk people covered. ~ . . ., ., covered. we have all had time to consider what _ covered. we have all had time to consider what boris _ covered. we have all had time to consider what boris johnson - covered. we have all had time to consider what boris johnson and | consider what boris johnson and nicola consider what borisjohnson and nicola sturgeon have been announcing in terms of the timing of coming out of luck down, different for england and scotland but broadly the same. what is your view now about whether people are broadly accepting, understanding and will stick to the rules whilst this lockdown is eased in this way? mr; rules whilst this lockdown is eased in this way?— in this way? my impression is that the lane in this way? my impression is that the large majority _ in this way? my impression is that the large majority of _ in this way? my impression is that the large majority of the - in this way? my impression is that the large majority of the public . the large majority of the public have been extraordinarily compliant with the request from the government so far. so i think as long as the advice is clear and consistent and people understand what they are being asked to do and it is not made too complicated, i hope people will continue to follow that advice. what we are all anxious to avoid is a big resurgence of cases, and a further lockdown. so there is plenty of logic to doing this carefully and watching how things go as we go along. i think compared to last year, we are in a much better position to be able to do bass testing, to be able to monitor what is happening, and to be able to respond to that as we move. 50. is happening, and to be able to respond to that as we move. so, yes, optimistic — respond to that as we move. so, yes, optimistic. given _ respond to that as we move. so, yes, optimistic. given that _ respond to that as we move. so, yes, optimistic. given that we _ respond to that as we move. so, yes, optimistic. given that we are - respond to that as we move. so, yes, optimistic. given that we are now- optimistic. given that we are now entering the increased pressure phrase if you like, people are entering their second jabs. there was a concern that that would use up a number ofjabs that people would be needing for their firstjobs. they are getting a sense that that is still working? i they are getting a sense that that is still working?— is still working? i think so. i thinkthat — is still working? i think so. i think that is _ is still working? i think so. i think that is very _ is still working? i think so. i think that is very much - is still working? i think so. i think that is very much part | is still working? i think so. i. think that is very much part of is still working? i think so. i- think that is very much part of the plan. giving second doses which is going to coming through in quite large numbers in early march, it is essentially doing everything that has been done all over again, and in addition to that there is a need to roll out first doses to an additional large group of people. so there has to be vaccine supply, the capability of delivering it and people do have to come forward to receive it, but that is the plan and i am hopeful that all those things will come together and we will be able to achieve it.— will come together and we will be able to achieve it. always good to talk to you- _ able to achieve it. always good to talk to you. i'll _ able to achieve it. always good to talk to you. i'll let _ able to achieve it. always good to talk to you. i'll let you _ able to achieve it. always good to talk to you. i'll let you get - able to achieve it. always good to talk to you. i'll let you get to - talk to you. i'll let you get to that glass of water. thank you very much. staying with vaccines and their efficacy against variants, one of the vaccines currently in use in the uk is the pfizer biontech jab. dr philip dormitzer is the vice president and chief scientific officer of viral vaccines at pfizer — and today he said he believes the vaccine will protect against the variants seen so far. here he is speaking to the science and technology committee a little earlier. from the effectiveness days, we are starting to get our first direct date evidence. we have seen protection against the uk variant thatis protection against the uk variant that is equivalent to the protection we saw in controlled trials before that variant was prevalent. for other variants, this time we have to rely more on average data. so far, with do see their south african variant, some reduction in the level of neutralisation, but it is important to point out that their level of neutralisation that we see against that variant is still much greater than the level of neutralisation we saw in our phase three trial at the time that vaccine protection from the disease started. so, yes, these vaccines can reduce the level of neutralisation, but they don't do that anywhere near as low as neutralisation that was observed at the time that people were projected at the trial. we think it is likely that the vaccine will protect against the variants we have seen to date. the way to be sure is of course the world data because one community cannot be translated directly to known protection. the summer holidays could be a little different for secondary school pupils in england. some of those who have missed out on the most education could be back in the classroom for catch—up lessons. the government has announced an extra £420 million on top of the 300 million set out in january. teaching unions say it still isn't enough and they're worried it puts too much pressure on teachers and students. 0ur education correspondent, dan johnson, reports. coming back to classes means all kinds of challenges and different forms of pressure on children. teachers have the delicate job of working out what each child has missed in the months of home learning and trying to make sure that they all get back to the right level. today the government announced hundreds of millions more across england to support that work. this is going to be a long—term programme that we recognise is going to take time to be able to put right. that is why we are taking a long—term view. but this is an immediate package to deal with some of the immediate challenges to give schools a boost and give them support and give children a boost. this is how much of it will be spent. 0n tutoring, one—to—one or in small groups, targeted at those who have struggled the most to keep up. secondary schools will also be expected to provide activities through the summer holidays focused first on those moving up from primary school. parents know that many children will benefit from extra help but some are also aware that is not just education that their children have missed out on. my daughter lost her gcses and last but summer with her prom and having all the fun. by august 2022, she will be an adult and she will turn 18 and if this summer also disappears for her i really fear for her. there is some flexibility for teachers to decide how to do this. some are saying that the money will not go far enough to deal with the scale of the issue and it needs more investment, lots of time and perhaps years of support to make sure that no child suffers long—term. it is going to be a difficult issue to decide if you simply spread the money around or try to target it because those children who have missed four weeks are going to need more than those who have not missed any time. is it enough? the ministers have recognised this as just the start of addressing a major challenge of years to come. as well as being careful not to discourage kids there's also a need to consider the wider well—being. there is a danger that we focus so much on the kind of things that we measure some do they multiplications, can they quote a bit of shakespeare or whatever it might be. and we forget about the softer skills. lots of young people and children have spent almost a year without an opportunity to play with their friends. getting back in front of the teachers is only the start of getting to grips with the gaps in learning. this money is just for schools in england but scotland, wales and northern ireland have all announced their own catch—up plans. the real test will be and how that help is delivered and whether it reaches the right children to make sure they do not carry the lasting impact of the pandemic into their adult lives. at 2.30pm this afternoon on the bbc news channel, we'll be answering your questions on the government's plan to ask secondary schools to consider delivering face—to—face summer schools as part of efforts to help pupils catch up. if you have any questions, get in touch with the hashtag #bbcyourquestions—— or email yourquestions@bbc.co.uk golf legend tiger woods is �*awake, responsive, and recovering' after emergency surgery following a serious car accident in los angeles. he suffered a shattered ankle and compound leg fractures when his suv came off the road. police says he's lucky to be alive. but surgeons have had to insert a rod, screws, and pins to stablilize his leg — and whilst he's made remarkable comebacks in his career before — inevitably questions are now being asked aboout whether he'll ever be able to play golf again. here's our sports correspondent andy swiss. over radio: has anyone checked the vehicle? - is the vehicle on fire? no. it was just after seven in the morning when the emergency call came. the wreckage in the trees, the car of tiger woods after it had veered off the road at high speed. no skid marks, no braking, so clearly the first contact was with the centre median and, from there, across into the opposing lane of traffic. hit the kerb, hit a tree and there were several rollovers during that process. woods was pulled from the debris, seriously injured but conscious and, according to the authorities, extremely fortunate. i asked him what his name was. he told me his name was tiger. at that moment, i immediately recognised him. i asked him if he knew where he was, what time of day — just to make sure he was oriented. he seemed as though he was lucid and calm. i would say that it's very fortunate that mr woods was able to come out of this alive. woods was taken to hospital with open fractures in his right leg. he had surgery, in which a rod was inserted, along with pins and screws, in his foot and ankle. he's now said to be awake, responsive and recovering. there are few more famous figures in sport. peter alliss: how's that for a finish? - in a remarkable career, tiger woods has transcended golf to become a global icon. among the many well—wishers, former us president barack 0bama. "if we've learned anything over the years," he said, "it's to never count tiger out." tennis star serena williams said... love you big brother, we will get through this. while, from his fellow golfers, the shock was clear. i'm sick to my stomach. you know, it hurts to see one of your, certainly now, one of my closest friends get in an accident and ijust hope he's all right. just, uh, just worried for his kids. so what now for woods? he's had setbacks before. a high—profile marriage breakdown, long struggles with injury and, in 2017, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving after being found asleep at the wheel of his car. which made his victory at the masters in 2019 all the more miraculous. one of the greatest sporting comebacks ever, but perhaps nothing to the challenge he now faces. when you combine that with all the other injuries tiger has had in his career, five back surgeries, he is recovering from one right now, it is another hurdle, it is a massive, massive hurdle for a 45—year—old man to potentially overcome if he ever wants to play competitive golf again. but if there's one guy that can do it, it is tiger woods. he's certainly proved anything is possible, but, for a man so used to winning, simply playing golf again could be his biggest victory yet. andy swiss, bbc news. i'm joined now from torrance in california by cbs news correspondent da nya bacchus. is it 20 past six in the morning there. we are all awaiting the next bit of news to come from the hospital. bit of news to come from the hosital. ., �* , bit of news to come from the hos - ital. . �* , ., hospital. that's right we are waitin: hospital. that's right we are waiting for— hospital. that's right we are waiting for it, _ hospital. that's right we are waiting for it, because - hospital. that's right we are waiting for it, because right| hospital. that's right we are - waiting for it, because right now all we know is what has been released through tiger was's twitter page last night, over night here in los angeles and that is that he was awake and responsive and recovering from that long surgical procedure. we know he underwent an emergency surgery on his lower right leg and rub was inserted into his tibia and to stabilise his foot and ankle they had to and set screws. we are figuring out exactly when he will be released from the hospital and to learn more about his recovery time. that seems to be what people are really interested in. trying to figure out what this recovery will be like and if he will be able to play again. as you know there was already some doubt about him playing in the masters tournament in april. this adds to that because we don't know what the recovery time will be. but as mentioned in the story before, we know tiger woods is known for making comebacks. there was 11 years between that last masters win and the 2019 major win for him, and thatis and the 2019 major win for him, and that is described as one of the greatest comebacks of all time. people are hoping that will be the case after this accident. he is people are hoping that will be the case after this accident.— case after this accident. he is a tlobal case after this accident. he is a global figure — case after this accident. he is a global figure and _ case after this accident. he is a global figure and transcends i case after this accident. he is a| global figure and transcends his sport in fact, so there is huge interest in this obviously. absolutely huge interest in this. we've seen that on social media since the news of the accident broke. people were responding, and when i see people, i mean former president barack 0bama posting on twitter wishing him a speedy recovery and saying that he was the greatest of all time of golf, and if we have learned anything over the years, president barack 0bama posted, it is never to count tiger out. we are hearing from political figures and we are also hearing from other athletes in the nba the nfl. they are all wishing him well and a speedy recovery and hoping for a comeback for him. find speedy recovery and hoping for a comeback for him.— speedy recovery and hoping for a comeback for him. and briefly, are we any clearer _ comeback for him. and briefly, are we any clearer as _ comeback for him. and briefly, are we any clearer as to _ comeback for him. and briefly, are we any clearer as to why _ comeback for him. and briefly, are we any clearer as to why this - we any clearer as to why this accident happened? ida. we any clearer as to why this accident happened?- we any clearer as to why this accident happened? no, we are not any clearer — accident happened? no, we are not any clearer as _ accident happened? no, we are not any clearer as to _ accident happened? no, we are not any clearer as to why _ accident happened? no, we are not any clearer as to why it _ accident happened? no, we are not any clearer as to why it happened. l any clearer as to why it happened. thatin any clearer as to why it happened. that in that investigation is still ongoing. 0f that in that investigation is still ongoing. of course, investigators have alluded to the fact that speed was a factor in this accident. we know the area where this accident happened is known for speeding and collisions, so that probably played a factor into it, and investigators are also telling us that they do believe there is no evidence of him being impaired as he was driving. of course it will probably take some time before we actually know what led up to that crash.— time before we actually know what led up to that crash. thank you very much. more than 30,000 women in england are going to be offered "do it at home" smear tests. the nhs hopes it'll encourage more women to get screened and spot cancer earlier. our health correspondent anna collinson reports. a smear test can be life—saving, detecting the early signs of cervical cancer, but many women don't attend their appointments, including grace, who later discovered she had severe abnormal cell changes. it was quite scary, especially because i didn't really know that much about it. but i'm just so thankful that i went when i did, it could have been different if i'd left it, you know, even six months. with the pandemic worsening the situation, nhs england is trialling do it at home kits. they'll be offered to more than 31,000 women aged 25 to 64 in london who are 15 months overdue for a check. if results reveal an infection, called the human papillomavirus, or hpv, patients will be invited to their gp for a standard smear test. what we're hoping to do with this is reallyjust to make cervical screening easier for women and really capture many more women into screening than we have been doing, because we know that this protects them from cervical cancer. we also know in terms of how easy and accurate the test is, we know we've got good data to show that 99% of women can actually take a cell sample correctly and it will be effective. campaigners say if the trial is shown to be safe, it should be rolled out across the country. anna collinson, bbc news. the serial rapistjohn worboys has lost a court of appeal challenge against his sentence. the 63—year—old former taxi driver, who now goes by the name john radford, was jailed for life with a minimum term of six years at the old bailey in december 2019 after he admitted spiking the drinks of four women. he was already behind bars at the time after he was found guilty of 19 sex offences against 12 women between 2006 and 2008. heathrow airport has announced a £2 billion loss after passenger numbers collapsed to levels last seen in the 1970s because of the pandemic. it's called on the government to agree a common international standard to allow travel to restart in the summer. but its chief executive john holland—kaye said he was confident that business would restart, and said that an app could replace lengthy paperwork checks on passengers' covid tests and vaccines. this is one of the things that the prime minister's global travel taskforce needs to sort out. i imagine the last time you flew, you just checked in online or went to a kiosk and went through all those checks very quickly. all of the checks were happening behind—the—scenes on a computer. now with the new checks that have come in to confirm where you are going to be staying, whether you have booked tests in advance, whether you have had a test proved negative before you fly, all of those are done on paper and that all needs to be automated so that we can start to get people travelling at scale in a very seamless way. and we have been working on this for a very long time. we have been working with companies like travel pass and common pass to make sure that we are planning ahead to coordinate this but we need the government to get involved. i think this is where the uk has a real opportunity to take a lead. international travel only works because we have common standards between countries, and yet with all these new tests and vaccine checks there are no common standards between countries. i think the the uk is one of the first major economies coming out of the crisis can start to establish what those standards are and can use its presidency of the g7 at the moment to help to bring other major economies on board. a study has suggested almost all pheasants sold for food in the uk contain toxic lead shot. the research comes a year after shooting and countryside organisations promised to phase out lead shot through a voluntary ban. but scientists say, so far, it's had no detectable effect. 0ur science correspondent victoria gill reports. in the long tradition of hunting game birds, the ammunition fired from shotguns is primarily made of lead. and, for decades, evidence has been building about the harm that this highly toxic metal can do. we've managed to get rid of lead from petrol, lead from paint and most uses. but we still use lead ammunition and shoot it into wild animals and the environment. when a lot of lead gun shot falls into the environment it can then be eaten by wildfowl and terrestrial birds and cause lead poisoning. to eliminate lead from game that's sold in butchers and supermarkets for us to eat, nine uk countryside and shooting organizations pledged last year to phase out lead ammunition. their commitment — within five years to replace all lead shot with non—toxic alternatives. ok, i think this is going to be a piece of shot here. to assess how much progress had been made, and with their labs closed for lockdown, this team of scientists bought and dissected pheasants in their own kitchens. and you can see these bits of haemorrhage here is where the shot has gone in. out of 180 birds they examined, all but one had been shot with lead. there's a piece of shot there, it looks like lead, but we'll send them to the lab for confirmation. the study suggests that there's been no discernible progress towards getting rid of lead shots. why has the transition been so slow? lead shot is the traditional ammunition for live quarry shoots and has been for decades, for generations. so to change... change is difficult. they have to take time to try the new loads. they have to be effective. they have to be humane. and also bearing in mind that a month after the transition was announced, we went into lockdown with covid—19. so it's been a difficult year. hunters in denmark have been using shot made from steel, bismuth and tungsten since lead shot was banned for all hunting in 1996. and a recent eu—wide ban prohibits the use of lead shot over all wetlands to protect wildfowl like ducks and geese from poisoning. so uk conservationists say the transition to hunting without toxic ammunition needs to happen now. victoria gill, bbc news. a painting by famed artist vincent van gogh, has been shown to the public for the first time. the 1887 work titled "scene de rue a montmartre", that's "a street scene in montmartre" in english, was kept in a collection of a french family for years. the painting depicts a man and woman, strolling past a ramshackle fence with a windmill in the background. the painting is part of a series that van gogh produced in montmartre. it will be sold at auction in march. it was painted while he was lodging with his brother theo in paris. it will be auctioned off next month. the auction houses put an estimated value on the artwork is between five and 8 million euros. mum matt is a hilly district in paris. i could go on but they are telling me i mustn't. that's as far as my french goes. the weather is going to stay mild for all of us today. further southwards and eastwards you go with the more likely it is that the weather will stay dry. it's already the warmest day of the year so far. temperatures could reach 18 degrees in the warmer spots. 0vernight tonight, a weatherfront in the warmer spots. 0vernight tonight, a weather front will push its way eastwards. while weakening significantly, sojust its way eastwards. while weakening significantly, so just a few spots of rain on it. some listen per —— the mist and fog patches here though. xiao is pushing into scotland and northern ireland. here is a day of sunshine and showers. south eastwards, that where there is there are thereabouts a little bit of rain but not amounting to much. there will be showers at times across north—western areas, still mild but not quite as mild as it has been. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... a rule change to allow people with learning disabilitiies to get a covid vaccine jab now. tens of thousands of people are now eligible — it follows a plea from broadcaster jo wiley. all those people who have been feeling very neglected, feeling like they don't matter, that we don't care now know that we will be protecting them. this is absolutely crucial and i could not be more delighted. this is a massive step forward. pupils in england who've been left behind because of the pandemic are offered catch—up lessons in the summer as the government pledges hundreds of millions of pounds. it's there to be able to support them in terms of academic catch up but also some of the softer sides and the enrichment activities that we know all children have missed out on as well. will he ever play golf again? concerns for tiger woods after emergency surgery on his legs following car crash in la. thousands of women will be offered do—it—at—home smear tests in an nhs england trial to boost cervical cancer screening numbers. sport now. good afternoon. first, news on the six nations. france's match with scotland goes ahead this sunday as planned. the game in paris had been thrown into doubt after ten french players tested positive for coronavirus. head coach fabian galthie, who has been isolating and leading training sessions remotely, was one of the first to contract the virus, which swept through the camp. they top the table in france but will be without a number of key players who are still isolating, including their captain. further tests this week have revealed no further cases. 0rgansiers said they would continue to monitor the situation and were in contact with both unions. it has been an opening day to forget for england in the third test with india in ahmedabad — joe root�*s side having won the toss, his side bowled out for 112. just four players made double figures, zak crawley with the only innings of note. joe root, who's been england's leading batsmen on the tour so far, out for 17. it's a day—night test, the floodlights on in ahmedabad, which could offer some favourable conditions to england's bowlers — james anderson and stuart broad both in the side. a few moments ago india were m for 0. tiger woods is said to be awake, responsive and recovering following yesterday's career threatening accident which left him requiring surgery on serious leg injuries. the 45—year—old had hoped to compete in augusta this april. i guess on a golf course. there are hue i guess on a golf course. there are huge questions — i guess on a golf course. there are huge questions going _ i guess on a golf course. there are huge questions going forward. - i guess on a golf course. there are huge questions going forward. the road to recovery beginning in the ucla medical centre. as we speak, the treatment and the injuries were very serious in terms of the orthopaedic surgery that was required, open fractures, a rod has been put into the tibia to stabilise tiger woods' right leg, there are also pins and screws that have had to be applied to stabilise his ankle and right foot as well, so very serious injuries for him to come back from. huge question marks over his future as a competitive professional golfer as well and factor in the fact that he was also in the process of recovering from a fifth back surgery as well and you realise the scale of the recovery that tiger woods is embarking on now. we that tiger woods is embarking on now. ~ ., neil lennon said he will always remain a celtic supporter despite resigning as the club's manager this morning with his side 18 points off rivals rangers, their hopes of securing a tenth straight premiership title all but over. 0ur sports news correspondent, chris mclaughlin, says his departure has been coming. neil lennon has been a man under pressure for months and it's little wonder, as you mentioned, a run of results that leave the club 18 points behind rangers, theyjust need another seven points to prevent celtic from doing a historic ten titles in a row. they have also been other issues as well, some high—profile breaches of covid protocols, the ill—fated winter training trip to dubai that drew heavy criticism from the first minister of scotland. the statement released this morning said he had resigned but make no mistake, both parties have come to some kind of arrangement to make it look as though he does not have to sit with the tag of a man who has been sacked and the reason for that is the club say he remains a celtic legend, two spells as manager, he was also the club captain in the spells as player and manager he delivered 21 trophies. 0f and manager he delivered 21 trophies. of course, usually in situations like this, we turn to who succeeds him. that's all the sport for now. back to one of our main stories now, and the summer holidays could be a little different for secondary school pupils in england, who might have to go back to school for catch—up lessons, afterfalling behind in the pandemic. lots of people have been sending in their questions about the government's plan, and there are also many questions about the plan for wider school opening on march 8th — we'll be trying to answer those now. before i start with that once you have got in front of you... warez streaking hasjust have got in front of you... warez streaking has just tweeted. have got in front of you... warez streaking hasjust tweeted. it's not even new money, is this the government's value on children's future? ., , government's value on children's future? . , :: ., ., future? there was £420 million of new money _ future? there was £420 million of new money announced _ future? there was £420 million of new money announced this - future? there was £420 million of. new money announced this morning, the government has spoken today about a £700 million package for students in england in terms of catch up, support, that does we believe include 300 million which they did already announced the start of january but have added they did already announced the start ofjanuary but have added detail about where that money will be spent. this all comes on top of a billion p announced injune last yearjust across england so in total since the start of the pandemic the government has allocated 1.7 billion for different tutoring programmes in schools in england, 420 million is the new money announced today. this isn't all pupils but those who are deemed to have been particularly badly hit by this pandemic. the emhasis badly hit by this pandemic. the emphasis is — badly hit by this pandemic. the emphasis is on _ badly hit by this pandemic. iie: emphasis is on targeting badly hit by this pandemic. "iie: emphasis is on targeting it badly hit by this pandemic. i““i2 emphasis is on targeting it on badly hit by this pandemic. ii2 emphasis is on targeting it on those who need it most but how do you identify who that is work out who lost what? everyone has been affected to some degree although remote whirling —— learning has worked well in some places but teachers acknowledge it can never be a full replacement for classroom teaching, but who are the ones who have lost out, who are the ones who have lost out, who are the ones who have travelled —— struggled with the subject all has one lesson not knock on and because there was a distraction at home at that time or the internet didn't work during that lesson? that is the delicate job teachers have got to do to identify where those gaps are and what the right approach is to actually fill in that missed learning but one thing i have picked up a lot from teachers is the sensitivity around how you do this because they don't want to label kids has been left behind, they fear that could discourage some of the kids and add pressure on them on what will be a difficult time anyway, getting back in the classroom, so delicate work to do with this one. i’m in the classroom, so delicate work to do with this one.— to do with this one. i'm sure teachers _ to do with this one. i'm sure teachers have _ to do with this one. i'm sure teachers have raised - to do with this one. i'm sure teachers have raised this - to do with this one. i'm sure. teachers have raised this with to do with this one. i'm sure - teachers have raised this with you as well, why can't teachers and school children undergo mass vaccination on return to school, wouldn't this stop the spread so quickly? it wouldn't this stop the spread so tuickl ? ., , , wouldn't this stop the spread so tuickl ? ., , ., wouldn't this stop the spread so tuickl ? . , , ., ., quickly? it has been mentioned and asked by teaching _ quickly? it has been mentioned and asked by teaching unions _ quickly? it has been mentioned and asked by teaching unions quite - quickly? it has been mentioned and asked by teaching unions quite a i asked by teaching unions quite a bit, why can't teachers be pushed up the priority list? it will not happen in time for teachers getting backin happen in time for teachers getting back in the classroom in less than two weeks now. essentially because the science and evidence says they are at no greater risk than anybody else who is at work and indeed because they are working with children and young people there is some evidence that the virus circulates less amongst those groups so that is why the evidence suggests that teachers are not at greater risk than anybody else in particular who is at work, so that is why the government has decided it is not particularly need to. some teachers will be vulnerable and have been shielding, working from home, they may need to continue doing that so there may be some degree of remote learning for the peoples of those teachers if the teacher is not able to get back in the classroom. another thing that has been suggested as vaccinating the children, that will not happen either because none of the vaccinations at the minute are cleared for anybody younger than 16, that's the pfizerjob, but the government is not doing that yet. the astrazeneca chap has only played the people 18 and over but there is a trial going on at the minute testing that vaccine on children aged 6— —— 16—17 —year—olds, 300 of them vaccinated at the minute so scientists can work out how that goes, whether that is safe and presumably they get the results they want we may see a role of the children and young people. the next tuestion children and young people. the next question from _ children and young people. the next question from william _ children and young people. the next question from william webster, - children and young people. the next question from william webster, if. question from william webster, if schools do reopen what measures will be introduced to keep children safe? so, we will see social distancing that was in place, the stuff about school bubbles and keeping different year groups apart, that is all still there even though children have not been, one way down certain corridors, keeping different classes apart, additionally this time around children will be encouraged to wear masks and classrooms if they are not socially distanced in the classroom which in reality they are not, if the classroom. again social distancing goes out the window, so masks will be a reality in school, and there will be tests for students at secondary school as they return, three tests taken in school under supervision so that children get used to it and then they will be given lateral flow kit to take home to test themselves twice a week, that will kick in presumably after the easter holidays so by then it is the easter holidays so by then it is the parents�* responsibility to check children are taking those tests. those teachers who have spoken to, the idea of controlling youngsters with things like masks, difficult? that's a practical problem. there are real challenges here and it will be interesting to see exactly how it works because we have seen people who have let their masks slip at any age group and introducing that, although kits have mostly been wearing them in corridors in a lot of schools and the communal areas trying to get them to keep them on in class will be an issue and especially if they are encouraged to participate in a lesson, it's difficult when you have to try and speak and present with a mask on, that might be the point where some kids start losing the discipline a bit, that's another thing that teachers will have to watch for so so much pressure when they do get backin so much pressure when they do get back in the classroom.— back in the classroom. peter asks, it was widely _ back in the classroom. peter asks, it was widely reported _ back in the classroom. peter asks, it was widely reported three - back in the classroom. peter asks, j it was widely reported three weeks ago that the main spread of the virus was caused by 11—18 —year—olds so how will schools be safe? itutiith so how will schools be safe? with these additional _ so how will schools be safe? ii these additional safety measures and tests as well so the anybody hopefully who has got symptoms is identified before they even get into the school, that will be the aim after the school holidays when they do two lateral flow tests a week. space has always been an issue, school say, wejust space has always been an issue, school say, we just don't have the room. school say, we 'ust don't have the room. ~ , y y school say, we 'ust don't have the room. absolutely, they can't space teo . le room. absolutely, they can't space people out — room. absolutely, they can't space people out any _ room. absolutely, they can't space people out any more _ room. absolutely, they can't space people out any more and _ room. absolutely, they can't space people out any more and there - room. absolutely, they can't space people out any more and there has not been any progress on that, people have talked about nightingale classrooms which have not materialised, if anything schools have lost space because gyms have had to be given over its testing centres so the classrooms are as they are, the kids will be back in they are, the kids will be back in the same space, there was a suggestion that the new strains of the virus was circulating more quickly amongst schoolkids and that is what spurred things on to the autumn term last year, but the evidence is in general kids are safe from the virus in the main even if it is circulating around, they will not suffer from it and get really ill, but it will be interesting to see what actually happens when schools fill up again, how case numbers are impacted by that. something a teacher said to me anecdotally, we have all heard similar stories, the fear is that you only need one teacher to develop covid and very quickly that could create a problem where you are talking about school closures very quickly. talking about school closures very tuickl . ., . , talking about school closures very tuickl. ., ., , , , talking about school closures very tuickl. ., ._ , , ,, quickly. potentially, yes, because filmint in quickly. potentially, yes, because filming in school— quickly. potentially, yes, because filming in school is _ quickly. potentially, yes, because filming in school is quite - quickly. potentially, yes, because filming in school is quite a - quickly. potentially, yes, because filming in school is quite a bit, - quickly. potentially, yes, because filming in school is quite a bit, i i filming in school is quite a bit, i have seen the teachers can't always distance, they are in enclosed spaces at times and frankly they have got used to working closely with each other, so it'll be interesting to see how that has an impact and what they do, how they can recover if teachers have to take time out and isolate, the same rules apply in terms of isolation for children and adults in schools so it's entirely possible they will be further disruption. we are all talking about the end of remote learning now but there is nothing to say that will be unbroken and we can go to a term now without doing more remote learning, it's a possibility and likelihood in some instances but the hopers, with the testing, they can reduce disruption by identifying the kids who might bring the virus into school before they even get there, keep them at home and hopefully keep disruption time. i just had a tweet from someone who said i could not work out whether this was a yes or no to new money? £420 million new money, announced today. there is some new money, but the government... the education secretary talked about £700 million this morning. we secretary talked about £700 million this morning-— this morning. 300 and that has already been — this morning. 300 and that has already been announced? - this morning. 300 and that has| already been announced? that's this morning. 300 and that has - already been announced? that's my readint of already been announced? that's my reading of it- _ already been announced? that's my reading of it. you've _ already been announced? that's my reading of it. you've still _ already been announced? that's my reading of it. you've still got - already been announced? that's my reading of it. you've still got time i reading of it. you've still got time to tet the reading of it. you've still got time to get the response _ reading of it. you've still got time to get the response to _ reading of it. you've still got time to get the response to that - reading of it. you've still got time to get the response to that one i reading of it. you've still got time | to get the response to that one in! what exactly are after—school clubs for children, other clubs run the school all for gymnastics and dance classes be included? i will school all for gymnastics and dance classes be included?— school all for gymnastics and dance classes be included? i will check my e-mails because _ classes be included? i will check my e-mails because i _ classes be included? i will check my e-mails because i asked _ classes be included? i will check my e-mails because i asked this - e—mails because i asked this question to the department for education and they have not given me a full definition yet. the official definition of an after—school club... i know that question was asked because people are interested in mind that canal —— start again and the answer is not immediately so when schools reopen on the 8th of march the word is that that sort of thing, after school provision and stuff at weekends, activities using school space, stuff at weekends, activities using schoolspace, none stuff at weekends, activities using school space, none of that will start up straightaway, it may be on offer the vulnerable kids, parents who rely on that sort of thing the childcare, it may be for essential use, but from the 28th of march, the start of the easter holidays, they will start reintroducing those activities then during the holidays so that might limit the number that start an after—school club in the easter holidays but you might have other stuff going on which means kids come together in a different way and there is a bit of his experimentation there to see how that works out, what impact it has and hopefully from the summer term more of that sort of extracurricular activity can come back. {we more of that sort of extracurricular activity can come back.— activity can come back. one more tuestion. activity can come back. one more question- this _ activity can come back. one more question. this is _ activity can come back. one more question. this is from _ activity can come back. one more question. this is from daniel. - activity can come back. one more | question. this is from daniel. how can parents shield when we have children going to school but my wife and i had letters to shield? it’s a and i had letters to shield? it's a tricky question — and i had letters to shield? it's a tricky question and _ and i had letters to shield? it�*s 2 tricky question and essentially comes down to individual circumstances here because the people who have been told to shield should have had a conversation with their gp about exactly what the reasons for their art and what precautions they need to take and presumably they will have factored into that discussion the sort of external situation for the family in terms of people coming and going from the house and that all applies, it has not changed, and people should check with their gp what their particular circumstances are, what they need to do, that's about as much advice as i can give on that one. do not come never asked me about the school trip? somebody wanted to know... is about the school trip? somebody wanted to know. . ._ about the school trip? somebody wanted to know... is this when you have an answer _ wanted to know... is this when you have an answer to, _ wanted to know... is this when you have an answer to, let's _ wanted to know... is this when you have an answer to, let's indulge i have an answer to, let's indulge you! have an answer to, let's indulge ou! , ., . ., ., , ., you! there is no clear answer to this one- _ you! there is no clear answer to this one. will— you! there is no clear answer to this one. will my _ you! there is no clear answer to this one. will my son _ you! there is no clear answer to this one. will my son get i you! there is no clear answer to this one. will my son get on i you! there is no clear answer to this one. will my son get on hisj this one. will my son get on his school trip to washington, dc and new york at the end of may the summer? ., , ., , it's summer? know, is the answer? it's tossible summer? know, is the answer? it's possible we — summer? know, is the answer? it's possible we will _ summer? know, is the answer? it's possible we will have _ summer? know, is the answer? it's possible we will have international i possible we will have international travel by the end of may. it sounds nice and something to look forward to. ._ i nice and something to look forward to-- i never _ nice and something to look forward to.- i never went - nice and something to look forward to.- i never went to i to. one day. i never went to washington _ to. one day. i never went to washington in _ to. one day. i never went to washington in my _ to. one day. i never went to washington in my whole i to. one day. i never went to i washington in my whole school career, yorkshire mining museum! simulator. thanks very much. —— see me later. following borisjohnson's announcement on the country's route out of lockdown, we're speaking to key figures from across society to get their thoughts on the past year and what their hopes are for the future. today, we're hearing from tv presenter dame esther rantzen who founded silver line, a confidential helpline for older people, and childline, which is there to support under—19s. a great pleasure to talk to you once again. how are you coping? i a great pleasure to talk to you once again. how are you coping?- again. how are you coping? i hardly dare admit — again. how are you coping? i hardly dare admit it. _ again. how are you coping? i hardly dare admit it, but _ again. how are you coping? i hardly dare admit it, but i _ again. how are you coping? i hardly dare admit it, but i am _ again. how are you coping? i hardly dare admit it, but i am coping i again. how are you coping? i hardly dare admit it, but i am coping quite j dare admit it, but i am coping quite well. i know an awful lot of people are not, but for me, stopping the rather frenzied busyness are not, but for me, stopping the ratherfrenzied busyness i was addicted to in the old normal has been quite a relief, actually. people say that. does that mean you have changed for good or as soon as you can you will be back to the old routine? ih you can you will be back to the old routine? ., ._ , ., routine? in the old days, the old me would never — routine? in the old days, the old me would never ever _ routine? in the old days, the old me would never ever have _ routine? in the old days, the old me would never ever have appeared i routine? in the old days, the old me would never ever have appeared onl would never ever have appeared on bbc news in a1c! tbtre would never ever have appeared on bbc news in a1c!— bbc news in a1c! are you really wearint bbc news in a1c! are you really wearing that? _ bbc news in a1c! are you really wearing that? look. _ bbc news in a1c! are you really wearing that? look. oh, - bbc news in a1c! are you really wearing that? look. oh, no! i bbc news in a1c! are you really j wearing that? look. oh, no! an unexpeeted _ wearing that? look. oh, no! an unexpected twist! _ wearing that? look. oh, no! an unexpected twist! so _ wearing that? look. oh, no! an unexpected twist! so what i wearing that? look. oh, no! an unexpected twist! so what are i wearing that? errraz. oh, no! an unexpected twist! so what are the lessons that you have learnt? i’ee lessons that you have learnt? i've learned that. _ lessons that you have learnt? i've learned that, for _ lessons that you have learnt? i�*2 learned that, for all lessons that you have learnt? i2 learned that, for all the pencil skirts and fitted jackets that you and i insist on to appear on television, that has all gone away and i don't know what you're wearing now but i have got three of these, and my biggest decision in the morning as to i wear the pink, blue or grey one? it’s morning as to i wear the pink, blue or grey one?— or grey one? it's a nice position to be in. or grey one? it's a nice position to be in- we — or grey one? it's a nice position to be in- we have — or grey one? it's a nice position to be in. we have all— or grey one? it's a nice position to be in. we have all thought, i or grey one? it's a nice position to l be in. we have all thought, wouldn't it be lovely to think that? but people have had enough of this now, haven't they? me. people have had enough of this now, haven't they?— people have had enough of this now, haven't the ? ~ ., 2 ., ., , ., , haven't they? me, no! who would swap those on my — haven't they? me, no! who would swap those on my feet _ haven't they? me, no! who would swap those on my feet for _ haven't they? me, no! who would swap those on my feet for kitten _ haven't they? me, no! who would swap those on my feet for kitten heels? i those on my feet for kitten heels? if i ever have to go back to the old meetings and events and presentations, they may have to put up presentations, they may have to put up with a pink, blue or grey one c. that's great for you and all power to you, but you will know better than anybody, particularly the groups of people you have helped, elder people and children, many of them have found this incredibly difficult. ijust wonder them have found this incredibly difficult. i just wonder what stories have you heard in the last year and a half that have really got to you? year and a half that have really got to ou? ., ., to you? children who are living in dangerous _ to you? children who are living in dangerous homes _ to you? children who are living in dangerous homes where - to you? children who are living in dangerous homes where there i to you? children who are living in dangerous homes where there is | dangerous homes where there is abuse, violence or neglect have really become desperate, so childline has received some very serious contacts, sometimes online, sometimes by phone, some of them saying their only hope is to run away, and we have seen through the statistics that more children have been taken into care because of course where you have got real problems within a family, the fact they are all locked in with each other and there is no safe haven of the school or grandmother they can go to has been very tough. and when you look at the other end of the age range and look at some of the older people so anxious that they might be carted off by themselves to hospital, they might die alone, their carer on whom they depend might be infected, there has been a lot of their anxiety, and i think the road map combined with spring is providing much needed hope. ih the road map combined with spring is providing much needed hope. in those two particular— providing much needed hope. in those two particular groups _ providing much needed hope. in those two particular groups in _ providing much needed hope. in those two particular groups in some - providing much needed hope. in those two particular groups in some ways i two particular groups in some ways rely on one another, how often do you hearfrom grandparents, the one thing i really miss is hogging the grandchildren? and children say i miss my granny and grandad? absolutely, and at around half past six in the evening, my son reads to me and my five—year—old grandson teddy, james and the giant peach, i called him to roar with laughter by forgetting it's not the giant cherry of the giant apple. now, i really do believe that technology has been a life—saver for us, believe that technology has been a life—saverfor us, and my heart believe that technology has been a life—saver for us, and my heart goes out to people of my generation and older who are not comfortable with it because it makes such a difference and as you know i really think that wringing each other on a regular basis as the other lifeline and it really helps a great deal. i beg people to make use of it, children to ring childline, older people on their own to ring the silver line. because having a conversation lifts your spirits, we do need each other. i’m conversation lifts your spirits, we do need each other.— do need each other. i'm talking about silver _ do need each other. i'm talking about silver line _ do need each other. i'm talking about silver line and _ do need each other. i'm talking about silver line and the i do need each other. i'm talking about silver line and the charity side of this, this has been the most difficult time for charities, whatever they are dealing with, to raise money. how is the charity sector coping? raise money. how is the charity seetor coping?— raise money. how is the charity sector co-itn? ,, ., , sector coping? struggling, of course the are. sector coping? struggling, of course they are- what _ sector coping? struggling, of course they are. what this _ sector coping? struggling, of course they are. what this pandemic i sector coping? struggling, of course they are. what this pandemic has i they are. what this pandemic has proved a funny thing is how vital the older generation is to the voluntary sector and charities for all kinds of reasons, fundraising, delivering a service, we lost about 60% of our childline volunteer counsellors because they were 70 plus and we could not keep them safely distanced, so it has proved how vital older people are and also i would say to anybody watching this, if you have got a favourite charity, do drop them a quick donation because we have lost charity shops, we have lost fundraising events, i know we are all a bit strapped financially but do remember that charities need your help now more than ever. tbthd do remember that charities need your help now more than ever.— help now more than ever. and one articular help now more than ever. and one particular group — help now more than ever. and one particular group of _ help now more than ever. and one particular group of elderly - help now more than ever. and one particular group of elderly who i help now more than ever. and one | particular group of elderly who have been particularly hit by this are those with dementia, those who have relied on daily visits by the ones they love, who have not had that and for whom this has become a very frightening period. and we have to remember that the impact on the families who cannot visit them has been great. i have got a friend who wrote me the most heartbreaking card, explaining that she used to spend every single evening with her husband in a care home, and they would watch television together, they were talk together and reminisce and so on, and being deprived of that, she lives alone, has had a huge impact on her as well, so i think this new allowance for at least one person in the family to be regarded as a key worker, it has taken a very long time to recognise how crucial they are together but at least that will come in and will make a difference. and of course it's the elderly and the young, many of whom are having to deal with death and grief for the first time, particularly the children, in their lives. well, yes, i made a documentary _ children, in their lives. well, yes, i made a documentary recently i children, in their lives. well, yes, i i made a documentary recently about how people cope with grief, and there are no rules. i would say that nobody has to follow any set of regulations, we all do it our own way and at our own pace, the only thing we should do is be kind to ourselves and make allowances for ourselves, but i also believe that we ought is the nation to set up a new bank holiday, i'm calling it covid remembrance day, not want to mourn pitt to give thanks for the lives of the people we have lost, whether it is through covid or other reason because of course the nhs has been under such terrible stress that they have not been able to help people suffering from other illnesses or ways, but i would say, if we ought give thanks for those lives, and also thanks for the people who have helped us survive, whether it's the postman or the refuse collector or the vaccine scientist or the consultant in icu, we owe so much to so many. you didn't mention _ we owe so much to so many. you didn't mention hairdressers and i've wondered how you have managed to keep looking so good. this wondered how you have managed to keep looking so good.— keep looking so good. this is cut by me! i keep looking so good. this is cut by me! i have — keep looking so good. this is cut by me! i have to _ keep looking so good. this is cut by me! i have to tell— keep looking so good. this is cut by me! i have to tell you, _ keep looking so good. this is cut by me! i have to tell you, simon, i keep looking so good. this is cut by me! i have to tell you, simon, in i keep looking so good. this is cut by| me! i have to tell you, simon, in my esther rantzen days, i used to see more of my hairdresser than i did of any member of my family or friend, sometimes 3—4 times a week. this proves i can do it, i do think we have learned new skills and one of them is this and one of them is how not to get tangled up in your onesie when you are caught short! i not to get tangled up in your onesie when you are caught short!- when you are caught short! i think we will leave _ when you are caught short! i think we will leave it _ when you are caught short! i think we will leave it there! _ when you are caught short! i think we will leave it there! really i when you are caught short! i think we will leave it there! really good j we will leave it there! really good to talk to you, thank you so much for spending time with us this afternoon and really good to talk to you in your post esther rantzen period, thank you! archaeologists say one of the best preserved ornamental gardens from the 16th century has been found at an hs2 high—speed rail building site in warwickshire. once—sprawling flowerbeds and gravel paths have been uncovered at coleshill. the huge formal gardens are thought to have been built by sir robert digby to show off his wealth and status. now, the weather with chris fawkes. the weather will stay mild for all of us through the rest of the day today, for some wet with persistent rain, particularly forwales, south—west scotland, north—west england but especially so in cumbria, elsewhere, the further southwards and eastwards you go the more likely it is the weather will stay dry and already the warmest day of the year so far, temperatures could reach 18 degrees in the warmest spots. 0vernight our weather front will push its way eastwards whilst weakening significantly so if you spots of rain left as it works its way into southern and eastern areas of england. the further north—west, coated in recent nights with showers pushing into scotland and northern ireland and it is a day of sunshine and showers. south—eastwards the weather front still there to start the day on thursday morning, a bit of rain, not amounting to much, many of us having amounting to much, many of us having a fine day but showers at times across north—western areas, still mild but not as mild as it has been. this is bbc news. the headlines... success for campaigners, including broadcasterjo wiley, as tens of thousands of people with learning disabilities are told they will be offered a covid vaccine. all those people who have been feeling very neglected, that they don't matter, that we don't care, now know that we will be protecting them. this is absolutely crucial and i could not be more delighted. this is a massive step forward. in a few moments, i'll be speaking to professor anthony harnden, deputy chair of thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation, about the change. also this afternoon... pupils in england who've been left behind because of the pandemic are offered catch—up lessons in the summer, as the government pledges hundreds of millions of pounds. it is there to be able to support them in terms of academic catch—up but also the softer side and the enrichment activities that we know all children have missed out on as well. will he ever play golf again? concerns for tiger woods after emergency surgery on his legs following a car crash in la. thousands of women will be offered do—it—at—home smear tests in an nhs england trial to boost cervical cancer screening numbers. and coming up: england all—out — wickets fall on the first day of the third test against india. good afternoon. it's being hailed as a victory for people power. tens of thousands of people with learning disabilities are now eligible for a coronavirus vaccine immediately. the decision by thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation means an extra 150,000 people will be fast—tracked for a jab. the radio 2 presenterjo whiley, whose disabled sister contracted the virus and has been campaigning for the move, says it's a "great day". 0ur health correspondent sophie hutchinson reports. dj jo whiley with her sister frances who was admitted to hospital with covid. frances has a learning disability and she caught the virus after an outbreak in her care home. during an appearance on the mark show on sundayjo whiley made an impassioned plea for those with learning disabilities to be vaccinated. there should be no debate, forget the classifications and just protect these people who are so vulnerable and have no way to fight for themselves. get them and their carers going into the home, this is how it spreads, get them vaccinated. a report last year showed people with a learning disability are six times more likely to die from covid and those aged 18 to 34 were 30 times more at risk. until now, only people with downs syndrome or those with severe and profound learning disabilities have been eligible for vaccines but today the government told gps everyone on the learning disability register should be invited for a jab, even those who are mildly affected. this will include about another 150,000 or so individuals with learning disabilities. however there is no evidence at all that the individual risk of someone with mild learning disabilities is any different from that of someone else of their age. health secretary matt hancock has welcomed the new advice and asked the nhs to implement it immediately. scotland has already announced it would prioritise all people with learning disabilities, and charities say they are delighted. there is so welcome, such good news and it will relieve the anxiety of thousands of people with a learning disability and their families who have been so worried and been so badly impacted throughout covid. it is great news. this is a great day and i'm so happy for all those people who have been living in fear. i'm grateful to the government for listening. frances is recovering well from covid but it is hoped others with learning disabilities will now avoid the illness with the protection of a vaccine. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. the johnson & johnson vaccine is safe and highly effective against severe covid—19, including against the south african and brazil variants, according to us regulators. in large clinical trials, the vaccine efficacy against severe disease was nearly 86 percent in the united states, 81% in south africa, and 87% in brazil. the uk has ordered 30 million doses — though it has not yet been approved by the uk regulator. a senior executive of the pharmaceutical giant pfizer has told mps he's confident the company's covid vaccine will protect against variants of the disease. dr philip dormitzer was speaking to parliament's science and technology committee. from real—world effectiveness data, both in the uk and in israel, where the uk variant is common, we are starting to get our first direct evidence, and that is that we are seeing protection against the uk variant that is equivalent to the protection we saw in controlled trials before that variant was circulating. for other variants, at this point, we have to rely more on laboratory data. and the laboratory data, thus far, i would say, are quite reassuring. we do see, with the south african variant, some reduction in the level of neutralisation, but it is important to point out that the level of neutralisation that we see against that variant is still much greater than the level of neutralisation that we saw in our phase—three trial at the time that vaccine protection from disease started. so, yes, these vaccines can reduce the level of neutralisation, —— these mutations can reduce the level of neutralisation. but they do not reduce the level of neutralisation anywhere near as low as neutralisation that was observed at the time that people were protected in the trial. so, we think it is likely that the vaccine will protect against the variants that we have seen to date. but the way to be sure, is of course through real—world data because laboratory measures of immunity cannot be translated directly to known protection. that requires actually observing protection in the field. professor anthony harnden is deputy chairman of thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation which advises the government on the best strategy for vaccination. he's also a gp and professor of primary care at oxford university. he is speaking to us today in a personal capacity. it's good to see once again. thank you forjoining us. we'vejust been talking about the change for those with learning disabilities. that was on the recommendation of your committee. campaigns by people like jo wiley. they a difference. i committee. campaigns by people like jo wiley. they a difference.— jo wiley. they a difference. i think the do jo wiley. they a difference. i think they do but _ jo wiley. they a difference. i think they do but i _ jo wiley. they a difference. i think they do but i think _ jo wiley. they a difference. i think they do but i think we _ jo wiley. they a difference. i think they do but i think we are - they do but i think we are absolutely clear that it is not so much our advice we have changed it is how to upper a lace —— operationalise it. so those with severe difficulties ought to be reached at because they are is a severely disadvantaged group and we recognise that. what we have done is describe some operational decisions about this so that those on a register for learning disabilities, their gps prioritise for vaccine eligibility. 0ther their gps prioritise for vaccine eligibility. other people with learning disabilities are eligible. it was our strong desire that these disadvantaged groups are reached out to say that anybody with severe learning difficulties who does not happen to be on the gp register should now be eligible as well. we want to be absolutely clear that our advice has not changed. we are not inviting those with mild learning disabilities to come in and be vaccinated, but we are making sure that the operational decisions are absolutely as tight as possible to get all of those disadvantaged people with severe learning disabilities immunised as quickly as possible. the disabilities immunised as quickly as tossible. , ., ., disabilities immunised as quickly as tossible. ,., ., g ., disabilities immunised as quickly as tossible. ., g ., . , possible. the point that jo wiley was making _ possible. the point that jo wiley was making is — possible. the point that jo wiley was making is that _ possible. the point that jo wiley was making is that she - possible. the point that jo wiley was making is that she found i possible. the point that jo wiley l was making is that she found she possible. the point that jo wiley i was making is that she found she was being offered a vaccination before it was being offered to her sister. there will be those that still think hang on a minute, anybody with a disability when it comes to learning should perhaps come before those of us who are fit. we might be a bit older, but we are perhaps more able to deal with this sort of situation. you must have a very difficult committee meetings i suppose is what i'm asking. how does that process work? , ., , ' . work? these are very difficult decisions- _ work? these are very difficult decisions. all _ work? these are very difficult decisions. all are _ work? these are very difficult decisions. all are priority i decisions. all are priority decisions. all are priority decisions are very difficult. we look very carefully at the evidence. the evidence for learning disabilities is very skewed towards down syndrome as being hugely disadvantaged because they have a biological age older than their chronological —— they're chrome a logical age. that is why we put them into group four logical age. that is why we put them into groupfourand logical age. that is why we put them into group four and they should have all been immune —— all been vaccinated by now. there is still evidence that those with learning disabilities are at increased risk apart from those with down syndrome, butjoe's sister had diabetes and she should be prioritise. the problem comes if you immunise many people that aren't at increased risk, then somebody who is at increased risk when that get that immunisation into later. so we have been very fair in cavil about this in the committee that we actually look at risk of certain groups and we make decisions around that rather than other factors. the we make decisions around that rather than other factors.— than other factors. the whole vaccination _ than other factors. the whole vaccination programme i than other factors. the whole vaccination programme has i than other factors. the whole i vaccination programme has been rightly lauded from day one. i'm just wondering as we go into march and the increased pressure because of second doses of vaccinations, is there a concern that supply will become an issue? fin there a concern that supply will become an issue?— there a concern that supply will become an issue? on jcvi you will know i'm become an issue? on jcvi you will know i'm not _ become an issue? on jcvi you will know i'm not responsible - become an issue? on jcvi you will know i'm not responsible for- become an issue? on jcvi you will l know i'm not responsible for supply. we do know that the government have been very good with the primary care network and vaccination centres pharmacy outlets and hospital hubs. the question is about supply. if we can continue the same rate of supply and even an increased rate of supply then those second doses can be done at the same time we are immunising with first doses. i at the same time we are immunising with first doses.— with first doses. i don't know if ou with first doses. i don't know if you heard _ with first doses. i don't know if you heard the _ with first doses. i don't know if you heard the news _ with first doses. i don't know if you heard the newsjust i with first doses. i don't know if you heard the newsjust before with first doses. i don't know if. you heard the newsjust before i you heard the news just before i came to you, butjohnson &johnson, their vaccine proved to be 81% in south african and 86% in the united states. this is all very positive news we seem to be getting at the moment. it’s news we seem to be getting at the moment. �* , ., , news we seem to be getting at the moment. 2 . , g ., ,., moment. it's great news. the johnson & johnson vaccine _ moment. it's great news. the johnson & johnson vaccine is _ moment. it's great news. the johnson & johnson vaccine is the _ moment. it's great news. the johnson & johnson vaccine is the viral - &johnson vaccine is the viral vector vaccine much like the astrazeneca vaccine so this is really good news. all the vaccines that are being produced being quite as effective as they are is beyond our wildest dreams. this combined with the rapid roll—out, the effectiveness of the vaccines against the current strain circulating in the uk at the moment makes us very optimistic we can get the population protected. however, vaccination is only one element of that. we must reduce transmission. infection rates are still high and if we don't reduce them, we run the risk of new mutant variants arising which will have a vaccine escape and we will be back to square one very quickly. we must vaccinate as quickly. we must vaccinate as quickly as possible, and we must unlock as slowly as we possibly can. you are deputy chair of thejcvi. you are deputy chair of thejcvi. you advise the government as you have been explaining. have there been moments where the government has not taken your advice and you have got cross, basically? i has not taken your advice and you have got cross, basically?- have got cross, basically? i must sa , have got cross, basically? i must say. actually. — have got cross, basically? i must say, actually, the _ have got cross, basically? i must say, actually, the government i have got cross, basically? i must| say, actually, the government has listened to our advice very carefully. i think it was a very bold decision by a committee to go for a delayed second dose strategy. we were world leaders of this, and it is proving to be a very effective strategy with the emerging data. i think the government really listened to that very carefully and understood our reasonings for that advice, and all credit to them to the decision that they would go with that, ratherthan the decision that they would go with that, rather than having a three or four—week interval between doses. i four—week interval between doses. i was watching american news that day, and there were lots of experts in america saying they couldn't understand why america's —— why the uk is doing this, it's not what the vaccine was designed for in the uk was making a terrible mistake. you must feel vindicated but pleased with that decision in the end as well. ., ., well. the emerging data, particularly _ well. the emerging data, particularly the _ well. the emerging data, . particularly the effectiveness well. the emerging data, - particularly the effectiveness data in scotland showing that both vaccines have very high protection against hospitalisation and death. we must remember that back in december and january we were in a dire situation in this country and deaths and hospitalisations were rapidly increasing. in part, i think it is the vaccinating programme which has led to a sharp reduction in these deaths. it was a bold decision but based on a calculated evidence that we looked at. i think the government, on the whole, do listen to our advice. it is completely up to them to make policy, and we understand that. we are not a policy—setting committee. but we are a committee that everyone has become familiar with now, and we have made some really good, clear decisions which have led not only to more people being vaccinated, but a quicker roll—out, having gone through the age band, at the same time as protecting front line health care workers and keeping the nhs running. so i'm very comfortable with the decisions we have made so far, and i believe that going forward, if we can keep this programme is simple, it will be deliverable at high speed. iwhen programme is simple, it will be deliverable at high speed. when was the last time — deliverable at high speed. when was the last time that _ deliverable at high speed. when was the last time that someone - deliverable at high speed. when was the last time that someone said - the last time that someone said thank you to you. 17 the last time that someone said thank you to you.— the last time that someone said thank you to you. ? my patients are all very grateful— thank you to you. ? my patients are all very grateful with _ thank you to you. ? my patients are all very grateful with what - thank you to you. ? my patients are all very grateful with what we - thank you to you. ? my patients are all very grateful with what we have l all very grateful with what we have donein all very grateful with what we have done in my surgery, and i think it has been a real pleasure to be able to immunise many people i have known for over a 30 year period. lots of people have said thank you. i think the media, interviews, have been very supportive and said thank you as well. we are all in it together in this country and i am privileged to have played quite an important role in this decision making, but when we get out of this, we will all congratulate each other i'm sure. thank you very much for your time and for your work. ghana has received the first batch of covid—i9 vaccines procured by the vaccine—sharing programme covax. 600,000 doses of the astra zeneca vaccine were shipped to accra by unicef. they're part of the first wave of covid vaccines for low and middle—income countries. covax plans to deliver around 2 billion doses by the end of the year. the summer holidays could be a little different for secondary school pupils in england. some of those who have missed out on the most education could be back in the classroom for catch—up lessons. the government has announced an extra £420 million on top of the 300 million set out injanuary. teaching unions say it still isn't enough, and they're worried it puts too much pressure on teachers and students. 0ur education correspondent danjohnson reports. coming back to classes means all kinds of challenges and different forms of pressure on children. teachers have the delicate job of working out what each child has missed in the months of home learning and trying to make sure that they all get back to the right level. today, the government announced hundreds of millions more across england to support that work. this is going to be a long—term programme that we recognise is going to take time to be able to put right. that is why we are taking a long—term view. but this is an immediate package to deal with some of the immediate challenges to give schools a boost and give them support and give children a boost. this is how much of it will be spent. 0n tutoring, one—to—one or in small groups, targeted at those who have struggled the most to keep up. secondary schools will also be expected to provide activities through the summer holidays focused first on those moving up from primary school. parents know that many children will benefit from extra help but some are also aware that is not just education that their children have missed out on. my daughter, who lost her gcses, had already lost that summer with her prom and having all the fun they had planned. by august 2022, she will be an adult and she will turn 18 and if this summer also disappears for her i really fear for her. there is some flexibility for teachers to decide how to do this. some are saying that the money will not go far enough to deal with the scale of the issue and it needs more investment, lots of time and perhaps years of support to make sure that no child suffers long—term. it is going to be a really difficult issue to decide if you simply spread the money around or try to target it because those children who have missed four weeks are going to need more than those who have not missed any time. is it enough? as we have already acknowledged, there will be more to do. ministers have recognised this as just the start of addressing a major challenge over years to come. as well as being careful not to label, discourage and dishearten kids, there's also a need to consider the wider well—being. there is a danger that we focus so much on the kind of things that we measure, so do they know their multiplications, can they quote a bit of shakespeare or whatever it might be. and we forget about the softer skills. lots of young people and children have spent almost a year without an opportunity to play with their friends. getting back in front of their teachers is only the start of getting to grips with the gaps in learning. this money is just for schools in england, but scotland, wales and northern ireland have all announced their own catch—up plans. the real test will be and how that help is delivered and whether it reaches the right children to make sure they do not carry the lasting impact of the pandemic into their adult lives. dan johnson, bbc news. and the education secretary, gavin williamson will lead a press confererence in downing street this afternoon — that'll be at five o'clock. he'll be joined by one of england's deputy chief medical officers, drjenny harries. we'll bring it to you live here on bbc news. golf legend tiger woods is "awake, responsive, and recovering" after emergency surgery following a serious car accident in los angeles. he suffered a shattered ankle and compound leg fractures when his suv came off the road. police say he's lucky to be alive. but surgeons have had to insert a rod, screws, and pins to stablilise his leg. and whilst he's made remarkable comebacks in his career beforem inevitably questions are now being asked aboout whether he'll ever be able to play golf again. here's our sports correspondent andy swiss. over radio: has anyone checked the vehicle? - is the vehicle on fire? no. it was just after seven in the morning when the emergency call came. the wreckage in the trees, the car of tiger woods after it had veered off the road at high speed. no skid marks, no braking, so clearly the first contact was with the centre median and, from there, across into the opposing lane of traffic. hit the kerb, hit a tree and there were several rollovers during that process. woods was pulled from the debris, seriously injured but conscious and, according to the authorities, extremely fortunate. i asked him what his name was. he told me his name was tiger. at that moment, i immediately recognised him. i asked him if he knew where he was, what time of day — just to make sure he was oriented. he seemed as though he was lucid and calm. i would say that it's very fortunate that mr woods was able to come out of this alive. woods was taken to hospital with open fractures in his right leg. he had surgery, in which a rod was inserted, along with pins and screws, in his foot and ankle. he's now said to be awake, responsive and recovering. there are few more famous figures in sport. peter alliss: how's that for a finish? - in a remarkable career, tiger woods has transcended golf to become a global icon. among the many well—wishers, former us president barack 0bama. "if we've learned anything over the years," he said, "it's to never count tiger out." tennis star serena williams said... while, from his fellow golfers, the shock was clear. i'm sick to my stomach. you know, it hurts to see one of your, certainly now, one of my closest friends get in an accident and ijust hope he's all right. just, uh, just worried for his kids. so what now for woods? he's had setbacks before. a high—profile marriage breakdown, long struggles with injury and, in 2017, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving after being found asleep at the wheel of his car. which made his victory at the masters in 2019 all the more miraculous. one of the greatest sporting comebacks ever, but perhaps nothing to the challenge he now faces. when you combine that with all the other injuries tiger has had in his career, five back surgeries, he is recovering from one right now, it is another hurdle, it is a massive, massive hurdle for a 45—year—old man to potentially overcome if he ever wants to play competitive golf again. but if there's one guy that can do it, it is tiger woods. he's certainly proved anything is possible, but, for a man so used to winning, simply playing golf again could be his biggest victory yet. andy swiss, bbc news. the serial rapistjohn worboys has lost a court of appeal challenge against his sentence. the 63—year—old former taxi driver, who now goes by the name john radford, was jailed for life with a minimum term of six years at the old bailey in december 2019 after he admitted spiking the drinks of four women. he was already behind bars at the time after he was found guilty of 19 sex offences against 12 women between 2006 and 2008. more than 30,000 women in england are going to be offered "do it at home" smear tests. the nhs hopes it'll encourage more women to get screened and spot cancer earlier. our health correspondent anna collinson reports. a smear test can be life—saving, detecting the early signs of cervical cancer, but many women don't attend their appointments, including grace, who later discovered she had severe abnormal cell changes. it was quite scary, especially because i didn't really know that much about it. but i'm just so thankful that i went when i did, it could have been different if i'd left it, you know, even six months. with the pandemic worsening the situation, nhs england is trialling do it at home kits. they'll be offered to more than 31,000 women aged 25 to 64 in london who are 15 months overdue for a check. if results reveal an infection, called the human papillomavirus, or hpv, patients will be invited to their gp for a standard smear test. what we're hoping to do with this is reallyjust to make cervical screening easier for women and really capture many more women into screening than we have been doing, because we know that this protects them from cervical cancer. we also know in terms of how easy and accurate the test is, we know we've got good data to show that 99% of women can actually take a cell sample correctly and it will be effective. campaigners say if the trial is shown to be safe, it should be rolled out across the country. anna collinson, bbc news. a study has suggested almost all pheasants sold for food in the uk contain toxic lead shot. the research comes a year after shooting and countryside organisations promised to phase out lead shot through a voluntary ban. but scientists say, so far, it's had no detectable effect. 0ur science correspondent victoria gill reports. in the long tradition of hunting game birds, the ammunition fired from shotguns is primarily made of lead. and, for decades, evidence has been building about the harm that this highly toxic metal can do. we've managed to get rid of lead from petrol, lead from paint and most uses. but we still use lead ammunition and shoot it into wild animals and the environment. when a lot of lead gun shot falls into the environment it can then be eaten by wildfowl and terrestrial birds and cause lead poisoning. to eliminate lead from game that's sold in butchers and supermarkets for us to eat, nine uk countryside and shooting organizations pledged last year to phase out lead ammunition. their commitment — within five years to replace all lead shot with non—toxic alternatives. ok, i think this is going to be a piece of shot here. to assess how much progress had been made, and with their labs closed for lockdown, this team of scientists bought and dissected pheasants in their own kitchens. and you can see these bits of haemorrhage here is where the shot has gone in. out of 180 birds they examined, all but one had been shot with lead. there's a piece of shot there, it looks like lead, but we'll send them to the lab for confirmation. the study suggests that there's been no discernible progress towards getting rid of lead shots. why has the transition been so slow? lead shot is the traditional ammunition for live quarry shoots and has been for decades, for generations. soto change... change is difficult. they have to take time to try the new loads. they have to be effective. they have to be humane. and also bearing in mind that a month after the transition was announced, we went into lockdown with covid—i9. so it's been a difficult year. hunters in denmark have been using shot made from steel, bismuth and tungsten since lead shot was banned for all hunting in 1996. and a recent eu—wide ban prohibits the use of lead shot over all wetlands to protect wildfowl like ducks and geese from poisoning. so uk conservationists say the transition to hunting without toxic ammunition needs to happen now. victoria gill, bbc news. a painting by vincent van gogh has been shown to the public for the first time. the 1887 work, "scene de rue a montmartre", was kept in the collection of a french family for years. the painting depicts a man and woman, strolling past a ramshackle fence with a windmill in the background. the painting is part of a series that van gogh produced in montmartre. it will be sold at auction in march. sotheby said in a statement the very few paintings like this remain in private hands. a work of this calibre in such good condition incident vent. it is expected to fetch 8.5 million euros at auction. he left paris in 1888 saying he was tired of the hectic pace of paris life. he moved to the south of france and could have part of his ear during an episode of mental illness. he died near paris in 18 90s —— in illness. he died near paris in 18 905 -- in 1918. now, the weather with chris fawkes. further north—west it will start to turn a little bit colder than recent data show is pushing into north—western ireland. the weather front still there or thereabouts to start the day on thursday morning. a little bit of rain but not amounting to much. there will be showers at times across north—western areas. still mild, but not quite as mild as it has been. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... all those people who have been feeling very neglected, feeling like they don't matter, that we don't care now know that we will be protecting them. this is absolutely crucial and i could not be more delighted. this is a massive step forward. success for campaigners, including broadcasterjo wiley, as tens of thousands of people with learning disabilities are told they will be offered a covid vaccine now. pupils in england who've been left behind because of the pandemic are offered catch—up lessons in the summer as the government pledges hundreds of millions of pounds. it's there to be able to support them in terms of academic catch up but also some of the softer sides and the enrichment activities that we know all children have missed out on as well. will he ever play golf again? concerns for tiger woods after emergency surgery on his legs following car crash in la. thousands of women will be offered do—it—at—home smear tests in an nhs england trial to boost cervical cancer screening numbers. england trial to boost cervical sport now. england are attempting a fightback in ahmedabad after what has been largely a day to forget, joe root�*s side bowled out for 112 on the opening day of the third test. just four players made double figures, zak crawley with the only innings of note. joe root with 17. james anderson and stuart broad are both in the side in this day—night test, neither have taken a wicket yet in reply. jofra archer dismissed opener shubman gill, while jack leach dismissed cheteshwhar pujara. 57—2 now india. prime minister borisjohnson says the uk will not boycott the beijing winter olympics in 2022 despite the treatment of the uigher population in china. there's been widespread condemnation of the ongoing human rights abuses there — liberal democrat leader sir ed davey has written to team gb and paralympics gb asking them to boycott the event. but the prime minsiter says that wont be enteraytined. is right to highlight campaign she and that is why my bike tom wolfe and that is why my bike tom wolfe and the foreign secretary has set out the policies he has, to ensure no british companies are complicit or profit from violations. —— my right honourable friend. it will hold china to account and we will continue to work with the us, friends and partners around the world to do just that, he raises the point about a boycott, we are not normally in favour of boycotts in this country, and that has been the long—standing position. france's match with scotland goes ahead on sunday as planned. the game in paris had been thrown into doubt after ten french players tested positive for coronavirus. head coach fabian galthie, who has been isolating and leading training sessions remotely, was one of the first to contract the virus, which swept through the camp. they top the table in france, but will be without a number of key players who are still isolating, including their captain. further tests this week have revealed no further cases. 0rgansiers said they would continue to monitor the situation and were in contact with both unions. tiger woods is said to be awake, responsive and recovering following yesterday's career threatening accident which left him requiring surgery on serious leg injuries. the 45—year—old won the most recent of his 15 majors at the masters two years ago and had hoped to compete in augusta this april. there are huge questions going forward. the road to recovery beginning in the ucla medical centre. as we speak, the treatment and the injuries were very serious in terms of the orthopaedic surgery that was required, open fractures, a rod has been put into the tibia to stabilise tiger woods' right leg, there are also pins and screws that have had to be applied to stabilise his ankle and right foot as well, so very serious injuries for him to come back from. huge question marks over his future as a competitive professional golfer as well and factor in the fact that he was also in the process of recovering from a fifth back surgery as well and you realise the scale of the recovery that tiger woods is embarking on now. neil lennon said he will always remain a celtic supporter despite resigning as the club's manager this morning with his side 18 points off rivals rangers, their hopes of securing a tenth straight premiership title all but over. we haven't been good enough this season. ifeel for neil, he has been a coach and manager, he has given his life to celtic football club, so he will be hoping as much as anyone, but i think it was inevitable that the club had to make a decision to move forward for next season. that de arture move forward for next season. that departure always — move forward for next season. that departure always looked inevitable with the performance of celtic this season and distance between them and rangers. alex salmond has pulled out of a hearing at the scottish parliament today, where he was due to accuse nicola sturgeon of misleading parliament. the move came after the parliament withdrew and then republished a revised version of one of mr salmond's submissions to the inquiry. scotland's prosecution service had raised concerns about its publication. mr salmond was cleared last year of sexual assault, and an investigation by the scottish government was found to be unlawful. 0ur political correspondent, nick eardley, is outside the scottish parliament in edinburgh. what's the latest? around this time, we had been expecting to be talking about alex salmond's testimony which was set to be a bombshell, he is accusing nicola sturgeon of misleading parliament, he thought people around her were conspiring to have him removed from public life and sent to jail, she denies all that and said not a of evidence that his evidence published by the scottish parliament, parts of it were taken down, after the crown office said there could be in contempt of court, so mr salmond pulled out because his evidence was being edited. i do think it's quite possible we will still hear from alex salmond on friday, the committee investigating all of this has invited him again, i think he wants to appear, we're still waiting for some sort of from his sent, however, there are big questions being asked about how this has panned out but there is real frustration in scottish parliament that this not only looks awful but raises big questions about how democratic accountability is working in scotland. have a listen to the scottish conservative leader at holyrood with ruth davidson speaking. we holyrood with ruth davidson s-ueakin. ~ ., , speaking. we need a full independent 'udue led speaking. we need a full independent judge led inquiry. _ speaking. we need a full independent judge led inquiry. we _ speaking. we need a full independent judge led inquiry, we absolutely - judge led inquiry, we absolutely need _ judge led inquiry, we absolutely need to— judge led inquiry, we absolutely need to know why the government is not allowing a committee of its own parliament — not allowing a committee of its own parliament to have access to information that they need to look at what _ information that they need to look at what has happened here, and what we need _ at what has happened here, and what we need as— at what has happened here, and what we need as well is to be able to show_ we need as well is to be able to show that— we need as well is to be able to show that the parliament in scotland has oversight of the executive in scotland — has oversight of the executive in scotland because at the moment, the government is running riot and is denying — government is running riot and is denying the parliament its right of scrutiny, _ denying the parliament its right of scrutiny, and there is no liberal democracy— scrutiny, and there is no liberal democracy in the world that should allow— democracy in the world that should allow the _ democracy in the world that should allow the executive to become over nrilghty— allow the executive to become over mighty and be allowed to snap its nose _ mighty and be allowed to snap its nose on _ mighty and be allowed to snap its nose on a — mighty and be allowed to snap its nose on a case series to the parliament and to those represented to defend _ parliament and to those represented to defend the country. so parliament and to those represented to defend the country.— to defend the country. so what ha--ens to defend the country. so what happens now? _ to defend the country. so what happens now? good _ to defend the country. so what happens now? good question. | to defend the country. so what. happens now? good question. we to defend the country. so what - happens now? good question. we will hear from the — happens now? good question. we will hear from the lord _ happens now? good question. we will hear from the lord advocate - happens now? good question. we will hear from the lord advocate probably| hear from the lord advocate probably later this afternoon, he is the person who is the head of the crown office, he has come under a lot of scrutiny, if you hear office, he has come under a lot of scrutiny, if you bear with me briefly while i venture into the meat of the story, the argument that alex salmond is making is that the lord advocate is in some way conflicted because he is head of the prosecution service he is also nicola sturgeon's key legal adviser, he advises her government on its actions, alex salmond would argue that in this case he should not be able to hold both roles. the crown office says that in this case he has not really because he was not involved in the specific case and the action yesterday to challenge these documents should be published, but alex salmond is clearly furious about this, thinks there is a conspiracy against him even if he is not using that word, and the question now is, when he wants to talk about that publicly, whether that will happen in the scottish parliament or elsewhere. i suspect that in the next few hours we will get a better idea if mr salmond will turn up at the committee on friday, but scottish politics is under pressure at the minute, it does feel like the institutions here we are creaking like never before. holyrood is usually closed _ creaking like never before. holyrood is usually closed on _ creaking like never before. holyrood is usually closed on a _ creaking like never before. holyrood is usually closed on a friday. - creaking like never before. holyrood is usually closed on a friday. it - is usually closed on a friday. it is, but it can be open for the day, and i think that has been worked out, alex salmond's lawyers have said they think parliament would find a way to open on friday and i think that's probably right. they would want to if there hearing was agreed by both committee and alex salmond hearfrom him. the other thing which is worth bearing in mind is the timeframe for all of this because it's only 2.5 months until the scottish parliament elections, the scottish parliament elections, the scottish parliament breaks up in a few weeks for the election period, and there will be a really tight turnaround for this committee to deliver its report after it is from alex salmond and by the way it still supposed to hear from alex salmond and by the way it still supposed to hearfrom nicola sturgeon probably next week if alex salmond turns up on friday, so there will be a race against time to get this out, and there are a number of members of the scottish parliament who are really frustrated that it has got to that point. as we heard from ruth davidson in that clip, she thinks it's a sign that scottish democracy is under strain, nicola sturgeon says that's nonsense, there is not a shred of evidence or a conspiracy but this is an extraordinary row that has taken on everything from the former first minister accusing his successor of raking the rules that ministers have to follow, something he would resign for, alex salmond sang senior people in the party he used to lead have conspired to have him jailed, and now the questions being asked about the separation of powers in edinburgh, is an extraordinary story. the prime minister has warned people must continue to be prudent and follow the rules as the lockdown in england is eased. government officials say over the last year, the overwhelming majority of people have been careful to stick to the guidelines. but as the restrictions are loosened, and more people get the jab, will people start to relax too much? let's discuss that with professorjohn drury, he specialises in social psychology at the university of sussex. he is also on spib, a committee which has been advising the government throughout the pandemic. we are talking about people's behaviour. so far, people on the whole of stock to the rules, is there any reason to think that this vaccination programme, the light at the end of the tunnel, might change that? this the end of the tunnel, might change that? �* , , ., the end of the tunnel, might change that? a ., ., .,, ., , that? as you say, all the data shows and from different _ that? as you say, all the data shows and from different sources _ that? as you say, all the data shows and from different sources that - and from different sources that public coherence for most of the required behaviours has been on the course of the pandemic. if you look at the different periods of time, one of which you would like to mention with the road map, because of the dates of the 21st ofjune has been presented in the media as a freedom day, and if you remember, when the government were first easing lockdown restrictions last year, it was the ltth ofjuly which was freedom day, that had a symbolic value, and in the lead —— in the weeks leading up to that date, the publicity of the easing of lockdown which turned out to be quite modest, it did lead to a decline in adherents, a decline which plateaued until the next lockdown, so my concern is that the way that the road out of lockdown has been presented again will lead to that sense that we are getting safer and in leading up to that period of the let in leading up to that period of the 21st ofjune, and you can see that already with a number of people booking holidays and so on because people are of the belief now that things are going to be safer and they are probably feeling safer already. they are probably feeling safer alread . ., , they are probably feeling safer alread . ., ., already. professor, you mentioned the messaging _ already. professor, you mentioned the messaging and _ already. professor, you mentioned the messaging and the _ already. professor, you mentioned the messaging and the media, - already. professor, you mentioned the messaging and the media, we | already. professor, you mentioned i the messaging and the media, we all remember the first lockdown with the clearest of messages which was, stay—at—home, save lives, the messaging there after got a bit more opaque and hasn't the government learned by its lessons in terms of giving us dates and saying, this is what will happen and this is the day on which it will happen? it's that clarity that presumably they hope they will persuade people to stick to the rules until those moments. you're absolutely right, the messaging changed in may from stay—at—home to stay alert, and what was good at stay—at—home as it was a clear behaviour to be adopted, stay alert is much more vague, what does it mean? how alert should you be? i agree that it's good to be clear and these dates are clear but obviously there is a tension in that the government says they are data driven, so how does that square with these dates? because these dates are these dates? because these dates are the ones sticking in the public mind, and i mentioned the holidays being booked, mind, and i mentioned the holidays being hooked, i mind, and i mentioned the holidays being booked, isaw mind, and i mentioned the holidays being hooked, i saw on social media people talking about, 21st ofjune, thatis people talking about, 21st ofjune, that is when i am going partying again, it's the dates that are sticking on people's mines, not this data, so this idea of being data driven seems to have been lost with the wish as i understand it to give people hope. the wish as i understand it to give peeple hepe-_ the wish as i understand it to give people hope. unlike a year ago, we now have vaccines _ people hope. unlike a year ago, we now have vaccines and _ people hope. unlike a year ago, we now have vaccines and i'm - people hope. unlike a year ago, we i now have vaccines and i'm wondering how much impact that is having, people who feel they have had the vaccination and therefore are immune, and that perhaps will cause problems, the dates will not matter so much in terms of, i'm all right, i've had thejob? so much in terms of, i'm all right, i've had the job?— i've had the 'ob? this is good oint. i've had the 'ob? this is good point. the — i've had the job? this is good point. the reports _ i've had the job? this is good point. the reports of- i've had the job? this is good point. the reports of the - point. the reports of the information people are getting at the point of vaccination are quite mixed, clearly, the messaging should be, and it should be delivered not only in the leaflet verbally by the medical staff giving the vaccination, the firstjob is only delivering a certain percentage of immunity, the second is still needed, that immunity does not kick in for a few weeks, that one should still adopt all the protected behaviours, and it's not always clear that that is being communicated. so once again there is an issue of communication and of course, the full effectiveness of the vaccination programme is only being felt when people are being vaccinated, it's not a protection for the individual but for the population. for the individual but for the pepulation-_ for the individual but for the population. for the individual but for the --oulation. , , , ., population. the most visible sign of precautions — population. the most visible sign of precautions is _ population. the most visible sign of precautions is the _ population. the most visible sign of precautions is the mask, _ population. the most visible sign of precautions is the mask, do - population. the most visible sign of precautions is the mask, do you - population. the most visible sign of. precautions is the mask, do you have a worry that as people are vaccinated and say, we are nearly there, they will become less good about wearing them, and that may create problems?— about wearing them, and that may create problems? yes, and there is evidence from _ create problems? yes, and there is evidence from other _ create problems? yes, and there is evidence from other vaccination - evidence from other vaccination programmes that people sometimes relax the required behaviours after they have been vaccinated. i would say though that mask wearing is the one behaviour actually increased over the time of the pandemic, it became a norm, so that probably accounts for it, it has very less than the other behaviours, so even though it's very visible and some people find it difficult, it might be one of the behaviours that people stick with more rather than for example going into people's houses, and going into someone's house in fact is a bigger risk than not wearing a mask. d0 fact is a bigger risk than not wearing a mask.— fact is a bigger risk than not wearing a mask. do you have any s math wearing a mask. do you have any sympathy with — wearing a mask. do you have any sympathy with the _ wearing a mask. do you have any sympathy with the prime - wearing a mask. do you have any. sympathy with the prime minister, with those advising him? because whoever does it, it will be a very difficult period to manage, how would you have done it differently at this point?— at this point? well, i thinki am one of the _ at this point? well, i thinki am one of the people _ at this point? well, i thinki am one of the people who - at this point? well, i thinki am one of the people who has - at this point? well, i thinki am| one of the people who has been advising, and one of the things we have welcomed, we do welcome introducing these changes in five phases, we recognise the emphasis on outdoor because there is less risk outdoors, butjust to pick up on one change that has been introduced in this road map that i would have done differently, which is the opening of schools, because all of the advice that they have been given is that they should be done gradually because if they do it all at once as they are planning to do, then this will increase the rate of infection, so the advice would be, and the way of doing it differently would be to open the school gradually with different year groups going back at different year groups going back at different times.— different times. professor, it's really good — different times. professor, it's really good to _ different times. professor, it's really good to talk _ different times. professor, it's really good to talk to - different times. professor, it's really good to talk to you, - different times. professor, it's i really good to talk to you, thank you so much for your time this afternoon. it's being described as the midlands�* answer to hampton court. archaeologists working on part of the hs2 train line excavations say they've unearthed signs of the one of the best preserved elizabethan gardens everfound in the uk. they believe its one of only four of its size and complexity, and they had absolutely no idea it was there. it's now being excavated and fully documented for the archives before being covered overfor good by the high speed track. kathryn stanczyszyn went along to find out more. digging for treasure in the earth. this site is part of work preparing for the hs2 rail line in coleshill near birmingham. experts knew there was a manor house here 400 years ago, but they have discovered something else. this one here is a clay soil that is a natural soil- in the area and would be very good for gardening. - that find, the earth itself. in my right hand, this soil has been really well worked. - it might look like a building site now, but that soil discovery shows there were vast gardens here, measuring hundreds of square metres. a show of extreme wealth by the elizabethan family that called it home in 1600. a cause of huge excitement for the team uncovering its walls, paths and artefacts. this is the best site i've ever worked on. it probably will be the best site i might ever work on. the significance of these gardens is almost unprecedented. we never had the gardens this well preserved, everfound in the uk, and the size of them, the complexity is something we haven't seen before as well. archaeologists had noticed from specialist aerial photography, there was a rare oblong moat. but when they looked further and started digging, they were shocked to find other obvious sections of lavish gardens on a scale they could not have imagined. there would have been lawns, flower gardens with roses, sweet—smelling herbs and so forth, and then a bridge led across to two enormous garden compartments, 200 metres long. it's a find of particular note, partly because there is no record of its existence. there is no plans of it that we know of. there are no visitors' accounts saying, "we have visited a wonderful garden at coleshill yesterday with so—and—so." absolutely nothing at all. it really was a secret garden then? it was a secret garden, very much. only three other gardens in england of this scale have ever been found. hs2 says the 35—strong team here will continue working for several months to fully document the site before a new embankment is built on the spot. but they say they won't forget it. as a historian, paul, can you see it? i can do, i can do. i walked along that gravel path where somebody had walked up to 500 years before. it was quite extraordinary. a rare glimpse of the past. now, we've heard a lot about the risk of heading a ball when it comes to the older generation, but imagine you're 19 years old and have made your debut in the first team at league 1 club peterborough united. a professional football career is ahead of you, then one header in training changes everything, and your dream is over. well, that's what happened to bobby copping. he's been speaking to our football reporter alex howell about his decision to retire from the game. bobby copping was like every young player making their way in the game. having played football since the age of eight, one header last year brought his career to an abrupt end. i was absolutely flying, playing really well. doing everything i could to be the best i can, and then that day i headed a ball, and sort of my career�*s finished. so do you still suffer with the symptoms now? yes, literally, on a day to day basis. i have memory problems and, obviously, being a young lad, that's quite worrying. it must be very tough when you're only 19 and you'd made your first team debut and things were looking up. what has that been like? i sort of went into a period of probably about two weeks where ijust like sat in my room, curtains closed, in the dark. thinking about it all day. because, at that time, i sort of thought, that's my career over, what am i going to do now? all i've ever wanted to do is football. to be gone like that is scary. there's a number of studies into the effect of heading the ball. and although it was a difficult decision, copping could see the bigger picture. because, obviously, it's your brain, it's your future. so football is a very small amount of someone's life. so i think these things need to be sort of looked at more in depth. trippier with the ball across, maguire went for it! and it is in from harry kane again! the young defender has received support from all over the world, including from the england captain and chelsea's reece james. unbelievable, again, same as harry kane, sending me his shirt. and reece sort of reached out and i was very surprised when i saw it popping up. he sort of said, if i need anything, he's there for me. obviously, it's a horrible situation. and he sort of said, when lockdown's over and all the covid is out of the way, then he's going to take me for a meal out in london. so really, really nice of him. copping says he's been overwhelmed by the support of his club, peterborough united, and has been given a job in their business operations team. he's determined to throw himself into making a success of his new career and help support others who've suffered similar struggles. alex howell, bbc news. now the weather with chris fawkes. hello again. the weather in the uk has gone from something like being stuck in a deep freezer to something unusually warm. and the same is true in europe where germany has recorded the largest temperature rise in the space of a week on record, going from a minimum of “24 up to 18 celsius across parts of central germany — a rise of 42 degrees. this chart shows the heat has been widespread, the redder the colours, the more unusual the warmth is. and with the air coming up from north africa and spain across england and wales, that is where the temperatures are at the most unusual. for scotland and northern ireland, the air is still mild, but it's coming in off the atlantic. and between these two zones, we have got our weather front, which is bringing persistent rain, particularly to cumbria and increasingly so to parts of wales. it is already the warmest day of the year so far. temperatures will probably reach 18 celsius in parts of eastern england, which is very unusualfor february. overnight tonight, our weather front slowly eases off in intensity, but works eastwards. probably some mist and fog patches over high ground across parts of england as this system works through. cooler air follows with some showers returning to scotland and northern ireland. it will start to turn quite cool here by the end of the night. for thursday's forecast, the dregs of that weather front, the cold front, will still be there or thereabouts across east anglia and south east england, so a cloudy start to the day here with the threat of a little bit of rain, although not amounting to much. further northwest there will be some showers, certainly for scotland and northern ireland, maybe the odd one working across the irish sea into north wales and the northwest of england. it will still be mild, but not as mild as it has been over the last few days with maximum temperatures of around 12 celsius. the weather, then, it quietens down really. for many of us, friday will be a dry day, could be a few mist and fog patches around, but a fair amount of sunshine coming out as well as we go through this afternoon. temperatures, we are looking at highs of around 11 or 12 degrees, still on the mild side of things for the time of year. on into the weekend, high pressure stays firmly in charge of our weather. this week, weather fronts will threaten a little bit of light rainjust for a time and northern ireland and across the north of scotland, but for most of us, it is a fine and dry weekend with some spells of sunshine. again, we're on the mild side of things with temperatures as high as around 12 degrees. that's the weather, bye for now. this is bbc news. the headlines... success for campaigners, including broadcasterjo whiley, as tens of thousands of people with learning disabilities are told they will be offered a covid vaccine. all those people who have been feeling very neglected, that they don't matter, that we don't care, now know that we will be protecting them. this is absolutely crucial and i could not be more delighted. this is a massive step forward. and in ghana, the first delivery of vaccines — funded by richer nations to poorer ones — in a scheme which aims to provide 2 billion doses this year. pupils in england who've been left behind because of the pandemic are offered catch—up lessons in the summer, as the government pledges hundreds of millions of pounds. it is there to be able to support them in terms of academic catch up but also the softer side and the enrichment activities that we know all children have missed out on as well. will he ever play golf again? concerns for tiger woods after emergency surgery on his legs, following a car crash in la. shown to the public for the first time — this vincent van gogh painting is put up for auction. good afternoon. it's being hailed as a victory for people power. tens of thousands of people with learning disabilities are now eligible for a coronavirus vaccine immediately. the decision by thejcvi, thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation, means an extra 150,000 people will be fast—tracked for a jab. the radio 2 presenterjo whiley whose disabled sister contracted the virus has been campaigning for the move — she says it's a "great day". our health correspondent sophie hutchinson reports. dj jo whiley with her sister frances, who was admitted to hospital with covid. frances has a learning disability and she caught the virus after an outbreak in a care home. in an appearance on the marr show on sundayjo whiley made an impassioned plea for those with learning disabilities to be vaccinated. there should be no debate, forget the classifications and just protect these people who are so vulnerable and have no way to fight for themselves. get them and their carers going into the home, this is how it spreads, get them vaccinated. a report last year showed people with a learning disability are six times more likely to die from covid, and those aged 18 to 3a are 30 times more at risk. until now only people with down's syndrome or those with severe and profound learning disabilities have been eligible for vaccines but today the government told gps everyone on the learning disability register should be invited for a jab, even those who are mildly affected. this will include about another 150,000 or so individuals with learning disabilities. however there is no evidence at all that the individual risk of someone with mild learning disabilities is any different from that of someone else of their age. health secretary matt hancock has welcomed the new advice and asked the nhs to implement it immediately. scotland has already announced it would prioritise all people with learning disabilities and charities say they are delighted. there is so welcome, such good news and it will relieve the anxiety of thousands of people with a learning disability and their families who have been so worried and been so badly impacted throughout covid. it is great news. this is a great day and i'm so happy for all those people who have been living in fear. i'm grateful to the government for listening. frances is recovering well from covid but it has helped others with learning disabilities who will now avoid the illness with the protection of a vaccine. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. let me bring you the latest figures, which have come through in the last few moments, the number of new covid cases. the uk reporting very nearly 10,000 new cases on wednesday, a little under 10,000. last week, that figure was more than 12,500, so a considerable drop. also, in terms of the number of deaths that have been reported, the uk recording 442 deaths within 28 days of a positive test. again, that is down on the previous set of figures. last week, the figure was 738. so still sad figures to have to report, but again, they are falling, again, we are consistently seeing those. worth telling you a bit about vaccinations as well. we have had a new figure through in terms of the total number of people who have had at least their first vaccination. 18.2 million, very nearly 18.25 million, have had at least their first action nation, and that is a uk wide figure, so those are the new piece of data that are through in the last few moments. —— have had at least their first vaccination. a senior executive of the pharmaceutical giant pfizer has told mps he's confident the company's covid vaccine will protect against variants of the disease. dr philip dormitzer was speaking to parliament's science and technology committee. from real—world effectiveness data, both in the uk and in israel, where the uk variant is common, we are starting to get our first direct evidence, and that is that we are seeing protection against the uk variant that is equivalent to the protection we saw in controlled trials before that variant was circulating. for other variants, at this point, we have to rely more on laboratory data. and the laboratory data, thus far, i would say, are quite reassuring. we do see, with the south african variant, some reduction in the level of neutralisation, but it is important to point out that the level of neutralisation that we see against that variant is still much greater than the level of neutralisation that we saw in our phase—three trial at the time that vaccine protection from disease started. so, yes, these vaccines can reduce the level of neutralisation, but they do not reduce the level of neutralisation anywhere near as low as neutralisation that was observed at the time that people were protected in the trial. so, we think it is likely that the vaccine will protect against the variants that we have seen to date. but the way to be sure, is of course through real—world data because laboratory measures of immunity cannot be translated directly to known protection. that requires actually observing protection in the field. thejohnson &johnson vaccine has been ruled safe and highly effective against severe covid—19, including against the south african and brazil variants, by us regulators. in large clinical trials, the vaccine efficacy against severe disease was nearly 86% in the united states, 81% in south africa and 87% in brazil. the uk has ordered 30 million doses, though it has not yet been approved by the uk regulator. the summer holidays could be a little different for secondary school pupils in england. some of those who have missed out on the most education could be back in the classroom for catch—up lessons. the government has announced an extra £420 million on top of the £300 million set out injanuary. teaching unions say it still isn't enough and they're worried it puts too much pressure on teachers and students. our education correspondent, dan johnson, reports. coming back to classes means all kinds of challenges and different forms of pressure on children. teachers have the delicate job of working out what each child has missed in the months of home learning and trying to make sure that they all get back to the right level. today the government announced hundreds of millions more across england to support that work. this is going to be a long—term programme, that we recognise is going to take time to be able to put right. that is why we are taking a long—term view. but this is an immediate package to deal with some of the immediate challenges, to give schools a boost and give them support, and give children a boost. this is how much of it will be spent. on tutoring, one—to—one, or in small groups, targeted at those who have struggled the most to keep up. secondary schools will also be expected to provide activities through the summer holidays, focused first on those moving up from primary school. parents know that many children will benefit from extra help but some are also aware that is not just education that their children have missed out on. my daughter lost her gcses and lost the summer with her prom and having all the fun they'd planned. by august 2022, she will be an adult and she will turn 18 and if this summer disappears for her, i really fear for her. there is some flexibility for teachers to decide how to do this. but some are saying that the money will not go far enough to deal with the scale of the issue and it needs more investment, lots of time and perhaps years of support to make sure that no child suffers long—term. it is going to be a difficult issue to decide if you simply spread the money around or try to target it because those children who have missed full weeks are going to need more than those who have not missed any time. is it enough? as we have already acknowledged, there will be more to do. ministers have recognised this is just the start of addressing a major challenge over years to come. as well as being careful not to label, dishearten and discourage kids, there's also a need to consider their wider well—being. there is a danger that we focus so much on the kind of things that we measure, so do they know their multiplications, can they quote a bit of shakespeare or whatever it might be. and we forget about the softer skills. lots of young people and children have spent almost a year without an opportunity to play with their friends. getting back in front of the teachers is only the start of getting to grips with the gaps in learning. this money is just for schools in england but scotland, wales and northern ireland have all announced their own catch up plans. the real test will be in how that help is delivered and whether it reaches the right children to make sure they do not carry the lasting impact of the pandemic into their adult lives. dan johnson, bbc news. and the education secretary, gavin williamson will lead a press conference in downing street this afternoon — that'll be at five o'clock. he'll be joined by one of england's deputy chief medical officers, drjenny harries. we will bring you that live. you can follow that live at 5pm here on bbc news. we will have much more on all of that. golf legend tiger woods is 'awake, responsive, and recovering' after emergency surgery following a serious car accident in los angeles. he suffered a shattered ankle and compound leg fractures when his suv came off the road — police say he's lucky to be alive. but surgeons have had to insert a rod, screws, and pins to stablilize his leg — and whilst he's made remarkable comebacks in his career before inevitably questions are now being asked aboout whether he'll ever be able to play golf again. here's our sports correspondent, andy swiss. over radio: has anyone checked the vehicle? is the vehicle on fire? no. it was just after seven in the morning when the emergency call came. the wreckage in the trees, the car of tiger woods after it had veered off the road at high speed. no skid marks, no braking, so clearly the first contact was with the centre median and, from there, across into the opposing lane of traffic. hit the kerb, hit a tree and there were several rollovers during that process. woods was pulled from the debris, seriously injured but conscious and, according to the authorities, extremely fortunate. i asked him what his name was. he told me his name was tiger. at that moment, i immediately recognised him. i asked him if he knew where he was, what time of day — just to make sure he was oriented. he seemed as though he was lucid and calm. i would say that it's very fortunate that mr woods was able to come out of this alive. woods was taken to hospital with open fractures in his right leg. he had surgery, in which a rod was inserted, along with pins and screws, in his foot and ankle. he's now said to be awake, responsive and recovering. there are few more famous figures in sport. peter alliss: how's that for a finish? - in a remarkable career, tiger woods has transcended golf to become a global icon. among the many well—wishers, former us president barack obama. "if we've learned anything over the years," he said, "it's to never count tiger out." tennis star serena williams said... while, from his fellow golfers, the shock was clear. i'm sick to my stomach. you know, it hurts to see one of your, certainly now, one of my closest friends get in an accident and ijust hope he's all right. just, uh, just worried for his kids. so what now for woods? he's had setbacks before. a high—profile marriage breakdown, long struggles with injury and, in 2017, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving after being found asleep at the wheel of his car. which made his victory at the masters in 2019 all the more miraculous. one of the greatest sporting comebacks ever, but perhaps nothing to the challenge he now faces. when you combine that with all the other injuries tiger has had in his career, five back surgeries, he is recovering from one right now, it is another hurdle, it is a massive, massive hurdle for a 45—year—old man to potentially overcome if he ever wants to play competitive golf again. but if there's one guy that can do it, it is tiger woods. he's certainly proved anything is possible, but, for a man so used to winning, simply playing golf again could be his biggest victory yet. andy swiss, bbc news. a full sports bulletin coming up for you with the latest in the world of sport a bit after half past. the headlines on bbc news... broadcasterjo whiley welcomes a rule change that will allow ten of thousands of people with learning disabilitiies to get a covid vaccine jab now. pupils in england who've been left behind because of the pandemic are offered catch—up lessons in the summer — as the government pledges hundreds of millions of pounds. will he ever play golf again? concerns for tiger woods after emergency surgery on his legs following car crash in la. we are going to talk more about the vaccine roll—out, and worth reminding you of the latest figures we had. more than 18.2 million people across the uk have now received a first dose of a covid vaccine, and we have been reflecting a lot here in the last few weeks about the speed at which the vaccine roll—out seems to be happening, certainly for many communities. we are talking a lot about learning disabled people today. there are other issues as well. the runnymede trust, the race equality think tank, is calling for door—to—door vaccinations in some areas where deprived or remote or minority ethnic communities live, to try and get an even better roll—out of the vaccine. halima begum is the director of the runnymede trust. good afternoon. let's talk about the take—up, because we took in such positive terms about vaccine take up but, sadly, not universal, is it? me but, sadly, not universal, is it? we have a but, sadly, not universal, is it? - have a universal health system but we make the assumption that because everything is free at the point of access that everybody accesses services equally, but we know that access to our services, including the vaccine, is uneven, so we have to think about getting this close at our communities, and at the moment the conversation has mostly focused on vaccine reluctance. we want a different conversation, about building confidence in our communities to take up the vaccine, but also think about that roll—out and get that distribution closer to their doorsteps where they are needed. ~ , ., ., ,, their doorsteps where they are needed. ~ ., ,, ., ., needed. when you talk about going door, how would _ needed. when you talk about going door, how would that _ needed. when you talk about going door, how would that work? - needed. when you talk about going door, how would that work? would | door, how would that work? would that be up to individual gp surgeries to organise? how could it be done? , ., ., ., be done? this morning i had a letter from a member— be done? this morning i had a letter from a member of— be done? this morning i had a letter from a member of the _ be done? this morning i had a letter from a member of the public, - be done? this morning i had a letter from a member of the public, a - be done? this morning i had a letter from a member of the public, a 60 l from a member of the public, a 60 odd in newcastle who lives alone, she is isolated and she wears a pacemaker. she said her local gp was at capacity and saturation. they don't have the capacity to give her a vaccine, so she has to take a bus, two buses to an industrial centre, where she feels quite isolated and possibly scared and feeling she might be exposed. how about getting a vaccine to somebody like this who says, i've been shielding for an entire year and now i've asked to go further, use the buses to get the vaccine. how about looking at local gps who can be the front line and who can administer that vaccine in a safe, trusted manner. but mobile vaccination units? there are all sorts of ways that we can get the vaccine out in an end to —— in an innovative way, and none of us can afford to leave any part of our communities behind, and you would have heard scientists talk about the vaccine divide yesterday for the doctor tyldesley said yesterday that we might end up with the situation where we have some communities stronger and fitter and some communities weaker and less able to access the vaccine. obviously, with any infectious disease, we can't afford to leave anyone behind, so how about thinking outside the box and getting the vaccine to peoples doorsteps in ways that have worked for the smear test in the past, where women were less able to take it, we rolled out vaccination units to make sure that these smear tests were closer to their homes, rather than asking women who are struggling with their day—to—day lives to get to a surgery that was miles away. irate to a surgery that was miles away. we are going to be talking about smear tests and that pilot scheme later. it seems you are thinking about two different areas, and i wonder how quickly the people planning all of this could think outside the box, to use your phrase, because you have people like the person you describe, who actively want to vaccine but has practical obstacles in the way, and sadly, as we know, there are also people who are resistant, for whatever reason, fear, disbelief, whatever reason, fear, disbelief, whatever that reason must be. there is a lack of confidence _ whatever that reason must be. there is a lack of confidence in _ whatever that reason must be. there is a lack of confidence in some - whatever that reason must be. there is a lack of confidence in some of- is a lack of confidence in some of our communities about the vaccine and whether it is permissible. there is also some mistrust in our communities in the way in which health services haven't really had their back in the past, for historical reasons. but we are getting there, everyone is working together to pull through, and we think the tide is turning so, if you look at the latest data from the census, it shows that most people intend to take the back—seat or have already taken it, so i think the is turning and we need to get onto the conversation about distribution rather than hesitancy, because every day count and, while we focus on hesitancy, we miss the opportunity to get this vaccine out to the doorsteps. to get this vaccine out to the doorsteps-— to get this vaccine out to the doorsteps. to get this vaccine out to the doorste s. . ~' ,, ., i. doorsteps. thank you for your time. director of the _ doorsteps. thank you for your time. director of the runnymede - doorsteps. thank you for your time. director of the runnymede trust. i let's talk about the pilot scheme being introduced today. more than 30,000 women in england are going to be offered "do it at home" smear tests. the nhs hopes it'll encourage more women to get screened and spot cancer earlier. our health correspondent, anna collinson, reports. a smear test can be life—saving, detecting the early signs of cervical cancer, but many women don't attend their appointments, including grace, who later discovered she had severe abnormal cell changes. it was quite scary, especially because i didn't really know that much about it. but i'm just so thankful that i went when i did, it could have been different if i'd left it, you know, even six months. with the pandemic worsening the situation, nhs england is trialling do it at home kits. they'll be offered to more than 31,000 women aged 25 to 64 in london who are 15 months overdue for a check. if results reveal an infection, called the human papillomavirus, or hpv, patients will be invited to their gp for a standard smear test. what we're hoping to do with this is reallyjust to make cervical screening easier for women and really capture many more women into screening than we have been doing, because we know that this protects them from cervical cancer. we also know in terms of how easy and accurate the test is, we know we've got good data to show that 99% of women can actually take a cell sample correctly and it will be effective. campaigners say if the trial is shown to be safe, it should be rolled out across the country. anna collinson, bbc news. joining me now is dr ammara hughes, a gp partner in central london who is working on the youscreen initiative with cancer research. good afternoon. hello. iwas good afternoon. hello. i was struck first of all that — good afternoon. hello. i was struck first of all that there _ good afternoon. hello. i was struck first of all that there was _ good afternoon. hello. i was struck first of all that there was such - good afternoon. hello. i was struck first of all that there was such low i first of all that there was such low uptake in specific parts of the uk, and that's what's being targeted. how hopeful are you that this could make a difference? l how hopeful are you that this could make a difference? i am how hopeful are you that this could make a difference?— how hopeful are you that this could make a difference? i am delighted to be able to participate _ make a difference? i am delighted to be able to participate in _ make a difference? i am delighted to be able to participate in this - make a difference? i am delighted to be able to participate in this trial - be able to participate in this trial because, in my area, camden, we have a low uptake of cervical screening, and i know that from my own practice. there are lots of reasons for that. practice. there are lots of reasons forthat. it practice. there are lots of reasons for that. it could be previous poor experience, cultural barriers, so anything we can do that makes cervical screening more acceptable to women and makes them come forward could be life—saving. we are really hopeful that this could help. i am hopeful that this could help. i am interested that _ hopeful that this could help. i am interested that you _ hopeful that this could help. i am interested that you say _ hopeful that this could help. i am interested that you say that you absolutely experienced this in your own practice. do you try and chippy people? do you chase a patient multiple times if they haven't turned up? do you try and get the word out that this is not the nicest examination but it is quite quick and it's really important? yes. examination but it is quite quick and it's really important? yes, we do. in and it's really important? yes, we do- in my — and it's really important? yes, we do- in my area. — and it's really important? yes, we do. in my area, we _ and it's really important? yes, we do. in my area, we use _ and it's really important? yes, we do. in my area, we use people - and it's really important? yes, we do. in my area, we use people to| do. in my area, we use people to help invite them in, so members of the community to come forward. we have a large student population, and some of them may have never had a smear. we find it quite difficult that we do chase and we do try various methods. i think it's not a very pleasant experience for a lot of people, and there is a lot of hesitancy in coming forward, so this test may make it more acceptable. the test done at home, and again, a lay person might think, but we are not medical professionals. would we do it right? how would we know it would be accurate? what would you say to put people's minds at rest? this test, we know that women take very good swabs. we do it for other conditions with oncology. this type of testing has been rolled out in other countries, and we know from day there that women are very good at taking a regina will swap. if we can get enough women to come forward, i think we will find we have a high reach of good results, and those women who test positive for hpv we can put forward for further investigation.— for hpv we can put forward for further investigation. from what ou're further investigation. from what you're saying. — further investigation. from what you're saying. it _ further investigation. from what you're saying, it sounds - further investigation. from what you're saying, it sounds like - further investigation. from what you're saying, it sounds like this could be a game changer, this could be quite dramatically improving uptake. be quite dramatically improving u take. , . be quite dramatically improving utake. , . ~ ., be quite dramatically improving utake. , . «a, ., uptake. very much so. we know that, when we ask — uptake. very much so. we know that, when we ask women _ uptake. very much so. we know that, when we ask women to _ uptake. very much so. we know that, when we ask women to do _ uptake. very much so. we know that, when we ask women to do a - uptake. very much so. we know that, when we ask women to do a self- uptake. very much so. we know that, j when we ask women to do a self swap for other things, when we ask women to do a self swap for otherthings, it's for other things, it's very acceptable, so now we have found a way to do it as an alternative to cervical screening, way to do it as an alternative to cervicalscreening, if way to do it as an alternative to cervical screening, if this trial works, we hope this can be standard care. is works, we hope this can be standard care. , works, we hope this can be standard care. , , works, we hope this can be standard care. , , works, we hope this can be standard care-— yes- i care. is in across the country. yes. tam -a i care. is in across the country. yes. tampa i hope _ care. is in across the country. yes. tampa i hope we — care. is in across the country. yes. tampa i hope we can _ care. is in across the country. yes. tampa i hope we can talk - care. is in across the country. yes. tampa i hope we can talk again - care. is in across the country. yes. tampa i hope we can talk again at| tampa i hope we can talk again at the end of the year, it runs until then, so maybe we can speak then. that was a gp partner in london. in the borough of camden. there are interesting pilot scheme ongoing. alex salmond has pulled out of a hearing at the scottish parliament today — where he was due to accuse nicola sturgeon of misleading parliament. the move came after the parliament withdrew and then republished a revised version of one of mr salmond's submissions to the inquiry. scotland's prosecution service had raised concerns about its publication. mr salmond was cleared last year of sexual assault — and an investigation by the scottish government was found to be unlawful. our political correspondent nick eardley has the latest. around this time today we had expected to be talking about alex salmond's testimony. it was set to be a bombshell. he is accusing nicola sturgeon of breaking the ministerial code and misleading parliament. he thinks there were a group of people around her conspiring to have him removed from public life and ultimately sent to jail. she denies all of that and says there is not a shred of evidence, but his evidence, which was published by the scottish parliament, suggesting these things, parts of it were taken down, after the crown office, scotland's prosecution service, said it could be in contempt of court, so mr salmond pulled out because his evidence was being, as he saw it, edit it. ithink evidence was being, as he saw it, edit it. i think it's possible we will still hear from mr salmond edit it. i think it's possible we will still hearfrom mr salmond on friday. the committee investigating this is invited him again and i think he still wants to appear. we are waiting for some sort of confirmation from his end. however, there are big questions being asked about the way this has panned out, because there is real frustration about the way this has panned out, because there is realfrustration in the scottish parliament that this not only looks awful but it raises big questions about democratic accountability and how it is working in scotland. have a listen to the scottish conservative leader at holyrood, ruth davidson, speaking to the world at one. irate holyrood, ruth davidson, speaking to the world at one.— the world at one. we need a full, independent. _ the world at one. we need a full, independent, judge _ the world at one. we need a full, independent, judge led _ the world at one. we need a full, independent, judge led enquiry. | the world at one. we need a full, i independent, judge led enquiry. we need to— independent, judge led enquiry. we need to know why the government is not allowing a committee of its own parliament — not allowing a committee of its own parliament to have access to information that they need to look at what's — information that they need to look at what's happened here. what we need _ at what's happened here. what we need as— at what's happened here. what we need as well is to be able to show that the _ need as well is to be able to show that the parliament in scotland has oversight— that the parliament in scotland has oversight over the executive in scotland — oversight over the executive in scotland because, at the moment, the government— scotland because, at the moment, the government is running riot and is denying — government is running riot and is denying the parliament its right of scrutiny, _ denying the parliament its right of scrutiny, and there is no liberal democracy— scrutiny, and there is no liberal democracy in the world that should allow— democracy in the world that should allow the _ democracy in the world that should allow the executive to become over mighty— allow the executive to become over mighty and be able to snub its nose, particularly _ mighty and be able to snub its nose, particularly on cases this series, to the _ particularly on cases this series, to the parliament and those represented to defend the country. | represented to defend the country. i think represented to defend the country. think we represented to defend the country. i think we will hear from the lord advocate later this afternoon. he is the head of the crown office, and he has been under a lot of scrutiny. bear with me briefly while i venture into the story put up the argument alex salmond is making is that the lord advocate is, in some way, conflicted, because he is head of the prosecution service but is also nicola sturgeon's key legal advisor, who advises her government on its actions. alex salmond would argue that, in this case, you shouldn't be able to hold both roles. the crown office says that, in this case, he hasn't really, because he wasn't involved in this specific case, the action yesterday to challenge these documents which had been public. alex salmond is furious and think there is a conspiracy against him, evenif there is a conspiracy against him, even if he isn't using that word, and the question is when he wants to talk about that publicly, whether that will happen in the scottish parliament or elsewhere. i suspect in the next few hours we will get a much better idea if mr salmond is going to turn up in the committee on friday, but this is... scottish politics is under real pressure at the moment and it feels like the institutions here really are creaking like never before. just an update to what nick eardley was saying, in the last hour it appears that will indeed happen on friday. the scottish parliament committee publishing eight minutes and it has indeed, as you can see on that twitter feed, agreed to invite alex salmond to appear on friday. it seems i would be more on that story the day after tomorrow. —— it seems there will be more. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. staying mild through the rest of the day, full sun it will turn out to be quite wet with persistent rain for wales, south—west scotland, north—west england and in cumbria. 30,000 each, more likely the weather will stay dry, it is already the warmest day of the year self out with temperatures reaching up to 18 degrees in the very warmest spots. the weather front will push eastwards, while weakening significantly, so a few spots of rain left on it as it works into southern and eastern areas. turning a bit cooler than recent nights are the north—west, with showers pushing into scotland and northern ireland. sunshine and showers. south—eastward, that wet weather is still there or thereabouts, there could be some rain but not amounting to much. i could be showers at times across north—western areas, still mild but not quite as mild as it has been —— there could be showers at times. you are watching bbc news with me, jane hill. the headlines... success for campaigners — including broadcasterjo whiley — as tens of thousands of people with learning disabilities are told they will be offered a covid vaccine 110w. all those people who have been feeling very neglected, that they don't matter, that we don't care, now know that we will be protecting them. this is absolutely crucial and i could not be more delighted. this is a massive step forward. and in ghana, the first delivery of vaccines funded by richer nations to poorer ones in a scheme which aims to provide 2 billion doses this year pupils in england who've been left behind because of the pandemic are offered catch—up lessons in the summer — as the government pledges hundreds of millions of pounds. sport — and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here'sjohn watson. good afternoon. the third test already seems to be slipping away from england after the first day in ahmedabad. india closing on 99—3 in theirfirst innings. zak crawley made 53 but the rest of the batting crumbled to the indian spin bowlers, with ravi ashwin taking the key wicket of captainjoe root for 17. ashwin took three wickets, and there were six for axar patel, including ben foakes, who was last man out. england looked as though they might get back into it when india lost two quick wickets with 34 on the board. captain virat kohli and opener rohit sharma put on 64 but kohli wentjust before the close to give england a glimmer of hope. a huge disappointment for kohli. prime minister borisjohnson says the uk will not boycott the beijing winter olympics in 2022 despite the treatment of the uighur population in china. the ongoing human rights abuses there prompted liberal democrat leader sir ed davey to write to team gb and paralympics gb asking them to boycott the event. but the prime minister says that won't be entertained. right honourable gentleman is absolutely right to highlight the appalling campaign against the uighurs, and that is why the foreign secretary had set out the policies that he has, the package of measures to ensure no british companies are complicit in profiting from violations, we are leading international action in the un to hold china to account and we will continue to work with the us, friends and partners around the world to do just that. he raises the point about a sporting boycott, we are not normally in favour of sporting boycotts in this country and that has been a long—standing position of this government. france's match with scotland goes ahead on sunday as planned. the game in paris had been thrown into doubt after ten french players tested positive for coronavirus. head coach fabian galthie, who has been isolating and leading training sessions remotely, was one of the first to contract the virus, which swept through the camp. they top the table, the french, but will be without a number of key players who are still isolating, including their captain. further tests this week have revealed no further cases. organisers said they would continue to monitor the situation and were in contact with both unions. another rugby union line for you. the champions and challenge cups will resume on the first weekend of april with a knockout round of 16. that's after the final two rounds of pool matches were cancelled injanuary. the top eight teams in pool a and pool b have qualified for the last 16 of the champions cup. any team who won two pool games will get a home fixture. tiger woods is said to be "awake, responsive and recovering" following yesterday's career threatening accident which left him requiring surgery on serious leg injuries. the 45—year—old won the last of his 15 majors at the masters two years ago and had hoped to play at augusta in april. it now remains to be seen if he'll ever play again. there have been lots of messages of support for him. he there have been lots of messages of support for him-— support for him. he is an amazing human being _ support for him. he is an amazing human being who _ support for him. he is an amazing human being who has _ support for him. he is an amazing human being who has done - support for him. he is an amazing - human being who has done incredible things. i human being who has done incredible thins. ., .,, ., ., ., , things. i am hoping that out of his bad situation _ things. i am hoping that out of his bad situation is _ things. i am hoping that out of his bad situation is the _ things. i am hoping that out of his bad situation is the best _ things. i am hoping that out of his bad situation is the best possible l bad situation is the best possible option. _ bad situation is the best possible option. i— bad situation is the best possible option, i hope he can recover and we can see _ option, i hope he can recover and we can see him — option, i hope he can recover and we can see him on the golf because as early— can see him on the golf because as early as— can see him on the golf because as early as possible. we can see him on the golf because as early as possible.— early as possible. we 'ust hope he is all right. — early as possible. we 'ust hope he is all right. we h early as possible. we 'ust hope he is all right, we know _ early as possible. we just hope he is all right, we know he _ early as possible. we just hope he is all right, we know he is - early as possible. we just hope he | is all right, we know he is mentally and physically— is all right, we know he is mentally and physically strong, _ is all right, we know he is mentally and physically strong, it _ is all right, we know he is mentally and physically strong, it somebodyj and physically strong, it somebody is going _ and physically strong, it somebody is going to — and physically strong, it somebody is going to get _ and physically strong, it somebody is going to get to— and physically strong, it somebody is going to get to this, _ and physically strong, it somebody is going to get to this, he - and physically strong, it somebody is going to get to this, he will, - is going to get to this, he will, and he — is going to get to this, he will, and be back— is going to get to this, he will, and be back for— is going to get to this, he will, and be back for the _ is going to get to this, he will, and be back for the better, - is going to get to this, he will, and be back for the better, i. is going to get to this, he will, i and be back for the better, lam sure _ neil lennon said he will always remain a celtic supporter, despite resigning as the club's manager this morning, with his side 18 points off rivals rangers, their hopes of securing a tenth straight premiership title all but over. the results just haven't been good enough this season, and i feel for neil because i was there as a player with him, he has been the coach under manager and has given his life to celtic football clubs so he will be hurting as much as anyone but i think it was inevitable, the club had to make a decision to move forward from next season. that's all the sport for now. thank you, john watson. more from him a little later. let's talk about travel. there you book anything? we know that bookings are up already, but let about the global airline industry. —— but let's talk about the global l line injury. the global airline industry body iata says it's going to launch a covid—19 travel pass at the end of march. under the plans, passengers would input test results and vaccine certificates into a digital app to help facilitate international travel. we can talk now to alan murray hayden, head of airline product at iata, who is on the line from geneva. good afternoon. i'll be talking about something you carry with you on your smartphone, is it compulsory, firstly? it on your smartphone, is it compulsory, firstly?- compulsory, firstly? it is absolutely _ compulsory, firstly? it is absolutely not _ compulsory, firstly? it is i absolutely not compulsory, compulsory, firstly? if 3 absolutely not compulsory, sorry, there is a very bad echo on the line, could you get rid of that, please? it is absolutely not compulsory, we are trying to enable passengers to provide test results to airlines in advance of travel so airlines can reinstate self—service check—in and passengers do not have to queue up and physically exchange documents. if passengers still want to keep up and see an agent and give over documents, they can do so, it is purely an —— it is purely a value—added service. so is purely an -- it is purely a value-added service. so this is about enabling _ value-added service. so this is about enabling self-service - about enabling self—service check—in, and i understand that correctly? irate check-in, and i understand that correctly?— check-in, and i understand that correctl? ., ., ., ,, , correctly? we had two main issues, and ou correctly? we had two main issues, and you had — correctly? we had two main issues, and you had to _ correctly? we had two main issues, and you had to commend _ correctly? we had two main issues, and you had to commend the - correctly? we had two main issues, | and you had to commend the british government in what they have done in laying out a plan for the reopening of the economy and for travel, but the problem is our confidence in the system and scalability. currently in the uk, airlines are probably carrying 10% of normal volumes but they have 100% of the agents manually checking travel documents, which quite frankly is not sustainable, we are trying to give the power back to customers so they can send these details to the airlines in advance of travel, so when they get to the airport they do not need to exchange documents. 50 some of this would be a certificate showing you have had a covid vaccine, in the case of putting on whether you have taken a test, unfortunately, what is to stop people lying and saying they are fine fao not?— people lying and saying they are fine fao not? that is an excellent tuestion fine fao not? that is an excellent question and _ fine fao not? that is an excellent question and l— fine fao not? that is an excellent question and i think _ fine fao not? that is an excellent question and i think we _ fine fao not? that is an excellent question and i think we have - fine fao not? that is an excellent question and i think we have all. question and i think we have all heard news reports around the world of people arriving with fake certificates or by forging tests by using other people's identities. so the key to the iata travel pass app is someone will need to create a digital version of that passport on their mobile phone, they will get tested and the test results are sent directly back to the passenger's phone and downloaded to their electronic version of their passports, meaning everyone can have complete confidence that the tests are accurate and belong to the passenger. are accurate and belong to the passenger-— are accurate and belong to the passenger. are accurate and belong to the ”assener. �* ., , ., ., are accurate and belong to the ”assener. ., , ., ., ., passenger. and for people who do not own a smartphone, _ passenger. and for people who do not own a smartphone, they _ passenger. and for people who do not own a smartphone, they are _ passenger. and for people who do not own a smartphone, they are at - passenger. and for people who do not own a smartphone, they are at the - own a smartphone, they are at the back of the key with a big part of paperwork?— back of the key with a big part of --aerwork? .,, , ., ., paperwork? hopefully not, we are ho-tin the paperwork? hopefully not, we are hoping the vast — paperwork? hopefully not, we are hoping the vast majority _ paperwork? hopefully not, we are hoping the vast majority of - hoping the vast majority of passengers will uses application, meaning that the check—in agent can concentrate on people using the traditional method. it is a complete mess at airport at the moment, passengers are queueing for a huge amount of time, so this will make it betterfor both amount of time, so this will make it better for both passengers who use it and those who don't. more broadly. _ it and those who don't. more broadly, intensive _ it and those who don't. more broadly, intensive blue - it and those who don't. more broadly, intensive blue sky i it and those who don't. more broadly, intensive blue sky thinking about the future of travel, whether we will gradually see certain airlines or countries coming up with rules that make it obligatory, let's say, to show you have had a jab if he will be allowed to board that plane, do you think we will reach that point? i plane, do you think we will reach that point?— that point? i think there is certainly _ that point? i think there is certainly a _ that point? i think there is certainly a possibility - that point? i think there is. certainly a possibility where that point? i think there is - certainly a possibility where that might happen in some countries. here at iata we believe that freedom of movement is a fundamental human right and something we would strive full, so vaccination should never become mandatory for travel but some countries might introduce (inaudible). interesting. thanking very much for now, and i am sure we will discuss again, alan murray hayden from iata, the international airline product —— thank you very much for now. the johnson & johnson vaccine is safe and highly effective against severe covid—19, including against the south african and brazil variants, according to new documents released by the us food and drug administration. in large clinical trials, the vaccine efficacy against severe disease was nearly 86% in the united states, 81% in south africa, and 87% in brazil. the uk has ordered 30 million doses — though it has not yet been approved by the uk regulator. but that order has gone in. elizabeth brint is a lecturer in pathology at university college cork in ireland. a very good afternoon. thank you for having me. a very good afternoon. thank you for havin: me. ., , ., , ., having me. how promising and excitin: having me. how promising and exciting is _ having me. how promising and exciting is this? _ having me. how promising and exciting is this? those - having me. how promising and exciting is this? those are - having me. how promising and exciting is this? those are big | exciting is this? those are big figures i read out.— exciting is this? those are big figures i read out. they are great numbers. — figures i read out. they are great numbers. yet _ figures i read out. they are great numbers, yet another— figures i read out. they are great numbers, yet another brilliant i figures i read out. they are great| numbers, yet another brilliant day to be an immunologist, spectacularly good numbers, up on the earlier data from the first round of clinical trials, they had a second round that evaluating the efficacy of the vaccine and those populations, really to target the issue of the south african and brazilian variants and that new data we had seen today is really promising, showing that this vaccine is very effective against those populations, so yet another really good vaccine to add to the armoury of what we already have. 50 to the armoury of what we already have, ., , to the armoury of what we already have. ., , ., , ., have. so lovely to see someone smilin: have. so lovely to see someone smiling during _ have. so lovely to see someone smiling during this _ have. so lovely to see someone smiling during this pandemic, i have. so lovely to see someone l smiling during this pandemic, we have not had enough of that. and i right in saying this is a single—dose vaccine? right in saying this is a single-dose vaccine? right in saying this is a sinale-dose vaccine? ., , ., , single-dose vaccine? that is really significant? _ single-dose vaccine? that is really significant? yes, _ single-dose vaccine? that is really significant? yes, they _ single-dose vaccine? that is really significant? yes, they have - single-dose vaccine? that is really significant? yes, they have done i single-dose vaccine? that is really i significant? yes, they have done two trials, they started with their one—shot child, the data we are working on that they were looking for approval. currently from the fda which we are hoping for on friday and they have put in for approval for the european medicines agency, based on that one shot child. they had set up a two shot child, they are taking a different approach to some of the other vaccines, we won't have that data until the second shot has been administered and they set about up for 37 days after their first shot, but their one—shot data is really promising, the data we are working off at the moment. one—shot means it has much bigger reach, we are not looking at bringing people back for a second shot. i am very loads to use the phrase again changer, —— i am very loath to use the phrase again changer, but it is usefulfor the phrase again changer, but it is useful for our armoury.— useful for our armoury. apologies for the nonscientific _ useful for our armoury. apologies for the nonscientific question, - useful for our armoury. apologies j for the nonscientific question, but here we are talking about a one—shot vaccine, in simple terms, why can somejust be one—shot? vaccine, in simple terms, why can some just be one—shot? is this just produced and developed completely differently? 50 produced and developed completely differentl ? . ., produced and developed completely differentl ? differently? so the johnson at johnson vaccine _ differently? so the johnson at johnson vaccine is _ differently? so the johnson at johnson vaccine is very, - differently? so the johnson at johnson vaccine is very, very | johnson vaccine is very, very similar to the astrazeneca vaccine which you are getting a lot of in the uk, it is built on a backbone of the uk, it is built on a backbone of the common cold virus, you disable the common cold virus, you disable the common cold virus, you disable the common cold virus and putting all the genetic information for covid—19 virus, that is what generates the immune response. so with respect to the question of is it totally different, no, they set “p it totally different, no, they set up the trial differently, they set “p up the trial differently, they set up the trial differently, they set up the trial differently, they set up the trial as a one—shot trial and they have coming on stream the two shot trial, but the data from the one—shot trial is so promising that i think they would have to see a very massive shift from their two shot trial to shift to that because it will make a difference for the rural areas, it will make a difference for the ruralareas, harderto it will make a difference for the rural areas, harder to reach communities and the developing world. . , communities and the developing world. ., . ., ,, communities and the developing world. ., , ., . ., world. that is fantastic, thank you for explaining _ world. that is fantastic, thank you for explaining itself _ for explaining itself straightforwardly. and i right in saying this does not need to be kept so incredibly cold? it is saying this does not need to be kept so incredibly cold?— so incredibly cold? it is a 4 degrees — so incredibly cold? it is a 4 degrees vaccine, _ so incredibly cold? it is a 4 degrees vaccine, basic - degrees vaccine, basic refrigeration, similar manner to the astrazeneca vaccine, they are built on the same backbone. so between the fact it can be kept in a standard refrigerator and also the fact it is one—shot, it will have a very wide reach. it is a hugely effective vaccine, the clinical trials show it was 100% effective against hospitalisation and death, what more do you need?— do you need? fantastic, lovely to talk to you. _ do you need? fantastic, lovely to talk to you. very _ do you need? fantastic, lovely to talk to you, very interesting. - do you need? fantastic, lovely to. talk to you, very interesting. great to have a smile, we have not had enough of that in the last year, from university college cork, elizabeth brint talking specifically about thejohnson elizabeth brint talking specifically about the johnson & johnson vaccine about thejohnson &johnson vaccine which has been ordered by the british government. it is not yet approved by uk regulators, but some very, very promising news, as you will have picked up on from our guest. the organisers of the reading and leeds music festivals have said they will go ahead at the end of august. they've made the decision following the release of the government's road map for lifting the lockdown in england. both events had to be cancelled last summer because of the pandemic. a study has suggested almost all pheasants sold for food in the uk contain toxic lead shot. the research comes a year after shooting and countryside organisations promised to phase out lead shot through a voluntary ban. but scientists say, so far, it's had no detectable effect. our science correspondent, victoria gill, reports. in the long tradition of hunting game birds, the ammunition fired from shotguns is primarily made of lead. and, for decades, evidence has been building about the harm that this highly toxic metal can do. we've managed to get rid of lead from petrol, lead from paint and most uses. but we still use lead ammunition and shoot it into wild animals and the environment. when a lot of lead gun shot falls into the environment it can then be eaten by wildfowl and terrestrial birds and cause lead poisoning. to eliminate lead from game that's sold in butchers and supermarkets for us to eat, nine uk countryside and shooting organizations pledged last year to phase out lead ammunition. their commitment — within five years to replace all lead shot with non—toxic alternatives. ok, i think this is going to be a piece of shot here. to assess how much progress had been made, and with their labs closed for lockdown, this team of scientists bought and dissected pheasants in their own kitchens. and you can see these bits of haemorrhage here is where the shot has gone in. out of 180 birds they examined, all but one had been shot with lead. there's a piece of shot there, it looks like lead, but we'll send them to the lab for confirmation. the study suggests that there's been no discernible progress towards getting rid of lead shots. why has the transition been so slow? lead shot is the traditional ammunition for live quarry shoots and has been for decades, for generations. soto change... change is difficult. they have to take time to try the new loads. they have to be effective. they have to be humane. and also bearing in mind that a month after the transition was announced, we went into lockdown with covid—19. so it's been a difficult year. hunters in denmark have been using shot made from steel, bismuth and tungsten since lead shot was banned for all hunting in 1996. and a recent eu—wide ban prohibits the use of lead shot over all wetlands to protect wildfowl like ducks and geese from poisoning. so uk conservationists say the transition to hunting without toxic ammunition needs to happen now. victoria gill, bbc news. it's being described as the midlands�* answer to hampton court. archaeologists working on part of the hs2 train line excavations say they've unearthed signs of the one of the best preserved elizabethan gardens everfound in the uk. they believe its one of only four of its size and complexity — and they had absolutely no idea it was there. it's now being excavated and fully documented for the archives before being covered overfor good by the high speed track. kathryn stanczyszyn went along to find out more. digging for treasure in the earth. this site is part of work preparing for the hs2 rail line in coleshill near birmingham. experts knew there was a manor house here 400 years ago, but they've discovered something else. this one here is a clay, it is the natural soil in the area, it wouldn't be good for gardening. that find, the earth itself. whereas the soil in my right hand, this soil has been really well worked. it might look like a building site now, but that soil discovery shows there were vast gardens here measuring hundreds of square metres. a show of extreme wealth by the elizabethan family that called it home in 1600. a cause of huge excitement for the team uncovering its walls, paths and artefacts. this is the best site i've ever worked on and probably will be the best site i might ever work on. the significance of these gardens is almost unprecedented, we've never had gardens this well preserved everfound in the uk and the size of them, the complexity is something we haven't seen before as well. archaeologists have noticed from specialist aerial photography there was a rare oblong moat. but when they looked further and started digging, they were shocked to find other obvious sections of lavish gardens on a scale they couldn't have imagined. there would have been lawns, fellow gardens with roses, sweet smelling herbs and so forth. and then a bridge led across to two enormous garden compartments 200 metres long. it's a find of particular note, partly because there is no record of its existence. there's no plans of it that we know of, there's no visitors' accounts saying, you know, we visited ye wonderful garden at coleshill yesterday with so—and—so, and so forth. absolutely nothing at all. it really was a secret garden? it was a secret garden, very much. only three other gardens in england of this scale have ever been found. hs2 says the 35 strong team here will continue work for several months to fully document the site before a new embankment is built on this spot. but they say they won't forget it. as a historian, paul, can you see it? ican do. i walked along that gravel path where somebody had walked 500 years before, it was quite extraordinary. a rare glimpse of the past. kathryn stanczyszyn, bbc news, warwickshire. fantastic story. we will return to our coverage of coronavirus, we have the number ten briefing in the next few minutes also, in particular we expect to hear a lot more about plans for education and helping pupils catch up. let stay with what other politicians have been saying about coronavirus. in scotland, the first minister has explained why she believes her cautious approach to lifting lockdown is the right one to take. here's some of what nicola sturgeon had to say at her daily coronavirus briefing. let me say at the outset that i know how desperate everyone is. people, businesses, everybody across the country, for more certainty and to be able to see as far ahead into the future with as much clarity as possible. so i will say a little bit about why i don't think it is right or possible to do everything that we all desperately wants at the moment, but also a bit about how we intend to get to that longer—term position as quickly as possible. the framework provides indicative dates for the next six weeks because that is the timeframe that right now we can be most confident about. it is harder at this stage, this will change as we go through the coming weeks, but at this stage it's harder to know the likely course of the pandemic after that period. the main reason for that is that we do not yet know how the new, more infectious variant of the virus will behave as we start to lift the lockdown restrictions. because it is only the restrictions that are keeping that at bay now. so what that means is that we have to monitor the first few steps out of lockdown we take very carefully so we are building our confidence about the speed at which we are able to go. over the next couple of weeks, that means looking closely at the impact of the first phase of school return that started on monday, and the impact of the next phase of school return that will happen on the 15th of march, when we hope to get as many more young people back to school as possible. my hope is that the more we learn about the impact of the early changes, the more confidence we will then have that we can go further and faster without risking a resurgence of the virus that would set us all back. in the meantime, we will move forward carefully, but over the period between now and the start of april, we will move forward. we will support the full return of schools, with as many pupils as possible back on the 15th of march. we will also support the return of care home visiting that i've just spoken about. we will let young people return to outdoor sports to help their mental health and to give them the chance to be with friends. we will let communal worship reopen. and let me be clear, i clarified this in parliament yesterday, but not everyone would've heard that, we intend to allow that reopening of communal worship in time for the easter weekend and for passover. and we will lift the stay at home restriction at the start of april, which compares, i think, to a target date for england of the very end of march, so not much difference there. and we will also reopen some parts of retail. so that is what we can reasonably be confident about doing between now and the start of april. there is always caveats in that because we cannot be absolutely certain about what is going to happen with the virus, but we have a reasonable degree of confidence in that six week timeframe. and if we become confident over the next few weeks that we can do more, then we will do more. and from the last week in april, our current planning, the expectation is the rest of retail will start to reopen, as will holiday accommodation, hospitality, gyms, hairdressers, for example. and on that last one, as you can probably see, i'm as desperate as anybody to see hairdressers open. that will involve all of scotland going down to at least level three, but there might be parts of the country at that stage, perhaps more rural communities, that are able to go straight to level two, meaning the opening up can happen faster. and of course, all parts of scotland, we hope, will be able to move to lower levels of restrictions fairly quickly over may and june. nicola sturgeon at the briefing earlier. in wales, the health minister vaughan gethin says the rollout of vaccinations and community testing will play a key part in guiding the country out of the pandemic. the welsh government are yet to publish a similar plan to those published in recent days for england and scotland. he was speaking at the welsh government's daily coronavirus briefing. our incredible vaccine programme is the other beacon of hope that will help to guide us out of lockdown. i can today confirm that we will offer the vaccine to all eligible adults in wales by the 31st ofjuly, as long as supplies match our ability to deliver and ambition. and we are ambitious. our revised vaccine strategy, which i will publish later this week, will set out how we will grow and adapt the places where vaccines are being administered as we move into the next phases of our programme. our strategy update will also talk about how we will maintain high levels of uptake and increase our engagement with people who may be difficult to reach or initially reluctant to have the vaccine. we are currently moving through vaccinating priority groups 5—9. that is everyone aged between 50 and 69, everyone aged over 16 with an underlying health condition that puts them at an increased risk of serious illness with coronavirus, and many of our invaluable unpaid carers who provide care for someone who is clinically vulnerable to the virus. now, subject to vaccine supply, we expect to have reached all these people by the middle of april. vaughan gething at the daily welsh government coronavirus briefing. good evening. you are watching bbc news and we are heading straight to downing street. education secretary gavin williamson leading tonight's number ten briefing.— gavin williamson leading tonight's number ten briefing. vaccines are at the heart of — number ten briefing. vaccines are at the heart of the _ number ten briefing. vaccines are at the heart of the government - number ten briefing. vaccines are at the heart of the government strategy to manage covid—19. as of today, 18,242,873 people have been vaccinated across the uk, and 18th in million 911,978