Stress that they suffered as a result of not being able to see or hold their Loved Ones in a normal way and it Has been one of the most appalling features of this pandemic and we are certainly investing record sums on Mental Health to deal with that issue and many others. Does he share my disbelief that the leader of the 0pposition� s response to this statement and considering that Waiting Times for Treatment And Discharging for my constituents in wales are much longer than they are in england, and can he confirm that wales, Northern Ireland and scotland will be net gainers out of the social Care Levy . Will he further guarantee that the additional sums available will be spent on health and social Care Board in the nations . I and social Care Board in the nations . U, and social Care Board in the nations . , and social Care Board in the nations . , nations . I can certainly confirm that both wales, nations . I can certainly confirm that both wales, scotland nations . I can certainly confirm that both wales, scotland and. That both wales, scotland and Northern Ireland will be getting our union is evident in the way that i describe it. Clearly it is up to those parts of the country to ensure that that money is spent on the peoples priorities, and i believe that they are health and social Care Board. B5 that they are health and social Care Board. � ,. , that they are health and social Care Board. �. ,. That they are health and social Care Board. � , ifi i i that they are health and social Care Board. , pi i i i board. As well as the 30,000 as the Prime Minister board. As well as the 30,000 as the Prime Minister talked board. As well as the 30,000 as the Prime Minister talked about, board. As well as the 30,000 as the Prime Minister talked about, we board. As well as the 30,000 as the | Prime Minister talked about, we know there Has Prime Minister talked about, we know there Has been a 36 increase in people there Has been a 36 increase in people dying at home through the pandemic in circumstances we know much pandemic in circumstances we know much about pandemic in circumstances we know much about. The financial burden borne much about. The financial burden borne by much about. The financial burden borne by constituents will shock us when borne by constituents will shock us when we borne by constituents will shock us when we know. I believe he is breaching when we know. I believe he is preaching a dam and that is something we all need to grasp. Targeted something we all need to grasp. Targeted health is not a long Term Solution targeted health is not a long Term Solution. My friend from exeter quite solution. My friend from exeter quite rightly highlights what it possibly could be, but there is some certainty possibly could be, but there is some certainty offered today. Will he bring certainty offered today. Will he bring forward a white paper, different bring forward a white paper, different forms of legislation . I will we different forms of legislation . I will we understand the impact of this . Will we understand the impact of this . | will we understand the impact of this . I, i, will we understand the impact of this . I, i i i, this . I thank you very much. We are seeinu this . I thank you very much. We are seeing out this . I thank you very much. We are seeing out the this . I thank you very much. We are seeing out the plan this . I thank you very much. We are seeing out the Plan Today this . I thank you very much. We are seeing out the Plan Today on this . I thank you very much. We are seeing out the Plan Today on the seeing out the Plan Today on the caps, and how to deal with Social Care, the plan on the pay for nurses, dealing with the backlog is, what we will also be doing is setting out the finer detail of the integration between health and social Care Board and the way i have described. Making sure everybody Has electronic records, both for health and social Care Board, that there can be movement between the two services, Community Nurses and adult Social Care is will not be doing these radically different possessions, dash professions. They should have care in the appropriate setting, the people who need it, and we will discuss that in the white paper. We will discuss that in the white pa er. i, i we will discuss that in the white pa er. � i, i, , paper. Additional investment is welcome. For paper. Additional investment is welcome. For my paper. Additional investment is welcome. For my constituents. Paper. Additional investment is. Welcome. For my constituents at paper. Additional investment is welcome. For my constituents at the moment because the party opposite a getting charter to their hair kicked out of their Care Home because of the lack in funding and Social Care. Will he stop the party opposite turfing out the most vulnerable people in my community . I vulnerable people in my community . I think he speaks to the profound indifference of the Labour Party to this issue for decades. That is why we are taking the decisive action that we are, to address the problem in the whole Social Care system, to support Care Homes and to support those who must face the cost of Social Care. Those who must face the cost of Social Care those who must face the cost of Social Care. ~. Social care. Will he agree with me that any new Social Care. Will he agree with me that any new money Social Care. Will he agree with me that any new money must Social Care. Will he agree with me that any new money must go Social Care. Will he agree with me that any new money must go alongside reform of our nhs . Will he agree that we have a system where most Peoples Entry into the Health System is through a gp . It surely can be right that in many of the most deprived communities in our country, for Love Nor Money you can get a gp. There must be something wrong in many parts of our country in this Day And Age you can get a gp, you cant even get a dentist. When can we do something to change that . He when can we do something to change that . , when can we do something to change that . , y i, i, that . He is entirely right and what He Sa S in that . He is entirely right and what he says in the that . He is entirely right and what he says in the sense that . He is entirely right and what he says in the sense that that . He is entirely right and what he says in the sense that we that . He is entirely right and what he says in the sense that we are i he says in the sense that we are doing another 50 Million more gp appointments, that is part of our manifesto pledge. What we will also do, because i dont think anyone wants to see moneyjust thrown into the nhs without reform. Gps need to see the right patient at the right time. Iii see the right patient at the right time. I, i, see the right patient at the right time. I, i, i, i, time. If there was an easy solution to the problem time. If there was an easy solution to the problem of time. If there was an easy solution to the problem of social time. If there was an easy solution to the problem of Social Care time. If there was an easy solution to the problem of Social Care act i to the problem of Social Care act would have happened years or decades ago. I believe that everybody in this house, particularly from parties with no alternatives, should welcome the way in which the Prime Minister is tackling health and social Care Board together with the hypothecated tax that means this health and social Care Board levy is ring fenced for all our constituents. 0n the Entry Issue of Intergenerational Fairness, constituents. 0n the Entry Issue of intergenerationalfairness, can of Intergenerational Fairness, can he of intergenerationalfairness, can he confirm that the lowest earnings will not contribute, can he lay out the tables as soon as possible so everybody can see that this is a Progressive Levy . Progressive levy . Yes, he will certainly lay Progressive Levy . Yes, he will certainly lay that Progressive Levy . Yes, he will certainly lay that out, Progressive Levy . Yes, he will certainly lay that out, the Progressive Levy . Yes, he will i certainly lay that out, the Health Secretary. There is no intergenerational issue here because intergenerational issue here because in the end all families are affected by this. Everybody Has older relatives who we love and whose care makes us anxious. Everybody understands that families across the country is liable to this and we must take steps to fix it, and that is what we are doing. Must take steps to fix it, and that is what we are doing. Confidence and 0b is what we are doing. Confidence and Job Creation is what we are doing. Confidence and Job Creation is is what we are doing. Confidence and Job Creation is crucial is what we are doing. Confidence and Job Creation is crucial in is what we are doing. Confidence and Job Creation is crucial in our Job Creation is crucial in our economy. What assessment Has the Prime Minister made of the number of jobs where employers will look at those extra national insurance contributions and say, no i dont think i will take on those extra staff . I , i, think i will take on those extra staff . I f i, , staff . 4096 of companies will be affected at staff . 4096 of companies will be affected at all staff . 4096 of companies will be affected at all by staff . 4096 of companies will be affected at all by this. Staff . 4096 of companies will be affected at all by this. Im staff . 4096 of companies will be affected at all by this. Im sure i affected at all by this. Im sure she also knows that the Labour Market at the moment is so buoyant that not only are there huge numbers of vacancies, but wages are rising, and that is a good thing. Of vacancies, but wages are rising, and that is a good thing. During the andemic and that is a good thing. During the pandemic the and that is a good thing. During the pandemic the government and that is a good thing. During the pandemic the Government Set and that is a good thing. During the pandemic the Government Set out | and that is a good thing. During the | pandemic the Government Set out to save lives and jobs, without them 40 47 of save lives and jobs, without them 40 47 ofjobs would have been lost. Higher Borrowing And Debt should not be carried by a children. Will he look at councils who need more funding Above And Beyond the generic formula for the country . We will certainly make sure that they get the funding they need. She Has had on the fundamental point. Borrowing more. We are borrowing a lot, and that is just future tax rises for younger people or people on board. That is not what this government will do. On board. That is not what this government will do. Health and Social Care government will do. Health and social Care Board government will do. Health and social Care Board do government will do. Health and social Care Board do Need Government will do. Health and i social Care Board do need massive investment, especially after Tory Austerity Has so undermined the national Health Service over the last 11 years. A 10 tax on the wealth of those with over £100 million would raise £69 billion, so surely a Wealth Tax is how we should be funding these vital services. Isnt it true that despite the rhetoric and promises, the tories dont have the guts to take on the super rich who fund their party, and Thatis Super Rich who fund their party, and that is why they wont back a Wealth Tax . I that is why they wont back a Wealth Tax . , that is why they wont back a Wealth Tax . I, i, tax . I thank him for his contribution. Tax . I thank him for his contribution. At tax . I thank him for his contribution. At least i tax . I thank him for his| contribution. At least he tax . I thank him for his contribution. At least he Has the guts, unlike the leader of his party, to say that he would tax people in this country to the tune of £13 billion a year to pay for this. This is a Wealth Tax on that scale. We believe that this is the right way. What we havent heard from the Labour Front Bench as any credible alternative. Credible alternative. Would he confirm that credible alternative. Would he confirm that as credible alternative. Would he confirm that as a credible alternative. Would he confirm that as a result credible alternative. Would he confirm that as a result of credible alternative. Would hej confirm that as a result of this announcement, the scottish national Health Service will receive billions of extra pounds in funding . Does he share my astonishment and that of the people of scotland have the remarkable reaction of the snp, it seems to be that because they havent asked for it, they dont want this extra funding . Brilliantly and succinctly want this extra funding . Brilliantly and succinctly put want this extra funding . Brilliantly and succinctly put it. Want this extra funding . Brilliantly and succinctly put it. Do want this extra funding . Brilliantly and succinctly put it. Do they want this extra funding . Brilliantly and succinctly put it. Do they want| and succinctly put it. Do they want the money or not . Did the people of scotland once the investment or not . There is more money coming to scotland, lets hope they spend it wisely. B. Scotland, lets hope they spend it wisel. i, i, scotland, lets hope they spend it wisel. i, i, wisely. A little over two years auo. Ago. We are going to leave that to this go across to the central lobby where we can speak to the Labour Health and social Care Board spokesman. Good afternoon, mr ashworth. Finally, we have a health and social Care Board plan, a forfunding it. Is this something you welcome . I is this something you welcome . I obviously welcome more money for the national Health Service and we will study carefully the details. The crisis in the nhs is notjust about the Waiting Times for those waiting longer for a the Waiting Times for those Waiting Longerfor a Hip Replacement or a hernia operation, is also about the fact we have lost so many midwives so we dont have safe maternity services, that we are not going to help checks to ensure that people are well and not at risk of Heart Disease or stroke. It is also about cancer, and about Mental Health. We will be looking carefully to see if on those runs this plan will deliver what we needed to for patients. I am more broadly concerned that Boris Johnson Has broken his personal promise to The British people and is not putting up national insurance. That means a nurse, a Care Worker will be paying more in tax to fund the Social Care system, a cap that will not fix the deep rooted problems and Social Care. It is not a care cap, it is a care corn. He addressed a care cap, it is a care corn. He addressed that issue of the broken Election Promise Head on. Is that nobody could have seen this pandemic coming and that had changed the landscape completely. Ltruiith coming and that had changed the landscape completely. With respect to him, he said landscape completely. With respect to him, he said he landscape completely. With respect to him, he said he had landscape completely. With respect to him, he said he had fully landscape completely. With respect to him, he said he had fully worked| to him, he said he had fully worked a plan for Social Care. Why did his fully worked oUt A plan for Social Care that he had two years ago not need an increase in national insurance, but his plan for Social Care need one . He insurance, but his plan for Social Care need one . Care need one . He would argue because of Care Need one . He would argue because of the Care Need one . He would argue because of the pandemic Care Need one . He would argue because of the pandemic and i Care Need one . He would argue because of the pandemic and a | Care Need one . He would argue because of the pandemic and a drain on Health Services. He because of the pandemic and a drain on Health Services. On Health Services. He could have Ut A ca on Health Services. He could have pUt A cap on on Health Services. He could have pUt A cap on care on Health Services. He could have pUt A cap on Care Costs on Health Services. He could have pUt A cap on Care Costs before on Health Services. He could have| pUt A cap on Care Costs before the general election. That is nothing to do with the pandemic. He is not being straight with The British people. So being straight with The British eole. Being straight with The British eole. Vi, being straight with The British eole. I, people. So you point out there Has been an election people. So you point out there Has been an election breach, people. So you point out there Has been an election breach, your been an election breach, your leader, the leader Has said that he is opposed to the increase in national insurance to pay for these changes. What with the Labour Party do . What would you do differently . We need comprehensive reform of aduu we need comprehensive reform of adult Social Care system. We need to pay our Care Workers a decent wage. They will pay more in tax and not get a Wage Increase as a result of these proposals. But you do know that, you do know that we wont get a Wage Increase. We only got Clarity Today that he was putting up tax today. We need a system that support people to stay in their home as soon as possible. People have the right to have care at home. Because dementia impacts you and you have to move into nursing care, these proposals do not necessarily cap your costs that £86,000 because there is a discrepancy between what you there is a discrepancy between what yu pay there is a discrepancy between what you pay is an individual and what your local council is prepared to pay for you. You could well be forced to pay top up charges on top of the £86,000 and it is not clear from the or at the announcement from borisjohnson that he Has resolved that anomaly. Far from borisjohnson that he Has resolved that anomaly. Farfrom him sang borisjohnson that he Has resolved that anomaly. Far from him sang we will protect people because my combs are protect people from having to fork out thousands of pounds, it is not obvious that he Has fixed the Problem Today. Not obvious that he Has fixed the Problem Today not obvious that he Has fixed the Problem Today. There will be details that will be poured Problem Today. There will be details that will be poured over, Problem Today. There will be details that will be poured over, and Problem Today. There will be details that will be poured over, and there l that will be poured over, and there may be things that have not been nailed down yet. Yet Sir Andrew dillon knox, who carried oUt A review of Social Care several years ago, Has broadly welcomed the Prime Ministers plans, saying that now finally this issue is being grasped. And indeed there were a number of others in the Care World who will not turn up their nose at extra investment in Social Care, of course they wont, but many organisations have simply been saying that simply capping Care Costs does not fix Social Care, you need work upon you need more comprehensive reforms. We didnt get that today. How with the Labour Party go about finding whatever changes it would propose . You have to ask those with the broadest shoulders to pay a fair contribution. Sir Keir Starmer said today that he is prepared to work with the Prime Minister if he was to look at other options, taxing assets, tax and stocks, taxing the Way Wealth works and circle circumstances. Income tax . You could look at things like capital gains tax. We are prepared to sit down with ministers on a bipartisan basis to hammer the site. Borisjohnson Has a terrible problem with his tory backbenchers because they all made a prominence to their constituents. Borisjohnson lucy Has a problem and we are prepared to work with him to get a fairer we are prepared to work with him to Geta Fairerfunding we are prepared to work with him to get a fairer Funding System for Social Care. Get a fairer Funding System for Social Care get a fairer Funding System for Social Care. I, g i, i, i, Social Care. Thank you. Jonathan ashworth. Social care. Thank you. Jonathan ashworth, labours Social Care. Thank you. Jonathan ashworth, Labours Health Social Care. Thank you. Jonathan ashworth, Labours Health and i Social Care. Thank you. Jonathan ashworth, Labours Health and social Care Board spokesman. Lets go back to the House Of Commons were that debate is continuing. What will happen is that will ramp up what will happen is that will ramp up over time as the system kicks in, but the distribution will be set out in due course by the Secretary Of State for health. State for health. Nobody in this house, state for health. Nobody in this house. And state for health. Nobody in this house, and Adults State for health. Nobody in this house, and adults in state for health. Nobody in this house, and adults in the state for health. Nobody in this i house, and adults in the country, will be surprised that the Prime Minister Has guts to take on reforming Social Care will not of his predecessor did so. I was amazed that in Ministers Statement he pointed out that roughly one in three Hospital Beds are occupied by people who could be better treated elsewhere. It seems to me, from my surgery is, that the problem is largely due to the local government and Health Service not working together on this. When can we see some improvement in that . He is completely some improvement in that . He is completely right some improvement in that . He is completely right and some improvement in that . He is completely right and im some improvement in that . He is completely right and im sure some improvement in that . He is completely right and im sure he speaks for members across the house to experience this kind of problem for years and surgeries. There is a mismatch between health and social Care Board. There isnt a proper system for deciding where people should be treated for their own benefit, with the result that we get these huge pressures of delayed discharge which make it more difficult to deal with the Elective Surgery that people need, that is why we have got to do both things at once and that is why we are doing what we are doing. The honourable members for what we are doing. The honourable members for ashford, what we are doing. The honourable members for ashford, cities what we are doing. The honourable members for ashford, cities of members for ashford, cities of Westminster And Sheffield South East have hit the nail on the head. There is no plan for Social Care, what he is no plan for Social Care, what he is listed as money to go into the nhs, so can he tell us now when will the money go to local authorities so it will actually go to the Social Care providers, domiciliary and residential, that actually need it. It is all in the plan. The overwhelming bulk of the funding begins with support for Front Line nhs electives, for nurses, for vaccines, and as the Social Care plan ramps up the ratio changes, but it will be set up by my right honourable friend the Secretary Of State for health. By, honourable friend the Secretary Of State for health. Honourable friend the Secretary Of State for health. A recent report on health and local state for health. A recent report on health and local Governments State for health. A recent report on health and local governments on i state for health. A recent report on | health and local governments on the future funding of Social Care, which i sat upon, 12 members of Opposition Party says we recommend that in the Emerald Contribution described as a Social Care premiums should be introduced to which individuals and employers should contribute. This can either be in additional to national insurance or through a separate mechanism. Does that not sure there is Cross Party Support for this kind of proposal . The objections of the opposition are just political opportunism. Can i thank him just political opportunism. Can i thank him for just political opportunism. Can i thank him for making just political opportunism. Can i thank him for making that just political opportunism. Can i thank him for making that very elegance very telling point about the Cross Party Support that they should be on this issue. What we are trying to do is create the conditions by Government Action for exactly the kind of Insurance Assistance that i know my right honourable friend wants to see. It Has been a long time coming, but this is too little too late for the 34,000 people who have died during covid with dementia. When will he double the Research Funding into this cruel disease, or is this the same promise as the promise on the side of the bus about the money going to the nhs . I side of the bus about the money going to the nhs . Side of the bus about the money going to the nhs . I am very sorry to hear that. Dementia going to the nhs . I am very sorry to hear that. Dementia is going to the nhs . I am very sorry to hear that. Dementia is a going to the nhs . I am very sorry to hear that. Dementia is a cruel hear that. Dementia is a cruel affliction. It is the lottery on who gets it and who doesnt which is why we are putting more money into it. The Health Secretary is determined to ensure that we continue with the moonshot that i was referring to earlier. Ri earlier. Can i ask the Prime Minister earlier. Can i ask the Prime Minister why earlier. Can i ask the Prime Minister why he earlier. Can i ask the Prime Minister why he decided. Earlier. Can i ask the Prime Minister why he decided to | earlier. Can i ask the Prime Minister why he decided to reject other forms of insurance as a model . The germans brought in an Insurance Model back in the 1980s. It relies on the private insurance sector. The noble Lord Lily Has brought forward a bill that would see the Government Set up a state insurer. Those retired households it would then pay a premium that would be fixed as a charge and that charge would only be paid on the death of that individual. Dont those models do more for Intergenerational Fairness . I thank him for his thoughtful questions. We looked at all these models, as you can imagine. The problem is we need to go for an Insurance System that Has a genuine chance of being set up. The only way of encouraging the financial Services Industry to come in and offer products is to take away that risk of catastrophic cost. That is a substantial risk for too many people. It means the Insurance Market Has not been able to develop. We believe this is the best way forward for the country. Mr; forward for the country. My honourable forward for the country. Ij� i honourable reference referred forward for the country. Ii1 honourable reference referred to Commerce By Pauljohnson earlier. He Has also said that he is bemused as to why such a bad Tax Policy Has to be used, and pointed out that the under 50 to pay two thirds of the cost of Social Care if they paid to national insurance. That means young people and the lowest paid bearing the brunt. Many of these also working with Universal Credit. People in scotland paying thats come out elsewhere. Does he think it is fair to progress test whilst also cutting the £20 a week from hard pressed families on Universal Credit . I, i, i, credit . No, older people continue to a the credit . No, older people continue to pay the Levy Credit . No, older people continue to pay the Levy And Credit . No, older people continue to pay the levy and the credit . No, older people continue to pay the levy and the richest credit . No, older people continue to pay the levy and the richest 1496 credit . No, older people continue to pay the levy and the richest 1496 pay| pay the levy and the richest 14 Pay Half the cost of this transformation. That is entirely the right thing to do. If transformation. That is entirely the right thing to do. Right thing to do. If there had not been a pandemic, right thing to do. If there had not been a pandemic, how right thing to do. If there had not been a pandemic, how would right thing to do. If there had not been a pandemic, how would we | right thing to do. If there had not been a pandemic, how would we have found that this reform of Social Care without having to raise taxes . The pandemic and the cost of the pandemic impacted both our health and Social Care systems. As i have explained to the house today, they are intimately related. The best way to put them on a Sound Footing for the future is to treat them together to put in the levy in the way that we are. ~. To put in the levy in the way that we are. ~ i, ~ i, we are. We all know the Prime Ministers we are. We all know the Prime Ministers promises we are. We all know the Prime Ministers promises are we are. We all know the Prime Ministers promises are a we are. We all know the Prime Ministers promises are a bit i we are. We all know the Prime Ministers promises are a bit dodgy. Today he promised extra tax it will go to the Front Line, so by how much will be increased to pay for people in the Social Care profession, or Will Itjust be another round of applause . Will itjust be another round of aulause . , Will Itjust be another round of aulause . I, i, applause . People in Social Care are not aid applause . People in Social Care are not paid by applause . People in Social Care are not paid by the applause . People in Social Care are not paid by the government, applause . People in Social Care are not paid by the government, as applause . People in Social Care are not paid by the government, as he| not paid by the government, as he knows, overwhelmingly, but they are the beneficiaries of the living wage, which the government Has increased by record amounts and what we are doing is investing in their training, their careers, and making sure they get the respect and the progression that they need. The devil will be progression that they need. The devil will be in progression that they need. Tie devil will be in the details, progression that they need. Ti9 devil will be in the details, but could i broadly welcome initially these proposals, particularly compared to what we were expecting, which was a rise across national insurance as it stands at the moment. This is a much broader base levy, including those who have retired and those who are receiving dividends. That Has a welcome consequence that the broader shoulders will pay the most. Could he also addressed one other criticism, which was the impact on the young in particular and this issue of Intergenerational Fairness and how he feels that this approach is going to be useful in that respect . Is going to be useful in that resect . . W , is going to be useful in that respect . Is going to be useful in that resect . . W , is going to be useful in that resect . . ~ , i respect . Can i thank him very much for his Sopport Respect . Can i thank him very much for his support because respect . Can i thank him very much for his support because it respect . Can i thank him very much for his support because it is for his support because it is extremely important. I think he is completely right. What we are trying to do is make sure that those who can pay the most to pay the most. We are trying to make sure that we addressed the issue of Intergenerational Fairness, addressed the issue of intergenerationalfairness, but there is a bigger point. This is not something that simply affects one generation, the elderly. There are huge numbers of younger people in care who will benefit from what we were doing. Huge numbers. And every person in this country halfs relatives who face the problem is that we are trying to allay what to defeat. ~. That we are trying to allay what to defeat. ~ , i, i, that we are trying to allay what to defeat. ~ i, i, i defeat. The prime Minister Today was Su Osed to defeat. The prime Minister Today was sopposed to be defeat. The prime Minister Today was supposed to be announcing defeat. The prime Minister Today was supposed to be announcing a defeat. The prime Minister Today was supposed to be announcing a social i supposed to be announcing a Social Care plan, but there was no vision, no detail, and no real sense of understanding the complex web of issues which create the Social Care crisis, in particular he made no mention of the millions of unpaid carers, his commitment to their Loved Ones props up the failing system. What he not say specifically what is in his plan to identify and support unpaid carers, and particularly young carers, and what resources will he commit to them . I thank unpaid carers for all that they do. He is right to point out they do. He is right to point out the huge contribution that they make. What they have now is the certainty that if they need to pay for the cost of care in some way or another, there will be limits and they will not have to continue with their unpaid exertions, there are Care And Love once forever, because the government is coming in to help them. We will leave that debate. The prime Minister Taken Questions about his plans for reforming the Social Care system, relieving People In Need of Social Care from a certain amount of the burden and his plans to be able to fund those changes through a rise in national insurance contributions and also a rise in the tax on dividends. Controversial proposals. There will be much more on them throughout the afternoon. Jane hill is about to take over, but for now, time for a look at the weather. 0ver over the next few days temperatures will rise, warmer air will push northwards across the uk. We are expecting the highs to be around 30 degrees today. It is the hottest weather we have seen for six weeks. This area of high pressure is beginning to move out of the way. As it does so, we get the southerly winds dragging the hot syrup from france and progressively that heat will be arriving across scotland over the next day. For many of us, the hot weather Has already arrived with sunnier skies in Northern Ireland, england and. Scotland, The Cloud will become more limited, mainly to the far north west, so most of scotland will brighten up. The temperatures, we are looking at highs likely to hit around about the 30 celsius mark. 0vernight Tonight will be a warm night for sleeping, but those temperatures and eventually will falter more Co Mforta Ble eventually will falter more comfortable levels by the end of the night. There will be one or two Mist Orfog patches night. There will be one or two Mist Or Fog patches developing, night. There will be one or two Mist Orfog patches developing, probably most across Northern Ireland and scotland. These will tend to clear quickly and it will be a fine day for most of you with lots of sunshine in the forecast for wednesday. However, we will see some thunderstorms arrive through the South West of england and wales, so here it will not be quite as hot. Those temperatures into the high teens or early 20s. 0therwise, Mid To High 20s widely, turning a lot more in scotland by this stage, highs of 27 in glasgow. It will not stay warm into thursday because we have low pressure that will move in off the atlantic, bringing a change to our weather with outbreaks of Rain Pushing Northwards across the country, followed by some heavy, thundery showers. Temperatures will be less hot. In eastern areas with could still see 25 degrees, which are still way above average. Further west, 19 up to the low 20s. It will be pleasant when the sunshine breaks through. 0n be pleasant when the sunshine breaks through. On friday, still some shower to run for most areas of the uk, but the weekend looks drier, but we will see cooler and fresher air arrive throughout the weekend. This is bbc news. The Headlines Borisjohnson confirms taxes will rise to pay for major reforms to health and Social Care in england, breaking a Manifesto Commitment he made at the last election. The plans see national insurance contributions and the levy on dividends both increasing by 1. 25 points, and no one requiring Social Care paying more than £86,000 pounds for it over their lifetime. Labour say its a sticking plaster. Yes, i accept that this breaks a Manifesto Commitment, which is not something i do lightly, bUt A global pandemic was in no ones manifesto. Scotlands first minister, Nicola Sturgeon is to set out her Governments Programme for the next year including plans for an independence referendum