of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine urges the world to invest more to prepare forfuture pandemics, saying the next one could be even worse. anger in nigeria as it is added to the red list of uk travel restrictions from today. also coming up... lucky to be alive. the gap year student who was dragged under by a crocodile and lived to tell the tale. the government is promising to crack down on drugs gangs as part of a ten year strategy for tackling drug misuse in england and wales. ministers say they want to dismantle �*county lines' drugs gangs. they're also promising the biggest ever single investment in treating and rehabilitating addicts, who are responsible for a large proportion of crime. according to the home office, drugs are connected to nearly half of killings in england and wales. they're also linked to two thirds of shoplifting, more than half of burglaries and just over a quarter of robberies. our home affairs correspondent, dominic casciani, has this report. and a warning that his report contains flash photography. police! an early morning raid, part of operation toxic, as police conduct an ongoing investigation into county lines gangs. organised crime groups that control the drugs trade. prime minister borisjohnson seeing for himself the challenge the police face. some 300,000 heroin and crack addicts are responsible for nearly half of crimes like burglary and robbery. the prime minister promising his new strategy will change that. we've got to do two things at once. we've got to be tougher on the county lines gangs, we've got to be tougher on the criminals who are doing it, but you've also got to make sure that you find those 300,000 people and you help them away. you can't simply arrest them time after time and put them back in prison again and again. you've got to do rehab as well. the government's ten—year strategy promises £300 million to pursue drugs gangs. it believes it can take down 2,000 county line in three years. police will get help, for more drug tests on arrest, identifying problem users earlier than before. but the strategy also looks at demand, recreational users such as some clubbers will face losing their passports and driving licences if caught. labour says a strategy is desperately needed. there is no doubt that the drug problem has got a lot worse in the past ten years, particularly drug—related deaths and the county lines which are destroying lives. the question for the government is notjust about plans today but the money they have taken out the system. millions of pounds have been taken out of the system over the years and that has caused a lot of the problem. ministers are promising record investment for schemes such as this rehab programme targeting why some people take drugs. the former independent reviewer of drugs today urged the government not to put all the focus on chasing users, but to help them change their lives. of course it is important. we do want county lines to disappear, but, unless you give equal balance to treatment and recovery, we are really not going to move forward. we have had enforcement for many years. and we haven't really solved our problem. couriers working for gangs are known to smuggle drugs on trains, so sniffer dogs are now on the front line, but with drugs deaths at a record high, people say that the prime minister must back his words with a strategy back with a strategy that will deliver quick results and bring about change. dominic casciani, bbc news. our political correspondent, iain watson, is in westminsterfor us. not the first government to try and break the link between drugs and crime but what is different this time? ., , crime but what is different this time? ., _ , ., crime but what is different this time? ., , ., , ., time? the government says that is a ten ear time? the government says that is a ten year strategy _ time? the government says that is a ten year strategy and _ time? the government says that is a ten year strategy and a _ time? the government says that is a ten year strategy and a must - ten year strategy and a must multifaceted approach. a three pronged approach to disrupt organised crime gangs, secondly low—level crime which is effectively driven by people who are drug dependent or drug addicted and then also trying to make sure that you break the cycle of people come out of prison or treatment, that they still get the rehabilitation they need to try and stop them from reoffending. also we have had this idea of those who perhaps use drugs recreationally and are able to hold down a job but the government says that has consequences. legislation on that front is some way off and they are going to try and put some of these ideas about taking passports and driving licences into a white paper. that is some way away but the government says it is putting money in to try and turn this around over a realistic period of a decade. of course this is highly political as well because borisjohnson was elected saying he would stand up for the people's priorities, cutting crime, something he thinks will appeal to both new and traditional conservative supporters. equally he says he is in favour of levelling up and many smaller towns and rural communities are now having problems with drugs. if you disrupt that people might be able to see some real tangible difference to their local areas. and on rehabilitation of course he is saying he is putting on the single biggest investment, but labour are saying this is very contentious and there is £100 million that has been cut from successful treatment programme since the conservatives came into power in 2010 and at the moment the drugs policy is not working. the highest number of drugs deaths in england and wales last year and more people using the most dangerous class a drugs. 50 year and more people using the most dangerous class a drugs.— dangerous class a drugs. 50 labour isn't necessarily _ dangerous class a drugs. 50 labour isn't necessarily an _ dangerous class a drugs. 50 labour isn't necessarily an agreement - dangerous class a drugs. 50 labour isn't necessarily an agreement with all of this. , ., isn't necessarily an agreement with all of this. , . ., all of this. they are in agreement with having _ all of this. they are in agreement with having a _ all of this. they are in agreement with having a strategy _ all of this. they are in agreement with having a strategy and - all of this. they are in agreement with having a strategy and trying | all of this. they are in agreement i with having a strategy and trying to tackle this into different ways, not just tackling crime but also looking at those who are dependent upon drugs and trying to make sure they get the treatment they deserve. but they think that treatment has been inadequate in the past and i think the detection of drugs has been suffering because of what they see as a lack of community policing. 11,000 more police officers have been recruited by borisjohnson but labour say that's well below the level we had back in 2010 when the conservatives took over. so they are seeing more community policing, more money for rehabilitation and schemes which work and not enough resources at the moment. we won't get the full details on the rehabilitation programmes until much later on today in parliament that you heard them from dame carol black who carried out a major review of how drugs were being tackled and had 32 recommendations to deal with the rehab of drugs offenders. i think we will see how many of those the government are prepared to put into practice. the omicron variant of coronavirus could becme the uks dominant strain within weeks, according to an expert in infectious diseases. professor paul hunter told the bbc that it's likely omicron is spreading more quickly than the delta variant and that there are probably more than 1,000 cases in the uk at the moment. his comments come as one of the scientists who created the oxford astra zeneca covid vaccine warns that a future pandemic could be even more lethal. professor dame sarah gilbert says funding is needed to make sure we don't lose the advances made in the last two years in how to prepare for a pandemic. our health correspondent, sophie hutchinson, has this report. the leader of the opposition this morning doing his bit to boost boosterjabs seen as the best way to protect people from both the delta and the new variant of omicron. everybody should be doing. i would encourage absolutely everyone who is eligible to come forward and have their booster. don't be taken in by the information come forward, have your booster, think of yourself, think of others, think of your communities. last month we observed surges in cases. one of the lead scientists behind the oxford astrazeneca vaccine warned of the dangers of future pandemics and said the world needed to be more prepared. the truth is, the next one could be worse. it could be more contagious or more lethal, or both. we cannot allow a situation where we have gone through all we have gone through and then find that the enormous economic losses we have sustained mean that there is still no funding for pandemic preparedness. the world health organization has said just under a0 countries around the world now have cases of the new variant. here in the uk. a further 86 cases were reported yesterday by the uk health security agency, bringing the total number identified to 246. but some scientists believe the true figure may be more than 1,000. the early signs are that it will probably spread quite quickly and probably start outcompeting delta and become the dominant variant probably within the next weeks, or a month or so, at least. scientists are still unable to confirm whether omicron causes less severe disease. that may not be known for many weeks. i don't think that we need to change the overall guidance and advice we're giving about omicron in this country. we're still waiting to see exactly how dangerous it is, what sort of effect it has in terms of deaths and hospitalisations. from today, anyone aged over 12 who's permitted to travel into the uk is now required to show a negative pcr or lateral flow test in an attempt to slow the new variant�*s spread from abroad. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. from this morning, nigeria has been moved onto the uk's red list for travel, meaning anybody arriving from the country must isolate in an approved hotel for ten days. ministers say it will help protect people from the spread of the omicron variant of covid. but nigeria has described it as a form of travel �*apartheid'. our correspondent in lagos, mayeni jones, says there's frustration in the country at being put on the red list. real anger but also real confusion. the anger is because many nigerians who are on the red list feel this decision is discriminatory. they say the levels of covid in africa have been much lower throughout the pandemic and nigeria is averaging around 91 new cases a day, only 200,000 positive cases have been recorded throughout the entire pandemic. but there is also confusion because so far the national centre for disease control says only three cases of the new omicron variants have been identified you. that was five days ago. those members may have gone up but they say that all of them came from travellers who came from south africa. so a lot of people who are frustrated. christmas plans have been thrown into disarray. many nigerians in the uk were hoping to come back this year and celebrate with their relatives. they are now having to either cancel their plans or think of really expensive alternatives for quarantine when they return to the uk. so it's having a devastating impact on nigerians you come on the service industry and on ordinary nigerians want to spend the holidays with their relatives. our transport correspondent, katy austin, said the addition of nigeria to the red list has left many brits stranded, with some finding it difficult to book a 10—day quarantine in a government approved hotel. the nigerian high commissioner to london has talked of the bbc this morning and he doesn't think the country's addition to the red list is justified. country's addition to the red list isjustified. we have also country's addition to the red list is justified. we have also spoken to some people are planning to travel from the uk to nigeria in december over christmas and in some cases to see relatives they haven't seen for many months, who feel their plans are now in doubt and some feel that is very unfair. we are also hearing from people who are uk residents still in south africa trying to find their way home. that country went on to the register list a week ago. many are still struggling to find government approved hotel corentin rooms available on the dates for flights coming and that is becoming a stressful situation as they try and rebook flights and stay in the country longer. we did have a few weeks where they weren't any countries on the red list and the hotel corentin system was mainly wound down. now it's having to be reactivated very quickly and the government admits there is pressure on capacity. in a statement a spokesperson from the department of health and social care told us it had doubled the number of hotel rooms available and will continue to increase availability on a daily basis. they are not putting any numbers on that though. and atjust after half past two, we'll be speaking to a british woman whose family have been stuck in south africa for the last fortnight. the former leader of myanmar, aung san suu kyi, has had a four yearjail sentence cut in half after a partial pardon from myanmar�*s military leader. aung san suu kyi had beenjailed for four years on charges that include inciting unrest, and breaking covid restrictions during last year's election campaign. by the chief of the military—appointedgovernment, the country's state television reported on monday. under house arrest since a military coup in february toppled her elected civilian government. she has denied all charges. our correspondentjonathan head is in the thai capital bangkok. why has this sentence been cut in half? ., ., , , half? the trial has been held in secret and _ half? the trial has been held in secret and aung _ half? the trial has been held in secret and aung san _ half? the trial has been held in secret and aung san suu - half? the trial has been held in secret and aung san suu kyi i half? the trial has been held in l secret and aung san suu kyi has half? the trial has been held in - secret and aung san suu kyi has been able to speak to her lawyers. they are not allowed to talk about what happens. it is viewed widely by human rights group as a sham and is a device to try and disable her politically and whether the sentences for years or two years hardly matters when you consider she faces least ten of the charges which could give her sentences ranging up to 100 years in total. nobody takes place outside the military seriously. the bigger question is what will they do with aung san suu kyi in the future? she will remain we believe and house arrest for the moment. she has not been seen by anyone outside a very small circle since the first day of the coup when she was detained. there are real questions about what the military�*s future actions are going to be. when you think that outside this trial the bubble of the trial, the country is falling apart. you have got huge numbers of people who were protesting at one point and who are now taking up arms and fighting the military. the economy is in ruins. these are the problem is the military will have to address and at some point in the future, given all publishers, aung san suu kyi might have a role to play regardless of what sentence they give her now. whether it is four years or two years as you say, from what you are saying it seems a matter of detail away but it does remove her from the picture and i wondered if it is possible to look at this in some way as military desperation? the? possible to look at this in some way as military desperation?— possible to look at this in some way as military desperation? they are in as military desperation? they are in a bad position- _ as military desperation? they are in a bad position. they _ as military desperation? they are in a bad position. they did _ as military desperation? they are in a bad position. they did not - as military desperation? they are in a bad position. they did not expectl a bad position. they did not expect the huge resistance to the ecu. they calculated disastrously. remember, aung san suu kyi had just one election by an absolute landslide so people felt insulted by that and the opposition has not dwindled. even now after hundreds and hundreds of deaths and terrible violence and months of this violence. they are in a difficult position. what they hope is that by applying all these rather improbable criminal sanctions that they can say if there is any kind of negotiating process that they can keep out of it. she is what they fear because she is so popular and it's such a successful election winner, the military has its own political party and they were consigned to a fraction of seats in the last election so they are hoping to claw back some kind of role. but really the country is in such a disastrous state it is impossible to predict what it's going to be like even three months from now. a barrister representing the victims of the grenfell tower fire has told the official inquiry that governments concealed the extent of risks to building safety, and it should be seen as one of the �*major scandals of our time'. 72 people died injune 2017 when the tower block in west london caught fire. our home affairs correspondent, tom symonds, reports. there had been warnings of what might happen. a fire in knowsley on merseyside. another in irvine, north ayrshire. and a third in southwark, south london. eerily similar — flames spreading up the outside, lives put at risk, lives lost. but, did the government and other public bodies spot the risk? take action? that, and much more is what the grenfell inquiry will investigate in its finalfive months. this inquiry is not a game of cat and mouse where core participants might hope that their witnesses might smuggle something past counsel the inquiry or that counsel to the inquiry might miss a trick. core participants including the government and other industry bodies. a key question, why a fire classification known as class zero remained in place for decades. cladding panels rated class zero were allowed on tall buildings, but class zero included materials which catch light easily so, after grenfell, all the cladding had to be removed. the grenfell disaster is a predictable yet unintended consequence of the combination of a laudable desire to reduce carbon emissions, coupled with an unbridled passion for deregulation. in particular, a desire to deregulate and boost the housing construction industry. cladding helps keep buildings warm, cutting carbon emissions, and all recent governments have wanted to help home builders build homes, but deregulating the safety of their industry created risks, the inquiry was told today, and the government kept them quiet, it was claimed. the result is a prolonged period of concealment by the government, which should properly be regarded as one of the major scandals of our time. ministers and officials will give evidence in weeks to come, in the final stage of the search for answers to the question, how could this happen? tom symonds, bbc news. the education secretary, nadhim zahawi, will make a statement to mps today after announcing a national review into the death of six—year—old arthur labinjo—hughes. arthur was tortured and killed by his father and stepmother after social workers found "no safeguarding concerns". anisa kadri reports. remembering a little boy killed during lockdown by the people who were supposed to take care of him. a vigil over the weekend took place near the house in the west midlands where arthur labinjo—hughes was tortured by his stepmum and father. neighbours have expressed their shock and sadness. i'm a mother and a grandmother, and i would go to the ends of the earth for my children and my grandchildren. i'd never ever let anything happen to them. and i think a lot needs to be done still to protect vulnerable children. after �*s stepmum emma tustin was jailed 29 years for his murder and his father thomas hughes got 21 years for manslaughter. the government has now announced an urgent inspection of social care, health, police and probation services in solihull where arthur lived and died. i understand people's anger about this case, and i understand their demand foranswers, quickly. but we owe it to him, actually, to all those children out there to carefully piece together the lessons that we can learn from this, then put them into as we can after we have learned the lessons. as well as a review into lessons to be learned nationally, they say it will be a deep and independent look into what happened. and the education secretary is expected to discuss the case in parliament today. the reality is we don't learn from the way we operate. we constantly do the same thing. rather than looking at individual failures, we should be looking at systemic failures. and that's what's happened here. we haven't learned the lessons, and talking more about lessons learnt and more reviews won't really help when the previous reviews that we've just heard about, the munro review and the laming review, haven't actually been implemented yet. haven't actually been intimated yet. arthur, are you going to play for england? i it is hoped any review will answer questions around the warning signs and what could have been done to help arthur. anisa kadri, bbc news. the energy provider for the north—east of england says it hopes to reconnect every home which lost power during storm arwen ten days ago. 13—hundred properties are still without electricity and yellow weather warnings for wind and snow have been issued ahead of storm barra. sharuna sagar has been to one village in northumberland that's still without power the people here have been without power now for ten days, ever since the storm struck. the residents here feel completely abandoned and forgotten. with me is racheljohnson who has lived here for six years now. what has it been like the last ten days? it’s now. what has it been like the last ten da s? �* , , , , ten days? it's been pretty grim. we've had _ ten days? it's been pretty grim. we've had no — ten days? it's been pretty grim. we've had no power— ten days? it's been pretty grim. we've had no power since - ten days? it's been pretty grim. we've had no power since the l ten days? it's been pretty grim. - we've had no power since the storm. no central_ we've had no power since the storm. no central heating, no hot water, no showers. _ no central heating, no hot water, no showers. no — no central heating, no hot water, no showers, no washing machines, no means_ showers, no washing machines, no means of— showers, no washing machines, no means of cleaning properties. we are quite rural_ means of cleaning properties. we are quite rural and we have animals so we can't _ quite rural and we have animals so we can'tiust— quite rural and we have animals so we can'tjust move out.— quite rural and we have animals so we can'tjust move out. we can't “ust move out. what kind of su ort we can'tjust move out. what kind of suaport have — we can'tjust move out. what kind of suaport have you _ we can'tjust move out. what kind of support have you been _ we can'tjust move out. what kind of support have you been getting? - we can'tjust move out. what kind of support have you been getting? nol support have you been getting? no support have you been getting? no support from northern power grid. we did have _ support from northern power grid. we did have the _ support from northern power grid. we did have the fire brigade and the army— did have the fire brigade and the army visii— did have the fire brigade and the army visit on saturday and friday but there — army visit on saturday and friday but there has been no generator delivered, — but there has been no generator delivered, nothing. we do feel pretty— delivered, nothing. we do feel pretty abandoned. so delivered, nothing. we do feel pretty abandoned.— delivered, nothing. we do feel pretty abandoned. so how are you livin: ? we pretty abandoned. so how are you living? we are _ pretty abandoned. so how are you living? we are surviving _ pretty abandoned. so how are you living? we are surviving with - pretty abandoned. so how are you living? we are surviving with hot | living? we are surviving with hot water from _ living? we are surviving with hot water from gas _ living? we are surviving with hot water from gas kettles _ living? we are surviving with hot water from gas kettles and - living? we are surviving with hotl water from gas kettles and things like that, — water from gas kettles and things like that, log burners. but it is very— like that, log burners. but it is very cold _ the finances of some of the uk's biggest care home companies should be investigated, according to the former health and social care secretary, jeremy hunt. he wants the competitions watchdog to look at whether big care providers are operating in the interests of consumers. it comes after a bbc panorama programme on the complicated structures and debt of some care companies that are backed by private equity firms. here's our social affairs editor, alison holt. what was it like growing up here? lovely, everybody knew everybody. tess grew up in cannock in staffordshire. her mum died when she was young so her dad mick was at the heart of the family. it's more than a year since he died in a care home nearby, and she's been left with many questions about the care he received and the company that ran the home. four days in, five days in, the cracks start to appear. his bed was never made. the toilet area was shocking. my dad is walking in the urine, so my dad shouldn't be walking in that. that home is run by four seasons health care group. it says the home's management team has since changed, but tess wanted to know where the fees paid for her dad went. four seasons? four seasons, yeah. panorama asked experts to draw up a family tree for the group. it was owned by private equity investors but because of its high debts, in 2019, two key companies went into administration. it still has more than 160 companies in the group. i'm gobsmacked, to be honest with you. four seasons says its structure doesn't affect the care it provides, and the homes continue to operate. but business experts say the complexity and use of offshore companies makes it difficult to work out where that money goes. it should surely be the case that these structures should be transparent. they should either bring them onshore, or else they should be required to disclose the full finances of the entire group. it's as simple as that. the former health and social care secretaryjeremy hunt says in a sector looking after vulnerable people, government reforms should include more checks on company finances. there is a real opportunity now to lay down a long—term plan for the sector, and to channel private sector investment in the way we want. that could be a very positive thing. at the moment, it's the wild west out there. the government says it's up to local authorities to ensure providers offer good care, improve staff conditions and invest in services. alison holt, bbc news. and you can see more on panorama crisis in care: follow the money, tonight at 7:30pm on bbc one. a british teenager who survived a crocodile attack in zambia says she is "very very lucky" to be alive. 18—year—old amelie osborn—smith was white—water rafting on holiday when the crocodile bit into her leg and tried to drag her under the water. she's now recovering in hospital. louisa pilbeam has the story. amelie osborn—smith was on a gap year trip of a lifetime in zambia. but in the waters near victoria falls, the 18—year—old was attacked by a crocodile. she suffered such serious injuries to her leg, she feared she'd never walk again. when the accident happened i fully accepted the fact that i was going to lose my foot. and i accepted that and i said to all my friends, it's fine, i've lost my foot, i'm still alive. and then i was told that my foot�*s going to be fine and that i was going to be able to walk again, and it is such a relief. the accident happened on the zambezi river while amelie was white—water rafting with a group. she was airlifted 240 miles to the capital lusaka where surgeons performed a life—saving operation and saved her leg. people say, like, you see your life flash before your eyes but you don't. you just think, how do i get out of this situation? and your brain just goes into overdrive and you just think how to get out. but i was just very, very lucky. amelie is expected back in the uk to be transferred to a hospital for more treatment. the student says the ordeal has made her more determined to return to zambia. i think, especially now, i've just seen that your life can be over so quickly, so if you're going to live thinking... it sounds so cliched, but if you're going to live thinking i'm going to regret everything, you're never going to have a fulfilled life. so ijust think do it all while you can. louisa pilbeam, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. weather conditions this time tomorrow will be disturbed as a storm works its way across the uk. out there at the moment it is quite blustery. a mixture of clear spells and showers into the evening rush—hour and it's going to start to feel chilly. already dropping below freezing in some parts of north—east scotland. a night ahead. a mixture of rain and hail and sleet and snow will gradually fade away and they could be some icy conditions in the morning as temperatures widely drop to freezing or below for the start of the tuesday morning commute. this is the first sign of the storm, strengthening winds and heavy rain across ireland. some of the biggest impact will be around these irish sea coasts. gail is developing elsewhere with rain and turning into sleet and snow across the pennines and parts of southern scotland. it will be a cold day. winds continue to strengthen into tuesday evening but snow could have an impact in northern england and southern scotland. hello, this is bbc news with me, rebecca jones. the headlines: a ten—year strategy for tackling drug misuse in england and wales — a crackdown on criminal gangs and a warning to recreational users that they could lose their passports or driving licences. a barrister for the victims of the grenfell tower fire tells the public inquiry into the disaster that governments concealed the extent of risks to building safety. one of the creators of the oxford astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine urges the world to invest more to prepare forfuture pandemics, saying the next one could be even worse. nigeria moves onto the uk's red list for travel, meaning anybody arriving from the country must isolate in an approved hotel for ten days. and coming up — if you live in wales, your household is going to get a free tree to try to help to tackle carbon emissions. and now for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. "rebuilding cricket in yorkshire" is one of the reasons that darren gough has given as to why he wanted to be appointed as the interim managing director of yorkshire county cricket club. the former england fast bowler replaces martyn moxon, who was one of 16 people to leave the club last week after the former player, azeem rafiq, was found to be a victim of racial harassment and bullying at yorkshire. gough spent 15 years at the county over two spells, and will be in the position until the end of the 2022 season. he says he is aware of the "wider responsibilities" of the position. both england and australia have had to deal with controversy, quarantine and bad weather affecting their preparations for the first ashes test, but it is almost time for the first ball to be bowled. australia have named their starting 11 for the first test, which begins in brisbane at midnight tomorrow. but england's captain joe root still has a few key decisions to make, not least whether to start with ben stokes who has been away from competitive cricket since july. he took a break to prioritise his mental health while recovering from a finger injury. in terms of ben, he's done everything he can to get himself into the best physical shape possible going into things, and so have the rest of the bowlers, whether that is trying to simulate things, walking round brisbane trying to simulate a full day in the field, like i say it's a very unique set of circumstances and a unique build—up and we have to make the best of what we had. both teams have beenin best of what we had. both teams have been in the same boat and we had very similar build—ups so all you can do is turn into that game, throw everything into it and make sure you give a really good account of yourself as a team. and we've had confirmation that the final ashes test in perth will be moved, due to coronavirus restrictions in western australia. no replacement venue has been named as yet, but melbourne is standing by. officials in tasmania are lobbying to take an ashes test to hobart for the first time. for lewis hamilton and max verstappen, it all comes down to the final formula one race of the season in abu dhabi. the two are level on points after a remarkable race in saudi arabia, which was won by the british driver. but with four flash points, including a collision between verstappen and hamilton, the sport is all set for a dramatic climax, particularly as both drivers need to work out how to deal with the other on the track with so much at stake. max verstappen has the upper hand, they are equal in point at the moment, however max has one more win to his tally and it all matters what happens in the next race. hamilton has to be careful. if they crash, it is max verstappen's championship. on the other hand, lewis hamilton has had seven titles yet, he is not under that pressure. he has not been mocking but with a smile saying, "i remember my first, it is always different." england midfielderjude bellingham is being investigated by the german fa for comments made about a referee after his borussia dortmund side lost 3—2 to bayern munich. bellingham was frustrated by decisions in the match and questioned felix zwayer�*s appointment, referring to his six—month ban for a match—fixing scandal in 200. for a match—fixing scandal in 2020. bellingham said, "you give a referee that has match fixed before, the biggest game in germany. what do you expect?" the german fa has written to bellingham asking him to comment on his statement "as soon as possible". that's all the sport for now. we will have more in the next hour. we will have more in the next hour. we will have more in the next hour. we will see you then, thank you. let's get more now on nigeria becoming the latest country to be added to the uk's travel red list, joining ten other african countries put on the list following the emergence of the omicron variant. hundreds of brits remain stranded due to a shortage in the number of quarantine hotel rooms, with some people having to wait until next week to return to the uk. one of those affected is alexandra davey. she's been in south africa with her husband and two young children since the middle of november for a friend's wedding. they have since all tested positive for covid. iam very i am very pleased to say alexandra is with us now. i hardly know where to start with the story. you go over for this wedding because i think your husband was best man, am i right? this was the middle of november so bring us up to speed. it has all been a whirlwind. actually a horrible nightmare since the wedding. we came overfor our friends wedding which was friend's wedding which was beautiful, and we were here for a few days before the wedding. the news broke we were going to be a red listed country the night of the wedding, so everything ground to a halt that evening. that wedding, so everything ground to a halt that evening.— wedding, so everything ground to a halt that evening. at what point did ou find halt that evening. at what point did you find out — halt that evening. at what point did you find out you — halt that evening. at what point did you find out you had _ halt that evening. at what point did you find out you had got _ you find out you had got coronavirus? ., , ., coronavirus? immediately after the news had broken, _ coronavirus? immediately after the news had broken, we _ coronavirus? immediately after the news had broken, we all _ coronavirus? immediately after the news had broken, we all went - coronavirus? immediately after the news had broken, we all went into | coronavirus? immediately after the | news had broken, we all went into a panic and decided to do pcr tests that morning after the wedding. and it took 2a hours to get the results back, and we all found out then that most of us might grow well, we had all started to show symptoms and yes, tested positive. so all of the party now have pretty much tested positive, there is only a few that haven't out of 30. 50 positive, there is only a few that haven't out of 30.— positive, there is only a few that haven't out of 30. so now you are ositive haven't out of 30. so now you are positive for _ haven't out of 30. so now you are positive for coronavirus _ haven't out of 30. so now you are positive for coronavirus and - haven't out of 30. so now you arej positive for coronavirus and south africa is on the red list, so what happens then? my africa is on the red list, so what happens then?— africa is on the red list, so what happens then? africa is on the red list, so what ha ens then? g , ., ., happens then? my husband and i have actually quarantined _ happens then? my husband and i have actually quarantined for— happens then? my husband and i have actually quarantined for the _ happens then? my husband and i have actually quarantined for the last - actually quarantined for the last ten days so we have now finished our quarantine period, so we tested positive at that point but now we are out of that. we have been able to book our flights with british airways thankfully but the stressful part of that was managing to get the quarantine package set up. that has just been like pulling teeth, it's been horrendous. in just been like pulling teeth, it's been horrendous.— just been like pulling teeth, it's been horrendous. in what way? i mean, been horrendous. in what way? i mean. where _ been horrendous. in what way? i mean, where do _ been horrendous. in what way? i mean, where do you _ been horrendous. in what way? i mean, where do you start? - been horrendous. in what way? i mean, where do you start? how| been horrendous. in what way? i i mean, where do you start? how do been horrendous. in what way? i - mean, where do you start? how do you go about booking a quarantine package back here? it’s go about booking a quarantine package back here?— go about booking a quarantine package back here? it's a case of havin: to package back here? it's a case of having to go _ package back here? it's a case of having to go online _ package back here? it's a case of having to go online and - package back here? it's a case of having to go online and it - package back here? it's a case of having to go online and it is - having to go online and it is through a company called ctm. the hard part was trying to tally it with your flights, so we are flying out on the ninth so we had to link it all together, but it is very hard to get the confirmation that you have actually booked the quarantine package. there's lots of unknowns and uncertainties the whole time, but yes, we finally had it confirmed thankfully, but it is a very stressful process to try and even get the quarantine package and i know lots of people still haven't even had the confirmation we have had. 50 even had the confirmation we have had, , , ., even had the confirmation we have had. , , ., , even had the confirmation we have had, , , ., , had. 50 this is other people you know that _ had. 50 this is other people you know that have _ had. 50 this is other people you know that have been _ had. 50 this is other people you know that have been trying. - had. 50 this is other people you know that have been trying. is i had. 50 this is other people you i know that have been trying. is this in your understanding because there is a shortage hotel rooms back here in the uk? ~ , is a shortage hotel rooms back here intheuk? , , in the uk? absolutely. i believe there's been — in the uk? absolutely. i believe there's been more _ in the uk? absolutely. i believe there's been more released - in the uk? absolutely. i believe - there's been more released recently which is why i believe we have managed to secure it. we only secured it last night and we have been trying for days and days to secure that ready to fly out on the ninth. �* . . , secure that ready to fly out on the ninth. �* , , secure that ready to fly out on the ninth. �* .., , , ,., ., ninth. because the department of health and social— ninth. because the department of health and social care _ ninth. because the department of. health and social care spokesperson has said, we are rapidly expanding our hotel capacity and have doubled the number of hotel rooms available from monday, and will continue to increase availability on a daily basis. are you telling me you could have come back earlier, in other words there were flights available but you couldn't because you couldn't find anywhere to quarantine back here? the couldn't find anywhere to quarantine back here? ., , back here? the ninth was the earliest flight _ back here? the ninth was the earliest flight that _ back here? the ninth was the earliest flight that we - back here? the ninth was the earliest flight that we could l back here? the ninth was the i earliest flight that we could get, and there certainly wasn't any quarantine package available for us, and we have the added stress of testing positive at that point for covid-19 so testing positive at that point for covid—19 so we had to wait until the ninth anyway. even if we had wanted to go earlier, there wouldn't have been that option.— to go earlier, there wouldn't have been that option. understood. there are four of you. _ been that option. understood. there are four of you, how _ been that option. understood. there are four of you, how will _ been that option. understood. there are four of you, how will this - are four of you, how will this quarantine work when you do go back to the uk? will you all be in one room? , , ., �* ~ ., ., room? yes, i “ust don't know how we will co e. room? yes, i “ust don't know how we win cope. we— room? yes, ijust don't know how we will cope. we have _ room? yes, ijust don't know how we will cope. we have a _ room? yes, ijust don't know how we will cope. we have a six-month-oldl will cope. we have a six—month—old and a three—year—old, it is just going to be awful. my husband is working as well so at the moment he has a desk space where he can work from. when we go into one hotel room, i don't know how it's going to work. it is very scary and nerve—racking. work. it is very scary and nerve-racking.— work. it is very scary and nerve-racking. work. it is very scary and nerve-rackinu. �* ., ., ., nerve-racking. am i allowed to ask ou how nerve-racking. am i allowed to ask you how much _ nerve-racking. am i allowed to ask you how much this _ nerve-racking. am i allowed to ask you how much this has _ nerve-racking. am i allowed to ask you how much this has cost - nerve-racking. am i allowed to ask you how much this has cost you? i you how much this has cost you? coming to south africa is not a cheap trip anyway, we spent an awful lot of money on it which is something we wanted to do, but we are literally adding thousands onto this trip nowjust to get home. quite a wedding present really! i hope you have still got your sense of humour! alexandra, good luck. i guess the most important thing is you seem well and i presume the rest of the family is all right? yes. of the family is all right? yes, hopefully _ of the family is all right? yes, hopefully we _ of the family is all right? yes, hopefully we will _ of the family is all right? yes, hopefully we will all _ of the family is all right? yes, hopefully we will all get i of the family is all right? yes, hopefully we will all get out i of the family is all right? yes, j hopefully we will all get out of here and be home, safe in the uk. safe travels and thanks for talking to us. . ~ safe travels and thanks for talking to us. ., ~ i. let's return to the government's plan for tackling drug misuse in england and wales, which is due to be released later today. the ten—year strategy will outline ways of dealing with criminal gangs, and also warning that recreational users could lose their passports or driving licences. the medic dame carol black was invited by the home office earlier this year to conduct an independent review of recovery services and treatment for drug addicts. she told our home editor mark easton what needed to change. what we need is a whole systems approach to it, so we need strong, central direction, that's why we need a central drugs unit. we need national outcome framework, and then we need that really connected to the local authorities who have to deliver this treatment and recovery. we need that the money, if we get it, is ring—fenced and then we need accountability. because, at the moment, the drug delivery system or the drug treatment system is so fragmented that many, many people get nothing more than a prescription for methadone. so it is vital, in your view, that we do sort that bit out? we must sort it out, because as long as there's demand, there will be supply. and we have to reduce demand and the best way to reduce demand is by giving people really high quality treatment and recovery. we haven't got the final numbers, but if they have... there have been some suggestions that they have accepted your recommendations around spending for around three years, around £400 million, not an insignificant sum, how would you respond if that is what turns out? i would be delighted if we can get a sum of money like that, because it would enable us to start to rebuild a system and it would allow us to build the workforce, it would allow us to sure that mental health, housing and also the ability to work is included in the package. what do you make of the way this strategy has been launched today? we have had a lot of talk around the criminaljustice elements that they are going to be introducing. and i know you did not focus on that side of things in your report, but what is your take on the way the government seems preoccupied on the justice side of things? i think they feel they must be occupied and preoccupied with enforcement, and of course it is important and we do want county lines to disappear, but unless you give equal balance to treatment and recovery, we are really not going to move forward. we've had enforcement for many years and we haven't really solved our problem. well, as we wait for that plan to be published, a recovering heroin addict has told the bbc that a new treatment being trialled in the midlands is like "being given the keys to a new life". buvidal is a monthly injection that replaces daily treatments like methadone. the charity behind the trial, "change, grow, life", is describing it as a game—changer. james bovill reports. phil has lived his life in an endless cycle of addiction, crime and recovery. abused as a child, in care at the age of 11, he was addicted to heroin at 15, in prison at 17. as an adult, he lost everything. parents, girlfriend, daughter, jobs, accommodation. i've taken things which i didn't know what i was taking. i'm surprised i haven't killed myself accidentally. he spent years trying to get clean, but daily treatments like methadone haven't worked. you tend to find you turn up at the chemist and there's ten junkies stood outside or ten heroin addicts or users. whatever you want to call them. but it's always the same — you turn up, "oh, who's got good gear? where can i get this? where can i get that?" and before you know it, you've got ten junkies walking down the street all bailing in a shop to shoplift at the same time. but now a lifeline. phil is one of 23 people in dudley being offered buvidal, a monthly slow—release injection hailed as a miracle drug in the fight against opioid addiction. i can't tell you just how brilliant buvidal is. it is freedom. it gives you life. now, if i want to turn around, say to my mrs, "bab, come on, let's go away for a few days," we can. buvidal is like being given the keys to a brand—new house, and saying, "there you go, go and make a life for yourself." the trial was funded by the former public health agency public health england and rolled out by the charity change grow live, which delivers drug and alcohol services for councils. they're rolling out trials in dudley, walsall and birmingham. but funding runs out next summer, and the job starts now to persuade policymakers to roll buvidal out more widely. i've worked in substance misuse for over 20 years and buvidal has been an absolute game—changer for all the people that we've seen inducted into the programme. what we would like to see is that funding programme continue and actually the levels of funding to increase. phil is now working as a delivery driver with a happy home life, and, for the first time in his life, hope for the future. i'm grateful i've been given a chance to use this, to try to try this, because this is a game—changer. it is an absolute life—changer. it really is. james bovill, bbc midlands today, dudley. japan is one of the world's biggest users of coal. it's still building coal—fired power stations against the rising tide of concern about climate change. as the country has no reserves of its own, vast quantities of coal have to be imported. and yet, the tokyo government is promising to reach net carbon zero by 2050. it appears to see hydrogen as one of the key ways of achieving that — but how will they produce the hydrogen? rupert wingfield hayes has been finding out. takao saiki and his fellow activists are furious. the reason, this giant new coal—fired power station being built in their hometown. i'm totally against the burning fossil fuels because i'm so worried about the future of young generations. so how is japan going to cut its co2 emissions to zero when these plants are expected to run for the next 40 years, at least? the answer is hydrogen. japan wants to be the first country in the world run on hydrogen, and it's starting with cars. all around the world, big car companies are now talking about the future being battery electric vehicles. toyota, so far, has not produced any battery electric vehicles. instead it is building this, the mirai, and this is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. it's a very different technology. so why does toyota think that hydrogen is the future instead of batteries? translation: we believe we need more choice than just _ battery electric vehicles. and therefore, fuel cell technology which uses hydrogen is also very important in order to achieve our goal of zero emissions. the only waste the mirai produces is water. but where does the hydrogen to fill its tank come from? last month, this ship leftjapan and sailed to australia. it's the first ship in the world that can transport liquefied hydrogen. but that hydrogen is being made from coal. 100 kilometres north of tokyo, huge mountains of coal shipped here mainly from australia. at the moment, japan imports close to 200 million tonnes of coal a year. japan knows it can't carry on doing this, so instead it is going to convert the coal to either hydrogen or ammonia, in far—away australia, and then ship those here. it's what the industry calls blue hydrogen and blue ammonia. the conversion process still creates lots and lots of carbon dioxide. but that co2 will not count as japanese emissions. instead, in theory, the co2 will be buried in the ground in australia. japan is promoting its hydrogen society as a zero—carbon alternative to pure renewables. but producing blue hydrogen will mean digging up coal for decades to come. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, in tokyo. every household in wales is to be offered a free tree in an effort to tackle climate change. the welsh government scheme will give people the option of planting the tree in their garden or having it added to a woodland on their behalf. our wales correspondent hywel griffiths has the details. from these young seedlings, one day, entire forests may grow. the welsh government says it wants to see 86 million trees planted across wales by the end of the decade to capture carbon and combat climate change. that's why next year it will offer over1 million native trees for free — either to be added to a woodland like this, or for people to plant themselves at home. but at the cost of £2 million to the taxpayer, how likely is it that they'll survive and thrive? trees are tough, actually. you've got to treat them pretty badly to kill a tree. you know, just a bit of tender loving care and it will be fine. bit of space and plenty of water. to reach 86 million, many, many more will need to be planted. a national forest stretching across wales is planned. a similar scheme is happening in the midlands. but planting to capture carbon is the subject of scientific debate. it depends on the type of tree and its location. stopping deforestation is, for some, a bigger priority, as well as cutting emissions. whether wales's big tree giveaway can have a meaningful impact won't be clear for at least a generation. but ministers say it's a worthwhile investment in the nation's future. hywel griffith, bbc news. today the bbc sound of 2022 longlist has been revealed. the list has in the past predicted the musical success of adele, amy winehouse and goerge ezra. the nominees are chosen by a host of music critics and industry figures to find the most promising new music talent. this year's winner will be announced on january sixth. well earlier my colleague victoria derbyshire spoke to one of the nominees — lola and asked her how she felt about the nomination. being an up—and—coming artist, it means a lot. being an up-and-coming artist, it means a lot-— being an up-and-coming artist, it means a lot. and the list from the ast, means a lot. and the list from the past. george _ means a lot. and the list from the past, george ezra, _ means a lot. and the list from the past, george ezra, adele, - means a lot. and the list from the past, george ezra, adele, it- means a lot. and the list from the past, george ezra, adele, it has. past, george ezra, adele, it has really predicted accurately, hasn't it? , , _, really predicted accurately, hasn't it? , ., it? yes, in the past you look at adele, where _ it? yes, in the past you look at adele, where she _ it? yes, in the past you look at adele, where she was - it? yes, in the past you look at adele, where she was then i it? yes, in the past you look at| adele, where she was then and it? yes, in the past you look at - adele, where she was then and where she is now, it is pretty mad. haifa she is now, it is pretty mad. how did the john _ she is now, it is pretty mad. how did the john lewis _ she is now, it is pretty mad. how did the john lewis advert, about did thejohn lewis advert, about then? did the john lewis advert, about then? . . , did the john lewis advert, about then? ., ., , , , did the john lewis advert, about then? ., , , ., ., , then? that was pretty random, but not asked then? that was pretty random, but got asked to _ then? that was pretty random, but got asked to do _ then? that was pretty random, but got asked to do it _ then? that was pretty random, but got asked to do it and _ then? that was pretty random, but got asked to do it and there - then? that was pretty random, but got asked to do it and there was i then? that was pretty random, but got asked to do it and there was a l got asked to do it and there was a lot of people trying to do it as well, and there was like... i really experienced the whole process of recording it. they asked me to do electric dreams and i said of course, and they chose me, which was insane. did course, and they chose me, which was insane. , , ., course, and they chose me, which was insane. , i. ~ ., ., course, and they chose me, which was insane. , ~ ., ., insane. did you know that track? because i remember _ insane. did you know that track? because i remember the - insane. did you know that track? i because i remember the original and you are probably way too young to! know, i do know the track. i know the human league and i love the song, i think it is an incredible song. i tried to make it my own as much as possible. you song. i tried to make it my own as much as possible.— song. i tried to make it my own as much as possible. you really have. did ou much as possible. you really have. did you come _ much as possible. you really have. did you come up — much as possible. you really have. did you come up with _ much as possible. you really have. did you come up with the - much as possible. you really have. i did you come up with the arrangement and slowing everything really down? i had a big say in that. i originally did like another version which was again very similar. i know that with the pastjohn lewis christmas adverts, they are all in that vein, quite emotive, so i wanted to create something around that feeling. i wanted to create something around that feeling-— that feeling. i read an interview where you _ that feeling. i read an interview where you said _ that feeling. i read an interview where you said when _ that feeling. i read an interview where you said when you i that feeling. i read an interview where you said when you are i that feeling. i read an interview i where you said when you are young you didn't have a particularly amazing voice, so what work have you done to get to now where you have an amazing voice by the age of 21? thank you. so obviously i did a lot of vocal training, i thank you. so obviously i did a lot of vocaltraining, i had thank you. so obviously i did a lot of vocal training, i had a vocal coach for ages. i also had a cyst on my vocal card is about a year—and—a—half ago so i had to get that cut off. year-and-a-half ago so i had to get that cut off-— that cut off. hang on, that is quite dramatic because _ that cut off. hang on, that is quite dramatic because presumably i that cut off. hang on, that is quite dramatic because presumably you | that cut off. hang on, that is quite i dramatic because presumably you are thinking this could wreck the rest of my career?— thinking this could wreck the rest of m career? , , ., ., , of my career? definitely, and it was a decision i — of my career? definitely, and it was a decision i made _ of my career? definitely, and it was a decision i made in _ of my career? definitely, and it was a decision i made in terms - of my career? definitely, and it was a decision i made in terms of- of my career? definitely, and it was a decision i made in terms of i i a decision i made in terms of i couldn't reach certain notes. my vocal range was very limited at that time when i developed the cyst, so i got that removed and obviously my voice is still very temperamental but it is better than it was. you went to the _ but it is better than it was. you went to the brits _ but it is better than it was. you went to the brits school. what kind of work do you do there? it is went to the brits school. what kind of work do you do there?— of work do you do there? it is a lot of work do you do there? it is a lot of kind of- -- _ of work do you do there? it is a lot of kind of... i— of work do you do there? it is a lot of kind of... i know, _ of work do you do there? it is a lot of kind of... i know, it's _ of work do you do there? it is a lot of kind of... i know, it's a - of work do you do there? it is a lot of kind of... i know, it's a lot i of work do you do there? it is a lot of kind of... i know, it's a lot of. of kind of... i know, it's a lot of kind of singing and dancing. a lot of people say it is like fame. there were some people getting up and dancing on tables, but it wasn't like too intends. we still had to do regular lessons, regular subjects. it was a really nice experience. i made incredible friends and learned quite a bit. 50 made incredible friends and learned uuite a bit. ., ., made incredible friends and learned auiteabit. ., ., quite a bit. so what are your ambitions? _ quite a bit. so what are your ambitions? what _ quite a bit. so what are your ambitions? what are - quite a bit. so what are your ambitions? what are your i quite a bit. so what are your- ambitions? what are your dreams, lola? i ambitions? what are your dreams, lola? . . ambitions? what are your dreams, lola? ., ., ., lola? i mean, at the moment, i think... lola? i mean, at the moment, i think--- i— lola? i mean, at the moment, i think... i have _ lola? i mean, at the moment, i think... i have a _ lola? i mean, at the moment, i think... i have a lot _ lola? i mean, at the moment, i think... i have a lot of - lola? i mean, at the moment, i think... i have a lot of dreams l lola? i mean, at the moment, i. think... i have a lot of dreams and ambitions. i mean like, iwould think... i have a lot of dreams and ambitions. i mean like, i would love to be able to tour the world with my music and sell out massive arenas and shows. but i think my main goal in this, and i think everybody has those kind of like marx in which they think, but i think my main goal is actually to have a career within this which i already am kind of sustaining. but also just to kind this which i already am kind of sustaining. but alsojust to kind of change people's lives with music. that is what music does best so hopefully i'm able to do that with mine. ., ., ., ~ ., . ., ., mine. lola talking to victoria derbyshire — mine. lola talking to victoria derbyshire a _ mine. lola talking to victoria derbyshire a little _ mine. lola talking to victoria derbyshire a little earlier. i and the winner of the sound of 2022 will be announced injanuary on bbc news and bbc radio one. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. while some of us continue to recover, the next storm, storm barra, is about to come in. there will still be impacts across the uk as we head through tuesday into wednesday. the winds will be strongest around irish sea coast, up to 80 mph, but gales vella quite widely. into wednesday, the north—east of scotland will see the winds continue to strengthen. snow could also have an impact on the areas hit by arwen, strong winds bringing blizzard conditions on tuesday. storm barra is this area in the atlantic, there is a gap between that and that which brought the heavy rain across the country today, clearing away into the north sea for what is left of today, then it is showers to take us into the evenings, which could be on the wintry side. that evening, temperatures dropping and it will be a cold evening and a cold night in store. showers continue for the first part of the night, many will fade, but with clearing skies there could be the risk of ice with temperatures widely dropping to freezing or below. it will be a very cold start to tuesday morning, the first signs of storm barra across ireland as we head into the morning. the main message for tuesday and into wednesday is there was widespread gales, and the potential for blizzard later across northern areas. all the weather warnings on the bbc weather website. this may turn briefly to sleet and snow over higher ground in the morning but the winds strengthen across these western areas through the day. a bright and sunny start but the rain spreads in with strengthening winds, and into southern scotland readily turning into snow. it will be a cold day for the most part given the strength of those winds. they transfer northwards and eastwards, and there could be a problem with this no, there's no becoming confined into the grampians as we head into wednesday morning. barra pushes its way through the central swathe. around the periphery is, you will still see widespread gales, the strongest of the winds for orkney and shetland but for the rest of us, heavy and blustery showers. this is bbc news. the headlines a ten year strategy for dealing with drug abuse in england and wales. the prime minister says he wants to come down hard on drugs gangs, but spend more on treatment for addicts. the drugs gangs are doing major damage to life chances of kids growing up in this country. i think it is a disgusting trade and we need to fight it. i want to see the plans, i want to see the strategy, i want the prime minister to take responsibility for the money that's been taken out of criminaljustice in the last ten years that's caused many of these problems. one of the creators of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine urges the world to invest more to prepare forfuture pandemics, saying the next one could be even worse. a barrister for the victims of the grenfell tower fire tells the public inquiry into the disaster that governments' lack of openness should be regarded as "one of the major scandals of our time." with a new storm moving in tomorrow, 1,300 homes in the north—east of england are still without power 10 days after storm arwen. also coming up... lucky to be alive. the gap year student who was dragged under by a crocodile and lived to tell the tale. the government is promising to crack down on drugs gangs, as part of a ten year strategy for tackling drug misuse in england and wales. ministers say they want to dismantle �*county lines�* drugs gangs. they�*re also promising the biggest ever single investment in treating and rehabilitating addicts, who are responsible for a large proportion of crime. according to the home office, drugs are connected to nearly half of killings in england and wales. they�*re also linked to two thirds of shoplifting, more than half of burglaries and just over a quarter of robberies. our home affairs correspondent dominic casciani has this report. and a warning that his report contains flash photography. police! an early morning raid, part of operation toxic, as police conduct an ongoing investigation into county lines gangs. organised crime groups that control the drugs trade. prime minister borisjohnson seeing for himself the challenge the police face. some 300,000 heroin and crack addicts are responsible for nearly half of crimes like burglary and robbery. the prime minister promising his new strategy will change that. we�*ve got to do two things at once. we�*ve got to be tougher on the county lines gangs, we�*ve got to be tougher on the criminals who are doing it, but you�*ve also got to make sure that you find those 300,000 people and you help them away. you can�*t simply arrest them time after time and put them back in prison again and again. you�*ve got to do rehab as well. the government�*s ten—year strategy promises £300 million to pursue drugs gangs. it believes it can take down 2,000 county line in three years. police will get help, for more drug tests on arrest, identifying problem users earlier than before. but the strategy also looks at demand, recreational users such as some clubbers will face losing their passports and driving licences if caught. labour says a strategy is desperately needed. there is no doubt that the drug problem has got a lot worse in the past ten years, particularly drug—related deaths and the county lines which are destroying lives. the question for the government is notjust about plans today but the money they have taken out the system. millions of pounds have been taken out of the system over the years and that has caused a lot of the problem. ministers are promising record investment for schemes such as this rehab programme targeting why some people take drugs. the former independent reviewer of drugs today urged the government not to put all the focus on chasing users, but to help them change their lives. of course it is important. we do want county lines to disappear, but, unless you give equal balance to treatment and recovery, we are really not going to move forward. we have had enforcement for many years. and we haven�*t really solved our problem. couriers working for gangs are known to smuggle drugs on trains, so sniffer dogs are now on the front line, but with drugs deaths at a record high, people say that the prime minister must back his words with with a strategy that will deliver quick results and bring about change. dominic casciani, bbc news. a new initiative combining "targeted and tougher" policing with "enhanced" treatment and recovery services has been piloted in blackpool since the start of the year under the name project adder. detective chief superintendent sue clarke has been leading it. she�*s also head of lancashire violence reduction network. shejoins us now. tell me, what is different about this project? the different about this pro'ect? the difference is i different about this project? tia: difference is around different about this project? tue: difference is around that different about this project? tt2 difference is around that holistic approach. so all agencies working together and the focus is on understanding through the work of our colleagues who have lived experience of the criminaljustice system how best to reach the people who are in the most need. i am talking about people and project ada who have been using intravenous drugs for most of their adult life. this approach is taking the service to them. it�*s that aspect and there is a real community from the lived experience perspective. and the enforcement is being taken on those who are making money out of other people�*s misery. it�*s not about enforcing the law, merely around people who are using drugs for a vile variety of reasons often related to childhood trauma. so it's a 2-pronged _ related to childhood trauma. so it's a 2-pronged approach _ related to childhood trauma. so it's a 2-pronged approach in _ related to childhood trauma. so it's a 2-pronged approach in some i related to childhood trauma. so it's. a 2-pronged approach in some ways, a 2—pronged approach in some ways, that you are stamping down hard on the criminals but with the addict, when you talk about a holistic approach, what do you mean exactly? it's approach, what do you mean exactly? it�*s trying to understand the reasons why people have started to use class a drugs in the first place. nobody woke up one morning and thought i am going to be a drug addict today. this has come about most often from growing up in violent households of island communities where that drug of choice numbs feelings that people can�*t cope with. so with this project not only do they get a realistic approach to reduce their drug use into drug treatment, but they also get a network of people who have a positive influence on them and try to understand what they have been through. there is also a therapeutic element. in terms of the enforcement, the police and blackpool they are trying to enforce the law and take the assets of the criminals were making large amounts of money out of these young people. but they are also identifying vulnerable people. just last month they referred 43 people into the wider team for therapeutic support and drug service. so is everybody working together to make that system for that person are much easier thing to negotiate, which has been a problem in the past. doers thing to negotiate, which has been a problem in the past.— problem in the past. does it work? this is the backend _ problem in the past. does it work? this is the backend of _ problem in the past. does it work? this is the backend of virtually i problem in the past. does it work? this is the backend of virtually 12 i this is the backend of virtually 12 months and we are seeing some very positive signs around retention on the programme. i am talking about adults who are entrenched drug users. they have not gone back to their old ways. it�*s early days but it�*s a positive start. the feedback is very positive as well. so overall we want to focus on this approach to working with these vulnerable people and understanding what�*s happened in the community that they have ended up the community that they have ended up like that. tt�*s the community that they have ended u- like that. �*, ., ,. ., the community that they have ended up like that-— up like that. it's fascinating to hear ou up like that. it's fascinating to hear you say _ up like that. it's fascinating to hear you say that _ up like that. it's fascinating to hear you say that the - up like that. it's fascinating to hear you say that the early i up like that. it's fascinating to i hear you say that the early signs of success are good and it sounds fairly labour intensive. how realistic is it to scale this kind of project up nationwide? of pro'ect up nationwide? that's a ve of project up nationwide? that's a ve aood of project up nationwide? that's a very good question. _ of project up nationwide? that's a very good question. some - of project up nationwide? that's a very good question. some of i of project up nationwide? that's a very good question. some of the l very good question. some of the solutions to this also lies in communities. there are lots of community assets and we are trying to work earlier so we are working in schools and taking that approach in schools and taking that approach in schools so that ideally we do both things, we would work with those high intense abuses and the try and head off a large proportion of people who end up using drugs because it seems to them the only way out. this is not one approach, it�*s part of a wider approach. way out. this is not one approach, it's part of a wider approach. thank ou ve it's part of a wider approach. thank you very much- _ the omicron variant of coronavirus could becme the uk�*s dominant strain within weeks, according to an expert in infectious diseases. professor paul hunter told the bbc that it�*s likely omicron is spreading more quickly than the delta variant and that there are probably more than 1,000 cases in the uk at the moment. his comments come as one of the scientists who created the oxford astra zeneca covid vaccine warns that a future pandemic could be even more lethal. professor dame sarah gilbert says funding is needed to make sure we don�*t lose the advances made in the last two years in how to prepare for a pandemic. our health correspondent sophie hutchinson has this report. the leader of the opposition this morning doing his bit to boost boosterjabs seen as the best way to protect people from both the delta and the new variant of omicron. i would encourage absolutely everyone who is eligible to come forward and have their booster. don�*t be taken in by the information come forward, have your booster, think of yourself, think of others, think of your communities. last month we observed surges in cases. one of the lead scientists behind the oxford astrazeneca vaccine warned of the dangers of future pandemics and said the world needed to be more prepared. the truth is, the next one could be worse. it could be more contagious or more lethal, or both. we cannot allow a situation where we have gone through all we have gone through and then find that the enormous economic losses we have sustained mean that there is still no funding for pandemic preparedness. the world health organization has said just under 40 countries around the world now have cases of the new variant here in the uk. a further 86 cases were reported yesterday by the uk health security agency, bringing the total number identified to 246. but some scientists believe the true figure may be more than 1,000. the early signs are that it will probably spread quite quickly and probably start outcompeting delta and become the dominant variant probably within the next weeks, or a month or so, at least. scientists are still unable to confirm whether omicron causes less severe disease. that may not be known for many weeks. i don�*t think that we need to change the overall guidance and advice we�*re giving about omicron in this country. we�*re still waiting to see exactly how dangerous it is, what sort of effect it has in terms of deaths and hospitalisations. from today, anyone aged over 12 who�*s permitted to travel into the uk is now required to show a negative pcr or lateral flow test in an attempt to slow the new variant�*s spread from abroad. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. some breaking news hasjust arrived. the first concerns spar stores in the north of england. a number of spar stores have had to close. this is due to an online attack which is affecting james hall and company. that is the food distribution company that supplies around 600 spar shops. they are the primary wholesaler to spar stores across the north of england. its website is also down. on the twitter page it says that james hall and also down. on the twitter page it says thatjames hall and company were aware of an online attack says that james hall and company were aware of an online attack on its it system. this has not affected all spar stores across the north of england but a number have been impacted over the past 24 hours and we are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. so a number of spar stores in the north of england have had to close because of england have had to close because of an online attack affecting the food distribution company that supplies those spar shops. some also — some news there is coming from scotland that a primary school in renfrewshire has been forced to close for a week after a suspected outbreak of the omicron variant of coronavirus. parents of children were told about the closure yesterday and have been asked to remain vigilant for symptoms of covid 19. remain vigilant for symptoms of covid19. the council has said the decision was taken as they were unable to maintain necessary staffing levels. children from three separate classes are self isolating as well as many staff members. scotland has so far reported a total of 48 cases of the omicron variant but now this primary school in renfrewshire has been forced to close for a week after a suspected outbreak of the omicron variant of coronavirus. we will of course bring you more on both of those stories as and when we get it. the headlines on bbc news: a ten—year strategy for tackling drug misuse in england and wales. a crackdown on criminal gangs, and a warning to recreational users that they could lose their passports or driving licences. one of the creators of the oxford astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine urges the world to invest more to prepare for future pandemics, saying the next one could be even worse. a barrister for the victims of the grenfell tower fire tells the public inquiry into the disaster that governments �*concealed�* the extent of risks to building safety. a barrister representing the victims of the grenfell tower fire has told the official inquiry that governments concealed the extent of risks to building safety, and it should be seen as one of the �*major scandals of our time�*. 72 people died injune 2017 when the tower block in west london caught fire. our home affairs correspondent tom symonds reports. there had been warnings of what might happen. a fire in knowsley on merseyside. another in irvine, north ayrshire. and a third in southwark, south london. eerily similar — flames spreading up the outside, lives put at risk, lives lost. but, did the government and other public bodies spot the risk? take action? that, and much more is what the grenfell inquiry will investigate in its finalfive months. this inquiry is not a game of cat and mouse where core participants might hope that their witnesses might smuggle something past counsel the inquiry or that counsel to the inquiry might miss a trick. core participants including the government and other industry bodies. a key question, why a fire classification known as class zero remained in place for decades. cladding panels rated class zero were allowed on tall buildings, but class zero included materials which catch light easily so, after grenfell, all the cladding had to be removed. the grenfell disaster is a predictable yet unintended consequence of the combination of a laudable desire to reduce carbon emissions, coupled with an unbridled passion for deregulation. in particular, a desire to deregulate and boost the housing construction industry. cladding helps keep buildings warm, cutting carbon emissions, and all recent governments have wanted to help home builders build homes, but deregulating the safety of their industry created risks, the inquiry was told today, and the government kept them quiet, it was claimed. the result is a prolonged period of concealment by the government, which should properly be regarded as one of the major scandals of our time. ministers and officials will give evidence in weeks to come, in the final stage of the search for answers to the question, how could this happen? tom symonds, bbc news. arnold tarling is a fire safety expert and chartered surveyor and joins us now. what is your reaction to the comments that successive governments ignored the problem for decades. certainly those advising the government and civil servants new. in effect after another fire where the deaths occurred. there was an inquest and brian martin, the chief person who advises the ministers, stated to the inquest that he was under no circumstances one ministers that fires were spreading across the face of buildings. why he did that i don�*t know. the fact is that those advising governments either knew of the risks or they reasonably knew the risks or they reasonably knew the risks or they reasonably knew the risks and if they knew of the risks and didn�*t say or they didn�*t know the risks and couldn�*t see then they are not fit to be advising government. in recent months, we have found the building research establishment conducted tests for one of the insulation suppliers which failed. they then retested it ljy which failed. they then retested it by re—rigging the test rig by including materials you can never use and would never be used in cladding, changing the parameters of the gaps between the cladding and the gaps between the cladding and the insulation, retesting it and then saying the insulation was fit for purpose. and not stating in the report what they had done to fake this report. the other thing which has come out is that the building research establishment, who are the chief advises the government, had carried out tests on the type of cladding used on green fell and insulation and other forms of cladding and they had filed every single test but they concluded that they were only preliminary tests. the other fact is, we have they were only preliminary tests. the otherfact is, we have had numerous fires in buildings, not just in this country, and the fire risk produced by acm cladding was well—known to people the industry. in fact, when i was speaking at the seventh annual thia conference british standards i specifically raised the issue of acm cladding and insulation and timber balconies and a lot of other materials, that was in 2014. �* ., a lot of other materials, that was in 2014. ~ ., , a lot of other materials, that was in 2014. ~ . , ,._ ., in 2014. and what did they say to ou? in 2014. and what did they say to you? nobody _ in 2014. and what did they say to you? nobody contradicted - in 2014. and what did they say to you? nobody contradicted me. i in 2014. and what did they say to i you? nobody contradicted me. nobody came u- you? nobody contradicted me. nobody came up and — you? nobody contradicted me. nobody came up and said _ you? nobody contradicted me. nobody came up and said we _ you? nobody contradicted me. nobody came up and said we are _ you? nobody contradicted me. nobody came up and said we are going - you? nobody contradicted me. nobody came up and said we are going to i you? nobody contradicted me. nobody came up and said we are going to do i came up and said we are going to do anything about it. at that meeting, with people from the dc lg, the place where brian martin comes from, people were there from this fire services, they all heard what was said but did they listen? no they didn�*t. we don�*tjust have the risks from this cladding, there are many other risks coming through like glass balconies, timber cladding, the building of modular buildings is very difficult to fire stop. we are regularly building buildings which are going to be high risk and dangerous for people living there and more people are going to be faced with bankruptcy and court cases against them because they cannot pay for these defects in buildings to be put right. you raise a lot of points _ buildings to be put right. you raise a lot of points and _ buildings to be put right. you raise a lot of points and let's _ buildings to be put right. you raise a lot of points and let's not - buildings to be put right. you raise a lot of points and let's not forgetl a lot of points and let�*s not forget this is one of the reasons the government is holding an official enquiry into what happened to hopefully get some answers to some of the questions that you have posed. i suppose if one was to look forward, what lessons have been learnt? because what you are saying is these issues were being raised use before and being ignored. m1; use before and being ignored. i?! comment use before and being ignored. m1: comment is use before and being ignored. tj'i1 comment is lessons use before and being ignored. ti1 comment is lessons are use before and being ignored. ti1: comment is lessons are not use before and being ignored. ti1 comment is lessons are not learned, they are forgotten or they are pushed under the radar. one of the comments made by the top civil servant was always the number of people dying in house fires is falling, why do we need to do anything, show me the bodies? we then get later on more recently after grenville tower, government ministers saying the number of people dying in fight is falling. there is no risk. they are wrong. we are building risky buildings, keep rolling the dice and the number six will come up and they will be another disaster because the warnings are being ignored. unfortunately, we must leave it there but we are grateful for your thoughts. thank you forjoining us. the former leader of myanmar, aung san suu kyi, has had a four yearjail sentence cut in half after a partial pardon from myanmar�*s military leader. aung san suu kyi had beenjailed for four years on charges that included inciting unrest, and breaking covid restrictions during last year�*s election campaign. but the country�*s state television network has reported in the last few minutes that the chief of the military—appointed government reduced the sentence by two years. aung sang suu kyi has been under house arrest since a military coup in february toppled her elected civilian government. she has denied all charges. our south east asia correspondent, jonathan head, told us more about the trial. the trial has been held in secret and aung san suu kyi has been unable to speak to her lawyers. they are not allowed to talk about what happens. it is viewed widely by human rights groups as a sham and is a device to try and disable her politically and whether the sente is four years or two years hardly matters when you consider she faces at least ten other charges which could give her sentences ranging up to 100 years in total. nobody takes this seriously outside the military. the bigger question is what will they do with aung san suu kyi in the future? she will remain, we believe, under house arrest for the moment. she has not been seen by anyone outside a very small circle since the first day of the coup when she was detained. there are real questions about what the military�*s future actions are going to be. when you think that outside the bubble of the trial, the country is falling apart. you have got huge numbers of people who were protesting at one point and who are now taking up arms and fighting the military. the economy is in ruins. these are the problems the military will have to address and at some point in the future, aung san suu kyi might have a role to play regardless of what sentence they give her now. whether it is four years or two years as you say, from what you are saying it seems a matter of detail anyway, but it does remove herfrom the picture and i wondered if it is possible to look at this in some way as military desperation? they are in a bad position. they did not expect the huge resistance to the coup. they calculated disastrously. remember, aung san suu kyi had just one an election by an absolute landslide so people felt insulted by that and the opposition has not dwindled. even now, after hundreds and hundreds of deaths and terrible violence and months of this violence, they are in a difficult position. what they hope is that by applying all these rather improbable criminal sanctions that they can say if there is any kind of negotiating process that they can keep her out of it. she is what they fear because she is so popular and such a successful election winner, the military has its own political party and they were consigned to a fraction of seats in the last election so they are hoping to claw back some kind of role. but really the country is in such a disastrous state it is impossible to predict what it�*s going to be like even three months from now. questions still remain over whether a party reportedly held inside downing street last christmas, involving people eating, drinking and playing games, would have contravened the covid rules. a downing street spokesman said there was an �*intention�* to hold a party this year, but it hadn�*t been confirmed. meanwhile the former health secretary, matt hancock has apologised for a failure of leadership in the days that led up to his resignation. mr hancock was speaking in his first interview to the bbc since broke social distancing rules when he kissed an advisor inside a government building. you hope that by being straightforward about the fact i messed up and apologising for that and resigning, i hope people can see that i get it. we can speak now to the political editor of the daily mirror, pippa crerar, who broke the story surrounding the downing street christmas party. the government maintains that no covid regulations were broken. enough ministers have been asked about this in the last week. they have all maintained the same line and yet this is a story that doesn�*t seem to go away. why is that? it�*s seem to go away. why is that? it's surprising- — seem to go away. why is that? it's surprising. i broke the story last week _ surprising. i broke the story last week i— surprising. i broke the story last week i was _ surprising. i broke the story last week. i was told by several people that _ week. i was told by several people that they— week. i was told by several people that... they thought it would be a one wonder— that... they thought it would be a one wonder but it was brought up at prime _ one wonder but it was brought up at prime ministers question times. he denied _ prime ministers question times. he denied it— prime ministers question times. he denied it on— prime ministers question times. he denied it on three separate occasions. but the fact that questions are still being asked a week— questions are still being asked a week later comes back to the fact that the _ week later comes back to the fact that the public are reminded of what an awful— that the public are reminded of what an awful time it was for many of them _ an awful time it was for many of them that _ an awful time it was for many of them. that is notjust the covid breed _ them. that is notjust the covid breed families who have spoken out about— breed families who have spoken out about this _ breed families who have spoken out about this party started out it seems — about this party started out it seems to— about this party started out it seems to have struck a chord. your line is breaking _ seems to have struck a chord. your line is breaking up _ seems to have struck a chord. your line is breaking up a _ seems to have struck a chord. your line is breaking up a little - seems to have struck a chord. tm;- line is breaking up a little bit but we are catching up with your sound and vision intermittently. interesting that the prime minister�*s official spokesman has been asked about this today. he has insisted there was no party and no rules were broken in downing street last year and that guidance had been followed at all times. but then the spokesman was asked why the prime minister had not set himself there was no party and the spokesman said that had been the position since the issue had been raised at last week�*s prime ministers questions. do you think this story, is there more roads to run the story? i think this story, is there more roads to run the story?- think this story, is there more roads to run the story? i think it's clear that people _ roads to run the story? i think it's clear that people are _ roads to run the story? i think it's clear that people are not - roads to run the story? i think it's clear that people are not satisfied with the _ clear that people are not satisfied with the answers they are getting from _ with the answers they are getting from ministers. the policing minister— from ministers. the policing minister insisted this morning no rules— minister insisted this morning no rules were — minister insisted this morning no rules were broken but also admitted he did _ rules were broken but also admitted he did not— rules were broken but also admitted he did not know what had gone on at number— he did not know what had gone on at number ten — he did not know what had gone on at numberten. it he did not know what had gone on at number ten. it does seem there is a stepping _ number ten. it does seem there is a stepping up— number ten. it does seem there is a stepping up from number ten that no party took— stepping up from number ten that no party took place but i know there was a _ party took place but i know there was a gathering of 40 to 50 people in a crowded room and they were drinking — in a crowded room and they were drinking and eating nibbles and playing — drinking and eating nibbles and playing party games well after midnight. in my book that is a party — midnight. in my book that is a party. you _ midnight. in my book that is a party. you might want to define it as something else if you are in number— as something else if you are in number ten as something else if you are in numberten but as something else if you are in number ten but most people would regard _ number ten but most people would regard that as a christmas party. as the debate — regard that as a christmas party. as the debate continues over whether we will have _ the debate continues over whether we will have christmas parties this yearm — will have christmas parties this ear... ~ ., ., , year... we have to interrupt you because we _ year... we have to interrupt you because we are _ year. .. we have to interrupt you because we are now— year... we have to interrupt you because we are now going i year... we have to interrupt you i because we are now going straight to the house of commons. there is an urgent question being asked about the power outages caused by the storm. ., , , ., ., the power outages caused by the storm. ., , �*, storm. power is restored to people's home and we — storm. power is restored to people's home and we have _ storm. power is restored to people's home and we have provided - storm. power is restored to people's home and we have provided a - storm. power is restored to people's home and we have provided a name| home and we have provided a name contact for mp5. this storm was the worst over 15 years in terms of the disruption and damage caused. those most badly hit have been in northern england and scotland, some of whom have now been without power for over a week. this has made life stressful for many residents and i want to ensure them the help is there. on friday i visited aberdeenshire to see first hand the damage caused by storm arwen. i would like to thank the engineers, the emergency workers and our armed forces who are on the ground for their incredibly hard work and perseverance in challenging conditions. mr speaker, we have removed the compensation limit to allow customers effected to claim up to £140 per day if they are without power. and i�*m glad to say the 99.8% of those affected by the storm have had their power supply restored so far. mr speaker, this is not good enough. it is completely unacceptable that around 1600 were still in this position as of this morning but the situation is improving each hour. the remaining areas affected are in the north—east of england, predominantly the wear valley surrounding eastgate where i was on wednesday. i have been assured by the network operators that all efforts are focused on having power restored to those households in the next day. can i first of all say _ households in the next day. can i first of all say what _ households in the next day. can i first of all say what a _ first of all say what a disappointment the secretary of state _ disappointment the secretary of state is — disappointment the secretary of state is not here today to address us on _ state is not here today to address us on this— state is not here today to address us on this important issue. mr speaker, _ us on this important issue. mr speaker, there is something seriously— speaker, there is something seriously wrong with northern power li’id. seriously wrong with northern power grid not _ seriously wrong with northern power grid. not with the engineers and individuals out restoring power but with the _ individuals out restoring power but with the management and senior management of that company. the secretary _ management of that company. the secretary of state in his visit said he met— secretary of state in his visit said he met with, and i know the minister did, met _ he met with, and i know the minister did, met with local managers and can ithank— did, met with local managers and can i thank him _ did, met with local managers and can i thank him for his phone call on friday— i thank him for his phone call on friday morning. in the last ten days, — friday morning. in the last ten days, i— friday morning. in the last ten days, i have had constituents in many— days, i have had constituents in many areas _ days, i have had constituents in many areas without power. some have now been _ many areas without power. some have now been restored but others are still without power. i'm sorry, i would — still without power. i'm sorry, i would ask— still without power. i'm sorry, i would ask the minister to go back to power— would ask the minister to go back to power companies because he cannot -ive power companies because he cannot give the _ power companies because he cannot give the assurance he hasjust given to those _ give the assurance he hasjust given to those communities because on their— to those communities because on their own — to those communities because on their own website they said there is no date _ their own website they said there is no date yet — their own website they said there is no date yet for restoring power in some _ no date yet for restoring power in some parts— no date yet for restoring power in some parts of my constituency. experiencing sub zero temperatures in terrible _ experiencing sub zero temperatures in terrible conditions. it is made worse _ in terrible conditions. it is made worse by— in terrible conditions. it is made worse by northern power grid. on friday— worse by northern power grid. on friday night i understand internally theyissued friday night i understand internally they issued an emergency for county durham _ they issued an emergency for county durham. that was not transmitted to the local— durham. that was not transmitted to the local resilience forum until wednesday the 1st of december. which only became apparent to the county council— only became apparent to the county council and — only became apparent to the county council and forum when an officer started _ council and forum when an officer started plotting on the map how many homes _ started plotting on the map how many homes were actually affected. what's made _ homes were actually affected. what's made it— homes were actually affected. what's made it worse is their communications which has raised people's— communications which has raised people's expectations power is coming — people's expectations power is coming on so people have stayed in homes _ coming on so people have stayed in homes when they shouldn't have done, and likewise _ homes when they shouldn't have done, and likewise information now is still not — and likewise information now is still not good. i was even told by an employer last week of northern power— an employer last week of northern power grid to ignore the website, it is complete — power grid to ignore the website, it is complete nonsense. so if they are saying _ is complete nonsense. so if they are saying that, — is complete nonsense. so if they are saying that, what confidence can my constituents have in that. that communication has been appalling and made things worse. the other thing that made _ made things worse. the other thing that made things worse, particularly in my— that made things worse, particularly in my constituency, is the age of the components so can i ask three quick— the components so can i ask three quick questions. will he do an urgent — quick questions. will he do an urgent independent assessment of the resilience _ urgent independent assessment of the resilience of the grid, especially since _ resilience of the grid, especially since we — resilience of the grid, especially since we have got the storm coming in tomorrow— since we have got the storm coming in tomorrow night? what was done since _ in tomorrow night? what was done since 2013? — in tomorrow night? what was done since 2013? and thirdly, in terms of the company, what can be done to force _ the company, what can be done to force them — the company, what can be done to force them to pass information on to those _ force them to pass information on to those bodies that need to know the resilience _ those bodies that need to know the resilience forum? and what compensation our money will be put forward _ compensation our money will be put forward to— compensation our money will be put forward to durham county council and others _ forward to durham county council and others for _ forward to durham county council and others for the money they have expended so far? mr others for the money they have expended so far?— others for the money they have expended so far? others for the money they have exended so far? ~ ,,, ., ,, ., ,, expended so far? mr speaker, i thank him for those — expended so far? mr speaker, i thank him for those further _ expended so far? mr speaker, i thank him for those further questions i expended so far? mr speaker, i thank him for those further questions and i him for those further questions and i thank him for his concern, and it was good to have a chance to give him an update on friday morning in person on the situation in county durham and particularly in relation to north durham and particularly to pass on the contact details at the northern power grid. in terms of the secretary of state, the secretary gave a statement last wednesday here from this very dispatch box, was in the north—east yesterday and is currently on an urgent call with philjones who heads up the northern power grid. in terms of some of those responses, i agree with the honourable gentleman. i agree that communications have not been affected. i think northern power grid, and i said this to philjones in person, but there are communications were not good enough, particularly in the first few days. i was also joined by the member for berwick—upon—tweed who also gave to him very directly the frustrations that she had had including on social media, there has been no social media, there has been no social media response. ithink media, there has been no social media response. i think those messages landed with northern power grid well. i also visited on wednesday, mr speaker, the call centre at penshaw and i want to agree the incredible work being done in those call centres. i remember meeting nicola chip, dave rose and many others who have been putting in long shifts in that call centre. the first 48 hours was very difficult to get into the call centre in the storm aftermath but incredible efforts have been put in. a lot of engineers have come right the way from across the country, when i was there on wednesday 200 engineers were there, and there�*s even more making sure the last properties get reconnected. in terms of generators, hundreds have been deployed into the area, and finally in terms of the independent assessment, what ofgem do after this is to conduct an independent assessment, lessons learned process which is exactly what we did with storm desmond years ago. what we did with storm desmond years auo. . ~' what we did with storm desmond years auo. ., ~ 1 ., what we did with storm desmond years ao, ., ~' , what we did with storm desmond years ato. ., ~ i. ~ .,~ what we did with storm desmond years ato. ., ~ ~ ., ago. thank you, mr speaker, and i would like — ago. thank you, mr speaker, and i would like to _ ago. thank you, mr speaker, and i would like to thank— ago. thank you, mr speaker, and i would like to thank and _ ago. thank you, mr speaker, and i i would like to thank and congratulate the honourable gentleman for securing — the honourable gentleman for securing this urgent question and also thank— securing this urgent question and also thank the first minister for visiting — also thank the first minister for visiting my constituency over the last week — visiting my constituency over the last week. there are some real issues — last week. there are some real issues here about the relationship between _ issues here about the relationship between energy companies and the local resilience forum. the regulations in 2004 and 2005 set out guidance _ regulations in 2004 and 2005 set out guidance on how energy providers should _ guidance on how energy providers should engage with father but i need to know— should engage with father but i need to know what assessment they have made _ to know what assessment they have made of _ to know what assessment they have made of the communications from northern— made of the communications from northern power grid, and does it need _ northern power grid, and does it need strengthening in law if it is not the — need strengthening in law if it is not the case they are passing it over— not the case they are passing it over quickly enough? and on another quick— over quickly enough? and on another quick point, _ over quickly enough? and on another quick point, mr speaker, we welcome the ofgem _ quick point, mr speaker, we welcome the ofgem review. i think that should — the ofgem review. i think that should be a helpful step in the right— should be a helpful step in the right direction and also the fact that the — right direction and also the fact that the £700 cap has been removed and doubling of the daily allowance for my— and doubling of the daily allowance for my constituents. many of them in the run-up— for my constituents. many of them in the run-up to— for my constituents. many of them in the run—up to christmas will have spent _ the run—up to christmas will have spent a _ the run—up to christmas will have spent a huge amount of money of their— spent a huge amount of money of their own — spent a huge amount of money of their own cash going into hotels or other— their own cash going into hotels or other accommodation and on extra food _ other accommodation and on extra food can — other accommodation and on extra food. can he ensure that northern power— food. can he ensure that northern power grid — food. can he ensure that northern power grid and will he put the government to ensure northern power grid government to ensure northern power and get— government to ensure northern power and get the — government to ensure northern power grid get the compensation out as quickly— grid get the compensation out as quickly as— grid get the compensation out as quickly as possible, especially in the run-up— quickly as possible, especially in the run—up to christmas, when they need _ the run—up to christmas, when they need to— the run—up to christmas, when they need to have — the run—up to christmas, when they need to have that money as quickly as possible. mr need to have that money as quickly as possible-— as possible. mr speaker, can i commend _ as possible. mr speaker, can i commend my _ as possible. mr speaker, can i commend my honourable i as possible. mr speaker, can i. commend my honourable friend as possible. mr speaker, can i- commend my honourable friend who i also spoke with i think on tuesday and wednesday, and it was a pleasure to visit his constituency. i saw the generator being connected to the community centre by engineers. there are engineers there right the way from across the uk, including if not particularly from uk power networks in the south—east of england. i was out to stjohn�*s chapel seeing the relief centre and also at eastgate seeing things first hand in his constituency. in answer to his questions, our assessment of the communications, i�*ve already mentioned we think they were not good enough. in northern power grid, from northern power grid in those first days. that i�*m sure will be part of the review process that the government together with ofgem will be doing as part of the response to all of these storm events, mr speaker. in terms of northern power grid, as i say, we put it to mr jones very firmly the experience that many members of this house and their constituents have had in particular in those first few days, and if i may say so, i think that message landed.— and if i may say so, i think that message landed. let's come to the shadow secretary _ message landed. let's come to the shadow secretary of _ message landed. let's come to the shadow secretary of state. - message landed. let's come to the shadow secretary of state. i'd i message landed. let's come to the shadow secretary of state. i'd like | shadow secretary of state. i'd like to start by thanking _ shadow secretary of state. i'd like to start by thanking the _ shadow secretary of state. i'd like | to start by thanking the engineers, army. _ to start by thanking the engineers, army, emergency services and locals for their— army, emergency services and locals for their heroic response to this crisis _ for their heroic response to this crisis can — for their heroic response to this crisis can i _ for their heroic response to this crisis. can i say to the minister, it is— crisis. can i say to the minister, it is totally— crisis. can i say to the minister, it is totally contemptuous for the business — it is totally contemptuous for the business secretary to be available for a photo opportunity yesterday but not _ for a photo opportunity yesterday but not available today to come to this house — but not available today to come to this house and account for the government's performance. it simply adds insult— government's performance. it simply adds insult to injury for communities that have been badly let down in _ communities that have been badly let down in the _ communities that have been badly let down in the north of england. they have been— down in the north of england. they have been let down by the power networks — have been let down by the power networks but also by central government in its crisis response and oversight of the system. let me ask him. _ and oversight of the system. let me ask him, why ten days into this crisis _ ask him, why ten days into this crisis the — ask him, why ten days into this crisis the cobra committee has still not met— crisis the cobra committee has still not met to — crisis the cobra committee has still not met to coordinate the response? a local _ not met to coordinate the response? a local conservative councillor in durham — a local conservative councillor in durham said over the weekend, "if this happened in london or the south—east, everything would have tot south—east, everything would have got thrown — south—east, everything would have got thrown at it." and people in the north— got thrown at it." and people in the north entitled to think he is right? they are _ north entitled to think he is right? they are being treated as second—class citizens. why did it take _ second—class citizens. why did it take a _ second—class citizens. why did it take a week for the army to be called — take a week for the army to be called in — take a week for the army to be called in when members across the house _ called in when members across the house were calling for this at the start— house were calling for this at the start of— house were calling for this at the start of last week? and why are thousands— start of last week? and why are thousands still without power when the secretary of state said last wednesday in this house that people would _ wednesday in this house that people would be _ wednesday in this house that people would be reconnected by friday? will he now— would be reconnected by friday? will he now apologised to communities in the north— he now apologised to communities in the north for the government's performance? he said today that he wants _ performance? he said today that he wants to _ performance? he said today that he wants to learn lessons, but mr speaker, — wants to learn lessons, but mr speaker, we have been here before. after the _ speaker, we have been here before. after the 2013 storms, multiple reports — after the 2013 storms, multiple reports were produced. i have them here for— reports were produced. i have them here for him — reports were produced. i have them here for him and they identified problems of communication, the vulnerability of the network, complacency of the companies. back then 16,000 people were cut off for 48 hours _ then 16,000 people were cut off for 48 hours and customers were told after that event they could expect to see _ after that event they could expect to see significant improvement, but this time _ to see significant improvement, but this time the performance has been far worse _ this time the performance has been farworse. isn't this time the performance has been far worse. isn't the only conclusion that the _ far worse. isn't the only conclusion that the government has been asleep at the _ that the government has been asleep at the wheel is not just that the government has been asleep at the wheel is notjust in the last ten days— at the wheel is notjust in the last ten days but for the best part of a decade? — ten days but for the best part of a decade? the climate crisis means we will face _ decade? the climate crisis means we will face many more of these events. the government must get a grip. instead _ the government must get a grip. instead of— the government must get a grip. instead of a cozy government led process _ instead of a cozy government led process overseen by ofgem, will he now establish what the situation demands, a proper independent inquiry— demands, a proper independent inquiry into the performance and failures— inquiry into the performance and failures of— inquiry into the performance and failures of power companies, regulators and government to make sure our— regulators and government to make sure our country and communities are never— sure our country and communities are never left _ sure our country and communities are never left this vulnerable again. mr never left this vulnerable again. speaker, let never left this vulnerable again. i speaker, let me deal with the never left this vulnerable again. ti speaker, let me deal with the each of those points in turn. it would not be fair to say that it was a photo opportunity, the secretary of state visited the armed forces, the engineers, local residents, the relief centres and so on, it was most definitely not a photo opportunity. it was actually an opportunity, as i discovered in county durham on wednesday and in aberdeenshire on friday, to thank those who had responded. there are people, engineers who had come from northern ireland, from the isle of man to assist, mr speaker, and we felt it was the right thing to do to thank them for the efforts they had put in. the secretary of state is on a call at the moment with the prime minister and the head of northern power grid. the neutral aid system in place between the network operators, he will know from his time as secretary of state the importance of the neutral aid system whereby different companies across the united kingdom, when a storm comes in, provide help to each other and that is why engineers are able to be deployed right the way across the country. that is most effective thing. because in restoring in restoring highly dangerous health and safety intensive work, overhead power cables, those are the people that one needs to be able to do the job. he said it took a week for the army, well it is a job for the local resilience forum to say locally what the needs are. as soon as the local resilience forum in aberdeenshire and in durham gave us the call, the army were deployed very quickly indeed. he talks about investment. 60 billion has been invested in the network over the last eight years. in terms of this storm, i learned first—hand on wednesday in county durham, friday in aberdeenshire the particular nature of this storm, the unusual wind speed, that the wind came in from the north—east rather than the prevailing south—westerly winds. that makes a big difference in terms of your power network. also the nature of the icing and the accumulation of ice on cables. one of the engineers, mr speaker, i was speaking to on wednesday described how this particular set of circumstances he'd only experienced one before in his 35 year career. in terms of climate crisis, of course there will be similar events like this in the future. that is why we need to do everything we can, for example with our net zero strategy in october, to make sure this country becomes more resilient to these kind of events. we are currently doing a joint consultation with ofgem on the future system operator. that is the kind of response that we need, and net zero strategy, how we equip the country overall, plus in particular how we make sure the grid becomes more resilient to these kind of events in the future. ., , ., resilient to these kind of events in the future. . , . _ resilient to these kind of events in the future-— the future. can i start by thanking m riaht the future. can i start by thanking my right honourable _ the future. can i start by thanking my right honourable friend - the future. can i start by thanking my right honourable friend for - the future. can i start by thanking my right honourable friend for his| my right honourable friend for his visit to— my right honourable friend for his visit to aberdeenshire on friday, particularly to probably one of the hardest _ particularly to probably one of the hardest places to get to. we went to visit the _ hardest places to get to. we went to visit the engineers on the ground in a wooded _ visit the engineers on the ground in a wooded area outside a village in my constituency and i think they really— my constituency and i think they really appreciated the visit from my i’ilht really appreciated the visit from my right honourable friend, and certainly _ right honourable friend, and certainly we appreciated the work they put — certainly we appreciated the work they put into that. can i associate myself _ they put into that. can i associate myself with his friends in his opening _ myself with his friends in his opening statement thanking those engineers and the resilience partnerships emergency services, but can i add _ partnerships emergency services, but can i add to _ partnerships emergency services, but can i add to that, will he agree with— can i add to that, will he agree with me — can i add to that, will he agree with me or— can i add to that, will he agree with me or will he join me in thanking _ with me or will he join me in thanking the local communities, the individuals— thanking the local communities, the individuals and community groups that have — individuals and community groups that have come out in force and shown — that have come out in force and shown community spirit like they have _ shown community spirit like they have done — shown community spirit like they have done throughout the covid—19 pandemic— have done throughout the covid—19 pandemic as well. on the communications issue that a number of right— communications issue that a number of right honourable members have made, _ of right honourable members have made. can— of right honourable members have made, can i urge him to make sure the review— made, can i urge him to make sure the review that has been announced tty the review that has been announced by ofgem _ the review that has been announced by ofgem will not only look at lessons — by ofgem will not only look at lessons learned about what went wrong _ lessons learned about what went wrong with communications but what we can— wrong with communications but what we can do— wrong with communications but what we can do in— wrong with communications but what we can do in the future in terms of how we _ we can do in the future in terms of how we reach out to people who have become _ how we reach out to people who have become overly dependent on social media _ become overly dependent on social media and — become overly dependent on social media and hand—held devices, and how we can— media and hand—held devices, and how we can go— media and hand—held devices, and how we can go back to how we managed to communicate say 20 years ago. | communicate say 20 years ago. thank my communicate say 20 years ago. i thank my honourable friend for that and it was invaluable to have assistance on friday visiting his community, meeting the sse engineers. i had a very good occasion in particularly to thank the little kitchen in mexico has been working flat out to provide fish and chips to the community —— in metflick. can i alsojust in terms of mentioning to him it was a pleasure to meet in aberdeenshire those who have come from across the uk to assist. i was talking to one of the engineers who have come up from liverpool and it was a genuine professional satisfaction in coming from right the way across the country to help people in their time of need which i saw from right across the uk, and i think people were very thankfulfor across the uk, and i think people were very thankful for that. in terms of the review, of course people have become more dependent on electricity, generally that can be a good thing for us, particularly electric vehicles and electricity as a source of power, but we also need to recognise the greater dependence means a greater responsibility and i'm sure that will be part of the joint ofgem and beis review coming up. joint ofgem and beis review coming u . _ ., ~' joint ofgem and beis review coming un. ., " , ., joint ofgem and beis review coming up. thank you, mr speaker. i would like to -a up. thank you, mr speaker. i would like to pay testament _ up. thank you, mr speaker. i would like to pay testament to _ up. thank you, mr speaker. i would like to pay testament to the - like to pay testament to the fortitude of those who have been affected — fortitude of those who have been affected as well as the workers doing _ affected as well as the workers doing the work in challenging element. people without power for ten days _ element. people without power for ten days is— element. people without power for ten days is completely unacceptable, it is unacceptable for the minister to stand — it is unacceptable for the minister to stand here and say it is unacceptable without telling us what he's doing to sort out these unacceptable conditions. with so niany_ unacceptable conditions. with so many faults, what discussions has the government had about the robustness of the network, the recovery— robustness of the network, the recovery plans, and actually did people — recovery plans, and actually did people understand... we knew the storm _ people understand... we knew the storm was — people understand... we knew the storm was coming, did people understand the effects of the storm on trees— understand the effects of the storm on trees being felled by the wind? customers— on trees being felled by the wind? customers and parliament were given dates for— customers and parliament were given dates for when electricity would be restored _ dates for when electricity would be restored but we know these have proven— restored but we know these have proven to — restored but we know these have proven to be wrong so what assessment has the government made of how— assessment has the government made of how the _ assessment has the government made of how the companies didn't have a -rip of how the companies didn't have a grip of— of how the companies didn't have a grip of the — of how the companies didn't have a grip of the situation? with technology deployed there could be drones _ technology deployed there could be drones and other remote working devices _ drones and other remote working devices and sufficient tree clearing equipment deployed in the aftermath. it's equipment deployed in the aftermath. it's quite _ equipment deployed in the aftermath. it's quite clear the army should have _ it's quite clear the army should have been— it's quite clear the army should have been deployed quicker. why didn't— have been deployed quicker. why didn't the — have been deployed quicker. why didn't the government of the use? and again. — didn't the government of the use? and again, how will lessons learned to he _ and again, how will lessons learned to be conveyed to parliament? he spoi actually on the spot in terms of his communications, which i think i have to say in the first few days were better than northern power grid's. but it's been a difficult time for everybody concerned. i think in terms of the calling out of the army, he will know that is a role for the local resilience forum, the grampian local resilience partnerships. i also met on friday withjim savage who is the chief executive of aberdeenshire council who chairs or leads the local resilience partnership. he was very satisfied i think in terms of the army's response and others. i met the three scots when i was in aberdeenshire. i also understand 45 commando and the 39 engineer regiment have been deployed and i'm sure he willjoin me in thanking them for the efforts they have been putting in to help the community. in terms of the assistance though, i think the new scheme and the ability to deploy engineers from right the way across the uk, he may wish to reflect on the message of the importance of the uk response here from the industry, mr speaker, being able to deploy people. 630 engineers were deployed from elsewhere in the uk. these are highly qualified, highly capable, very technical people, 285 of them came from the rest of the uk to go to scotland, 400 currently in the north—east of england and i want to give my thanks for the effort they put in right the way across the uk. we are going to leave the house of commons, where an urgent question was being asked about the power outages caused by storm arwen. we heard the opposition laying some of the blame at the feet of the government. the minister of state greg hands having none of it, referencing the type of storm, criticising the energy provider saying the response was not good enoughin saying the response was not good enough in the first few days after storm arwen. communications were not good enough from northern power grid. but really what the thousands who are still without power and have been without power really wanted to know is when it will be restored, and we heard greg hands saying that he had been assured by the network operators that all efforts are focused on having power restored to those households in the next day. so apparently the situation is improving each hour. a british teenager who survived a crocodile attack in zambia says she is "very, very lucky" to be alive. 18—year—old amelie osborn—smith was white—water rafting on holiday when the crocodile bit into her leg and tried to drag her under the water. she's now recovering in hospital. louisa pilbeam has the story. amelie osborn—smith was on a gap year trip of a lifetime in zambia. but in the waters near victoria falls, the 18—year—old was attacked by a crocodile. she suffered such serious injuries to her leg, she feared she'd never walk again. when the accident happened, i fully accepted the fact that i was going to lose my foot. and i accepted that and i said to all my friends, it's fine, i've lost my foot, i'm still alive. and then i was told that my foot�*s going to be fine and that i was going to be able to walk again, and it is such a relief. the accident happened on the zambezi river while amelie was white—water rafting with a group. she was airlifted 240 miles to the capital, lusaka, where surgeons performed a life—saving operation and saved her leg. people say, like, you see your life flash before your eyes but you don't. you just think, how do i get out of this situation? and your brain just goes into overdrive and you just think how to get out. but i was just very, very lucky. amelie is expected back in the uk to be transferred to a hospital for more treatment. the student says the ordeal has made her more determined to return to zambia. i think, especially now, i've just seen that your life can be over so quickly, so if you're going to live thinking... it sounds so cliched, but if you're going to live thinking i'm going to regret everything, you're never going to have a fulfilled life. so ijust think do it all while you can. louisa pilbeam, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. hello. while some areas continue to recover from storm arwen, hello. while some areas continue to recoverfrom storm arwen, the next named storm barra is about to push in. there will still be impacts across the uk as we head through tuesday into wednesday. the winds will be strongest around irish sea coast, up to 80 mph, but gales develop quite widely. then into wednesday, the north—east of scotland will see the winds continue to strengthen. snow could also have an impact on those areas hit by arwen, particularly into scotland, strong winds bringing blizzard conditions on tuesday. storm barra is this area in the atlantic, there is a gap between that and that which brought the heavy rain across the country today, clearing away into the north sea for what is left of today, then it is showers to take us into the evening, which could be on the wintry side. that evening, temperatures dropping and it will be a cold evening and a cold night in store. showers continue through the first part of the night, many will fade, but with clearing skies there could be the risk of ice in some spots with temperatures widely dropping to freezing or below. it will be a very cold start to tuesday morning, the first signs of storm barra there across ireland as we head into the morning. so the main message for tuesday and into wednesday is those widespread gales, and the potential for blizzards later across northern areas. all the weather warnings on the bbc weather website. this may turn briefly to sleet and snow over higher ground in the morning, but the winds strengthen across these western areas through the day. a bright and sunny start for scotland and england but the rain spreads in with strengthening winds, and into southern scotland readily turning into snow. it will be a cold day for the most part, given the strength of those winds. the stronger winds transfer northwards and eastwards, and there could be a problem with snow, the snow becoming confined into the grampians as we head into wednesday morning. barra pushes its way through the central swathe. around the peripheries, you will still see widespread gales, the strongest of the winds for orkney and shetland but for the rest of us, heavy and blustery showers. this is bbc news. the headlines: a ten year strategy for dealing with drug abuse in england and wales. the prime minister says he wants to come down hard on drugs gangs, but spend more on treatment for addicts. the drugs gangs are doing major damage to life chances of kids growing up in this country. i think it is a disgusting trade and we need to fight it. i want to see the plans, i want to see the strategy, i want the prime minister to take responsibility for the money that's been taken out of criminaljustice in the last ten years that's caused many of these problems. a leading expert in infectious diseases says the omicron variant of coronavirus could becme the uk's dominant strain within weeks. with a new storm moving in tomorrow, 1,300 homes in the north—east of england are still without power, 10 days after storm arwen. a barrister for the victims of the grenfell tower fire tells the public inquiry into the disaster that governments' lack of openness should be regarded as "one of the major scandals of our time." also coming up: lucky to be alive. the gap year student who was dragged under by a crocodile and lived to tell the tale. the government is promising to crack down on drugs gangs, as part of a ten year strategy for tackling drug misuse in england and wales. ministers say they want to dismantle �*county lines' drugs gangs. they're also promising the biggest ever single investment in treating and rehabilitating addicts, who are responsible for a large proportion of crime. according to the home office, drugs are connected to nearly half of killings in england and wales. they're also linked to two thirds of shoplifting, more than half of burglaries and just over a quarter of robberies. our home affairs correspondent dominic casciani has this report. and a warning that his report contains flash photography. police! an early morning raid, part of operation toxic, as police conduct an ongoing investigation into county lines gangs. organised crime groups that control the drugs trade. prime minister boris johnson seeing for himself the challenge the police face. some 300,000 heroin and crack addicts are responsible for nearly half of crimes like burglary and robbery. the prime minister promising his new strategy will change that. we've got to do two things at once. we've got to be tougher on the county lines gangs, we've got to be tougher on the criminals who are doing it, but you've also got to make sure that you find those 300,000 people and you help them away. you can't simply arrest them time after time and put them back in prison again and again. you've got to do rehab as well. the government's ten—year strategy promises £300 million to pursue drugs gangs. it believes it can take down 2,000 county line in three years. police will get help, for more drug tests on arrest, identifying problem users earlier than before. but the strategy also looks at demand, recreational users such as some clubbers will face losing their passports and driving licences if caught. labour says a strategy is desperately needed. there is no doubt that the drug problem has got a lot worse in the past ten years, particularly drug—related deaths and the county lines which are destroying lives. the question for the government is notjust about plans today but the money they have taken out the system. millions of pounds have been taken out of the system over the years and that has caused a lot of the problem. ministers are promising record investment for schemes such as this rehab programme targeting why some people take drugs. the former independent reviewer of drugs today urged the government not to put all the focus on chasing users, but to help them change their lives. of course it is important. we do want county lines to disappear, but, unless you give equal balance to treatment and recovery, we are really not going to move forward. we have had enforcement for many years. and we haven't really solved our problem. couriers working for gangs are known to smuggle drugs on trains, so sniffer dogs are now on the front line, but with drugs deaths at a record high, people say that the prime minister must back his words with with a strategy that will deliver quick results and bring about change. dominic casciani, bbc news. the omicron variant of coronavirus could becme the uks dominant strain within weeks, according to an expert in infectious diseases. professor paul hunter told the bbc that it's likely omicron is spreading more quickly than the delta variant and that there are probably more than 1,000 cases in the uk at the moment. his comments come as one of the scientists who created the oxford astra zeneca covid vaccine warns that a future pandemic could be even more lethal. professor dame sarah gilbert says funding is needed to make sure we don't lose the advances made in the last two years in how to prepare for a pandemic. our health correspondent sophie hutchinson has this report. the leader of the opposition this morning doing his bit to boost boosterjabs seen as the best way to protect people from both the delta and the new variant of omicron. i would encourage absolutely everyone who is eligible to come forward and have their booster. don't be taken in by the misinformation come forward, have your booster, think of yourself, think of others, think of your communities. last month we observed surges in cases. one of the lead scientists behind the oxford astrazeneca vaccine warned of the dangers of future pandemics and said the world needed to be more prepared. the truth is, the next one could be worse. it could be more contagious or more lethal, or both. we cannot allow a situation where we have gone through all we have gone through and then find that the enormous economic losses we have sustained mean that there is still no funding for pandemic preparedness. the world health organization has said just under 40 countries around the world now have cases of the new variant here in the uk. a further 86 cases were reported yesterday by the uk health security agency, bringing the total number identified to 246. but some scientists believe the true figure may be more than 1,000. the early signs are that it will probably spread quite quickly and probably start outcompeting delta and become the dominant variant probably within the next weeks, or a month or so, at least. scientists are still unable to confirm whether omicron causes less severe disease. that may not be known for many weeks. i don't think that we need to change the overall guidance and advice we're giving about omicron in this country. we're still waiting to see exactly how dangerous it is, what sort of effect it has in terms of deaths and hospitalisations. from today, anyone aged over 12 who's permitted to travel into the uk is now required to show a negative pcr or lateral flow test in an attempt to slow the new variant�*s spread from abroad. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. from this morning, nigeria has been moved onto the uk's red list for travel, meaning anybody arriving from the country must isolate in an approved hotel for ten days. ministers say it will help protect people from the spread of the omicron variant of covid. but nigeria has described it as a form of travel �*apartheid'. our correspondent in lagos, mayeni jones says there's frustration in the country at being put on the red list. real anger but also real confusion. the anger is because many nigerians who are on the red list feel this decision is discriminatory. they say the levels of covid in africa have been much lower throughout the pandemic and nigeria is averaging around 91 new cases a day, only 200,000 positive cases have been recorded throughout the entire pandemic. but there is also confusion because so far the national centre for disease control says only three cases of the new omicron variants have been identified here. that was five days ago. those numbers may have gone up but they say that all of them came from travellers who came from south africa. so a lot of people who are frustrated. christmas plans have been thrown into disarray. many nigerians in the uk were hoping to come back this year and celebrate with their relatives. they are now having to either cancel their plans or think of really expensive alternatives for quarantine when they return to the uk. so it's having a devastating impact on nigerians, the service industry and on ordinary nigerians who want to spend the holidays with their relatives. our transport correspondent katy austin said the addition of nigeria to the red list has left many brits remained stranded — with some finding it difficult to book a io—day quarantine in a government approved hotel. the nigerian high commissioner to london has the nigerian high commissioner to london has been the nigerian high commissioner to london has been speakin- the nigerian high commissioner to london has been speaking this morning and he doesn't think the country's addition to the red list is justified. country's addition to the red list isjustified. we have also country's addition to the red list is justified. we have also spoken people planning to travel from the uk to nigeria in december over christmas and in some cases to see relatives they haven't seen in many months they feel their plans are now in doubt. some feel that is very unfair. we are also hearing from people who are uk residents still in south africa trying to find their way home and that country went on to the red list a week ago will stop many are still struggling to find government approved hotel quarantine rooms available on the date for flights coming and that is becoming a stressful situation for some as they try and rebook flights and in some cases pay to stay in the country longer. we did have a few weeks where they were not any countries on the red list and hotel quarantine system was mainly wound down. now it's having to be reactivated very quickly and the government admits there is pressure on capacity. a spokesperson from the department of health and social care told us it had doubled the number of hotel rooms available and will continue to increase availability on a daily basis. they are not putting any numbers on that though. doctor margaret harris is a spokesperson for the world health organisation. what is the very latest information that you have that you can tell us about the omicron variant? irate that you have that you can tell us about the omicron variant? we have seen that it — about the omicron variant? we have seen that it has _ about the omicron variant? we have seen that it has spread _ about the omicron variant? we have seen that it has spread around - about the omicron variant? we have seen that it has spread around the i seen that it has spread around the world _ seen that it has spread around the world it's — seen that it has spread around the world. it's in more than 45 countries _ world. it's in more than 45 countries and quite a few countries are reporting local spread as well. we certainly are seeing from south africa _ we certainly are seeing from south africa that — we certainly are seeing from south africa that it is very effectively outpacing delta which had already been there. so far, we are not seeing — been there. so far, we are not seeing the _ been there. so far, we are not seeing the severity of disease but we have _ seeing the severity of disease but we have not got enough information to understand whether that is the situation — to understand whether that is the situation in south africa only or whether— situation in south africa only or whether that applies elsewhere. how worried whether that applies elsewhere. fimn worried should we be? whether that applies elsewhere. how worried should we be? it _ whether that applies elsewhere. how worried should we be? it is _ worried should we be? it is certainly — worried should we be? it is certainly a _ worried should we be? it is certainly a variant - worried should we be? it is certainly a variant that - worried should we be? it is certainly a variant that has changed a lot _ certainly a variant that has changed a lot it _ certainly a variant that has changed a lot it has — certainly a variant that has changed a lot. it has a lot of mutations and it's one _ a lot. it has a lot of mutations and it's one that — a lot. it has a lot of mutations and it's one that is clearly showing an ability— it's one that is clearly showing an ability to— it's one that is clearly showing an ability to compete with delta. delta is already— ability to compete with delta. delta is already causing enormous challenges so we should really be worried _ challenges so we should really be worried already about what delta has been able _ worried already about what delta has been able to do in europe and we should _ been able to do in europe and we should be — been able to do in europe and we should be seriously applying the measures that will stop transmission. so doubling down is what _ transmission. so doubling down is what we _ transmission. so doubling down is what we should all be doing. in terms what we should all be doing. terms of what we should all be doing. in terms of measures that support transmission, what you make of travel bans? do you support or oppose the red list restrictions? irate oppose the red list restrictions? we ask countries to look at how to really— ask countries to look at how to really monitor what is going on. that— really monitor what is going on. that means testing. really upping your surveillance and testing. so the measures you take at your borders— the measures you take at your borders to _ the measures you take at your borders to see whether or not people are conring _ borders to see whether or not people are coming in with the infection is very important. what countries do about— very important. what countries do about their— very important. what countries do about their different approaches is something we do leave to national authorities. something we do leave to national authorities— something we do leave to national authorities. really good to talk to. many thanks _ a primary school in renfrewshire has been forced to close for a week after a suspected outbreak of the omicron variant of coronavirus. parents of children at todholm primary in paisley were told by email about the closure yesterday. pupils have been switched to remote learning for this school week. a number of spar stores in the north of england have closed due to an online attack affecting it's food distribution company james hall & co. the firm supplies around 600 shops. the preston—based firm is the primary wholesaler to spars across the north of england. its website is also down. 1,300 properties in the north—east of england are still without power 10 days after storm arwen. yellow weather warnings for wind and snow have been issued ahead of storm barra which is due to hit the uk tomorrow. the energy provider for the north—east of england says it hopes to reconnect every home before the storm hits. in the last hour the business minister, greg hands, said it was completely unacceptable that some homes were still without power. we have removed the compensation limit to— we have removed the compensation limit to allow customers affected to claim _ limit to allow customers affected to claim up— limit to allow customers affected to claim up to — limit to allow customers affected to claim up to £140 per day if they are without _ claim up to £140 per day if they are without power. i am glad to say that 998% _ without power. i am glad to say that 998% of _ without power. i am glad to say that 99.8% of those affected by the storm have had _ 99.8% of those affected by the storm have had their power supply restored sofa. have had their power supply restored sofa but _ have had their power supply restored sofa. but this is not good enough. it's completely understand — unacceptable that that around 1600 are still— unacceptable that that around 1600 are still in— unacceptable that that around 1600 are still in this position as of this— are still in this position as of this morning but the situation is inrproving — this morning but the situation is improving each hour. the remaining areas _ improving each hour. the remaining areas affected are in the north—east of england. — areas affected are in the north—east of england, where i was on wednesday. i have been assured by the network operators that all efforts — the network operators that all efforts are focused on having power restored _ efforts are focused on having power restored to — efforts are focused on having power restored to those households in the next day _ sharuna sagar has been to one village in northumberland that's still without power. the people here have been without power now for ten days, ever since the storm struck. the residents here feel completely abandoned and forgotten. with me is racheljohnson who has lived here for six years now. what has it been like the last ten days? it's been pretty grim. we've had no power since the storm. no central heating, no hot water, no showers, no washing machines, no means of cleaning properties. we are quite rural and we have animals so we can'tjust move out. what kind of support have you been getting? no support from northern power grid. we did have the fire brigade and the army visit on saturday and friday but there has been no generator delivered, nothing. we do feel pretty abandoned. so how are you living? we are surviving with hot water from gas kettles and things like that, log burners. but it is very cold. the headlines on bbc news: a ten—year strategy for tackling drug misuse in england and wales. a crackdown on criminal gangs, and a warning to recreational users that they could lose their passports or driving licences. a leading expert in infectious diseases says the omicron variant of coronavirus could becme the uk's dominant strain within weeks. with wind and snow forecast, 1,300 homes in the north—east of england are still without power, 10 days after storm arwen. the education secretary, nadhim zahawi, will make a statement to mps today after announcing a national review into the death of six—year—old arthur labinjo—hughes. arthur was tortured and killed by his father and stepmother after social workers found "no safeguarding concerns". anisa kadri reports. remembering a little boy killed during lockdown by the people who were supposed to take care of him. a vigil over the weekend took place near the house in the west midlands where arthur labinjo—hughes was tortured by his stepmum and father. neighbours have expressed their shock and sadness. i'm a mother and a grandmother, and i would go to the ends of the earth for my children and my grandchildren. i'd never ever let anything happen to them. and i think a lot needs to be done still to protect vulnerable children. arthur �*s stepmum emma tustin was jailed 29 years for his murder and his father thomas hughes got 21 years for manslaughter. the government has now announced an urgent inspection of social care, health, police and probation services in solihull where arthur lived and died. i understand people's anger about this case, and i understand their demand foranswers, quickly. but we owe it to him, actually, to all those children out there to carefully piece together the lessons that we can learn from this, then put them into as we can after we have learned the lessons. as well as a review into lessons to be learned nationally, they say it will be a deep and independent look into what happened. and the education secretary is expected to discuss the case in parliament today. the reality is we don't learn from the way we operate. we constantly do the same thing. rather than looking at individual failures, we should be looking at systemic failures. and that's what's happened here. we haven't learned the lessons, and talking more about lessons learnt and more reviews won't really help when the previous reviews that we've just heard about, the munro review and the laming review, haven't actually been implemented yet. arthur, are you going to play for england? i it is hoped any review will answer questions around the warning signs and what could have been done to help arthur. anisa kadri, bbc news. a barrister representing the victims of the grenfell tower fire has told the official inquiry that governments concealed the extent of risks to building safety, and it should be seen as one of the �*major scandals of our time'. 72 people died injune 2017 when the tower block in west london caught fire. our home affairs correspondent tom symonds reports. there had been warnings of what might happen. a fire in knowsley on merseyside. another in irvine, north ayrshire. and a third in southwark, south london. eerily similar — flames spreading up the outside, lives put at risk, lives lost. but, did the government and other public bodies spot the risk or take action? that, and much more is what the grenfell inquiry will investigate in its finalfive months. this inquiry is not a game of cat and mouse where core participants might hope that their witnesses might smuggle something past counsel the inquiry or that counsel to the inquiry might miss a trick. core participants including the government and other industry bodies. a key question, why a fire classification known as class zero remained in place for decades. cladding panels rated class zero were allowed on tall buildings, but class zero included materials which catch light easily so, after grenfell, all the cladding had to be removed. the grenfell disaster is a predictable yet unintended consequence of the combination of a laudable desire to reduce carbon emissions, coupled with an unbridled passion for deregulation. in particular, a desire to deregulate and boost the housing construction industry. cladding helps keep buildings warm, cutting carbon emissions, and all recent governments have wanted to help home builders build homes, but deregulating the safety of their industry created risks, the inquiry was told today, and the government kept them quiet, it was claimed. the result is a prolonged period of concealment by the government, which should properly be regarded as one of the major scandals of our time. ministers and officials will give evidence in weeks to come, in the final stage of the search for answers to the question, how could this happen? tom symonds, bbc news. michael mansfield represents some of the victims of the grenfell tower fire and has this afternoon told the inquiry that the political mindset around building standards needs to change. nothing that you have heard so far know _ nothing that you have heard so far know that — nothing that you have heard so far know that you _ nothing that you have heard so far know that you will— nothing that you have heard so far know that you will hear— nothing that you have heard so far know that you will hear in - nothing that you have heard so far know that you will hear in this - nothing that you have heard so far know that you will hear in this part of module — know that you will hear in this part of module six _ know that you will hear in this part of module six was _ know that you will hear in this part of module six was an _ know that you will hear in this part of module six was an accident, - know that you will hear in this part| of module six was an accident, was an oversight, — of module six was an accident, was an oversight, was _ of module six was an accident, was an oversight, was somehow- of module six was an accident, was - an oversight, was somehow something theyjust _ an oversight, was somehow something theyjust nrissed — an oversight, was somehow something theyjust nrissed or— an oversight, was somehow something theyjust missed or even _ an oversight, was somehow something theyjust missed or even a _ an oversight, was somehow something theyjust missed or even a level- an oversight, was somehow something theyjust missed or even a level of- theyjust missed or even a level of incompetence _ theyjust missed or even a level of incompetence. no, _ theyjust missed or even a level of incompetence. no, far— theyjust missed or even a level of incompetence. no, farworse. - theyjust missed or even a level of incompetence. no, farworse. wei theyjust missed or even a level of incompetence. no, far worse. we are auoin to incompetence. no, far worse. we are going to go — incompetence. no, far worse. we are going to go straight — incompetence. no, far worse. we are going to go straight to _ incompetence. no, far worse. we are going to go straight to the _ incompetence. no, far worse. we are going to go straight to the house - incompetence. no, far worse. we are going to go straight to the house of. going to go straight to the house of commons now and hearfrom the education secretary was making a statement about national review into the death of six—year—old arthur labinjo—hughes. i the death of six-year-old arthur labinjo-hughes._ labinjo-hughes. i know that colleagues _ labinjo-hughes. i know that colleagues and _ labinjo-hughes. i know that colleagues and people - labinjo-hughes. i know that l colleagues and people outside labinjo-hughes. i know that - colleagues and people outside of this place are seriously troubled that arthur was subjected to a campaign of appalling cruelty and mood _ campaign of appalling cruelty and mood after concerns had been raised with local— mood after concerns had been raised with local services. i want to tell you and — with local services. i want to tell you and colleagues across the house and i you and colleagues across the house and i want _ you and colleagues across the house and i want to assure the public that i am and i want to assure the public that i am as— and i want to assure the public that i am as determined as everybody in this house — i am as determined as everybody in this house to get to the truth and expose _ this house to get to the truth and expose what went wrong and take any action— expose what went wrong and take any action necessary to protect children. — action necessary to protect children. to do so, serious questions _ children. to do so, serious questions need to be asked. i want to make _ questions need to be asked. i want to make clear that police officers, teachers. — to make clear that police officers, teachers, social workers, to make clear that police officers, teachers, socialworkers, health workers — teachers, socialworkers, health workers and others go to work each day to— workers and others go to work each day to try— workers and others go to work each day to try and make things better. to do— day to try and make things better. to do their— day to try and make things better. to do their best at what a very difficult — to do their best at what a very difficultjobs. those to do their best at what a very difficult jobs. those already serving _ difficult jobs. those already serving our country's most vulnerable children deserve our thanks— vulnerable children deserve our thanks and i want to be extremely clear— thanks and i want to be extremely clear that — thanks and i want to be extremely clear that no safeguarding professional should be the victim of any abuse _ professional should be the victim of any abuse and the targeting of individuals is wrong and helps nobody~ — individuals is wrong and helps nobody. but that does not mean we should _ nobody. but that does not mean we should not— nobody. but that does not mean we should not seek to understand what went wrong and how we can stop it from _ went wrong and how we can stop it from happening again. the public deserve _ from happening again. the public deserve to— from happening again. the public deserve to know why in this ray case things— deserve to know why in this ray case things went — deserve to know why in this ray case things went horrifyingly wrong and what more could be done to prevent abuse _ what more could be done to prevent abuse such— what more could be done to prevent abuse such as this happening again in the _ abuse such as this happening again in the future. since their horrendous deaths of peter connelly and sadly— horrendous deaths of peter connelly and sadly others the government has established stronger multi—agency working. _ established stronger multi—agency working, putting a shared and equal duty on— working, putting a shared and equal duty on police, councils and health in local— duty on police, councils and health in local areas to work together to safeguard — in local areas to work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children— safeguard and promote the welfare of children alongside role for schools. i am children alongside role for schools. i am sure _ children alongside role for schools. i am sure members across the house will recognise that improvements have been made but the question now is whether— have been made but the question now is whether that is enough. in order to look— is whether that is enough. in order to look at— is whether that is enough. in order to look at issues nationally as well as locally— to look at issues nationally as well as locally we are established at the national— as locally we are established at the national child safeguarding practice review— national child safeguarding practice review panel in 2017 for cases like arthur's_ review panel in 2017 for cases like arthur's that is why given the enormity— arthur's that is why given the enormity of this case in the range of agencies involved and the potential for its implications to be felt nationally, over the weekend i asked _ felt nationally, over the weekend i asked and — felt nationally, over the weekend i asked and hudson, the chair of the national— asked and hudson, the chair of the national safeguarding practice review— national safeguarding practice review panel, to work with leaders to deliver— review panel, to work with leaders to deliver a — review panel, to work with leaders to deliver a single national independent review of arthur's death to identify— independent review of arthur's death to identify what must be learned from _ to identify what must be learned from this— to identify what must be learned from this terrible case. this will encompass local government as well as those _ encompass local government as well as those working in the police, health— as those working in the police, health and education sectors. officials — health and education sectors. officials in my department are already— officials in my department are already in close contact with the solihull— already in close contact with the solihull safeguarding partnership, which _ solihull safeguarding partnership, which is _ solihull safeguarding partnership, which is grateful for the support offered — which is grateful for the support offered and agree with this approach is the _ offered and agree with this approach is the best— offered and agree with this approach is the best way to deliver comprehensive national learning and identify— comprehensive national learning and identify whether there are any gaps that need _ identify whether there are any gaps that need to be addressed. annie and her colleagues on the national panel who come _ her colleagues on the national panel who come from the police, health and children's— who come from the police, health and children's services have dedicated their lives— children's services have dedicated their lives and decades long careers to bettering the lives of the most vulnerable children in our society and i_ vulnerable children in our society and i have — vulnerable children in our society and i have every faith that the review — and i have every faith that the review will be robust, vigorous and thorough — review will be robust, vigorous and thorough i— review will be robust, vigorous and thorough. i have assured annie that she will— thorough. i have assured annie that she will be — thorough. i have assured annie that she will be given all the support she will be given all the support she needs to do the job properly. this review— she needs to do the job properly. this review will focus specifically on arthur's case and identify where improvements need to be made but i also want _ improvements need to be made but i also want to— improvements need to be made but i also want to make certain we have looked _ also want to make certain we have looked at — also want to make certain we have looked at how all the relevant local agencies _ looked at how all the relevant local agencies are working now including how they— agencies are working now including how they are working together and for that— how they are working together and for that reason i have also asked 0fsted, — for that reason i have also asked 0fsted, the care quality commission and the _ 0fsted, the care quality commission and the inspectorate of probation to do a joint _ and the inspectorate of probation to do a joint inspection and i have asked — do a joint inspection and i have asked each of these be involved because — asked each of these be involved because of the range of local services _ because of the range of local services which had been involved in arthur— services which had been involved in arthur and — services which had been involved in arthur and his family's life during the preceding months. these joint inspections are well established but a new— inspections are well established but a new ambitious approach will be used _ a new ambitious approach will be used with— a new ambitious approach will be used with a sharp focus on the entry point _ used with a sharp focus on the entry point to— used with a sharp focus on the entry point to the — used with a sharp focus on the entry point to the child protection system across— point to the child protection system across all— point to the child protection system across all agencies. this will mean we can— across all agencies. this will mean we can truly— across all agencies. this will mean we can truly look at where improvements are needed by all of the agency tasked with protecting children— the agency tasked with protecting children in the solihull area so we can be _ children in the solihull area so we can be assured that we are doing everything in our power to protect other— everything in our power to protect other children and prevent such evil crimes _ other children and prevent such evil crimes as — other children and prevent such evil crimes. as part of this inspection, all the _ crimes. as part of this inspection, all the agencies tasked with protecting children at risk of abuse and neglect will have their effectiveness considered and instructed on where improvements must _ instructed on where improvements must be _ instructed on where improvements must be made both in solihull as will earnings can be applied to other— will earnings can be applied to other areas around the country. these _ other areas around the country. these inspectorates have met today to plan _ these inspectorates have met today to plan this work in the work will begin— to plan this work in the work will begin next— to plan this work in the work will begin next week. i and my officials could _ begin next week. i and my officials could not— begin next week. i and my officials could not be taking this more seriously _ could not be taking this more seriously. i have been working this weekend _ seriously. i have been working this weekend to bring everyone together to make _ weekend to bring everyone together to make sure this work can start immediately. over to make sure this work can start immediately. 0verthe to make sure this work can start immediately. over the coming days we will publish _ immediately. over the coming days we will publish terms of reference and timelines _ will publish terms of reference and timelines for this national review and the — timelines for this national review and the local inspection. ahead of that, _ and the local inspection. ahead of that, we _ and the local inspection. ahead of that, we are already investing heavily— that, we are already investing heavily to _ that, we are already investing heavily to help the legions of dedicated professionals on the front line to _ dedicated professionals on the front line to deliver the care that we all know— line to deliver the care that we all know every— line to deliver the care that we all know every child deserves. since the spending _ know every child deserves. since the spending review in 2019 they have been _ spending review in 2019 they have been year—on—year real terms increases _ been year—on—year real terms increases for local government as well as— increases for local government as well as the — increases for local government as well as the unprecedented additional 6 billion— well as the unprecedented additional 6 billion funding provided directly to councils to support them with the immediate _ to councils to support them with the immediate and long—term impact of covid _ immediate and long—term impact of covid spending pressures including children's— covid spending pressures including children's social care. yet we have also known — children's social care. yet we have also known that the care system needed — also known that the care system needed bold and wide—ranging reforms which is _ needed bold and wide—ranging reforms which is why we have the independent review— which is why we have the independent review of— which is why we have the independent review of children's social care happening now. i knowjosh mcallister who leads the review will make _ mcallister who leads the review will make recommendations about what a decisive _ make recommendations about what a decisive child protection response needs— decisive child protection response needs to — decisive child protection response needs to look like given it sits at the core — needs to look like given it sits at the core of— needs to look like given it sits at the core of the system he is reviewing. and importantly i know the review— reviewing. and importantly i know the review will be looking at how social— the review will be looking at how social workers, especially those with the — social workers, especially those with the most experience, can spend time with— with the most experience, can spend time with families in protecting children— time with families in protecting children because we all know social workers _ children because we all know social workers do — children because we all know social workers do their best work with families, — workers do their best work with families, not behind the desk. i look— families, not behind the desk. i look forward to the recommendations of the _ look forward to the recommendations of the review because in any complex system _ of the review because in any complex system it _ of the review because in any complex system it is— of the review because in any complex system it is important and imperative to investigate thoroughly to learn _ imperative to investigate thoroughly to learn and improve the system. my mantra _ to learn and improve the system. my mantra continues to be that sunlight is the _ mantra continues to be that sunlight is the best— mantra continues to be that sunlight is the best possible disinfectant because — is the best possible disinfectant because if we are to improve services _ because if we are to improve services where they need improving we must _ services where they need improving we must share data and evidence. finally, _ we must share data and evidence. finally, i— we must share data and evidence. finally, i would like to thank the prosecuting barrister and his team and the _ prosecuting barrister and his team and the jury for their service in this troubling case. as the court heard, _ this troubling case. as the court heard, arthur's tragic death is the result— heard, arthur's tragic death is the result of— heard, arthur's tragic death is the result of the cruelty of his father and his— result of the cruelty of his father and his father's partner. no government anywhere in the world can legislate _ government anywhere in the world can legislate for evil but we will take action— legislate for evil but we will take action wherever we can to stop it from _ action wherever we can to stop it from happening again. because we must _ from happening again. because we must do _ from happening again. because we must do more and to do more i would like to— must do more and to do more i would like to end _ must do more and to do more i would like to end my statement with a plea to everyone — like to end my statement with a plea to everyone in our country, anyone who sees— to everyone in our country, anyone who sees no— to everyone in our country, anyone who sees no suspects child abuse can report— who sees no suspects child abuse can report their— who sees no suspects child abuse can report their concerns to local children's— report their concerns to local children's services or by contacting the government supported nspcc helpline. so if you see or suspect child _ helpline. so if you see or suspect child abuse, reported. if you are worried — child abuse, reported. if you are worried about the child you know, reported — worried about the child you know, reported if— worried about the child you know, reported. if something appears off or you _ reported. if something appears off or you are — reported. if something appears off or you are seeing something that troubles— or you are seeing something that troubles you, report it. as we uncover— troubles you, report it. as we uncover what went wrong and what led to arthur's _ uncover what went wrong and what led to arthur's tragic death we must also strengthen our resolve to make sure that _ also strengthen our resolve to make sure that we prevent these crimes as much _ sure that we prevent these crimes as much as— sure that we prevent these crimes as much as they can be possibly prevented. we must make sure that those _ prevented. we must make sure that those who _ prevented. we must make sure that those who would do wicked acts to children— those who would do wicked acts to children face justice. we must do absolutely everything in our power to protect — absolutely everything in our power to protect vulnerable young children from harrowing and evil abuse and i commend _ from harrowing and evil abuse and i commend the statement of the house. thank you, mr speaker, and i would like to thank thank you, mr speaker, and i would like to thank the thank you, mr speaker, and i would like to thank the secretary thank you, mr speaker, and i would like to thank the secretary of thank you, mr speaker, and i would like to thank the secretary of state for advance sight of his statement to the house today. this has been a truly horrendous case. my heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved arthur and to all of those involved in investigating and bringing to justice the depraved and wicked individuals responsible for his death. ijoin with the secretary of state in paying tribute to front line workers right across children's social care who worked so hard to support families day in, day out. i welcome the announcement by the attorney—general office that the sentences handed down on friday will be reviewed under the unduly lenient sentences scheme and i welcome his clear determination to get to the bottom of what has happened and his action in ordering a national review and ofjoint targeted area inspection. it is right to put in place inquiries as soon as possible, not merely into how individual agencies acted but how they acted together. and it is vital that whatever lessons can be learned from whatever lessons can be learned from what has happened and what didn't happen, in solihull, are acted on as soon as possible. searching questions must be asked about the way in which service is operated locally, but questions must also be asked nationally. questions about how the services that should be keeping children safe are overseen and why tragically cases like this keep happening. i know the secretary of state takes these issues just as seriously as i do, and i very much hope that he will be reviewing urgently the way in which services are inspected or challenged and improved. and i ask the secretary of state, who i know hasn't been in his post for too long, to ensure his own department gets its house in order. in 2016, the department is committed to a target that by 2020 all vulnerable children, no matter where they live, received the same high quality of care and support and the best outcome for every child is at the heart of every decision made. there then permanent secretary told the public accounts committee that this target was delayed to 2022 because the department didn't have a detailed plan in place to deliver that target. the public accounts committee found the department had made only limited progress in improving the quality of children's social care services and in 2019 the permanent secretary accepted that having nearly 60% of local authorities rated lower than good by ofsted for children's social care was terrible. indeed he told the public accounts committee, "i am not able to say there will be no council is failing their ofsted inspections in 2022. clearly there will be. some schools fail, some hospitals fail and some councils fail." failure should never be an acceptable outcome for any public service and thatis outcome for any public service and that is especially true when it comes to protecting children. for too long, this government has tolerated failing children's services and failure to protect children. vulnerable children are being failed and that cannot go on. the secretary of state must now set out how he plans to tackle that culture, that failing services are acceptable in our country, acceptable in our country, acceptable for our children, in his own departmentjust as much in solihull. that is the challenge he faces and the standard by which he will bejudged. one final point, mr speaker. we have heard a lot in recent days about the unimaginable suffering this little boy enjoyed at the hands of two evil individuals —— this little boy endured, but i hope we can also remember how in better days arthur lived his short life. i hope that while we do not hesitate to learn from these tragic events, we also as far as we can remember arthurfor we also as far as we can remember arthur for who we also as far as we can remember arthurfor who he was, not we also as far as we can remember arthur for who he was, not for what this did to him or how he was let down. i hope when we hear his name we think first of a gentle, caring and happy child. the little boy who was remembered so movingly by so many across our country this weekend. the little boy with the beaming smile who should still be here with us today. i am beaming smile who should still be here with us today.— here with us today. i am grateful for the honourable _ here with us today. i am grateful for the honourable lady's - here with us today. i am grateful for the honourable lady's words i here with us today. i am grateful i for the honourable lady's words and especially— for the honourable lady's words and especially her final few sentences in the _ especially her final few sentences in the way — especially her final few sentences in the way we should remember arthur, — in the way we should remember arthur, rememberthere in the way we should remember arthur, remember there are family members _ arthur, remember there are family members who are grieving for arthur. ithink— members who are grieving for arthur. i think she _ members who are grieving for arthur. i think she makes of powerful point on how— i think she makes of powerful point on how we — i think she makes of powerful point on how we should continue on the path to— on how we should continue on the path to improvement. i spent a good amount— path to improvement. i spent a good amount of— path to improvement. i spent a good amount of time in the department for education _ amount of time in the department for education and i think the team have really— education and i think the team have really focused on those improvements in children's _ really focused on those improvements in children's social care. she spoke about— in children's social care. she spoke about the — in children's social care. she spoke about the long way to go, and i think— about the long way to go, and i think i— about the long way to go, and i think i would recognise there are challenges but it is also worth praising — challenges but it is also worth praising the team, both in the department but also in local government up and down the country where _ government up and down the country where we _ government up and down the country where we are not a long time ago had only about _ where we are not a long time ago had only about 37% of local authorities having _ only about 37% of local authorities having a _ only about 37% of local authorities having a good ofsted inspection. i think— having a good ofsted inspection. i think the — having a good ofsted inspection. i think the one thing i would correct her on. _ think the one thing i would correct her on. i_ think the one thing i would correct her on, i don't think it so binary as pass — her on, i don't think it so binary as pass and _ her on, i don't think it so binary as pass and fail because there are areas _ as pass and fail because there are areas of— as pass and fail because there are areas of improvement in children's social— areas of improvement in children's social care, — areas of improvement in children's social care, but that 37 has now risen _ social care, but that 37 has now risen to — social care, but that 37 has now risen to 50% of local authorities that have — risen to 50% of local authorities that have got a good inspection. and of course _ that have got a good inspection. and of course we have to continue on that path — of course we have to continue on that path and keep going further, but i that path and keep going further, but i am — that path and keep going further, but i am very pleased to hear she is supporting — but i am very pleased to hear she is supporting the course of action taken — supporting the course of action taken today. we supporting the course of action taken today-— supporting the course of action taken toda . ~ . ., ., . taken today. we are going to leave the house of _ taken today. we are going to leave the house of commons _ taken today. we are going to leave the house of commons now, - taken today. we are going to leave | the house of commons now, where taken today. we are going to leave - the house of commons now, where the education secretary has been making a statement on the death of arthur labinjo—hughes. you will remember, he was the six—year—old from solihull who was tortured and killed by his father and his father's partner, even after social workers had found no safeguarding concerns. we heard the education secretary confirming that a national review will take place into his death, and also announcing a multi—agency inspection of services provided in the sully whole area, which is where arthur lived, and the education secretary said he is "determined to get to the truth and take any action necessary to protect children". let's move on to some other news now and two police officers who took pictures of the murdered sisters bibaa henry and nicole smallman have each been jailed at the old bailey. bring is up—to—date with what has happened. bring is up-to-date with what has ha ened. . ., bring is up-to-date with what has ha ened. _, ., ._ bring is up-to-date with what has ha ened. u, ., , ., happened. here in court today, two olice happened. here in court today, two police officers _ happened. here in court today, two police officers who _ happened. here in court today, two police officers who were _ happened. here in court today, two police officers who were sent - happened. here in court today, two police officers who were sent to - happened. here in court today, twoj police officers who were sent to the crime scene and theirjob was to protect the integrity or preserve the integrity of the crime scene where the sisters' bodies were found, that was theirjob, but instead they left the cordon, went against the instructions given by an officer and took photographs of the sisters' bodies and shared them on whatsapp. the two police officers, who are no longer with the metropolitan police force, jaffer resigned earlier this year and lewis was dismissed. they pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in a public office and today we have had the sentencing and both of them have been sentenced at the old bailey in the last few moments and they both received a sentence of two macro years and nine months imprisonment. thejudge in this years and nine months imprisonment. the judge in this case years and nine months imprisonment. thejudge in this case had said to the two officers who work in the dock together, he said they would serve half of that sentence in prison and the rest of it they would serve on licence, but the judge prison and the rest of it they would serve on licence, but thejudge in his sentencing remarks said some of the messages they had exchanged with colleagues and also friends were utterly distasteful. the judge said the public expects the highest of standards from police officers and he acknowledged that many thousands of officers would be utterly horrified by their actions. the judge described their conduct, what they did in taking photographs of they did in taking photographs of the sisters' bodies and sharing them as i say with colleagues and friends, thejudge described as i say with colleagues and friends, the judge described their conduct as appalling and inexplicable. he also went on to say that not only did they violate the privacy of the two women, what they also did was they undermined the trust and faith in police officers. so deniz jaffer trust and faith in police officers. so deninaffer and jamie lewis, both of them came to court because they had been on bail. they walked in through the front door of the old bailey earlier on this morning for the sentencing hearing but they have just been sentenced each to two two years and nine months in prison and thejudge has told both years and nine months in prison and the judge has told both of them they will serve half of that sentence in custody and half they will serve on licence. we are expecting a statement from the sisters' mother, who has been in court to hear the sentencing being handed down and we are expecting to hear her say some words outside of the old bailey shortly. i words outside of the old bailey shortl . ~ ., i. , shortly. i know you will bring them to us when — shortly. i know you will bring them to us when you _ shortly. i know you will bring them to us when you get _ shortly. i know you will bring them to us when you get them - shortly. i know you will bring them to us when you get them but - shortly. i know you will bring them to us when you get them but in - shortly. i know you will bring them | to us when you get them but in the meantime many thanks for that update. thank you. in the last few minutes the latest uk government coronavirus data has been published. it shows there were 51,459 new cases in the latest 24—hour period, and another 41 deaths have been recorded — that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. more than 20.8 million people have now received their boosterjab. the former leader of myanmar, aung san suu kyi, has had a four—yearjail sentence cut in half after a partial pardon from myanmar�*s military leader. aung san suu kyi had beenjailed for four years on charges that included inciting unrest, and breaking covid restrictions during last year's election campaign. but the country's state television network has reported in the last few minutes that the chief of the military—appointed government reduced the sentence by two years. aung sang suu kyi has been under house arrest since a military coup in february toppled her elected civilian government. she has denied all charges. our south east asia correspondent, jonathan head, told us more about the trial. the entire trail is the process has been so opaque, held in secret, aung san suu kyi unable to speak sometimes to her lawyers. they are not even allowed to talk about what happened. it is viewed widely by human rights groups as essentially a sham, a device to try to disable her politically and really whether the sentence is four year's or two year's hardly matters when you consider she is facing at least ten other charges which could give her sentences ranging up to 100 years in total. no one outside the military takes this process seriously, the bigger question is what they will deal with aung san suu kyi in the future. she will we believe remain under house arrest for the moment and hasn't been seen by anyone outside a very small circle since the first day of the coup when she was detained. there are questions about what the future actions of the military will be, when you think that outside this trial, the bubble of the trial, the country is falling apart. huge numbers of people were protesting at one point, who are now in some cases fighting the military. the economy is in ruins. at some point, one would expect in the future given how popular she is, aung san suu kyi may have a role to play regardless of what sentence they give her now. just play regardless of what sentence they give her now.— play regardless of what sentence they give her now. just to pick up on that, because _ they give her now. just to pick up on that, because whether- they give her now. just to pick up on that, because whether it - they give her now. just to pick up on that, because whether it is - they give her now. just to pick up | on that, because whether it is four years or so years, from what you are saying it seems a matter of detail in a way but it doesn't remove her from the picture and i wondered if it is possible to look at this in some way as military desperation. i think they are in a bad position. they didn't expect the huge resistance to their coup, they calculated disastrously. aung san suu kyi had just won an election by a landslide so people felt insulted by that and the opposition has not dwindled even now after hundreds of deaths, terrible violence and months of this violence. so they are in a difficult position. i think what they hope is by applying these rather improbable criminal sanctions, that they can kind of say if there is any kind of negotiating process and that is what will hope will happen, they will at some point be a dialogue that they can keep her out of it. she is so popular, such a successful election winner, the military has its own political party and they were consigned to a tiny fraction of seats in the last election so they are hoping to claw back some sort of role for it. the country is in such a disastrous state, it's impossible to predict what it will be like even three months from now.— what it will be like even three months from now. . . , g ., . . months from now. that was jonathan head. the headlines on bbc news... a ten—year strategy for tackling drug misuse in england and wales — a crackdown on criminal gangs, and a warning to recreational users that they could lose their passports or driving licences. a leading expert in infectious diseases says the omicron variant of coronavirus could becme the uk's dominant strain within weeks. with wind and snow forecast, 1600 homes in the north—east of england are still without power — ten days after storm arwen. today, the �*bbc sound of 2022 longlist�* has been revealed. the list has in the past predicted the musical success of adele, amy winehouse and goerge ezra. the nominees are chosen by a host of music critics and industry figures to find the most promising new music talent. here's one of the nominees — south london rapper enny. enny scored a viral hit on tiktok with peng black girls, a celebration of black womanhood in all its forms which gave a voice to black women's everyday lives and experiences. # i don't have a gang with me # but i still walk with a gangster lean # and rock nikes cos we think they're clean # mj leatherjacket, beat it, billiejean # mj leather jacket �*cause i think i�*m bad of? that�*s cool, i like it, the growth # the light, the pain, the fight # we love, we fight, we hurt, we cry # he paid the price, ou'll be all riurh ~ some time away # i took a little time, i prayed # we gon�* be all right, ok, all right, ok # all right, ok, all right # ennyjoins me now. many congratulations to you. i wonder first of all what was your reaction when you heard you had made the list? i reaction when you heard you had made the list? ., , reaction when you heard you had made the list? . , ., , reaction when you heard you had made the list? ., , ., , . reaction when you heard you had made the list? . , . , . ., the list? i was really excited and shocked as _ the list? i was really excited and shocked as well. _ the list? i was really excited and shocked as well. why _ the list? i was really excited and shocked as well. why were - the list? i was really excited and shocked as well. why were you i shocked as well. why were you shocked? _ shocked as well. why were you shocked? because _ shocked as well. why were you shocked? because i _ shocked as well. why were you shocked? because i feel- shocked as well. why were you shocked? because i feel like i l shocked as well. why were you - shocked? because i feel like i have had such a — shocked? because i feel like i have had such a good — shocked? because i feel like i have had such a good year— shocked? because i feel like i have had such a good year so _ shocked? because i feel like i have had such a good year so far - shocked? because i feel like i have had such a good year so far so - shocked? because i feel like i have had such a good year so far so that| had such a good year so far so that was the icing on the cake.- was the icing on the cake. because ou were was the icing on the cake. because you were performing _ was the icing on the cake. because you were performing at _ was the icing on the cake. because you were performing at the - was the icing on the cake. because you were performing at the mobile j you were performing at the mobile awards last night, weren�*t you? yes. awards last night, weren't you? yes. -- mobo awards. _ awards last night, weren't you? yes. -- mobo awards. how— awards last night, weren't you? iezs —— mobo awards. how important are the awards? i kind of feel like i�*m an artist now, people recognise me. that i kind of feel like i'm an artist now, people recognise me. that is interesting- _ now, people recognise me. that is interesting- l— now, people recognise me. that is interesting. i wondered _ now, people recognise me. that is interesting. i wondered if - now, people recognise me. that is interesting. i wondered if i - now, people recognise me. that is interesting. i wondered if i might l interesting. i wondered if i might find out a little bit more about you if that�*s ok because i think people will be really interested. i know you have said "being a dark skinned girl wrapping was something that held me back for a long time" —— rapping. what did you mean by that? i didn�*t see rappers the didn�*t have the same vibe i had, so i thought i couldn�*t make it as a rapper because i wasn�*t being overly provocative so it wasn�*t until i got older that i started to realise. it wasn't until i got older that i started to realise.— it wasn't until i got older that i started to realise. and i write you were working _ started to realise. and i write you were working a — started to realise. and i write you were working a bank? _ started to realise. and i write you were working a bank? yes! - started to realise. and i write you were working a bank? yes! at - started to realise. and i write you i were working a bank? yes! at what oint did were working a bank? ti23i at what point did you leave the bank and think i�*m going to go for music full—time? think i'm going to go for music full-time?— think i'm going to go for music full-time? ., , ., , ., full-time? there was a period where there was a — full-time? there was a period where there was a tugging _ full-time? there was a period where there was a tugging on _ full-time? there was a period where there was a tugging on my _ full-time? there was a period where there was a tugging on my heart - full-time? there was a period where there was a tugging on my heart and ifelt it was there was a tugging on my heart and i felt it was time. even though i had no plans, ijust thought leave and something will happen so i made the decision to leave and something happened! i5 the decision to leave and something happened! is it the decision to leave and something ha ened! . the decision to leave and something hauened! , the decision to leave and something ha ened! , .. ., happened! is it right as well that it was on the _ happened! is it right as well that it was on the very _ happened! is it right as well that it was on the very same - happened! is it right as well that it was on the very same day - happened! is it right as well that it was on the very same day thatj happened! is it right as well that - it was on the very same day that you left the bank that you went into the recording studio and came up with your great track same old? normal talk yes, it wasn�*t actually my juicer, it was a session in a bedroom so i left work, went to that session and we made it. it must be a big thing to walk out of a bank though. it is, especially with the hopes it was going to work out.— was going to work out. yes, and obviously _ was going to work out. yes, and obviously it _ was going to work out. yes, and obviously it has. _ was going to work out. yes, and obviously it has. then _ was going to work out. yes, and obviously it has. then you - was going to work out. yes, and obviously it has. then you had l was going to work out. yes, and - obviously it has. then you had peng black girls. not everyone will know this but it has been streamed 30 million times on spotify alone. maybe you didn�*t even know that! why do you think it has been such a success, that track? i do you think it has been such a success, that track?— do you think it has been such a success, that track? i think the success, that track? i think the success of _ success, that track? i think the success of the _ success, that track? i think the success of the song _ success, that track? i think the success of the song came - success, that track? i think the i success of the song came because it resonated with a lot of people but it didn�*t only resonate with black women, the message seemed to connect to anybody. i had a lot of people telling me what they were going through and it was amazing for them to see black women in a different light. i guess they hadn�*t seen what it was like, a normal reality. for --eole it was like, a normal reality. for people who _ it was like, a normal reality. for people who don't know the song, tell people who don�*t know the song, tell us a little bit more about what the message is because peng means good looking and fit, doesn�*t it? i just looking and fit, doesn't it? i 'ust wanted to big i looking and fit, doesn't it? i 'ust wanted to big up i looking and fit, doesn't it? i 'ust wanted to big up myself i looking and fit, doesn't it? limit wanted to big up myself and my friends and break away from society�*s beauty standards and celebrate. being black girls, ifeel like society has pigeonholed us into what is beautiful and ifelt like i had a moment where i was like, i can�*t live my life trying to live up to standards that are unrealistic and i need to embrace who i am. no one can take that away from me so i have got to celebrate it. and one can take that away from me so i have got to celebrate it.— have got to celebrate it. and what has been the _ have got to celebrate it. and what has been the reaction _ have got to celebrate it. and what has been the reaction of - have got to celebrate it. and what has been the reaction of your- has been the reaction of your friends to its success?- has been the reaction of your friends to its success? they are roud friends to its success? they are proud and _ friends to its success? they are proud and l _ friends to its success? they are proud and i think _ friends to its success? they are proud and i think that _ friends to its success? they are proud and i think that is - friends to its success? they are proud and i think that is the i friends to its success? they are l proud and i think that is the most important thing. the comments i hear from people, it�*s for everyone and that means a lot considering where i came from and how i used to make music in class. came from and how i used to make music in class-— music in class. enny, it is such a leasure music in class. enny, it is such a pleasure talking _ music in class. enny, it is such a pleasure talking to _ music in class. enny, it is such a pleasure talking to you. - music in class. enny, it is such a pleasure talking to you. good i music in class. enny, it is such a i pleasure talking to you. good luck with everything and the coming year. thanks again. and the winner of the sound of 2022 will be announced injanuary on bbc news and bbc radio one. the finances of some of the uk�*s biggest care home companies should be investigated, according to the former health and social care secretary, jeremy hunt. he wants the competitions watchdog to look at whether big care providers are operating in the interests of consumers. it comes after a bbc panorama programme on the complicated structures and debt of some care companies that are backed by private equity firms. here�*s our social affairs editor, alison holt. what was it like growing up here? lovely, everybody knew everybody. tess grew up in cannock in staffordshire. her mum died when she was young so her dad mick was at the heart of the family. it�*s more than a year since he died in a care home nearby, and she�*s been left with many questions about the care he received and the company that ran the home. four days in, five days in, the cracks start to appear. his bed was never made. the toilet area was shocking. my dad is walking in the urine, so my dad shouldn�*t be walking in that. that home is run by four seasons health care group. it says the home�*s management team has since changed, but tess wanted to know where the fees paid for her dad went. four seasons? four seasons, yeah. panorama asked experts to draw up a family tree for the group. it was owned by private equity investors but because of its high debts, in 2019, two key companies went into administration. it still has more than 160 companies in the group. i�*m gobsmacked, to be honest with you. four seasons says its structure doesn�*t affect the care it provides, and the homes continue to operate. but business experts say the complexity and use of offshore companies makes it difficult to work out where that money goes. it should surely be the case that these structures should be transparent. they should either bring them onshore, or else they should be required to disclose the full finances of the entire group. it's as simple as that. the former health and social care secretaryjeremy hunt says in a sector looking after vulnerable people, government reforms should include more checks on company finances. there is a real opportunity now to lay down a long—term plan for the sector, and to channel private sector investment in the way we want. that could be a very positive thing. at the moment, it�*s the wild west out there. the government says it�*s up to local authorities to ensure providers offer good care, improve staff conditions and invest in services. alison holt, bbc news. and you can see more on panorama "crisis in care: follow the money" tonight at 7:30pm on bbc one. ben will be here with five o�*clock at the latest headlines, but let�*s catch up with the weather and i�*m very much hoping that taylor will be over my shoulder. no, i think he won�*t be so i willjust say over to you, matt. no, he�*s not there either. let�*s get the weather now though, here it is with matt taylor. hello. while some areas continue to recover from storm arwen, the next named storm barra is about to push in. there will still be impacts across the uk as we head through tuesday into wednesday. the winds will be strongest around irish sea coast, up to 80 mph, but gales develop quite widely. then into wednesday, the north—east of scotland will see the winds continue to strengthen. snow could also have an impact on those areas hit by arwen, particularly into scotland, strong winds bringing blizzard conditions on tuesday. storm barra is this area in the atlantic, there is a gap between that and that which brought the heavy rain across the country today, clearing away into the north sea for what is left of today, then it is showers to take us into the evening, which could be on the wintry side. that evening, temperatures dropping and it will be a cold evening and a cold night in store. showers continue through the first part of the night, many will fade, but with clearing skies there could be the risk of ice in some spots with temperatures widely dropping to freezing or below. it will be a very cold start to tuesday morning, the first signs of storm barra there across ireland as we head into the morning. so the main message for tuesday and into wednesday is those widespread gales, and the potential for blizzards later across northern areas. all the weather warnings on the bbc weather website. this may turn briefly to sleet and snow over higher ground in the morning, but the winds strengthen across these western areas through the day. a bright and sunny start for scotland and england but the rain spreads in with strengthening winds, and into southern scotland readily turning into snow. it will be a cold day for the most part, given the strength of those winds. the stronger winds transfer northwards and eastwards, and there could be a problem with snow, the snow becoming confined into the grampians as we head into wednesday morning. barra pushes its way through the central swathe. winds turn lighter into wednesday for some. around the peripheries, you will still see widespread gales, the strongest of the winds for orkney and shetland but for the rest 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