mr speaker, what i can tell- the right honourable gentleman is that, is that all guidance was followed completely. during numberten. we'll bring you the latest. also this lunchtime. staff at 58 universities start a three day strike over pay, pensions and working conditions. the death of a 16—year—old girl in hamilton in south lanarkshire is being treated as murder. a typical uk family will spend £1,700 more on bills and food next year according to a forecast for bbc panorama. and ellen white says she is "proud and lucky" to become the lionesses' all—time top goal scorer after getting a hat trick last night in a world cup qualifier. and coming up on the bbc news channel. she was the first british woman to reach an wimbledon semifinal in 39 year, butjohanna konta has announced her retirement from tennis. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. the health secretary, sajid javid, says there's no need for people to change plans they have made for christmas because of the omicron variant. but he said it would be sensible for people to take a lateral flow test before going to anywhere likely to be crowded. at prime minister's questions — the labour leader keir starmer asked borisjohnson whether a christmas party was thrown in downing street during lockdown last december. the prime minister said "all guidance was followed completely at number 10." meanwhile — in leaked documents seen by the bbc — scientists who advise the government say the impact of the omicron varient is �*highly uncertain, but may require a �*very stringent response.�* our health correspondent jim reed reports. pharmacies are leading the winter push for vaccines. this, say scientists is the single most important way to protect yourself against covid and the new omicron variant. i against covid and the new omicron variant. ., �* ., ., . variant. i don't want to catch involved _ variant. i don't want to catch involved before _ variant. i don't want to catch involved before christmas, l variant. i don't want to catch involved before christmas, i | variant. i don't want to catch - involved before christmas, i know this will increase my immunity and i don�*t want to pass it on to anyone else, particularly my family. more than 14 million _ else, particularly my family. more than 14 million people _ else, particularly my family. more than 14 million people in - else, particularly my family. more than 14 million people in england alone are eligible for a boosterjab after the government said all adults would be offered that extra dose. boosters will be available at 1500 pharmacy sites and more hub also be top story the public. the military will be brought in to help alongside volunteer, all those eligible england should have been offered a booster by the end of january with other parts of the uk accelerating the roll out. we other parts of the uk accelerating the roll out-— the roll out. we are being very ambitious _ the roll out. we are being very ambitious about _ the roll out. we are being very ambitious about this, - the roll out. we are being very ambitious about this, that - the roll out. we are being very ambitious about this, that is l ambitious about this, that is exactly what we need to do, and i don�*t deny for a second it is a huge national mission that will be tough, but as i say, think the nhs and others are up to this. but but as i say, think the nhs and others are up to this. but there is still so much _ others are up to this. but there is still so much we _ others are up to this. but there is still so much we don't _ others are up to this. but there is still so much we don't know- others are up to this. but there is| still so much we don't know about still so much we don�*t know about the omicron variant. the bbc has seen a leak of minutes from a meeting at the government�*s science advisers this week. they say officials should prepare for a significant wave of infections that could lead to higher hospital numbers if there is a significant drop in protection from the current vaccines but they make clear it is too early to know how ill people will become and they say the size of any future wave is uncertain. other scientists say our currentjabs with that third dose should still offer good protection against severe disease. the the vaccines are, they train our immune system to recognise, we know there is many mutation on the spike protein from this variant. i think we should give science time to do its work, not be overly panicking, of course government have to make their decisions. it of course government have to make their decisions.— their decisions. it may take weeks until we start _ their decisions. it may take weeks until we start to _ their decisions. it may take weeks until we start to get _ their decisions. it may take weeks until we start to get real - their decisions. it may take weeks until we start to get real answersl until we start to get real answers about omicron, in the meantime, the message is to act cautiously, and consider taking a rapid covid test or wearing a mask when getting together. ministers in westminster said again today there is no need to cancel those christmas party, ahead of the busy holiday season. cancel those christmas party, ahead of the busy holiday season. we�*re going to talk now to our political correspondent ione wells.. the pm was asked this lunchtime if he broke lockdown rules last christmas, by having a party at number ten? that is right victoria. just as people are debating whether they should or shouldn�*t be holding their own parties this crib, a sharp focus has been drawn on the last year�*s events after the mirror reported that last year, the prime minister and some of his aides attended partieses during that christmas period. now downing street have denied the use of the word parties and insisted no rules were broken. today the prime minister didn�*t deny that any gatherings took place but did stress that no rules were broken after the labour lead read out the rules to him in parliament. you must not have a work christmas lunch, or party. does the prime minister really expect the country to believe that while people were banned from seeing their loved ones at christmas last year, it was fine for him and his friends to throw a boozy party, in downing street? since he asks about what we are asking the country to do this year, mr speaker, which i think is frankly a more relevant consideration, to make sure, as we have said, that you wear masks in, on public transport and in shops, mr speaker, and that you self—isolate if you come into contact with somebody with somebody who has omicron, mr speaker, and above all we are doing strengthening our measures at the borders, and particularly i think this will be valuable for everybody to hear, get your booster. let me ask you about labour, because they want tighter travel testing measures to be brought in, don�*t they? measures to be brought in, don't the ? ., , measures to be brought in, don't the ? . , ., they? that is right and the government _ they? that is right and the government have - they? that is right and the - government have strengthened they? that is right and the _ government have strengthened some of their rule, they now say that travellers returning to the uk need to take a pcr test on the second day after they come back but labour want the reintroduction of predeparture test, leaked documents seen by the bbc by the government�*s scientific advisers sage say predeparture tests would be valuable and also that only day two tests would pick up fewer covid cases than additional tests on day five and eight after people return, something the scottish and welsh governments have been calling for. all of this alongside this ongoing debate about whether people should be gathering in groups certainly a reminder to us all, ultimately it is ministers who get to decide. ultimately it is ministers who get to decide. the reason we want to talk to you while so much attention is focussed on the omicron variant there has been a significant warnings about cancer referrals been a significant warnings about cancer referra_ cancer referrals yes, from the national audit _ cancer referrals yes, from the national audit office, - cancer referrals yes, from the national audit office, this - cancer referrals yes, from the - national audit office, this pandemic has had huge knock on effect, the so—called indirect harm, and one of thoseis so—called indirect harm, and one of those is seen in cancer care, delays for treatment and also, delays getting treatment from routine operations such as knee and hip replacement. the national audit office says tackling the backlog in these areas will require huge and lengthy effort. the number of check ups for cancer that are being done, are done by may be more than 700,000, as people have been deterred from coming forward for check ups, or they struggled to access service, particularly early on in the pandemic. you would normally expect these to result in 35-60,000 normally expect these to result in 35—60,000 new diagnoses, these missing cancer cases means the disease is going to be spotted at later stage, disease is going to be spotted at laterstage, reducing disease is going to be spotted at later stage, reducing the chances of survival. then on routine operation, they said 5.8 million people on on they said 5.8 million people on on the waiting list and that could get worse. by 2025 it could be higher than today. the government, though, says it sin vesting money in services and there is some signs cancer services rebounding back but it is clear the legacy will last some time. it is clear the legacy will last some time-— previously a negative pcr test would have been acceptable for entry into the country but the rules have been tightened. obviously because of concern about the omicron variant. the leader of the house of commons and conservative mpjacob rees—mogg is under investigation by the parliamentary commissioner for standards. the leader of the scottish conservatives, douglas ross, is as well. the commissioner�*s website says mr rees—mogg is being investigated for a potential breach of the rules on registering outside earnings. staff from 58 universities across the uk have begun a three—day strike. it�*s to protest about their pay, pensions and working conditions, and there are worries more strikes could take place if a deal cannot be reached. our education correspondent, elaine dunkley reports. university staff on strike. angry about pensions, pay and working conditions. it�*s destroyed my faith in education. i�*ve been in higher education for 30 years. and ijust feel it needs a radical, radical change. many protesting say this is about protecting pensions, and say vice chancellors want to make changes to the scheme they on all based on a flawed evaluation of finances. our members are looking at 35% cut to their guaranteed pension, and we are arguing it is not necessary. the key reason why is, the valuation that suggested there was a deficit and therefore a need to change, that was conducted in march last year. there was a global economic shutdown and obviously the pensions scheme has bounced back into much better health. universities uk, which represents 140 institutions, says the changes are needed to plug the funding gap. students support staff on strike! but caught in the middle of this bitter dispute are students. there have been previous strikes, and after 18 months of disruption due to the pandemic and fees of £9,000 a year, they are also worried about their futures. a lot of people are very angry because theyjust don't think it's fair that after a year of strikes followed by a year and a half of online learning, they have just got back to normal, things are just about starting to get back into the swing and then we are being, we are facing possibly months of strikes. we are also paying for our staff to get paid decent pay- and have a decent working - conditions, which they are not getting, so we should be in solidarity with them, i because their fight is our fight. vice chancellors say they are working to reduce the impact on students. there are many things that we can do in universities to make sure that the students don�*t suffer. we can change deadlines, we can change teaching methods, we can change assessments, we can change personnel, there�*s all sorts of things that we can do. it�*s the start of three days of industrial action, and with no resolution in sight, staff and students are preparing for more disruption. elaine dunkley, bbc news, in leeds. five days after the worst of storm arwen, 30,000 homes are still without power after �*catastrophic�* damage parts of aberdeenshire have been worst affected areas — with parts of the north west and ne of england suffering the effects. the business secretary kwasi kwenteng says work is being done among the energy companies to restore power. i�*m satisfied that these operators are sharing their resources through mutual aid agreements and through putting engineers to the worst affected areas, and i�*m extremely grateful to emergency responders who have also been working very hard to keep people as comfortable as possible, providing torches, blankets and other necessities. police in scotland are treating the death of a 16—year—old as murder. amber gibson was reported missing from the hamilton area last friday. let�*s talk to our scotland correspondent alexandra mackenzie. what do we know so far? well, the police conference press conference here in hamilton hasjust started, here behind me, as you say amber gibson was 16 years old. she went missing from her home on friday evening. late on friday evening, and she, there was one other known sighting of her, later that evening, at five to ten, again, here in hamilton. she was reported missing on saturday, and then her pa body was discovered in an area close by behind us, here on sunday morning. now, so far police scotland have said there is an increased police presence in the area, they have said that their thoughts are with amber�*s loved ones and they are continuing to support them. and they have said that anyone with any information, any sightings, either on friday evening, they have said it would have been busy here in hamilton on friday evening or any sightings on saturday to come forward. now they have just said at the press conference a team of detectives are trying to piece together her final moment, will do that through cctv, door—to—door inquiries and with the help of the local community. thank ou. our top story this lunchtime. the health secretary sajid javid says there�*s no need to cancel your christmas arrangements. and coming up — grand slam semi—finalistjohanna konta says she is retiring from tennis at the age of 30. coming up on the bbc news channel. rafa benitez will become the first manager in more than a century to take charge of both clubs in the merseyside derby as his everton side take on liverpool later. 40 years since the first aids—related death was reported in the uk — the government has pledged to end new hiv infections by 2030. aids claimed thousands of lives throughout the eighties and 90s — many of them young, gay men. and this year — to mark world aids day — there�*s an exhibition in liverpool honouring all those lives lost. josh parry reports. brian was just 29 when he died of an aids—related illness. it was 1995. one year before life—saving treatment became widely available. i remember seeing him for the first time falling into the room and laughing his head off with a great big scarf on. irate laughing his head off with a great big scarf om— laughing his head off with a great bi scarfon. ~ ~' ., , , ., big scarf on. we kind of bumped into each other and _ big scarf on. we kind of bumped into each other and just _ big scarf on. we kind of bumped into each other and just gels _ big scarf on. we kind of bumped into each other and just gels in _ big scarf on. we kind of bumped into each other and just gels in a - big scarf on. we kind of bumped into each other and just gels in a way - big scarf on. we kind of bumped into each other and just gels in a way i i each other and just gels in a way i have _ each other and just gels in a way i have never— each other and just gels in a way i have never experienced with anyone else ever _ have never experienced with anyone else ever since. we were suddenly brian_ else ever since. we were suddenly brian and — else ever since. we were suddenly brian and jerry and we stayed brian and jerry— brian and jerry and we stayed brian and jerry until the day he died. it felt there — and jerry until the day he died. it felt there was nothing we could not do. felt there was nothing we could not lie |t— felt there was nothing we could not do. ~' ., ., , do. it felt like the world was waitin: , do. it felt like the world was waiting, basically. _ do. it felt like the world was j waiting, basically. obviously do. it felt like the world was - waiting, basically. obviously later uuite a lot waiting, basically. obviously later quite a lot changed. _ waiting, basically. obviously later quite a lot changed. we _ waiting, basically. obviously later quite a lot changed. we started i waiting, basically. obviously later| quite a lot changed. we started to hear that this _ quite a lot changed. we started to hear that this disease _ quite a lot changed. we started to hear that this disease was - quite a lot changed. we started to hear that this disease was killing i hear that this disease was killing americans and we could not think there _ americans and we could not think there was— americans and we could not think there was a — americans and we could not think there was a disease just killing gay people _ there was a disease 'ust killing gay --eole. , . ., there was a disease 'ust killing gay --eole. , . . people. everything changed. do you remember when _ people. everything changed. do you remember when brian _ people. everything changed. do you remember when brian told - people. everything changed. do you remember when brian told you - people. everything changed. do you remember when brian told you he l remember when brian told you he found out he was hiv positive? it was incredibly strange because i saw him and _ was incredibly strange because i saw him and i_ was incredibly strange because i saw him and i immediately knew he was positive _ him and i immediately knew he was positive. we just looked at each other— positive. we just looked at each other and — positive. we just looked at each other and stopped being the brian and jerry— other and stopped being the brian and jerry that we always wear. there was that look — and jerry that we always wear. there was that look of _ and jerry that we always wear. there was that look of thinness _ and jerry that we always wear. there was that look of thinness and - and jerry that we always wear. there was that look of thinness and i - was that look of thinness and i remember being really overwhelmed by that. in remember being really overwhelmed by that. " i ~:: , remember being really overwhelmed by that. "3:1, ., , that. in the 1980s hiv was not fully understood- _ because of misconceptions about the virus, some funeral homes and surviving family members refused to give those who died properfunerals. with no official collective memorial the lgbt community in america started to make panels in commemoration. by 1994 the uk had its own, and brian�*s panel was a part of it. today, that panel will go on display for the first time in more than 25 years as part of a special exhibition in liverpool to mark world aids day. by by displaying these quilts were having conversations and remembering how it was in the early days and dispelling the myths about what it is like today to live with hiv. without remembering the lives of people take into early and educating people take into early and educating people now about living well with hiv. you cannot pass it on. haifa people now about living well with hiv. you cannot pass it on. how are ou both hiv. you cannot pass it on. how are you both feeling? _ hiv. you cannot pass it on. how are you both feeling? it _ hiv. you cannot pass it on. how are you both feeling? it is _ you both feeling? it is overwhelming. - you both feeling? it is overwhelming. i- you both feeling? it is overwhelming. ifeeli you both feeling? it is - overwhelming. i feel quite you both feeling? it 3 overwhelming. i feel quite shaky, to overwhelming. ifeel quite shaky, to be honest. it overwhelming. i feel quite shaky, to be honest. , , brian united jerry and jocelyn back then. a desire to keep his memory alive is what brings them together now. josh parry, bbc news. the trial of ghislaine maxwell has heard from a woman who says she was groomed for abuse from the age of 14. the woman, who�*s now in herforties, says she was first approached by the british socialite and the convicted sex offender, jeffrey epstein, at a summer camp. cbs news correspondent laura podesta joins me from new york. tell us more about what happened in court yesterday?— tell us more about what happened in court yesterday? it was an emotional da with court yesterday? it was an emotional day with graphic _ court yesterday? it was an emotional day with graphic testimony _ court yesterday? it was an emotional day with graphic testimony in - court yesterday? it was an emotional day with graphic testimony in the - day with graphic testimony in the first alleged victim testified that maxwell�*s will find jeffrey epstein had abused it since the age of 14. she took the stand as jane in order to protect identity. she said that she was frozen in fear during her first sexual contact with jeffrey epstein. this was not a very young age, she says she met him in 1994 at age, she says she met him in 1994 at a summer camp and said she was eating ice cream at this summer camp in michigan when she was approached by maxwell who befriended her. she said that ten point maxwell would sometimes be in the room during the sexual abuse with jeffrey sometimes be in the room during the sexual abuse withjeffrey epstein that went on for years. and in her contact through those years with jeffrey epstein she would tell people he was her godfather in order to drop everything and answer his calls when he would reach out. as you know maxwell is charged with growing underage girls to be sexually abused byjeffrey epstein and maxwell denies the charges. her counsel is claiming she only been charged because jeffrey counsel is claiming she only been charged becausejeffrey epstein is dead, he died by suicide in 2019. what are we expecting today? tudor; what are we expecting today? today the defence will _ what are we expecting today? today the defence will continue _ what are we expecting today? today the defence will continue the - the defence will continue the cross—examination of jane. attorneys for maxwell have tried to portray her as merely out to collect money from the victims fund. and they will seek to bring testimony from his pilot, larry visoski blue famous men on his plane and never witnessed any sexual activity so it is likely they will bring that up as part of their defence. ., ., will bring that up as part of their defence. . ., ., ~ will bring that up as part of their defence. . . ., ~ , ., —— flew famous men. a 15—year—old has killed three fellow students and injured eight others, including a teacher, in a high school shooting in the us state of michigan. police say the suspect, a pupil at the school, used a handgun that his dad had bought on friday. some students had reportedly stayed at home on tuesday because of safety concerns. james reynolds reports. the first calls from oxford high school came in atjust before one in the afternoon. the emergency services soon arrived. pupils and teachers barricaded themselves in classrooms as they had been taught to do during regular drills. the gunman was a 15—year—old pupil at the school. over a period of five minutes, he fired at his fellow students. yeah, i know a couple of them. i pray for them, you know, hope they get better. you're not safe. sometimes you're not safe at home. you're not even safe at school. sheriffs deputies found the teenage gunman in a hallway. they disarmed and arrested him. he has so far declined to speak. preliminary investigation revealed that the weapon used in this shooting was purchased on november 26, four days ago, by the boy�*s father. joe biden, as vice president, fell short in his efforts to bring about gun control. as president, he now responds to the deadliest school shooting of this year. my heart goes out to the families enduring the unimaginable grief of losing a loved one. the sheriff calls the attack a wound that will never go away. james reynolds, bbc news. a typical uk family will spend 1700 pounds more on bills and food next year according to a forecast for bbc panorama. much of that is down to the increase of fuel and energy prices but its also a result of problems in the uk�*s supply chain — from the shortage of hgv drivers to vegetable pickers and food processors. jane corbin reports. what�*s for dinner today? roast on a sunday. this family in redford in nottinghamshire are struggling with rising prices. nicki, a nurse and husband, martin, who works for a builders�* merchants are on average incomes. we try and budget very carefully around food, whereas going back a couple of years, we just buy whatever we wanted to. on top of sharp hikes in their energy bills, nicki is finding the prices of many items in their weekly shop have gone up. margarine. that�*s definitely, definitely doubled in price. meat, definitely that�*s gone up. yogurts, definitely. they�*ve gone up for sure. research done for panorama tracked prices of some essentialfood items, fuel and energy in the run—up to christmas. our analysis shows that inflation is expected to stand above 4.5% by the time christmas comes around. and for a typical household in the uk, that means that their monthly spending will be around £109 higher than it was for the same basket of goods and services last year, this time. across the uk�*s supply chain, there are shortages of lorry drivers and seasonal workers as a result of brexit and covid. the government also says some of the challenges are due to global pressures. it offered 30,000 visas for seasonal workers, but growers say that�*s not enough. in lincolnshire, one company has offered tempting wages to try to lure british workers. we had airline pilots apply and all sorts. there was only actually probably ten that could do the job. the government says a long—term answer to the labour shortage is investment in technology like roboveg, a machine that picks broccoli. well, we�*ve set it up to be as fast as a team of seven people in the field. a machine like this will cost nearly £400,000, a significant investment. and it can�*t solve richard�*s problems right now. these machines aren�*t really going to be commercially used for another two or three years. and until we get there, you need the people to do the work. with all their costs, labour and energy rising, too, this grower says the increases will eventually have to be passed on to consumers. the government says it will carry on working with industry to tackle ongoing challenges. jane corbin, bbc news. britain�*sjohanna konta has retired from professional tennis at the age of 30. she reached the semi finals at wimbledon, the australian open and the french open — and reached number 4 in the world. on instagram — she said she was �*grateful�* for the career she had. our sports correspondent joe wilson reports. for a few summer days in 2017, it felt likejohanna konta had the undivided attention of british sport. she reached the semifinals of wimbledon, the first british woman to do that since the �*705. british tennis history is made! but there was far more to her career than that. jo konta was a semifinalist in three of the four grand slams. her run in paris in 2019 was especially memorable. on the tour, jo konta won tournaments, most recently in nottingham earlier this year. injuries have certainly affected her but her retirement statement is headlined, grateful. it is probably the word she has used most in her career, she says. and the word that expresses how she feels at the end. born and raised in australia to hungarian parents, johanna konta came to england as a teenager. the drive and ambition always visible in her tennis took her to numberfour in the world. and she learned how to deal with the media, too. her way. somebody who presumably wants to go on from here, learn from this, and win a grand slam one day. is it not something you need...? please don�*t patronise me. i wasn't patronising... no, no, you are. in the way asking your question you are being quite disrespectful and you are patronising me. i am a professional competitor who did her best today and that is all there is to that. in a time before emma raducanu, johanna konta took british tennis to a level not witnessed in the women�*s game for decades. she can surely retire knowing she gave everything. joe wilson, bbc news. england�*s 20—nil record—breaking victory over latvia in that world cup qualifier last night wasn�*t the only piece of history for the lionessess. ellen white�*s hat—trick means she�*s now scored more goals for her country — 48 — than any other female player. katie gornall reports. the records tumbled for england against latvia. but one milestone stood out above the others. awesome ellen white, now the greatest ever goal—scorer! in just three minutes, ellen white had equalled and then surpassed the legendary former striker kelly smith�*s tally of 46 england goals. it was very emotional on the pitch. i feel very proud to represent my country, to score goals. but i think for me it was all about the team tonight. humble on and off the pitch, ellen white first made a name for herself at chelsea before enjoying success at the likes of arsenal and manchester city. in 2010 she was marked out as one to watch for england. coming on is the heir apparent for the england squad these days, ellen white. and a year later she made her mark at the germany world cup. that is a brilliant goal! ten years on, she is now an england centurion and their record goal—scorer. it has been quite a week. i just wanted to send you congratulations on reaching the highest goal—scorer for england women. amazing achievement. any youngster looking at her, you know, she is the role model. she has made the very most of her ability, the most of her talent. england�*s 20— nil demolition of latvia exposed a growing gulf in women�*s football. there will be much tougher tests ahead of course, but whatever the opposition, expect ellen white to rise to the challenge. katie gornall, bbc news. she is amazing. time for a look at the weather. todayis today is turning colder and tomorrow is likely to be colder still. we have gusty wind around this area of low pressure. some of those wins could be damaging in germany. this way is bringing cloud and outbreaks of rain. and it will move south to the midlands arriving in southern parts of england this evening. the gusty wind continues around coastal areas. with